4 comments about The Costly Call, Book 2: The Untold Story.

1. I read this book quite some time ago and I thought it to realy show things as they are.It was a very good book,deserving of a 5 star rating.Nadia N Rehmani-author of Sharper Than A Two Edged Sword-(this is my own story of walking into Islam and then leaving it )



2. On the positive side, both books in this series give very good examples of the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of these courageous individuals. I also expect that this is an accurate picture of the persecution and rejection suffered by Muslims who profess Christianity.
   
   On the other hand, the books have some very serious thelogical flaws. The first major flaw: That all Muslins and non-Christians are going to hell. The second: That the Creator God (the God worshiped by Christians and Jews) and Allah are not the same God.
   
   To quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 841: "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."
   
   Jesus Christ gives us our understanding of the last judgement (Matthew 25:31-46): In the end, all the nations will be gathered before Christ and the angels. The people will be divided into two groups: On his right, Christ will place those who fed the hungry, received the stranger, took care of the sick, etc. To these he will say, "Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you since the creation of the world." On his left will stand those who refused, and they will be sent to everlasting punishment.
   
   This gathering of all peoples from all centuries will include many individuals who lived before the time of Christ, many who have never heard the Christian Gospel, and many who have never heard the Gospel presented in an acceptable way. Through no fault of their own, these people do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church. As Catholic Christians, we believe that this group includes many who have responded to God's love and his call in their lives.



3. This book is an excellent example of the DEEP work of the Holy Spirit in the life of those raised in demonic religions that make a commitment to the Love of Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.



4. This book, along with Costly Call Book 1, is a heart-wrenching view into the lives of modern-day saints for the Christain faith. These two books have opened my eyes and turned my heart toward believers in difficult situations, boldly and whole-heartedly defending Christ and His redemptive work to all of humanity. Whether you are a Christian or not, these stories will grip your heart, keep your attention, and will hopefully move you into action to fight for justice in our hurting world.

5 comments about Trapped in Hitler's Hell.

1. When I first read "Trapped in Hitler's Hell," it was called "Angels In the Camp." From the miraculous acts that God preformed for this faith filled German-Jewish girl, there certainly were angels watching over Anita Dittman. For example, while in the hospital the Nazi nurse who attended Anita refused to provide her with food. Knowing Anita was Jewsih, the nurse was trying to starve her to death. A Chritian friend in the next bed shared half of the one potato she received for food each day with Anita. They hid under the covers and ate their potato. The nurse was certainly surprised when not only did Anita not die, but actually gained weight and was soon well enough to go back to work. The book is filled with faith building stories such as this one.
   
   Recently I had the priviledge of hearing Anita speak. Her book had really spsoken to my heart. I remebered many of the stories of her experiences during WWII and quoted them every so often. What an inspring lady she is. She concluded her testimony with a saying I shall always remember. Anita told us, "Safety isn't found in the absence of danger, but in the presence of God."
   
   As one reviewer summed it up, there are important lessons we need to learn from Anita's exxperiences. She said, "Just as many of the churches of Nazi Germany fell quickly to the seductive message of the Third Reich, so many of our churches today are falling quickly for the seductions of the Emergent Church's apostate theology and the allure of occult eastern mysticism though so-called "Christian" comtemplative spirituality." Before it's to late, we need to get our lives right with the Savior. We need to let Him show us any sin and pray that He would lead us out of any erroneous doctrine and into His truth.



2. This is an excellent book told from the first-hand account of a holocaust survivor. The account is very well written and edited and you won't be able to put it down.
   
   How Anita Dittman survived is simply a miracle and one can see God's hand in sustaining her existence and planning the extraordinary sequence of events that delivered her from her Nazi captors. God's love for the Jewish people and allowing her to survive to tell her story is a witness for all of us that Jewish people have a remarkable future desiny to play in the prophetic timeline leading up to the return of Jesus Christ.
   
   I have heard Anita Dittman and Jan Markell present this story in lecture format. Talk about having a lump in your throat for an hour.
   
