3 comments about Called by Name The Inspiring Stories of 12 Men Who Became Catholic Priests.

1. 
   In the forward, Archbishop Wuerl wrote that God calls each of us and invites us to respond to that call. That's what this book is about - hearing and responding to that call. While this book is about how 12 men responded to the call to the priesthood, the messages found here are for all of us, no matter what vocation we are being called to.
   
   I really enjoyed reading these stories and highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the gift of the priesthood and who these men are that are being called. Each of these 12 stories was inspiring. Each has a unique, powerful story. I hope that the authors consider writing a sequel.



2. The stories of these priests were so inspiring, what they overcame to become the "sons" of Blessed Mother and Jesus is awesome. I loved all the stories, but Fr. Maxim Popov touched my heart the most. You won't regret ordering and reading this book.



3. I highly recommend this book for all young men discerning their vocation to the priesthood. The vocation stories are truly inspiring and I felt humbled when I read them.

3 comments about Pascal's Wager: The Man Who Played Dice with God.

1. PASCAL'S WAGER: The Man Who Played Dice With God.
   By James A. Connor, Harper Collins Publishers, 2006]
   
   James Connor has given us the opportunity to enter the physical space and place of 1588-1670 France. He brings classic and substantive insight into the provincial and fomenting social mores of these times: the militancy and corruption of the papacy; the intrusive and diminishing ideology of Aristotelian philosophy; and, the deepening schism in the Catholic Church and monarchies of Pascal's times. Through the lens of Blaise Pascal's tightly-knit family, we enter the inordinate emotional sibling reliance (addiction) of children who have been raised in the isolated, dominating, and cloistered world of a widowed father suddenly thrust into self-survival and the salt of erudition. Through his infancy and childhood years Blaise Pascal was afflicted with an abnormality which forced him to shift into a shrieking knot of psychic pain whenever he was with more than one parent at a time. From the beginning of his days Pascal was labeled a dark angel. Caught in the polemic of the adamancy of original sin and simultaneously possessed with the fomenting dreams of a scientist, Pascal's heart and mind joined the tight rope of his life-long pain stricken body in total accommodation. The essential terror of this dilemma necessitated a sort of "doubling phenomenon" as a protective shield against the continuous threats to his spiritual identity and intelligence.
   
   "When I think about the shortness of my life," Pascal said, "melted into the eternity that came before me, and into the eternity that will come after...and the insignificance of the space I fill and even see, I'm lost in the infinite vastness of that space that lies beyond, that space of which I am ignorant and which has no knowledge or care of me. I'm frightened and astonished to awaken in this place rather than that and I see no reason why I should be here and not there, now and not then. Who put me here? By whose order and direction have this place and time come to me?" (Connor: 179)
   
   Living in these polemics eventually brought Pascal into conceiving a rationality of faith based on gambling. Miraculously, Pascal's lifelong physical and emotional pain coupled with the Faustian delight of formulating mathematical theories resulted in the genius birth of the science of probability. Further, his piercing insights into the "law of big vs. the law of averages" and his brilliant staging of a new metaphysics embodied in quantum mechanics; his prideful invention of the first computing machine, the Pascaline are primo among the collective hallmarks of his extraordinary life. Connor's case study of Pascal's divided psyche exposes a tightly leashed self-will evolving into a theology of moral powerlessness. Pointing out that, in 1658, with the return of signaling pain, Pascal had taken to wearing "an iron girdle full of sharp points, which he put next to his skin." Any time Pascal had a prideful thought, or felt pulled toward some diversion, he pushed on the girdle, driving the points into his flesh. He wore that girdle until the day he died. Connor's biography of Blaise Pascal provides a curved mirror adroitly exposing the primal desire of mortals as they seek to decipher the Immortal; and, to discover the veracity of that great spiritual river running between the heart and the soul. He beautifully illustrates Pascal's scientific mind as influencing today's inquiries into cybernetics, physics, nanotechnology; advanced theories of relativity, space stations, and, yes, "the truth and the comics" imbedded in blasting beyond Disney's Black Hole. Within the context of our stumbling steps at the cusp of the 21st century, Connor offers a beguiling interpolative rendition of the facts during Pascal's life and times: How do we reconcile the scientist and the mystic? How do we formulate true questions, questions that ask a question and continue to ask another after that? Perhaps Blaise is whispering to us today, reminding that the ancient hawk of peril, courage, and creativity of his times coincide with the "new age" inquiry of our own. James A. Connor whispers back:
   
