5 comments about Journal of a Soul: The Autobiography of Pope John XXIII.

1. Really a journal of a Soul.
   The most important contribution and message to mankind: words and the heart could do more for every one of us than threats and war.



2. No biography does his life justice. Interpretation, as always, is key. Read with insight, this autobiography is a grand excursion into spirituality and humanity.



3. This is an excellent book on the mind & insight of Pope John XX111.....well worth a read for anyone trying to find a way to holiness amidst the hustle & bustle of the modern world....a breath of fresh air, beautifully written.



4. "Journal of A Soul" . . . even the title of this volume is evocative of Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower (her autobiography is titled "The Story of A Soul"). It is appropriate this this "great man" was at the same time such a "humble" man . . . like Saint Therese's "little ones living the little way" (in fact Pope John XXIII (Angelo Roncalli) was a soul devoted to Saint Therese).
   
   This journal or "diary" written by Angel Roncalli chronicles his life . . from youth until just before his passing . .from a student . .to Vativcan diplomat . . . to "Pope". It is not a simple recounting of biographical events . . . but give us John XXIII's thoughts as to how and why he lived these events . . .the spiritual judgements which guided him along his journey. . .
   
   Pope John XXIII always remained faithful to the spirit of God and His guidance and direction . . . yes, he grew in spirit and evolved . . and yet always remained consistently "the same person". He never lived a pretense . . . he was who and what he was . . . andc he presented that face to the world in all honesty and humility. . . . and he was accepted by so many because of this straitforwardness . . he was loved . . . by catholics and non-catholics alike. He opened doors, not just the "aggiornomento" of the church . . . but he opened doors of people's hearts, not just to him . . .but to each other.
   
   There would have been no "Vatican Council II" without his initiative and spirit to set it on its course. The sixties were also a time of "loosening" and "opening windows" everywhere . . . there may not have been a 'sixties" as we know them had there not come into the fore Pope John XXIII. So much of our open debate and discussion in religious and ecclesial and even "spiritual" matters flows from the open windows this man threw wide to let in "fresh air". . . and the air still blows in those windows to help keep our own heads clear.
   
   This is "the book' to read if you want to know "the man" in his own thoughts. . . in his own prayers . . in his own written words. . . . a truly good book from a truly good man.



5. In the most intimate words, recalling events of the day in diary form, here is a look into the Soul of Blessed John XXlll. Reading through the pages of the book cannot help but touch your soul as well as your mind! From a teen in Sotto Il Monte through his Pontificate, a most tender selection of joy, trust, sorrow, pain, and hope are shared here. His uncompromising adoration and devotion to Jesus, the Gospels and the Church come through not by preaching about it, but rather through the way he lived, and prayed. Devout from his youth, and fiercly loyal to his convictions, that's the example of his life. He embodied the forgiving aspect of Christ, and lived it... and so much more was our Blessed John. While this was never written with the intention of one day becoming the autobiography of a Great Pontiff, it was taken from bits and pieces of scrap paper, papers of differing sizes, notebooks, etc., which Blessed John kept from the time he began writing his diary at about age 14. Reading these selections can only make your heart swell with affection, gratitude and love for this gentle giant of our times. No, he was not just a "poor" "good" Pope, he was a kind, loving, and brilliant Prince of the Church, who was never tainted or taken far from his humble roots. I've found that no matter what words I call up in an effort to describe our Beloved John, only through the reading of this profound work of the heart and soul will you begin to approach the feeling that no words can quite conjure up. This is a gem in my library, and Blessed John remains even more Beloved than I thought possible!

4 comments about Coming Home: A Woman's Story Of Conversion To Judaism.

