Inspiration Books

This isn't a stereotypical self-help type of book and that makes it THE book that could save your marriage and/or the way you relate to your children.
One warning - much of this book goes against the common wisdom of the day and the authors don't propose that parents mollycoddle their children. The focus is on teaching people to live in the real (NOT ideal) world and to learn to deal with it, to develop some backbone and realistic expectations.
In short, this is a book which will keep you from seeing yourself as a victim and teach you to accept the inevitable unfairness in life - and to help your children develop similar strengths.

This is a useful, humorous, non-pompous book for people seeking insight into the workings of (please note) Western, nuclear-style, fairly conventional families. Skynner is a genial, compassionate man who has obviously enjoyed his career in family therapy and doesn't have much of an ax to grind, while Cleese's wry interjections help give perspective. Particularly praiseworthy are vignettes from Skynner's practice in which he shows how a malfunctioning family system can be nudged toward better health by precipitating very small changes in behavioral styles, without excess angst or struggles with dragons. I also appreciate his focus, common also to Eric Berne and Michele Weiner-Davis (see their books), on finding and embracing what works rather than dwelling on what does not. For people trying to enjoy the best about their families and especially younger children, this book could solve a number of frustrating mysteries. Likewise, it's useful for grasping the ways that certain behaviors and types of people feel attractive and comfortable, and why some situations "push the buttons" of an individual or within a relationship.

I do have some caveats. While not Freudian in any strict sense, Skynner occasionally seems to share the reductionist attitudes of "the Master," leaving you with the feeling that every human interaction and achievement is no more than the search for fulfilment of a parlayed (and frustrated) infant or toddler. True as this can be in everyday situations, I feel that it is not the whole picture and should be balanced by writers examining the human urge to evolve to a more aware, creative and functional state. Thwarting of this urge seems to me a source of a significant number of human conflicts, in or out of the family context, not to be resolved solely through reflecting on one's (non)progress through various developmental stages. Maslow, James Hillman and Robert Anton Wilson come to mind.

Especially, my jaw drops when Skynner sets forth his views on the development of homosexuality. I can't remember the last time I heard any otherwise credible and humane writer ascribe homosexual orientation to problems in bonding or detaching with a parent of whichever gender. The more gay people I know, and the longer that gay people are free to live openly in various pockets of American society without fear of crippling social sanctions, the more apparent it seems to me that a few gay people within a straight majority are just part of nature's plan. Studies of animal behavior, brain structures and potential genetic links support this view. So I'm dead amazed to see Skynner, otherwise not terribly doctrinaire, still discussing homosexual orientation, certainly not with any kind of punitive moralizing, but as if it were a kind of arrested development that could/should be "treated" for maximum happiness.

But then, no book on human behavior is the perfect answer to all your dreams of insight. Nothing is drearier than the person who has read one book looking beneath the surface of human conflicts and believes he/she has found the guru with all the answers, so take this book for what it's worth--kind, commonsensical and applicable to many families you probably know--and don't stop investigating.

This book was recommended to us by a psychotherapist when we came to discuss family problems. It was a great help through the first few weeks of therapy - and progress followed rapidly. Psychoanalysis never had such a coherent explanation!And the voice of John Cleese makes a great delivery for the info. Bravo!

Very helpful book for understanding the mysteries of family dynamics, how they contribute to making you what you are, and how you are passing them on. Dialogue style is very different, (they recap at the end of every chapter), but this saves the text from become dry. Health warning?-beware using this book as fuel for blaming your parents/family for everything that's wrong with you! We all go through that stage, but the real value here is self-awareness that can be then be used to take control of your own life going forward.

This book is one of the rare "ha" books out there! No stupid little behavioral reciepes like "look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself how much yourself". Yet very clearly explained observations about how one grows up to fit in a family pattern and to reproduce it in adult life.

And John Cleese's humour makes it fun to read... Definitely a keeper for anyone not happy with their life and actively trying to change for the better...

I am a clinical therapist and use this book to inspire adolescent and young adult women in their journey! This entire trilogy is priceless for anyone who is interested in being blessed by watching another soul "unfold" and take flight! I love hearing about Oriah's metamorphasis... i can see her "grow up" throughout her trilogy! Watching her go full circle in her discoveries touches my heart and inspires my soul. She is human and she is courageous enough to share her story. I recommend you read all three... The Invitation, The Dance and The Call. Thank you Oriah!