   The sad part of this story is that Anti-Semitism since World Warr II has not really gone away. It's always there and there are disturbing signs all around the world that it could return even worse than the holocaust. We now have world leaders such as Iranian President Ahmadinejad and Palestian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas openly deny the Holocaust and the world's media and United Nations don't call them on the carpet for it.
   
   The Book of Zechariah Chapters 12-14, Jeremiah Ch. 30:7, Revelaton Ch. 12 and many other biblical texts indicate that Israel will go through even worse trial and tribulation immediately preceding the return of Jesus Christ. If those times are worse than what Anita Dittman and her mother experienced, the world truly needs Jesus Christ to return to save the Jewish people from complete annihilation.



3. Anita Dittman's story is a vivid testimony to the sovereignty and faithfulness of Christ in the life of a little German-Jewish girl who finds in her Savior both courage and strength to meet each day in the midst of painful persecution and the terror of war. As Anita grows up, abandoned by her father and rejected by her non-Jewish teachers and schoolmates, her spirit grows more lovely with each passing year as she learns that Jesus will never leave her nor forsake her.
   
   This story is not gloomy or depressing in any way. It is full of faith, hope, and glorious glimpses of the power and the love of God. I could hardly put it down.
   
   There is a compelling immediacy to Miss Dittman's story. I felt almost as if I knew her. My faith in the Lord has been challenged and renewed as I've followed her through her trials and triumphs in the pages of this book.
   
   There is a warning here also, with a striking parallel to the present. Just as many of the churches in Nazi Germany fell quickly to the seductive message of the Third Reich, so many of our churches of today are falling quickly for the seductions of the Emergent Church's apostate theology and the allure of occult eastern mysticism through so-called "christian" contemplative spirituality.
   
   As many have described Hitler as a "type" of Anti-christ, so the apostate German church may be said to pre-figure the apostate worldwide "christian" church which the Bible warns will arise in the last days. Is that what we are seeing unfold?
   
   If you want to be uplifted, forewarned, and encouraged during these "perilous times," read Trapped In Hitler's Hell.
   
   [I'd like to thank Miss Dittman for writing this book. I will never be quite the same. :)]



4. Trapped In Hitler's Hell by Anita Dittman is the epic and personal recollection of the hardships and difficult times during the second world war in Nazi Germany. Dittman righteously describes the anguish she suffered throughout her captivity and solitude. Trapped In Hitler's Hell is an inspirational tale of one young woman's only certainty being that the God above her would protect her, and is highly recommended for all Christian and Judaic practitioners and students, as well as students of history during World War II, as this book is as informative as it is encouraging.



5. This book shows the what it was like to be in Germany at the time of the Nazi occupation. I have met Anita Dittman and she is an incredible lady with an incredible story.

3 comments about My Eyes, His Heart: Encounters of a Medical Missionary.

1. This a awesome read. Well worth the price. Great for anyone thinking about short-term missions.



2. Dr Kuhn, in the Preface says that "Years ago I was challendged to ask God to break my heart with the things that break His heart." Few of us will have the courage or will to live such a self sacrificing journey in life. "My Eyes, His Heart" gives those of us who only dream of the journey a chance to feel a little bit of what Dr. Kuhn has lived for the last 30 years. It is a wonderful treat. Thank you Dr. Ted Kuhn.

   Heartwarming, heartbreaking, but above all eye opening.




3. This book contains twenty-three short (usually 2-3 page long) glimpses from the travels and work of Dr. Kuhn as a medical missionary to various locations in South America, Africa, and Asia. Each one gives a vivid sense of the place, the immediate physical suffering of the people, and the eternal spiritual joy they can (and in some cases do) have in that suffering.

   For me, this book is not so much about the work of missions, though it is about that, as it is about seeing the spiritual reality alongside what we perceive with our physical senses. This book is sad as it talks about the suffering of many real people. This book may move you to compassion for those around the world who suffer physically and spiritually without hope. But, whether or not you become a missionary to the far reaches of the world, I hope this book gives you a sense of the immediate and eternal together in everyone you encounter.

