Tender Returns

Collected short essays by Brazilian theologist, philosopher, and psychoanalyst Rubem Alves. Alves is one of the most popular and beloved writers in Brazil. He dives deeply into such topics as love, death, life, nature, society, history, sanity, old age, religion, and economics. He also goes into the symbolism of such commonplace things as popcorn, trees, violins, gardens, manure, and blossom petals on a sidewalk. Alves was the originator of the concept of "liberation theology." He was beloved for his very human approach to all topics. He passed away in 2014. The essays were translated by Glenn Alan Cheney.