Within the pages of this beautiful little book, the reader finds magic, truth, beauty and healing.

As an author, Chinese Medicine & Healthy Weight Management, and healer, I recommend this book highly to my patients and friends, as well as to you.

In the world of self-help books, the message is often variations of the same thing - work harder to improve yourself; be kinder; be more loving; focus your attention; change, change, change.
The Dance is quite different. Oriah asks you, "What if there is no need to change, no need to try and transform yourself into someone who is more compassionate, more present, more loving or wise? How would this affect all the places in your life where you are endlessly trying to be better?"
I really loved this book because it encourages the reader to just be who they are, because who they are is just fine. It's not that the author doesn't believe in the power of change, rather she promotes the idea that the moment we let go of our need to become "better," then everything in life will simply unfold as it should.
What I especially liked about this book was Oriah's down-to-earth manner of writing. Unlike so many other authors of the same genre, she doesn't pretend to have all the answers - in fact, she is rather self-deprecating. She gives examples in her life where she really did screw up, but I think that this makes her message more meaningful, and a whole lot more human.




Zara Stevens
Boy Meets Girl: A Pocketful of Wedding Stories

Words themselves can become acts of beauty that awaken and strengthen our commitment to living our soul's desires. ~Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Oriah Mountain Dreamer blends daily existence with spiritual insight. She survived a violent marriage, chronic fatigue and living almost next door to her ex husband when he remarried. Her life is a study in patience, emotional turmoil resolved and survival of the most open heart.

The start of the book contains a poem and then each chapter is an expanded vision of the elements contained in a part of the poem. After the poem, Oriah dives right into a retelling of her life, the conflicts she has experienced and how as a spiritual teacher, she too struggles to maintain emotional equilibrium. There is a subtle comfort in knowing that if Oriah can survive her life, then we can too.

This is the beauty mingled with the various stunning insights Oriah has while trying to unburden her heart and pull us out on the dance floor of life. She loves to read and a number of the books she mentioned where books I had just recently read. She quotes Rainer Maria Rilke and Rumi. She discusses Daniel Ladinsky's translations of Hafiz. Her "headed for home" comments made me think of Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet.

Throughout this work Oriah focuses on connecting, serenity, joy, an authentic lifestyle, living with passion, retaining energy and focus, being honest and finding happiness within the complex. She also provides meditations on worthiness, surrender, slowing down and letting go.

This is not a five-step or a ten-step program, it is more an unfolding of experience through an exploration of Oriah's life experience. She has struggled, she has survived. She also knows there are no quick fixes and that many self-help programs are no match for real-life situations. Sometimes there is no easy way out of the pain and you have to endure heartache to learn your greatest lessons.

"Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance,
the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart,
and I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet
and the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again."
~ Oriah Mountain Dreamer

What did I love most about this book? The section where she talks about her ultimate fantasy of reading in bed with the man she loves. Yes, this book is mostly about Oriah, or the people she has met throughout her life, but the way she draws on her inner wisdom is by experiencing life and dancing with difficulty.

~The Rebecca Review

The Dance is a great book. I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. Oriah is not just a writer; she is an artist, with a new perspective on life, and on events. Her thoughts flow smoothly, as if you were reading something you wrote, or something you already knew to be true. I am going to say it again, she is an artist.

Some parts of the book, you won't help but read out loud to someone you care for. I did that with my mother, and some other times with a friend of mine. Both of them want to borrow the book.

This book will help you dream, and here I will quote something from the author, as she wrote "To dream is to create the stories of how we live our lives, and these are the stories our children's children will remember. I write with as much honesty and frankness as I can, because I want to offer stories of being present with what is. I recite poetry when I speak, because I want offer beauty and the power of art to remind us of who and what we are. I share personal stories, because I want to cocreate a story of intimacy and cultivate our capacity for compassion in dealing with out human failings. I tell love stories because I want to learn how to love well." (p151)

I will buy The Call, and I know it will be as good as the Invitation and The Dance. And hopefully one day in the future I will make it to one of Oriah's retreats.

