M Books

DOI is a hilarious odyssey into the twisted, troubled mind of Patrick "Bad News" Hughes. Some of the situations he describes would make me want to live underground and eat canned food for years until it all blew over. But not Pat. He wears it on his sleeve in this no-holds-barred autobiography.

Organized into a multitude of short stories, this is some great light reading. Pick it up now (or Patrick will invite himself into your life and screw it all up for you!).

Patrick Hughes' stories, told by anyone else, would make the average reader wince or vomit, or both. There's more wall-to-wall depravity here than in the average Bukowski story. And you will laugh until you cry. His Ren Faire photo essay alone made me laugh until I thought I'd injured myself.

At the same time, Hughes has a sharp eye for detail and reserves of compassion and decency that you generally don't expect to find in what's basically a book of drinking stories gone horribly awry. He's a talented and thoughtful writer whose subject matter just happens to be growing up poor, dumb, and horny in the American South.

If you read a funnier book this year, I want to know about it.

DIARY OF INDIGNITIES first came to light on the blog Bad News Hughes, documenting indignities generated by the author's life and talent for personal failure. Anticipate a good deal of foul language and a whole lot of laughter: while the former might put off a conservative library holding, any collection strong in humor needs DIARY OF INDIGNITIES. From strange relatives who show up at a wedding to the ironies of hippies and nature, it's a winner.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

A funny thing happened while I was reading "Diary of Indignities". My husband said to me "you're not laughing out loud as much as I had expected" and at first it was dissettling. I should have been seized with hilarity... but then I realized why. My ear-to-ear grin wasn't just from reading the absurdities of fried turds or being relentlessly arm-molested by a retard. I was smiling because it felt like coming home. In some other galaxy or perhaps Seinfeld bizzarro universe, you and I were part of the same gang, my friend. I was that girl. The one on the periphery of the group, the brazen get-away driver, the alibi-creator, the conscious one who would drive you home at 5am. Even when you lived 8 hours away. The one who paid for your stitches and lied to the cops for you. In so many ways, I was right there with you. Dick House? I know that place! Some family bought it and is raising their kid there! Hope they know how radioactive it is. The squatter house? We had a corporate development with no security. Minnesota Wristwatch? I actually saw a guy do the "rodeo" stunt at a frat party.

It made me smile and fondly reminisce. Probably the best part of these indignant stories is that it gave a little... how to phrase it? Validation? to all all of the craziness of my past. The mental scars of a jack-off party and peeing on a trampoline. For once, it felt like finally someone else knew, understood. It freaks me out sometimes being Ms. Corporate America and my co-workers having NO IDEA. And knowing that not only could they not understand, but that their minds would melt with the knowing. Like all "regular" people who didn't spend their formative years hanging around inside freshly dug graves.

So THANK YOU, Patrick Hughes. By sharing your indignities, you made me feel a little better. And not because I'm any better off than you. But because at least I don't have an anal fissure.

xoxo

Mia

This may well be the funniest book ever written. There were times I had to put it down because tears of mirth were streaming from my eyes and I was afraid I'd have trouble seeing clearly enough to land the 747 I was flying. Even thinking about some of the wickedly twisted episodes Hughes describes is enough to give me the giggles. Thanks to Hughes, my family thinks I'm on nitrous oxide again and they're arranging an intervention. But I don't care! This book is so funny that I don't care about anything anymore except reading it and talking about it and urging other people to read it. Oops, gotta go. The flight attendant just told me the oxygen masks are all dropping and the passengers are screaming. If it's not one damn thing it's another.

This book totaly revolutionized my Christian walk. It's truths are biblicaly based, simple but powerfull. I would encourage any Christian to read this book.

Amazing. To understand and internalize the fact that "A person's behavior has absolutely no influence on God's love" is mind boggling. We like to think that God favors and loves us more because we 1) attend church regularly 2) tithe 3) love our neighbors 4) live by the ten commandments 5) don't curse or chew or chase women who do 5) give to Christian causes 6) have daily devotion, and a whole list of other things. Hmmm... THIS BOOK is a must read, (as are Mr. McVey's other works). Thanks Mr. McVey, you have caused us to realize that it is GROWING TIME.