1. I've been thinking about converting for two years. I read Kukoff's book and Embracing the Convenant for the same reasons but was looking for a single person's journey in depth rather than a bunch of quotes or a series of stories by others. Shires doesn't speak just for herself, though, but for many who are wondering about taking such a huge step. Judaism is a different world view. Even making a meal involves questions and decisions. She talks about moments like that. This is not a how-to book but it treats the steps that someone takes who has to go slow towards life change. Courses, rituals at home, going to synagogue, coming to terms with family and the past. The parts on Torah didn't bother me. I read them as another aspect of Jewish life that a convert deals with. There is a section early in the book where she stands up for Judaism before she knows she will convert that I found convincing as part of the process of deciding. Plus she's not afraid of being wrong or appearing stupid. Shires even laughs at herself now and then which is good in a book like this. Two of the interesting women she met on the journey were the artist Helene Aylon and the author Blu Greenberg. I believe the chapter on women and Judaism brought together well a lot of ideas that I've read about here and there but hadn't put together before. I found the book helpful and will go back to it.



2. I agree with the reviewer who felt that Ms. Shires's textual analysis didn't flow well. I found the majority of this book to be rather dull, tedious, slow-going, and uninvolving. It was an original idea to tell the story of her conversion by relating issues she had difficulty with or areas she found inspiration in to certain passages of Torah and the similar writings of others, but it just didn't seem executed well. If this is supposed to be a conversion memoir, why does so little of the book actually concern her conversion or even her herself? The sections when Ms. Shires is writing about herself, such as in the beginning section, the ending chapter about her visit to her husband's native Germany, and the middle chapter about the mikvah, are quite good and interesting, because they're actually related to her life and to her conversion and not just tediously rambling on about certain Torah passages.
   
   From reading this, it seems as though she were the classic child who does not know enough to ask. She says she did a lot of reading prior to her conversion because she really wanted to know the religion and to approach it from a variety of disciplines, but in many sections she admits that she didn't know about some pretty important things or issues till after she converted. For example, she says that she hadn't had a lot of education about the mikveh and had been too embarrassed to ask her converting rabbi, and therefore went into her conversion day feeling she had to immerse herself because she was thought to be "contaminated" and "dirty" as a non-Jew and had to cleanse herself before being admitted to the tribe. How could anyone in any denomination, particularly if she's had such a long process of education and learning as Ms. Shires evidentally had, reach conversion day thinking such a thing and not having learnt more about the custom of mikveh? (I was also annoyed that her chapter on the mikveh used the dated and inaccurate translations "contaminated" and "unclean" for the Hebrew words "tumah" and "tamei." That continues to give the completely false impression that menstruating women are thought to be dirty and unclean, when in actual fact the words surrounding this state of being are translated more like "ritually impure," and the impurity refers to a spiritual, not a physical, state of being.)
   
   I was also left wondering why she converted under the auspices of the Conservative Movement when she so clearly feels ill at ease with many of their official positions, or at least the positions her own community seems to take. She really seems like she'd feel more at home in a Reform, Reconstructionist, or Renewal community. I'm also baffled as to why she frequently says that the Conservative Movement hasn't done enough for the inclusion of gays and women, unless her community isn't as liberal as many other Conservative communities are. Or are the changes of the past few decades not radical and sweeping enough for her? I also share her belief that women, gays, the disabled, and other groups that traditionally haven't always been included fully in Jewish life need to be completely integrated and granted full equality and participation in the community, but at times her call for this reads more like a political polemic and speaking from personal experience as opposed to really representing the great strides the Conservative Movement has made in these areas in the past few decades. I'm not doubting her personal experiences with people she's known and what she's dealt with in her own community, but it just seems baffling if she's trying to say the entire Conservative Movement takes those positions as well.
   
   A couple of interesting chapters do not a very recommendable book make. Most of this was just very slow going for me, and the divrei Torah weren't that novel or insightful either. I've heard most of these interpretations and analyses before, only not in such dull language. I'm actually disappointed I bought this book, though at least I got a cheap used copy. I'd looked forward to reading a conversion memoir, but instead got a tedious exercise in boredom that had almost nothing to do with the author's life, either before, during, or after her conversion.



3. Some books make you think and this is one of them. She engages with the traditions in different ways than most. It challenged me to think about Jewish life and Torah freshly. I found the beginning and the last section about going to Germany most moving.



4. I have read many individual conversion stories to Judaism. The majority are remarkable and beautiful as they highlight the personal transformation of an individual's path to conversion. That said, I found this book to be very tedious. The textual analysis did not flow well and it did not keep my attention.

1 comments about From Africa to America: The Journey of a Lost Boy of Sudan.

