FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Inquiring minds want to know…

Who are you, and why did you create this website?
These questions deserve their own page.

What ever possessed you to develop such a long list of books on mysticism?
I’ve been interested in mysticism since I was in high school. I’ve collected books by and about the mystics since then, and I’ve read quite a few of them. But in 2004 I decided I wanted to read the mystics in a more systematic fashion and thus began my personal reading list, which eventually evolved into a list of 111 Mystics of the Western traditions. Currently the books on that list are my top priorities for personal reading, study, and lectio divina. Meanwhile, though, it seemed to make sense to develop an even more extensive bibliography, and that’s how this website came about. I began it in March 2007.

Why do you concentrate on Christian mysticism?
Because I’m a Christian, and therefore I love mysticism particularly in its Christian form. I believe there is a profound difference between mystical Christianity and the moralistic piety that gets dished out from the vast majority of church pulpits. I think many people who have been alienated from institutional Christianity (as I was, for many years) will find profound healing if they approach Christian mysticism with an open mind.
Of course, this site also includes a representative sampling of mystical writings by non-Christians. Like many students of Christian mysticism, I believe that Christian spirituality is enhanced, not detracted, by a balanced study of world faiths. Meanwhile, it is my sincere hope that adherents of the many other great mystical traditions of the world will take it upon themselves to create similar bibliographies, concentrating on their own paths. I have to build on what I know and love, and leave the rest for others.

If you’re a Christian, why do you include so much non-Christian material?
See above. In my experience, Christians who are educated in their faith and confident about the beauty and grace of the Christian message do not find other spiritualities threatening or dangerous. Rather, I have found that most Christians with a deep love for Christian spirituality are open, gracious, and curious about all that is good, true, and beautiful in other faiths. The exemplar in this was the great twentieth century American Catholic mystic, Thomas Merton, who was profoundly interested in Buddhism and Sufism, among other paths. His is an example well worth following.
In my first book, Spirituality, I wrote: “In my experience, my faithfulness to Christ and my openness to the wisdom of other traditions are two aspects of my spiritual journey that have enhanced and enriched each other.” Those words remain true for me today.

Have you read all of the books in this bibliography?
How I wish I could say “Yes”! Thankfully, I have read more than a few. For that matter, I’ve examined virtually all of the books included — like many bibliophiles, I tend to acquire about five books for every one I read all the way through. But truth be told, this bibliography is, on one level, simply a gargantuan “to-read” list of books I hope to get to, someday. I’m happy to note that, in the words of more than one character from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, “I’m not dead yet!” So hopefully I will have the opportunity to read many more of these in the days and years to come.

How do you determine what is or isn’t “mystical”? In other words, how do you decide if a book belongs in this bibliography or not?
Trying to define mysticism, whether Christian or otherwise, is an exercise about as rewarding as trying to herd cats. Regarding Christian mysticism, I have a moderate-to-conservative understanding of the word — I think it refers to a type of spiritual experience that is grounded in tradition, defined by prayer, deeply contemplative, and characterized by a profound sense of union-with-God-as-Divine-Other. But it’s important to note that the concept of “mysticism” has evolved over the centuries and early Christian mystics like Evagrius Ponticus or the Pseudo-Dionysius would not have understood mysticism in this way at all; to them the concept would have pertained to liturgy and theology rather than to experience!
World mysticism, on the other hand, I understand more broadly, as referring to any form of profoundly experiential spirituality, of necessity taking many different forms since the world encompasses so many different religious and spiritual paths.
So when deciding if a book belongs here or not, I basically trust my own rather instinctual understanding of what is or isn’t mysticism, and for that matter, what is or isn’t representative or exemplary within the field of mystical experience or mystical studies. Those who know about these things will note that I have a clear preference for figures who have been widely regarded as mystics, particularly by renowned interpreters of mysticism like Evelyn Underhill or Bernard McGinn. Since it’s my list, I also have taken the liberty to include some of my favorite writers and topics, an indulgence for which I hope the users of this list will be appropriately tolerant.
Everyone has an opinion, and those who are amazed that I have left someone out (or included someone) are invited to express their amazement via the comments form at the bottom of this page. Please bear in mind that at the end of the day, I am the final arbiter of what is or is not included in this list.

I’d like to recommend a book for inclusion on this list. How can I do that?
Simply post a comment at the bottom of the page. Please understand that I cannot guarantee that I will include every book suggested, but I will give every suggestion due consideration.
If it’s a book that you’ve written, edited, or published, or are responsible for promoting, please see the next question…

I’ve written/edited/published a book on mysticism. Will you add it to the list?
If a book belongs on this list, I want to know about it! I am happy to review books for possible inclusion on this website. I need to see the actual book before I can determine if it should be included in the list; if a book is particularly noteworthy I will also consider it for the annotated list or for a full-length review. I need to see a finished copy of a book (not the manuscript or galley) and I cannot guarantee that every book I examine will be listed and/or reviewed. Please send review copies to Carl McColman, P.O. Box 1146, Clarkston, GA 30021.

Why don’t you give full bibliographic information?
This website is primarily intended to inspire readers. In other words, my goal is to get myself, and you, and everyone else who visits this site to turn off the computer and start reading some of these wonderful books — and then, hopefully, to put into practice these wisdom teachings and thereby make the world a better place. For this reason, I’m not so worried about who published a book, or in what year. If you really need that information for a particular title, all you need to do is follow the book’s link to amazon.com. Or better yet, purchase your own copy (or at least, go check it out of a library). Checking books out of a library is fine and certainly the right thing to do if your resources are limited. But whenever you can, please buy books by and about the mystics: the more copies of these books that sell, the more publishers will have an incentive to keep them in print and bookstores will stock them, thereby increasing their visibility and their impact on the world.

Do I have to read all these books in order to be a mystic? It seems overwhelming.
First things first: you don’t have to do anything in order to be a mystic except be open to receiving the love of God. Reading a book won’t do it, neither will meditating real hard or knowing all the right doctrines or “secret hidden teachings” (and I tend to be suspicious of stuff like that, since Christianity has been an open-source religion for at least the past 1600 years). The mystical life is not something we achieve or make happen; it is a gift given by God.
As for all these books: I offer this list out of love and joy. No one needs to read any of these books — but I believe most people will find books on this list that will bring them great insight, spiritual wisdom, and a deep abiding sense of Divine Love. As you scan over the list, focus only on what interests you. Leave the rest of the list for another day (or another person).

Hey, aren’t you the author of books on Neopaganism and Celtic spirituality?
Yes, that’s me. From 1997 to 2004 I was estranged from Christianity and identified as a Neopagan. During this time I wrote eight books which were published between 2001 and 2005. Many of them are still in print and can be purchased from my Books page. The story of my journey from Neopaganism back to Christianity can be found here.

What can I do to help?

1. Buy and read these books. When you follow the links I’ve provided to amazon.com and purchase your books there, a small portion of your purchase is paid to me as a commission. It’s a win-win: you buy a book, this website gets support, and best of all, another book on mysticism is getting read!
2. Tell people about this website. Send the link to your friends, have it mentioned in your church bulletin, make an announcement in your class. Remember, the real goal is not just to support this website, but to get people to buy — and read — these books.
3. If you have a website of your own, please link back to www.anamchara.com (to point to my blog) or to www.bibliomystic.com (to point to the booklist). Better yet, provide a link to both URLS: the more inbound links to this website, the higher it will appear on search engines like Google or Yahoo!
   Thank you for your interest and your support.