   "Personally, this one universe is enough for me. I find it to be as weird as I can handle. Weirdness is a value in and of itself, for in weirdness lies poetry, and in poetry lies beauty, and in beauty lies truth, weird as it is. Pascal would appreciate this. (Connor: 215)
   
   Jess Maghan Chester, CT



2. As an engineer I had studied all about Pascal's products, the conic sections, the vacuum, and the probability studies. However, until I read this book never could have imagined the sad and inspirational story behind the genius, Blaise Pascal. It is written in short readable chapters that give you a vivid picture on the 17th century in which he lived. The book gives a spectacular vision of the beginning of science as we know it in the 21st century. It also examines the conflict of one man between his faith and his passion for science. I won't tell you how it comes out that for you to read. The only thing I will tell you is that it is not the usual science is good and religion is bad that you find in many book today. Read this book, and if you have children interested in science have them read it too, or better read it to them.



3. This fairly short (216 pages) book centers around the central dilemma of Blaise Pascal's, the 17th century math prodigy's, life philosophy: How to reconcile his austere view of life as should be lived by a creation of God with his obvious love of math, science, and worldly ideas. Another hundred pages could have been used to flesh out Pascal's writings and scientific ideas so that the reader could make more of his own decision about him. Instead the author has chosen to present his own thesis for acceptance or rejection. There is considerable interesting background provided on the France of Pascal's time and on Jansenism, the ascetic (Augustinian) form of deterministic (Calvinistic) Catholicism that Pascal ultimately accepted.
   
   There are several descriptions of the discoveries of Pascal and his peers but nothing that requires a math or science background. The last chapter is a musing by the author that uses the probabilistic view of modern life that Pascal originated by his seminal work in probability theory. The author's dividing of people into climbers and sprawlers is insightful especially if you're inunudated with amazing coincidence \ God's providence spam e-mails as I seem to be. Recommended if you're Roman Catholic, definitely recommended if you're a fan of the Jesuits (the author is a former Jesuit). The book reads fast and is divided into short chapters; useful if, as I do, you like to finish a chapter before getting off the mass transit. Well recommended.

5 comments about Bryson City Secrets: Even More Tales of a Small-Town Doctor in the Smoky Mountains.

1. I have been a long time fan of Dr. Larimore's books. The Bryson City books are very well written, informative, fun, sad; real life! It makes one feel like they are right there with the Larimore family and the characters are so life-like that we feel like we actually know them. The part of each book that I enjoy the most is the Spiritual aspect that is so much a part of Dr. Larimore and his calling to be a Doctor. He is very open about the huge part in his skills, patient relationships and healing the Holy Spirit is involved in. I hope that this won't be the last in this series of books, I look forward to getting to know this area, people and his wonderful family even better!



2. I did not enjoy this book as much as the first two that Dr. Larimore wrote, possibly because much of it was material from the first two books. His insight as a Christian is wonderful though, and his response to problems faced by us all was uplifting and insightful. The book just seemed to be somewhat of a let down with regard to the story line.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I had previously read the first 2 books of Dr. Larimore, Bryson City Tales and Bryson City Seasons, and I enjoyed this book.



4. I have read all of his books and they were most enjoyable. I have visited in that area many times and feel I knew places he was talking about. I also have enjoyed Deep Creek with my family. He is an excellent writer. I couldn't put the book down, couldn't wait to see what would happen next. Many sad things took place, but ended with a good satisfying ending, knowing all those involved would come through in being honest.