   The book is a very quick read and is well written. Since it is organized in a series of short chapters, it is easy to pick up and put down. This book will be of particular interest to those involved or interested in mercy ministries and missions.

3 comments about The Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor.

1. This book was powerful. It was well-written and captured the pioneering spirit of Hudson Taylor. I also appreciated how this autobiography captured firsthand the impressions that Dr. Taylor made on others. This book was truly inspiring - especially the sections where it chronicles Taylor's inner struggles of finding his joy and sufficiency in Christ, the many instances when God answered his prayers during times of his greatest need, and his devotion to his family.



2. I read this book and found it inspiring and helpful. I particularly found the secret that Hudson Taylor speaks of relevant to transforming and deepening immensely my own walk with God. Not only I, but years ago my father's life was dramatically changed as he was inspired to have faith in the God who took care of Hudson Taylor as a missionary in China. After reading this book my father was able to put confidence in the Lord to take care of him as he stepped out into full time Christian service. (Hudson Taylor relied on God to provide for all of his needs and would not tell others what his financial needs were. God was faithful to meet all of Taylor's needs as well as the missionary society he founded. But there is far more in this book than that).

   If you are looking for a deeper, intimate walk with God then read this book. Or if you struggle with living faithfully, joyfully and consistently for the Lord then read this book. The spiritual transformation that occured to Hudson Taylor took place after years of service on the mission field. Many Christians, like Hudson Taylor did, will benefit to find the secret of that transformation. I did.




3. A book for missionaries, which indeed we all are for Christ. This is a thrilling true story of one man's relationship to our Lord and what his life becomes in service to Him. All those who have dedicated their lives to Christ can learn a lot about living out the faith and what God can do when you put your entire being into His loving hands. What this man, Hudson Taylor, does in China, we have assurance that God also wants to do in our lives even right where we are. A blessing for the indivual reader, and subsequently for those around, affected by the ministry inspired.

5 comments about No Saints, No Saviors: My Years With The Allman Brothers Band.

1. I am a HUGH Allman Brothers fan. Followed them since the late 60s! While the book did provide some insight, I felt it was woefully short and seemed to me to leave out much of the "meat" out that I expected. For diehard fan, I guess it's intersting. Would I spend my money again...no!



2. Willie Perkins was road manager for the Allman Brothers Band from their scruffling days in 1970 through the peak of their popularity. He continued in varying capacities until the end of the 1980's when the band changed management companies. For the biggest part of a year he was Duane Allman's roommate on the road, so if anyone knows where the bodies are buried, he does. While he supplies a solid and conherent narrative, he rarely goes into any detail and leaves the reader wanting more. This is particularly true when it comes to Dickey Betts more mercurial tendencies and the twisted financial dealings of the band with Capricorn Records. Yet the strenth of the narrative itself provides a framework on which to place and evaluate other (sometimes mythological) stories. As a writer his style is flat, rarely showing the passion he had to have to work with this organization for so long.
   
   However, I feel like I come away knowing the characters better, and the details of the infamous Grove Hill bust are worth the price of admission. I recommend the book. In combination with Randy Poe's Skydog, and Jan Reid's recent book about the Layla sessions, and Chuck Leavell's wonderful Between a Rock and A Home Place, the reader can get a fair presentation of the band's story.



3. I thought the book was well written and told the truth. Being a fan of the ABB for over 30 yrs I found out much that I did not know! This book, in my opinion, should be read by all ABB fans! I enjoyed the book!



4. As the book itself says, this isn't a comprehensive study of the ABB. What it is is a nice series of cronological essays about Willie's time with and around the ABB. It is a quick but satifying read and a must for any fan of the ABB or music of the late 60s and 70s. It is a nice view into those lived it.



5. As noted in the acknowledgments, this is just a personal memoir and not a full-blown history of the Allman Brothers Band--so anyone who says "he's an awful writer" had better get their eyes checked. Perkins lays out his thoughts and stories in a very simple but plain fashion--in some spots, it's more a collection of essays. (He's honest about it, and not every autobiography is meant to be in-depth with insightful deep meditations of actions and deeds.)
   
