Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion book cover

Take This Bread

A Radical Conversion

Sara Miles
3.78(9 Reviews)

Overview of Take This Bread

When a radical atheist lesbian journalist accidentally discovers communion and launches a dozen food pantries for the hungry, Anne Lamott calls it "the most amazing book." Sara Miles' spiritual memoir challenges what faith looks like when bread becomes both sacrament and survival.

Key Themes in Take This Bread

  • radical hospitality
  • eucharistic theology
  • secular conversion
  • liberation theology
  • food justice

Quotes from Take This Bread

  • Jesus invites everyone to his table.

  • Politics suddenly became physical rather than theoretical.

  • Take the weight.

  • Jesus happened to me.

  • My mother nursed a fifty-year grudge against Christianity.

Characters in Take This Bread

  • Sara MilesAuthor, journalist, and secular activist
  • MatthewSara's father who rejected his missionary roots
  • BettySara's mother who held a grudge against religion
  • RobertA chef who taught Sara about responsibility

About the Author

About the Author of Take This Bread

Sara Miles, author of the spiritual memoir Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion, is a renowned writer and activist bridging faith, social justice, and grassroots community action.

Her work explores themes of radical hospitality, religious conversion, and the transformative power of food ministries through the lens of her own journey from atheism to founding San Francisco’s St. Gregory’s Food Pantry.

A former journalist, Miles has contributed to The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, and NPR, blending sharp political reporting with theological inquiry. Her subsequent books, including Jesus Freak: Feeding Healing Raising the Dead and City of God: Faith in the Streets, further examine faith in practice through personal and communal narratives.

Miles’s insights are frequently cited in theological discussions and social justice movements, with her food pantry model inspiring similar initiatives globally. Take This Bread has become a modern spiritual classic, used in seminary curricula and interfaith outreach programs.

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
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star
star
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star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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