It gives us great pleasure to announce the winners of the Second Annual NAPRA Nautilus Awards in 2002,

recognizing books that make an exceptional contribution to promoting conscious living and positive social change. If there's a theme that runs through thisyear's winners, it might be "integration" or "synthesis"; in singular fashion, each espouses a worldview that combines values and merges disciplines in pursuit of greater understanding. These authors and editors are not specialists but "integrative" thinkers who can, for instance, meld spiritual, political, and environmental values into a congruent whole. Our thanks to everyone who attended the awards ceremony in New York, and our gratitude and congratulations to the 47 nominated authors and publishers. In particular, we thank the eleven winners:

GRAND WINNER

The Places that Scare You
by Pema Chödrön (Shambhala)

The Nautilus Grand Winner from books submitted in adult categories is—in a sense—about seeing the world as interconnected. It is about using our emotional reactions to the people and events around us as training ground for mindfulness—or perhaps more accurately—heartfulness. “When life is pleasant, think of others; when life is a burden, think of others,” is one of the author’s instructions. Through a variety of teachings and practices, she guides her readers to remain open to the unvarnished and uncertain present moment, especially when we’re in a place of discomfort or fear. The path that Pema Chödrön describes is not an easy path. It’s not a quick fix program, or a fast lane to enlightenment. It IS a wise book about the practice of unblocking our basic goodness—the bodhichitta—the practice of turning our personal difficulties into our connection with all of humanity. [top]

ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT

Stormy Weather
by Guy Dauncey with Patrick Mazza (New Society Press)

Stormy Weather provides a concise and comprehensive overview of the issue of global warming as well as 101 means by which readers can address the issue either individually or collectively. Last fall it was also the fitting debut title in New Society’s new tree-free publishing program; it’s published on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Stormy Weather informs, motivates change, and walks its talk as an environmentally conscious title. [top]

SPIRITUALITY

Soul Prints
by Marc Gafni (Pocket Books)

Marc Gafni illuminates the contour and content of the human soul by showing that each of us has a singular identity and spiritual signature — our unique individual soul print. Soul Prints is a collection of astonishing stories and insightful exercises, all artfully woven together with Gafni’s wise and accessible philosophy. We learn to follow our Soul Prints on the journey from isolation and loneliness to intimate connection with others. As we listen to the call of our Soul Prints, we finally discover and begin to fully embody our unique life stories. [top]

HEALTH & HEALING

Meditation As Medicine
by Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D. and Cameron Stauth (Pocket Books)

While the stress-reducing and therefore health-promoting benefits of hatha yoga and meditation practices have become well known in recent years, Dr. Khalsa takes us a step further, looking at meditation and yoga techniques that are especially useful for specific medical conditions. Part One introduces Medical Meditation, discusses how it works with the physical and etheric bodies, and cites relevant scientific research. The second portion of the book delineates the essential elements: breath, posture and movement, mantra, mental focus, and daily practice. The last part covers the chakras with their particular dysfunctions and specific techniques to address them. [top]

SOCIAL CHANGE

For the Sake of Peace
by Daisaku Ikeda (Middleway Press)

Daisaku Ikeda, winner of the United Nations Peace Award, has a passionate commitment to peace that was born and forged during the horrors of world war II, horrors which included the death of his brother. In For the Sake of Peace, Ikeda outlines 7 paths to Global Harmony, starting with the mastery of peace within the individual, which grows into trust, respect and meaningful dialogue between inviduals, which then extends to include communities, whole cultures, nations, and international relations. At a time when we squander enormous amounts of human and environmental resources on the study of and preparation for making war, For the Sake of Peace stands as a primary text in the study and practice of making peace. [top]

PERSONAL JOURNEYS

The Architecture of All Abundance
by Lenedra J. Carroll (New World Library)

In The Architecture of All Abundance Lenedra Carroll crafts from her personal story a guidebook for living a soul-centered life and working with integrity. Her book gracefully honors life’s questions, and also offers some answers about how to use the soul as a compass in the quest for prosperity—in our careers, our relationships, our striving for health and spiritual fulfillment. [top]

SELF-HELP/PSYCHOLOGY

Sacred Contracts
by Caroline Myss (Harmony)

Myss gained fame as a medical intuitive who demonstrated not only stunning accuracy in her “readings” but also an easy-to-understand conceptual framework. She teaches how to “connect the dots” between our attitudes and beliefs and the physical conditions that develop over time because, as she succinctly puts it, “our biography becomes our biology.” She identifies the archetypes as “universal forms of cosmic intelligence [that are] directly involved in the day-to-day organizing of our lives” and believes that, properly understood, they reveal the spiritual purpose or “Sacred Contract” that is our individual reason for being. This interactive book shows how to discover and work with your personal “archetypal companions.” [top]

CHILDREN'S GRAND WINNER

The Lady of Ten Thousand Names: Goddess Stories from Many Cultures
by Burleigh Mutén, ill. by Helen Cann (Barefoot Books)

No matter how balanced and culturally diverse a group of stories is, it won’t be read unless the narrative flows and the words sing. Burleigh Muten’s lucid retellings will make young readers lust to know more about other cultures. At the same time readers will catch meaningful glimpses of the various spiritual paths that are a part of the tapestry of human existence. Illustrator Helen Cann’s visual elements resonate perfectly with each story—her telling details add both aesthetic insight and information that celebrate people and places throughout the world. [top]

ILLUSTRATED PICTURE BOOK

The Family of Earth
by Schim Schimmel (Northword Books for Young Readers)

In this beautiful book, luminous supra-real depictions of the earth and its creatures invite the reader to experience the sacred wonder of existence. Though all living beings see the world we live in from separate perspectives, that world is our common ground and is more magnificent than any of us can fully comprehend. Schim Schimmel’s visionary work beautifully conveys the understanding that as humans, we are called to treat all living creatures as family and to keep our earth sound and whole. [top]

YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE

Touching Spirit Bear
by Ben Mikaelsen (HarperCollins)

In this finely wrought psychological novel, a juvenile offender named Cole is banished to an island to live alone for an entire year. Though dangerous animals are not believed to live on the island, a mysterious white bear approaches the boy’s camp, and is provoked by Cole into a ferocious and nearly deadly attack. With the guidance of elders who come to his aid, Cole begins to learn compassion and forgiveness of self and others and becomes attuned to nature and the society in which he lives, exemplifying that even the most alienated kid should never be dismissed as incorrigible. [top]

CHILDREN'S NON-FICTION

The Chimpanzees I Love
by Jane Goodall (Scholastic)

Goodall’s documentation of chimpanzees in the wild serves as a fascinating window for understanding humans as well as animals. Reflected throughout these well-photographed pages are Goodall’s fundamental precepts: “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference. And we have a choice: What sort of difference do we want to make?” [top]

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