The Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness

The moving story of her own search for God by the highly-acclaimed author of the bestselling A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Review :
Praise for Karen Armstrong "Karen Armstrong is a genius." --A. N. Wilson, author of Paul: The Mind of the Apostle "Armstrong can simplify complex ideas, but she is never simplistic." --"The New York Times Book Review """The Spiral Staircase" at once combines memoir, theology, philosophy. It's a story about becoming human, being recognized, finally recognizing oneself. And it's written with self-respect but not egomania, compassion that never turns into self-pity. More than anything, it fills the reader with hope." -Carolyn See," Washington Post Book World" " ""A minor masterpiece of dry, acerbic autobiography." -Joseph Hooper, "Elle ""Enjoyable and deeply interesting . . . Here we find no name-dropping, no writers' conferences, and barely a mention of the publishing business; the book is, rather, the story of the making of a writer . . . It manages to dramatize the writer's process of intellectual development and to find in it genuine interest, and, indeed, suspense . . . As an account of the intellectual journey of an intelligent and unique individual, the book is often gripping, sometimes moving, and ultimately very rewarding." -Troy Jollimore, "San Francisco Chronicle ""Weirdly riveting, thanks largely to Armstrong's candor and her unstuffy, disarming prose . . . It's a pleasure to read simply because it's honest and hopeful." -Stephanie Zacharek, "Newsday" " ""Charming and eloquent, intimate and illuminating, "The Spiral Staircase "tells the remarkable tale of the spiritual odyssey of an exceptionally gifted thinker and teacher. Readers who turn to Karen Armstrong for her insights on God and the great religions will thrill at theopportunity to witness her own intimate struggle toward truth, health, and wholeness." --Jonathan Kirsch, author of "God Against the Gods """All rising is by a winding stair," In her most personal work to date, Armstrong takes us behind the scenes in the life of a freelance monotheist. Like Jacob, she climbs toward Transcendence." --Michael Wolfe, author of "The Hadj: An American's Pilgrimage to Mecca ""The world of religious autobiography is now singularly enriched by the remarkable story of the remarkable Karen Armstrong as told by her good self. We who have taken great profit from her insight into the life and faith of others now see here in this book her insights on her self. She really is light in darkness." --Peter J. Gomes, author of "Strength for the Journey: Biblical Wisdom for Daily Living ""Karen Armstrong, chronicler of the human search for God, writes here with exquisite authenticity of one person relentlessly searching for the necessary self. A deeply moving account of a serious and large-hearted life. The book rings like the stroke of a bell--that clear, true tone. And it summons every reader to do the same." --James Carroll, author of "Constantine's Sword ""Opening this book is like sitting down for coffee on a first date with someone who is interesting and odd. Your conversation becomes unexpectedly intimate: painful tales of bafflement and illness, gleaming crystals of self-discovery and joy. By the time you get up from the table, you have fallen in love." --Rabbi Arthur Waskow, author of "Godwrestling -Round 2: Ancient Wisdom, Future Paths ""An engaging story of her own spiritual journey by contemporaryreligion's foremost public intellectual. Armstrong's narrative is candid, witty, insightful, and moving. A book that teaches as it entertains." --Marcus J. Borg, author of "The Heart of Christianity ""I loved this powerful and moving account, and read it nonstop." --Elaine Pagels, author of "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas" "From the Hardcover edition." " Enjoyable and deeply interesting. . . . Very rewarding." - "San Francisco Chronicle" " A story about becoming human, being recognized, finally recognizing oneself. . . . It fills the reader with hope." - "The Washington Post Book World" " Riveting. . . . It's a pleasure to read simply because it's honest and hopeful. . . . Armstrong is such an evocative writer." - "Newsday" " I loved this powerful and moving account, and read it nonstop." - Elaine