The Language of the Soul: How the Words You Choose Shape the Life You Live

A poetic treasury of spiritual insight, The Language of the Soul uncovers the original meanings of words to help us remember what it means to be fully alive

For poet and spiritual teacher Mark Nepo, words have always been more than tools for communication--they are vessels of meaning, portals to the sacred, and medicine for the soul. In The Language of the Soul, Nepo explores the deep, often forgotten roots of 228 words from thirty-one languages and traditions, revealing their original, undiluted power to awaken, connect, and heal. Woven with stories from history, mythology, and the author's own remarkable life journey, this is a rich and contemplative guide to the spiritual essence of language.

Just as rivers and mountains erode over time, so too do the meanings of words. Nepo invites readers to walk beside him along a timeless river of understanding, where ancient expressions are reawakened and everyday language is imbued with depth and resonance. Whether it's a word like "courage" or "forgive" or a lesser-known gem from Sanskrit, Hebrew, or Chinese, each entry becomes a doorway into timeless wisdom, offering moments of insight, stillness, and transformation.

For seekers, artists, caregivers, and lovers of language, The Language of the Soul is both a spiritual lexicon and a personal companion. With the lyrical clarity that has made him one of our most beloved spiritual voices, Nepo reminds us that words, when opened with care and wonder, can carry us back to ourselves--and forward into the world with greater compassion, clarity, and grace.

Author: Mark Nepo
Publisher: St. Martin's Essentials
Published: 05/26/2026
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 7.73h x 5.92w x 0.88d
ISBN: 9781250404237

About the Author

Mark Nepo is a poet and spiritual teacher who has taught in the fields of poetry and spirituality for over 50 years. With over a million copies sold, Mark has moved and inspired readers and seekers all over the world with his #1 New York Times bestseller The Book of Awakening. A beloved poet, teacher, and storyteller, Mark has been called "one of the finest spiritual guides of our time," "a consummate storyteller," and "an eloquent spiritual teacher." His work is widely accessible and his books have been translated into more than twenty languages.

A bestselling-author, Mark has published twenty-six books and recorded fifteen audio projects. His newest book, The Fifth Season: Creativity in the Second Half of Life (St. Martin's Essentials, July 2025) celebrates living from the inside of the one life we're given. Other recent books include You Don't Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship (St. Martin's Essentials, July 2024), which explores the value of community, offering a joyous affirmation of one of the most important aspects of being human: friendship; Falling Down and Getting Up (St. Martin's Essentials, September 2023); The Half-Life of Angels: Three Books of Poems (Freefall Books, April 2023), which earned a Gold Nautilus Award for Poetry; Surviving Storms: Finding the Strength to Meet Adversity (St. Martin's. Essentials, 2022); The Book of Soul (St. Martin's Essentials, 2020), which was honored by Spirituality & Practice as one of the Best Spiritual Books of 2020, and received a Gold Nautilus Award; Drinking from the River of Light (Sounds True, 2019), earned an Independent Publisher Book Silver Award for Self Help 2020, and a 2019 Nautilus Silver Award for Personal Growth & Self Help; and More Together Than Alone (Atria, 2018) cited by Spirituality & Practice as one of the Best Spiritual Books of 2018.

In 2015 Mark was given a Life-Achievement Award by AgeNation; in 2016 he was named by Watkins: Mind Body Spirit as one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People, and was also chosen as one of OWN's SuperSoul 100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity. Mark appeared several times with Oprah on her Super Soul Sunday program on OWN TV, and was part of Oprah's The Life You Want tour in 2014. He has also been interviewed by Robin Roberts on Good Morning America.

In his thirties Mark was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma, a struggle which helped to form his philosophy of experiencing life fully while staying in relationship to an unknowable future. Mark devotes his writing and teaching to the journey of inner transformation and the life of relationship. He continues to offer readings, lectures, and retreats. He is represented by William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.