5 comments about Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far.

1. Even if you're not a fan of Amy Grant's gospel music, and even if you don't know of her midlife, second marriage to country singer Vince Gill, as a book browser you'd be tempted to pick up this book. The jacket pictures a smiling --- probably laughing --- and barefoot Amy, sporting a bohemian-style skirt and lacy shawl. The pose suggests that she's slightly vulnerable and inviting you into her life.
   
   The title and subtitle don't promise full disclosure or a running narrative. And the text truly is a mosaic --- thematic and episodic chapters and journal reflections that skip around in time, revealing "pieces" of a life. The back-jacket well describes the prose as being "varied in texture."
   
   Some chapters focus on her extended family: parents, sisters, nieces, aunts --- nearly all live nearby, clustered around Nashville. A tribute to an uncle killed before she was born feels like a eulogy written to and for Amy's family. This "Uncle Larry" chapter starts: "I love family. I love being identified in the context of my family."
   
   Other chapters stay in the professional realm. A chapter titled "How Did I Wind Up Here?" is targeted toward her ardent fans. It recounts Amy's career path, naming singers who influenced her and people with whom she has performed or schmoozed.
   
   The best material describes specific days and encounters: an impromptu visit to the Nashville home of an octogenarian fan; a day with her children at the Tennessee state fair; a personal encounter with a wild deer. A few of these narrative accounts give the back story of a particular song, such as "Hats" and "Missing You."
   
   It's obvious that motherhood and music are focal points of Amy's life. And her Christian faith, which has at times waned, is renewed. She talks of this poignantly in a chapter about motherhood, "On Children and Faith." She explains, "My most consistent prayer for my children has been, God, find them the way you found me. Give them faith to believe you." Here she describes a journey of grace and forgiveness in the midst of personal turmoil.
   
   Between chapters, Amy has interspersed the lyrics of more than 30 songs, including several that are new and unrecorded. The book includes 16 pages of color photographs, and small family photos enhance the opening page of each chapter.
   
   The last dozen pages of the book, "The Times of My Life," give a chronological life summary, which provides "a framework" for her mosaic pieces. She explains: "My intent is to show how quickly I was set upon a path I did not anticipate and how that shaped my life. If I do not have a unique stage persona that differs from the me who shows up at the grocery store, it's because I've never felt any demarcation between life and art, faith and day-to-day living." It's that persona that shows in the jacket photograph --- she looks like the artsy sister next door.
   
   --- Reviewed by Evelyn Bence



2. I just love to hear Amy talk. She is so real and expressive. She has such a way with words. The sound of her voice just adds so much more to the enjoyment of reading the book. I highly recommend the audio version, by itself, or to read along with the book at the same time. This is truely a priceless treasure for fans of Amy Grant!



3. I'm a fan of Amy Grant's music - Mostly her more pop stuff - and was interested in this book. So I ordered it, not knowing really what to expect. Well, it's a beautiful book written about Amy's life. She included song lyrics (new and old), poems and little stories about her career as well as her family. For those hoping for a tell-all, well, Amy is too classy for that, and instead focuses on the good and bad, and important parts of her life to convey deep and meaningful messages about love, family, children, God and life. Highly recomended!



4. I highly recommend this read. Although I enjoy reading biographies as well as appreciate the broad artistry of Amy Grant--singer, songwriter, actress, television host--this selection is a gem. Unlike the usual format of a bio, this one has much more...flavor. Grant's aptly named work, MOSAIC, intertwines intimate revelations with songs and poems that Grant has written--some previously unpublished. MOSAIC is such an enjoyable and inspiring read that I have read it, reread it, gave it away and had to replace several times already--and it's only been released less than a year!



5. Beautifully written, great stories told. While I can appreciate her need to keep certain things private, I do feel if you are going to write a true autobiography, you need to be willing to lay a little more of the first marriage out on the line. I feel like she skips over all of what she and Gary went through, both good and bad. I am not asking for the gory details of the divorce. I think she should have been able to write about their life together more. He is, after all, the father of 3 of her children. That being said, the book deserves a read.

5 comments about A Simple Path.

1. Most excellent writing. Use the steps in my daily spiritual life. Have used the book for workshops/meetings/sermons...she is a true spiritual guide! I often give this book to a number of friends. Mother Teresa truly exemplifies the life of Our Savior!



