Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $1.95
Buy one from zShops for: $0.01
If you're married, you've probably discovered by now that there is no "happily ever after." Right? This marriage thing is hard work. And for some it might've turned into misery. Or maybe you've parted company.
But there was a reason you "fell in love" with the woman you married in the first place. Right? Well, in this book you hear from one of us guys. Someone who readily admits to making many mistakes. And he's figured out something really important: love isn't a feeling, it's a decision.
I didn't want to read another marriage manual. I had read so many over the past 30 years, and most of them didn't do any good. Sure, I'd heard of Gary Smalley, but I just figured his book would be like the rest. But then another guy recommended it to me. (It didn't matter that my wife had wanted me to read it, I wasn't about to listen to her!)
So, anyway, after reading a few chapters alone, and having my wife read those chapters alone, we started talking about the book. It wasn't easy. But Smalley made sense. We also tried discussing the book with some other couples, which was enlightening, but the group sort of fizzled out. So, my wife and I decided to try reading it ALOUD together. Fortunately, my wife did most of the reading.
Anyway, what I can tell you, is that after reading and discussing this book together, our marriage is doing better than it has in years. We have found some common language to share. We've learned to be more sensitive (ooops, there's that unmacho word) to each other. We've learned to discuss our differences more civilly.
Hey, you'll learn about the incredible worth of a woman. Did you know that she came with a built-in marriage manual? And then there's the thing about how to energize your mate in sixty seconds. Listen, she learns how to energize you at the same time you learn how to energize her. This door swings both ways!
Then there's a chapter about keeping courtship alive in your marriage. Admit it. Courting your wife was fun! It could be fun again. Really!
If that doesn't get your attention, you might zero in on the chapter about sex. He calls it "Sex is much more than sexual intimacy." If you're like me, you'll probably admit that you got your priorities out of whack on that one. Smalley helps put it back in perspective. He even quotes some pretty exciting verses out of the Bible. That's the truth!
So, anyway. There's some good stuff in here. Gary Smalley also knows how to tell stories. And he's got a great sense of humor. And quite often he's laughing at himself. Kind of refreshing isn't it?
So whether your marriage is good, bad or just about over, there's hope to be found in these pages. You don't have to share what you read with your woman, but in my case, I'm glad I did. We're actually looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together...again.
In closing, let me add: If your marriage is tearing you apart, you may want to check out an organization called Retrouvaille (that's French for "rediscovery")...
When he defined Honor and Genuine Love, it hit me in a way that it never had before - and makes complete sense. It heightened my curiosity, and made me want to explore a little further.
It was the piece of the missing puzzle. I've learned new things and you will too.
This book is a must for anyone serious about making the commitment to either get married, or to strengthen their marriage.
The books mentioned previously are good, but if you come out of this with a clear definition of Honor and Genuine Love, you will come out a winner and it will be worth the price!
List price: $11.99 (that's 20% off!)
Used price: $8.06
Buy one from zShops for: $7.45
If you like the style of Philip Yancey and C.S. Lewis, you'll love the way John Fischer writes.
A wake up call happened once I started reading this book and it's effects have yet to wear off. John Fischer has brought to life the words Jesus spoke so long ago in a very personal and blunt manner. There is no hiding from the truth in this book. It's hard hitting and yet, at the same time, a relief to finally realize I'm not the great, self-righteous person I saw myself as. I'm a sinner in the most real sense. There's a great comfort in not having to pretend I'm someone I'm not. A load has been lifted by the truth contained in this book.
This book, as many reviews here have already pointed out, is not your typical Christian book. There are no easy answers to be found, just gut level truth told in a very personal way from a completely Biblical perspective. You will not regret reading this book.
Used price: $5.00
Collectible price: $24.99
Buy one from zShops for: $15.00
The author, John Hanny, is extremely knowledgeable about the White House and it's intricacies, due to his work experience within the White House. The reader finds him or herself wondering which of the details he provides in the book are true (layout, tunnels, etc.), which increases the level of curiosity and entertainment. I was completely enthralled with the book; it's format (easy to read, short, suspenseful paragraphs), story, politics, etc. In short, I loved it and you will too!
