Autobiography: religious and spiritual Books

Book Synopsis*THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER & #2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*From eldest daughter Shari Franke, the shocking true story behind the viral 8 Passengers family vlog – now the subject of a new Disney+ docuseries – and the hidden abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, and how, in the face of unimaginable pain, she found freedom and healing. Shari Franke’s childhood was a constant battle for survival. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code while maintaining a façade of a picture-perfect family for their wildly popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for a staggering 2.5 million subscribers. But a darker truth lurked beneath the surface – Ruby’s wholesome online persona masked a more tyrannical parenting style than anyone could have imagined. As the family’s YouTube notoriety grew, so too did Ruby’s delusions of righteousness. Fueled by the sadistic influence of relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, together they implemented an inhumane and merciless disciplinary regime. Ruby and Jodi were arrested in Utah in 2023 on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. On that fateful day, Shari shared a photo online of a police car outside their home. Her caption had one word: 'Finally'. For the first time, Shari will reveal the disturbing truth behind 8 Passengers and her family’s devastating involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt’s cultish life coaching program, 'ConneXions'. No stone is left unturned as Shari exposes the perils of influencer culture and shares for the first time her battle for truth and survival in the face of her mother’s cruelty.What readers are saying about The House of My Mother: - ​‘A must read’ - ‘I devoured this book in two days. Beautifully well written’ - 'Shari retells her story with such bravery and honesty’ - ‘I could not put Shari’s book down’ - ‘Shari, this book will help others. Thanks for writing it’

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Book SynopsisA NYT Bestseller, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by former Muslim Nabeel Qureshi provides an intimate window into American Muslim life, describing how a passionate pursuit of Islam led him to Christ through friendship, apologetics, dreams and visions.Trade ReviewSeeking Allah, Finding Jesus is a brilliant book with an authentic and challenging message. Nabeel Qureshi tells the powerful story of his journey to Jesus, a story that began with a doubtful investigation and ended with a beautiful transformation. Jesus isn't intimidated by our questions; this story celebrates that truth! You won't be able to put this book down. * Louie Giglio, pastor, Passion City Church; founder, Passion Conferences *For anyone seeking understanding of their Muslim neighbors or colleagues, this is a book to read. We go on a journey from the inside out. We are introduced to the depth of spirituality, the love and honor of family, and the way a person 'sees' and 'feels' in a devout Muslim home. This is a profound book that skillfully shows the core differences between the gospel and Islamic claims. I highly recommend it. * Dr. Stuart McAllister, Regional Director The Americas, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries *Fresh, striking, highly illuminating, and sometimes heartbreaking, Qureshi's story is worth a thousand textbooks. It should be read by Muslims and all who care deeply about our Muslim friends and fellow citizens. * Os Guinness, author and social critic *In his personal quest to know the truth, Nabeel Qureshi paves the way for an analytical study of the faiths, dissecting the Christian and Islamic arguments, specifically citing numerous Islamic hadith and early Christian texts, so that the reader can see a logical progression to the analyses. But it is also a deeply personal heartwrenching and tear-evoking saga of the life of a young Muslim growing up in the West, a gripping biography that is impossible to put down. * James M. Tour, Professor of Chemistry, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Materials Science, Rice University *Nabeel describes the yearning in the hearts of millions of Muslims around the world. This book is a must-read for all seeking to share the hope of Christ with Muslims. * Fouad Masri, President and CEO, Crescent Project *Nabeel Qureshi's story is among the most unique two or three testimonies that I have ever heard. His quest brought together several exceptional features: a very bright mind, extraordinary sincerity, original research, and a willingness to follow the evidence trail wherever it took him. His search led to the cross and to Jesus Christ, who was resurrected from the dead. * Gary R. Habermas, Distinguished Research Professor, Liberty University *This book offers the fascinating story of the conversion of a sincere young Ahmadiyya man who tried his best to seek Allah and eventually fell in love with Christ. I trust that this book can be a powerful encouragement for all Christians to pray for many Muslims to find Jesus Christ. * Mark Gabriel, author and former lecturer, Al-Azhar University in Cairo *This is an urgently needed book with a gripping story. Nabeel Qureshi masterfully argues for the gospel while painting a beautiful portrait of Muslim families and heritage, avoiding the fearmongering and finger-pointing that are all too pervasive in today's sensationalist world. I unreservedly recommend this book to all. It will feed your heart and mind, while keeping your fingers turning the page! * Josh D. McDowell, author and speaker *

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Book SynopsisThe award-winning New York Times bestseller that inspired BTS''s K-pop song ''Magic Shop''.The day that 12-year-old James Doty walked in to his local magic shop is the day that changed his life. The day that 12-year-old James Doty walked in to his local magic shop is the day that changed his life. Once the neglected son of an alcoholic father and a mother with chronic depression, he has gone on to become a leading neurosurgeon, based at Stanford University. He credits Ruth for this incredible turnaround: the remarkable woman who devoted the summer to transforming his mind and opening his heart.In this uplifting memoir, Jim explains the visualisation techniques Ruth taught him that gave him the self-esteem to imagine a new future for himself. He examines the science behind mindfulness and why the skills he learned - of focus and attention - now help him to think fast and keep calm in the operating theatre. And he shows us what is possible Trade ReviewThis book tells the remarkable story of a neurosurgeon's quest to unravel the mystery of the link between our brains and our hearts. From the moment in his childhood when a simple act of kindness changed the course of his own life to his founding a center to study compassion at Stanford University. Jim Doty's life illustrates how each of us can make a difference. We can make the world a more compassionate place. I'm sure many readers will be moved by this inspiring story to open their hearts and see what they too can do for others.Part memoir, part scientific exploration, Into the Magic Shop is a powerful work of emotion and discovery, showing that we all have within us our own small magic shop, a place of calm and beauty we can return to whenever we need it. As James Doty compellingly shows, we simply have to open the door, and let ourselves in.When a top neurosurgeon opens his heart to talk about his own difficult childhood that provided recipes for loneliness, fear, rage and shame, you know you are in for a deeply moving and insightful journey into the suffering and fragility of the human mind. Beautifully written, deeply original, this is an extraordinarily moving and exceptionally practical book into the "magic" tricks for calming and cultivating our minds. Here are lived ways to cope and engage with the realities and struggles of life that we all just find ourselves in. The seeds of compassion are being planted; we must now cultivate them. Into the Magic Shop is a powerful testimony of how, when we choose compassion as defining part of who we are, magic truly begins to unfold in our life. A most inspirational book that uplifts our spirits and open our hearts, at a time when so much of what we hear and read seem to make us lose hope in humanity. Anyone who reads this book will be changed, for the better.True healing is both biological and spiritual. When you experience love and compassion, your body shifts into homeostasis and self-regulation. When you heal yourself, you heal others. The reverse is also true. Your acts of kindness and compassion are the true healing of the world. In this extraordinary book Dr James Doty shows you the way.Into the Magic Shop is a captivating journey of discovery. Neurosurgeon Jim Doty's well-told personal story illuminates for us all the power of insight and empathy to transform our lives and enhance our world. Read it and you too may find magic in the mystery and majesty of the mind to bring health and healing to our individual and collective lives.A powerful, eloquent, deeply spiritual and exquisitely beautiful book. Real magic!