2. I am a devotee of Mother Teresa. I am not catholic. But I have been intrigued and drawn to her compassion, her mission and her determination. I have watched her move in the hightest political circles without compromising her mission and her message. This book has removed the rhetoric of all religions and exposed the essence of being a "Christ"ian.
   The message is truly Simple. Our entrapments are what get in our way but she shows us ways to lighten our load and take the simple path.
   This book is for anyone who wants to enrich their spiritual life and celebrate in action the words of their faith, regardless of your faith base.



3. Mother Teresa's mission and how she answered her calling shine through this as a great example for us to follow. What is revealed in this book is how we can each follow the simple path to peace in our own lives. Not having to sell all we possess and serve the poorest of the poor as she did, but in our own lives with those we meet. A few of the writings, including The Simple Path, are so moving to me, that I bought many copies of this book to give to others. What better gift could we offer someone than a path to peace? Hope you find it too.



4. I bought this book about 6 years ago. It's one of those books that you pick up and cannot put down. I was totally enthralled with it from the first few pages and every chapter became more and more inspiring. I was not a Christian when I read this book, so it's not just for believers. Rather it is a book for those who long for something more in their lfe, to walk in a deeper yet more 'simple' way. All of the chapters such as the ones on prayer, love, faith etc touched me deeply and even though it's been several years since I read it, I would read it again most definately. I lent it to someone and have never been given it back. I may just have to buy it again! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.



5. The book is perfectly titled. Mother Teresa's biographical information is minimal and the book does not canonize her. Apart from introducing the thoughts of volunteers who work with the Missionaries of Charity, her own words are few. What we find are simple views of a simple path, and beauty in simplicity. This is not the story of a famous nun, it is the story of a way of seeing ones world and of living without self-focus. Mother Teresa, and those who work in the missions that she and others have established and conducted, convey an attractive invitation to service to others. The path has been set before us in the Gospels of Matthew (25:34-40) and Luke (10:30-37). This small volume contains no rancorous sectarian, philosophical, or theological arguments. The themes are peace, love, joy, and fearless devotion to the welfare of others. The simple path is well summarized in the words of St Francis of Assisi:
   "Lord grant that I seek rather to comfort than to be comforted,
   To understand than to be understood;
   To love than to be loved . . ."
   The book makes little mention of the opposing worldview, but I briefly will. The opposite worldview is the ever-popular celebration of slavery to self. There are, of course, many variations on this theme. One notices how offended, even angered, the culture of self can be when it is rejected, in this case by Mother Teresa. Articles and books have been published which denigrate her, and she has been called a hypocrite. I doubt she terribly cared. A sign on the wall of Shishu Bhavan children's home in Calcutta reads in part:
   "People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,
   Love them anyway
   If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives,
   Do good anyway . . .
   The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow,
   Do good anyway . . ."

5 comments about Esther Great Lives Series: Volume 2.

1. Charles Swindoll is a tremendous author. He makes this series come to life. Queen Esther was an intelligent woman who did daring and great things for her people, the Jews. One lives the story with her and can realize what one person can do if they are willing to stand up for what is right regardless of the cost and let God use them.
   
   David: Great Lives Series is another book of the same caliber. Excellent books and fascinating reading.



2. Excellent book. Charles Swindoll writes in a way that is easy to read and keeps your attention. I recommend this book to both men and women.



3. Just what I was looking for was found in this book for our Bible study



4. Chuck Swindoll takes what is seemingly a fairytale story and opens one's heart and mind to see how God is in control of all. What valuable life lessons he teaches us through this inspiring Bible book. I highly recommend using this book as a study reference along with your Bible. I appreciated the way he brought the story to life and made it's messages relate to my life as it is today.



5. This second book in the 'Great Lives' series is excellent! As a Pastor, I used this book for a small group Bible study. We studied one chapter a week. What strength we all can receive from studing the life of Esther! Here was a woman who had to make a decision to be silent and let her people die, or to stand up and do whats right. It's extremely interesting that God is never mentioned anywhere in the Book of Esther, but as Charles Swindoll points out, He is working "behind the scenes" in all of the lives involved in this powerful book. Use this book as a study guide with the Book of Esther.

5 comments about Called to Question: A Spiritual Memoir.