1. We have been aware of the lost boys for many years but have not known much detail of this epic endeavor until last Fall when Joseph Akol Makeer made one of his first public presentations to our Unitarian Congregation. He is also doing much to help us understand the current plight of the Sudanese as they are now being repatriated from refugee camps after years of displacement.
   
   We are very moved by the sense of responsibility that the Lost Boys, now scattered all over the globe, have for each other, reunited families, those remaining in refugee camps or returning from African expatriation to what little remains in Southern Sudan. Joseph conveys these aspects of their culture and beliefs very well as he tells his personal story of a journey begun in formative childhood years two decades ago.
   
   A powerful story of struggles, loyalty, failures, perseverance and triumphs.

3 comments about Muhammad: Islam's First Great General (Campaigns and Commanders).

1. Although the authors many military history books and his international recognition have been familiar to this reader, the new information provided in this book, earned my appreciation.
   A new presentation of the Prophet as a military leader put the conflicts which are being played out in our days appear in a clear historical light providing precedents.
   The book is a very important contribution to understanding Islam since it is the only book from the military history of this leader



2. Muhammad: Islam's First Great General is not a typical biography Muhammad, prophet and founder of the religion of Islam. Military historian and retired U.S. Army officer Richard A. Gabriel presents a close examination of Muhammad as a military genius, who introduced innovations that would transform armies and warfare throughout the Arab world. With a keen eye upon the connections between social, economic, and cultural environment in which Muhammad lived and the religion he founded to Muhammad's military achievements, Muhammad: Islam's First Great General is an exceptional chronicle of how a brand-new religious movement survived its tumultuous birth through eight major battles, eighteen raids, and thirty-eight other military operations in its first ten years alone. Also covered is Muhammad's masterful application of nonmilitary methods including bribery, alliance building, and political assassination, to fortify his long-term position and goals, even at the expense of short-term military objectives. Muhammad: Islam's First Great General reveals how Muhammad's talents and inspirations enabled his successors to defeat the armies of Persia and Byzantium, and establish the foundations of the Islamic empire, and is a singularly fascinating study of historical warfare and leadership. Highly recommended.



3. This is a scholarly attempt to look at the life of Muhammad, the founder of the religion of Islam, in a whole new light. The author intends to examine his military accomplishments, and freely admits his lack of qualifications with regards to the religious aspects of the Prophet's life. Those military accomplishments were considerable, and the ensuing discussion of the Prophet's life, through his military exploits, is interesting.
   
   The author begins with an overview of Arab warfare prior to Muhammad's epiphany. He spends several chapters outlining Arab politics at the time, and is especially careful to discuss military organization, tactics, and strategy, as much as he can. One difficulty is that during this era, warfare tended to be of the follow-the-leader variety, with little in the way of formal military organization, no standardization of weapons or equipment, no uniforms, no real organized units with a formal chain of command, pay structures, ranks, and that sort of thing. All of that, more or less, existed during the Roman or other ancient periods, but wouldn't re-emerge until towards the end of the Middle Ages. Instead, Arab warfare was essentially tribal, low-intensity warfare, rather like what the American Indians or African tribesmen practiced in later eras. Wars went on constantly between neighboring tribes, but could go on for years with ritualized battles and campaigns in which few, if any, warriors were killed. Instead, the tribes relied on these "wars" to provide opportunities for warriors to exhibit their bravery, and as an aside, they raided their neighbors, stealing livestock and women.
   
   Muhammad, rather like Shaka Zulu, changed the way warfare was conducted. In Shaka's case we're not sure why what happened occurred: some outside sources attribute his actions to influence from a white man, while African sources insist that his ideas were homegrown. Regardless, Muhammad's transformation is easier to trace, and Gabriel makes a point of it: he didn't come up with something new. Instead, he transformed one form of warfare into another, with devastating results.
   
   At this time, Arabs only engaged in war to the death when there was something called a blood feud occurring. Such events could last for years, even generations, but they tended to be rather vicious. Essentially, in Arab society, there was no objective right or wrong. Instead, everything was based on the tribe you belonged to. You didn't steal from those in your tribe (but you could steal from others). You didn't kill members of your tribe (but others were fair game, provided you were brave enough to defy their tribe). When someone from your tribe was killed, your highest duty in life was revenge the death by killing the killers, which in turn could of course lead to that tribe wanting revenge against you. The only way out of this was to pay money to the relatives of the dead.
   
