T Books

Rabbi Harold Kushner is best known for his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People, but this work is in my judgment his greatest contribution to the philosophy of the spiritual life, Kushner's pièce de résistance. Using my favorite Hebrew Bible text, Ecclesiastes, as a springboard, Rabbi Kushner writes about the "ultimate thirst of our souls": the need for "meaning," for "the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter." Rabbi Kushner offers readers his wisdom -- born out of years of study, struggle and life experience -- about how to live a life that matters.

READ this BOOK! Rabbi Kushner hits on so many relevant and pertinent topics that you will be amazed how you see yourself in the anedotes and examples used to illustrate Kushner's point. Rabbi Kushner uses the Old Testament story of Ecclesiastes to illustrate how man's search for happiness is eternal and not unique. I could not believe how similar Ecclesiaste's view on life and search for happiness are so similar to my own. I found myself stopping on many occasions and telling my wife "READ THIS!"
I have been on a self-help book crusade for the past several months. Reading a bunch of these books have helped in finding some understanding to the search for happiness I have been after. After each book, I can say one or two of the points explained in the book have made sense and have some good practical applications to dealing with everyday situations that arise in my life. Kushner's book is by the far the best. He gives you straightforward and understandable examples of the negative behavior that conflict in man's search for happiness.
From the opening pages Kushner had me! He hits the nail on the head when he says the lines "If you ask anybody what is more imporant - work or family? - without a doubt they answer family. But then ask them how much time they spend away from family by putting work ahead of family and making work more important than family obligations." (paraphrased) He has many of these observations that help the reader get some insight into how destructive these behaviors are towards our supposed goal of happiness. I highly, highly recommend this book - READ this BOOK!

A great book and one the everyone should read at some time in their lives!

Thanks again for getting me the book so fast and in such good condition!

Gary

A thoughtful, spiritual examination of why fame and fortune do not produce happiness, and why "average" and "successful" people often feel emptiness in their lives. Many brief anecdotes are used to illustrate the author's observations, which are linked to the book of Ecclesiastes.
Read by the author. You will read (or listen to) this more than once!

Kushner is a sage and this book is a classic. As always Kushner's knits together wonderful stories, quotes, and historical observations that are always on the mark and move his thoughts forward. The disease that plagues our age is overconsumption and Kushner invites the reader to step away from the table of materialism and instead search out the things that really matter.

Well, I know my Presidents now, that's for sure! I had great fun learning them, too, sitting on the couch with my husband one afternoon. The two of us went through the book, working through it and giggling at the references all the while. It was a lot of fun and we learned every president during the read. I planned to buy it, learn them, and then relist the item. But, I decided to instead hold onto it for when my nieces come over. I am always hunting for new ways to entertain them and this will keep them busy for sure! :) Lots of fun for all ages.
I highly recommend that you buy it and have as much fun as we did, and learn a little something, too! 5 stars!

This book was ordered for my son, who is a teacher, for Christmas and it came in plenty of time. Thanks so much.

This book is the best and most fun ways to learn about the American Presidents that I have ever seen. For each president from Washington through Clinton, there is a brief caption regarding his life and accomplishments. There is also a drawing taken from a photo or portrait, a cartoon style drawing and associated play on words to aid in remembering the name and whom they succeeded. For example, the cartoon for Dwight Eisenhower shows the Eiffel Tower with eyes on it being held by a tree with eyes. The caption is "The tree-man is crawling up the side of a huge tower that has eyes on it. It must be the eyes-on-tower!" The cartoon for Harry Truman, who preceded Eisenhower, shows the tree-man.
One of the best books for learning history and social studies, I strongly recommend this book. If my children were of a suitable age, I would buy it for them.

After one night, I knew all 43 presidents of the United States in order without looking. This book is AWESOME!!! :D

I had to memorize the presidents in the fourth grade. I'm in college now and I can still remember everything from this book. Not only does it work, but it's fun to look at the pictures and learn the presidents. People of all ages can learn from this book.

This is a very, very helpful book on travel! I love the fact that it is so up-to-date with web addresses and information-the athor has really done his work! I lost my Mother recently and before she got sick I tried to get her on a cruise. I could not convince to go. Your book is a Godsend! God Bless You!