1. In this her most recent book, Sister Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun and author of twenty-five books, continues to think out loud about just what it means to know, love, and follow Jesus in our crazy, contemporary world. This is the third book by her that I have read, and I have come to appreciate her spirit and gift to do what good writers do, which is to connect with the every day experiences and aspirations of her readers. Using her own spiritual journal entries from across a four year period, she pushes, pokes and prods at the various dimensions of Christian living. In particular, I appreciated three themes from this book that also recur in her other works.
   
   Chittister writes from very much "inside the box," the box that is the Roman Catholic Church. But no one likes to be boxed in, much less a feminist like her, and so one theme from this book is what I would call institutional frustration with the church. Our Christian institutions and churches often purvey a sort of "god of the system" that asks us at some level to sublimate our deeply personal identities to the group identity. But then we risk forfeiting conscience and becoming what she describes as "institutional robots." So, we try, often with very limited success, to change the institution for the better. Others just want to leave the church out of frustration. In the end, Chittister pictures herself as a "loyal member of a dysfunctional family" (p. 135).
   
   A keen scholar like Chittister is also full of provocative questions about important issues like women's ordination, the place of gays in the church, global justice, and, as a member of a Benedictine community, obedience to the institutional church. But critical questions are just what the church often suppresses, obscures, or responds to with superficial and ideological answers. We can acquiesce to this, too, out of fear of being wrong or even punished. But Chittister does not want to live the Christian life asking other people's questions or accepting their answers, so she keeps asking, seeking, and knocking: how does the Christian relate questions of personal conscience and intellectual integrity to churchly fidelity?
   
   Personal failure and struggle are also prominent themes for Chittister. The problem, it would seem, is to foolishly accept perfection as our standard or goal. But that goal is an oppressive one, and a set up for failure, for no Christian this side of heaven will ever reach it: "The problem, of course, is that we fail. We know ourselves to be weak. We stumble along, being less than we can be, never living up to our own standards, let alone anyone else's. We eat too much between meals, we work too little to get ahead, we drink more than we should at the office party. We're all addicted to something. Those addictions not only cripple us, they convince us that we are worthless and incapable of being worthwhile. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy of the worst order because it traps us inside our own sense of inadequacy, of futility, of failure" (p. 195). Instead, we ought to view failure as "among the best friends of the soul" (p. 91). Rather than subscribe to the unattainable, we should come to appropriate the "sanctifying nature of mistakes and calculations" (p. ix).
   
   Chittister begins her book with a well known story of the seeker who asked the monk just what they did in the monastery: "Oh, we fall and we get up, and we fall and we get up, and we fall and we get up again." Beyond the institutional frustrations, the stymied but important questions, and the realization of but limited progress, she encourages us to hear God's voice to keep going, to "find the me in me" (p. 111), and to cultivate a sense of being at home with yourself because of the extravagant love and grace of God.



2. This book by Sr Joan Chittister is inspirational and confirming.
   All believers who wonder, once in a while, if it is all true - no matter what comprises the "all", will find solace and consolation in this book. Sr Chittister answers your doubts and fears by putting hers on the line. Written beautifully, as are all her books, this one has you saying 'Yes, that's me!' over and over. I would recommend it to all who are interested in their own personal spiritual growth.
   
   Jeanne MacCoy, San Leandro, California
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   



3. Joan Chittister always has the best sense of melding together the human with the divine, the natural with the supernatural, reality with theology. She's done it again.



4. I only wish I had the option of a "0" star rating. This book disrespects and disregards the teachings of the Church. This was particularly frustrating to me since I converted to Catholicism only a year ago. I have dedicated myself to Christ and His Church and try my best to align myself with it completely. The Church and all of its teachings (particularly regarding faith and morals) are true - as Catholics we agreed to submit to those teachings when we made our Profession of Faith at Confirmation. The stand the Church takes on the issues discussed in this book and the stand the author takes are polar opposites. I have never been so saddened by a book - and sad for the author who seems to have fallen away from the Catholic Church. What she says is completely heretical - a term that I don't use lightly. Complete lack of regard to the teachings of the Church is denying the truth of the Church. She should not be writing as a Catholic unless she actually is Catholic. As far as I am concerned, she has already left the Catholic Church. This is evident in her answer to the question: "Why do you stay in the Church?" Her answer: "Why do I continue to align myself with an institution so closed, so heretical, so sinful? Because Jesus stayed in the synagogue until they threw him out. That's why." She is in no way aligned with the Church. This book (if it is not already) should be banned by the Church. I pray for Joan, that she may convert back to Catholicism.