Pagels, author of Beyond Belief " In . . . Armstrong's memoir there lurks wisdom about the making and remaking of a life . . . from which all of us could learn." - "The New York Times Book Review" " A powerful memoir. . . . Buoyed by keen intelligence and unflinching self-awareness and honesty. . . . Armstrong is an engaging, energetic writer." - "The Christian Science Monitor" " A minor masterpiece." - "Elle " " Exceptionally impressive. . . . Karen Armstrong's account of her spiralling journey provokes thought and inspires respect." - "Daily Telegraph" " The story of the making of a writer. . . . It manages to dramatize the writer's process of intellectual development and to find in it genuine interest, and, indeed, suspense. . . . As an account of the intellectual journey of an intelligent and unique individual, the book is often gripping." - "San Francisco Chronicle " " Candid and compelling, and the sentences are flawless." - "The Dallas Morning News " " Unputdownable- absorbing, moving." - "Daily Mail" " Remarkable. . . . Unflinching. . . . This candid memoir will clarify thinking about the search for the sacred." - "Booklist" " "" Gripping. . . . Uplifting. . . . Utterly compelling." - "The Edmonton Journal "" Armstrong writes with sensitivity and wisdom. . . . She employs a breadth of learning that reflects the scintillating, shifting light and shade of human experience." - "The Times "(London) " "" Absorbing. . . . Profoundly inspiring and engaging." - "Tallahassee" "Democrat" " An honest and affecting book." - "The Independent "" "The Spiral Staircase" . . . is great. Armstrong is a marvelous writer and her subject matter is meaty. Her subject is the meaning of life." - "Deseret Morning News" " Open and accessible, Armstrong manages to put into words something that most of us cannot express." - "New Statesman" " "" Moving, insightful. . . . Compulsively readable." - "Library Journal" " "" A subtle and funny memoir." - "Sunday Telegraph" "Enjoyable and deeply interesting. . . . Very rewarding." -"San Francisco Chronicle" "A story about becoming human, being recognized, finally recognizing oneself. . . . It fills the reader with hope." -"The Washington Post Book World" "Riveting. . . . It's a pleasure to read simply because it's honest and hopeful. . . . Armstrong is such an evocative writer." -"Newsday" "I loved this powerful and moving account, and read it nonstop." -Elaine Pagels, author of Beyond Belief "In . . . Armstrong's memoir there lurks wisdom about the making and remaking of a life . . . from which all of us could learn." -"The New York Times Book Review" "A powerful memoir. . . . Buoyed by keen intelligence and unflinching self-awareness and honesty. . . . Armstrong is an engaging, energetic writer." -"The Christian Science Monitor" "A minor masterpiece." -"Elle " "Exceptionally impressive. . . . Karen Armstrong's account of her spiralling journey provokes thought and inspires respect." -"Daily Telegraph" "The story of the making of a writer. . . . It manages to dramatize the writer's process of intellectual development and to find in it genuine interest, and, indeed, suspense. . . . As an account of the intellectual journey of an intelligent and unique individual, the book is often gripping." -"San Francisco Chronicle " "Candid and compelling, and the sentences are flawless." -"The Dallas Morning News " "Unputdownable-absorbing, moving." -"Daily Mail" "Remarkable. . . . Unflinching. . . . This candid memoir will clarify thinking about the search for the sacred." -"Booklist" " ""Gripping. . . . Uplifting. . . . Utterly compelling." -"The EdmontonJournal ""Armstrong writes with sensitivity and wisdom. . . . She employs a breadth of learning that reflects the scintillating, shifting light and shade of human experience." -"The Times "(London) " ""Absorbing. . . . Profoundly inspiring and engaging." -"Tallahassee" "Democrat" "An honest and affecting book." -"The Independent """The Spiral Staircase" . . . is great. Armstrong is a marvelous writer and her subject matter is meaty. Her subject is the meaning of life." -"Deseret Morning News" "Open and accessible, Armstrong manages to put into words something that most of us cannot express." -"New Statesman" " ""Moving, insightful. . . . Compulsively readable." -"Library Journal" " ""A subtle and funny memoir." -"Sunday Telegraph"