Walking in Victory is a must read for any believer at any level of maturity. This book lays out some amazing truths from God's Word in a clear and easy to understand way. Mr. McCallum does an excellent job explaining how we can have victory day to day because as you will see in the book, Christ has already accomplished what we were never able to do. We have a new identity and learning about this new identity will change your life! This is also a great book to go through in a small group and study guides are available at [..].

Books like Walking in Victory are invaluable because they directly use and teach the Bible. This book is a guide to the crucial concepts in Romans 5-8, concepts that every Christian needs. The interpretation is accurate and the application contemporary. McCallum writes in an easy to follow, to-the-point style that is, as other reviewers have mentioned, very useful when trying to help a new Christian. On the other hand, because these concepts are straight from the Bible, long-time followers of Christ will be consistently challenged.

Years ago, studying this book clarified key areas of the Christian life, helping me to finally get my own walk with God and ministry going. Victory lies in a believer's full acceptance before God based on Christ's atoning work on the cross. It's by understanding and focusing on this truth that Christians are able to develop lives of zeal, ministry effectiveness, and slow growth toward true holiness. Aside from the Gospel message itself, this concept, my identity in Christ, has been the most important lesson I've ever learned, and I haven't found a more sound explanation of it than in Walking in Victory. Now, I rely heavily on this book in mentoring students, and I'm able to see in them the fruit that is born from an informed and enthusiastic grace-focus.
The content matter, perfect for the scholar or new convert, is masterfully presented and extremely useful. McCallum skillfully mixes careful Biblical exposition and interpretation with down-to-earth application and insightful observations of human nature to create a work that is both provocative and practical.
I highly recommend this book to all believers who want to begin their walks with God on the right foot, who wish to deepen their appreciation of their identity in Christ, and who seek to help ground others in the firm foundation of grace.

I really like this author's body of work. I've read all his non-fiction. He's very objective and can sound a little bit like notes from a lecture. But it is also emotionally productive, without the bells and whistles, unlike many Christian authors, and has genuine feeling and vulerability to appeal to anyone's subjective sensibilities. This book is my favorite from this author. He wrote that walking with God is about tranformation by the Spirit, not a change of behavior. The author makes points about principles and leaves the reader in charge of how to purpose God based on teachings from the Bible. This message is biblical and encouraging to anyone who has accepted Christ but doesn't know what to do next. This book is not a self-help book. It's not a method plan. Many Christians love the book of Romans and should really take a look at this book as extracurricular. This book is not a substitute for reading the Bible but a companion, conversation piece, the result of the word of God in the author's live - which the author states could happen to anyone who wants a personal relationship with God through Christ.

If you've never understood God's acceptance and grace fully, this is a book you would definitely benefit from! McCallum obviously put a lot of thought into how he could make these deep truths easier to understand and apply. Personally, I love the tables sprinkled throughout this book. They do so much to make things clearer, and are a great resource for group bible studies!!

Some of the many tables found in this book:
<> Comparing Biblical and Modern Love
<> How the Means of Growth (Prayer, Word, Fellowship, Ministry) work together and affect one another.
<> Our Old Self (in Adam) vs. Our New Self (in Christ)
<> Living under the Law vs. Living in Grace

I want to experience the Monroe Institute! What great work Robert Monroe provided us in the realm of consciousness.