With the thousands of Internet travel guidebooks to choose from it is very difficult to separate the good from the mediocre. You can literally devote days trying to figure out which guide will reveal the most useful information pertaining to the best air-fares, hotels, cars, lodging, student travel, medical resources, romantic vacations, unique lodging, National Parks, hideaways, things to do and see, shopping, restaurants, and many other essentials necessary to plan and enjoy your vacation.

The impetus that brought about the publication of the recent Internet travel guidebook, You Are Here Traveling with JohnnyJet.com, was the result of the many emails John E. DiScala had received from viewers of his Internet portal JohnnyJet.com.

Apparently, people were inquiring if there was a companion travel guidebook to compliment the portal.
As a result, DiScala and fellow co-author, Eric Leebow, decided to put together a innovative book that would be the ultimate Internet travel guide for people wanting quick and easy information, and at the same time to be used in conjunction with the web site.

Divided into 34 chapters, the guide effectively points its readers in the right direction in clearly summarizing and highlighting over 3000 travel Internet sites.
These sites provide a wealth of detailed information that makes life much easier for the traveler. Even the arm- chair traveler will find something of interest.

The guidebook not only focuses on the traditional topics as senior travel, restaurants and hotels, but also the non-traditional-where to find the best diving directories, adoption travel or family reunions, travel humor sites, religious travel, archaeological digs, zoos, and other topics you would not normally find in the "run of the mill" Internet guidebooks.

Also included are some interesting sidebars containing useful tidbits of advice.
For example, where is the best place to sit on a plane? We are advised that if you suffer from motion sickness, choose a seat towards the middle of the plane or near the wings.

What I found particularly useful about the book is the user- friendly format with its detailed Table of Contents, appendices and Index.
The reader is not forced to thumb through several pages before he or she can track down what they are seeking. Immediately, a glance to the table of contents or index will clearly point out the way, saving you a great deal of time and frustration.
In addition, you even have comprehensive appendices listing destination sites, automobile rental sites, major hotel and motel chains, US and International airlines, airfreight companies with phone numbers, and where to report stolen credit cards with phone numbers.

You Are Here Traveling with JohnnyJet.com is sure to prove to be an invaluable tool in covering the full range of queries travelers often ask and is a welcome addition to the spate of Internet travel books.

Whether you are surfing about online dreaming about your next vacation or seriously planning your next adventure, "You are Here" is the ultimate online travel portal.

Features:

More than 3,000 carefully researched Websites
Money saving travel bargains
Travel tips that make a difference
34 chapters filled with amazing information

Some of the main chapters:

Steals and Deals on Fares
Lodging
Airport Information
Food on the Road
Traveling with the Family
Seniors: Traveling in the Golden Years
Student Travel
25 Things to Do and See (Everything from Haunted Tours to the London Theatre)
Pets Can Travel Too

You are Here: Traveling with JohnnyJet dot com is encyclopedic and perhaps the most comprehensive book I've seen on online travel resources. If you travel, you need this book.

John E. DiScala's research will make your travel research easier and when you are actually traveling, you can visit the website. When you visit the site you can look up information with the "Jet Codes." For example: Johnny Jet Code: Boat Rides. You will then find links to various sites and can quickly click through and find the information you need. It was super fast and much easier than trying to look up boat rides in a regular search engine. Just look for the Code Index in this book. The regular index is also quite helpful.

So, whether you need a free language translator or want to avoid the world's most dangerous places, it is all here.

Eric Leebow is the founder of Yahbooks Publishing and is the author of various other You Are Here books. John E. DiScala, AKA Johnny Jet is a travel expert and the founder of the travel portal Johnny Jet dot com. He is known for his weekly newsletter and site and from what I can see he is passionate about traveling.

~The Rebecca Review

This incredible book is jam packed with everything you would ever need or want to know with over 3,000 websites, adventures, bed and breakfasts, mountain climbing, resorts and spas, tips on airline fares, hideaway destinations, and cultural ones, this book has it all!

Whether you want a long weekend getaway, a long vacation, or are planning a speaking tour and want to know where to stay, and what you can see and do at your destination, this book will make your life so much easier.
Highly recommended for its incredible resources no matter where you want to go, or what your interests are, it is covered in this fantastic book.

