“Anatomy of Torture” by Ron E. Hassner

"Does torture "work"? Can controversial techniques such as waterboarding extract crucial and reliable intelligence? Since 9/11, this question has been angrily debated in the halls of power and the court of public opinion. In Anatomy of Torture, Ron E. Hassner mines the archives of the Spanish Inquisition to propose an answer that will frustrate and infuriate both sides of the divide. The Inquisition's scribes recorded every torment, every scream, and every confession in the torture chamber. Their transcripts reveal that Inquisitors used torture deliberately and meticulously, unlike the rash, improvised methods used by the United States after 9/11. In their relentless pursuit of underground Jewish communities in Spain and Mexico, the Inquisition tortured in cold...>>

“Demonic Gospels: The Truth about the Gnostic Gospels” by Ken Johnson

"Learn how we got the books of the Bible. There were prophets who proved they were from God by performing miracles and making localized predictions with one hundred percent accuracy. Their long range predictions were then recorded in the sixty-six books of the Bible. We can know this for a fact because over fifty of those long range prophecies have come to pass since the nation of Israel was reborn in AD 1948. The ancient church fathers teach the Gnostic gospels were demonically inspired. They contain no prophecy and their teachings contradict the teachings of the prophetically proven Word of God. In some cases the church fathers record which cults wrote which gnostic books...>>

“Gnosis and Hermeticism from Antiquity to Modern Times” edited by Roelof van den Broek and Wouter J. Hanegraaff

"This volume introduces what has sometimes been called the third component of western culture. It traces the historical development of those religious traditions which have rejected a world view based on the primacy of pure rationality or doctrinal faith, emphasizing instead the importance of inner enlightenment or gnosis: a revelatory experience which was typically believed to entail an encounter with one's true self as well as with the ground of being, God. The contributors to this book demonstrate this perspective as fundamental to a variety of interconnected traditions. In Antiquity, one finds the gnostics and hermetics; in the Middle Ages several Christian sects. The medieval Cathars can, to a certain extent, be considered part of...>>

“How to Think Like a Gnostic” by Jeremy Puma

"Everything you ever wanted to know about gnosis, but were afraid to ask! In How to Think Like a Gnostic, Jeremy Puma builds upon his previous work in Gnostic philosophy, approaching it as a functional worldview for a solitary practitioner. Breaking down the Gnostic myth to its basic components, Puma clarifies the often inscrutable aspects of Gnostic thought without talking down to the reader. Accessible, interesting, and often humorous, How to Think Like a Gnostic is a must for the library of anyone interested in the Gnostic Way."...>>

“The Art of Transforming the Mind: A Meditator’s Guide to the Tibetan Practice of Lojong” by B. Alan Wallace (2022 edition)

"Tibetan Buddhist practice isn't just sitting in silent meditation, it's developing fresh attitudes that align our minds with reality. Includes three new translations of Atisha’s source material. In this book, B. Alan Wallace explains a fundamental type of mental training that is designed to shift our attitudes so that our minds become pure wellsprings of joy instead of murky pools of problems, anxieties, fleeting pleasures, hopes, and frustrations. The lojong—or mind-training—teachings have been the subject of profound study, contemplation, and commentary by many great masters. Wallace shows us the way to develop our capacity for spiritual awareness through his relatable and practical commentary on the mind-training slogans."...>>