5. This is the third book of a trilogy by Dr. Walt Larimore who writes about his memories as a young husband, father, and doctor in the small town of Bryson City in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. As in the first two books, this one contains a lot of self-deprecating humor, such as when Dr. Larimore is coerced into being a bridesmaid in a "womanless wedding", a local fundraiser. There are humorous moments when Walt is called on to be a vet rather than a doctor, touching times of treating a blind man and his seeing-eye dog, and amazing incidents such as the first birth of triplets in the county. At the end, the story turns darker and the Larimores are faced with a difficult decision which they make through prayer and good advice from friends. This book and the other ones in the series are highly recommended reading.

No comments about Falwell Inc.: Inside a Religious, Political, Educational, and Business Empire.

2 comments about Love Is the Measure: A Biography of Dorothy Day.

1. The biographical account of the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement and cofounder of the popular and influential newspaper The Catholic Worker, creates a complex yet simple image of Dorothy Day for Jim Forest's readers. His biography is relatively short in covering 83 years of life and is filled with brief chapters accounting small monuments in her inspiring and powerful life. The life of Dorothy Day spanned many decades and eras, from the First World War to the anti-communist era of the 1950's, only to be followed by the Civil Rights era.
   Dorothy Day was born November 8th, 1987 in Brooklyn, New York to a family of journalists, and she continued that tradition. Day was a brilliant young woman excelling in Greek and Latin, and was an avid reader. Yet scholarship was not her calling, she craved to be with the people, the huddled masses. She worked on many radical papers and her passion contributed to her success, yet it was not until she met Peter Maurin and allowed her faith to be the strength and the reason behind her arguments for justice and peace, that Dorothy Day began to be successful. Before she was baptized into the Catholic Church in 1927, she had been married twice, had one abortion and one daughter, whom she named Tamar. Yet the birth of her Daughter caused her faith to grow, and she finally began to embrace her spirituality as the drive behind her radical passion.
   While living and writing in New York, Peter Maurin sought Day out and began dictating his vision for a new, Catholic, pacifist and agrarian society to be enacted through the circulation of a newspaper, which they agreed to call The Catholic Worker. It rapidly grew in circulation, yet grew controversial for its enduring pacifist stance in the First World War, the Second World War, the Vietnam War, and during the Red Scare. Although Day faced opposition and persecution within her own Church, she continued to write in favor of non-violence, "we are still pacifists. Our manifesto is the Sermon on the Mount, which means that we will try to be peacemakers" (102).
   By the Second World War, Day became incredibly concerned with the use of the Atom Bomb, the development of the H-Bomb, and the distinctly Catholic codenames and conduct surrounding the employment of these catastrophic weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yet Day preserved in her faith, writing, "we do not have faith in God if we depend upon the atom bomb" (135). These harsh truths were necessary in the world of the 1940s, and were abundant on the lips of Dorothy Day.
   Day did not only write for the Worker, but helped to start hospitality houses all over urban areas in New York, as well as begin agrarian communes to care for those interested in living in a Christian commune. Day wrote of the benefits of these communities and the young people following her movement, "they learn not only to love, with compassion, but to overcome fear, that dangerous emotion that precipitates violence" (185).
   By the time of the Red Scare, the government began to spread anti-Communist propaganda to fight the Soviet Union's growing influence. This caused rampant accusations that damaged the reputations of well seeking social justice workers. Many lost their jobs, their reputations, and some were even executed. Yet Dorothy Day and The Catholic Worker used biblical rhetoric and appealed to the senses and spirits of many Americans to rethink blind accusations of Communism and the spirit of social justice and hospitality that seems to have died with it. During the Red Scare and novelty bomb evacuations, Day led protesters to stay above ground and ultimately to be arrested. This granted Day favorable opinion in some publications and ultimately was part of the reason New York City stopped these emergency evacuations. These fear mongering tactics were opposed by Day, who sought conversion, rather than defeat, as a means of victory.
   In spite of all this adversity, Dorothy Day grew in fame and influence. Before her death on November 29th, 1980, she had opportunities to build relationships with Mother Theresa, Ceasar Chavez and several Popes. In the end, her vision and passion lived through. "Let me say that the sight of a line of men waiting for food, dirty, ragged, obviously sleeping out in empty buildings, is something I will never get used to...The heart hungers for a new social order wherein justice dwelleth," Day wrote (169).
   Forest's biography of Dorothy Day does an exceptional job of covering 83 years in only 200 or so pages. It inserts many inspiring quotes throughout the book, but it lacks in inserting outside perspectives on Dorothy's life as well as full transcripts of her speeches and writings that would have helped a reader to get a feel for the tone of her writings and how her mind progressed. After reading the book, I still would like to get inside her mind a bit more and read her own writings. When reading about someone, I find I can come to understand more about them directly from their own writings than from a biographers. Perhaps I should have read one of her own autobiographical writings.