5. Five stars for heresy!!!!! Well Sr. Joan, if you think its important for women to be priests, you better find another Church. It ain't never going to happen in this Church. The book is a brilliant treatise on what is wrong with most nuns who do not wear habits. If you want to know how feminist nuns convince themselves they are still Christian READ THIS BOOK!

5 comments about Voices of the Faithful: Inspiring Stories of Courage from Christians Serving Around the World.

1. I received this as a gift for Christmas and have now purchased at least 3 others for gifts. The 1 page, short, daily devotionals are true, uplifting, and have given me a great view into God's practical power and grace for each day. A true blessing!



2. OUR HOLY FATHER USED THIS BOOK TO BRING THE WOMEN OF OUR CHURCH TOGETHER NOT ONLY IN PRAYER BUT IN MISSIONS. IT WAS A REASON TO GET TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH AND SHARE STORIES. WE ORDERED 25 BOOKS AND THEN ORDERED 10 MORE. WE NOW HAVE 35 WOMEN OF THE CHURCH WORKING TOGETHER, PRAYING TOGETHER AND REACHING OUT WHICH IS SOMETHING OUR CHURCH WAS STUGGLING WITH. THANK YOU AND WHAT A WONDERFUL BOOK, MOST OF THE WOMEN COULDN'T STOP AND READ ON AND ON NOT WANTING TO STOP. THANK YOU GOD FOR YOUR DIRECTION AND THANK YOU BETH MOORE AND MISSIONARIES FOR MAKING THIS BOOK. IT NOT ONLY CHANGED OUR CHURCH BUT OUR LIVES. (WE WERE NEVER MUCH ON MISSIONS BUT WE SURE ARE NOW!) GOD'S BLESSING ON ALL OF YOU. A SISTER IN CHRIST.... MARILYN



3. If you are mission minded or want to be then this book is for you. The introduction is written by Beth Myers but the individual daily devotions are written by missionaries from all over the globe. I purchased four of these books and gave them as Christmas presents. When I find a good book, I always want to share it with someone. I asked for a copy for myself as a Christmas gift from my son. It has been a very heart warming book and makes the missionaries seem more like real people doing a real job. As I read these devotions and pray for them, I feel like I am having a part in their work. The four friends I gave this book have told me that it has truly blessed their hearts and they look forward to reading it every day in this New Year.



4. If you are looking for a devotional book that will broaden your prospective about missionairies; this is the book. Beth Moore has an introduction at the beginning of each month. The daily devotionals are grouped together into topics that change each month.
   
   I started reading the devotions in September. October was on spiritual warfare. I was amazed at the depth of the content. You will be suprised that some of these beliefs still exist. We are so caught up in our own little worlds that we do not have a clue about the world around us. Each day has a scripture to read, a story, and a prayer to use.
   
   The missionaries are identified mostly by initials but you are given the region that the missionary lives in. My Sunday School class is using the devotionals before our lesson on Sundays. We take turns presenting the text that usually works right along with our lesson on that particular Sunday. I have ordered the book for some of my friends and they love it also.



5. This is a collection of short essays written by western Christian missionaries who are located throughout the world.
   
   Beth Moore compiles this set of short inspirational readings (one for every day). Each reading is one page. The objective is that you read the short essay, all of which are based on Bible verses, and contemplate the teaching throughout the day.
   
   The essays are arranged by subject. Each month has a different theme. February - the word of God. March - prayer. Etc. Each month's essays are preceded by comments by Beth Moore.
   
   Some of the essays are very inspiring. It takes a couple of minutes to do the daily reading, but one can contemplate it during your daily commute or throughout the entire day. Some of these messages are that good.
   
   However, Beth Moore's comments are my favorite part. She uses charm, wit and wisdom to arrive at a very entertaining writing style, and at the same time she is very effective at getting her point across, and her monthly introductions are perfect for setting up the theme for the coming month. But her short introductions are only to set the stage for the real stars of the book, the missionaries.

