BOOK REVIEWS
Reviews of The Soul of Higher Education
"The Soul of Higher Education: Contemplative Pedagogy, Research, and Institutional Life in the Twenty-first Century provides ten pithy and practical essays on spirituality's place at colleges and universities. As part of a courageous series titled Advances in Workplace Spirituality: Theory, Research, and Application, the collection does exactly what its title promises and does so excellently. Editors Margaret Benefiel and Bo Karen Lee have curated a thoughtful balance of essays by scholar-practitioners and organizational leaders who connect theory and practice through accessible examples from their own work. Readers can select particular articles to help jumpstart initiatives aimed at deepening reflective dimensions of university life. Alternatively, a studious read from cover to cover will provide a foundational orientation on how spirituality and contemplative studies will foster institutions' commitment to form people of conscience and compassion. Either way, the essays will plant seeds of hope that colleges and universities need not abandon the search for deep wisdom even as we prepare students for a future where breathtaking change will be their daily bread."
- Alison M. Benders, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Santa Clara University
Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality. Review by Alison M. Benders. 22 (2). Fall 2022.
The Wabash Center Journal on Teaching. Review by Patricia O'Connell Killen. 2021; 2:1.
Anglican Theological Review. Review by Hannah Sutton-Adams. 103 (2). Spring 2021.
Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality. Review by Anita Houck. 20 (2). Fall 2020.
Bearings Online. Collegeville Institute, September 2019.
"The Soul of Higher Education: Contemplative Pedagogy, Research, and Institutional Life in the Twenty-first Century provides ten pithy and practical essays on spirituality's place at colleges and universities. As part of a courageous series titled Advances in Workplace Spirituality: Theory, Research, and Application, the collection does exactly what its title promises and does so excellently. Editors Margaret Benefiel and Bo Karen Lee have curated a thoughtful balance of essays by scholar-practitioners and organizational leaders who connect theory and practice through accessible examples from their own work. Readers can select particular articles to help jumpstart initiatives aimed at deepening reflective dimensions of university life. Alternatively, a studious read from cover to cover will provide a foundational orientation on how spirituality and contemplative studies will foster institutions' commitment to form people of conscience and compassion. Either way, the essays will plant seeds of hope that colleges and universities need not abandon the search for deep wisdom even as we prepare students for a future where breathtaking change will be their daily bread."
- Alison M. Benders, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Santa Clara University
Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality. Review by Alison M. Benders. 22 (2). Fall 2022.
The Wabash Center Journal on Teaching. Review by Patricia O'Connell Killen. 2021; 2:1.
Anglican Theological Review. Review by Hannah Sutton-Adams. 103 (2). Spring 2021.
Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality. Review by Anita Houck. 20 (2). Fall 2020.
Bearings Online. Collegeville Institute, September 2019.
Reviews of The Soul of a Leader
"According to Benefiel, theology teacher and CEO of ExecutiveSoul.com, the Western ideal of leadership demands that modern leaders adopt a Lone Ranger mentality; emphasizes the bottom line; and rewards drive, decisiveness, productivity and long work hours—while paying scant attention to inner and spiritual development. Benefiel outlines her principles of soul formation for leaders through true-life stories, such as those of Tom and Kate Chappell of Tom's of Maine, and the U2 guitarist The Edge, who worked with musicians in post-Katrina New Orleans. Benefiel also writes about lesser-known leaders who have concentrated in the development of their moral grounding as well as their account books. Speaking both to individual and organizational spiritual transformation, she highlights the importance of following one's heart and daring to dream through a program of practicing gratitude, perseverance and seeking out spiritual guidance. The author's inspiring message and endorsement from Desmond Tutu will likely earn her book a receptive audience...."
Publishers Weekly, July 14, 2008.
"Thought Leaders Unpacked." Reviews by Karl Edwards.
Ladies of Charity of the United States of America Servicette. Review by Margaret Hanson. 53 (3).
Journal of Management, Spirituality, and Religion. Review by John G. Cullen. 7 (3).
Presence. Review by Karen Erlichman. 15 (1).
The Daily Saint. Review by Mike St. Pierre.
Steve's B-Log through Leadership Transformations, Inc. Review by Steve Macchia.
Reviews of The Soul of a Leader
"According to Benefiel, theology teacher and CEO of ExecutiveSoul.com, the Western ideal of leadership demands that modern leaders adopt a Lone Ranger mentality; emphasizes the bottom line; and rewards drive, decisiveness, productivity and long work hours—while paying scant attention to inner and spiritual development. Benefiel outlines her principles of soul formation for leaders through true-life stories, such as those of Tom and Kate Chappell of Tom's of Maine, and the U2 guitarist The Edge, who worked with musicians in post-Katrina New Orleans. Benefiel also writes about lesser-known leaders who have concentrated in the development of their moral grounding as well as their account books. Speaking both to individual and organizational spiritual transformation, she highlights the importance of following one's heart and daring to dream through a program of practicing gratitude, perseverance and seeking out spiritual guidance. The author's inspiring message and endorsement from Desmond Tutu will likely earn her book a receptive audience...."
Publishers Weekly, July 14, 2008.
"Thought Leaders Unpacked." Reviews by Karl Edwards.
Ladies of Charity of the United States of America Servicette. Review by Margaret Hanson. 53 (3).
Journal of Management, Spirituality, and Religion. Review by John G. Cullen. 7 (3).
Presence. Review by Karen Erlichman. 15 (1).
The Daily Saint. Review by Mike St. Pierre.
Steve's B-Log through Leadership Transformations, Inc. Review by Steve Macchia.
Reviews of Soul at Work
Barclay Press. Review by Curt Ankeny.
Blackwell Synergy. Review by Christy Lohr. 13 (1).
The Daily Saint. Review by Michael St. Pierre.
Midwest Book Review. 4 (12).
Presence. Review by Gordon Self. 11 (3).
CatholicIreland.net.
@U2.net. Review by Angela Pancella.
Barclay Press. Review by Curt Ankeny.
Blackwell Synergy. Review by Christy Lohr. 13 (1).
The Daily Saint. Review by Michael St. Pierre.
Midwest Book Review. 4 (12).
Presence. Review by Gordon Self. 11 (3).
CatholicIreland.net.
@U2.net. Review by Angela Pancella.
Review of The Soul of Supervision
"As the ministry of spiritual direction grows and evolves, so too does that of supervision. Every spiritual director has an ethical commitment and obligation to maintain an ongoing supervisory relationship that supports and nurtures his or her growth, identity, ministry and service.... The Soul of Supervision is a wonderful addition to the growing library of resources about training, formation, and ongoing support for spiritual directors."
—Karen Erlichman, Presence, Vol. 17, No.1
"As the ministry of spiritual direction grows and evolves, so too does that of supervision. Every spiritual director has an ethical commitment and obligation to maintain an ongoing supervisory relationship that supports and nurtures his or her growth, identity, ministry and service.... The Soul of Supervision is a wonderful addition to the growing library of resources about training, formation, and ongoing support for spiritual directors."
—Karen Erlichman, Presence, Vol. 17, No.1