2. The controversy surrounding Dorothy Day's long life epitomizes a quote by Dom Helder Camara; "When you give food to the hungry, they call you a saint. But when you ask why the hungry have no food, they call you a Communist" (Forest, 204). She was both revered and criticized for being a friend of the poor and unemployed and pushing the envelope in their favor to such a point that J. Edgar Hoover recommended she "be considered for custodial detention in the event of national emergency" (Forest 178). Love is the Measure, a biography of her life by fellow Catholic Worker Jim Forest, displays this oscillating view of Dorothy Day.
   
   The first few chapters highlight Dorothy's childhood, following her family's moves from Brooklyn to California to Chicago as her father moves from newspaper to newspaper. It was her father's strict parenting-style that led her to remain in their home's library day after day, befriending Jack London, Peter Kropotkin and Upton Sinclair. These men pushed her to take walks in the grim West Side of Chicago and begin to feel a connection with the poor and the workers. Her love of reading continued into university which she attended on a scholarship and supported through manual labor. She wasn't satisfied with assisting victims of social evils, but consumed with the presence of the evils in the first place. It was a theme that rang true throughout her entire life as a reporter and eventually as a co-founder and editor of The Catholic Worker.
   
   Her life as a reporter began shortly after as she dropped out of school and moved back to New York. She began working for The Call and entered a period of "Red Friends, Revolutionary News" as Forest eloquently entitled the chapter. She interviewed Leon Trotsky and attended dances held by anarchists before moving to another magazine, The Masses, until it was suppressed. She bided her time by taking part in a suffragette movement and hunger strike in jail. It was to be one of many times she would be arrested for civil disobedience.
   
   She also began to spend time with a coworker in the hospital she found a temporary job. Lionel Moise was her first real love, but his disbelief in marriage and love proved difficult when she found herself pregnant and alone. Her decision to have an abortion deeply affected her and made her value her second pregnancy with Forster Batterham so immensely that she formally converted to Catholicism and baptized their child Tamar. Her faith then put her in contact with a variety of religious publications which led her to Peter Maurin. He was the man who pushed Dorothy to create The Catholic Worker, the publication she is most famous for to this day. Peter wanted to advocate "steps that could bring about the peaceful transformation of society" (78) in a publication centered upon faith principles and believed appropriately that Dorothy was essential to the project.
   
   On May 1, 1933, The Catholic Worker printed 2,500 copies and handed them out at the gathering of 50,000 in Union Square in New York (1-3). The printings fluctuated over the years as the publication both gained rapid successes and lost subscribers over Dorothy's unwavering stance of non-violence and appreciation of unions and protests, all of which were identified with communism. It was in this that Dorothy really created controversy.
   
   Furthermore, it was out of the publication that houses of hospitality came about, places where staff members would feed, cloth, and shelter anyone who wished or desired it. The houses later expanded into farms and community living that staff members and faithful subscribers became residents of for years and years. It was in a house of hospitality that Dorothy finally passed away in November of 1980. She had a simple funeral with a plain casket and was dressed in donated clothes (200-201).
   