if you're interested in this book, i'm pretty confident you'll like it. the spirit guide that speaks through the author uses a bunch of big words and kind of technical/complicated concepts, but i found it understandable enough to be educational and very interesting. however.. there is some REALLY weird teachings from the spirit guide in this book. for example - he says "aging is not natural" and that a person could never age or reverse aging if they just believed it, that people age because they see everyone else aging and believe it. and also that some people on earth haven't aged because they believe they can do it. hmm. true or false? i don't know, but it's pretty wild, and i'd like to see someone pull it off. he also says that earth and everything in it are just an illusion, and we could stop the illusion any time if we wanted. this seems believable to me, however the idea that anyone could end their suffering on earth IF THEY ONLY REALLY WANTED TO seems highly offensive to me. whlie most of the concepts here line up incredibly perfectly with books such as "journey of souls," i find some seeming contradictions. most reincarnation books teach a mix of fate and free will. in other words bad things will happen in your life, but you choose how to react. this seems perfectly reasonable to me. but this book seems to teach that EVERYTHING is free will. does that mean starving people want to starve? people being raped want to be raped, and they could end it if they really wanted to? it seems absurd. in another teaching, the spirit guide says that people with "lower vibrations" like to eat more red meat than people with "higher vibrations." huh? because someone likes the taste of steak they're less spiritually evolved or something? also it says something like sicknesses can be cured by the power of the mind (scientology, anyone?) the spirit guide keeps saying "ask, and you shall receive" (ask the spirit guides and they will help you immediately), but i haven't found this to be the case in my life. i've asked for help many many times to my guide and never received any help that i could notice. the book doesn't touch on the concept of guides staying out of a human's life for a great deal of the time so they can learn lessons on their own. and that's what i think the great negative of this book is - it brings up so many fascinating concepts that just aren't discussed in enough depth. this book could have been 2 or 3 times the length, with robert monroe and rosalind mcknight asking more questions, and perhaps these teachings could make more sense to my brain. as it is, you're going to find a lot of fascinating ideas and some confusing things in this book. i plan to read over some parts to try to absorb the spiritual teachings within. also one chapter has the author viewing the year 3000 if things on earth mature spiritually well, it's very interesting. overall, a great read. you also might want to check out "eyes of an angel."

I'd like to comment on Bookaholic girl's review, "You can't be in two places at once."

I too would have found it hard to believe, except I've had the
experience of being in two places at once being in an OBE state using a Monroe CD. It's absolutely weird, wonderful, and a great lesson.

Try not to let fear or beliefs block your ability to explore.

For those using Monroe CD's or having been to the Institute, you'll gain insight on how some techniques were developed.

I highly recommend reading and learning from this book.

Enjoy!

I have been reading and enjoying the works of the late Robert A. Monroe for many years. Rosalind McKnight's accounts of the features and experiences in the etheric plane are consistent with other accounts. However, I was 150 pages into this book and all of a sudden it occurred to me - how can any of this possibly be true? How is it possible to be astrally projected out of one's physical body and still be hearing questions from the control room in the lab and still be verbally answering questions with one's physical mouth while one is in another dimension? Sounds funny to me. I would find it more credible if the author wrote down recollections of her experiences after she had returned to the physical plane. As far as I'm concerned, You can't be two places at once.

This is the most advanced, experiential and knowledgeable account of actual experiences documented and interpreted by Rosalind Mcknight. As we all know shifting consciousness, altered states of awareness and travel into other realities are not easy to transcribe or explain in a linear form. I love this book for the confirmations it gave me and the sharing of many journeys and highly recommend it for the adventerous spirit and strong of heart. Robert was indeed a pioneer of the many planes of reality

Dov Peretz Elkins has gifted the Jewish world with many useful publications, for which we ought to be grateful. While this anthology has much that is meaningful, moving or scholarly, many of the selections strike me as filler. For those who have both the Yom Kippur and the Rosh Hashanah volumes, you will notice that much material is recycled. There are also prayers and sections of the services for which coverage is scanty or missing. Despite these defects, I am happy to have these books on my shelves and am sure that they will enrich the holidays for many as they have for me. Thank you Dov!

Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins edits YOM KIPPUR READINGS: INSPRIATION INFORMATION CONTEMPLATION uses a range of sources, from ancient to modern, Jewish and non-Jewish, to provide a set of readings, prayers and inspirational reflections on the themes addressed on Yom Kippur, surveying the basics and spirit of the holiday season and its relationship to both God and community. From themes of forgiveness and faith to customs and rituals, this reader makes an important point of discussion for both families and classes surveying Yom Kippur's ongoing meaning and history.

"The Secret: Unlocking the Source of Joy and Fulfillment" by Michael Berg is an excellent book! The true origins of this book are ancient, based on the wisdom of Kabbalah. Michael Berg explores such fascinating concepts as transformative sharing, and how to apply Jewish mysticism in day to day life.

The central teaching is that "The only way to achieve true joy and fulfillment is by becoming a being of sharing" and includes meditations on living a life of generosity.