If you want to know how to find all the "insider" secrets to exciting, safe, and inexpensive travel, you can't do better than this great guide.

This book helps you navigate the deepest, darkest corners of the Web so that you can plan the best vacation ever.

Want to go hiking in Scotland, or scuba diving in the Carribean? You'll find where to look for vacation information here.

Need the best selection of luggage, at discount prices? You'll find the best places to shop online.

Want the best ways to stay in touch while on business travel? You got it -- the links are here.

I consider myself pretty Web savvy, and at first I was skeptical that a book could do better than a few minutes with Google. Well it can -- and now, I am a big believer.

Save yourself hours of frustration searching page after page in the search engines, jumping back and forth from site to site, as you try to find what you need among billions of search engine pages. Use that time, instead, enjoying the great vacation you were able to plan.

This book is right up there in the embroidery range of books. As a teacher of embroidery I find the ideas and the instructions are the best.
Have been using The Artful Ribbon since it was first available in Australia and this copy (second hand) was for one of my students. The quality, price and speed of delivery was excellent. Thank you.

This is the best book on ribbonwork. It incorporates many beautiful pictures of vintage and some contemporary work. The entire book is instructional (no silly projects to fill the pages!!!). The instructions are excellent and this is as close to a "beginners" introduction to the subject as I have been able to find. At first I was disappointed that there were very few photographs of instructions. Often the instructions use drawings and often drawings are the only examples of the completed piece. But, what I have come to love is the lack of pictures for instruction. This book achieves something many art/craft books fail to. It requires you to practice, to use a variety materials and to create your own color combinations. It makes the "copying" of another's work no concern, because basically, you cannot. The subject is so well covered you will have an understanding of it: from foliage, to flowers, to stabilizing your work for wear on clothing, hats, and pins, to stems and buds, to flat and dimensional, to texture and how to preserve your work, etc. I haven't found a better book and I do not expect to. I thank the author for covering subjects like the movement, or "dance," of the work and for challenging me with the drawings - to try it and then see how it looks. Last but not least, the author introduces a great way to figure how much ribbon you will need to make any project using any ribbon width! So you can make ANY size flower you want. Ms. Kling makes your journey an unexpectedly easy fall - into a creative medium more satisfying than anything I've dabbled in besides beads - which one can incorporate too, of course.

This book has got to be one of the best and most comprehensive books out there on ribbonwork. It not only showcases the antique items where the colors have faded to perfect glory, but also incorporates the new and runs the gamut from embroidering with silk ribbon to forming flowers and bows of the ribbons.

This book is a wealth of inspiration and a source of continual referral for most any project using ribbon and will keep it's prominent place on my bookshelf!

I've seen most of the ribbon flower books that there are--and this is pretty much the best. It has instructions that are clear and very easy to follow and there are so many different ideas for you to use. Not just a couple of projects--so many for you to combine. I have taken this book out of the library so many times that I wanted to keep it. Then I remembered I could buy it online!!!

In comparison to the other books available, it has more projects and I think the directions are easier.

If you love ribbon flowers (I make them as accessories in a business partnership) you will absolutely love this book!

This book makes you want to try ribbon embroidery! The varieties of applications are well illustrated. Loved just looking at this book! Really improved my roses...

In his lifetime, Raymond Brown was considered one of the foremost biblical scholars. His scholarship certainly changed Catholic biblical studies and many believe he is responsible for making the academic world at large take notice of what scholars writing from a Catholic perspective have to offer the study of scripture. His comprehensive THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH is one of his monumental works that demonstrates his expertise and adds something Catholic that can be used in a "catholic" (universal) sense.

When Brown first published this book in the mid 1970's, he was attempting to do something for a beloved portion of scripture that was often ignored. For the most part, serious scholarship on the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke was almost nil. Traditional scholars avoided it fearing that scholarship could debunk the stories themselves. Less traditional scholars saw the stories as legend that had little or no relevance for serious scholars. Brown rejected both points of view and chose to see the stories form a different point of view. Brown studies the Annunciation, the Magi, the Shepherds, the Flight to Egypt, the Child Jesus in the Temple, and the other narratives that make up these imaginative chapters of scripture and views them not as fanciful tales or legends, but the Gospel in miniature. The stories included in Luke and Matthew are essential to the Gospel story and essential for understanding the story itself. Since the time of this volume's publication, this has become one of the common interpretations of the Infancy narratives.