5 comments about In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad.

1. Ramadan's scholarship, appreciation for pluralism, personal faith and passion for his Muslim heritage infuse this wonderful book. He takes us on a brief journey through the life of the prophet Muhammad and pauses to reflect on the way the Prophet used specific events to teach his contemporaries and on how those events and teachings have formed the Muslim community over the centuries.
   
   As an American, I appreciated how the book responds to Western mis-understandings of Islam (for example, the greater jihad is the personal struggle to follow Allah; the lesser jihad is armed struggle) without being defensive. As a Christian, I appreciated "going along" with Ramadan as he reflects on his faith and makes it accessible because it comes from the heart.



2. Having read other biographies of Muhammad's (PBUH) life, I found this one particularly thought provoking and uplifting in that it explored the spiritual and not just historical or civic context of Muhammad's experiences. This compelling combination resulted in more than an interesting read, but a spiritual journey...along side a man many consider the most influential in human history.



3. This book was great to show details about the prophet Mohammad's life. Tariq Ramadan captured in his very well researched book an unkown side of a great man. Unfortunately at some points he writes somewhat differential between sunni and shia, not realizing that at the prophet's time there was no such distinction.



4. this is a must read for all Muslims, curious non-Muslims and Islam-haters alike.
   
   Tariq provides a beautiful meditation on the life of the Prophet, quoting great ayats from the Qur'an and hadith. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE PROPHET is an easily-digestable yet profound work of truth. This book provides all who read it with the essence of Islam and the life of the Prophet.



5. An Islamist apologist through-and-through. While couching the traditional Islamic double-speak in PC terms appealing to many in the West, distorts the true history of Muhammad's actions and words, as well as the real method by which Islam spread which was by the sword and not by persuasion.
   His condemnation of intentional attacks on civilians is tempered by an innocuous-seeming suggestion: that they will cease when European, U.S., and Israeli foreign policies bend to terrorists' underlying demands.
   There is nothing of worth here or in any similar work which seeks to justify Islamist aspirations and methods, while ignoring the real problem which is the reformation of Islam, necessary in order to allow it to live in peace with other beliefs and customs.

5 comments about Out of the Flames: The Remarkable Story of a Fearless Scholar, a Fatal Heresy, and One of the Rarest Books in the World.

1. Before reading this work I had, at best, a very cursory knowledge about Michael Servetus, John Calvin, the role Switzerland played in the Reformation, the evolution of printing and it's impact on European religious thinking / the Enlightenment, and the more subtle interplay and tensions between the Catholic church and the reform protestant religions of the 16th century. This book fixed all that!!
   
   The tracing of the history of the rare heretical volume, it's presumed "extinction" and surprising resurrection, and it's impact on liberal Christian thought just adds to the intrigue and value of this well told and well documented story.
   
   I'll leave it to others to give a detailed synopsis of the main historical characters and the specific events, as so many reviewers have already done so effectively. I'll just add that the writing is concise and expressive; the events engaging and exciting; the depth and breath of the subjects and historical characters perfectly developed and delivered. I couldn't put it down.
   
   If you have an interest in history and religion buy this book. You won't be disappointed.



2. This book appealed to me due to its coverage of a fascinating period in the evolution of religious ideas and its portrayal of a freethinker I'd never heard of before. The authors do a great job of providing the context in which Michael Servetus came to his own ideas about God, the Bible, the Catholic church and protestants. Thankfully they don't try to portray him as some sort of freethinker's saint. My only complaint is that the book does not provide much detail on Servetus views other than on the Trinity. I'd have preferred more pages on his religious views and less on the backgrounds of some of the other people in the book.
   
   I was a little concerned with the fact that the authors are not historians, but this concern was tempered by the fact that their bibliography indicates they did extensive research in writing this book.



3. Scholarly work. Yet humorous passages that had me laughing out loud. Excellent writing that brings the period (1400s-1500s plus) into vivid, current relevance. Shows John Calvin for what he really was: hypocritical, cruel. Shows the almost forgotten Michael Servetus as the hero he was and is. If we hadn't forgotten so much history, we wouldn't be repeating so much of it today--some trying to turn back the clock on religious liberty--and we would be much better off today!



