Biography Books

Seller had a great price for the product and she was very honest about the condition of the book.

This is a must read for anyone who wants to know how God can change their life forever. What divine wisdom is spoken by this saint of the Church!! Her "Little Way" to serving and loving Jesus is persuasive to anyone struggling with the "how" of living a Christlike life.

"Story of a Soul" is a collection of three manuscripts written by Therese of Lisieux near the end of her very brief life. Therese lived in France at the end of the 19th century and spent nine of her twenty-four years in a Carmelite cloister, yet this simple woman and her "little way" have touched millions of lives in the years since her death.

Therese lived and preached a spirituality based on the scripture passages that urge becoming like a little child, living a life of trust in God. While she never did anything the world might consider "great", she made the most of the opportunities presented to her. She took advantage of offering to God little sacrifices such as sitting straight in a chair without resting her back and going out of her way to be kind to a fellow sister she did not particularly care for.

From her earliest years, she had an intimate relationship with Jesus. Although she was very close to her family, She writes, "I knew how to speak only to [Jesus]; conversations with creatures, even pious conversations, fatigued my soul." In her final year, as she was dying from tuberculosis, she welcomed her suffering even as she experienced a crisis of faith which plunged her into a dark night of the soul.

The three manuscripts that comprise "Story of a Soul" each have a different tone due to the fact that they were addressed to three different people in response to three distinct requests. Manuscript "A" is addressed to Therese's sister Pauline, also known as Mother Agnes. She was a Carmelite nun as well and at the time was the Prioress of the convent. Mother Agnes had asked her to put down on paper her recollections from her childhood. It was intended as a "family souvenir" and as a result has a very familiar, sentimental tone. In it, Therese tells the story of her life from her earliest remembrances through her profession as a Carmelite.

Manuscript "B" was directed to another of Therese's elder sisters, Marie, who also resided at the Carmel cloister. Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart later recalled that "I asked her myself during her last retreat (September, 1896) to put in writing her little doctrine as I called it." The shortest of the three manuscripts, it contains the heart of Therese's insights. It consists of a letter to her sister in which she explains that "Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude," and a love letter to Jesus in which she confides her desire to be "the warrior, the priest, the apostle, the doctor, the martyr." Using the metaphor that St. Paul established in 1 Corinthians 12 of the body of Christ with its many parts, Therese comes to the conclusion that in order to fulfill her desire to be all things she must be love. "I shall be love. Thus I shall be everything, and thus my dream will be realized."

In Manuscript "C", Therese returns to the story of her life, this time at the request of Mother Marie de Gonzague who had taken over as Prioress. It tells of her remaining years at Carmel up to three months before her death in 1897 when she no longer had the energy to write. In her final words she exclaims "I go to Him with confidence and love . . ."

Therese never intended any of these words for publication, yet in the last months of her life she seemed to have had a premonition that her words would eventually do much good in the world. "Story of a Soul" provides a blueprint for a life lived in relationship with Christ. Therese comes across as extremely human, struggling with life as all of us do, yet she had such trust and faith. We are wise to learn from her example.
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Really enjoyed reading this book. Excellent akutobiography of St. Therese. What a beautiful life she lead. Everyone should read this if for nothing else than inspiration from an extradorinary woman. You don't have to be a religious person to get something out of this autobiography.

Therese of Lisieux lived a very sheltered life. As we begin the book she actually seems to be spoiled by her family. Her parents were financially secure and devoutly religious. Therese knew she wanted to be a nun from the age of three. She had bouts of poor health and she suffered the loss of her mother early in her life. And then the sisters she relied on left one by one to join the convent. But she also had security and love from her family. She also had an incredible sense of self-direction.

In her book Saint Therese describes souls as similar to different types of flowers. Some are roses, others lilies, and some like orchids, for example. And all can be equally pleasing to God in their own way, when seeking his role for them. People have different talents and different struggles, but these characteristics do not mean that any type is more valued than the other.

Saint Therese describes the Christian Church as one body, and how she wants to be the heart that loves. She writes frequently of the many ways that God is love. She believed that heaven for her would be to be able to help people on earth after she died. She writes that any sacrifice in daily life can be offered to God, for the conversion of souls, or help of others, whether it is the suffering of an illness or loss, or the performance of a mundane daily chore. Therese also writes much she preferred to speak directly to God as a child when she prayed instead of using formal liturgy.