This book truly reveals the essence of LIFE and thereby enables you to set yourself free from sorrow in order to manifest greater joy and success in your life and the lives of others.

I found "The Secret: Unlocking the Source of Joy and Fulfillment" to be even better when read in conjunction with NEXUS by Deborah Morrison and Arvind Singh. NEXUS is a fascinating NEW AGE novel that works with some of the concepts found in Michael Berg's "The Secret" and demonstrates how this transformative life adventure unfolds in the lives of the main character Logan along with the other unusual & colourful characters in the book who are faced with life challenges. Definitely cutting-edge material that will make a difference in your life.

Highly recommended as a quality book filled with transformative wisdom along with:

Nexus: A Neo Novel

Though this is an inspirational and simple read, it is not what I was hoping for.

Probably good for someone who has never read a word on anything Metephysical. I read it, sold it, didn't miss it. Nothing but rehashed info.

The book is very good. I purchased it in hardback for my wife. I believe the purchase price was $12.95. However the Shipping was nearly $18.00. This book is approximately 4"X6" and weighs maybe a couple of ounces. Unbelievable! What a RIP-OFF! I sent an e-mail to Amazon to complain, but as of today (10/03/07) I have not received a response, nor do I expect one. Needless to say this is my last purchase from Amazon. I employ over 400 workers for my company, and I made certain that they were ALL aware of this unethical business practice.
John Gremillion

Share this!, Mr. Berg. I read it in an hour, glanced back through to see if I missed something so perhaps spent an hour and fifteen or twenty minutes on drivel, ancients and wisdom, my eye. There's more philosophy in anything by Carlos Castenada on peyote. There's a saying that everytime you open a book you learn something, this is an exception to that, although I did learn for the thousandth time, Buyer Beware.

I am a Manhattan city dweller struck by childhood nostalgia about what it is like to live on the country side. For types like me, interested in farm-house inspired modern architecture, this book offers a great visual feast. If you are looking for real farm houses, however, look elsewhere.

Written by an architect for the layperson, Jean Rehkamp Larson makes you feel the elbow room of the farmhouse and surrounding countryside without being too technical. Showing several house styles from historical to contemporary, Larson teaches us what characteristics make the American farmhouse a house style that is as ingrained in our minds as baseball and apple pie.

An informative book with good examples and photos.

This book is a valuable resource as my husband and I plan our "farmhouse" that we intend to build next year beginning in February. It gives examples of restorations, new construction built to look like the old classical farmhouses across the midwest, and amazing interiors. I love the shaded boxes of information, emphasizing the importance of features such as shape, the color white, porches, etc. It is a lesson book for those wanting a basic education on how to talk farmhouses. We bought three books, and this one is far superior to the others.

One of over $1,000 worth of books I ordered prior to starting our remodel, The Farmhouse is above and beyond the best book I bought for our tastes, and is the primary resource I have given to our architect. No country shabby chic here -- the style is spare, warm, and elegant. Great photos and text. This book will save us thousands by beautifully getting across our ideas for our new Boulder, Colorado home. Those who like this book would also like Jeremiah Eck's The Distinctive Home.

This simple book is anything but simple, You get God's word and a wonderful story that can be applied to anyone. the recipe's were a nice bonus. My son even thought what a nice devotional book this was. May God bless everyone who reads it.

I just received this book yesterday but have already looked all the way thru it glancing at the recipes...Which look very good. There is also little stories and bible verses..A good collection to my cookbooks.

I find this book to be such a great help to me in my daily life, I recently lost my 18 year old grandson in a car wreck, it's a great lost to our whole family, but Wanda's devotional has really helped me in many ways. I recommend this book to anyone, it can only inprove their spititual life.

I love this devotional! It helps me to slow down and enjoy life and all God has given to me. I have gone through the book once already, and now I am reading it again, but this time I'm sharing it with my husband. He is also enjoying it. The recipes at the end of each devotional are a nice addition. I have even tried a few!

