Jennifer M. Phillips

Beautiful Bodies

Theology

“In Beautiful Bodies, lifelong Augustine scholar Margaret Miles examines the evolution of the North African bishop’s understanding of divine justice, love, and human being in body and in community—particularly the community of the church. For any readers troubled by seeing Augustine as body-hating or curmudgeonly, Miles evokes, interrogates, renovates, and restores for us that generous-minded ancient intelligence that has had such an abiding influence on Christians in a deeply appreciative and invigorating way.”

Beyond the Centaur

Philosophy

“For every reader unable to 'rise above' the pains of age and chronic illness, or feeling oddly enslaved to the bike in spinning class and the imperfect image in the mirror, comes this holistic vision of an embodied self and an intelligent body irreducible into any component parts. Margaret Miles argues persuasively and engagingly that the way we embody life more and more fully has consequences for not only the human community but the planet.”