Grace Walk only enhances and supports such potentially complex (and fabulous) writers as Jonathan Edwards, John Piper, and Martin-Lloyd Jones.
If you want to find the "light burden" that Jesus promises to all who come to Him, read this.

This book taught me how to let the Lord drive my life. Right from the start it helped to redirect that "Oh! I gotta DO SOMETHING!" energy and refocused it into learning about the Lord wants me to do. It taught me about listening to the Lord, trusting in the Lord, and even about recognize some of the devil's tricks. It's an excellent book for the Christian who feels that God loves them MORE if they DO MORE THINGS. In truth, we just simply need to BE with the Lord. Don't believe me? Go read it yourself!

This book is profoundly life-changing. I've been a believer for 23 years, and after what seems like a lifetime of "serving" Christ, Jesus has finally taught me to rest. I was weary, confused, and didn't know why things never worked out for me...and then I read this book. Now, it's not I who live, but Christ who lives in me. I don't live for Christ, but instead He *is* my life. This book will dispel the lie that 90% of devout Christians believe about their life in Christ. You only have one nature! Buy the book. Just do it.

I used to use this book while teaching children at a learning center, and now I use this book to read to my daughter before bedtime. The pictures are great! The read is short which is great for kids with short attention spans. Absolutely a must have!

I purchased four copies of Quick As A Cricket at around $10.00 a copy last fall to give as gifts over the course of the year. One of the copies I gave as a gift is seriously flawed. I was embarrassed. Inside the book there are pages that were omitted and multiple pages of the same pictures in their place. I have been hesitant to purchase books since this incident.

This book made its way to our home from my in-laws' home. It was my husband's book when he was a child, and now it is our daughters FAVORITE book.. It is such a great book, so much fun to read, and she's only 13 months old so it's nice to read a non-board book for a change! I am now looking for other stories by this author.

One of the best illustrated books for young children. I read it to my children and now my grandchildren love it.

Kids love it. This is a consistent 'go to' for my my infant daughter, and we enjoy reading it to her too. Big, bright, and imaginative pictures and a warm little poem. The premise is simple: a child imagines that he/she has all of the superlative attributes of several different animals ('quick as a cricket'). I don't know if this is considered a classic (yet), but I think it's a must for the kids' shelves.

I had no appreciation for Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers) until I read this book.
He is an incredible human being.
And this book carries along that incredibleness so people like us who have never met the man can learn and bask in his example of perfect friendship.
Truly an inspiration.

I'm Proud of You was a great read. It is the story of one man's personal journey of pain and self discovery and also of his precious friendship with Fred Rogers. It was a treat to read of "Mr Rogers" and the personal integrity and selflessness he had. Definately recommend it.

I recently finished reading I'm Proud of You. I must say, Tim Madigan did an outstanding job with this book. One small book has made me think about so many different things. It has reminded me in such a profound way that we must live life as if tomorrow will not be. Treasure your family members as if you will not see them tomorrow. These were lessons we need to have repeated again and again.

Tim Madigan has also used the art of writing to reinforce the notion that men have feelings which should be expressed. Society has taught men to be stoic and hard. Tim reminds us that men are also individuals with emotions that need to be felt, appropriately released, and reckoned with. These emotions if not dealt with can and will often manifest itself in other forms within the lives of men.

Lastly, it was a privilege to read the story of a reporter in search of self and finding a man who uncompromisingly shared part of his self and his love. I had to pause from reading at least twice to give my emotions a minute.

It's a extraodinary story. Thank you so much Tim Madigan for sharing. I am also proud of you. Since this was such a personal experience that was unselfishly shared with the reader.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It's a wonderful book about the author's friendship with Mr. Rogers. The author really shares his heart with the reader and reveals the incredible person that was the television icon and child psychologist: Fred Rogers. It's also a book about struggles that we all face: anger, depression, family disagreements and grief.