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Book SynopsisThe perennial classic: this intimate journal chronicling the Narnia author''s experience of grief after his wife''s death has consoled readers for half a century; this edition features responses from authors like Hilary Mantel, Francis Spufford, Rowan Williams, Jenna Bailey ...''An intimate, anguished account of a man grappling with the mysteries of faith and love ... Elegant and raw ... A powerful record of thought and emotion experienced in real time.'' Guardian ''Raw and modern ... This unsentimental, even bracing, account of one man's dialogue with despair becomes both compelling and consoling ... A contemporary classic.'' Observer''A source of great consolation ... Lewis deploys his genius for vivid imagery ... It is a relief for the reader to find that he or she is not alone in the intense loneliness or feelings of anguish that bereavement brings.'' Henry Marsh, The Times''Testimony from a sensitive and eloquent witness [on] The Human Condition'. It offers an interrogation of experience and a glimmer of hardwon hope. It allows one bewildered mind to reach out to another. Death is no barrier to that.'' Hilary Mantel''Here, sorrow and despair, the tiredness and numbness and petulance and nightmarishness of grief, all have their full, uncontrolled, experienced force ... [Such] radical openness ... Brilliant.'' Francis Spufford***No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.Narnia author C.S. Lewis had been married to his wife for four blissful years. When she died of cancer, he found himself alone, inconsolable in his grief. In this intimate journal, he chronicles the aftermath of the bereavement and mourning with blazing honesty. He grapples with a crisis of religious faith, navigating hope, rage, despair, and love - but eventually regains his bearings, finding his way back to life.A luminous modern classic, A Grief Observed has offered solace to countless readers for decades. This companion edition combines the original text with personal responses from Hilary Mantel, Rowan Williams, Francis Spufford, Maureen Freely, Kate Saunders, Jessica Martin and Jenna Bailey.***What readers are saying:''A truly great book - inspirational and untold help.'' ''Every human being, living or dead, understands what Lewis means ... One of the most valuable books ever written.'' ''Lewis, as always, sits down next to you and validates your grief like a true friend. He lets you rage, and cry, and even be furious with God, just as he did.''''If you are grieving an enormous loss, you may find comfort here ... A great mind and wonderful writer who understands your grief well enough to put words to it.''''His journal was also my journal as I worked through my own grief. Reading this book was actually comforting in that I knew that someone else understood my situation and offered insight and hope ... I highly recommend this book for anyone who has gone through the death of a loved one or who wants to comfort. ''This little book has had me in floods of tears [and] shows a real understanding of grief ... To read the words of this great man who shared and understood my pain and is a life affirming and faith affirming experience.''

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Book SynopsisA heartrending and beautiful memoir of sudden loss and a journey to peace, from the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of? Horse.Many cultural and religious traditions expect those who are grieving to step away from the world. In contemporary life, we are more often met with red tape and to-do lists. This is exactly what happened to Geraldine Brooks when her partner of more than three decades, Tony Horwitz - just sixty years old and, to her knowledge, vigorous and healthy - collapsed and died on a Washington, D. C. sidewalk.After spending their early years together in conflict zones as foreign correspondents, Geraldine and Tony settled down to raise two boys on Martha''s Vineyard. The life they built was one of meaningful work, good humor, and tenderness, as they spent their days writing and their evenings cooking family dinners or watching the sun set with friends at Lambert''s Cove. But all of this came to an abrupt end when, on Memorial Day 2019, Geraldine received the phone call we all dread. The demands were immediate and many. Without space to grieve, the sudden loss became a yawning gulf.Three years later, she booked a flight to a remote island off the coast of Australia with the intention of finally giving herself the time to mourn. In a shack on a pristine, rugged coast she often went days without seeing another person. There, she pondered the various ways in which cultures grieve and what rituals of her own might help to rebuild a life around the void of Tony''s death.A spare and profoundly moving memoir that joins the classics of the genre, Memorial Days is a portrait of a larger-than-life man and a timeless love between souls that exquisitely captures the joy, agony, and mystery of life.

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Book SynopsisAutobiography of a Yogi is a timeless tale of a remarkable life and the power of yoga. It remains relevant today and was a favorite of George Harrison, along with the Bhagavad Gita.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of the few life-changing books I have ever read. I wish everyone would read it. * Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul *Satish Kumar’s unique story is stranger than fiction. * Hazel Henderson, Author, Ecologist and Creator of TV series Ethical Markets *Reading this book, you will have the rare pleasure of meeting a warm and witty, thoroughly genuine man, and one whose inspiration will not fail to move you. * Kirkpatrick Sale, Author of The Collapse of 2020 *Table of ContentsMother Guru Ashram Benares Wanderer Escape Floating Mukti Maya Hartland The Small School Pilgrimage: Iona Pilgrimage Return Japan Founding Schumacher College Mount Kailas Schumacher College Worldwide Shared Values and Collaboration Influence Realisation

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Book SynopsisShalom Auslander's short story collection, Beware of God, was published by Picador in 2005. He lives in New York.Trade ReviewAn ultra-funny memoir about an ultra-unfunny Orthodox upbringing -- Richard Godwin * The Times *

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Book SynopsisIn stunning, lyrical prose, Helen Knott explores female power, motherhood and grief as she reflects upon how her identity asa woman of Dane Zaa a group of First Nations Indigenous people has shaped her.

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Book SynopsisBarbara Ehrenreich is an acclaimed social critic on both sides of the Atlantic, renowned for her trenchant, witty polemics, her pieces of journalism, and her trademark intelligence. She writes with unparalleled precision, insight and a rationalist's unwavering gaze. But in middle age, she rediscovered the journal she had kept during her tumultuous adolescence, which records an event so strange that she had never, in all the intervening years, written or spoken about it. It was the kind of event that people call a 'mystical experience' - and to a steadfast atheist and rationalist, was nothing less than shattering. In Living with a Wild God, Ehrenreich vividly explores her life-long quest to find 'the truth' about the universe and everything else, in an attempt to reconcile this cataclysmic, defining moment with her secular understanding of the world. The result is a profound reflection on science, religion and the human condition, and a personal insight into the inner life of one of our finest thinkers. It is a book that challenges us all to reassess our perceptions of the world and what it means to be alive.