I have read this book myself at least twice. This book was purchased as a graduation present for a nephew. I wish someone had made me read this book at the age of 13. Franklin is quite the character. There are a lot of controversies surrounding his life, but for the purpose of instruction, I prefer to quit the debating society. This fellow is the first native born genius of record produced in this country. He may have painted a rosy picture of his life, but any of us would in an autobiography. If you want a critical examination of his life, check out some of the excellent athoritive biographies available. If you want inspiration, read this. Most inspiring are the roles that thrift and hard work played in his success and his practical approach to striving for "moral perfection".

This says Norton Critical Edition, so, of course, designed for academic study.

A man that of course did a whole pile of stuff and came up with a whole pile more.

Entertaining at times, and lecturing at others, as you might expect from someone that had been in a privileged position.

no doubt about it: ben franklin was a bright fellow. brigher than me, for instance. his autobiography, however, and despite what people on amazon are saying, is a shallow piece of fluff. nothing is touched in depth as he skims from one episode to the next like he is racing to finish an unimportant task. his wife? his family? forget them. all people in his life, in fact, seem deserving of no deep consideration to mr franklin. at times he brags about himself under the guise of modesty, and it is both silly and annoying. plenty of excellent biograhy work out there on this man, and one would be much better served to pick up one of those. it simply boggles my mind that anyone could consider this a 5 star piece of literature. there is not the slightest bit of passion in this writing. mr franklin doesn't even seem terribly interested in what he is writing about. amazon reveiwers seem to award 5 stars to almost anything they read, without the slightest trace of critical detachment. yes, this is a book you would not be wasting your time reading, simply because these are the words of benjamin franklin, but that's it. this is not great literature. not even close.

As everyone else has noted, Ben was a brilliant man and an entertaining writer. This is classic American literature, particularly in how it shows a "character" striving to rise up and better himself because that is the promise of the American Dream.

I docked Ben one star because the unfinished ending is not satisfying to someone who comes across this book for the first time. Just so you know, if you get lost during the third part, Ben is discussing the French Indian War.

The Dover edition is very nice and anyone should be satisfied with it.

In many ways, this is, to someone coming to it for the first time, a very surprising book. For one thing, it is amazingly incomplete. Franklin is, of course, one of the most famous Americans who ever lived, and his accomplishments in a wide array of endeavors are a part of American lore and popular history. A great deal of this lore and many of his accomplishments are missing from this account of his life. He never finished the autobiography, earlier in his life because he was too busy with what he terms public "employments," and later in life because the opium he was taking for kidney stones left him unable to concentrate sufficiently. Had Franklin been able to write about every period of his life and all of his achievements, his AUTOBIOGRAPHY would have been one of the most remarkable documents every produced. It is amazingly compelling in its incomplete state.
As a serious reader, I was delighted in the way that Franklin is obsessed with the reading habits of other people. Over and over in the course of his memoir, he remarks that such and such a person was fond of reading, or owned a large number of books, or was a poet or author. Clearly, it is one of the qualities he most admires in others, and one of the qualities in a person that makes him want to know a person. He finds other readers to be kindred souls.

If one is familiar with the Pragmatists, one finds many pragmatist tendencies in Franklin's thought. He is concerned less with ideals than with ideas that work and are functional. For instance, at one point he implies that while his own beliefs lean more towards the deistical, he sees formal religion as playing an important role in life and society, and he goes out of his way to never criticize the faith of another person. His pragmatism comes out also in list of the virtues, which is one of the more famous and striking parts of his book. As is well known, he compiled a list of 13 virtues, which he felt summed up all the virtues taught by all philosophers and religions. But they are practical, not abstract virtues. He states that he wanted to articulate virtues that possessed simple and not complex ideas. Why? The simpler the idea, the easier to apply. And in formulating his list of virtues, he is more concerned with the manner in which these virtues can be actualized in one's life. Franklin has utterly no interest in abstract morality.

One of Franklin's virtues is humility, and his humility comes out in the form of his book. His narrative is exceedingly informal, not merely in the first part, which was ostensibly addressed to his son, but in the later sections (the autobiography was composed upon four separate occasions). The informal nature of the book displays Franklin's intended humility, and for Franklin, seeming to be so is nearly as important as actually being so. For part of the function of the virtues in an individual is not merely to make that particular person virtuous, but to function as an example to others. This notion of his being an example to other people is one of the major themes in his book. His life, he believes, is an exemplary one. And he believes that by sharing the details of his own life, he can serves as a template for other lives.

One striking aspect of his book is what one could almost call Secular Puritanism. Although Franklin was hardly a prude, he was nonetheless very much a child of the Puritans. This is not displayed merely in his promotion of the virtues, but in his abstaining from excessiveness in eating, drinking, conversation, or whatever. Franklin is intensely concerned with self-governance.

