The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho

Santiago, a shepherd boy, journeys from Spain to Morocco in search of worldly success, and eventually to Egypt, where a fateful encounter with an alchemist brings him at last to self-understanding and spiritual enlightenment. The story has comic charm, dramatic tension and psychological intensity but it's full of specific wisdom as well, about becoming self-empowered, overcoming depression, and believing in dreams. The cumulative effect is like hearing a wonderful bedtime story from an inspirational psychiatrist.

An Army of Angels:
A Novel of Joan of Arc
by Pamela Marcantel

From Library Journal: "Marcantel resurrects the mysterious Jehanne, the Maid of Orleans, whose devotion to God led her to be burned at the stake for witchcraft before she is 20. Jehanne's visions and voices ... Guided to the future King of France, Charles VII [and] persuades him to give her an army to recapture French lands ... Rich with historical facts and vivid narrative, this work is highly recommended..."

Ishmael:
An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit
by Daniel Quinn

From Publishers Weekly: "Quinn offers a wide-ranging if highly general examination of the history of our civilization, illuminating the assumptions and philosophies at the heart of many global problems."

The Treasure of Montsegur:
A Novel of the Cathars
by Sophy Burnham

From Library Journal: "After growing up in the Cathar tradition, [Jeanne] must turn her back on her order for their own safety, for they were considered the worst of heretics in those dark days of the Inquisition. She is asked to guard the treasure of the order - a Bible written in the vernacular. This was the real sin of the Cathars ...: bringing religion down to a level that could be understood by all and thereby demystifying the hierarchy of the medieval Church."