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Book SynopsisTo mark the fiftieth anniversary of C. S. Lewis' death, this attractive book offers daily inspirational readings from this much-loved writer, making this a most thoughtful gift.Few people, whether children or adults, have not been touched by the incredible literary works of C. S. Lewis. Whether their lives have been touched by the Chronicles of Narnia, or the more spiritual Mere Christianity, Lewis continues to be one of the most influential authors and his voice' is as loud today as it ever was.An attractive and collectible gift book, this volume is perfectly designed for those interested in, and intrigued by, daily meditation. It collects material from across the breadth of Lewis's writing talent, taking brief selections from many of his non-fiction works. These extracts are accompanied by brief and engaging snippets of biographical information, offering the reader a more intimate look at Lewis's life in the context of his writings.Trade Review‘I read C.S. Lewis for comfort and pleasure many years ago, and a glance into the books revives my old admiration.’John Updike

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis soul-stirring account of an eight-thousand mile-long pilgrimage is motivated by the author's determination to show the world that our true destination can be peace in every step we take. * Phil Cousineau, filmmaker and author of The Art of Pilgrimage *Satish Kumar ought to sit on a council of elders, guiding us through real wisdom, to the utopia that his path has shown us is possible. * Russell Brand, comedian *Satish Kumar is one of our more remarkable fellow humans. If you don't know his story, now is the moment to learn it! * Bill McKibben, climate activist, author of The End of Nature *With this wonderful book the transcendentally inspiring Satish Kumar takes us on a journey where every step is taken with love and compassion. * Gelong Thubten, Buddhist monk and author of A Monk’s Guide to Happiness *A great narrative like this could only have been born by walking a long journey with purpose. In his pure and elegantly simple voice, Satish describes the glorious variety of people and cultures he meets along the way, and how each is on their own pilgrimage to peace. This story is a global treasure. * Dr Guy Hayward, director and co-founder of the British Pilgrimage Trust *Anybody who has heard the force by which Satish can speak of peace might wonder of its source. This book shows us through the nomad journey of his life and of our times. * Alastair McIntosh, author of Soil and Soul *The Peace Walk of Satish Kumar, a living legend, is an inspiring and fascinating journey. The book is riveting, original and thought-provoking. His wise, comforting, motivational and spiritually uplifting words will inspire many to ‘walk the walk’. Underpinned with practical life experience and lessons, this book is a must-read. * YOGA Magazine *Satish Kumar literally walks the talk. He lives Gandhi's philosophy: 'Be the change you want to see in the world'. An inspirational, humbling book. * Psychologies magazine *A pilgrimage, a travelogue and a paean to peace, every step of Satish’s vivid journey across a supposedly divided world is a masterpiece of literary reconciliation and hope. * Dr Nick Mayhew-Smith, author of Britain’s Pilgrim Places *Satish Kumar is a real Earth Pilgrim, a lifelong and passionate peace campaigner. This story of his remarkable journey is captivating throughout. * GreenSpirit *Quietly passionate, gently insistent and manifestly moved by joy and hope, Satish is a living example of putting wisdom to work in all kinds of ways. This book chronicles an enterprise very typical of him – risky, but motivated by the only sort of realism that matters, the realism that confronts the 'Emperor’s New Clothes' of a stale, frightened and destructive world order and shows how human beings can learn and grow. * Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury *Satish Kumar’s book is an inspiration for all citizens yearning for peace. Satish shares his experiences of love, compassion and generosity as he travelled to Washington without money to stop the bomb. Satish is a tireless pilgrim of peace. His message is more important than ever. * Vandana Shiva, winner of Right Livelihood Award and author of Earth Democracy *We can talk about peace, we can write about it. But until I read his wonderful book, I never knew Satish had walked for it too. His whole life has been one long walk for freedom, justice, harmony and peace. Yes, it is an extraordinary adventure, but it is much more than that. His life would be this walk. Here is a book that inspires us to follow in his footsteps, that gives us all hope. * Michael Morpurgo, author of Warhorse *Satish Kumar’s memoir of his 8,000 mile peace walk from India to America is a warmly written, gripping and inspirational tale, offering us all hope in dark times. Never have his message of peace, tolerance and unity been more timely or more necessary. * Kindred Spirit magazine *Table of ContentsDestination Peace Pakistan: The Land of Hope and Hospitality Afghanistan: The Mountains of Magic and Mystery Iran: A Place of Poetry and Passion The Soviet Union: A Land of Power and Promises No Problems in Poland East Germany: Hawks and Doves West Germany: Flowers and Philosophy Beautiful Belgium Fabulous France England: Green and Pleasant Land USA: Prejudice and Prosperity Japan: Home of Humility

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Book SynopsisAs a child, Elias Chacour lived in a small Palestinian village in Galilee. When tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed and nearly one million forced into refugee camps in 1948, Elias began a long struggle with how to respond. In Blood Brothers, he blends his riveting life story with historical research to reveal a little-known side of the Arab-Israeli conflict, exploring whether bitter enemies can ever be reconciled. This book offers hope and insight to help each of us learn to live at peace in a world of tension and terror.

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Book Synopsis“I've told you before, and I will tell you again, if you are unable to read the Holy Book you will be punished.” The teacher’s face was a mask of anger. “Understand?”Trade Review‘Told with searing honesty, heartfelt emotion and bucket loads of wit. [Alex] has risked death threats to tell this tale. It was worth the risk.’The Sun ‘This book will challenge how you think and cause you to question your moral values.’Steve McLaughlin, author of ‘Squaddie’ ‘A true story of courage and inspiration’Jasvinder Sanghera, author of ‘Shame’ and founder of Karma Nirvana

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Book SynopsisJenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, was raised as a Scientologist but left the controversial religion in 2005. In Beyond Belief, she shares her true story of life inside the upper ranks of the sect, details her experiences as a member Sea Org—the church's highest ministry, speaks of her "disconnection" from family outside of the organization, and tells the story of her ultimate escape.In this tell-all memoir, complete with family photographs from her time in the Church, Jenna Miscavige Hill, a prominent critic of Scientology who now helps others leave the organization, offers an insider's profile of the beliefs, rituals, and secrets of the religion that has captured the fascination of millions, including some of Hollywood's brightest stars such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

