Smith makes good use of evocative descriptions, demonstrating his understanding of Grace in lyrical prose that hints at the warmth accompanying belonging, acceptance, and peace in one’s existence. Drawing from his own life experience, he explains how daily walks with his dogs evolved into prayer journeys and an eventual realization that “we are never alone; we are ‘undivided’ individual expressions of God being itself, all loved, and with a purpose.” When addressing conditioning, Smith delves into how destructive it can be, arguing that, to truly achieve Grace, we must let go of self-focus and recognize “the ‘I’ we think we are is relentlessly conditioned to ‘get ahead’… [which] creates the all-powerful ‘self’ that stands in opposition to reality.”

Though a quick, precursory read, Authenticity and Grace touches on barriers to authentic living and how to break through conditioning, assuring readers that “anyone in this world… can learn to see Grace operating in their lives,” without requiring “faith or religious affiliation”—though Smith does note that spiritual principles are at play in his definition and exploration of Grace. He closes with encouragement to shed materialism—and separate from our fast-paced, virtual world—to “truly grow in spirit and character and become who we were meant to be.”

Takeaway: Brief introduction to restoring life’s sense of wonder, through grace.

Comparable Titles: Kevin John Delaney’s A Life Worth Living, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Notes for the Journey Within.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A