A Small Presence in the Universe

Born in Brooklyn in 1930, Muriel Pomerance had her early years shaped by the rich culture of Brighton Beach. She absorbed the social mores expressed through the Hollywood movies of the day and experienced the cultures and ideas brought by the influx of new people alongside the coming of World War II.

But when she was fourteen years old, everything changed.

It was then that Muriel met two incredible people who would ultimately encourage her to reject the assigned roles of her contemporaries and carve a different path for herself.

Her fascinating story includes a disappointing marriage and subsequent divorce, a college education, a career, and a host of travels around the globe that open her eyes to the world's cultures.

"A Small Presence in the Universe" addresses three crucial life periods in which we get our bearings, find our role in society, and then slowly detach ourselves from the bonds of the material world-all in search of spiritual fulfillment.

This inspiring memoir is the powerful story of a woman who broke the mold and lived to tell about it.