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")...
List price: $11.99 (that's 20% off!)
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.
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!
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
How can a novel that discusses the difference between turbulence and topology in mathematics be a page turner? You'll have to read this book to believe it. Other than the name of Hope Clearwater - a bit too much in this otherwise subtle tale - Boyd writes deftly and passionately, sometimes with horrifying precision as he describes what is happening among the chimps.
This suspenseful and intelligent novel deserves a wide readership. I only wish I had learned of it sooner!
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
The only honest relationship the girl has is with her mongrel dog, Checkers. She seeks comfort in his company as the media circles like vultures around her house, looking for a way to connect the girl's father to the stock market scandal that's brewing. She would never have thought that the connection they were looking for was sleeping on the rug in front of her fire.
I really liked this novel, and would have loved it if it wasn't about the fortieth book I've read that's set in a mental hospital. Mental hospitals have become way too clichéd in young adult literature. Other than that, though, it was a terrific story.
List price: $24.95 (that's 30% off!)
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.
As with other Bannerman novels, GHOSTS is impossible to lay aside until the highly emotional final chapter and epilogue leaves you wishfully hoping Bannerman's Prophecy is already on its way to the publisher.
A recommendation for Hollywood: Beat a path to John Maxim's door for the Bannerman movie rights!
The collection seeks to include anything that even remotely qualifies as a sacred text. You will find the works upon which all of the worlds major religions are based, (except perhaps Scientology) as well as books describing or initiating mystical traditions like alchemy and hermetic wisdom.
Very interesting reading. Very well collected and compiled.
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 !