This should be the first book someone reads about Sophia. Robert Powell not only presents the historical data but does so in a readable manner. He makes things that are often expressed in complicated terminology interesting. Too often, little-known terms are presented in complex theological language, which may discourage the reader. For someone who feels a deeper connection to the Holy Sophia, the question of "Why Sophia?" is always present. I would have liked to point to this book twenty years ago when the powerful feminine influence of Sophia first made itself felt in my life. Too often today, people think this interest belongs only to the feminine, soulful realm or to those who stand in opposition to traditional Christianity. Sophia has always been a part of the tradition, long obscured.