   Overall, the novel is a quick read that touches upon the multitude of key points and people in Day's life. However, ostensibly the impressive list of events creates the illusion that one is reading an abridged version of United States and World history of the twentieth century. Consequently, to accurately portray the rest of the events occurring between the first publication of The Catholic Worker and her death a half a century later would require a much lengthier recitation, something the book does do in great detail. To demonstrate this fact, one should know that Dorothy, having been born in 1897, was privy to such high-profile events as the Women's Suffrage Movement, the Great Depression and May Day, both World Wars, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and the McCarthy era of fear, among others. Furthermore, her controversial stances put her in contact with names such as Thomas Merton, various Popes, Cesar Chavez, Mother Theresa, Leon Trotsky, and Mike Gold. While captivating, the magnitude of information and events can be viewed as wearisome and cause for some disjunction between and within the chapters. For example, Forest writes a short chapter introducing Dorothy's friendship with Ammon Hennacy and then pens a short chapter devoted to the Cold War (121-129).
   
   While understandably necessary due to the fact that her life was extremely intertwined with these events, it left me exhausted and longing for detail about Dorothy's mannerisms and attitude. I was able to insinuate this as much as one can from learning about a plethora of her actions, but it lacked a more intimate portrait; something that surprisingly came in the Afterword. There Jim Forest revealed that he did know Dorothy personally as a co-worker at The Catholic Worker, but wanted to keep his experiences out of the narrative (202). I praise him for his professionalism and do view it as a great strength of the book; however, his short narrative at the end thoroughly entertained me and summarized the book in a more coherent and brief fashion. For example, he quotes Jack English's description of seeing Dorothy for the first time. "She talked the entire lecture with a cigarette hanging out of a corner of her mouth, with a beret on, and someone said it looked as if she needed her neck washed" (203). This description painted a vivid picture in my mind that otherwise was foggy from the snip-it's in the novel and made me long to hear her speak.
   
   Overall I would recommend this book as it does professionally portray how involved Dorothy was in almost every major movement and protest in the twentieth century. I would just warn readers to cherish the beginning and the afterword, with their description of the intimate moments that create the person whom caused so much controversy from a love of the poor and desolate.

1 comments about Mary Slessor: Forward into Calabar (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) (Christian Heroes: Then & Now).

1. My 10-year-old and I read this as part of a home school unit on Africa. Mary Slessor is a wonderful role model for kids: scrappy, stubborn in the face of great resistance, and deeply compassionate. She helped West Africans tremendously by opening up inter-tribal trade and, perhaps most importantly, implementing peaceful alternatives to the more devastating and cruel tribal practices. The amazing thing is that she did this through a deep understanding and appreciation of native culture, as opposed to the more typical whites-are-superior-and-Africans-are-savages model of the time. The writing is not perfect by any stretch, but it's a truly great story.

5 comments about Born Amish.

1. this was good book.you can learn a lot.some of it is hard to remember,such as which type bonnet etc.but it was good.she could have even went into more detail of the mistreatment she felt she received from her family,but its the amish way not to offend.nadia rehmani -authoor of sharper than a two edged sword-one woman's walk into Islam and out.thats my story



2. This is the true story of how one woman made the change and left the Amish lifestyle. It tells of the personal struggles of leaving family and lifetime friends all behind to adventure into a new life and follow one's own convictions. Very well written and informative. You can almost feel the pain this lady went through to start her new way of life!
   I feel that all books are over-priced and for that reason I give this book only four stars!



3. This was an interesting book. However, the content was, in my opinion, limited. It was more like an outline with a few details. Information was interesting; but seemed to skim the surface of everyday Amish life.



4. It was so enlighting. It really was interesting to me to actually read about the Amish communitity.



5. Timely shipment and in great condition. I was very pleased with order.

3 comments about The Way of the White Clouds.