4. I was only slightly familiar with the account of Michael Servetus' fatal disagreement with John Calvin during the early Reformation until recently. This short, but thoroughly entertaining and informative, book is written so very well, that I feel compelled to praise it. One discovers much more than a very intelligent "heretic"; we come to understand the man's motivations, his inquisitive and earnest efforts to educate men about what he saw as erroneous theology, and the personal enmity of John Calvin towards him.
   
   Where the book excels is in the area of tracing out the paths of these two arch rivals as they increase in knowledge, but not always in good graces or wisdom. What really drives these men and how their lives are interwined with the advances made in book publishing, is contrasted with the previous disemmination of knowledge and the iron grip the Roman church had on it until this time. The barbarity of intolerance and the political incest between the Roman church and governments of this age are amazingly foreign to our way of thinking, but really did happen. A very good argument for "separation of State and Church"!
   
   A great story that may change the way you see the Reformation movement and Calvinism as well as the Roman Catholic church. Highly recommended for it's historical value and thoroughly interesting story.



5. I found this to be an interesting "historical" novel and learned much from it. The significant historical importance of the printing press at the time in regard to religions. Michael Servatas' contribution to science as well as to liberal, progressive religion is significant and how his writings have survived through the years is fascinating.
   The style of writing was unimpressive as far as I'm concerned but the facts I learned more than made up for it.

5 comments about The Magus of Java: Teachings of an Authentic Taoist Immortal.

1. I first read this book a little over three years ago after reading Nei Kung: The Secret Teachings of the Warrior Sages, and it was rather a surreal read. I kept flipping back to the copyright page to see if it's a work of fiction, but it was not so. This book is a story of an incredible journey of the author, Kosta Danaos, who begun his quest to find and met with an internal arts master by the name of John Chang and his experiences and lessons with him. From reading this book, I thought it was too unreal to be a fact considering that Chang was able to break the laws of the physical reality. But again, it was not so because I have later seen the videos of Chang's psi abilities in action (e.g., pyrokinesis, telekinesis, and levitation), including the video of Lorne and Lawrence Blair's documentary series "Ring of Fire."
   
   The one thing that I have found quite interesting from this book is the moral discussion of karma as relating to becoming like Chang. Obtaining the powers, higher than normal, requires a great responsibility. I do agree with Chang that he does not want to create "monsters" as to why he was strict on the student selections. That made sense since nowadays a thirst for psychic powers is, in an essence, an ego boost or superiority. Also, discussions of Yang and Yin and Mo-Pai tradition are informative read.
   
   Thinking back on it now, the stories surrounds Chang reminds me a lot like Castaneda's Don Juan in The Teachings of Don Juan: a Yaqui Way of Knowledge.
   
   Considering the fact that English was not Danaos' first language, this book is really well written and well organized. With little over 200 pages, I could not put this book down as it had enthralled my thoughts and emotions. Whether or not if it is a real story, this book is an intriguing and fascinating read, especially the stories about the "Immortals" of the ancient past, but that's just me.



2. This book was a good, fun read. However I picked it up to be a intsructional book, or rather, something I can learn from. Any man that is on his journey, understandes that learning comes from experience, and this book is the anti-thesis of experience. While the writters experience was great, and so is his ability to share it with his readers, do not pick up this book if you think it will make you anything other than what you are already.
   
   A non believer will continue to be a skeptic, and consider the book a work of fiction. A believer will become a bit more fanatical as they will gain more proof in their reality from the books words. The real problem with this book, and many others of the same nature, is that their is no practical way of finding a master to help you learn through direct experience what is in the book.
   
   Westerners, as a whole, truly don't deserve the ultimate knowledge that can be gained from taoist thought and practices. This book reinforces that truth by introducing the fact that their is so much to life, but we know so little, and have no simple way to learn more.
   
   (So should I buy this book?) Please do, the author needs more money to keep along his path, and the information the book does present to you is worth well over $20. Just don't expect to be anythiny else from reading it, as it's a book of theory, not of practice.



3. I read this book in a little over 2 days of casual reading, the words flew off the page to me...
   
   Excellently communicated especially considering Kosta's first language is not English...
   Completely fascinating story...I can not wait to get the second book. For a qigong practitioner, this will open your eyes to the great power within...
   It will also open up many questions about the true nature of the universe, and existence...
   Kosta, if you're reading this, thank you! (keep the books comin'...haha)



4. This book blew me away. It's the incredible tale of John Chang, a internal arts master, as told by one his students. As the author is a former scientist, everything is presented in an objective, responsible, almost skeptical manner. Too often we forget what we're capable of and what the universe can offer us, with the right intent and commitment. This book is a great reminder.