In a spine chilling sequence of events in "Asleep at the Wheel," new author Jack R. Hanny demonstrates easily that he is one of the best new writers to come into print.
Displaying an in-depth knowledge of what a terrorist attack on America could be, the author also takes the reader into the lives of a newly sworn in U.S. President, his personal marriage problems and the cabinet's family lives.
With an obvious knowledge of the inner workings and layout of The White House, Hanny takes the reader through unknown tunnels, secure sub-basement rooms and then into the Oval office itself. Politics, war strategy and concern for the lives of Americans all play a prominent part in this thrilling book.
Extremely timely since the attack of 9/11, "Asleep at the Wheel" is a must read for any American. Hanny makes his fiction writer debut as a narrator of a superb political thriller.
Hollywood should definitely consider this book for one of the great motion picture stories of the year.
Used price: $0.47
Collectible price: $2.92
Buy one from zShops for: $0.46
The tale of the Heroine, Hope Clearwater, is told retrospectively by herself. Boyd cleverly puts himself into the first person so that he is believable as Hope herself. Then he has Hope speak of herself in first and third person, which creates an interesting effect. On the one hand you are viewing a narrative account of her story, but then you easily slip into her mind and listen to her thoughts. This makes the story very personal, and brings you close to Hope's character in an empathic way.
The story moves from College in England, to research in the downs of Southern England, before it leaps to Africa where things really hot up. Relationships move from civilised distraction to out and out bloodletting.
Boyd weaves in themes familiar from Jane Goodall and Diane Fossey's primate studies. He makes mathematics and research into interesting subjects, and is guaranteed to have you reaching for the dictionary to understand some of the obscure terminology of medieval english architecture. Over all of this he lays a central african civil war, academic cloak and dagger politics and some complex human and chimp relations.
Two love affairs that seem doomed, sexual politics in the bush and a shifting and uncertain movement of grant aid and civil war add to the complexity. A rebel army formed from a volleyball team, an egyptian cosmonaut, a half built hotel and the smallest model aircraft in the world inject the sense of ridiculous that is part of Africa.
A highly intelligent and enjoyable read.
William Boyd takes these various threads and weaves them together, along with a variety of brief comments on scientific and mathematical ideas and issues, into an exciting and intellectually compelling novel. With its Edenic setting and themes of Man's search for knowledge--and the madness the search can bring--the book taps into our primordial myths and some of the core questions of our existence. If it sometimes seems to be almost too consciously striving to be a serious novel of ideas, that ambition is justified, if not always realized, and the philosophical failures are more than offset by the good old-fashioned African adventure story that unfolds simultaneously.
The shelves fairly groan beneath the weight of books warning that when a little of the veneer of civilization gets stripped away in the jungle, Man must face the fact that he has a dark heart. And there are elements of that here, particularly in the way that Mallabar treats Hope and her discovery, but Boyd has much more to say besides just this. Perhaps the most exciting message of the book lies in the contrarian stance it takes to the modern age's tendency to romanticize Nature. It is always well to recall Thomas Hobbes's famous description of Nature as "red in tooth and claw." The reader of this book will not soon forget it.
GRADE : A
Used price: $10.73
Buy one from zShops for: $10.73
An Australian teenage girl lived with her mom, dad and brother in a beautiful home in the suburbs; and she had a dog named Checkers. She suffers from depression and she now lives in a mental hospital. She never had many friends, at school or at the hospital. She and several other teenagers attend a daily meeting called group. She has never said anything in group because she is afraid of what people will think of her. One day, she just couldn't handle it anymore. She had to tell somebody. This is her story of how she got there.
I like how this book tells a story about a teenager's life experiences. I can relate to them, such as depression and social issues. This story is suspenseful. Once I picked it up, I didn't want to put it down. Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger. You just want to keep reading. The author doesn't give away the story of how she got in the hospital until the very end. You can easily follow the book with big font and easy to read words. And if you have any troubles with some "aussie" words, there's a glossary in the front of the book to tell you what they are and what they mean. But the characters were realistic, and seemed alive. They're just like people you would meet in an everyday encounter acquaintance. They were believable.
