By

The Linns

Our books are listed in chronological order. Our thinking and our audience have evolved over time. Although our fundamental message of love has not changed, our most recent books represent our current thinking and how we work with audiences now, whereas some aspects of our earlier books no longer represent us as well. We have included our earlier books for those who still find them helpful.

the two hands of yes and no:

ONE FAMILY’S ENCOUNTER WITH THE SURPRISING POWER OF ACTIVE NONVIOLENCE

(ORBIS BOOKS)

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Unique among the Linns’ many books, this one was written by two generations: Sheila & Denny, and their young son John. Unique among books on active nonviolence, it includes the psychological foundation that helps humans realize their innate capacity for goodness. It is also unique in that it clarifies the true meaning of nonviolence, as represented in the title, The Two Hands of Yes and No. All nonviolent action (in every relationship) can be symbolized by two hands: one says, “No, you cannot mistreat me,” and the other says, “I care about you, too. Although nonviolence is sometimes misunderstood as weakness or passivity, the combination of these two hands constitutes what Gandhi called, “the greatest force on earth.”

The Linns include family experiences of places where active nonviolence has been used, often with dramatically positive results. They found evidence for the stunning but largely unknown success of active nonviolence, confirmed by recent research. This book offers hope to all, including John's generation represented by nonviolent social change movements of students who are leading the way for a country in desperate need of their courage and determination. We hope this book will be required reading in every high school and college, in every adult education program, and for everyone desiring a world of peace for the next generation.

“My grandfather would be happy and proud of how the Linns have honored his legacy and carried on his work…. This book is a must read for anyone who has any doubts about the efficacy of nonviolence.” —Arun Gandhi Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute

“The Linn family is unmatched in its commitment to nonviolent solutions to conflicts, whether large or small. Equally unmatched is the singular and persuasive power of the story they tell in The Two Hands of Yes and No. It deserves a wide audience.” —Colman McCarthy Director, Center for Teaching Peace, Washington Post Columnist “

The Linns have presented a hugely accessible exploration of active nonviolence that will be the 'go-to' book for generations to come….The holiness of our current resistance needs this book.” —Gregory J. Boyle, SJ Founder, Homeboy Industries, author Tattoos on the Heart

“May this book be required reading in every high school and college, and for everyone desiring a world of peace for the next generation.” —Richard Rohr, O.F.M. Center for Action & Contemplation

Available for pre-order.
9781626983335 · Paperback · $18.00 · 5 3/8 x 8 1/4 · 170 pages · September, 2019

THE GIFTS OF NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES:

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DIE TO EXPERIENCE YOUR TRUE HOME

(Hampton roads)

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Near-death experiences (NDEs) are common, well-documented, and similar across cultures throughout the world.
Current estimates are that between 4 and 15 percent of the world’s population have had an NDE. Some of the fascination with NDEs comes from the fact that they often result in great leaps in personal growth. These leaps are characterized by loss of the fear of death, healing of deep hurts, an increase in self-esteem and compassion for others, a sense of union with all things, and a clearer sense of how to fulfill one’s purpose in life.

This is a book that teaches readers how to reap the benefits of NDEs without having to experience the trauma of dying. In their many workshops around the world, the authors have discovered that when we immerse ourselves in
the elements of NDEs, we can experience love, hope, healing, and a sense of purpose.

This is the only book that systematically encourages the reader to create a spiritual and psychological healing practice based on NDEs. Each chapter includes accounts of fascinating NDEs and discussion of their implications
for our lives here, followed by healing processes. The reader is encouraged to contemplate these stories and their own lives. It is truly a profound guide to both living and dying. For those who wish, a free on-line seminar with brief
video links is also available to accompany this book.

“… a fresh and exciting perspective to understanding near-death experiences. Everyone can benefit from learning the wisdom so clearly and eloquently expressed in this book. With each turn of the page you will find a treasure trove of insights, inspiration, and practical pointers that will really work in your life. This outstanding book is expertly written, remarkably easy to read, and enthusiastically recommended.” —Jeffrey Long, M.D., author of the New York Times bestselling Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences

“The Linns have written a book that is both inspirational and practical. They provide wise and gentle wisdom that lead readers into a place of growth and healing.” —Richard Rohr O.F.M, author of Falling Upward

“An extraordinary accomplishment! You don’t have to die to experience the truth about yourself, where you’re from or where you’re going once you leave this life behind. Surprise. . .this is not a book about near-death, not really, it is a book about YOU, the real YOU.” —P. M. H. Atwater, L.H.D., researcher of near-death states, author of Near-Death Experiences: The Rest of the Story, Future Memory, Dying to Know You: Proof of God in the Near-Death Experience, and Children of the Fifth World.

Kenneth Ring, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Connecticut and Co-Founder and Past
President of the International Association for Near-Death Studies. Regarded by many as the “Dean of NDE Researchers,” he is the Founding Editor of the Journal of Near-Death Studies and the author of several books including his best selling books Lessons from the Light, Life At Death, Heading toward Omega, and The Omega Project. He lives in Kentfield, California.

Available for pre-order.
9781571747433 · Paperback · $16.95 · 6 x 9 · 240 pages · May 1, 2016

Healing the Future:

Personal Recovery from Societal Wounding (2012)

This book recounts a journey in which we were nearly overwhelmed by the toxic aspects of our society. As we noticed what helped us, we began giving retreats on "Healing the Future." Here we share how we and our retreatants recovered.

We are between two worlds. The world we've known, of competition, rewards and punishments, individualism and domination, is crumbling around us. A new world, with different economic, political and spiritual assumptions, is emerging. How can we live through this transition, in touch with our power to fulfill our dreams for ourselves and our children? Based upon research in psychology, biology, spirituality, current affairs, and other fields, this book also offers simple healing processes for facing the future with confidence and hope, drawing upon the inner wisdom that has guided us through13.7 billion years of evolution.