There are also a great many references to other inspirational material that I plan to also investigate. In a society where most men must deal with so many stressful things, this book is a testimony to the comfort that can come from a genuine male friendship and fellowship.

All of this is particularly meaningful to me, since it was a friend who gave me my copy of this book. I would really like to buy about ten more copies to give to more of my friends and family members.

Moving tale of love, growth and (sometimes) Fred Rogers

In "I'm Proud of You, " prize-winning journalist and author Tim Madigan takes us on very personal journey of growth through his personal pain. His Virgil for the journey was television's Fred Rogers of "Neighborhood of Make-believe" fame. Madigan tells of his unexpected friendship with the celebrity, whose unconditional caring, vulnerability and startling offer of friendship provided solace during times of crisis and pain for the author. Much of the book is related via published emails, letters and telephone calls that the two exchanged over a ten-year period. Madigan shows Rogers as the same completely genuine, gentle and quaint man seen on his TV show. Rogers is overtly religious (Christian, specifically) in his approach to others. As Madigan relates not infrequently, Rogers evinces an almost divine sense of love, non-judgment and complete acceptance. According to Madigan, these qualities were exactly what he needed as he struggled with childhood hurts, difficulty in his marriage and a death in his present-day family. While much of the book relates Tim's own crises, Rogers -- in the form of a gift, card or phone call -- often pokes his head into the narrative. These encounters help Tim validate and express his feelings, an extremely difficult task for males in general. In turn, Rogers bares his own soul, in the kind of mutual friendship that he often established with others.

Fred Rogers is a paradox for our modern culture. "Gentle" and "man" are nearly oxymoronic in our aggressive and high-testosterone culture. Fred took his share of knocks as people questioned his manhood and mistrusted his devotion to children. Madigan shows Fred as a man with his own difficult moments and pain, who found a path to healing through his extraordinary personality and his faith in God. Madigan highlights Rogers' friendship with Henri Nouwen, the Catholic spiritual writer, showing that gentleness and a belief in God's love for all His creatures need not be limited by denominational lines. My only criticism of the book is that it did not live up to its subtitle, "My Friendship with Fred Rogers" since much of the book transpired in Fred's absence, or was carried on at a distance. The subtitle was changed for the paper version to the more-appropriate "Life Lessons from My Friend Fred Rogers". Still, the book is a moving testimony to Fred Rogers' ability to transform another human being simply by affirming him, believing in him, and by extension, to reach out to those in that person's circle of family and friends. Madigan's moving recounting of the end of his brother's life was also quite beautiful and instructive in showing us a way to die that is courageous, healing and deeply imbued with an awareness of everyday graces.

By relating his journey to us, Tim makes his readers the indirect beneficiaries. of Fred Rogers' love and specialness. By doing so, makes his readers his neighbors, something that Fred as "Mr. Rogers" would have dearly appreciated.

This is a wonderful story of finding one's own self confidence. I loved it from beginning to end. The illustrations are adorable. Nice to see some fantastic, good old fashioned storytellers are still out there still!

I won't bother to explain how I come to read The Little Prince and His Magic Wand, a well-written children's book by Jillian M. Curtis, because it really doesn't matter. I'm just thrilled that I did.
When I was a little girl, my mother constantly told me that I was special because I was born on Good Friday, and then I was blessed with the beautiful experience of standing at the end of a rainbow. Unfortunately, there was no pot of gold. But you know what, it really didn't matter and I wasn't the least bit discouraged to think that pot of gold didn't really exist. It was just a stroke of bad luck to find myself standing at the wrong end...that's all. Admittedly so, I might have been a bit disappointed, but never enough to give up believing in that rainbow. And wasn't it enough just getting to stand there in those beautiful colors? Wasn't that quite special? Maybe not to anyone else in the world, but it sure was to me.
So no matter how old we get, we should never give up believing in those childhood fantasies our parents tell us about, like the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny or "Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus." That wonderful world of magic and wishing upon a star should remain as much a part of our adult lives as it did when we were children.
It's like "no child left behind". No youngster should be allowed to miss out on the joys of make-believe and fairy tales. And when a precious story like "The Little Prince and His Magic Wand" comes along, we shouldn't miss out on that either. After reading this beautiful short story, I smiled, wishing I'd had this book to read to my children when they were little. Children love a beautiful fairy tale, and I'll have to say, this little book is one of the very best, truly a story for the young at heart. In fact, I'll probably read it again...just for me. ;-)
Get it. You won't go wrong. Your kids will love it.

