God The Bestseller : How One Editor Transformed American Religion A Book At A Time by Stephen Prothero

God the Bestseller: How One Editor Transformed American Religion a Book at a Time takes readers on a remarkable voyage through the spiritual landscape of 20th century America. Authored by Stephen Prothero, a renowned religion scholar and New York Times bestselling writer, this captivating book recounts the life of Eugene Exman, a pivotal figure who molded American religion through his impactful publishing endeavors.

Exman collaborated with influential trailblazers of the era, including controversial preachers, Civil Rights pioneers, and Nobel laureates, to deliver books that guided individuals towards spiritual solace. In addition to his professional work, Exman embarked on a personal quest to recreate the ethereal moment when he witnessed God astride his horse near the local cemetery in 1916. Drawing from personal letters and documents, this book chronicles Exman’s mystical journey and his quest for a spiritual guide in India during 1962.

God the Bestseller delves into the profound impact of experiential religion and showcases how Exman reshaped and revitalized American spirituality. It reveals a realm of spiritual exploration characterized by fluid boundaries, diversity, and individualized encounters with the divine. Immerse yourself in this inspiring narrative and discover how Exman’s efforts transformed American religion into a thriving realm of personal enlightenment. Begin your own journey of spiritual exploration by securing your copy of this mesmerizing book today!

“God the Bestseller: Untold Stories of an Influential Editor and the Making of Books”

Hi, I’m Steve Prothero, a professor at Boston University and the author of a book called “God the Best Seller.” It explores the fascinating world of bookmaking and the story of one little-known editor and his famous authors. Let me take you on a journey of how this discovery unfolded.

One day, I received a call from a woman who mentioned her father’s collection of religion books. It was located just five minutes away from my home on Cape Cod. Intrigued, I decided to pay a visit. When I arrived a few months later, I was surprised to find that most of the books were from the 20th century. This was uncommon as the calls I usually receive involve old 19th-century Bibles and theological texts.

However, I stumbled upon something extraordinary as I picked up Martin Luther King’s “Stride Toward Freedom.” To my astonishment, it was a first edition, and inside, I discovered a letter addressed to Eugene. In this letter, the author thanked Eugene for his contribution to the civil rights movement and for convincing Martin to write his first book. I was struck by curiosity and decided to delve further into Eugene’s story.

A similar occurrence happened when I picked up “The Big Book of AAA,” published in 1939. Inside, I found another letter addressed to Eugene, expressing gratitude for his involvement in helping the book get published and for his support to the AA movement. These encounters left me wondering who Eugene was and why, as a professor of American religion, I had never heard of him.

Over the following year, Judy’s husband, Walter, brought in boxes filled with letters, diaries, manuscripts, and more from the barn. This collection shed light on Eugene X-Men, a religion editor at Harper from 1928 to 1965. He was responsible for publishing numerous best sellers, including the first three books by Martin Luther King. Eugene also worked with Howard Thurman, Dorothy Day, Aldous Huxley, Hindu Swamis, Jewish Rabbis, and Zen Buddhists. The letters revealed hidden stories behind these books and the efforts to shape their messages to appeal to a broader audience.

However, “God the Best Seller” is not just a historical account; it is also a personal story. Eugene’s journey began as a bookish farm boy from rural Ohio. While driving his horse around the family farm, he would immerse himself in the pages of “Little Women.” One night, on his way to a Bible study, Eugene experienced a profound encounter. His horse reared back, and he felt an electric shock, seeing a white light and feeling lifted up. He believed he had encountered God and devoted the rest of his life to seeking that experience again.

Eugene surrounded himself with religious thinkers who shared similar encounters. They became his friends and, in many cases, his authors. Together, they advocated for personal experiences of God as a solution to the modern issues of materialism and militarism. They experimented with various techniques to facilitate these experiences. Eugene even co-founded an interfaith commune in Southern California and, ahead of his time, explored substances like LSD for spiritual purposes.

This sprawling story features Eugene X-Men as a remarkable figure, akin to Zelig or Forrest Gump. Yet, it is also a story that illuminates American religion and culture. It explains why many people believe that all religions are one and that true religion is more about personal spiritual experience than adhering to creeds or rituals.

Recently, I visited Sturgis Library, the oldest library in the United States, which now houses Eugene’s collection. He served as the library’s president after retiring to Cape Cod in 1965. The librarians there are remarkable, and they have already ordered a copy of “God the Best Seller.” I encourage you to join them in exploring this captivating story.

Thank you for your time and your dedication to libraries and their readers.