Works by
Drew Leder
(Writer)

The Absent Body (1990)
The body plays a central role in shaping our experience of the world. Why, then, are we so frequently oblivious to our own bodies? We gaze at the world, but rarely see our own eyes. We may be unable to explain how we perform the simplest of acts. We are even less aware of our internal organs and the physiological processes that keep us alive. In this fascinating work, Drew Leder examines all the ways in which the body is absent--forgotten, alien, uncontrollable, obscured.

In part 1, Leder explores a wide range of bodily functions with an eye to structures of concealment and alienation. He discusses not only perception and movement, skills and tools, but a variety of "bodies" that philosophers tend to overlook: the inner body with its anonymous rhythms; the sleeping body into which we nightly lapse; the prenatal body from which we first came to be. Leder thereby seeks to challenge "primacy of perception." In part 2, Leder shows how this phenomenology allows us to rethink traditional concepts of mind and body. Leder argues that Cartesian dualism exhibits an abiding power because it draws upon life-world experiences. Descartes' corpus is filled with disruptive bodies which can only be subdued by exercising "disembodied" reason. Leder explores the origins of this notion of reason as disembodied, focusing upon the hidden corporeality of language and thought. In a final chapter, Leder then proposes a new ethic of embodiment to carry us beyond Cartesianism.

Spiritual Passages: Embracing Life's Sacred Journey (1997)
What if the aging process is not a kind of "mistake," a descent into dotage and disability, but rather a grace-filled opportunity? What if the changes we face in life's second half are an ideal curriculum for soul-growth? Dr. Leder is one of the pioneers in studying the spirituality of mid- and later-life, synthesizing contributions from sacred traditions such as Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Native American, and Taoism. His book on this topic, Spiritual Passages: Embracing Life's Sacred Journey, has been called "marvelous," "a classic", " exceptionally rich and readable," "profound and practical," "delightfully written," a book which "could revolutionize the aging of society."

In related work, as a Scholar-in-Residence at Chicago's prestigious Park Ridge Center, Dr. Leder designed a model for "ElderSpirit Centers" - spiritually-based communities for older adults interested in using the later years for inner work and outward service. He is now acting as a consultant to educational and residential communities seeking to actualize this ideal, and provide a new alternative to conventional retirement facilities and senior centers.

Dr. Leder also offers lectures, retreats and workshops around the country on the topic of the spirituality of aging and of life's second half (contact him for a schedule of upcoming events). Above are links to more information about his book, Spiritual Passages, and a couple of articles, one brief, one longer, on related topics.

Games for the Soul: 40 Playful Ways To Find Fun And Fulfillment In A Stressful World (1998)
Spiritual growth is often associated with hard labor and self-sacrifice, so it's no wonder many of us shy away. But Games for the Soul, a book by Dr. Leder says just the opposite, proclaiming that our journey can be joyful, embracing all the fun and creativity we associate with games. The book offers forty simple, thought-provoking games, each embodying a spiritual principle such as forgiveness, self-love, generosity, or gratitude. The games are designed to help us deal more effectively with stress, and reverse habitual responses that block true happiness.

The Soul Knows No Bars (2000) with Arlando Jones III, Charles Baxter, Donald Thompson, Gary Huffman, H.B. Johnson Jr., Jack Cowan, John Woodland, Mark Medley, Michael Green, O'Donald Johnson, "Q", Selvyn Tillett, Tony Chatman-Bey, and Wayne Brown
The Soul Knows No Bars is a unique book, co-authored by Drew Leder, and inmates at the Maryland State Penitentiary. Taking off from the texts by Foucault, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Buber, Cornel West, and others, the men speak of the impact within their lives of power, violence, sexual and racial identity, incarceration, and the liberation of spirit possible even in a maximum-security cell. Leder's work with inmates has been featured in the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Chicago Tribune, and national media. From the forward by Cornel West: [Drew Leder] is a kind of latter-day Socrates who embodies and enacts an intellectual spirituality that critically questions and lovingly serves others in an atmosphere of mutual respect...This book is a timely lifting of the veil on the human doings and sufferings within one of the fastest growing industries in America a prison industry that literally warehouses disproportionately black and brown peoples.

The Body Medical Thought and Practice (2001)
In the second half of the 20th century, the body has become a central theme of intellectual debate. How should we perceive the human body? Is it best understood biologically, experientially, culturally? How do social institutions exercise power over the body and determine norms of health and behavior? The answers arrived at by phenomenologists, social theorists, and feminists have radically challenged our conventional notions of the body dating back to 17th century Cartesian thought.
This is the first volume to systematically explore the range of contemporary thought concerning the body and draw out its crucial implications for medicine. Its authors suggest that many of the problems often found in modern medicine -- dehumanized treatment, overspecialization, neglect of the mind's healing resources -- are directly traceable to medicine's outmoded concepts of the body. New and exciting alternatives are proposed by some of the foremost physicians and philosophers working in the medical humanities today.

Sparks of the Divine: Finding Inspiration in Our Everyday World (2004)
The idea that the world is filled with holy sparks is shared by diverse religious traditions. Learn to uncover this sacred dimension to both hallow the world and be healed by its powers.