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Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

  • A CASE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
  • MY EVER-CHANGING FAMILY
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huston smith

Huston Smith on the Most Important Thing You Can Do in 2025

January 4, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

huston-smith-most-important-thing-you-can-do-in-2025

After nearly a century devoted to the study of life and truth and the meaning of it all, religion scholar Huston Smith had some advice for his fans.  Read more.

Huston Smith Dies at 97: A Mentor to Me . . . and Millions

January 5, 2017 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Huston Smith signed copies of his book, "And Live Rejoicing," at Sagrada bookstore, Oakland, CA, in September, 2012. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Huston Smith doesn’t know it, but he’s been my mentor for the past decade and a half – ever since I took a job as religion reporter at a local newspaper. Read more.

Religion Scholar Huston Smith at 93 — ‘Be Happy!’

September 29, 2012 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

huston smith and mary busby of Sagrada bookstore sing How Can I Keep From Singing? Photo by BF Newhall

 

Ninety-three-year-old Huston Smith rolled into the Sagrada bookstore in Oakland, California, in a push wheelchair the other day, ready to do what he does best – say something. At 93 and plagued as he is by hearing loss, weakened eyesight and debilitating osteoporosis, you’d think the popular author and religion scholar would be ready to take it easy. Not so. Read more.

GodsBigBlog: OK, What’s God’s Big Blog?

July 6, 2009 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

“What is GodsBigBlog?” a reader asks. It’s God’s Big Blog — so named because God is big and humanity’s spiritual paths are many. I’m a religion writer in the tradition of Huston Smith . . .

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

My Killer Shoes — Brought Down to Size by Those Four-and-a-Half-Inch Heels

Barbara Falconer Newhall tries on a pair of Glint pave shoes with 4 1/2-inch high heels. BF Newhall photo

Dress shoes for women right now, as you may have noticed, sport heels that go on forever. Wedge heels, spike heels, stack heels – everywhere I look I see nothing but heels of skyscraper proportions built to lift their wearers four or even four-and-a-half inches off the ground. Read More.

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TO MY READERS

Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.

My Oakland Tribune columns, btw, are reprinted by permission of the Trib. With the exception of review copies of books, I do not accept ads or freebies of any kind. Click on the "Contact" button if you have questions. Enjoy!

 

DON’T MISS!

condolence-cards

What Do You Say When Someone Dies?

My grandmorther's pince-nez with gold chain, hairpin and laminated metal case from J.H. Chinnery, optometrist, Scottville, Michigan. Photo by Barbara Newhall

‘Tis the Season to Declutter. Or Is It?

view of Cathedral Peak, Yosemite. Photo by Barbara Falconer Newhall

More Pix of Beautiful Yosemite High Country

Ten-year-old Peter Newhall has just won at Final Fantasy I in 1991. Photo by BF Newhall

Confessions of a Nintendo Mom: The Day I Unplugged My Eight-Year-Old

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