Soul Boom: Why We Need Spiritual Revolution feels a bit like a manifesto written by Rainn Wilson. Most people, myself included, know him as Dwight Schrute from the hysterical and loveable show The Office. Reading this book introduces a different side of him and also opens the door for a larger discussion on spirituality and the future of our western world.

Rainn Wilson grew up as a member of the Baha'i faith and has done his research regarding a variety of other religious and spiritual ideas. He explains that this research has helped him deal with his internal demons and depression. This personal journey is one of the main reasons for his belief in the need for a spiritual revolution. He also feels that it is needed due to the full social disconnect which is happen within our society.

He writes that the disconnect from community has allowed people to get disconnected from one another. Being cut off from each other has led to a multitude of diseases both physical and mental. It has also led to a strong belief of individualization within our society where everyone is trying to get ahead and leave others behind in the dust. We have forgotten how to look out for each other, how to help each other, how to build a community together.

This book is not a call to ignore the hypocrisies that can occur within organized religious. In fact, in many ways it calls out the posturing done by many individuals who call themselves religious. Or how religion keeps failing because of the way it is being directed, misguided, and used for power and control. However, Rainn Wilson still believes in the good in religion and the way it can heal, inspire, and bring society together.

Although, I referred to Soul Boom as a manifesto, it does not come across as preachy. Instead it comes across as an attempt to inspire individuals to connect with each other. It has humor and popular culture references. It provides a space for thoughts to be provoked and discussed. It opens the door for real and meaningful conversation regarding interconnectedness between all religions. I'm not saying that it has all the answers to fix our society but, I did feel like it brought forth some things to pause and think about.

This is a read that is so needed for our current times. The title really does say it all, yet the content fully backs up the reasoning. Rainn is so very knowledgeable about this topic and in listening to the audio he really draws the listener into the topic in an engaging way.

I have been a fan of Rainn Wilson as an actor for several years and am recently a fan of Rainn the person (mostly due to this book). I didn't know what to expect coming into this book, as he often plays quirky, comedic characters. That didn't seem to have a direct connection to writing a book on the topic of spirituality. But he ended up really blowing me away with his examples from his own life, well-researched additions from various religions and spiritual leaders, and an overall earnest approach to such a divisive and deeply personal topic such as this.

While a few of his ideas weren't my cup of tea, I felt that he was thoughtful in making every reader feel included in this book. He wasn't trying to have generalized opinions that fit everyone, but he acknowledged that there are many paths to finding peace in spirituality.

(Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

I couldn't really get into this book -- it's a DNF for me; the start was just too rambling to hold my attention, and I don't have the star-power love for Wilson that might've gotten me through another memoir. That said, I appreciate any time anyone puts pen to paper, so to speak, about their lives and feelings. It's going to be a great book for someone else to read, but not so much for me.

Really interesting look at spiritually and religion. The last forth wasn’t as good, creating a new religion was a little strange and I thought it lost its thesis. Over all ok, not great.

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Difficult to follow at times and a little slow. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Soul Boom by Rainn Wilson is a thought-provoking book about how we all need some sort of spiritual compass to guide us through life. I thought this was a fascinating read, especially the parts about the author's life and how he came to appreciate the importance of spiritual guidance. I highlighted several passages. "I believe that only by recognizing that we are, in fact, spiritual beings having a collective human experience will we be open to the kinds of soul-level transformations we're going to need to make--the spiritual revolution that this book promises." Also, "compassion is described as 'I feel with you, and I am here to help.' It captures the most significant willingness to provide support and action to relieve another's suffering. True compassion, in other words, transcends empathy because if you are experiencing compassion, you are driven to action to alleviate the pain. And that's exactly what humanity needs right now. I would argue this human/divine virtue is our most surprising superpower." I really enjoyed this book and appreciated his openness to many different religious viewpoints. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I love that each religion mentioned was talked about with respect . I love that it centers on the fact that we are all really searching for the same thing and I hope many many people read this.

Sounds True One featured a fascinating hour-long interview with Rainn Wilson, hosted by Sounds True Founder Tami Simon. Here is an excerpt of that conversation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzA6QgGIMvg

It’s hard to review a book like this without bringing in my own personal viewpoints (and maybe that’s fine since it’s my review) but I’m going to do my best to be somewhat objective.

As someone who considers herself “spiritual but not religious,” this book resonated with me. I agreed with a lot of the ideas on the virtue of how to live a good life, as well as the discussions of what problems our world faces today. I found this a humorous and well-written perspective on these big topics.

I don’t think this book would be received well by anyone who is devoutly religious, though the author mentions many of the world’s religions in the most respectful of terms. I just think the concepts in this book would be too “out there” for someone who is a strong adherent to traditional religion.

