Stephanie Dowrick, PhD, is the author of a number of deeply thoughtful, accessible and genuinely life-changing books. They include Choosing Happiness:Life and Soul Essentials, Everyday Kindness, Intimacy and Solitude, Forgiveness and Other Acts of Love and Seeking the Sacred, described by critic Claire Scobie as a "chalice of wisdom". She is also a leading Rilke scholar and her book on reading Rainer Maria Rilke (and understanding reading and spiritual seeking more generally), In the Company of Rilke, has been highly praised by critics and welcomed by a wide range of readers. Stephanie Dowrick has been writing for more than two decades and prior to that worked in publishing for some years, including her time as founder and first Managing Director of the prestigious independent London publishers, The Women's Press.Born in New Zealand, and having lived in a number of countries including the UK and Germany, she has lived in Australia since 1983 and regards herself as a global citizen. This makes her ideally placed to consider some of the most urgent social and personal issues facing us at this time. Stephanie Dowrick blogs regularly, keeps an active public Facebook page, teaches widely on a variety of ethical and psychological issues, leads spiritual and writing retreats, and also leads a large spiritually inclusive community. Her web address is http://www.stephaniedowrick.com