I think anyone not having read this before will be surprised at how readable and enjoyable this is. I think also one can only regret that Franklin was not able to write about the entirety of his life. He was a remarkable man with a remarkable story to tell.

Sue Katz has written exactly the book every voter needs to read in order to understand who Sarah Palin is and why we should care. This book is not only a comprehensive analysis of Palin's record and stands on various issues but also a blast to read. It is funny without taking cheap shots and smart without being snooty. It is the kind of book you quote when talking to friends about this candidate; is a must read.

Read the author's background and the title and you know all you need to know. Merely rhetoric ... no knowledge nor wisdom.

I'm glad I didn't pay for this book. I saw where it was being offered free to Kindlers, so I downloaded it and started reading with interest as it was described as a "critical review of Sarah Palin".

According to the American Dictionary of the English Language, critical has more than one meaning. a)characterized by careful evaluation and b)tending to criticize. I was hoping this was a CAREFUL, thoughtful, (and balanced) evaulation of Palin; alas, it is just a scathing attack of her.

Make no mistake: I am NOT a Palin fan! I think she is totally unprepared for the job of Vice President or, God forbid, President. But Katz's writing is as vitriolic as Palin's, only in reverse.

I have some advice for Palin AND Katz: Both of you, dispense with the hatred and the attacks, and talk about the issues without name calling.

There is an old Quaker saying, "If we fight the beast by becoming a beast then bestiality has won."

Beastiality won in this one.

Screw this Katz lady.
It was so one sided it wasn't even funny.
The only ones who would but into this bull are weak minded individuals.
Your Leader Obama is no saint.
What about his background.
Thanks but no thanks to that idiot.

have to say that Katz describes accurately what you can expect behind the "maverick" facade with Palin's likely ascent to the presidency. Like Palin, I was raised evangelical in Idaho. As Katz describes, I too fooled people with my impressive appearance and converted "Jews for Jesus". Like Palin, I, as an "instrument of God's will", worked toward nuclear Armageddon in Israel. (This all sounds unbelievable, unless you are an evangelical fundamentalist. This is prophesied for end times (when the world will end in fire, the first time it was Flood) required to prepare the imminent return of Christ, as described in Revelations.)

Be forwarned, in the Palin candidacy, extreme religious zealots are closer than they have ever been to ultimate power. For thirty years the Billy Graham-Pentacostal-Jesus evangelicals have striven to seize power on behalf of war to the finish between Christ and Anti-Christ. All the references in this campaign to Obama using such labels are not accidental, they are code for stages of a religious war for power in this country. I know--I used to be one of them.

Palin truly believes as I did that she is doing God's will. Belief in God in your gut must be the only guide. Reason is the enemy, a tool of the Devil.

I recommend this book. Katz has made a huge effort without time to polish, because of this dark horse candidate sprung on the national scene by McCain.

Katz covers not only this much misunderstood religious civil war now just short of victory. She also highlights the economic and social gulf between the image of a supposed "woman who can do everything" and the reality of a woman who will sacrifice her own presence in the life of her young and suffering children on the alter of a messianic religious cause to which she feels herself anointed by God. Palin's economic and social policies continue policies of penalizing working women by denying equal pay for equal work, by refusing them protection in case of rape, denying them education appropriate to sexual activity. In summary, Hillary, Palin isn't, you betcha, and she ain't no maverick, neither. She is part of the onward evangelical army, marching as to Armageddon, and we're all going with her.

Under President Palin,affiliated with evangelicals now within sight of their long-sought victory, you will see renewed recklessness in our 'end-times' foreign policy regarding Israel, Iran, Iraq, as well as gross interference in your rights as families to privacy, crushing the separation of church and state.

One heartbeat away from ultimate power--or even less, given Palin's youth, and McCain's age, melanoma, (and his otherwise unintelligible refusal to release his full medical records for thorough review by public doctors. He clearly is hiding truth from appropriate analysis before an election.)

The machinery for this control of the levers of power has all been laid under the Bush administration, from claiming dictatorial levels of executive privilege, to salting extreme partisan judges throughout the judiciary, to destroying the non-partisan civil service, to appointing the Roberts Supreme Court, to destroying documentation and transparency of governmental actions, to wiretapping without warrants, arresting legal demonstrators, classifying dissent as treason.The recent McCain Palin town hall meetings have been nearly hysterical with threats against their opponent--they taste the blood of victory.

