Available as Hardback
From the Sunday Times bestselling author Richard Holloway, an inspiring and profound collection of essays reflecting on art, faith, forgiveness, grief and home
In On Reflection Richard Holloway thinks back on some of the questions that have shaped his life. Here, then, are the big asks: is there a God? How can we forgive? Where does creativity come from? How can we face loss and death? How can we live a good life? And how do we find beauty in the world?
To this cause he also recruits the help of poets, writers, musicians and artists, whose own wisdom can help us navigate life’s challenges. To ‘reflect on’ can also mean to change your mind; a necessary facility in any well-lived life. And this leads us to more of our big asks: how do we change the world for the better? How do we heal divisions? How does a society move forward?
In beautiful prose, and with care and joy, Richard Holloway offers his reflections on how a good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.
“Praise for Richard Holloway: ‘Reading Holloway is like taking a long walk in the countryside – afterwards, you understand the world better, you feel less lonely”
Elif Shafak
guardian
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“Open-hearted and wide-minded … Holloway’s commentarywill indubitably bring a crumb of comfort to many readers”
scotsman
“Elegant, elegiac and thought-provoking”
observer
“Thoughtful, playful, courageous and deeply altruistic … a fine companion for anyone who wishes to live a life of any depth”
A.l. Kennedy
“If every priest and imam, every MP and CEO, every person like you and me read this, then the world would be a better place. It is devastatingly humane. It blends science, philosophy and religion and admits the art (and artifice) in these avowedly objective forms. Erudition and empathy; I wept”
Damian Barr
Richard Holloway
Richard Holloway was Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. A former Gresham Professor of Divinity and Chairman of the Joint Board of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, he is a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His books include On Forgiveness, Looking in the Distance, The Heart of Things, Stories We Tell Ourselves, Waiting for the Last Bus and Leaving Alexandria, which won the PEN/Ackerley Prize 2013 and was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize 2013. Richard Holloway has written for many newspapers in Britain, including The Times, Guardian, Observer, Herald and the Scotsman. He has also presented many series for BBC television and radio.