Jillian M. Curtis' The Little Prince and His Magic Wand is a quaint and delightful children's book that points young children to the magic within themselves and away from the constant distractions of the world. It's a sweet and wholesome story of a good and kind young prince who follows his dream of becoming a great wizard by searching the Forest of Magic, Mystery and Miracles for the Great Wizard himself. Coming upon the Spirit of the Forest trapped amongst some thickets and thorns, he does not hesitate to come to her assistance. It is through his acts of kindness toward the beautiful young Spirit that he ultimately finds what he is looking for - the true source of magic.

I love the look of this book. Some might consider the (watercolor?) illustrations of Janet Mattison-Prise to be old-fashioned - certainly, they don't leap off the page with vivid realism, but they are exactly the type of illustrations a good, classic children's book should have. After all, illustrations are supposed to complement the story, not compete for the child's attention.

It should be noted that this book is primarily written for children between four and eight years old, and it should go far in helping such youngsters realize just how fun reading can be. With its uplifting message that you can accomplish anything if you just have faith in yourself, The Little Prince and His Magic Wand provides children with an inspirational story they will find educational as well as entertaining.

I found this book to be an original hero quest for younger children. What made it original was that the main character already was a prince, a person of power and wealth, yet above all things he wished to be a wizard. As the tale tells us, even though he could command armies, he could not do magic. Even the court magicians could do no more than give him a cloak that made him look like a wizard- and advice to enter the Forest of Magic, Mystery, and Miracles to look for the Great Wizard on his own.

So the young Prince enters the great forest on his own. He soon encounters the feminine spirit of that forest. She is trapped, exhausted and in danger after her own quest for her Knight of Serenity. The young Prince shows empathy and compassion in freeing her, listening to her tale, and helping her to return to her home. He even finds the ability to do magic to aid them on their way, though it hardly seems like magic at the time. Indeed, as a result of his efforts, the Great Wizard reveals himself to the Prince. His message is that the prince had always had the magic within himself; he had only to realize it through selfless helping. The prince's worldly scepter had always been a magic wand. The young prince leaves a small spark of himself with the spirit and tells her that he will one day return to the Forest.

I found this a charming, non-threatening tale for children. It teaches that there is something more to the world than material wealth and power. There is something more. This something lies deep within us and we can connect with it if we only make a positive effort to use it for good. Part of us will always reside in the Forest of Magic, Mystery, and Miracles... and we will one day return there.

Growing up, a long, long time ago, I cut my teeth on fairytales. I have often felt we needed more of them, not only for our children and grandchildren, but for our own enjoyment. I must admit, many of the tales presented by the Brothers Grimm, read to me in my youth by my mother, scared me half silly, being a child with an over active imagination. (Actually, not much has changed over the years in this area). No fear here though. This is a delightful tale of love, friendship and the magic that is in all of us. This is a point well made in the story. Most, if not all, of us have that magic in us, we have it around us and it is ours to have for the taking if we just look in the right places. This little story points that out in an absolutely delightful way. The author's mellow syntax is an absolute delight to read and I did not find one page that did not leave plenty of room for discussion with your child or grandchild as the book is being read. I must admit to have greatly enjoyed the style of the illustrator also, Janet Mattison-Prise. It was executed in a manner that I find particularly pleasing. This book, as others have pointed out, is a great bed time book or a rainy afternoon book. I hardly think you could go wrong. The story is pretty straight forward, the lessons learned by the little prince are quite worthwhile and it does foster the imagination. What more could you want? Recommend this one highly. I do hope this author gives us more of the same in the future.

I first read this precious book, when a friend sent it to me, after my husbands death.
It was such a comfort.
Now I send it, hoping it will help and comfort some one else.