   Yes, as noted elsewhere, he's fiercely loyal to the band, but the deceased members were close friends--so what else would be expected? And no, the ABB and associates were not known for their social graces either.
   
   What Perkins does well is to give a glimpse into the financial and management whirlpool that can be found in the music industry. Any wanna-be managers or agents would be well off reading this if only to learn more about the reasons why it's sometimes insane to say "I'm with the band" and expect nothing but fast and exciting living without paying the price.

5 comments about Payne Stewart: The Authorized Biography.

1. This book held my attention on every page. I really appreciate that the author took the time and trouble to give us a window into the life of her husband, soul mate and world class golfer.



2. Hat's off to Tracey for her work in getting this together. Though lacking in specific details of his past behaivors enough is said to allow the reader to understand the change in his character once he accepted Christ. This book is not another Christian testimony. It contains the elements of a what makes a good man. We are all sinners and a perfect picture is not painted here. Payne was a great golfer and a great man that many could learn from. Then again, just act like you think Jesus would have and you will be close to the mark of Payne. Thank you for a great book Tracey.



3. I have recently finished the biography of payne stewart. It was one of the best books I have ever read. From start to finish of the book I was always interested.The best parts of the book is when it talks about all the tournaments he has been in and winning the U.S. open in 1999.



4. What an inspirational book based on the life of Payne Stewart. You could literally feel the love that Tracey had for Payne. No, I am sure that Payne wasn't a saint. Who of us is? But, he was a great man, a great father, and a great golfer who is sadly missed by thousands of his fans and followers.

   Payne was a devout Christian who was coming into his own. The scope of what his personal witnessing ministry could have become will now be tested in his death rather than his life. I know that it has served to strengthen my testimony and for that I will forever be indebted to Payne Stewart.

   Thanks Tracey and kids for sharing Payne with us!




5. This book is a must have book about the life and times of one of Golfs most flamboyunt golfer (the knickers) and the way Payne spoke his mind. I bought this book because Payne was one of my favorite golfers. This book was very intresting talked about the ups and downs of life on the PGA tour. I am glad that Payne relized that there is more to life than just golf. Family and relationship with God. This is a must have book.

5 comments about Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life.

1. Writing a biography of a renowned and revered religious figure is a daunting task, since both skeptics and true believers are likely to take offence at some point. While I have my own reservations about some of the author's choices, for the most part the book does a good job of relating the impact that Francis' life had on his community, his church, his generation and history since.
   
   His radical ideas were in opposition to the example set by the church of his day, yet he was entirely submissive to it. He was extraordinarily gifted and endowed in many ways spiritually, but these same gifts could make him an ineffective administrator. Bringing out these and other contrasts is an effective way to explain both his inspirational and human elements. I appreciate the author's discussion of some of the miraculous events attributed to him without being either dismissive or unquestioning. These make the book an excellent example of historical writing.
   
   My only complaint is that I found the author's occasional comparisons to other religions to be more distracting than helpful. However he may be viewed today, Francis did not live his life as an ecumenical figure. He was wholeheartedly, entirely and unreservedly a servant of Christ. To stray too far from this takes away from a true understanding of his life and rather embellishes than enriches the narrative.



2. I bought this book because I thought it would give me a more indepth look into this remarkable man's life. Instead, I found myself severly dissapointed. The book does give a good overview of the world around St. Assisi, but really didn't give me any new insight into the facts surrounding the man. Not only that, the author seems to be delving into an almost Jungian religious view. I would not have minded a Catholic view (because St. Assisi was obviously Catholic)or a secular view, but I found the author's choice of religious viewpoint to be completely without rational or support.



3. I checked out this book at the library a couple of years ago and was so impressed by it that I had to have a copy of it in order to reread it at my leisure. That's saying something, my friend.
   
   This biography is written for the non-religious and the pious alike. The author approaches Francis' life as he would anyone else's. This is refreshing to me because, especially if it is a religious figure, I want to see the subject of a biography in all his foibles. Why? Probably because I have many foibles also and I can relate to and consequently be more inspired by a real human being who, in spite of his or her foibles, was able to transcend them to do great things.
   
