The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron (New York: J.P. Tarcher, 10th edition, 2002). Bestselling book guides the reader through 12 weeks of reflections and exercises designed to open up the paths to creativity. You don't need to be an artist to benefit from this book. Cameron recommends a daily practice of morning pages, a free-from writing exercise, which can also serve as a spiritual practice.

The Best Things in Life Aren't Things: Celebrating What Matters Most by Joann Davis (Boston: Beacon Press, 2003). This collection of short essays takes the reader on an inner journey to reflect on what's most important in life. The author examines America's predilection toward a lifestyle of excessive consumption and offers inspirational antidotes and alternatives.

Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life by Thomas Moore (New York: Harper Perennial, Reprinted 1994). Former Catholic monk and therapist writes about the loss of soul in modern society and suggests ways to nurture the soul, cultivate depth, and develop inner peace in today's world.

Freedom of Simplicity by Richard J. Foster (New York: Harper, 1998). Christian-oriented book proposing a biblical basis for the principles of voluntary simplicity. Offers guidance on how to live simply in a complex world using the power of prayer and solitude.

How to Want What You Have: Discovering the Magic and Grandeur of Ordinary Existence by Timothy Miller, Ph.D. (New York: Avon, 1996). Clinical psychologist explores the human tendency to always want more and the lack of connection between material wealth and happiness. Offers an alternative path to happiness, based on the practices of compassion, attention, and gratitude.

Inner Simplicity: 100 Ways to Regain Peace and Nourish Your Soul by Elaine St. James (New York: Hyperion, 1995). Short essays of a how-to nature focusing on the inner life of simplicity.

Lilabean: A Story of Simplicity for Grown-up Girls by K.C. White (Elizabeth City, NC: Bean Pot Press, 2002). A delightful storybook written in verse detailing one woman's evolution from being overwhelmed with clutter and not enough time to creating a life of simplicity and joy. This book would be a great gift for a woman friend who is simplifying her life.

Ordinary People as Monks and Mystics: Lifestyles for Self-Discovery by Marsha Sinetar (New York: Paulist Press, 1986). Presents real life stories of people who have explored their inner selves as part of the process of becoming whole. While the book does not focus specifically on voluntary simplicity, most of the people featured live simply.

Plain Living: A Quaker Path to Simplicity by Catherine Whitmire (Notre Dame, IN: Sorin Books, 2001). Using the wisdom of present-day Quakers and Quaker elders, Whitmire explores the dimensions of living a simple and spiritually enriching lifestyle, including ways to create a world free of physical and spiritual clutter.

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach (New York: Warner, 1995). Bestselling book of short essays written for women. Explores themes such as harmony, gratitude, authentic creative expression, and spirituality.

Simplicity: Finding Peace by Uncluttering Your Life by Kim Thomas (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1999). Discusses simplicity from a religious point of view, as a tool to enhance one's relationship to God. Reviews the benefits of simplicity as it applies to the physical world, the relational and emotional world, and the spiritual world.

To Have or To Be? by Erich Fromm (New York: Continuum, Reissued 1996). Author of The Art of Loving explores the differences between the having mode, based on our relationship to things, and the being mode, based on our relationship to other people, the earth, and ourselves.

Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn (New York: Hyperion, 1994). Explores practice of meditation in depth. Offers guidelines for cultivating practice of mindfulness.

Write from the Heart: Unleashing the Power of Your Creativity by Hal Zina Bennett (Novato, CA: New World Library, 2nd edition, 2001). Explores the relationship between spirituality and creativity for writers. New edition includes helpful exercises to expand your creative powers.

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