Just a short review of a book that I have read and reread for the last 3-4 years....it is the perfect book for you to read with and to your significant other. A blessing of a book that soothes the heart and soul. Also, when you get the chance look up other works of the authors referred to in the book ....and you will have some new wisdom added to your shelves courtesy of Khephra and Susan

It is unfortunate that the authors chose to name the book Confirmation. It immediately draws up images of religious indoctrination into one or another particular religious group. If that is what you are looking for in this book then you will be very disappointed. Instead it is a recounting of the spiritual growth of the authors as well as their collection of inspirational writings from around the world. The inspirational passages represent the wisdom and deep understanding of many cultures and are hard to read without some sort of emotional stirrings. Well selected to be appropriate to the section, it is not indoctrination designed to lead you to confirmation in a particular religion but inspiration designed to lead you into your own personal confirmation. A great book for keeping a healthy and positive perspective in life.

This book is quite impressive and inspirational. The authors have included works from a wide range of spiritual and religious traditions. The universal wisdom from which it draws shines through. This book is a must for those who seek truth in a form that is unfettered by doctrine and dogma

I am fairly familiar with the art work of Leo & Diane Dillon from the covers they have done for various collections of the work of writer Harlan Ellison. Consequently, I knew even before I really looked at the cover of "Mansa Musa: The Lion of Mali" that the two-time Caldecott Medalists are particularly well-suited to illustrating the story of one of Mali's most celebrated kings in the 14th century. Author Khephra Burns tells the story of young Kankan Musa, who is taken one night by slave raiders. However, ironically, this is a story of self-discovery for the boy who has become a slave. When he was younger and asked his mother about his father, she told him "To know your father, you must first give birth to yourself." Now he is told by the man who betrayed his village to the slave raiders, "You are your own slave...You don't know who you are." Although a slave, Kankan begins to discover "Il-Rah," the Way, the Path, on which he will be tested. The story of "Mansa Musa" tells of the adventures Kankan had upon his journey through the grandeur of Africa's ancient cities.

The Author's Note in the back of the book addresses the question of how much of "Mansa Musa: The Lion of Mali" is fiction and how much is fact. The history of the Mali Empire is well documented and there are several scholarly sources that tell of Mansa Musa's golden caravan crossing the Sahara. When Burns has to fill in the gaps in his narrative, he does so with places and customs that are historically accurate (e.g., the salt city). Consequently, what we have here is a philosophical story of self-discovery, invested with the rich cultural history of a land most young readers have never heard about, and illustrated by gorgeously crafted paintings. "Mansa Musa" is a real treasure of a book, which will impress even older readers.