I will admit to not being an expert on Queen Isabella. I have never read a biography on her before, so when I picked up Alison Weir's book in the store I had nothing to compare it to and enjoyed it immensely. There is wonderful period detail here, especially in the beginning, and I think the reader feels a measure of sympathy for Isabella, whose husband wasn't interested in her sexually (or emotionally it seems). My favorite part of the book was when Isabella (finally) took a lover and decided to make a stand against her husband with him. Part slighted young woman, part Lady Macbeth, Queen Isabella is a very interesting read with a few theories about Edward II's "death" I hadn't heard before (whether or not they could be accurate I can't say).

This is a History book. So it has just the facts, M'am. A very good History book and therefore lots of niggling details...and every detail has multiple perspectives gathered from letters and writings of the time and are based on the authors religious or nationalistic views. It is a slow read that you can put down and easily pick up again, as you will want to work your way through this beautifully written and richly informative history as seen through the mind of a very interesting queen. It covers the period of English History from the late times of Edward I (late 13th century) to Edward II and the the beginning of the reign of Edward III (mid 14th century. There is no plot so the fun is in the interesting details and analysis of those Medievil times.

This was a great read. For those who have read the author's other books on British monarchy this one will not disappoint. It is a compelling and engaging narrative that sheds light on a historical character I knew very little about. The story of Queen Isabella's reign in England is well worth the effort.

The book is heavily laced with facts to establish a place in the Medieval World. While the character of the heroine stands out clearly, sometimes the factual context surrounding events is daunting.
It's a good read although a little too heavy on historical detail particularly in lists of "guests" or of "persons in attendance."

I really tried to like this book. Inasmuch as I am an avid student of history and enjoy the tangled web of early to mid twentieth century English history, this book seemed right up my alley.

I can't say that it is a bad book, but upon reflection, perhaps the most telling fact is that it took me so long to finish it. A book of this size generally takes me about a week to finish, reading for an hour or so each night before bed. Most nights, however, found me nodding off in less than half the time. Weir's style can best be described as a dry recitation of historical facts with frequent asides in which she injects her own analysis. Hardly scintillating entertainment and simply not lively enough to keep me awake.

From the standpoint of substance, I can't say that I agree with her efforts to rehabiltate the universally condemned Queen Isabella, the wife of Edward II of England. Isabella conspired against, overthrew, cheated on and likely participated in the murder of her husband and sovereign. According to Weir, she was simply misunderstood and unfairly judged. To my knowledge, she is the only one that believes so.

In order to back up her position, Weir not only spins facts to the benefit of the Queen, but she weaves many out of whole cloth and disregards the numerous facts which clearly implicate her in the crimes for which history has condemned her. In an attempt to absolve the Queen of the crime of murder, she even trots out the old, roundly rejected canard that Edward II escaped from his captors and lived the remainder of his life as a hermit in France. This despite the public, state funeral in which the body and face of the King were clearly displayed and visible to thousands. As if an escape somehow lessens the crime of ordering the murder in the first place.

Even in the cases where she concedes guilt on the part of the Queen, such as her adulterous relationship with Mortimer, she pardons the Queen, holding her to current standards as opposed to those in which she lived. In this regard, she clearly states that were Queen Isabella alive today, she would be viewed as a strong, independent woman, deserving of praise and not scorn (You go, girl). Nice theory, except for the fact that she didn't live in current times. In her day, regicide was perhaps the greatest crime and sin of the day, and adultery by a royal woman was universally punishable by death.

I've read several of Weir's works and to date am not impressed. She seems to be on a personal crusade to rehabiltate the reputations of various women of the Middle Ages that for some reason or another have been judged harshly by history. I've never been a fan of revisionist history and particularly when the revisions are politically or socially motivated. This book is not only not particularly entertaining, but it's not even good history.

So far I've been happy with the quality of information and the depth of imagination. I look forward to much more use. The layout is done very well and the writings are diverse and short enough to read quickly.

I was disappointed that this was only part of Year B. I didn't notice that it said Part 1. It will be very helpful when Year B begins.

This is the first volume to be published of a new commentary series for preachers, organized around the readings of the Revised Common Lectionary.

When completed, the twelve volumes of the series will cover all the Sundays in the three-year lectionary cycle, along with moveable feasts & high holy days.

For each lectionary text, Hebrew Bible, Psalm, Gospel, and Epistle, preachers will find four brief essays on the exegetical, theological, pastoral, and homiletical challenges of the text.