   The author does a fine job of putting the reader inside the time, place and family in which Francis grew. Though he doesn't go into as great a depth about it as I'm sure other biographies do, Francis spiritual growth is well-written. His prayer life must have been genuinely awesome. The author at one point cites a person who peeked in on one of Francis' hidden prayer session and was in awe of it all, stigmata and all.
   
   I think Francis has so much to say to us today. I really believe that any Christian who does study his life is the spiritually richer for it--and that probably goes double for any unbeliever as well.



4. The strongest parts of this biography are in House's relation of the changing feudal world around Assisi and Perugia to the papal-German battles in Italy and the rise of the mercantile class into which Francis was born. Also, the chapter that looks into the early spirituality of the first friars adds valuable understanding to what must have inspired many to take up the evangelical and mendicant challenge.
   
   The excursion into the Middle East, especially the siege of Damietta, remains helpful for an appreciation of the never-ending cruelty of warfare in this contentious region, but you do lose sight as a reader of the place of this episode within the immediate experience of Francis' diplomatic apostolate. In later stretches of the narrative, the debate over poverty receives important attention, but the machinations of the friars replacing the discipline of the Order's founder with a more pragmatic system needed further explanation, as did the claim by House that the refusal of the Third Order to bear arms for a lord undermined the whole feudal structure and helped advance the power of the middle class. Certainly, the latter theory deserves much more depth than House gives to it here.
   
   The few photos are excellent. One in particular, near to the life of the saint, shows his face hallowed out like an El Greco figure, if not as elongated, seemingly hunched over and suffering with an individuated expression as if drawn by one who knew him. It speaks eloquently for a man who, while praising nature, punished his Brother Ass of a body into an early death.
   Such a contradiction, House only can hint at, stands as his legacy.



5. Usually, a historical text such as this one bores me to death with its "educated" language and more detail than one could ever care about. But today, while searching for a birthday gift for a friend who, like me, has been touched by the piety of Francis, I sat and read for an hour, and was compelled. I usually am especially intrigued by the relationship between Frances and his young protegé, Clare. I was pleased to find a book that admitted that theirs was a love affair, albeit unconsummated, and pretty much in her mind, only; a situation I can relate to, unfortunately, only too well. Finally, here is a text that shows me what Francis was about, but doesn't seek to convert or evangelize. Detailed enough to clear up some things I may have read elsewhere without boring me with too much. When I got to the photographs in the center of the book, it was the photograph of the bones of Francis that brought home to me that this man did exist, and I found myself mourning his loss right there in the bookstore. When a book does that to me, I've got to have it.

   Did we need another biography on Francis of Assisi? In my opinion, yes, we did, and this is the best of all of them. This is a book that, once I was able to try it, I bought it. Not at the bookstore in which I auditioned it, but here, at Amazon.com, where it was cheaper.

2 comments about The Road of Hope: A Gospel from Prison.

1. You have to imagine yourself in a dark prison to understand the faith of Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan. There is no word i can tell you the feeling of reading this book except i know my faith grows. No wonder the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI speaks so highly of the cardinal in his encyclical letter



2. I could not put this gripping, haunting, and unforgettable book down! Nguyen suffered a tragedy that no human being should have to undergo. The pain, the emotional trauma, the physical attacks that Nguyen endured will burn in your memory for a long time to come.

5 comments about The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis (Plus).