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Book SynopsisWhen Claire Bien first began hearing voices, they were infrequent, benign and seemingly just curious about her life and the world around her. But the more attention Claire paid, the more frequently they began to speak, and the darker their intentions became... Despite escalating paranoia, an initial diagnosis of Schizophreniform Disorder and taking medication with debilitating side effects, Claire learned to face her demons and manage her condition without the need for long-term medication. In this gripping memoir, Claire recounts with eloquence her most troubled times. She explains how she managed to regain control over her mind and her life even while intermittently hearing voices, through self-guided and professional therapy and with the support of family and friends. Challenging a purely medical understanding of hearing voices, Claire advocates for an end to the stigma of those who experience auditory verbal hallucinations, and a change of thinking from the professionals who treat the condition.Trade ReviewBien's memoir witnesses to the resilience of the human spirit and her determination to live a full life, thus illustrating that a person is more than a diagnosis. Therapy, medication, relationships and work are all critical components that enable a person to regain a life despite debilitating symptoms. She is a woman of courage. -- Nancy Kehoe RSCJ, PhD, Author of Wrestling with Our Inner Angels: Faith, Mental Illness and the Journey to WholenessRemarkable and inspiring. In a clear and resonant narrative voice, Claire Bien tells how she struggled and eventually surmounted auditory hallucinations and severe emotional turmoil while living a full life: maturing in the first generation of a Chinese-American family, marrying, working full-time, and nurturing a son in a supportive family and community. -- Selby C. Jacobs, MD, MPH, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, Department of PsychiatryThis is a revolutionary book, written by Claire Bien, who has experienced and dealt with auditory hallucinations-latterly without medication. Now living with a son and successful career, it tells of her determination not to let the disease beat her. ...Some of the book can be graphic, as Claire provides a full picture of the 'degree of horror' such a condition can engender; however, she also provides hope of recovery, 'even the most horrifying and bizarre beliefs are not sign and symptom of an irreparably broken mind.' -- New York Journal of BooksIn this candid, informative memoir, Bien, a trained facilitator for the Hearing Voices Network, describes experiencing auditory verbal hallucinations throughout much of her adult life. Having eventually learned to manage this condition, she aims to bring hope to others in the same circumstances. Bien details the most difficult and embarrassing periods of her life, including the deaths of close family members and her two troubled marriages, both which ended in divorce. The book chronologically documents Bien's life from her early years, through college, to her struggle to find a vocational calling, alongside the time line of her voices: their first appearance, her first hospitalization, and her subsequent recoveries. Bien's tone is matter-of-fact and often rings flat throughout her comprehensive accounts; the sentences are mostly declarative and devoid of much emotion. Bien is lucid and calm in looking back at her life and battles, displaying an admirably unflinching self-awareness. She's able to understand how she "was primed to hear voices" by biological and life triggers associated with her condition, and her journey will appeal to others struggling to overcome or better understand the same affliction. -- Publishers WeeklyTable of ContentsForeword. Preface. Prologue. 1. Background and Early Years. 2. College. 3. The Graduate. 4. Searching for a Career. 5. My Father's Death. 6. Transitions. 7. Marriage. 8. Discovering Family and Heritage. 9. Jean. 10. Anger and Shame. 11. Early Voices. 12. Pineywoods. 13. Waiting for a Yale Bed. 14. Yale-New Haven Hospital. 15. Finding a Career and Recovery. 16. A Skirmish with the Voices in Europe. 17. The Working Mother. 18. If It's Just a Metaphor. 19. The Power of Love. 20. If You Start to Get Scared, Stop Listening. 21. Divorce. 22. Finding Community and a Measure of Faith. 23. Growing Up with Paul. 24. Arthur. 25. Tilting with the Shadows. 26. Understanding the Voices.

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Book Synopsis'This is the kind of book that make you different when you're done.' - Ashley C. Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Somebody's Daughter'From the womb, we must repeat with regularity that to love ourselves is to survive. I believe that is what my father wanted for me and knew I would so desperately need: a tool for survival, the truth of my dignity named like a mercy new each morning.'So writes Cole Arthur Riley in an unforgettable book of stories and reflections on discovering the sacred in her skin. In these deeply transporting pages, Cole reflects on the stories of her grandmother and father and encounters of enfleshed, embodied spirituality. As she writes memorably of her own lived experiences of childhood and selfhood, Cole boldly explores some of the most urgent questions of life and faith:How can spirituality not silence the body, but instead allow it to come alive?How do we honour, lament, and heal from the stories we inherit?How can we find peace in a world overtaken with dislocation, noise, and unrest? At once a compelling spiritual meditation and a tender coming-of-age narrative, This Here Flesh invites us to ponder the site of the soul by examining our capacity to rest, wonder, joy, rage, and repair - and finding that our humanity is not an enemy to faith but evidence of it.'Exquisite' - Ayo Tomenti, co-founder of Black Lives MatterTrade ReviewAt a time when establishing peace within one's own soul is so vitally important, this book is a balm - reminding me to exercise the spiritual muscle of awe, to notice the simple and to find beauty in the ordinary. -- Ben Lindsay, Author of WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT RACEIn This Here Flesh, Cole Arthur Riley reaches deep beneath the surface of words unspoken, wounds unhealed, and secrets untempered to break them open in order for fresh light to break through. Her personal anecdotes alongside Biblical anchors are serene vehicles through which any reader will remember the preciousness of their body, humanity, and most of all, their dignity. -- Morgan Jerkins, New York Times bestselling author of THIS WILL BE MY UNDOINGThis book is an invitation into the delicate weavings of family, inheritance, and pain, how they mark a bloodline, and connect a people. Riley writes with all the grace and gravity the spirit of humanity deserves. And somehow teaches us to think of ourselves as deserving of such grace, along the way. This is the kind of book that make you different when you're done. -- Ashley C. Ford, New York Times bestselling author of SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTERThis book is breathtaking. Full of profound revelation and beauty woven into poetry, unforgettable imagery and story, it will stay with me long after I've read it. I will keep returning to its pages, ready to hear in Cole Arthur Riley's reflections new ways to see myself, my family, my faith and my God. Who knew truth-telling could be so beautiful? -- Chine McDonald, author of GOD IS NOT A WHITE MANWelcome the rising of Cole Arthur Riley's astonishing voice. This is a gorgeous and muscular work. -- Krista Tippett, host of On BeingTimeless. This is a book I know I will return to again and again. Through this work, I am reminded I am seen. I am reminded I am free. -- Morgan Harper Nichols, artist and poetExquisite. . . Arthur Riley's writing is both transporting and hauntingly intimateas she narrates this important account of generational inheritance. The stories and meditations in this book are sure to stay with you forever. -- Ayo Tometi, co-founder of Black Lives MatterThrough a narrative of family and generation, Cole Arthur Riley speaks of a Blackness so beautiful it can't be contained and a liberation that is present and possible. This Here Flesh is an invitation to hold space, return home and rediscover joy. -- Amena Brown, poet, author, and host of HER with Amena Brown podcastBeautiful. Soul-stirring. . . we rediscover a sense of awe for the bodies that make us, the stories that ground us, and the delicate grace that enlivens our spirits. -- Kate Bowler, New York Times bestselling author of NO CURE FOR BEING HUMANThis Here Flesh is a gospel to what we remember. This book is rigorous, joyous, complex, honest and tells the story of how we get free. It is a story that would not let me go. -- Danté Stewart, author of SHOUTIN’ IN THE FIRE[A] wonderfully winsome, heartbreakingly honest, and ever-poetic work of spiritual biography and theological reflection. While some theologians will talk in the abstract about 'incarnation,' 'enfleshment,' or 'embodiment,' Arthur Riley's book is a lesson in concreteness, in Black theology, in seeing a body, being a body, being a person rooted in time, space, stories, and very particular flesh. * Library Journal (starred review) *A multi-layered, moving and often a poetic exploration of faith, lament, community and much more. * Keep the Faith *