Each lectionary year (B 2008-2009, C 2009-2010, A 2010-2011) will be treated in four volumes, one for the Advent and Christmas seasons, one for Lent and Easter, and one for each half of Ordinary Time (the season after Epiphany & the 'long green season' after Pentecost).

While the twelve volumes of the series will follow the pattern of the Revised Common Lectionary, each volume will contain an index of biblical passages so that non-lectionary preachers may make use of its contents.

Editors of the series are Barbara Brown Taylor, Butman Professor of Religion at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia, and David L. Bartlett, Professor of New Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.

The book is about Michael May, a man blinded at age three and given the opportunity to see again as an adult. His personality, determination, curiosity and optimism come shining through these pages. The book also gives fascinating insights into how vision really works. I bought it and read it within 48 hours, and wanted more.

Michael May's story is very interesting but, the reader didn't have to know every detail about his life. Because this was a book for my book club, I forced myself to continue reading it. This book needed serious editing. The best parts were the scientific information and May's life after the surgery.

Crashing through is Kurson's second book. His first book, Shadow Divers, is a must read for all men. 'Crashing Through' is very well written and educates the reader about sight, seeing, and all that goes into that complicated process as well as describes the heroic life of one who moves from blindness to sightedness. I enjoyed the history and education of the various medical approaches to sight and what it was like for one to have lived in both worlds The book moves quickly, keeps the readers attention,
as well as educates.

I really wanted to like this book, but Crashing Through turned into drudgery about half way through the story. The story is about Mike May, a blind man from a very young age, and his decision to have a surgery that allows him to see again. Mike's whole life is portrayed, and while it is interesting, it is not altogether fascinating. What is really compelling is what will happen to Mike after he has the surgery. Unfortunately, it is precisely at this moment that the book lost its appeal for me. The author quickly turns to describing the minutiae of May's daily life and what it's like to see ordinary things for the first time. After reading page after page of this, I finally gave up and stopped reading.

What would you do if you had been blind since you were three years old, and forty-two years later an ophthalmologist told you that there was a new form of stem cell surgery that could restore your vision? Would you do it? If you had never seen your children and spouse, and this new procedure could give you a chance to see them, would you take the chance? Does the question sound like an easy one to answer? What if you were happy with your life, even doing such activities as downhill skiing, and hiking alone in the woods, and you were told that there were some possible serious risks to the procedure? After the surgery you may find that it is difficult to adjust to the new sight, your sight may not allow you to see in a normal way, and you could again loose your sight at any time. Even more worrisome is that the drug that you would have to take was highly toxic and could possible cause cancer, would the risk be worth it? These are all things that Michael May had to think about as he pondered the idea, should he try this new procedure? I won't spoil the book for you by telling you how things turn out for May, but as you read this book, you will experience his struggles, his highs, and his disappointments. This is a fascinating true story, that also taught me things about sight that I had never known or thought much about before.

This book is an easy read that makes you change behaviors immediately. I bought copies for all of my supervisors. I highly recommend it.

Great book. 3rd in a series of 3 that reviews a few issues brought up as a result of writing his first book "it's your ship". Regardless of the fact that you are in a leadership position or not, this books provide the individual with the basic building blocks that all individuals should strive to achieve.

There are countless leadership books available, and many of them simply repackage the old chestnuts in a new context or apply new terminology to the same principles. Michael Abrashoff somehow manages a different take on leadership. His success in turning around a ship and making it the pride of the fleet gives him credibility, as does his willingness to make the right decision even in the face of the unforgiving military promotion machine, recognizing that he was signaling the end of his rise through the ranks. Abrashoff's compassionate but firm style would serve many leaders well, regardless of their field. "It's Our Ship" an easy but provocative read and well worth the time.

Finishing this book, I thought, it's ok. Fundamental advice, nothing too innovative, well told: treat your people well; make sure even those with tough jobs get your appreciation and understand you know that their job requires skill like any other( Abrashoff tells of visiting on a regular basis the sole sailor responsible for the ship's waste); train your people to be good and then delegate to them; make sure you understand that people are always looking at what the leader says and does. and take their cue accordingly. But, on reflection, the book is much more, although not apparent. It really is a story of a guy who worked for an organization that is rigid, with often pointless rituals, and arrogant leadership. That is, the Navy. The real narrative and book value is how he managed well in this environment. By way of example, his evals of his officers were forced ranked a la Enron, and made or broke careers, pitting one officer against another and making it harder to manage, not easier( so he told them I can't change the system but I will help you transition to civilian life by getting you marketable assignments). Great section on how to decide how much risk to undertake and deciding what is worth a risk. For those stuck in this type of organization, the books speaks to you. Take a read.

