From the Ashes is a hardbound testimonial to two enduring sources of comfort in times of grief: the word and the spirit. After the September 11 attack on the United States, poetry was suddenly heard everywhere--from memorial services to the network news. Meanwhile, churches reported an enormous increase in attendance. In this outstanding collection of essays, the world's spiritual leaders blend their poetic words with their indestructible spirits to offer Americans solace. Collected by the editors of Beliefnet, a multifaith Internet site, these essays represent a multitude of spiritual traditions. Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh answers the question, "What I would say to Osama bin Laden." The Reverend Billy Graham speaks to "The Mystery of Evil." Religious scholar Karen Armstrong asks, "Is Islam Violent?" and Wiccan Starhawk ponders, "What would the Goddess do?"Some of the most touching words come from the e-mails posted on the Beliefnet message board in the days after the attack. (The e-mails are displayed on a ticker tape-like band across the bottom of every page.) From the wisdom of rabbis, priests, and Wiccans to the voices of everyday Americans, this collection stands as a phoenix, symbolizing the hope and possibility that can arise from the ashes. --Gail Hudson