Spiritual Intelligence in Seven Steps

By: Mark Vernon

Narrated by: Mark Vernon

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

We live in an age of emergency, exacerbated by a collapse of meaning. Writer and psychotherapist Mark Vernon examines the type of intelligence that, whilst often dismissed and overlooked, is crucial to understand and cultivate if we are to survive and thrive in our times. Spiritual intelligence is the foundation of who we are and our particular type of consciousness. It is the perception identified across wisdom and religious traditions, and known by many names, which can be summarised as the awareness of awareness, and so of being itself. It is the foundation of peace, even in the face of death, as well as purpose and solidarity. The challenge today is to recover and live according to that knowledge. Examining themes from the nature of consciousness to the experience of time, the emergence of our species and the teaching of spiritual adepts, the book is an antidote to rampant AI and a complement to emotional intelligence. It is written without presuming religious commitments in readers and draws on a mix of sources and experience gained from the author's own practices. It advocates pilgrimage and improvisation, virtues over morality, and big histories that do not turn the story of our species into a bleak struggle for survival. The seven steps will help listeners identify spiritual intelligence within themselves, unpack why it matters, and suggest how a wider trust in it may be revived.

©2022 Mark Vernon (P)2022 Mark Vernon

A cool drink of water in a desert

Mark Vernon never fails to deliver the goods. In his podcasts, his YouTube videos and his books he provides for us a glimpse of the great truths. I enjoy his soothing voice so much that if I lived in England I'd like to be a client of his therapy service.

This book is a wonderful window into his lifelong dedication to sharing simple solutions to complicated spiritual problems. After I read one of his previous books, "The Secret History of Christianity", my path was lit with a clear light. I can't thank him enough for that gem of a book and this one continues in that vein by taking us on an enlightened course of instruction in the wisdom of the ages.

If you haven't availed yourself of the pleasure already, be sure to check out his conversations with various thinkers, philosophers and cultural movers which are available in many forms online. Mark always brings the discussions around to the necessary core message of meaning and spiritual journey in the human experience.

Excellent and challenging book

I really enjoy Mark Vernon's analyses. Started listening to his commentaries on Dante's Divine Comedy and found his assessments incredibly enlightening and challenging. This book is no different.

If you wanted a book that "tells you how to live" - then this is NOT the book for you. If you wish to deeply analyze HOW you think of spiritual and even emotional issues, then try this book.

Was Expecting Something More Prescriptive

I was expecting this book would offer concrete steps to improve one's spiritual life. What I got was a lot of talk about spiritual ideas which is ok as far as it goes. The book seems rambling at times (perhaps this is because of the reader). Also, the author overuses quotations and ideas from so many different sources, that he could almost call this book an anthology of spiritual ideas. While the idea of spiritual intelligence as a correlate to Goleman's emotional intelligence is a good one, this author does not deliver anything close to Goleman's crisp and engaging work.