I do have a couple of constructive comments. One is that I feel like there were a lot of mentions of “it’s not enough to just believe these things, you have to do something about it” but no real suggestions of what to do. It felt more like a book of ideas than any type of manifesto about changes that should be made, though it was said plenty of times that we need to take action to make change. I’m also probably overly sensitive to potential proselytizing but I thought that the author might have a bit of an ulterior motive to try to get people to check out the Baha’i faith. I’m sure that if the author heard it, he would deny it, but it felt like there was a lot of “what would the perfect religion look like?” And then pointing out facts about Baha’i that match that.

Overall, though, for spiritual seekers who are disillusioned by religion and cynical about a lot of things in the world, this book will give a small bit of hopefulness and levity.

Fair warning to fans of The Office: mentions of the show or his time on the show are in passing and tangential at best.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Do I adore Rainn Wilson? Yes, I do. Do I think this is a very important topic? Absolutely. And is it still a very complex issue for me? *Sigh* Yes.

I'm a "None", religiously. On my most enlightened days I'm "Spiritual but not Religious." More often I'm left-brained, data-driven, and annoyed by the hate that purports to be Christian love. And yet... There is some part of me that longs to believe in the message of this book... Some part that wants to believe that we are all divinely connected and that we have a sacred responsibility to our own selves and to our community and world to create the "kin-dom" of God here on earth.

Author Rainn Wilson has presented a lofty goal here... To create a Soul Boom, a spiritual revolution. In fact, he believes that it is absolutely necessary to our survival. Normally I find this type of book to be long on inspiration and short on actionable steps, but Wilson goes farther than most in pointing out changes that must be made and offering alternative ideas that, while idealistic, have actual potential.

Soul Boom begins with the premise that the purpose of faith is two fold- to grow and evolve in our inner selves, and to create a more open and just world. Wilson delves into a wide range of eastern and western faiths for wisdom and to note the commonalities of all faiths. Based on those commonalities, he toys with creating a new, more perfect faith, one that he admits is remarkably similar to his own Baha'i faith.

As an agnostic, I found myself agreeing with Wilson's premises, yet wishing that they were envisioned humanistically, instead of continually chasing a religious structure. That's not Wilson's vision, though. As warm and as inviting as he is to atheists and atheism, he is a person of faith, and that friction will be felt by atheist and agnostic readers. He's given the reader much to think about, though.

Sometimes I find that in books like these, there are a couple of minor paragraphs that are especially intriguing or revelatory. For me, I'll remember these short sections; 1) Andre Gregory's pleading with Wilson to resist cynicism, and 2) the character development exercises that Wilson used with teenagers at a Baha'i camp, and 3) the election methods that the Baha'i members use to elect their community leadership.

Fans of The Office will find a few scattered nods to the beloved show, but Rainn is not Dwight, and this is not a book about the show... at *all*. Instead it is a thought provoking, inspiring call to spiritual growth and reformation, not just for ourselves, but for the entirety of humanity.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. #SoulBoom

There is something here in this book. I love Rainn Wilson, I loved his first book. This one had some great points that resonated with me, and the overall theme is transformative and hits home. We need hope, we need love, we need to believe in something bigger. I couldn't finish this book, and I attribute that to my current feelings about the state of the world. I know that when I'm in a better place mentally I will circle back. This is creative and powerful work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC. This at first glance really seems like a crazy religion book or a book maybe specifically about Rainn Wilson’s following of the Baháʼí faith. I would say it’s, in fact, neither but more of a “nice, let’s be kind to each other” type of book. It ultimately focuses on connection and caring for others, and has some humor mixed in. I really enjoyed it much more than I expected!

Thank you Hachette for the advanced copy of this book!

Best known for his role as Dwight, on “The Office”, Wilson brings his unique brand of humor and sincerity to this thought provoking book. He explores the nature of spirituality and the need for a spiritual revolution in our society but what really sets "Soul Boom" apart is Wilson's ability to approach such profound topics with humor and humility. He shares his own struggles and experiences with spirituality in a way that is relatable, engaging, and humorous.

But don't be fooled by the humor - "Soul Boom" is also a deeply moving and inspiring book. Wilson's love for humanity and his desire to help people find their purpose and live their best lives shines through on every page. Overall, "Soul Boom" is a must-read for anyone who is interested in spirituality and personal growth or just wants something a little soul feeding to read. It's a book that will make you laugh, make you think, and leave you feeling inspired. Thank you Rainn Wilson for continually putting such thought provoking work into the world!