This is a wonderful book to own for yourself or give as a gift to anyone that has had a love one go on before them to heaven. It gives a vivid picture of what heaven is like. You will feel close to heaven and those that have gone on to their reward.
I first read this book when my sister and then my father died in the same year. It was a tremendous source of comfort, and made the vast expanse between us seem so much smaller.
I highly recommend it.

I first read 'Intra Muros' in the late 1970s.
Although I realize it is not absolutely the truth, it gave me such a peace about death and the hereafter, I passed the book on to another.
At one time I bought 24 of them to pass around. Not one came back to me.
Isn't that wonderful!
Now I am doing the same thing with 'My Dream of Heaven'.
I wish everyone would/could read it.

I really enjoyed reading this book. This book is a great gift to give to someone who has lost a loved one. It helps you to imagine what Heaven will be like.

Although it is the author's dream of heaven, it is a beautiful story about how heaven may be and that it is a continuation from our life on earth. We will meet our family and friends and we will all be so happy and praising our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a lovely book and produces warm and happy feelings!

I have to give this book 5 stars. Mary O'Hara wrote an incredibly beautiful story about a struggling family. Many of the details of the story are so true to life. As an adult reading this story, I found the details about the parents to be more interesting than the story of the horse and the boy. O'Hara really understands the concerns of a parent for a struggling child and it's very true to life in the book. Many important issues are touched upon in this book too; responsibility for our domestic animals, love for people and animals, doing our duty in our every day life are all there with out being mushy and sentimental. O'hara also paints a vivid picture of Wyoming and old-time ranch life. It makes me wish it was still like that, so I could visit it. This is another great book for a read aloud family time.

Although he made his audio book debut just two readings ago, stage, screen and television actor Michael Louis Wells is in full command of the metier with his narration of the classic My Friend Flicka. Many will remember the story as a film with Roddy McDowall, as a TV series or as a current film. Wells is on a par with all of the actors who have undertaken bringing this touching tale to life. The reason for the story's many incarnations is obvious - it is one of our best-loved books and well deserves its place among others that are enjoyed from generation to generation, such as Treasure Island and Mutiny on the Bounty.

Pivotal to O'Hara's story is Ken and his seeming laissez faire attitude. Where his mind is his father, Rob, certainly doesn't know. He's a young boy who would much rather just look out a window than study his arithmetic. He should have studied because his report card is so poor that he's doomed to repeat a grade. Rob undoubtedly wonders whether he'll even catch on the second time around.

Their home is Wyoming's Goose Bar Ranch and Rob is working hard to make a go of it. He doesn't need a son who seems given to daydreams. Then, along comes Flicka, a beautiful chestnut filly, with a wild streak inherited from her sire. Ken is certain he can tame Flicka, and so begins the unforgettable relationship between a boy and his horse.

O'Hara wrote a follow-up to her story, Thunderhead, but it never achieved the popularity of My Friend Flicka, a timeless story to be enjoyed over and over again.

- Gail Cooke

On the Goose Bar Ranch in Wyoming, between the World Wars, former Army captain Rob McLaughlin and his Eastern blue-blood wife, Nell, are raising two sons and an ever-growing herd of thoroughbred horses. Rob, a stern but loving father, doesn't know what to do with younger son Ken. The boy daydreams constantly, and for that reason just failed to be promoted at his boarding school. Why should Rob give small Ken a colt of his own, as he already has older son Howard, when Ken can't do anything that demonstrates he's responsible enough to be trusted? Yet a colt is what Ken wants more than anything else in the world. Until he finds out what happens to male horses when they're two years old - after which he decides he'd rather have a filly.

Not just any filly, though. Flicka, born to the half-wild mare called Rocket. Flicka is faster already than her sire, the ranch's stud horse Banner, and Ken believes he'll be able to train Rocket's "bad blood" out of the yearling. Rob thinks his son is (to use his word for it) dumb, for a lot of reasons that now include choosing this filly that Rob is sure will turn out to be just as "loco" as her dam. Untrainable, and downright dangerous to those who try to handle her.