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Book Synopsis''Gripping ... An exquisite conversation between two people who know each other, like each other, and have mutual respect for one another'' - Catholic TimesSince resigning from the papacy in 2013, the first Pope in over 700 years to do so, Pope Benedict has lived quietly in a convent in the Vatican gardens in Rome. He has devoted himself to a life of prayer and study and has vowed to remain silent, until now. So much controversy still surrounds Pope Benedict's time in office in this book, written with bestselling German author Peter Seewald, he addresses the issues of his papacy and reveals how, at his late age, governing and reforming the Church was beyond him.Last Testament is also an autobiography, recalling Pope Benedict's childhood in Germany under Nazism, his early development as a priest, and eventually his appointment as Archbishop of Munich. After becoming Pope, his account deals with the controversies that rocked the Catholic world how he enraged MuslimTable of ContentsForeword: One Last Visit PART I: THE BELLS OF ROME 1 Quiet Days in the Mater Ecclesiae 2 The Resignation 3 'I do not abandon the cross' PART II: A LIFE IN SERVICE 4 Childhood and Parental Home 5 The War 6 Student, Curate, Lecturer 7 Theological Apprentice and Star Theologian 8 Vatican II: A Dream and a Trauma 9 Professor and Bishop 10 Prefect (Rome, 1982-2005) PART III: THE POPE OF JESUS CHRIST 11 Suddenly Pontifex 12 Aspects of the Pontificate 13 Journeys and Encounters 14 Shortcomings and Problems Conclusions Author's Notes Timeline

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Book SynopsisThe No. 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling Canon Clement Series''Immensely moving and disarmingly witty'' Nigella Lawson''Such a moving, tough, funny, raw, honest read'' Matt Haig''Beautifully written, moving and gut-wrenching, but also at times very funny'' Ian Rankin''Captures brilliantly, beautifully, bravely the comedy as well as the tragedy of bereavement'' The Times''Will strike a chord with anyone who has grieved''IndependentWhen the Reverend Richard Coles'' partner died suddenly, shortly before Christmas in 2019, what came next took Richard by surprise. Despite his years of experience assisting his parishioners in examining life''s moral questions, Richard now found he needed guidance himself. Much about grief was unexpected: the volume of ''sadmin'' that must be undertaken, how much harder it is travellingTrade ReviewBeautiful, honest and massively comforting -- DAWN FRENCHImmensely moving and disarmingly witty -- NIGELLA LAWSONWill strike a chord with anyone who has grieved . . . shines with the sort of wry, self-analytical wisdom you might expect from Coles. Full of resonating reflections, ones that urge us all to be kinder, to love more strongly * INDEPENDENT *Such a moving, tough, funny, raw, honest read. The beautiful articulation of Richard's grief will be a comfort to so many -- MATT HAIGCaptures brilliantly, beautifully, bravely the comedy as well as the tragedy of bereavement . . . simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking, painful and strangely comforting as it confronts the reality of what happens to us all in the end * THE TIMES *Beautifully written, moving and gut-wrenching, but also at times very funny, each smile and laugh a candle in the dark -- IAN RANKINAn astonishingly brave, bold and honest book about the tragedy - and unexpected comedy - of bereavement. Such a harrowing, hopeful and comforting book. If I could prescribe Richard Coles, I'd administer him stat to us all * Dr Rachel Clarke, author of DEAR LIFE *This is not a self-help book on how to cope with death and loss, it is an honest, raw and personal account of a man's descent into the Madness of Grief. Richard provides a frank account of the trials and tribulations he endured during the weeks between the death and the funeral of the man he loved. Funny, sad, touching and thought provoking, it reminds us that grief has no normality, no time limit and most importantly, no rules -- PROFESSOR DAME SUE BLACK, author of ALL THAT REMAINSBold, intimate writing . . . THE MADNESS OF GRIEF is not a manual for the bereaved, but as a vivid account of how it feels when the world suddenly falls away, it performs another kind of service * THE SUNDAY TIMES *Deeply moving . . . has an immediacy that is not born of long reflection and it is all the better for it * FINANCIAL TIMES *Heartbreakingly sad and searingly honest . . . For those who find themselves bereaved, this book is sure to help * DAILY MIRROR *You don't need to be religious to find comfort in this book. Anybody who has experienced a similar complex grief will relate to many of Coles's anecdotes -- Helen Brown * THE DAILY TELEGRAPH *In this memoir, Coles shares his truth, stays kind, and, when possible, brings a smile . . . By reflecting the hurts of others' losses with such beauty and integrity, he confirms that it is his open humanity that is priestly. It gives me yet another reason to admire him * CHURCH TIMES *An honest book, and a brave one * THE OLDIE *Moving and candid, this book will resonate with anyone who has lost a loved one, or has had to cope with someone they love whom they just cannot help * I NEWSPAPER *Although not a self-help book, the homilies, experience and catharsis within creates invaluable solace. It will resonate for the myriad struggling with grief wrought by the pandemic * THE QUIETUS *Beautifully written, raw and deeply personal . . . A revealing and often funny insight into love and loss * ATTITUDE *This brief, wise, frank book deals with the surreal mundanity of bereavement * THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, Books of the Summer *His reading is pitch-perfect . . . creating an aural kaleidoscope. It is, at heart, a meditation on the nature of loss and one that is as strangely comforting as it is wrenching and painful -- Alex Clark * FINANCIAL TIMES, Audio Books review round up *A WORTHY heir to C. S. Lewis's 'A Grief Observed'... To be in Coles's company is always uplifting, even when he's writing about unbearable sadness and loss. -- Ysenda Maxtone-Graham * DAILY MAIL, Best Books of 2021 *