5. Fascinating look into a nei kung practitioner's life. Danaos has a tremendous knack for descriptive storytelling and provides much information via [Sifu] John Chang regarding the inner workings of metaphysics and the fabled chi energy. However I question (and this may be a slightly cynical side of me) how the author managed to recall (or even take notes on) the numerous conversations he had with Chang so accurately. Either he has a near-Elephantine memory, or he was embellishing many experiences and details- and if the latter occurred it questions his credibility. It should never be underestimated writers' ability to overdramatize (and perhaps outright BS) for the sake of a more interesting book, and although there is no proof of this here, I think it's a valid question esp. given the subject matter (psychic abilities and the like) which has long been associated with unscrupulous individuals. Danaos either took phenomenal practically word-for-word notes of conversations, or he fudged here and there which calls into question the witnessed telekinesis, levitation, etc.
   
   All this being said- whether the book represents the unblemished truth, imaginative fictions or a combination of both, it's a fascinating read as it gives a close and detailed look into the life, philosophies and workings of a truly remarkable man. Students of metaphysics, spirituality, psychic phenomena, paranormal and the mental/spiritual aspects of martial arts should find this a must-read.

5 comments about The Letters of Abelard and Heloise (Penguin Classics).

1. didnt read yet-will review later..have read a fictionalized account of their love affair-looking forward to reading their actual letters



2. Arrived in very good condition as promised.



3. This book was definitely thought provoking, or at least the parts I had to read for class were. I'm not sure if I would recommend it as a fun read. However, it was interesting.



4. Letter 1 (Historia Calamitatum), Abelard to a friend. You think you have it bad? Let me tell you about the mess I've been through and you'll feel a lot better (p. 3). Things were going great until the other professors realized I was smarter than they were and hated me for it. And then I met Heloise, and things really went downhill from there. Her looks were okay, and I'm a handsome dude, so I thought she'd be easy (p. 10). Her uncle Fulbert was an idiot to leave me alone with her (pp. 10-11). I was her teacher and she was just a kid, but I couldn't keep my hands off her. I slapped her around a little to make it look like I was teaching her and not doing her (p. 11). We went at it like rabbits. I knocked her up, she had a kid, and Uncle Fulbert made us get hitched. It was supposed to be a secret, but Fulbert started to spill the beans, so I put Heloise in a convent. That really pissed off Fulbert, so he made a steer out of me (pp. 16-17). Then I made Heloise take the veil, and I became a monk. Now I'm stuck in a hellhole of a monastery in Brittany with a bunch of thugs.
   
   Letter 2, Heloise to Abelard. I just saw the letter you wrote to your friend. Too bad things have been tough, but how come I haven't gotten a letter from you in over 10 years? I think about you all the time, you big stud. It makes me crazy. I'd rather be called your whore than your wife (p. 51). All the girls were jealous of me; we still sing your songs (pp. 52-53). I'd really like to get a letter from you, especially since it was your idea that I become a nun (p. 53). You were a real jerk back then when you waited to make sure I became a nun before you became a monk (p. 54). The least you can do is write.
   
   Letter 3, Abelard to Heloise. How am I supposed to know you wanted to hear from me? I figured you've had better things to do in the last few years than read my letters. Be a good sister and don't worry about me. But if I kick the bucket, bury me at the convent (p. 61).
   
   Letter 4, Heloise to Abelard. Don't talk that way! It makes me crazy to think of you dead. It seems especially unfair that Uncle Fulbert waited until after we were married to get the knives out. I loved doing the nasty with you. All I do is remember us getting it on. I can't even sleep (pp. 68-69). I really can't stand it.
   
   Letter 5, Abelard to Heloise. Black women are not as good-looking as other women, but they have nice teeth and soft skin - it's better to keep them behind closed doors, you know (pp. 73-75). Do you remember when I used to smack you around when you weren't in the mood (p. 81)? Quit your complaining. Let's write only about religious stuff from now on.
   