1. This is a very good biography of C. S. Lewis. Jacobs is a skillful writer and has a great knack for weaving Lewis' own writing and ideas into the events of his life. He brings out the greatness of Lewis' mind and character without hiding his flaws or failing to point out what he thinks are some of his half-baked or somewhat parochial ideas. The thorough research that has evidently gone into writing this book is skillfully crafted into a fascinating narrative; very enjoyable reading. Jacobs convincingly debunks the more bizarre speculations of A. N. Wilson's unfriendly biography (particularly those surrounding his debate with Elizabeth Anscombe--see also Victor Reppert's essay in ch. 21 of Bassham and Walls' book, "The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy" for more on this.) and fills in many gaps that other biographers have left. If you only have time to read one story of Lewis' life this is a good one. I highly recommend it. But you should make time to read two. George Sayer's biography, written from the perspective of a personal friend is a good companion to this one. You'll find some good stories in there that Jacobs leaves out. Sayer gives a better picture of Lewis' relationship with Joy Davidman, for example. Those who fault Jacobs for trying too hard to psychoanalyze Lewis have a good point. But his tone is speculative in these parts, not conclusive, cautioning readers to draw their own conclusions rather than put too much weight on his. One thing Jacobs helps to do is balance the view that many have of Lewis as a rationalist with his more passionate side. Lewis highly valued reason and logic in making sense of his beliefs and his "mere Christianity" but passion and imagination also seem to have played an important and necessary part in realizing those beliefs for his own life and in living them out.



2. Books about Lewis are a dime a dozen, and it hard to know where to begin when trying to find a concise but accurate biography that is not soaked with naive adulation or excessively absorbed detail. InterVarsity Press alone has published 10 titles in the last 5 years on various topics ranging from his philosophical arguments to his literary work to his mystical imagination. Several biographies have already been written by authoritative eye witnesses such as Walter Hooper, George Sawyer, and the son of Lewis' late wife Douglas Gresham. Why would the world need yet another Lewis biography? A.N. Wilson gave it a try by attempting give a more "honest" account of Lewis' defects, but was met with scorn by those who knew him best. Jacobs has the advantage of writing with a generation of time's distance from the vantage point of a twenty-first century literary scholar, where at Wheaton College, he had access to the largest collection of original and extant copies of Lewis' writings to date.
   
   The most interesting part of Jacob's biography is the division of Lewis' mind into two poles: the rational philosopher and the imaginative storyteller. Lewis often lived between this tension with some conflict, but embodied them with quite a bit of unity. He came to reject his atheism on the basis of the logical need to postulate a kind of assumption, a first cause if you will, but his conversion to Christianity was a more "storied" affair that was informed to a large degree by the poetry of Tolkien.
   
   That life is more than what we can see and that there is a reality that is bigger than we can perceive is fundamental to Lewis' thought. This may be obvious to the most nominal reader, but the depth of how profound Lewis thought it to be is awe-inspiring. Delight and wonder fill the mind of the Narnian as well as reason and orthodoxy. So it should be with everyone who calls themselves Christian.



3. It is a shame that someone whose style of writing is as fine as Jacobs should nevertheless produce a book of sloppy scholarship and questionable pronouncements. On the plus side, Jacobs writing style is lively, he creates fine links between Lewis's written works and people/events from Lewis's life, and he gives interesting interpretations of Lewis's works in all the various literary genres in which he wrote.
   
   However, this book receives a two-star rating for several reasons. First, the scholarship is sloppy: numerous factual errors are sprinkled throughout the book, everything from incorrectly labeled photos to wrong dates to incorrect medical information. (One can't help but think that the proofreaders at HarperSanFrancisco were sleeping on the job.) Second, Jacobs seems to be of the A.N. Wilson school of thought in which a biography is an attempt to psychoanalyze the dead by rummaging around through their literary productions and making pronouncements on the inner life (that are not uncommonly contrary to what the biographical subject claimed while alive). Third, while some of Jacobs' theological pronouncements were sound, there were others that seemed naive or just plain muddle-headed. More than anything, it was apparent that while the author has been reading Lewis for a long time, he hasn't read as widely as someone writing a biography should, for several of his opinions would be altered if he knew more about the subject (e.g., Jacobs writes, "The Pilgrim's Regress was C.S. Lewis's least successful book as he himself knew"; but in fact, Lewis did not acknowledge this to be the case; moreover, while some people thought the book unsuccessful, others thought well of it, including folks such as Norman Pittenger, A.N. Wilson, or J.I. Packer, the latter of whom thought it was the single best thing Lewis ever wrote. Certainly it was not the least successful of Lewis's books in terms of either sales or public opinion.)
   