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Book Synopsis'I never imagined that the wind would blow me here, to a kind of isolation I have never experienced... There is never anything out here but my shadow, that no one treads on any more'When Jade's partner leaves the barn that they moved into just weeks before, he leaves a dent in the wall and her life unravelled. Numbed from years in a destructive, abusive relationship, she faces an uncertain future and complete solitude. Slowly, with the help of Devon's salted cliffs and damp forested footpaths, Jade comes back to life and discovers the power of being alone.As Jade reacclimatizes, she considers what it means to live alone. Through conversations with other hermits across the world, Fitton sheds light on the myriad - and often misunderstood - ways of living alone: from monks to hikikomori, and the largely ignored female hermit. Jade questions whether hermitic living is possible in an era of constant communication and increased housing costs as she finds herself financially unstable and itinerant. She realises that home doesn't exist within walls, but within the landscape of her childhood home county.Lyrically written, this is an inspirational story of recovery, of finding home, and of celebrating solitude in the natural world.Trade ReviewA dreamy, beautiful book about the consolations of solitude. In Hermit, Jade wanders a sunlit, windswept, delicately drawn landscape of loss and longing, and in doing so finds the stillness at the centre of herself. Hopeful and open-hearted. -- Cal Flyn, author of 'Islands of Abandonment'A compelling, engrossing memoir that beautifully encapsulates the human experience (both the misery and the magic) of suddenly finding yourself rebuilding life from the ground up, alone. I loved it. * Emma Gannon *Hermit is a beautiful written debut memoir drawing on the hermetic tradition that shows the power of being alone. -- Katherine May, author of WinteringA book of spellbinding brilliance by a writer of rare talent. -- Tristan GooleyThis distinctive, alluring memoir, reminiscent of The Outrun by Amy Liptrot, relates how Fitton slowly learns to live alone and celebrate solitude in the natural world. * The Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisFrancis X. Clooney SJ is Parkman Professor of Divinity at Harvard University, USA.

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Book SynopsisHinduism is one of the world's oldest and greatest religious traditions. In captivating prose, Shashi Tharoor untangles its origins, its key philosophical concepts and texts. He explores everyday Hindu beliefs and practices, from worship to pilgrimage to caste, and touchingly reflects on his personal beliefs and relationship with the religion. Not one to shy from controversy, Tharoor is unsparing in his criticism of 'Hindutva', an extremist, nationalist Hinduism endorsed by India's current government. He argues urgently and persuasively that it is precisely because of Hinduism's rich diversity that India has survived and thrived as a plural, secular nation. If narrow fundamentalism wins out, Indian democracy itself is in peril.Trade Review'A profound book on one of the world's oldest and greatest religions.' -- The Hindustan Times'An influential and thought-provoking book, shedding light on many of the contradictions and anomalies of this ancient religion and its chequered history.''Tharoor's book is essential for fostering a more varied political dialogue on nationalism, secularism, and democracy.' -- Eurasia Review'Shashi Tharoor is the most charming and persuasive writer in India. His new book is a brave and characteristically articulate attempt to save a great and wonderfully elusive religion from the certainties of the fundamentalists and the politicisation of the bigots.' -- William Dalrymple

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Book Synopsis'One of the best written works on self-awareness.' - Mo GawdatFOREWORD BY NEALE DONALD WALSH_____________The greatest relationship we have in life is with ourselves. On the journey to discovering our full potential, embracing self-love is the most powerful step to building self-esteem, confidence and finding happiness.Dorota is a Polish transformation artist, international speaker and wellbeing creator and in her first book she sets us on the path to greater self-awareness, by sharing her life story and her teachings.Full of insight, Dorota shows how we can recognise and unravel our limiting beliefs, dispel overthinking and release feelings of guilt and shame, all of which contribute to our sense of not being enough. Reading this book takes you on a journey of self-discovery, proving that with work, any trauma can be healed. Dorota's encouragement and warmth shines through on every page awakening you to the power of self-compassion, self-care and deep self-love.'Dorota is a talented creative who knows how to inspire. Whether its film, photography or video, she's amazing at creating beautiful art and speaking on the topic of creativity and inspiration.' - Vishen Lakhiani, NYT Bestselling author, Founder of MindvalleyTrade ReviewA true masterpiece on self-love and self awareness that are the keys to unlock your true gifts and to create fulfilling relationships. A must read to access with ease your true inner power. -- Dame Marie Diamond, Feng Shui Master, starring in The SecretIf you care deeply about your relationships and seek long-term happiness then put this book on your required reading list. You will learn to empower yourself, speak your truth, become more confident but mostly you will be guided on how to connect to your needs, desires and dreams and how to fulfil them. This book will give you the boost you need to believe in yourself. -- Jason Goldberg, author of Prison BreakThere are many books on love, but not so many books on self-love. This book is about the art of accepting yourself unapologetically, no matter where you are, who you are and what you are. It teaches you to understand yourself and your relationships better so you can live a more joyful, fulfilling and peaceful life. -- Russel Simmons, record executive, writer, and film producerIt's not without pain that our path through life is charted. It's not without hardship that our insight shines to deliver us to enlightenment. Of pain, Dorota has had her fair share. Of hardship, she has had enough to tread the path of the spiritual beings that have come to teach us what we today call happiness. Dorota's path to healing her wounds came in her ability to love her scars. In this book, she has distilled the essence of what she learned along the way, to help guide you through the process of accepting yourself unconditionally and, in doing so, to learn how self-love is the key to personal growth and a life of fulfilment. Love is a feeling and self-love is the most elusive of all love. Page by page you will meet yourself, perhaps for the first time, and you will like the one you will meet. Life is a journey, you should take it with those you love and learn to love the one that's always traveling with you - yourself. It will be the biggest gift you will ever receive. -- Mo Gawdat, chief business officer for Google X and author of Solve for HappyDorota is one of the powerful, creatively nuanced and compassionate voices of our generation. She has a way of translating relevant and complex philosophies and making them accessible and tangible. Take the time to engage with her work. We need visionaries of the New Earth like Dorota to cultivate and develop cultures and ways of being for the future of humanity. -- Nicole Gibson, Founder of Love Out Loud and Former Australian Federal Commissioner of Mental HealthDorota's journey is not only inspiring but also empowering. Her openness, honesty and boldness to reveal the most vulnerable parts of herself and her journey allow us to do the same for ourselves. This book teaches us to love, to accept, to own and to transform. I highly recommend it! -- Jim Kwik, author of Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional LifeIt's difficult to describe this book in one word, but I'll give it a shot: transformational. Each section, exercise and story is intended to move you though degrees of self-reflection that allow you to understand both yourself and your relationships better. The outcome is greater peace of mind coupled with a more fulfilling, peaceful and joyful life. Indeed, you're transformed into a more authentic and sincere you. From the poetic to the sublime and practical, this is an enriching, inspiring book. Dive into it for a terrific read. I simply love it. -- Oz Garcia, pioneer nutritionist, biohacker and author