   Letter 6, Heloise to Abelard. Are there any loopholes in the Benedictine Rule for nuns?...



5. I have been fascinated by the story of Heloise and Abelard ever since reading the book Stealing Heaven in 1979. Reading theses Letters was heartbreaking to me. This is my take on the whole thing: obviously Peter and Heloise had a deeply passionate sexual relationship. For Heloise, this grew also into an affair of the heart. For both of them it was an affair of the mind. What could be more enticing to a man than a woman of Heloise's intellect and passion? However, it was also the Middle Ages. Heloise was from a prominant family with an uncle high in the Church heirarchy. She loved Peter, as women do, with body, mind and soul. I believe he loved her deeply, but it is different with men. And as long as he was a whole man, I believe he acted honorably. But there is no way around it: her pregnancy was a disaster. What were they to do, what could they do? It is not as if he and she could live together married happily ever after. He faced ruin when she became pregnant: everything he was was put at great risk--his life's work was at stake, his standing in society, his reputation, his position at his University. They marry in secret, she hides away in a convent waiting to be rescued and carried off by her husband to a life of what? She doesn't care--she only wants to be with the man she loves. But what about him? How does he see this future? I feel sorry for the guy. But all this is moot, because her uncle has him castrated. At that point, he changes. No one seems to be acknowledging the effect this would have on him. The most importand underpinning of his feeling for Heloise, i.e., testosterone-induced lust, is suddenly gone. Then add in the humiliation, pain, etc., etc. There you have it. His only option was the Church. Her only option was the Church. But how very differently they embarked upon that life. To him it is a welcome refuge. He can continue to live his life of the mind in that setting. He is surrounded by other celibate men. He has no sexual feelings anymore. He is a different person. Whatever feeling he had for Heloise is cut from him. Indeed, he sees the whole thing as sinful, dirty, to be repented of. She, on the other hand, is in an entirely different situation. Religious life for her is not a refuge, but a prison. She has no access to her child. She has lost her love and lover, against her will. Not only are they separated, but the man she loves no longer loves her. It would have been better for her had he died. But to read his letters to her, wherein he totally rejects and condemns and regrets what she treasures most in her life and scolds her for not doing the same is heartbreaking. The letters make perfect sense to me. She was tormented by her love for him till old age cooled her ardor. She set her considerable mind at work on managing her religious order, but it was second-best, by far, till she was older. Since she adored him all her life, she engaged with him in the only manner he would allow: letters regarding religion and the religious life. I don't know how she bore it for all those years. No doubt about it: the uncle is the villian. Both Heloise and Peter suffered greatly: she had her heart torn from her, and he had his manhood torn from him.

5 comments about HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE.

1. This is an excellent book. A must read at least once and perhaps many times over.



2. 
   Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com, 3/08
   The title of this book says it all, Hurt People Hurt People. People who have been hurt do tend to hurt others, sometimes knowingly and sometimes unknowingly. As I read this book, I kept thinking about people that have been sexually abused and the proven fact that most abusers were abused. "Hurt people commonly use anger to disguise and deflect their guilt and grief." We have all been hurt in some way in our life.
   Hurt People Hurt People deals with the emotional and spiritual hurts that scar people. I could relate to many of the statements in chapter three "Hurt by the Unprepared and Unavailable." Sandra D. Wilson writes in a simple easy-to-understand manner; she uses wit and wisdom to impart her message, offering hope and understanding. The healing that hurt people need may not happen overnight; it takes years for the hurts to heal, and only Jesus Christ can heal them.



3. If you are looking into human behavior and the "why's", this is an excellent book. Gave one to my best friend who is a counselor working with abused and neglected children and with families whose children are in foster care, and she can't order enough copies for her adult cients. Like me, she feels this is one of the best books available for understanding ourselves and others. I read and re-read it, finding myself, my family members, and my friends (but mostly myself) all through this book. Great insights for the lay person.



4. Sandra Wilson has written a winner here. I read this book in 2004 and have decided to read it again.This book ministers and provides healing at the same time. It helps you to understand yourself and others.



5. this book is so informative on why hurt people hurt people. I never thought alot about why those people do what they do- with this book you will understand in more depth and clarity what is behind their motives and you will be surprised at the reasons. Sandra Wilson is an awesome author and her books are well worth the read.