I would recommend this book to people who like stories about real life conflicts and experiences. It would satisfy your needs if you are the type of person who likes to read other people's diaries or journals. I would especially recommend it to any teenagers who think they have it rough or bad. You think you know, but you have no idea.
List price: $24.95 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $12.47
Collectible price: $22.24
Buy one from zShops for: $11.99
John R. Maxim is the world's greatest storyteller. I consider this book to be one of his best. He is an expert in weaving the background history of his characters into the new story. For the first time reader of Maxim's books they shouldn't have any difficulty to figure out who Bannerman and his "ghosts" are.
I had a difficult time putting it down once I started reading it the first time. The story made me laugh and cry all though the book. The characters seem so real, I can almost imagine what Bannerman, Carla and of course Waldo might look like. I'm not sure I would want to know if they were one of my neighbors.
I highly recommend this book for anyone's library. I have reread all of Maxim's books that I have several times.
I hesitate, in fact, to refer to them as characters because they seem so utterly real and so human. It had me in awe of the research that Maxim must have done and wondering how he got his sources to talk to him. It made me wonder how Maxim knows Bannerman and his people so well. Especially Carla and Elizabeth Stride and my personal favorite, John Waldo. So, you know what I think? I think they are real. And I think that Maxim must be one of them.
Used price: $2.00
Collectible price: $12.71
Adi Granth and writings on Native American spirituality available for immediate reference? The translations are old enough to be in the public domain, so do not look for contemporary critical editions, but do look for a wealth of content. I did not know about this collection until a few months ago, but I am planning on having my students use it in my world religions courses in the future.
Regardless of your Faith; Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Baha'i, Shamanism, Wicca / Witchcraft / Goddess Worship, et al...including Thelema and Zoroastrianism, you will find material on this CD-Rom that applies to your life, or your Research in Religion, Spirituality, Philosophy, and The Mystical.
I have been sharing the site with friends for a long time. I would-have written a review for this CD-Rom sooner, but I assumed it was probably reviewed numerous times, already. Apparently, word has not spread about this amazing Compilation of Documents!
This is a list of the information from the "Internet Sacred Text Archive" (World Religions, Traditions, Mysteries) :
"African, Age of Reason, Alchemy, Americana, Ancient Near East, Atlantis, Australia, Baha'i, Bible, Book of Shadows, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, DNA, Egyptian, Esoteric & Occult, Evil, Fortean, Goddesses, Gothic, Greek and Roman, Grimoires, Hinduism, I Ching, Islam, Jainism, Journals, Judaism, Legends and Sagas, Mormonism, Native American, Neopaganism/Wicca, Nostradamus, Oahspe, Pacific, Paleolithic, Piri Re'is Map, Sacred Books of the East, Sacred Sexuality, Shamanism, Shinto, Sikhism, Sufi, Tantra, Taoism, Tarot, Thelema, Timeline, Tolkien, UFOs, Utopia, Women, Zoroastrianism"
I just checked-out my new V 1.2 version of the CD-ROM from "Sacred Texts.com" and found nearly every religion / philosophy is covered on the V 1.2 CD, which has new additions, such as the "Thelema" section of the website, Shakespeare, etc. I highly recommend the Sacred Texts CD because;
a) The CD costs (Money) and this CD-Rom could save you hundreds and hundreds of dollars in the future (or inspire you to buy hard-copies of books, after Previewing them on the CD-Rom).
b) The CD Rom is much easier to Navigate, than the website, due to load time, or age of PC and/or Memory issues.
c) You always have access to the documents, even if the web connection is down.
d) Think of all the upgrades you can receive in the future.
e) Purchase of the CD supports the maintenance / preservation of "Internet Sacred Text Archive."
Suffice to say, this is The Best opportunity available for people who are serious about researching Religion, Spirituality, Occult, Mysteries, et al. I am more than thrilled with my purchase of this CD-Rom !