The book is not without controversy. One example would be Brown's treatment of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. While Brown in many ways exalts the role of Mary as a disciple, it is not a pious reflection on Mary which has caused some readers to claim Brown disputes the Virgin birth. I'm not sure this is true, especially given some of Brown's other writings and talks widely available, if not in publication certainly in libraries. This is why the reader needs to keep in mind what Brown is attempting to do in this volume: present relevant scholarship on the infancy narratives.

I have grown to love the book for a number of reasons. There is so much material in it, I am always discovering something new. This is important for anyone who has to preach on these texts. Not only can a new angle or understanding be found in this volume, it also helps the reader find personal insights for reflection and prayer, which during the time when these texts are preached can be so important. Brown's volume shows that the Birth of Christ was not just a historical event but one that has meaning today and in all ages.

Fr. Brown taks an honest hard look at the infancy narrative of Matthew and Luke. It is a struggle to find the truth in these narrative amid all the mythic lore and revisionist speculations. He digs deep down into the mountain of rubble that has accumulated, bringing out the sparkling truth that is contained within. He brings them out into the light of the day, where all speculation and myth are shown for what they are.

The historical valure of the infancy narratives are shredded to pieces during the course of this examination. Yet my faith is strengthened not undermined by this work. Why is this? Well, Fr. Brown uncovers the real motivation behind the Evangelists who composed these narratives. The primary motivation is theological.

The infancy narratives are perhaps the richest vien of theology in the New Testament. So much is hidden away in the nooks and crannies of the remainder of the Gospels, so much that only comes to light with a close examination of the infancy narratives. Once the myths are tossed aside, the glory of God begins to shine ever more clearly.

I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to understand the Gospel without sacrificing intellect for the sake of belief.

I was reluctant when this tome about the infancy narratives had been recommended, and after the first chapter discovered this was no ordinary book. There are myriads of commentaries, but none like this! This book elaborates at length on the short gospel narratives of the birth of Jesus, and how the NT authors had woven OT material into those narratives. It elaborates on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary: not as some wench who did as God told her, but as the first disciple of Christ to say Yes to the call of God; not merely a mother to Christ, but the Mother of the people of God by her fiat. For those who already believe, and even for those who don't, it elaborates why the incarnation is such an awesome historial event, not only in human history, but in salvation history.

Fr. Brown writes with erudition, and, while his audience is scholarly, even novices can read these gems with considerable ease. I initially intended to read the book straight through, but the density and intensity of the material suggested that a more devotional, gradual read would be more beneficial. I admit this is hard to do, because once embarked, these insights propel one to read as much as one can as fast as one can. However you decide to read it, I cannot think of a better introduction, as well as advanced scholarship, that will not leave one unchanged.

How should Christians contend with alleged contradictions, inconsistencies and historical inaccuracies in the New Testament? Perhaps many have not confronted the difficulties, while assuming that ultimately a satisfactory answer will emerge that justifies confidence in the Greek scriptures. The late Raymond E. Brown was not content to leave it to future scholarship to provide the answers. Only two gospels, Matthew and Luke, discuss the birth and infancy of Jesus. But scholars have raised questions that challenge the credibility of these narratives. Why do the genealogies not match? Why do the other New Testament writers not mention the virgin birth? What prophets said that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene? Why does Luke imply the family returned to Nazareth shortly after the birth of Jesus, while Matthew has the family fleeing to Egypt before returning? The slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem is not mentioned in secular history although other atrocities are recorded. Can the son of David be reckoned through the mother? These and other questions have provided ammunition for critics against the veracity of the New Testament.

Brown discusses these matters and more in detail. He provides non-conventional solutions while maintaining his Catholicism. This book should help the Christian understand the issues raised by doubters and help them reflect on what they believe and why they believe it. One does not have to agree with Brown's conclusions to appreciate the struggle with the history and theology of the narratives. Do the narratives have a common source, or are they separate traditions pre-dating the main body of each gospel? Read Brown's The Birth of the Messiah for some proposed answers. Recommended for lay Christians who have not seriously considered the challenges to their faith.

