In recent years, a series of highly publicized controversies has focused attention on what are arguably the 16 most important words in the U.S. Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The ongoing battles reflect competing views of the meaning of the religious liberty clauses of the First Amendment. In this book, Murray reexamines these debates and distills the volumes of commentary and case law they have generated. He analyzes not only the changing contours of religious freedom but also the phenomenon of American civil religion, grounded in the notion that the nation’s purpose is sanctified by a higher authority — an idea that can be traced back to the earliest New England colonists and remains deeply ingrained in the American psyche.

Twin sisters Judi and Shari Zucker took nearly 20 years of eating healthily and living right as their inspiration for their fourth book. Boasting 70 vegetarian recipes with tips on cooking vegan, nutrition tips for pregnancy and keeping kids healthy, and exercise tips, the “double energy twins” create a comprehensive approach to a total lifestyle change, not just a diet. The twins have led a vegetarian lifestyle since age 11 and follow a plant-based, no-sugar diet that they say gives them more energy. The twins have implemented their comprehensive health approach at home with their own families and educated parents and kids in the parent-child Natural Cooking classes at Montecito Union School in Montecito, Calif.

Labunski illustrates the life and struggles of James Madison and his role in laying the groundwork for the Bill of Rights. Madison’s struggle with Patrick Henry to ratify the Constitution, his knowledge of government and his passion for a stronger country make him an influential and underrated member of the Founding Fathers. A shy, short man with a great intellect, a quiet voice, a constant fear for his health and an intense dislike for campaigning, Madison is responsible for helping to lay the groundwork for our country’s ideals.

“America’s Forested Wetlands: From Wasteland to Valued Resource” - Jeffrey K. Stine, ’75, M.A. ’78, Ph.D. ’84 - Forest History Society

Until the 1930s, the slow destruction of wetlands had gone relatively unnoticed by the American public, and little attention was paid to the necessity of swamps and bogs in maintaining the balance in the ecosystem.  The wetlands have provided invaluable resources by contributing to flood control, water quality and biological diversity. Stine sheds light on the overconsumption of resources that are contributing to the extinction of the wetlands. Stine emphasizes the importance of getting the public to recognize that clear-cutting of Cyprus swamps and draining of marshes and bottomlands will have a drastic effect on how Americans approach daily life. The debates over policies to preserve, restore and re-create the wetlands are continuous but are important in order for humans to understand and appreciate this limited resource.

“Mastering Happiness: Ten Principles for Practicing a More Fulfilling Life” - Joel F. Wade, ’82 - Vervante Publishing

The key to having a happy life is improving the level of happiness each day, and Joel Wade demonstrates the steps to take to master a happy life.  Wade emphasizes practicing the skills of happiness with purpose until they become habits that can be maintained for a lifetime. With nearly three decades of working as a marriage and family therapist, teacher and life coach, Wade brings his own research experiences in positive psychology to creating a more fulfilling and satisfying life.