Amazon $15.04

Making Heart-Bread(2006)

In a world where our children are bombarded with messages telling them what they must have in order to be happy, how can we help them know from within what will bring them genuine and lasting happiness? Through the simple story of a girl making bread with her grandmother, this book reveals a universal and centuries-old practice of discovering how to take in love from the day's nourishing moments and how to heal the hurtful moments that took life away. Includes a section for adults who want to help children (and perhaps themselves, as well) spend just a few minutes at the end of each day making heart-bread. Together, child and adult can for the lifelong and life-giving habit of choosing happiness that endures. Based upon our book for adults, Sleeping with Bread. Illustrations by Francisco Miranda.

Amazon $15.04

Healing Our Beginning(2005)

A simple introduction to how experiences in the womb and at birth can affect us throughout the rest of our life. Early wounding includes being unwanted, abortion attempts, trauma to the mother during pregnancy, twin loss, medical interventions and birth complications. These wounds can be prevented or minimized in unborn babies and healed in children and adults. Includes healing processes, games and activities for pregnant mothers, babies, children, and adults. (This book replaces Remembering Our Home.)

Amazon $8.95

What Is My Song? (2004)

Children's book based upon our book for grownups, Healing the Purpose of YourLife. Each one of us comes into this world for a special reason, with a song that only we can sing. Children know this. Parents who are listening (including adoptive parents) and other caring adults will often hear something of a child's song long before the child is born. We don't need to teach our children their special purpose in life, as we would teach them to read or ride a bike. Rather, we need to help them remember what they already know. Illustrations by Francisco Miranda

Amazon $15.17 (Hardcover)

Understanding Difficult Scriptures in a Healing Way (2001)

Since loving connection is the central theme of all religions, reading any scripture passage should help us feel closer to ourselves, others, and the spirit of love that fills the universe. What do we do with “difficult scriptures” – those that seem to suggest judgment and activate feelings of fear and shame? This book is about a few such passages that turn out to be wonderful surprises...and suggests simple ways of interpreting any passage that help us find the essence of the scriptures: a universe of love, empowerment and healing.

Amazon $14.95

Healing the Purpose of Your Life (1999)

Each of us comes into this world carrying with us a special purpose, what Agnes Sanford called our "sealed orders." When we follow our sealed orders, we become fully alive, resolve midlife crises and avoid burnout. This book is to help us discover our sealed orders and heal the obstacles to living them out.

Amazon $11.53

Simple Ways to Pray for Healing (1998)

This book contains the eight simple ways of praying for healing that we have returned to most often in our ministry, and integrates spirituality with contemporary physics and psychology. These ways of praying are simple enough for small children, yet profound enough to touch sophisticated adults.

Amazon $12.51

Don't Forgive Too Soon: Extending the Two Hands That Heal (1997)

When we are hurt, we are tempted to either act as a passive doormat or to strike back and escalate the cycle of violence. We can avoid both of these temptations and find creative responses to hurts by moving through the five stages of forgiveness. In so doing, we discover the two hands of nonviolence: one hand that stops the person who hurt us and the other that reaches out, calms that person and offers new life, not only to individuals but to social structures as well. This book has healing processes so simple that children can use them.

Amazon $10.19

Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life (1995)

A simple process--for individuals and for families and others to share--of reflecting on each day's consolation and desolation. This process can help us get in touch each day with both hurts and healing, guide our decisions and help us find the purpose of our life. Includes a question and answer section at the end. Especially recommended for family spirituality, for couples and for communities.

Amazon $10.64

Good Goats: Healing Our Image of God (1994)

This book was written at a time when we still viewed the mystery we call God as a Somebody Somewhere. Today, we understand this mystery as the spirit of universal love that is our essence and constitutes all things. Whatever our understanding of this, we become like the God we adore. One of the easiest ways to heal ourselves and our society is to heal our image of God, so that we know a God who loves us at least as much as those who love us the most. Discusses whether God throws us into hell or otherwise vengefully punishes us, and the role of free will. Includes a question and answer section that gives the theological and scriptural foundation for the main text.
Amazon $12.90

Healing Spiritual Abuse & Religious Addiction (1994)

Why does religion help some people grow in wholeness, yet seem to make others become more rigid and stuck? What arereligious addiction and spiritual abuse, and how can we heal the shame-based roots of these behaviors? Includes how spiritual abuse can also be sexually abusive, and how scripture has often been used to reinforce religious addiction and spiritual abuse. Concludes with an image of healthy religion, in which we are free to live as the love that we are.

Amazon $11.95

Belonging: Bonds of Healing & Recovery (1993)

Recovery from any compulsive pattern is integrated with contemporary spirituality and psychology. This book helps the reader discover the genius underneath every addiction. Defines addiction as rooted in abuse and as our best attempt to belong to ourselves, others, the universe, and God as we understand God. Recovery comes from finding a better way to belong.

Amazon $14.95

Healing the Eight Stages of Life (1988)

Based on Erik Erikson's developmental system, this book helps to heal hurts and develop gifts at each stage of life, from conception through old age. Includes healing ways our image of the mystery we call God has been formed and deformed at each stage.

Amazon $13.33

Healing the Dying (with Mary Jane Linn; 1979)

How the seven last words of Jesus can help us prepare for death...and also for life.

Amazon $9.18

Healing Life's Hurts: Healing Memories through the Five Stages of Forgiveness (1978, revised 1993)

Contains a thorough discussion of the five stages of dying and how they apply to the process of forgiveness. This is our most complete resource on forgiveness, integrated with psychosomatic medicine.