   Muhammad transformed Arab tribal warfare by making all wars between Islam and non-Muslims blood feuds. This meant that while he was alive, anyway, warfare between him and non-believers only stopped temporarily. He believed that fighting must continue until either the other side surrendered, or they paid that blood money for the insult done to Islam (by not joining it). This sort of warfare, where things were brutal and you showed no mercy to the enemy, was completely confusing to the Arab pagan societies around the original Muslims, and it conquered them in short order during about a decade.
   
   This book is interesting, and it spends a lot of time discussing tactics, organization, and equipment used by the Muslims and their opponents during the era. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone not interested in military affairs: it's pretty dry and workmanlike as far as the writing goes. The author's a professional soldier who now teaches at Canada's military academy, and it shows in his writing. Nevertheless, if you're very interested in Muhammad or in military history, this is a good book.

1 comments about Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind: The Life and Letters of an Irish Zen Saint.

1. Maura O'Halloran was a dear friend from childhood. We always knew she was special and different. Her journal entries, compiled and edited by her family, allowed a glimpse into a life of adventure, personal development, austerity, reflection, and achievement. Her story is presented in a chronological diary format, easy to read, and truly inspirational. Her writings reveal that she was indeed special, and her life a gift to all of who shared a moment in time with her.

1 comments about A Monk In The Inner City: The ABCs of a Spiritual Journey.

1. An 'urban monk' offers up meditations on dying, living, and religious sense in A MONK IN THE INNER CITY: THE ABCS OF A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. Juxtaposing spiritual insights with the input of others in society, Mary Lou Kownacki's survey is an excellent addition to any spirituality library, especially those offering meditations for change.

3 comments about A Recipe for Hope: Stories of Transformation by People Struggling with Homelessness.

1. Reviewed By Shawn Remfrey
   
   This incredible book should be a staple in every American household. Karen Skalitzky is a volunteer at both Inspiration Cafe and Living Room Cafe in Chicago-the cornerstone of Chicago's ten-year plan to end homelessness.
   
   As she began to get to know the patrons, she began interviewing them, beginning with `What does it mean to tell your story?' and ending in wisdom. The book is from those interviews with every-day people who have lost their homes, and sometimes families, to bad decisions. You'll keep thinking: That could happen to me!
   
   You might first think this book is going to be really depressing-stories about drug addicts, alcoholics, and people who just don't care about their lives. Instead you find a treasury of wisdom and knowledge from people that learned things the hard way-or bad circumstance. A few were involved in drugs and/or alcohol, but that wasn't the beginning for them.
   
   People from all walks of life have become homeless. One successful man decided to open a business with a buddy, and with one wrong choice, he was on the fast track to homelessness. Another story is of a top executive for the Kraft. While employed, he directed the funds to help feed the hungry and homeless, but he never felt it was enough. At retirement he found humanity that was missing at the Inspiration Café.
   
   Every interview is a success story-but not on the first try. They have all learned incredible secrets of life that each and everyone needs to know. The most important thing that I learned, is that homelessness can happen to anyone at any time-even me! Though it is difficult to get past the prejudices that we were born with, a homeless person isn't necessarily lazy or drunk or stoned. Often they are just down on their luck and need a hand to get back on their feet.
   
   Ms. Skalitzky wrote this book to share this wealth of knowledge. Those interviewed wanted to share what they've learned in the hopes of helping others not make the same mistakes. For each book that is sold a percentage goes to Inspiration Corporation that encompasses Inspiration Cafe, Living Room Cafe, and Cafe Too.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: This book is insightful, well-constructed, truthful and eye-opening.