I'm a big fan of Captain D. Michael Abrashoff's leadership methods and his books. His latest, IT'S OUR SHIP - The No Nonsense Guide to Leadership is the third in a series based on his command tour aboard USS BENFOLD (DDG65) and building on his experiences with leaders in the business world. In this third book, I see Michael's growth as an author and as a leader. The third book includes some snippets from the story outlined in his first best seller - IT'S YOUR SHIP. Sure to be a best seller in its own right, IT'S OUR SHIP provides a great blend of Michael's own story with those of other proven leaders in the business world. These are stories worth telling and Michael tells them exceedingly well. In his latest book, he takes you back to USS Benfold, then to The Container Store, Pitney Bowes, Aflac, 1-800-GOT-JUNK and many other commercial enterprises before ending where he started - USS BENFOLD. From each enterprise, he brings together their leadership lessons with his and demonstrates that these principles work in every environment. All it takes is "collaboration" - the key word in this book.

I come at the three books (the second was GET YOUR SHIP TOGETHER) from a different perspective and much more critical eye than most readers. I was commissioned the same year (1982) Michael was - though from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island rather than the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. We both assumed command in 1997 (though my command was a shore command) and we both worked for the Secretary of Defense (though mine was Donald H. Rumsfeld - as fine, patriotic, and honest a man as ever served (twice) in that demanding position). When I assumed command, I was taking over for an interim caretaker Commanding Officer who was nurturing a command back to health after two failed Inspector General inspections (somewhat like the Operational Propulsion Plant Examination that USS BENFOLD had failed before Michael assumed command). I know first-hand the challenges of command. I retired as a Navy Captain in 2006 with a career spanning 30 years of service as an enlisted Sailor and a commissioned one. I am a Navyman. I fully appreciate the context of his books and the purpose for which they were written. Read these books, apply the principles and watch your people grow, succeed and surpass your expectations.

I know that the leadership principles that Michael outlined in all three books work. They work extraordinarily well, when properly employed. They worked for him, they worked for me, they work for Commanding Officers at sea and ashore today, and they will work for you. Captain Abrashoff is a masterful leader and brilliant storyteller. I've gone back to do some research and can't validate that "virtually all 310 Sailors were deeply demoralized" or that "clearly his (the former CO's) leadership had failed", as Michael has described the situation. I say this, because statements like these are toned down a bit in his second and third books, which shows Michael's growth as both author and leader. While this over-dramatization tells a better story, Arleigh Burke destroyer Sailors are the cream of the crop of surface Sailors. Michael started off in a far better position than a reader might otherwise think, though he and his crew faced significant challenges and overcame them together to achieve remarkable successes by any measure.

Commander Abrashoff assumed command of a nearly new Arleigh Burke destroyer and inherited a crew that suffered the natural trials and tribulations of pre-commissioning a ship and `bringing her to life.' The truth of the matter is that three of the officers under the former CO and the former CO himself are all Navy Flag officers today - the enlisted Sailors of that first crew went on to enjoy great success as well. The first CO of USS BENFOLD was certainly doing something right and continues to do well on active duty today. I think it's more a matter of different approaches to leadership - there are many ways to effectively command an Arleigh Burke destroyer.

I give you my own insight so that you understand fully that there is no doubting that Commander Abrashoff's approach is successful - and he fills you with genuine confidence that you can be equally successful (that in itself is a sign of a good leader). Leaders everywhere would do well to make his three books a part of their libraries - but only putting them on the shelf after they have devoured every word. I remain a student of leadership and Michael's books have contributed greatly to my education. I could have used them at the start, in the middle and at the end of my Navy career. I read and reread them today. And I will, again, tomorrow. I hope you'll join me. You will not regret it.

I was shocked when I got this product, as I thoutht I was getting a used copy and it was brand new and had never been opened. I received it in a very short amount of time. I would purchase from them again.

First of all, I do not believe Denise and Alan Jackson were compatible from the very start of their relationship. Initially it was a physical attraction at best - more so on Alan's part. As time marched on in their marriage, they began to drift apart and then later fell apart due to Alan's infidelity.
I sensed that Denise would have liked to share more concerning Alan's unfaithfulness but showed great restraint in choosing not to cast him or his career in a bad light.
It was upsetting to me and countless others to see Denise blame herself for Alan's betrayal or trying to pull herself down to his level for a few impure thoughts she may have had back when - whenever.
Denise fought long and hard by exhausting every avenue to restore her relationship with Alan until finally surrendering it all to Christ, the Author and Finisher of Our Faith. I to have been there until I did exactly what Denise did in crying out to God to not only save my marriage but to save myself and by divine intervention, my marriage was spared. That was over 25 years ago and we are still going so very strong.

