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Huston Smith’s Wonderful Life

May 7, 2009 By Lisa Miller

The author of ‘The World’s Religions’ looks back on 90 years of prayer, yoga and dropping acid.

Huston Smith is doing publicity for his 14th book, though at nearly 90 he is debilitated by osteoporosis and can’t get up from his leather chair. When a visitor enters his room at the Berkshire, an assisted-living facility in Berkeley, Calif., he smiles broadly, indicates a small wicker seat and cheerfully warns of a high-pitched whine that sometimes emanates from his hearing aid. One is reminded that there is nothing glamorous about growing old, but Smith—who has arguably been the most important figure in the study of religion over the past five decades—makes it look at least bearable.

Filed Under: BeliefWatch: Lisa Miller, Newsweek Tagged With: Lisa Miller

Lisa Miller

Lisa Miller

Lisa Miller is a staff writer at New York magazine. She is a former columnist for the Washington Post, former senior editor of Newsweek magazine, and author of "Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife."

About Lisa Miller

Lisa-Miller-Headshot

Lisa Miller is a staff writer at New York magazine. She is the former religion columnist for the Washington Post, former senior editor of Newsweek magazine, and author of "Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife."

In 2014, Lisa Miller was nominated for the National Magazine Award and featured in Best Magazine Writing of 2014.

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NOMINATED FOR THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD

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