Part of the Anchor Bible Reference Library, this is an excellent book in which Raymond Brown provides an in-depth treatment of the NT infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke. The format of the book is standard for the Anchor Bible series: the author translates a segment of the Greek NT text, provides notes on his translation, and then comments on the meaning of the text. There are nine appendices on technical issues (e.g., "Birth at Bethlehem", "The Census under Quirinius"). Also, this edition contains a supplement that updates the work to 1992 (Brown died in 1998). The treatment is scholarly but readable, and, for passages in the NT that have given rise to controversy in the past, Brown tries to give a balanced exposition of the opposing views (and he usually states what his personal opinion is). There is an enormous amount of interesting material packed into this book, as Brown canvasses much of the relevant literature.

The book has the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur declarations that the book is free of doctrinal or moral errors (from the point of view of the Roman Catholic church), but Brown's Catholicism doesn't color the book excessively. For example, he admits that it is unlikely Mary took a vow of virginity, and also that the "brothers of Jesus" were probably his brothers in the usual biological sense. More generally, Brown openly recognizes the historical improbability of certain events (such as the visit of the Magi), and doesn't strain to impose dubious harmonizations on the infancy stories or to concoct interpretations meant to uphold the literal truth of the NT. The one place where he draws a line is on the virgin conception itself; he claims that it is unscientific to reject it as impossible a priori.

The supplement makes for lively reading, since Brown describes some of the negative reviews received by the first edition of the book and engages in a bit of polemic as he re-argues his position on certain topics. However, he doesn't descend to vituperation, even when provoked.

Overall, a great book and an excellent source of references for further reading.

Dr. Jabbour bravely leads us forward -- rather than backwards in fear -- forward in faith. Followers of Jesus must take the initiative, creating conversation, creating understanding, bringing a fuller portrayal of Jesus to our Muslim friends. Personally, a man of great character and compassion, in this book, he takes us on his personal journey. However, the highest praise comes from my two daughters who remember Dr. Nabeel Jabbour as the one who played hide and seek with them in our small apartment in Central Asia. Highly recommended!

Good book. It does a great job on going by "Insights from an Arab Christian." I decided to give this book a five star rating because it has given me a better understanding of an Arab world.
Although I must disagree with some of the theological undertones, it is was a very valuable learning experience.

Dr. Jabbbour's book is quite characteristic of his other works, including "Unshackled and Growing". That characteristic is an ability to explain deep and complicated concepts in simple, but clever ways, without watering down the issues. In The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross, Dr. Jabbour employs a clever yet sincere literary method to get his points about the ways in which Muslims see Christians and Christian efforts at evangelism. He creates the characters of "Ahmad" and his family members. Though he creates these "characters", they are really a composite of actual Muslims Dr. Jabbour has encountered in his extensive experience. Thus, their concerns and issues (and even complaints) are genuine. Dr. Jabbour does a great job of taking those complaints seriously, while not always agreeing that the complaints are legitimate. In short, he is fair in his address of them. I think this kind of sincerity and fairness is what is needed in this field. Christians must understand the legitimate and even illegitimate concerns of those they are trying to reach. More than that, Christians must endeavor to honestly address those concerns. This book is a useful tool that will help Christians do exactly that. While the book (as Dr. Jabbour acknowledges) is not the final word on the matter of Muslim evangelism, it certainly is the first place someone who cares about being careful should turn. In fact, though the intended audience is mainly Christians, I think this book is so fair in its address of Muslims' concerns that Muslims themselves would benefit from and respect this book.

Abdu Murray
Founder, Aletheia International

One version of a famous proverb goes like this: "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness---but it feels better to curse the darkness." Many polemical books have been written, especially since 9/11, that curse the darkness. By giving distorted portrayals of everyday Muslims and their pious culture, they actually add to the darkness. The result is that Christians who read these books are unable to converse with Muslims without displaying their fear, disdain, and ignorance. This destroys their credibility and repulses the Muslims.
Dr. Jabbour, on the other hand, lights a candle that fosters respect, understanding and empathy. This can enable Christians to have meaningful friendships and dialogues with their Muslim neighbors, displaying attitudes and understanding that open doors instead of closing them.
In my opinion this book is a "must read" for any Christian who wants to have meaningful friendships with Muslims that are a blessing to all concerned.

