{"product_id":"the-empty-bowl-pursuing-truth-in-a-messy-world-by-rikki-west","title":"Empty Bowl: Pursuing Truth in a Messy World by Rikki West","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerfect for readers who seek understanding of how they fit into the universe, Rikki West’s vibrant memoir follows her journey of confronting hidden assumptions and childhood trauma on the way to finding her life’s vibrant, living truth.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt seven, Rikki West begs a mysterious God for help, praying that her drunk father won’t harm their family and that he won’t be sent to hell. But when nothing seems to happen, she worries: Is anyone up there really listening?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis question triggers a lifelong search for the great, loving being she imagines her prayers might reach. Delving into Catholicism, psychedelics, transcendental meditation, yoga, AA and Buddhist chanting, she explores every available path. She studies genetic science at UC Berkeley and humanities at San Francisco State, combing through the knowledge they offer for answers to the big questions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA single lesbian mom, Rikki soars in her Silicon Valley career until the dot-com bust leads to the loss of opportunities. At age 56, she finds herself barely employable. Yet, with bills to pay and the drive to earn her own way, Rikki seeks whatever odd jobs she can patch together, from barista and gardener to deck builder, proposal writer, newspaper deliverer, and substitute teacher.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlong the way, she keeps up her questioning of the universe. But it is only when she throws overboard all her notions of God and truth that something unexpected and wonderful blossoms in her. At the age of seventy-one, Rikki recognizes her answer—in the most surprising place.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42622478811214,"sku":"9781647428228","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0663\/5329\/9534\/files\/the-empty-bowl-pursuing-truth-messy-world-rikki-west-namaste-bookshop.jpg?v=1752616319","url":"https:\/\/namastebookshop.com\/products\/the-empty-bowl-pursuing-truth-in-a-messy-world-by-rikki-west","provider":"Namaste Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}