Unitarian Universalist minister York made a splash with her slender inspirational books Remembering Well and Pilgrim Heart; fans won't be disappointed with this third volume, in which she turns her attention to hospitality. What does it mean to en-counter the stranger? In a world that seems increasingly anomic, how can we create intimacy? Stories from York's own life exemplify hospitality--she takes a homeless man to a diner for breakfast and finds meaning and closeness in small talk she makes with a man she often sees on her jogging route. (Don't be fooled, though: York, always a personable narrator, doesn't present herself as perfectly virtuous. She also loses her temper in traffic and dislikes waiting in lines.) One especially moving tale is that of Gary Smith, a minister who found himself stranded in a strange town with a toddler and a hospitalized wife. Another minister, whom Smith had never met before, came to the rescue, taking the toddler into his home until Smith's wife had recuperated: Stories like that, York suggests, are not so unusual; most of us can remember a time when we were helped by a stranger. York also offers practical tips: share a meal with friends; think of the Internet not as an atomizing force, but as a place of intimacy where old friends can reconnect; revive that older ethic of neighborliness. Above all, York stresses, hospitality means presence. Readers will find here what they have come to expect from York--wisdom, humor and a glimpse of God's love. (Aug.) (Publishers Weekly, July 15, 2002)

"Fear of the stranger is far too common among us-and since September 11th, our fear has only deepened. But in a world rich in human diversity, much depends on understanding how our encounters with 'otherness' can enlarge and renew our lives. Sarah York's superb book opens door after door to that understanding. The Holy Intimacy of Strangers is not only timely but deeply soul-searching and wonderfully well-written. If we are willing to live into its insights, we will feel more at home on earth and help make earth home for others.
— Parker J. Palmer, author, Let Your Life Speak and The Courage to Teach

"In our market driven atomistic age, we are often thrown on the kindness of strangers. In this wise and poignant book, Sarah York shows us how to imbue these relationships with trust-and, yes, love."
— Sylvia Ann Hewlett, author, Creating a Life and chair, National Parenting Association

"The Intimacy of Strangers is a gift to the soul. In an often distracted, coarse, and fear-full culture, Sarah York awakens us to everyday moments of trust, connection, and care-and our capacity to choose what kind of 'strangers' we want to be. This book will unlock your imagination and open your heart."
— Sharon Daloz Parks, coauthor, Common Fire: Leading Lives of Commitment in a Complex World and author, Big Questions, Worthy Dreams