I opened this book as a curious skeptic. By the end, Judith Blackstone's combination of insight, care, and practical application won me over. Completely. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.

I've mentioned before that Sounds True publishes some of my favorite authors, inclining me to give any of their books a chance. And I am so glad I did this time! The Fullness of the Ground combines theoretical/philosophical groundwork with practical step-by-step instructions, all using carefully considered language. Blackstone addresses issues such as gender with nuance and compassion. Whether I end up coming to the same conclusions as the author or not, I appreciate how much this rather short book gave me to think about and discuss with others. It is the perfect combination of explanation and exploration. While it will not take much time to get through, it will live for a long time in any reader's head.

My background is in Christian theology where the phrase "ground of being" is often used to talk about divinity. It was fascinating to compare and contrast those ideas with the ones Blackstone presents here. Panentheism is another concept from Christian theology which this book illuminates and dissects. Much of the material was in direct conversation with other books I am reading, I am probably the ideal reader. As always, your mileage may vary. But if you are looking for an alternative to your current meditation practice, or merely want to think about the nature of reality, I found much to appreciate in The Fullness of the Ground. It pairs beautifully with The Dawn of a Mindful Universe by Marcelo Gleiser.