1. This book is a beautiful introduction to Tibetan culture and landscape and Buddhist beliefs and practices. It's left me longing to see Mount Kailas and the other sacred places he lovingly describes. I've since bought the author's more recent book, "Buddhist Reflections."



2. The author, Lama Anagarika Govinda, is an erudite and sophisticated buddhist who brings to life a land and a people who will hardly exist in their native Tibet much longer. For someone who wants to have a westener
   explain the history, geography, art ,etc. of the "roof of the world" prior to the Chinese genocide, this is a wonderful guide. Of course there is a terrific description of buddhism in general and the specfic variety practised in Tibet. However, this may not be the best place to start. At least a basic knowledge of Tibet would be helpful, otherwise one could get mired down in so many strange names and concepts.



3. This is a wonderful insightful book on Tibet and Buddhism. It opened my mind even more to a different way of thinking and being.

5 comments about The King's Good Servant but God's First : The Life and Writings of Saint Thomas More.

1. This is an excellent book. I highly recommend it to any reader who is interested in the life of Sir Thomas More. It gives three things necessary to understand the life of Sir More. First, it expains the background, education, and family life of Sir Thomas More. Second, it expains the governmental and private work that Sir Thomas more accomplished in his life. Third, it explains the politics and affairs that lead Sir Thomas More into not endorsing King Henry's divorce from Catherine.
   
   The reader will find out many fantastic things on More. I was amazed that More wrote over eleven thousand pages of material. I liked the fact the author wrote of the interplay between More's wife, Dame Alice, and More himself. Furthermore, the parts about More argueing against Luther's Reformation was quite informative. More had the sense to know that Luther's Reformation would fracture and weaken the Catholic church. Tynsdall's writings on the reformation directly leads to King Henry VIII taking over the Church in England.
   
   This is a very good book. I highly encourage historians or Catholic readers to study it.



2. This is an excellent biography of a courageous saint whose faith in God was stronger than his fear of death. While the book provides sufficient historical detail and background, its narrative structure is unique in that the author places events within the context of More's faith. Thankfully, Monti avoids a posthumous psychoanalysis of his subject (as many biographers are wont to do). Instead, he illuminates the saint's inner life by tapping into More's own thoughts, as revealed in his published works and correspondence. The result is a rich portrait of a man whose warmth and courage derived directly from his faith in God and the Catholic Church.

   Monti synthesizes More's apologetical writings in response to the Reformation, revealing More's keen theological acumen. What impressed me the most, however, was discovering the depth and richness of More's spirituality and faith. More's insight into Christ's agony in the garden of Gethseme and during His passion were particularly moving. It becomes clear that More's understanding and appreciation of Christ's suffering strenthened his faith when he needed it most.

   I would especially recommend this inspirational book to young people, who could choose no better role model than Saint Thomas More. He stands as a beacon of light in today's culture of moral relativism.




3. The author has presented a very well balanced survey of the life of St. Thomas More. In this work of history, one can find an excellent survey of the literary work of St. Thomas More. Additionally, you will find an excellent synopsis of St. Thomas More's relationship with his friend and humanist, Erasmus.

   The author writes in a style which captures the reader. This will not be one of those histories that you may only read piecemeal. Rather, St. Thomas More takes life and captivates the reader because of his holiness and goodness.

   This work looks into the saint's devotional practices, his great faith, his love of God and man, and his relationship with his family. To state that this is an excellent starting point for any person wishing to learn more about this man is an understatement.

   The characters of the reformation (i.e., Luther, Henry VIII) are given a balanced treatment in that their beliefs or writings are not misconstrued or embellished. St. Thomas More was a defender of the Father, and to that extent, his writing of the defense of the faith are given equal treatment.

   This book is most highly recommended.




4. I am about halfway through this book, despite purchasing it only a few days ago. It is such a terrific read, I can't put it down. I even bring it to work with me to read whenever I have a few spare minutes!
   For those of you who might find history boring, this is still the text for you. Monti's style of writing is outstanding and easy to follow. This book is one of my all-time favorites.
   