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Book SynopsisHow do you hold on to hope when you don't get the ending you asked for? When Katie Davis Majors moved to Uganda, accidentally founded a booming organization, and later became the mother of thirteen girls through the miracle of adoption, she determined to weave her life together with the people she desired to serve. But joy often gave way to sorrow as she invested her heart fully in walking alongside people in the grip of poverty, addiction, desperation, and disease. After unexpected tragedy shook her family, for the first time Katie began to wonder, Is God really good? Does He really love us? When she turned to Him with her questions, God spoke truth to her heart and drew her even deeper into relationship with Him. Daring to Hope is an invitation to cling to the God of the impossible-the God who whispers His love to us in the quiet, in the mundane, when our prayers are not answered the way we want or the miracle doesn't come. It's about a mother discovering the extraordinary strength it takes to be ordinary. It's about choosing faith no matter the circumstance and about encountering God's goodness in the least expected places. Though your heartaches and dreams may take a different shape, you will find your own questions echoed in these pages. You'll be reminded of the gifts of joy in the midst of sorrow. And you'll hear God's whisper: Hold on to hope. I will meet you here. Content Benefits: Picking up where she left off in the best-selling book Kisses from Katie, Katie Davis Majors shares her ongoing experiences in Uganda as the adoptive mother to thirteen girls and describes how she's wrestled through the darkness of disappointment to find the answer to whether God truly is good. Inspiring story of a woman of faith who trusted God Riveting account of a ministry in Uganda The follow up to Kisses from Katie Honest look at what happens when tragedy happens and faith is shaken Wrestles with how to find God in the doubts and questions Perfect book to encourage someone who is struggling in their faith Ideal reading for anyone who loves to see God at work in the world Great gift idea to encourage others Binding - Paperback Pages - 240 Publisher - Authentic Media

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Book Synopsis''Alas that I ever did sin! It is so merry in Heaven!''The Book of Margery Kempe (c. 1436-8) is the extraordinary account of a medieval wife, mother, and mystic. Known as the earliest autobiography written in the English language, Kempe''s Book describes the dramatic transformation of its heroine from failed businesswoman and lustful young wife to devout and chaste pilgrim. She vividly describes her prayers and visions, as well as the temptations in daily life to which she succumbed before dedicating herself to her spiritual calling. She travelled to the most holy sites of the medieval world, including Rome and Jerusalem.In her life and her boisterous devotion, Kempe antagonized many of those around her; yet she also garnered friends and supporters who helped to record her experiences. Her Book opens a window on to the medieval world, and provides a fascinating portrait of one woman''s life, aspirations, and prayers. This new translation preserves the forceful narrative voice of Kempe'Trade ReviewBale's Book of Margery Kempe offers the best modern version of the text and the most comprehensive and judicious assessment of scholarly and critical environments in which to read this strange and wondrous work... Bale sensitively reviews all the textual, critical and ideological challenges of the work. His modern English is supple and responsive. * Times Literary Supplement, Seth Lerer *This lively new edition preserves the author's forceful individuality, but makes her writing accessible to a new audience, and her book not only flings open a forgotten world but also comes garnished with useful notes and maps of her extensive travels. * Good Book Guide, Fiona Lafferty *whatever view may be taken of Margery's visions, the book is extraordinarily lively and enjoyable, and gives an unparalleled glimpse of everyday life in that distant period of English history. This new translation by Anthony Bale is presented in idiomatic modern English, but aims to stay true to the style of the original, sometimes homely and familiar, sometimes high-flown and Latinate. It's wonderfully readable, and has an excellent introduction and notes. Altogether a great pleasure. * Shiny New Books, Harriet Devine *This new look at one of the most important texts of the Middle Ages will come as an eye-opener to those who believe that to live a religious life you need to be inordinately pious. * Northern Echo, Stephen Craggs *The Book of Margery Kempe is genuinely hard to put down - due to the incredible picture of medieval England it paints, and the fascinating mind of the woman who produced it. Anthony Bale's notes add a huge amount of value too, providing much needed context, and raising interesting questions about the material. * The Book Bag, Sue *Extraordinary * Peter Costello, The Irish Catholic *

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Book SynopsisTells the story of Thomas Merton's search for faith and peace in a world which first fascinated and then appalled him. It is written with the profound insight of a man who has seen himself clearly. Complete and unedited edition.Trade ReviewIt is a rare pleasure to read an autobiography with a pattern and meaning valid for all of us. The Seven Storey Mountain is a book one reads with a pencil so as to make it one’s own. * Graham Greene *A remarkable book, a classic of its kind, written in a vivid, rich and alert style which ranges from crisp vernacular to passionate eloquence, full of picturesque incident and passing at times into religious ecstasy. * The Times Literary Supplement *A book which may well prove to be of permanent interest in the history of religious experience. * Evelyn Waugh *

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Book SynopsisGod''s Immeasurable Grace. It''s the most important ingredient for the perfect love story.Tragic circumstances often stretch relationships to their breaking point. But God''s grace is always more than enough. For Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada, enduring quadriplegia, chronic pain, cancer, and depression only made their love more vibrant through thirty years of marriage. Discover a bond that has seen the worst and claimed the best. With sixteen pages of photos, peek into Joni and Ken’s challenges firsthand. Discover God''s immeasurable grace along the way, as their story inspires and enriches your own relationships.A love untold. Until now.Ken underestimated the challenges of marrying a woman with quadriplegia. Even the honeymoon wasn''t easy. Through their years together, Ken becomes increasingly overwhelmed by the unceasing demands of caring for a woman with chronic, extreme, nightmarish pain. He sinks into depression. Though living under the same roof, they

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Book Synopsis'Hard to put down - it's so personal and raw.' Sunday Times MagazineTrade ReviewSometimes shocking, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes very funny, Reva Mann's story is a fascinating glimpse into a hidden world, * Elle Magazine *Fascinating and harrowing in equal measure... * Daily Express *An incredible journey of rediscovery. * This Morning, ITV *There are moments of profound insight . . . read this book and then hide it from the kids! * Jewish Telegraph *The mantra of sex'n'drugs'n'rock'n'roll might have been coined for Reva Mann . . . the book at times makes one gasp aloud, she has done a service by opening a window on the strictly Orthodox world. * Jewish Chronicle *Gripping, harrowing and devastatingly honest. * Naomi Alderman *A fascinating journey . . . This is a searingly honest account of one woman's struggle with her faith and her health. * The Good Book Guide *Makes for riveting, compulsive reading. * Elle Magazine USA *For all her industrious bad behaviour, it is the quieter episodes of this candid memoir that are the most interesting; illuminating a quest of universal interest and fascinating local detail * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisRanchor Prime shares his spiritual journey exploring ancient Hindu cosmology through the eight elements. Illustrated with his own pencil drawings, the book reflects on nature, spirit, and the author's quest for wisdom.