This is a delightful book that helps me to start my day "simply" every day. The stories are a gentle reminder to appreciate God's gifts in every moment. And the recipes are just wonderful. I have made the melt in your mouth biscuits so often that my book is permanently creased in that spot! And my kids love the haystacks and double treat cookies. This books is really jam packed with recipes and inspiration. Thank you Wanda Brunstetter! :)

Author Randall Price does a thorough job researching the topic of the inerrancy of the Bible. A professor of Jewish Studies at Liberty University, he is qualified to produce such a book.

In Searching for the Original Bible, Price persuades the reader that they really CAN trust that the Bible is the actual inspired Word of God. He concedes that there were some errors made in copying manuscripts and translations, but he argues (quite convincingly I might add) that these errors were minor and didn't affect the integrity of the entire work.

This book is very interesting and readable and is a good book to have in your library so you can be ready to answer questions about misconceptions others might have. And it will help with questions you may have yourself.

Dr. Price reviews the various sources that help shape today's modern Bible. Extremely well written and documented, Dr. Price critically addresses the sources, processes and overall accuracy of the Bible over the passage of time. This is a book I would highly recommend to the professional or layman alike.

Randall Price, a distinguished professor of Jewish studies at Liberty University wrote Searching for the Original Bible in response to the many accusations against the Bible after the Da Vinci Code mania.

Filled with research and history, this book addresses the issues of how the Bible came to be and the reliability of the Bible. He clearly and concisely presents truths regarding the original Bible, if and why it can be trusted, and how the original Bible relates to the current Biblical translations that many read.

Written after much research, this book is filled with history that can correct any misconception about the Bible. Price not only researched his own ideas, but spent more than a year familiarizing himself with the oppositions' accusations and beliefs about the Bible. Knowing what is being said against the Bible, he has made sure that these accusations are dispelled through his research and history.

Furthermore, the book is written in an easy-to-understand format and divided into four major parts:

Searching for the Evidence of the Original Bible
Searching for the Reliability of the Original Bible
Searching for the Truth about the Original Bible
Searching for the Restoration of the Original Bible.

Also included are tables, diagrams and pictures that present material in an organized and systematic manner.

I highly recommend this book to Christians so that they can effectively answer any accusations or misconceptions regarding the Bible. Those with questions and doubts regarding the Bible should also read this book since it will answer many of their questions.

Armchair Interviews agrees.

"Searching for the Original Bible" is a solidly evangelical study of how the Bible came to us. The importance of the Bible for Christians mandates that we study and understand the process which brought it to us. Price does this in a carefully researched and clearly presented manner. He has the ability to take complex issues related to the original biblical texts and explain to the average reader how God's Word was written, recognized as authoritative, and preserved.

Price begins his book by responding to the current attack on the Bible's credibility and then raises the question, "Does it matter?" The rest of the book demonstrates that it does indeed matter whether or not we have a Bible that can be regarded as trustworthy. He addresses the claims and challenges of the critics, showing that we have ancient Hebrew and Greek manuscripts that provide the basis for a reliable Bible. He deals with the formation of the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament, interacting with the subject of textual criticism in manner that can be understood by readers not familiar with the subject.

In the last section of the book Price raises and answers important questions of canonicity and whether the new Gnostic gospels belong in the Bible. He demonstrates that these gospels were written long after the other New Testament books and contain messages not consistent with early Christianity. Toward the end of the book Price presents a very helpful discussion on the subject of innerancy and the Bible.

"Searching for the Original Bible" is a book I will heartily recommend to my students and colleagues. The research is supported by extensive footnotes. A "Recommended Reading" list of books provides readers direction for further study.

This book answers the question of whether we can rely on the Bible as the Word of God. Randall Price strongly believes in the inerrancy and reliability of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. Although there were errors made in copying manuscripts and translations, Mr. Price convincingly gives evidence that the errors were minor and for the most part, do not change the meanings of the passages.

He refutes the ideas of Bart Ehrman well. There is much evidence that the gnostics were not alternative forms of Christianity and that the gnostic writings are not lost Scriptures or books banned from the Bible. The evidence shows that the gnostics were heretics.

He does a better job proving the reliability of the New Testament than the Old Testament. He accepts the idea that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible because they are referred to as the Books of Moses in other parts of the Bible. He doesn't really answer evidence that shows someone other than Moses wrote those books.

Although at times he is repetitive, overall he has written a readable and informative book for a conservative traditional Christian audience.