   Between the numerous factual errors, the lack of sufficient research, the theological absurdities, and the amateurish psychoanalysis, this book would have greatly benefited from some rather heavy-handed editing. The best I could say about it is that it is a decent-though-heavily-flawed book. Bottom line: if you want a reliable account of Lewis's writings, go with Walter Hooper's superb "C.S. Lewis Companion and Guide" or "The C.S. Lewis Readers' Encyclopedia" (ed. by Schultz and West); if you want a fine biography, read George Sayer's "Jack: C.S. Lewis and his Times". While Jacobs does do many things well, I'm afraid my pronouncement of "The Narnian" is a statement of Samuel Johnson's: "It is more from carelessness about truth than intentional lying that there is so much falsehood in the world."



4. There are many books about magic worlds, some even excellent. I love the works of E Nesbit, Edward Eager, J. K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien and others, and enjoy rereading them from time to time. It's very pleasant to hang out with old friends and reground for an hour or two; but ah, there's nothing like the thrill of falling back into Narnia. As "The Wind in the Willows" was for C. S. Lewis, Narnia has always been a refuge for me. I wore out the public library's copies of the Chronicles of Narnia before I was ten, and having been banned from checking them out again, have since gone through three sets of my own. I'm substantially older than ten now and find the books just as fresh now on the two thousandth reading as the first.
   
   I believe that much of whatever is good in my character comes from the difficult lessons Edmund and Eustace learned, the resolution of Diggory's dilemma when he was tempted to steal a Narnian apple to heal his dying Mother and Aslan's repeated admonition of "No one is told any story but their own". When my parents died, the journey to Aslan's country in "The Last Battle" gave me enormous comfort, and still does. I say all this both as a long overdue "thank you" to C. S. Lewis, and because I suspect others feel the same.
   
   Yes, Lewis was a formidable scholar, intellect, and Christian apologist; prolific writer, gifted teacher, loyal friend and all around neat guy, but the charm and accessiblity of the Narnia books is his greatest contribution to nontheologians and nonacademicians. In other words, most of us.
   
   The Chronicles of Narnia were not written until Lewis was in his fifties, and Dr. Jacobs has done an admirable job of explaining why they couldn't have been written any earlier. The death of Lewis' mother, his emotionally unavailable father, painful school experiences, the horrors of WWI, his amazing scope of reading while pursuing multiple Oxford degrees, the often brutal world of academic politics, the influence of the Inklings, and a somewhat unconventional domestic life are all frequently discussed landmarks on the way to Lantern Waste, and are well-told here, but unlike any other Lewis biography I've read, Dr. Jacobs documents how the spiritual journey that began with Lewis' conversion to "mere Christianity" in his thirties, with its accompanying generosity of spirit, graciousness, and belief in miracles and joy all contributed to the gift that is Narnia. The reader is not required to take Dr. Jacobs' word for it--the evidence is there, in letters written and received before and after 1928.
   
   What a monumental task it must have been to write a balanced biography of C. S. Lewis. It's hard enough to write a review. "The Narnian" is not dry, nor cute, nor sycophantic. It is respectful, fair, and a rewarding read. It neither ignores the more inexplicable parts of Lewis' life (which are no one's business anyway) nor his critics, disappointingly Philip Pullman--to whom I'd just like to say, "Bless me, what DO they teach them at these schools"--the very last way you'd describe Lewis is as having a "mean, narrow little mind".
   
   For those of us who discovered Lewis through Narnia and were driven to explore his other works in hopes of finding a way through the wardrobe, this is our book. "The Narnian" comes as close as anyone can to the essence of Narnia and C. S. Lewis. As a child, I frequently looked for a physical door opening into Narnia and for an intellectual door as an adult. That door is well illuminated by Dr. Jacobs.



5. An excellent book! I have recently become a fan of the Narnian Chronicles and have also read them repeatedly to my third grade class since that time. That and Stanford Gibson's review of the Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis has lead me to purchase this book.
   
