In this "kiss to the world of great writing," literacy specialist and minister Lea Mathieu urges readers to feed on books that nourish the soul by discussing three dozen examples from various genres that have transformed her life. They are drawn from "the wealth of secular literature that serves a sacred purpose, that speaks to our search for deeper understanding of the human condition in all its pain and beauty, suffering, glory, and possibility. Literature that yearns toward holiness." The book is divided into three big questions: Why Bother to Live? Why Does Evil Persist? and What Happens After Death? The Literate Spirit is recommended for book groups and individuals who wish to read widely and deeply.