Beak, a religious scholar and writer for the San Francisco Chronicle Web site, sfgate.com, presents a brief but potent book focused on invigorating spirituality in the 20- or 30-something American woman. She vividly criticizes the patriarchal interpretation that has dominated most belief systems for centuries, and then quickly moves on to create her own feminist one. Beak encourages her female audience to do so as well, with their own "red book" modeled after hers, which was first given her as a birthday gift by her sister after their grandfather's death. Beak initially rejected the idea of keeping a journal, but soon found herself writing down prayers, recording dreams and in essence keeping a spiritual scrapbook. Avoiding the typical sentimentality, Beak's vision is a modern, femme fatale spirituality. The book lives up to its "unorthodox" subtitle, advocating that young women search for the spiritual in all things, even sex (memorably in a chapter called "Open Up and Say Ahh"). Beak calls herself a "spiritual cowgirl," taking her readers along for the ride. Her writing is probably too brazen for more conservative spiritual readers, but she displays poignant insights throughout. (June 16) (Publishers Weekly, February 27, 2006)

"GORGEOUS! . . . A deep, smart, and authentic guide to being more indelibly and powerfully yourself."
—SARK, author-artist, Succulent Wild Woman

"Every so often there comes our way a glorious chunk of life so utterly unique that even the jaded blink twice. The Red Book is just such a chunk . . . refreshing, sparkling, effervescent . . . a psychic shower for the soul."
—Neale Donald Walsch, author, Conversations with God

"If you're hungry for real magic but allergic to self-righteous jive, sit yourself down at this feast."
—Rob Brezsny, syndicated columnist, Free Will Astrology

"Smart, stylish, divine!"
—Cameron Tuttle, author, The Bad Girl's Guide to Getting What You Want

"Beak's knowledge is far-reaching. Her lightness of being is worth taking seriously."
—China Galland, professor, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California; author, The Bond Between Women