Studies show that religion makes us happier, healthier and more giving, connecting us to our past and creating tight communal bonds. Most Americans are raised in a religious tradition, but in recent decades many have begun to leave religion, and with it their ancient rituals, mythic narratives, and sense of belonging. 

So how do the nonreligious fill the need for ritual, story, community, and, above all, purpose and meaning without the one-stop shop of religion? What do they do with the space left after religion? With Nones swelling to one-fourth of American adults, and more than one-third of those under thirty, these questions have never been more urgent. 

Insightful, surprising, and compelling, Grace Without God is both a personal and critical exploration of the many ways nonreligious Americans create their own meaning and purpose in an increasingly secular age.

Katherine Ozment is an award-winning journalist and former senior editor at National Geographic. Her essays and articles have been published in National Geographic, the New York Times, Boston, Fitness, and Salon, among other publications. She is a graduate of Harvard University and received a Masters in Writing from DePaul University. She lives in Chicago with her husband, an environmental economist, and their three children.