Dr. Jabbour has opened our eyes to the Muslim world through the eyes of a Muslim in this book. If you are looking for a non-prejudiced book about Islam, this is it. The fictional characters seem very real as I have met people like this in my travels to Jordan, Israel, and Egypt. Even I, thinking I was not prejudiced, discovered new prejudices and asked God to forgive me. Once I finished the book, I requested the addendum from Dr. Jabbour and was further challenged in what I thought I knew about Islam, the Middle East, and the Crusades. Buy this book and be challenged in your faith toward loving Muslims. They are our neighbors too and, as such, we should treat them as our neighbors, not our enemies.

Fun to read the anecdotes and stories from the inn that are interspersed throughout the book. I am a gourmet cook but I connot emphasize enough how much I hate to bake. Due to my disasterous history with baking I don't even make birthday cakes and I don't make Christmas cookies. HOWEVER, there are two things for which I will make an exception; they are both in this book. The Rabbit Hill Inn Oatmeal-Molasses Bread makes the best cinnamon toast you will ever, ever eat. (Just try not to eat the whole loaf at one sitting.) And the Raisin-Pumpernickel Bread with a Secret is just divine. The flavors are strong enough that the bread is distinctive and wonderful but not overpowering. I promise you, you will NOT be disappointed.

A neighbor and I trade cookbooks. She lent me The Dairy Hollow House Soup & Bread: A Country Inn Cookbook. I loved this book so I went out and bought my own copy! While reading my new book, I immediately found a number of recipes that I wanted to try. I first baked "Raisin Pumpernickel Bread with a Secret". It was absolutely delicious and the extra loaves were shared with neighbors and friends. One thing that I especially liked about this book is that as I was reading it, I felt such warmth, love and kindness emanating from it. This book has such personal touches, from the asides about life and experiences as an innkeeper to the interesting introductions with each of the recipes, that I felt as though the author was talking to me as another friend who obviously loved food and cooking as much as I did. Even after I put the book down, the warmth stayed with me for a long time. I recommend this book to everyone who has a passion for cooking, especially with a friend.

This is one of the best cookbooks I have ever used. Every soup I have made has been either very good, excellent or superb. It is engagingly written and easy to use. Highly recommended.

This book features recipes from the Dairy Hollow Inn. Well-known food writer and innkeeper Crescent Dragonwagon puts in the soup and bread recipes that won her inn the "Uncle Ben's" award, a prize for excellence in small inn cuisine. She shares her spotlight with other inns from around the US.

Right now, as I am writing this review, I am sipping her New England Corn Chowder, which is a corn-squash chowder that can be made with vegetarian ingredients or chicken broth. I tried both versions; right now the base is a golden vegetable broth from a tetra pak but you can use her recipe for vegetable stock. The soup is sweet and spicy and I served it to guests and nothing was left; had to make a second batch. The soup recipes here are all winners. There is a vegetable soup base that can become minestrone or what-have-you, and many other fine recipes featuring vegetables. There is also a section on southern greens.

The breads are everything from a raisin pumpernickel with a secret (chocolate chips) to oatmeal molasses and baps, Scottish soft white rolls.

If you can't find a soup in here you like, you are hard to please--or you don't like soup. Ms. Dragonwagon's commentaries on the inn are fun reading so this is a book you can peruse even if you aren't stirring up something in your kitchen. I use this book almost everytime I entertain for casual affairs; soup and bread are always welcome and easy to serve and enjoy.

We've only owned this cookbook for a short time, but already it is one of our favorites. The author includes background on each recipe in an informal style that makes the reader feel like a good friend being given an enthusiastic recipe tip. In addition, the book includes a large amount of useful information from how to deal with an artichoke, to various soup garnishes and how to work with yeast. It's the recipes that shine, however.
We started with the Wintery Chicken and Pasta Soup--delicious. Then I made the Rabbit Hill Inn Oatmeal-Molasses bread--an outstanding bread my husband wants me to make again. The big winner was A Salad for Fall which we just couldn't get enough of. The combination of flavors is as close to perfect as you can get. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves good food and is willing to spend a little time in preparation.
As I write this, one of the bean soups is simmering on the stove. Bon Appetit!