   Jacobs has done well presenting the people and events that helped shaped Lewis' writings. His relationships with his father, his mother and her early death, his brother Warnie, Professor Kirk, Prof. Tolkien, the mysterious Minto, and Joy Gresham all have influenced in varying degrees his works, and Jacobs has done an excellent job connecting them to Lewis' writings. It was a very delightful and moving read as one gains some insight into a man whom many have admired since he began publishing his works. This book brings about a deeper respect for Lewis, his works in theology and apologetics, and his work in adult and children's literature. It is a must read for any student of Lewis, and any true friend of Narnia.

5 comments about My Land and My People: The Original Autobiography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet.

1. This book is a wonderful, simple, and quick read. Of course the subject matter does get unpleasant, but it's good to know the facts from the perspective of His Holiness at the time that he wrote it in 1962.
   
   The book tells the story which everyone knows: how the Chinese invaded Tibet and the Dalai Lama was forced to feel to India. But this book goes in to detail and as a reader, it was great to finally get the "real" details of that story, again from his perspective. Prior to reading this, I only knew the story based on films and summaries in guide books, etc.
   
   I highly recommend this book, and I would suggest reading this one prior to reading his second autobiography, "Freedom in Exile" from the early 1990's.



2. Even if you already know the life story of His Holiness, this is a great read. Written in the Dalai Lama's usual clear and forthright style, the story is deeply moving. Recommended for students of both Buddhism and history.



3. Having long been a fan of the Dalai Lama and his other books, I was anxious to read his autobiography. It is an amazing story that he has to tell. We should hope that our world had evolved beyond invasions after World War II, but that proved not to be true when China invaded Tibet and eventually ousted the ruling party in 1959.
   
   Having been previously familiar with the story of the exile of the Dalai Lama to some degree, I was anxious to learn about it in more detail. Truly the people of Tibet are and continue to be victims of China. China crept into Tibet saying only that it would help to modernize the "backwards" people of Tibet. After numerous broken promises the Dalai Lama exited just ahead of the first morter blasts that rocked his palace. China's only real goal was to take possession of the land at any cost.
   
   Few religions place a greater emphasis on peace than the Tibetan form of Buddism. While the author gives readers some of the basic principles of the faith, the language should not be confusing to those not familiar with Buddism. This amazing story, though it ends with the Dalai Lama's arrival in India, is still fresh and eye-opening today.



4. I enjoyed this narrative, my first experience with the writing of H.H. Dalai Lama. He writes so well. It's clear, descriptive, and engaging from the first sentence to the last. Suitable for all ages, the earlier the better. It has really sparked my interest in this country,, or at least how it once was. It has been almost two generations since this tragedy and I doubt things will ever be the same. Well, at least the chinese have thier railroad at the expense of an entire nation. Oh, but the writing isn't bitter at all. Just me.



5. I am a college student who has studied China extensively in school. I can speak Chinese and have traveled to China several times and to Tibet once. While I have never agreed with many of the Chinese governments policies in the areas of religion, personal freedom, Tibet, and Taiwan, I think this book could have done more for its cause.

   I decided to read this book after I spent 2.5 weeks in Tibet last year while studying in China. Tibet was one of the most fascinating places I have been to and I really wanted to know more about what happened there after China invaded. This book tells the Dalai Lama's story very well. Up until the last 15 pages or so, I really loved the book. However, before closing, the Dalai Lama makes several accusations about Chinese human rights abuses in Tibet (beatings, child abductions and the like) but provides no evidence of their existence.

   While I personally feel Tibet was and still is a sovereign country and what China has done is wrong in many ways, the charges made in the last few pages don't belong in this book. While the Dalai Lama's story of his life and last days in Tibet are very powerful, I really think it would have been even better had the those last parting shots been omitted. Charges of human rights abuses such as these are very important and would be better served in a book of their own.

   I think most Americans will enjoy this book but not share the same reaction I had to the last few pages. I have studied China for several years now and have heard accusations from both China and the world on countless occasions on a wide range of issues. Maybe this is why I get turned off when I don't see concrete evidence included when someone makes a charge such as the Dalai Lama does at the end of his book. I still think the Dalai Lama is a wonderful man and has an important story to tell, but feel this one could have come across a little better.