2. Like all the books I review, I consider this one to be well written and contain a message suitable for the intended audience. Beyond that, "A Recipe for Hope" seems so important I'd like to buy the world a copy. First, the oral histories really "put a face on" the homeless and those who serve them. Author Karen M. Skalitzky is a teacher with a master's degree in literacy education. She developed this project after volunteering at two programs sponsored by Inspiration Corporation, a Chicago non-profit that serves the homeless. She tape recorded many of the stories at the organization's Cafe Too, a public restaurant where menus, preparation, and service are handled by volunteers and members of the culinary training program. All of those who chose to be interviewed have connections to Inspiration Corp. programs, and most are current or former clients.
   
   The foreword and introduction contain some statistics on homelessness and background on the service providers mentioned. Lisa Nigro, the former Chicago police officer who got started 16 years ago, delivering sandwiches and coffee from a child's wagon, tells her story early in the book. Eventually she and her husband accepted an invitation to set up a "Cafe" in Russia. Jenny Urban is another staffer who spoke with Skalitzky. Urban graduated from culinary school, moved to Chicago in pursuit of a restaurant career, and ended up as food services manager at a center for women who are homeless before she became director of the internship program at Cafe Too. These staffers are united in the understanding that anyone can become homeless; everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity; and when properly designed and managed, services to the homeless can make a significant difference.
   
   Their philosophy is borne out in the words of those represented in "A Recipe for Hope"--grandparents, singles, children, couples, professionals, laborers, immigrants, educated, mentally and physically disabled, addicted, convicted, whatever stripe you want to apply. The sentiment that most represents my feeling after reading these stories is similar to that expressed by the four-year veteran staffer, Rian Wanstreet, just 25, whose interview closed with these words: "I'm going to talk about this place for the rest of my life."



3. If you ever passed a homeless person on the street and wondered what his story was, this is the book for you. The author draws back the curtain on several clients of Chicago's Inspiration Corporation, where she is a volunteer. Because the people trust her, they share their stories with startling frankness, which is very moving. It's amazing how filled with hope the people in this book are. After a while, you begin to see patterns, and draw some broader conclusions about homelessness.

5 comments about A Table in the Presence: The Dramatic Account of How a U.S. Marine Battalion Experienced God's Presence Amidst the Chaos of the War in Iraq.

1. I had first heard about this book from a friend about three years ago. He had recommended it highly and I put it on my 'to read' list. After reading it, I wished that I had gotten to it sooner.
   
   'A Table In The Presence' is an inspirational account about the horrors and heroism of the war. It is written from the perspective of a Navy chaplain serving with a Marine Corps battalion. Although it is an historical book, it has a spiritual focus.
   
   Lt. Carey Cash recounts many episodes of apparently divine intervention. Several of these stories defy any other explanation.
   
   This is a very touching and compelling book. It will be of particular interest to Christians and military veterans and their families. I highly recommend it.



2. I am reading the book, A Table in the Presence, and just discovered I knew the author's parents in Northern Virginia 30 years ago. The book is wonderfully written and tells a story that needs to be told of God's presence with the troops in Iraq. We need more TRUE accounts such as this one so the citizens of our country are aware of the peace God gives even in the middle of a war. I knew the author's mother as a wonderful Christian woman.
   Elaine in South CArolina



3. This is one of the best books I have read!
   
   Thank God for men like these!



4. I love this book. If you ever want to know what it is like for the guys who are going through the horrors of war in Iraq and Afghanistan this is definitely a book to read. It reveals the sensitivity of the author to the plight of the Marines under his care, the courage and vulnerability of these same Marines and their unyielding faith in the face of danger and the enemy. Very spiritual and emotional read. I dare you to read this and not feel a peculiar wetness in your eyes and a lump in your throat. This is one of those books that tugs at your heart because of the details of the truth. For both the faithful and those who are still searching for a faith.



5. This was such a refreshing look at the realities of life in the war zone know as Iraq. This is an unadultary look at the life of a Marine Chaplain and the fine men and women he serves in the hell know as Iraq. It was a great book to read as a pastor and even a better book to give to a young husband and father as he shipped out to serve our country in Iraq. Buy it Read it, before you believe the next story from the news media, about why we need to cut and run

5 comments about To the Field of Stars: A Pilgrim's Journey to Santiago De Compostela.