This is wonderful resource to deal with bullying. I use it both in my classroom and with my own children.

This is a powerful book. I'm an elementary school music teacher and we're using this song as our school song this year in an effort to raise our students' awareness that ALL people are special. EVERY child in the world should hear this read or sung over and over until the whole world gets it!

I say individuality and not bullying, or self-esteem, because kids that face adversity become interesting, dynamic adults. This book is conceptually excellent, beautifully written and illustrated. My only negative (because I am an illustrator) is that Glin Dibley's style is a blatant 'borrowing' of Joe Sorren. Look it up. But to Glin's credit, he does do a wonderful job, and the style fits the subject perfectly.

I was introduced to this book (and song) by a music teacher at a school where I was substituting. It is an appeal for children (good for adults, too) to not make fun of those who are different from them. I was so impressed with it that I went home and ordered it immediately. It is a wonderful tool to bring up discussions about how it makes you feel when someone makes fun of you. The book comes with a CD which has the song with vocals and instrumentals only. This is perfect for teaching the song, and then for performing if that is desired. I think the content of the book is fabulous!! The pictures are excellent, too.

This is a great book that you can use to discuss the power of differences with kids. It seems to ellicit good responses, even when used with my fourth graders!

Highly recommend.

I felt better knowing that my fears with my illness are not mine alone.

I recently read this book, and I can't honestly say that I liked it. I too have been diagnosed with MS. I'm happy that Mr. Lander can find humor in his condition, however I find nothing he had to say not in the least bit funny.

MS is a terrible diease that affects the Central Nervous System and there's nothing funny about that. Even the title of the book is seriously upsetting(How Squiggy caught Multiple Sclerosis and Didn't Tell Nobody). You can't catch MS, and to put that in print is misleading.

I take my MS, the treatment for it, and all the symptoms very seriously. I have no desire to joke about them.

Some of the information in his book were very informative and very much worth reading, however I believe his approach is less than ideal.

When my father finally told me he had MS (like David Lander, he kept it a secret), he suggested I read this book. The insight it gave me was priceless. Everyone will find their own path, but I can tell you that by sharing his experiences, Mr. Lander has helped me to be the best son (and friend) that I can be.

I just loved this book. It is a very quick read and very upbeat. For someone with MS or caring for someone with MS it is a story you can relate to. My husband was recently diagnosed with MS and has been very reluctant to read anything about the disease. I am going to have him read this book because while I whink it might confirm some of his fears, at the same time it does so in a positive manner.

The book is a quick read. Sometimes you feel very alone with MS. This book will help you feel better. And, it explains some of the MS symptoms that you are experiencing better than a medical text. It will put some words on your feelings.

...and really take my faith seriously. This story is about struggle....and struggle.....and struggle.....and more struggle. It is the story of the life that Christian leads when he follows Christ. A great narrative.

Having stumbled across this book during travels in the Caucuses I found I had come across a book which describes one of the most remarkable men of Soviet Russia.

The book was initially published in the west and smuggled into the Soviet Union due to the state repression of religion and its belief that the late father and his followers were members of a fanatical religious group (a term used often during the Soviet era to describe anyone remotely religious) It was also privately published and distributed amongst his followers and like minded individuals.

The late father was a scholar in art who had been ordained a priest. He was imprisoned during Stalin's most ruthless suppression of religion and transported to a gulag in Siberia where he was to spend 20 years of his life.

The book begins describing the late fathers life at the Gulag. Here it seems there were two main groups, criminals who were sent there for crimes ranging from petty crime to the most dangerous crimes of murder and robbery. Some of the men the father met where without doubt by our standards psychotic, they had raped, murdered and killed many without conscience. The second group were intellectuals, men who had fallen out of favour with the Stalinist regime, usually men who had rubbed party officials the wrong way or who had been condemned with trumped up charges put together by political rivals. These included, doctors, scholars, politicians, artists. There were a smaller group of men who had fought along side Germany in the second world war but they were featured later on in the book.