In all honesty, I do not think Denise would have fought so long and so vehemently to save her marriage if it were not for the extravagant and opulent lifestyle she had come to know and love, for herself and for their children. I appreciate Denise's honesty in making mention in her book before the fame and fortune she said, "I don't remember any woman chasing after you when you worked the second shift at the local K-Mart." I truly believe that Denise would have shown Alan to the door had it not been for all the wealth.

It is my hope that they will both stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to everlasting life and their children as well.
The scripture does say, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
Denise closed her book by quoting the passage, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him."
However, for the readers sake I would like to add the very next passage that states, "But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God."
I'll close by sharing this thought, "It is Christ Himself who empowers us to forgive those who have violated our trust, all we need do is ask and by the Holy Spirit he will enable us to forgive all."

For a truly extraordinary story of love and redemption, check out D. W. Gutridge's "Captured by a Smile." You will not be disappointed.Captured by a Smile "Imprisoned by Love": A Memoir of Young Love that Refused to Die

I cannot recommend this book enough for every woman. It truely changed my life. I read it in half a day, and think about it weekly. It truely taught me forgiveness and for those struggling with hurt and betrayal, who need a way to faithfully overcome the hurt and to forgive, this is an excellent book!

I bought this book for my mom last Christmas. She read it in two days. She loved it and it made her respect Alan Jackson all the more.

I picked up this book and could not put it down. I got it from the library but had to go buy my own copy. Denise is so open and honest and I learned so much from her story. Thanks so much for opening up yourself and sharing your joys and heartaches. I cried and laughed. I wasn't really an Alan Jackson fan but I am now! Great story!
Shannon

Very good read, his experiences keep you reading and you want to find out what happens next in his life.

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know there is a GREAT event coming up almost a week away in New York City. The American Place Theatre's Festival: Literature to Life is performing a theatrical adaptation of BLACK BOY by Richard Wright on September 20th, 2008. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to see this moving autobiography come to life. Here's the information and can't wait to see you there!

The American Place Theatre's Fourth Annual Literature to Life Festival
Citizen and Censorship: Raise Your Civic Voice!
When: September 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Where: The Scholastic Auditorium Landmark Soho Building
577 Broadway between Spring Street and Prince Street
Tickets: Single Show Pass $20, Single Day Pass $55, Full Festival Pass
$100
To reserve tickets contact The American Place Theatre at
212-594-4482 x10 or for more information logon to
www.americanplacetheatre.org

I read Black Boy years ago and wanted to refresh my memory of the book. The author has a way of taking you into his world. I was rivited to the pages as I was all those years ago when I first read the book. I would recommend this book to anyone, young or old.

Often when you see books written about the life of black people in any point and time before the 1960's its main message is "My life was hard because white people are terrible," and that gets very redundant. However this was quite refreshing, as he did not harp on racism on every page. This is a very well written and intresting account of this man's unique life experiences and all the strange, crazy people he encountered within his family and outside them as well. People who have a few or several nuts on their family tree will be able to relate to Black Boy.

The best autobiography EVER, in fact I am not even sure it should be called autobiography because it is much more than that for many reasons. Autobiographies are often flat and either self pitying or glorifying, but this one is completely at another level. I was so impressed by the brilliant mind that shines through all obsacles, and his writing is just so natural, logical and insightful, not just about his personal life experiences, but about human suffering, senseless oppression, and unyiedling human spirit. Wow!

The writer keeps you captivated. She exposes her sex life and that of her parent.

This book was fascinating. It conformed with many of my own observations of behavior and activities of staff and lay-persons in Malibu and Montana during the 'shelter cycle'. I'm still wondering about some of the reasons for staff and lay behavior during the decline period, between 1992 through 1998, and would have liked to see more about that period, as well. (In particular, I have questions about the 'Karmic Readings' in public -- I avoided them.) That is probably a subject that needs to be presented by a different author, as Erin was not actively involved at that time. I had the interesting task of working for the Summit Beacon International book distributorship as the Accounts Receivable collections agent in 1996-97, where I was accidentally recognized as 'Staff' for a period of time.... (but there are no accidents with the Masters, right?). I know a fellow that was acting as a nanny for Mother's youngest son during her declining period, between 1997-1999. He wouldn't say much about the situation with Mrs. Prophet during this period, but it didn't sound like it was a very pleasant experience.