1. If you've ever thought about doing the Santiago De Compostela pilgrimage you should read this book. Fr. Codd's memoirs of his great walk is mostly delightful, funny and sobering. The camino is not a little stroll. There will be pain: blisters on top of blisters, sweat, aching legs and sometimes sickness from bad food or water. The pilgrim hostels are not fancy, it's a cot with clean(?) bedding and at times questionable food. The showers and toilets are spartan, on one occasion there was no toilet at all, just a hole in the floor.
   
   Fr. Codd has a fine sense of humor and a great curiosity about the camino and the people on it that make hte book quite entertaining. Now, Fr. has probably lived in foreign parts too long and he falls into the habit of being apologetic about America when asked questions by the smug, pampered European pilgrims. That annoyed me. He also is too hard on his brother priests that he meets along the way. He gets furious at three priests who choose to say mass without making a fuss over the pilgrims present. Other than those few nuisances the book is lovely and I'm so glad I read it.



2. The story of this man's pilgrimage can be a metaphor for our walk of life. The human encounters and the spiritual insights are worth reading many times. I highly recommend it to anyone!



3. Kevin's book really describes the daily routine of the "Camino". The "Camino" is this friendship and fellowship among the pilgrims. It reflects with rich and live details the saga of a pilgrim. And I can affirm it, because I was one the Camino's family members that Kevin mentions on his book. I had the privilege to walk along with him and our other family members. Kevin thank you for this wonderful book.



4. In preparation for walking the Camino de Santiago later this year, I have read several accounts of pilgrim journeys. None has spoken to me as clearly to me as Kevin Codd's book. His humanity shines through the pages as he writes of both external and internal joys and challenges along the way. I read the book over a period of a couple of weeks, at a pace of one or two chapters a day. Nearing the end, I began to feel a sense of what I imagine is the rhythm of the Camino. This is a book that offers a beautiful experience in the reading.



5. After reading this book I've ordered several more for friends and family - a great read!
   What I liked most is that while Kevin walked the camino he looked - and acted - pretty much like everyone else. Few seemed to suspect, at least initially, that under that scruffy external appearance walked a deeply devout and religious man. Thus the conversations he relates were not restrained by how people might have expected a priest to behave - nor how one was supposed to behave in the company of a priest. To the other pilgrims he apparently came across a regular guy who liked to drink beer, and when irritated enough, could cuss as well as the rest.
   
   For anyone who has already done the camino, it will certainly bring back fond memories, and make them live again, as you follow the author, trudging from albergue to albergue, blisters and all. If you haven't already done the camino, you should certainly find a great deal in this book stimulating you to get on and do it yourself - without creating any illusions that such a pilgrimage would be like a big picnic!
   
   And finally, even those who are adverse to the idea of walking or biking the camino will certainly be fed spiritually and emotionally, by the many inner reflections that Father Codd shares with us as he walks along the pilgrim way of St. James.

5 comments about The Savage My Kinsman.

1. If you have read "Through Gates of Splendor" by Elisabeth Elliot you are eager to find out what happened after the 5 missionaries got killed by the Waodani (Aucas). This is the book that continues the incredibly inspiring story. This book is very well written and describes very realistically the life and questions of a missionary. You will love to read this book from start to finish and then you want to know more. Continue with the book by Steve Saint "The End of the Spear" which is also a great book.



2. The book came on time and was very encouraging to read. Its awesome how God can change people who have never heard of Jesus into worshipers of Him.



3. Betty Elliot goes back to the primitive Amazon tribe who murdered her husband and four other missionaries. She lives with them, with her three-year-old daughter, for a year. She laboriously learns their language (altho her daughter learns it quicker). She isn't sure that she is particularly the better human being.



4. I really enjoyed this book. I read "Through Gates of Splendor" before I read this book. After I finished this book I read "At the end of the Spear" by Nate Saint. I was encouraged to again focus on what God has planned for my life after reading these three books. I recommend this book to all.



5. This book definitely teaches so clear, in a practical way, how to love our neighbor. Elisabeth Elliot not just lost her husband but also she was willing to love those who took her husband's life. Wonderful story of love. I suggest if you have not read "Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot" and "Through Gates of Splendor", you should start with those two. Everything will make more sensed at the end.