   Most importantly, it provides a fair and objective portrayal of Saint Thomas More. Many books have a bias, one way or the other, when writing about More or 16th century England yet it's tough to find one in this book. Furthermore, Monti doesn't focus simply on More, but gives the reader a fair portrayal of the Reformation during this crucial period in European history.
   
   More's life is simply fascinating - it reads like a novel. His genius and profound morality is clear. Upon reading this book, More is the type of man one would want to know, and the kind we wish (!) there were more of in modern-day society. It is an extremely inspirational book.



5. James Monti's work, "The Kings Good Servant But God's First," provides an excellent overview St Thomas More's life and writings; but a much greater focus is based upon his writings. Monti's treatment of More's oeuvre is skillfully researched, comprehensive, informative, and pleasing to read. St Thomas More's defense of Church unity and the Sacraments against Tyndale and the rising tide of the Reformation, is finely commented upon in a clear and concise fashion. His devotional writings and correspondence with family in the waning days of his life on earth, are given an exceptional touch of intimacy, which will no doubt compel readers to seek out works such as the "Treatise upon the Passion" and the "Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation" (as one of our fellow reviews has pointed out as well). As for More's life, Monti pays particular attention to his early years and his final days, with brief expositions in between on his rise in the King's court and his later relations with Henry VIII as tensions began to swell between the English monarch and the Papacy. Overall, Monti presents a noble sketch of the Christian scholar and family man, graced with charm and good humor, conscientiousness and candor, who was devoted to his friends and family, and to the salvation of souls and Christ's Church. This book offers much material for in-depth study and further reading, and it is a definite recommendation.

5 comments about A Thousand Shall Fall:: The Electrifying Story of a Soldier and His Family Who Dared to Practice Their Faith in Hitler's Germany.

1. This book continued to add faith and encouragment to our live. Excellent 5 stars, A+++++++++++++



2. Susi Hasel Mundy writes of her own family experience during the terrible years of Hitter's reign in Germany. She tells in her book A Thousand Shall Fall of her father's reluctance to fight in Hitler's war for empire. As a Seventh-day Adventist her father Franz Hasel wanted nothing to do with Hitler's promises of a new Germany.
   
   Franz Hasel's family life was suddenly turned upside down when he was drafted into Hitler's army. On the very day that Franz leaves in order to report for duty he bluntly informs his young son Kurt that Hitler was an evil man. "Hitler is an evil man," Franz tells him, "Never trust what he says. You must stay true to God and God only!"
   
   Franz then gathers his children and his wife Helene in the family living room and reads Psalm 91 to them: "Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night; nor of the arrow that flieth by day; ...a thousand may fall at thy side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but is shall not come nigh thee." The family then sings the hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." These few short moments sets the stage for the theme of the entire book. Indeed a God acted as a "Mighty Fortress" to the Hasel family. And indeed thousands died around them as Hitler's war wore on. Yet at the end God brought the Hasel family back together again.
   
   Hasel relates the story of her own birth during the war. She tells how hours after her birth an air raid forced her mother and three siblings to flee from their house to a bomb shelter. Her mother--having just given birth to child--was forced out of the home on a dark night. The family was forced to flee to a nearby air-raid shelter where they spent the rest of the night.
   
   Franz Hasel was often the brunt of jokes in the Nazi engineer regiment that he was in. They often mocked him for his Christian beliefs and absolute refusal to break his Sabbath. Being a Seventh-day Adventist Franz acknowledge the Lord's Day on Saturday--the same day as the Jewish day of rest. This of course created another problem in Hitler's Germany where any suspicion of being a Jew resulted in distrust and often worse. Franz was belittled by the mean Lieutenant Peter Gutschalk who tried many tactics to humiliate Franz.
   
   This book is ranked in my mind next to Corri Ten Boom's The Hiding Place in its distinctly Christian message. It is also interesting to read a real-life story about a family living in this tumultuous time in Germany. Our society often looks on the German army as the "bad guys",or at least Hollywood does. A Thousand Shall Fall gives its readers a glimpse at Hitler's Germany that is not often seen. It is the story of a fine Christen family and how God preserved them through the struggle of World War II. This book was indeed an adventure story well worth reading!