This novel is a perfect example of the type of children's classic that, when read by adults, proves to have depths and layers its target audience never perceives. I know I read it as a young girl, and enjoyed it as both a good "horse story" and coming of age tale. But in reading it again now, I was amazed by the detailed and multi-faceted characters of Rob and Nell. Their love story is one of the most interesting I've read, because the author not only captures the tensions between these two very different people - she also captures the way that raising their children, who are (for better or worse!) a blending of those differences, affects their relationship. No wonder this book is still in print more than 60 years after it was first published. Simply wonderful!

This is a very good book. My granddaughter really enjoyed it.

I am in the middle of lstening to this book. Its detailed descriptions of ranch life and horses are quite compelling. But what surprised me was the absolutely accurate description of a boy with ADD. This book was written some two decades before attention deficit disorder gained anyone's attention, but O'Hara's descriptions of Ken's behavior are absolutely consistent.

And then O'Hara answers the question of what to do about the condition: give the kid something he really wants to do and stand back. Of course, it helps that Ken has two wise and good-hearted parents; but then, maybe that is the start to solving most problems that children have.

A fine book on many levels, and a fine companion on the road for adult and child.

Most people on earth just want to live a good life and take care of their families, and live in a world where goodwill and tolerance reign supreme despite differences. With six billion people on the planet you would think that our reality would reflect this, but it doesn't. Ever wondered why, or more to the point HOW? The answer is that a SECRET SCIENCE has been used on the masses by an elite 4% of the population for literally millenia! This unique scientific work will make you aware of the workings of this invisible science and how agents of lies, obfuscation and perversion, infiltrate every civil organization on the planet to weild their dark magic to effect change, which manifests ultimately on the macro-social level. It's a science of how to change minds and hearts toward their selfish political agendas. By simply reading this scientific work in my opinion, would empower every one of us with sufficient knowledge to reclaim our world from the genocidal, psychopathic, warmongering agents of death and suffering who became our overlords by virtue of our ignorance.

As I understand, the odds of this extensively researched book being published were slim to none. It attacks the system -- whatever name or ideology it may go by, be it "communism" or "democracy = free market reign [yeah, right]" -- at its very core.

The book exposes the true perpetrators of evil and deviance on the planet -- psychopaths -- and the psychological mechanisms via which the control over the population is instituted and maintained. AFAIK, it is the only book out there that puts all the available information into a coherent whole which has far-reaching implications. No wonder such knowledge would be considered dangerous and would be suppressed by all means available.

The author, Andrzej M. Lobaczewski, had been through hell and beyond, and I applaud his determination and wisdom. The publisher, RPP press, is no less deserving of praise: editing this book, supplementing it with comments on recent research and bringing it to us readers is truly an act of service to humanity.

The book is written in an academic style, appropriate for the complex ideas that it conveys. It is not a light read; prepare to dedicate time to it and come back to the important passages. It will surely be a time well spent.

As written on the book , this is the most important book , is a must read to whoever feels the drive for understanding the reality today , the ponerization of the world as described by lobaczewsky is something that , in his words, shouldn't try to cure if not understood and that book is an amazing step towards understanding , and truth and again as the author points out "truth is a healer", really the most important book to read today

Political Ponerology is not one of the easiest books to read, yet it contains concepts that are absolutely essential for any person struggling to understand exactly what is happening today to the governments, corporations and societies of this planet.

Andrew Lobaczewski spares few words in outlining the core problems facing the contemporary study of psychology and the humanistic "natural world view" that tends to gloss over the facts when confronted with the conscienceless manipulation that is the hallmark of the psychopath. Rationalisation and pseudo-moralising are two of the biggest tools that the psychological predator has in its toolkit, and Lobaczewski explains in somewhat technical terms how they proceed to carve a trail of emotional and psychic destruction in the lives of those they come into contact with.