If you’d told me years ago I’d be reading a book on spirituality from Dwight from The Office I’d have called you crazy. Of course that would have been before I knew anything about Rainn Wilson other than his hilarious character from The Office. I’ve since learned about his desire to explore life’s big questions and his SoulPancake project. Right from the start of Soul Boom Rainn admits he’s not an expert in spirituality and says you may very well not agree with all he says, in fact since he is pulling lessons from quite a few different religions/spiritual belief systems, he doesn’t expect readers to agree with it all and merely encourages you to keep an open mind, take what you want from the book and leave the rest. While he repeatedly discusses his own religion, Baháʼí Faith which focuses on unity and teaching the worth of all religions, he isn’t preachy about it, doesn’t insist his is the only way, and I definitely appreciate that. He tackles serious issues but does so in an entertaining, enjoyable, and thought provoking way. I’d like to thank Hachette Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RLA9C16I9LFJH/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

This book is exactly what I needed at this exact time. I loved how Rainn Wilson was able to write about a topic that is considered controversial and taboo in today's society yet also include so many qualities and virtues that as a whole, we practice every day. Such as love, compassion, unity, etc. He makes a topic that some consider difficult to understand, so simple. I also loved that he could still bring in his humor and wit. You can tell from his passion and writing, that he wants to make this world a better place for everyone and all he suggests is that we each try a little harder to be a little better. This was an incredible read. Regardless of your religious preferences, I think everyone should read this.

I'm not entirely sure what I expected when I chose this book.

A comedic memoir? Spirituality found in The Office? A call to faith?

This book was both all and none of these things.

First off, I had no idea he was behind SoulPancake (Kid President!), so that was a cool pin in my serial killer red thread board.

I loved hearing about his upbringing, (tough as it was) and I found his passion and activism super compelling.

It had less humour than I anticipated, but also more heart.

I see the author has a few more works under his belt, and I'm going to enjoy every one of them.

7.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for this surprising ARC.

This was such a unique read! This was one person going down really deep, deep down the rabbit hole of exploring their own relationship with faith, religion, spirituality, and all that comes with it. Loved, seriously loved it. The author does not hold back and lets himself think of all the comfortable and uncomfortable things that come with this thing, being a human, living this life as a human, and how we all need some sort of spiritual guidance.

I think my personal favorite was the part about creating a new religion. Loved the structured and logical way of explaining it.

Also, let me make it clear in case it is needed for those who are on the fence about reading this book: this is NOT a religious read. Not. At. All. There is also a healthy dose of humor along the deep and serious musings about the need to nurture our souls in one way or another.

I enjoyed this book as one person's exploration of faith. It is not a call to faith that is likely to inspire others to the same, but as a memoir, it worked for me.

My thanks to both NetGalley and Hachette Books for an advanced copy of this memoir and spiritual quest for understanding by a man who tries to be as good to his soul as he is funny.

A lot of us use humor to get through the day. Frankly it it better to be crying tears of laughter than the tears many of us want too. Considering the state of everything, the complete self-centeredness that seems to be a societal norm, the breakdown in almost everything in the world, the loss of rights for women, and many others. Laughter is the only medicine that America's health care might be prescribing soon for mental health issues. Though the deductible will still be very high. There are a lot of books coming out trying to help people with the feelings that life really isn't that great. Some ask that you don't give a double fudge sundae what others think. Some try to get you to find your inner Gorp, and buy some oddly scented candles. And this works until the next book in the series comes out. Rainn Wilson, actor, writer, comedian has a better thought. Maybe there are a lot of answers, people just have to find the question to make themselves happier. Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution is a look at different ways of thought from religion and esoteric thinking, to pop culture, and other unconventional places to raise our understanding of our spiritual thoughts.

The book begins with a brief description of Wilson's upbringing, which sounded just awful. a child of the 60's his mother left early, leaving him with a father who was distant, and a stepmother who stepped up and took care of him. Wilson's father was a member of the Bahá'í Faith, which teaches that all religions have purpose and meaning, and that all people are united in a common love. Wilson returned to Bahá'í later as an adult after struggling with every addiction imaginable, with a lot of depression, and self loathing tossed in. This allowed Wilson to be more open to just about anything in spiritually, even the things that contradict itself. Wilson ranges across a lot of different ways of thinking, discussing high points and low points of different ways of thought. Plus the strong foundations of faith that can be found in both the television shows Kung Fu, and of course Star Trek.

The book can be quite moving as well as quite humorous which can be difficult to pull off. Also there is a sense that this means a lot to Wilson, not some cash grab idea that seems so prevalent today. There is an empathy, a sense of both wonder, and oh that sounds right that comes right off the page. Wilson had a very rough childhood, and suffered quite a long time because of it. This book is as much for himself as it is for others. The writing is very friendly is the best way to put it. Ideas are discussed and even discussions on Davd Carradine are well done. Wilson is a bit of a nerd and that shows, but he is a nerd that cares, and that is always a good thing.

Famous people love to write books on how we can make ourselves better, omitting the fact that they have daycare, chauffeurs, trainers, co-writers, agents, and mountains of cocaine to help them. None of that is here. I really enjoyed reading this book, looking at different ways of thinking and the non-cynical look at spirituality in a hope to understand ourselves better.