Being human isn't easy. We might think that consciousness and free will give us control over our lives but our minds are dangerous and unpredictable places.

Humans are susceptible to forces beyond our comprehension. We're capable of inflicting immense cruelty on one another and yet we also have the capacity to be tender, to empathise, to feel.

In Between the Monster and the Saint, Richard Holloway holds a mirror up to the human condition. The reflection isn't always pretty. But by drawing on a selection of writings from history, philosophy, science, poetry, theology and literature, Holloway shows us how we can stand up to the seductive power of the monster and draw closer to the fierce challenge of the saint.

Provocative, wide-ranging and full of wisdom, Between the Monster and the Saint is a brilliant book about our place in the world.

'Holloway is a sure-footed guide for people who want to move beyond tired religious cant to something more honest and real. He is a great companion for searchers of all kinds.' Michael McGirr