Chapters 16-18 Summary and Analysis

In chapter 16, Shirley shares her experience with a friend, Bella Abzug. Bella is skeptical, urging Shirley to avoid talking about her new beliefs in public. Shirley begins buying more books on spirituality and studies them closely. These books include not only new age books, but books by philosophers and writers such as Plato, John Milton, Benjamin Franklin, Voltaire, and Walt Whitman. Shirley also finds writings by John Ellis McTaggart that especially make sense to her, an idea that suggests past life recall is not only about believing in spirituality, but finding purpose in those experiences for the current life. At the same time Shirley is reading these books, she is on tour with her live show. While with the other members of the cast, Shirley questions people about their spiritual beliefs and finds many people open to the ideas...