All of us here at Blydyn Square Books are thrilled to welcome our latest author, Carrie-Ann Biondi, to the Blydyn Square family!
Carrie-Ann has 25 years of experience teaching philosophy at the college level (1994-2019). She left academia to pursue her broader mission of promoting intellectual independence in new and creative ways. As a freelance editor, educator, writer, speaker, and occasional “meaning midwife,” she is devoted to asking the right questions to help individuals unlock wonder, cut through confusion, know their own minds, and find their own voice so they can live meaningful, flourishing lives. Biondi holds a B.A. and M.A. in American Studies and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy. Her research interests, publications, and presentations range from Aristotle, citizenship, and virtue ethics to Socratic pedagogy, friendship, and popular culture. Her articles have been published in scholarly journals such as Public Affairs Quarterly, Teaching Philosophy, Social Philosophy & Policy, Polis, and Reason Papers. An avid fan of inspirational real-life people and fictional characters, she has also contributed essays to various popular culture and philosophy volumes, including Steve Jobs and Philosophy, Ted Lasso and Philosophy, Hamilton and Philosophy, Harry Potter for Nerds, and The Philosophy of Sherlock Holmes.
Below is a short summary of Carrie-Ann’s upcoming book with Blydyn Square. Be sure to stay tuned here and on social media for details about when it will become available!
Summary:
Spirituality for Secular Souls: Rational Guideposts for a Meaningful Life (working title) is for those searching for a rational vision of life that enables them to create lives of purpose and deep human connection based on an empowering sense of self. “Nones” (who check “none” on surveys of religious affiliation), “Dones” (who left religion), and the “secular curious” (who are sort of religious but look for resources outside of organized religion) often feel lost, alone, and excluded from the spiritual dimension of life, and forced to choose between shallow hedonism or dogmatic religion. As a None, Biondi used to buy into this narrative, until a comment from a friend led her to rethink the assumption that spirituality and secularism don’t mix. What if ideas such as spirit, sacred, reverence, ritual, and meaning apply as much to secular as to religious living? In this book, she reclaims and develops spiritual concepts and rational principles for secularists to give voice to their highest ideals. Whether you’re having an existential crisis, leaving religion, or looking for “something more,” you’ll find useful tools, from real-life examples to student-tested writing prompts and exercises, to provide guideposts for your secular spiritual journey.
