This book presents introductions to classics of Christian spiritual literature. Written in a popular, lively style, each essay is based on up-to-date research and insights into the place of the classics in a contemporary spirituality. ""I am certainly familiar with the classics of Western spirituality so I did not think I would be able to read through this book, which is something of a primer on the subject. I was wrong. It surprised me to see how replete the book was with fresh insights and pieces of information that were unknown to me and that I gladly picked up for use in my own lectures."" --Anthony DeMello, SJ Mitch Finley is a former adjunct instructor in the religious studies department at Gonzaga University. He is the award-winning author of more than thirty books on themes of interest to Catholic readers, including It's Not the Same without You: Coming Home to the Catholic Church, The Rosary Handbook, and Key Moments in Church History. He earned a BA in religious studies from Santa Clara University and an MA in theology from Marquette University.