Andrew Harvey

Expanded and updated, Charles Eisenstein's classic treatise on capitalism, currency, and the gift economy. This revised version traces the history of money, from ancient gift economies to modern capitalism, and includes new material on cryptocurrencies and emerging research that has come out since the book's original publication. Charles Eisenstein shows how capitalism contributes to alienation, competition, and scarcity; destroys community; and necessitates endless growth at the cost of social and environmental devastation. Today, these trends have reached their extreme--and their collapse presents a golden opportunity to transition to a more connected, ecological, and sustainable way of being. Eisenstein describes the deeper narratives beneath our economic system, and how we can reimagine it to align with a new story. Applying a broadly integrated synthesis of theory, policy, and practice, he explores avant-garde concepts of the New Economics, including negative-interest currencies, local economies, gift economics, cryptocurrencies, and the restoration of the commons. Tapping into a rich lineage of conventional and unconventional economic thought, Eisenstein presents a vision that is original yet commonsense, radical yet gentle, and increasingly relevant as the crises of our civilization deepen.

Matthew Fox is the passionate prophet—and pied piper—of creation-centered spirituality. A radical priest, visionary theologian, and ecumenical mystic, he has been called “the most creative, the most comprehensive, surely the most challenging religious-spiritual teacher in America” (Thomas Berry) as well as “one of the great prophetic voices of our time” (David Korten). Fox has devoted five decades to exploring the creation spirituality traditions in Christianity and other world religions, as well as demonstrating their relevance to the significant challenges of our times. These traditions affirm the inherent sanctity and creativity of the universe and all its inhabitants, and they assert that a central human mission is to cocreate a world of justice and compassion, beauty and peace, love and gratitude. Fox believes that every person is graced with the capacity to be a mystic, an artist, and a prophet, and that all of us are called to actualize our sacred gifts in unique ways—and in doing so to enrich, sanctify, and celebrate life. He has also proposed that the current scientific vision of an evolving, 13.8-billion-year-old universe offers an inspiring, new Creation story that is relevant to our spiritual times. Fox’s books, as well as his countless talks, workshops, conferences, courses, and cosmic masses, have reached a worldwide audience and not only transformed lives and spiritual communities but also challenged church doctrines, dogmas, and practices. His innovative educational programs, which have drawn students with diverse backgrounds and professional callings, are a unique contribution to holistic, interspiritual education. This latest work, which contains selections—gems of insight--from most of his 40+ books, offers fresh perspectives and approaches to the vital issues of our time: spirituality and science, culture and politics, ecology and education, work and the creative arts, gender and sensuality, youth and eldering, evil and activism, healthcare and the media. In many of these writings, Fox brilliantly shows how premodern wisdom can help illuminate and resolve postmodern problems. The book closes with a letter from Fox to young seekers. The editor, Charles Burack, Ph.D., made the selections in consultation with the author and also wrote an illuminating introduction to Fox’s life and work. Burack is an award-winning professor, scholar, poet, and essayist. Author of three books—Leaves of Light, Songs to My Beloved, and D. H. Lawrence’s Language of Sacred Experience--he integrates spirituality, psychology, and the creative arts. He is also a spiritual counselor, career/creativity coach, and pioneer in interreligious education and is currently working on two books, one on inner guidance, and the other on spiritual healing. Matthew Fox is a spiritual theologian, an Episcopal priest and an activist for gender justice and eco-justice. He has written 37 books, including Original Blessing, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, A Spirituality Named Compassion, The Reinvention of Work, The Hidden Spirituality of Men, Christian Mystics and The Pope’s War. He has contributed much to the rediscovery of Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart, and Thomas Aquinas as pre-modern mystics and prophets. Fox holds a doctorate in the history and theology of spirituality from the Institut Catholique de Paris. The founder of the University of Creation Spirituality in California, he conducts dozens of workshops each year and is a visiting scholar at the Academy for the Love of Learning.