3. I bought this book after reading 'The Heavenly Man' and 'God's Smuggler', hoping to find a similar testimony of God's work amongst Christians following Him no matter what.
   
   The main theme of the book is about keeping the Sabbath all through the war. There was very little mention of Jesus and the incredible work of the Good News in people's lives, which stands in contrast to the above mentioned books.
   
   I also felt a bit uncomfortable about Franz's assistance that he gave to the German war effort, but I don't want to judge too harshly a situation that I've never had to experience. But I felt that it fell short of the stories of Christians who have laid down their lives rather than compromise their beliefs, and as such I found the book interesting, since it is the account of a Christian in WWII Germany, but not inspiring.
   
   As a story about WWII it did not grip me either. I thought 'Because of Romek' was much more absorbing, even though it was so plainly written. I am surprised to see 'A Thousand Shall Fall' with such high reviews, so I guess it must appeal to some. I only finished reading the book on principal and to give it a chance.
   
   Feel free to disagree, this is merely my opinion of the book, but maybe this will help someone else make a more informed choice.



4. Let me just say that if you are looking for a fascinating uplifting read about a family who doesn't compromise their values, this is your book. You do have to get past a writing style which lacks vivid imagery and and has stilted transitions, but I was sucked in anyway after a few chapters. Just the idea that a man who is a strong Christian could join the German army as a pacifist, carry a fake wooden gun, and warn the Jews that the SS was coming the entire war and get nothing but promoted is enthralling.
   What an amazing family and what a sweet story of how God honors those who honor Him. I wish there were more stories like this one out there. I'd love to see Spielburg make this into a movie. It would rival Schlinder's List!



5. I just read this whole book today. The book is fairly well-written and reads easily. The main theme I took away from the book is just how awesome God is in how He sovereignly arranges the affairs of our lives and leads us through very difficult times. It's apparent in this story how God, in His mercy and love, arranged the events of the lives this story recounts.
   
   It was particularly refreshing to read a story about those suffering persecution for their faith in Nazi Germany who were not Jews, but Christians families struggling with the persistent peer-pressure of their friends and neighbors. Further, it was nice to see an honest account of American behavior towards the Germans that included the not so nice stuff that was done under the banner of he American flag. It's very easy to believe that Americans served only in a redemptive capacity during WWII and miss the fact that many atrocities were committed at the hands of American GIs too.
   
   The story is about a seventh day adventist (SDA) family. It could just be me, but I detected a tone in the story, or an implied hint that God was faithful to the characters because of their dutiful keeping of the Sabbath rather than due to His loving nature and rich mercy. Now, before you flame me for my comments, let me just say that I do see in scripture how obedience to God in the face of difficulty pleases God (ie. Daniel,Joseph, etc.), however, this book seems relate the the law-keeping of the family involved to the miraculous way God intervened and less on God's compassion afforded to them due to being in Christ. Every miracle seemed to be credited to that right way of living. This seems to be in contrast to what the apostle Paul writes in Romans 4:4-5. There are a few instances where it seems that the writer indicates that the sabbath keepers were spared where everyone else was not as if God only spared the faithful. This is not unexpected given the traditional SDA view that only those whom follow SDA teaching are the "true church" and right with God. Again, I know many SDAs do not hold this view, however I do believe that Ellen White did hold this view and many today still do. Please don't read my comments to be anti-SDA. I believe that God loves them as much as anyone else! There's only one body of Christ and it has no denominational label or associated pet doctines. The basis of our salvation however is the sufficiency of Christ's death on our behalf, not our faithfulness to honor the 7th day sabbath.
   
   That said, I would still buy the book again and still found it to be an encouraging, thrilling testimony to God's mighty hand! I wish there were more stories from this time in history of how God preserved other Christians.