New & Recent Books

Explore the remarkable life of Charity Cook in this updated edition of Algie I. Newlin’s book, first published in 1981 and available once again after being out of print for many years. A backwoods country woman, Charity Cook rose in the 18th century to become one of the foremost traveling ministers holding the Society of Friends (Quakers) together in what was becoming a new nation. She traveled on horseback to minister to meetings and families from Carolina to Massachusetts.Later, she … Read More

When a young woman moves her family to the North Carolina wilderness, she depends on her spiritual fortitude and loving compassion to become the leader her Quaker community desperately needs. After Mary Jackson undertakes the perilous journey of moving to the North Carolina wilderness with her family, she answers the call to lead the women in her Quaker meeting, a role she struggles to fulfill with sensitive insight and loving care. Too soon, their peaceful community is shattered when farmers … Read More

Hearing the Light begins with the foundations of Quaker theology, which is based in the Quaker method of unprogrammed, silent worship. This act of gathering as a community to wait and listen to God is at the heart of Quakerism and essential to understanding Quaker theology, which is embedded in the practice as well as explained by it. Rhiannon Grant shows how Central Quaker theological claims, such as that everyone has that of God within them, that God offers support and … Read More

Finding Purpose in Troubled Times Quakers have made the cultivation of the guided life the focus of their spirituality for over three centuries. Generations of Quakers have developed practices for nurturing their connection to an inward source of guidance, meaning and purpose. This Inward Guide is present in all people, cultures and traditions. It goes by many names and is understood in many ways, but it is equally available to everyone who is willing to listen and respond. The Guided … Read More

Telling the truth about God without excluding anyone is a challenge to the Quaker community. Drawing on the author’s academic research into Quaker uses of religious language and her teaching to Quaker and academic groups, Rhiannon Grant aims to make accessible some key theological and philosophical insights. She explains that Quakers might sound vague but are actually making clear and creative theological claims. Theology isn’t just for wordy people or intellectuals, it’s for everyone. And that’s important because our religious … Read More

How can we find inner stillness in our lives today? What is it for and how can we use it? Inspired by the fiery writings of early Quakers, such as George Fox and Margaret Fell, this book calls on their advice to go within and wait, adapting it to create a modern, relatable method for finding stillness and peace. This meditation is for us to use however we most need it, whether to explore and heal the self and others … Read More

How the Jesus story and the Quaker way fit together. ‘What is Quakerism?’ can be a difficult question to answer, especially when Quakers today struggle to find a shared religious language. In this book, Mark Russ answers this question from a personal perspective, telling his story of trying to make sense of Jesus within the Quaker community. Through this theological wrestling emerges a ‘Quaker Shaped Christianity’ that is contemporary, open and rooted in tradition. In reflecting on how to approach … Read More

Tim Gee tells the story of why he became a pacifist and what it means to him. Gee reflects on the lives of peacemakers past and present to provide responses to questions like “Don’t we have to hit back if we’re hurt?”, “Don’t we need war to respond to evil?” and “Doesn’t religion justify wars?”. This is a critique of war, but more than that, it stakes a claim for pacifism’s feminist and anti-racist qualities. This is a call for … Read More

Margaret Fell was an inspiring and practical leader in the early Quaker movement in 17th-century England. Remembered as the wife of George Fox, her writings have been largely forgotten. This book brings them to life again, with excerpts and reflections structured around the four testimonies that have continued to shape Quaker witness to this day: Simplicity, Truth, Equality and Peace. To do this, Joanna Godfrey Wood follows each passage with a modern adaptation of Fell’s words and then explores her … Read More

Economic issues pervade the testimonies. Quakers value equality, yet we see economic inequality increasing dramatically. We value integrity, yet our economic system has no place for conscience. We value simplicity, yet our growth economy requires ever-increasing consumption. We value community, yet our society throws out those on the margins. We value stewardship, yet are running through finite resources at an alarming rate. We value peace, yet the violence and devastation caused by our economic system’s exploitation of people and the … Read More