I wonder why the detractors to this book say that it is salacious? The information sounded pretty accurate to me, entirely within the range of standard human behavior and a reflection of what many families and couples experienced in relationship to the organizational tenants and discipline(s). Both my husband and I went through three levels of Summit University training, were involved in the "Helmet of Salvation" shelter [with Orlando!], worked in the potato and carrot fields, processed squash, spinach, turnips and other vegetables and meats in the canning barn, killed and gutted turkeys at the processing building, and sat through almost-daily church services and (of course!) all-day decree sessions during the Gun period. It was quite interesting, overall. I certainly appreciated Erin's comments about how some things are seen or recognized; angels, demons and what-not.

Some of the comparisons to other 'doomsday' group experiences was fascinating, and gave me some valuable information to contemplate. It will be interesting to see if Church Universal and Triumphant does indeed survive into the future, like the 7th Day Adventists, etc. The SDA groups have done a wonderful job of incorporating and supporting families in their organization, with an emphasis on schools for their children. I think this is one of the positive things that SDA does that effectively keeps their church vital, even though I don't exactly agree with their doctrine. Still, I respect the good they do as individuals and as a group for the communities where they reside.

This book is a heckuva read, especially for anyone who's lived with and studied with an apocalyptic religious group or under a charismatic church leader -- or even just tried to be completely devoted to a cause or submerged in a belief system. I also recommend "Shoes Outside the Door" by Michael Downing, about 'desire, devotion and excess' at the San Francisco Zen Center in the 1980's....there are many notable parallels, especially when it comes to the treatment of staff members as 'chelas'.

Tremendous reading. Seems some however need to move on through this old time piscean judgment and get on with this AGE!!! HELLO, so last age folks to judge in this unproductive way! It's a new Day and Erin Prophet has told her story and its wonderful! Bless her in the Great Light the Always WINS!

Sadly, although one may empathize with her difficulties, Erin seems to have missed the inspirational messages and experiences that have been enjoyed by thousands who felt the beautiful, peaceful, scintillating presence of Archangels and Ascended Masters through dictations given by Elizabeth Clare Prophet. One may get the impression that Erin reveals from the beginning that she does not seem to understand Elizabeth Clare Prophet's dictations from the Ascended Masters by referring to them as being channelled. In channelling, a person's consciousness leaves the body while a disembodied entity takes over and speaks. Elizabeth was trained and elevated by the ascended masters to their level of spirituality and she was fully conscious while taking messages.

Erin refers to the "hubristic title Pearls of Wisdom" as if the title is arrogant, yet this term has been used for many years for wise sayings. She wrote that she "bought into" her "Mother's vision derived from a philosophy of New Thought which influenced Christian Science". She also refers to her mother's teachings as coming from "Theosophy which cribbed from Buddhism, Hinduism, and Kabbalah" as if Theosophists pilfered from these instead of being an accepted organization based on ancient information. When she mentions church members not swearing and having "good vibes" during a traffic jam, it does not sound like a genuine compliment. She may write in an educated way, using terms such as "right of primogeniture" in reference to her brother, and lovely landscape descriptions, but the sardonic use of words such as "bought into", "hubristic", "cribbed" and "good vibes" set the tone.

Later on in the book one may get the definite impression, from her own words, she just does not understand the writings of the I AM activity, or the Rosicrucians. She wrote about music that was allowed, such as Sibelius and Beethoven; the reasons for listening to the inspired composers are given in David Tame's book The Secret Power of Music which is available on Amazon.

The purpose of "New Thought", as she calls it, is to individually learn the teachings of the Masters given in progressive revelation, not to criticize the messengers, their personal lives or give unkind physical descriptions. Her mother is not the first mother who has attempted to influence the choice of marriage partners.

She wrote about being human but many have experienced the purpose of this activity that is not to be good humans but to be good spiritual beings as demonstrated by the life and love of Jesus Christ and his respect for women and the Divine Mother, as revealed in the dictations given through Elizabeth Clare Prophet.

I finished this book in pretty much one sitting. It is very well written, Erin Prophet is a great writer. Even when she wrote letters and other things for the organization, her style was sober and to the point. It's an easy (juicy) read, especially for someone familiar with the story from the outside. I'm an ex member, fairly active in local study groups and teaching centers of the organization (as board member and volunteer).

It's clear the book was written without malice, and with complete honesty. It was confusing to me, a few times, when it doesn't follow the time line from the first to the last page, but rather by segment. I did get used to that though, and it does help understand the different segments of the author's experience.

A great book, highly recommended.