The first half of the book narrates stories recounted by former inmates at the Gulag who later on became the fathers spiritual childern examples of his generosity, his compassion to others and even of miracles that were performed. The stories give life to the every day life in the gulag, the punishments, the daily toil, how death was an every day event. There are stories such as when the father stood up for a young intellectual who had fallen foul of the criminals and they both ended up serving 3 days in a punishment cell, a punishment in the freezing conditions of Siberia that usually meant certain death. The father prayed and instructed the young man to do likewise and both were saved by the grace of God. The young man was later to become a follower of the father.

The second part of the book narrates the life of the father on his release from the gulag where he lived in a small town and his students who would visit him, some reaching important positions in the Soviet government others becoming men of the cloth themselves. Each story narrates the lives and struggles of the individual and how through prayer and belief in God they were able to overcome the trials they faced.

I found the book a fascinating one (In fact I read it in just over a day) and was personally moved by several of the stories (The husband devoted to his wife, the young man who became a priest in a small town after being a war hero in WW2, how the father reformed a known criminal and prayed for the dying monk) I would recommend reading this book to not only those interested in religion but also who would like to know something of the life of those who lived in the Soviet Union.

I have mixed feelings about this book. At several different points the stories about Father Arseny brought me to tears. It is clear that God used him to bring humanity, goodness, and hope into the life of the Soviet Gulags. He was a beacon of light that the powers of darkness could not extinguish, by God's grace. Father Arseny changed the people who encountered him, and after reading his story I hope and pray to be more like him.

On the other hand, Christ and the truths of the Christian faith are missing from these stories. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians he said: "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2). Christ was the sum total of Paul's message. If you take Christ out of Paul's writings, or out of the N.T. there is absolutely nothing left. It is all about Jesus, about his life, his death, his resurection, and the salvation that was wrought on the cross for our sakes. Christ is the all and all of Christian faith and life. Consequently, if you go to the simplest Pentecostal or Baptist church, and attend a time of testimony, or listen to a sermon there, you will probably hear about Christ, the cross, salvation, and living for God.

But in reading these recollections of Father Arseny we find very little mention of Christ at all, let alone the great truths of Christianity. At best we get a sense that Father Arseny was a deeply moral person, who loved those around him, and worshiped (venerated?) Mary, the Mother of God. But Christ himself is absent. The Cross is absent. The gospel, in effect, is absent. Someone unfamiliar with Christianity will not learn few, if any, theological Christian truths from this book. Even at those moments in the book where the gospel would have been most crucial... when someone on their death bed is struggling with their sin and struggling to believe in God... Father Arseny never responds by explaining the gospel or even mentioning Christ. At least no one recollects him as having done so. Compare this approach, for instance, with similar instances in Lutheran bishop Bo Giertz' classic "The Hammer of God."

In sum, there is very little that is specifically Christian about this work, in the sense that it does not proclaim or explain the gospel, or any truths of the Christian faith. There are important moral lessons to be learned, of course, but that is not enough. No doubt, many people will be upset at that claim, but I do not see how it can be refuted. Similar biographies of St. Seraphim of Sarov, and St. John of Kronstadt are unmistakably Christian through and through. But with Father Arseny's book, I could not help but think something important was missing.

A life so filled with the Love of the Lord Jesus Christ spreads the Glory of God wherever that life is told. The living word of God written in the heart of Father Arseny shows us Christ within this humble Orthodox priest. I cannot read more than three pages or so without weeping, both in joy and in profound sorrow that I fall far short of such a Christian. This is not only a book, but a treasure of how to live the Orthodox Christian Faith which has so much to tell us about the Gospel of Christ and how to cooperate with His Holy Spirit in our hearts and consciences. Note: a friend visited a Russian home, and the grandma warned him of thieves in the neighborhood. She made the sign of the Cross over him with prayer. That evening he was indeed accosted by someone who stood, ready to attack, and then ran away into the darkness ..he knows that the Lord protected him - again by the simple faith of Christ's people. Please do not keep this book to yourself, but pass it along to as many as have the heart to receive it. It is a powerful, life-changing testimony.

Most Christians, Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox, think of the great saints as people who lived many centuries ago. But every generation has its saints, its shining lights of God's glory, and Fr. Arseny was one of the 20th century saints. Every person has the potential to become a beacon of God's glory. Fr. Arseny showed how one can become transformed, or divinized, even in the most wretched circumstances. Must reading for all people of faith or doubt.