Less of the book is devoted to the nature and behaviour of the psychopath and "characteropath" (a psychopath by nurture rather than nature), than the process of what Lobaczewski describes as "ponerogenesis", or the creation of complex social networks inside otherwise normal organizations which then attain complete control in order to use the organization to exclusively fulfil the self-serving goals of the psychopaths. Lobaczewski uses observations of the Nazi German and Communist Soviet regimes to demonstrate how whole governments can become infected by these networks to the point that nations begin to display pathological behaviour (aggression, expansionist agendas, social policy decay, suppression of civil liberties and terrorising the population, and eventually large-scale murder and genocide). Advanced cases of ponerization result in what Lobaczewski calls a "Pathocracy" - government by the pathological.

He also describes the way that normal citizens in a developing pathocracy begin to display increasingly hysterical behaviour and this in turn abets the rise and formation of an advanced pathocracy as the masses lose their "common sense". His references to the phenomenon as being similar to a virulent disease that can kill an otherwise healthy organism are disturbingly apt when one considers the collapse of Germany after WWII, and Russia after the fall of Communism.

The proposed solution for immunizing oneself from the effect of both individual predators and pathological systems is to learn the psychological knowledge required, and put it into practice by becoming a keen observer of human behaviour. Not an easy task, but one that may eventually become essential to one's survival in these troubled times.

I would class this book as mandatory reading for anybody who wants to learn how to protect themselves from abuse by psychological predators and how bureaucracy, corporate, and government systems can become propagators of similar abusive values.

We are living in a society that is ill ... we (society in general) have been overtaken by psychopaths at the highest level. Those individuals who govern and rule our lives have worked at creating a world where inhumanity has become the norm.

Reading about ponerology, you will come to understand what "it" is and why it is so important that we recognize the immoral behaviors of some, that have set in motion wars, upon wars, upon wars ... never to end.

But hope is not lost. Read this book and find out why.

I visited my local Christian bookstore (the biggest chain in Australia) and asked for something on "Stewardship" - blank stare and a few stutters... I then asked for something on "Christians and the environment" - oh yes, they could help me, and took me to the back of the store, to the top of the shelf, and there it was, one of three books on Christians and the environment. What I actually wanted was something on Christians and Sustainable Development, and this book more than met my needs.
It is fantastically written, easily digestible, a comfortable read, but it does not skirt any of the issues. It clearly ties together the notions of environmental degradation and human suffering, including the suffering of the poor in other countries who live miserable lives working to feed the consumption machine of the West.
We Christians have a biblical mandate to care for the poor and the oppressed and to care for the creation, and Dr Sleeth provides insightful and practical ways that we can do just that in our every day lives.

My fifteen year old daughter attends an online Christian highschool and she regularly is the "odd student out" on their online forum, disagreeing with the majority of her fellow high schoolers on everything from politics to capital punishment. We are proud that she is so passionate about her beliefs and we regularly have deep conversations with her about the world and our place in it as Christians.

One topic that comes up regularly is environmentalism. We are pretty passionate about being "green" and have always taught her that caring for the environment was a Biblical mandate and should be an integral part of every Christian's life. So, she started a forum topic about stopping global warming and got pounced upon by other Christian high schoolers stating things like, "global warming is a myth", "God wants us to take dominion of the earth", "Jesus is coming back again soon, so what is the difference - the earth will be destroyed." She was in shock that they held these beliefs and after talking through it and the reasons they said these things, as misguided and wrong as they were, I decided to go looking for some books for her that spoke about environmentalism from a Christian perspective. I ended up buying a few from Amazon and "Serve God Save the Planet" was the first one we read.

It is not what I was expecting. I was expected an indepth review of "saving the planet" and why it is critical for Christians. Instead, it gives an introductury, high level view of a number of subjects. The author's passion comes through and it is a window into his journey of faith and this includes saving the planet. The book is subtitled, "A Christian Call to Action" and that is exactly what the book is and what it did for me. While he does include a great chapter making a case for Christian's to care for the earth, most of the book is his sharing his own story and calling us to action.

