Karen Armstrong is the author of numerous books on religious affairs—including A History of God, The Battle for God, Holy War, Islam, Buddha, The Great Transformation, and The Case for God—and two memoirs, Through the Narrow Gate and The Spiral Staircase. Her work has been translated into forty-five languages. In February 2008, Karen was awarded the TED Prize, and, in accepting it, made a wish that a community of thinkers and spiritual leaders would come together to create a Charter for Compassion. In November 2009, the Charter for Compassion was unveiled. In her latest book, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, Karen suggests actions that one might take to increase the compassion in one’s daily life. She lives in London.