The Cushion in the Road: Meditation and Wandering as the Whole World Awakens to Being in Harm's Way
Walker’s declaration, “I have been a political, social, and spiritual activist for most of my life, and feel connected to peoples and struggles all over the world,” sets the tone and focus of her latest, poem-laced essay collection, as does her characterization of herself as a “person of three colors (African, Native American, European).” Walker traces the roots of these trinities of vocation and identity to her mid-twentieth-century childhood in overtly racist Georgia as she writes of her devotion to gardening and meditation and her remarkable global journeys as an intrepid advocate for peace and justice. Although the book begins with dated, oddly awkward essays about President Obama’s first term, Walker’s compassion, courage, and humor gain strength and eloquence essay by essay. She shares her openhearted views on love; condemns torture and war; offers distinctive perspectives on Cuba, South Africa, and Gaza; pays homage to her heroes, from Howard Zinn to Aung San Suu Kyi, John Lennon, and Julian Assange; critiques books, which she calls “lifeboats”; and assures us that we can all help bring about change for the communal good.       HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Media attention will surge for this provocative collection by Walker, a revered writer of conscience. --Donna Seaman