It is easy to read and very impactful. Each chapter resonated with me and I felt myself nodding and getting pumped up, as it is exactly what I have always felt, but in many areas have lost touch. Besides caring for the earth, he writes about taking action and doing things, he writes about having too much stuff, taking a true day of rest each week, getting rid of television and replacing it with books, serving the poor and making a difference in the lives of others around the word and raising our kids to be help the poor and care for the world.

Since reading this, I've purchased a copy for my sister and my parents and my wife is now reading it and my daughter is almost finished. I'd recommend it to everyone. It is light reading and he doesn't go into depth on each subject, instead, he shares his story and get's you pumped up to take action.

I highly recommend it!

I met Dr. Sleeth a few months ago when he came to South Florida. I just finished this book and I cannot fully communicate the appreciation I have for the truths he communicates. Everyone (especially Christians who aren't sure about the whole green/environmental thing) should read this. In the back of the book I have marked the things that I will be implementing into my life and have even made my own list of other ideas. I am encouraged and inspired; not in an in-the-moment emotional kind of way, but in Biblical, theologically sound way that is rooted in the heart of God and His heart for the earth. A great read for small groups, families, singles. Phenomenal book!!!

Dr. Sleeth's ideas changed my life. I now line-dry my clothes from April to November (jeans just don't air-dry during Pennsylvania winters), hand-wash dishes, and use compact fluorescent bulbs. I also switched to cloth diapers.

I always thought my grandma was crazy for hanging her clothes to dry and hand-washing her dishes. But doing these things relax my mind. I sing to myself, let my kids help out, and rest in the idea that we're all doing something to respect God's creation. Plus, we save money on our electric bill, and save forty dollars a month on diapers.

Get this book, read it, and apply it. It will change your life for the better. And the best part? It's fun. Trust me. :)

What I loved best about Serve God, Save the Planet, is that the author, Matthew Sleeth is obviously down-to-earth, and his writing is approachable, practical, and not holier-than-thou. It is a hopeful call to action for Christians who want to honor God in the way that they interact with this world and with our environment. I have recommended it to everyone I know. It will definitely be the gift of the year.

A must read for anyone with type 1 diabetes, or who knows someone with type 1 diabetes, or who likes to read a great book.

I was driving when my 8 year old daughter announced that "Stacy has type 1 too, mom!" "Who is Stacy?" I asked her. "Stacy, the babysitter..." she replied. I started to tell her she didn't have a sitter named Stacy when I realized she was talking about the book she was reading, The Truth about Stacy. How cool! My daughter has type 1 diabetes and had found a heroine who she could really relate to!

We got other BSC books from the old series to read (not the graphic novels), but they hadn't been updated the way the versions Raina Telgemeier illustrated and adapted. Kudos to Raina, who took the time to learn about type 1 and make sure the information was up to date and accurate.

I love the BSC, and the earliest books in the series are my favorites. Ann Martin is one heck of a writer, and this third book in the BSC series tackles some serious issues - Stacey's struggles with diabetes, moving to a new town and fitting in, the loss and re-gain of old friends. A subplot in this book is the girls dealing with a copycat club called the Baby-Sitters Agency that threatens to put them out of business.
Ann, I wish you had written every single book in the series and not used ghostwriters for so many of them!

Raina Telgemaier has outdone herself in this adaptation of a book from the incomparable Baby-sitters Club series!!

This book was one of the best books in the baby sitter club serious and you know there were a LOT! This book really got deep in to Staceys feelings about having deiabets and her strugles with that.
Also the whole club is faced with a problem...some one else has started there own baby sitters club!!!!!!!
Now this wouldn't be so bad if that club wasn't getting more people calling them....and then when that club pays a trick on them the baby sitters club knows the other club HAS to go!!!

I thought that this book was brillantly written! go AMM!I mean of course there is going to be compeition and everything with the club, and how sometimes parents can be so impossiable! even though we know that they do care they seem a little overprotective and dont really listen to what we have to say, so i like this book a lot. and i like it when stacey and charollete bonds, this book is realy good. and its so sad how stacey was upset because she cares about the babysitters club because she doesnt want to lose any of her friends, and i liked that her and laine[her former best friend] were cool again.