{"title":"Judith Valente","description":"\u003cp\u003eJudith Valente’s work invites readers on a journey of self-discovery and reflection, blending insightful guidance with heartfelt narrative. Her books often explore themes of personal growth, mindfulness, and the art of embracing life’s complexities with grace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a sense of wanderlust woven into her prose, Valente's writing also celebrates cultural exploration and the profound connections found in travel. Readers can expect thoughtful meditations that inspire both inner and outward adventure.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-italian-soul-by-judith-valente-9781642970722","title":"The Italian Soul","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis is a book for spiritual seekers and all who want to bring a piece of the Italian way of life into their own homes.\u003c\/b\u003e  James Martin, SJ, author of \u003ci\u003eLearning to Pray\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTake a pilgrimage of the heart, a journey toward change that will allow you to approach life with a more contemplative stance and recreate a sense of \u003ci\u003ela dolce vita\u003c\/i\u003e––the sweet life––wherever you may be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Italian Soul\u003c\/i\u003e, Judith Valente shares personal stories and insights into the Italian way of life that she experienced as she strolled the streets of this charming country. Focusing on the attitudes, traditions, and practices that make the people of Italy role models for experiencing delight amid the demands and distractions of ordinary living, she observed how they:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ehave a deep appreciation for quality and aesthetics,\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003evalue taking the time to savour the little moments in life,\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eshow a strong sense of community and make room for leisure and personal care, and\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ehonour their dead and have a deep respect for tradition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, it explores the contemplative practices and attitudes that seem to come naturally to a people who have made an art of living and working joyfully. A cross between a travel dispatch and a spirituality guide for seekers who eschew traditional religious practices but yearn for ways to bring more balance, sanity, and a greater sense of the transcendent into their daily lives, \u003ci\u003eThe Italian Soul\u003c\/i\u003e is a book that will change the way you look at life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46732659425516,"sku":"9781642970722","price":34.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/26697343482772.jpg?v=1755126911"},{"product_id":"how-to-be-by-paul-quenon-9781642970340","title":"How to Be","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a dialogue between two spiritual seekers—one a Trappist monk and the other a married professional woman. It is two people stuttering to articulate life's universal questions from diverse contexts and perspectives. Brother Paul writes as one steeped in silence and the daily rhythms of the ancient prayer practices of monasticism. Judith Valente writes as a professional woman attempting to bring a sense of prayer and contemplation to a scattered life in the secular world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eValente uses the story of Brother Paul's interview for a PBS documentary as a jumping-off point: When asked the purpose of the Trappist life in the modern world, he said that it is \u003ci\u003e'to show you don't need a purpose.'\u003c\/i\u003e The purpose of life, he said, is life. \u003ci\u003e'You're to live your life.'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHow to Be\u003c\/i\u003e offers a window into two people living their lives on purpose (or not) and struggling to come to terms with the big issues everyone faces: faith, mortality, mystery, prayer, work. It is a book that provides insight and inspiration for those walking the spiritual path—particularly for those interested in the contemplative path.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47558930465004,"sku":"9781642970340","price":24.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781642970340-how-to-be.jpg?v=1776922894"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/judith-valente.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}