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Book SynopsisNew York Times-bestselling author Frank Schaeffer chronicles his coming of age as a rising evangelical star and his eventual journey out of the fold.Trade ReviewAmerican Author's Association website, December 2008 "A story that needed to be told...A very personal and brutally honest memoir, that opens up and exposes the underbelly of the evangelistic movement...Gives the reader a rare and different look at some of various leaders of the fundamentalist moment...The book may open some eyes and minds about the dangers of politics and religion...A must read book for serious seekers looking for their own authentic path to enlightenment, or at least some inner peace." De-conversion.com, 12/2/08 "A must read for the de-converting...It is brutally honest, eye-opening, at times laugh out loud funny, and heart breaking." Princeton Packet, 2/13/09 "Mr. Schaeffer knows what he's talking about. He was there, and his book lays it all out, chapter and verse." TCM Reviews "[A] moving memoir...For those interested in a different perspective on Francis and Edith Schaeffer, l'Abri, and the fundamentalist right-wing evangelical movement, as well as the touching story of someone deeply involved in it all, this is a must-read." Augusta Metro Spirit, 4/15/09 "In a witty recollection that takes a different path from the average evangelical story, Frank Schaeffer offers an intimate portrait of a life within and without the spotlight of mass congregations...Schaeffer is more than qualified to offer candid commentary concerning the religious right in these United States...Written with an intricate collection of detail, a smooth ability to turn elements of conflict into startling moments of realization, and a wonderful search for meaning." Tallahassee Democrat, 7/25/09 "Part memoir, part biography, and part expose of a fundamentalist moment in U.S. religion and culture. As memoir it is at times funny, at times moving. As biography it provides an interesting, not to say intimate, perspective on Francis and Edith Schaeffer. As expose it provides revealing glimpses into the emergence of the religious right and some of its most visible leaders." Evangelical Studies Bulletin, Spring 2008 "[A] breezy new autobiographical book...The inner story of young Frank(y)'s childhood, adolescence, meteoric phase as up-and-coming evangelical political activist, and subsequent career keep the pages turning...[An] entertaining and provocative read." Semi-Autonomous Collective blog, 12/27/09 "Aggravating at times, frustrating by moments, but overall terribly touching, Schaeffer isn't hiding any flaws from the picture he paints of his own family. If there is one book to understand where the religious right comes from, it's that one." Springfield News-Leader, 8/22/12 "Excellent resources for anyone interested in the strange history of the heretical anti-abortion doctrine being taught in American churches today for the purpose of garnering political support."

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Book SynopsisTrade Review‘This brave and bracing memoir is an urgent reminder that America remains a place where queer people have to fight for their lives. It’s also a generous portrait of a family in which the myths of prejudice give way before the reality of love. Equal parts sympathy and rage, Boy Erased is a necessary, beautiful book’ Garth Greenwell, author of What Belongs to You ‘It is just so beautifully written and so powerful… a brilliant book… for anyone who has been through that journey of coming out or battling with society for who they are… even if you’re just someone who likes to read a passionate and beautifully written story, then this book is for you’ Nihal Arthanayake, BBC Radio 5Live ‘A brave, powerful meditation on identity and faith, Boy Erased is the story of one man’s journey to accepting himself and overcoming shame and trauma in the midst of deep-rooted bigotry’ Buzzfeed ‘An elegant memoir…Conley is a thoughtful writer’ Aaron Hicklin, Observer ‘The power of Conley’s story resides not only in the vividly depicted grotesqueries of the therapy system, but in his lyrical writing about sexuality and love, and his reflections on the Southern family and culture that shaped him’ Los Angeles Times ‘Boy Erased is a gut-punch of a memoir, but the miracle of this book is the generosity with which Conley writes in an effort to understand the circumstances and motivations that led his family to seek the “cure”… his memoir is not simply a story of survival — in this book, a true writer comes of age’ LA Review of Books ‘Exceptionally well-written… This timely addition to the debate on conversion therapy will build sympathy for both children and parents who avail themselves of it while still showing how damaging it can be’ Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisAn instant New York Times bestseller! Journey with Kathie Lee Gifford and Messianic Rabbi Jason Sobel into Israel and explore the deep roots of the Christian faith.As a lifelong student of Scripture, Kathie Lee Gifford has always desired a deeper understanding of God’s Word and a deeper knowledge of God Himself. But it wasn’t until she began studying the biblical texts in their original Hebrew and Greek—along with actually hiking the ancient paths of Israel—that she found the fulfillment of those desires.Now you can walk with Kathie on a journey through the spiritual foundations of her faith: The Rock (Jesus Christ): Hear directly from Kathie about her life-changing and ever-deepening connection with Jesus, the Lover of her soul. The Road (Israel): Explore dozens of ancient landmarks and historical sites from Israel, the promised land of God’

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Book SynopsisPremier league footballer turned pastor Gavin Peacock tells the story of his career and his faith in this fascinating, thought–provoking and personal read. ‘There is more to life than football, fame and fortune. There is a greater joy and a greater glory to be had.’ What makes a man walk away from his life as a professional footballer turned BBC pundit to become a church minister? They say it is every schoolboy’s dream to play in the F.A. Cup Final and it’s a dream that came true for Gavin Peacock. In his riveting autobiography follow Gavin’s journey from a child growing up in a footballing family to Chelsea captain; from a son following in his father’s footsteps to a husband and father supporting his own family; from pundit to preacher. Experience his highs and lows as he tells his story and explains the driving force behind it all – his love for football, his love for his family, and most importantly his love for God. Trade ReviewWhat a fabulous book! A must–read for all – not just football fans. I loved working with Gavin as his manager at Chelsea and I’ve always said he was in my top 3 players I ever signed as a manager. His talent has shone through again in this wonderful book. A beautiful insight to Gavin’s life and an inspiration to all. Loved it! -- Glenn Hoddle (Former England and Chelsea Manager)The story of a not so ordinary man who gave it up for more, a fascinating read from start to finish … a real insight to life as a player and to life as a Christian and what it means. An honest, sincere, and real thought provoking book … you can only admire him for giving up all he had, and wanting more … which Gavin will tell you he has found. -- Robbie Fowler (Former Liverpool & England International Footballer, Manager of Brisbane Roar)Gavin’s story includes playing for some of the top managers in football including Harry Redknapp, Kevin Keegan, Ossie Ardiles and Glenn Hoddle. I played against Gavin a number of times and he was an outstanding professional but perhaps more importantly, he was also a man of very good character. -- David Moyes (West Ham United Manager)I’ve enjoyed knowing Gavin both as a footballer and co–commentator over many years. I’m full of admiration for him and the way he lives out his faith. I’m thrilled to see him thrive as a pastor in Canada and look forward to the release of his autobiography. -- John Motson ((1945–2023) Television and Radio Football Commentator)As a pastor who would have loved to be a footballer I really enjoyed this book about a footballer who loves being a pastor. A terrific story of someone who has spent his life heading towards the goal to receive a prize that doesn’t tarnish with time. -- Alistair Begg (Senior Pastor, Parkside Church, Chagrin Falls, Ohio)This story is a one off! Be prepared for an insight into the workings of some of the top football managers in England. Also be prepared for some thought provoking, straight forward opinions on society today. I thoroughly recommend this read. -- Alan Curbishley (Former Charlton Athletic & West Ham United Manager)This book is a very well written and fascinating account of a professional footballer’s family’s life, with a great insight into how the industry works, its ups and downs, pressures and triumphs and disappointments. But for myself this book is about life itself, including religion, beliefs, the sacrifices you have to make to be or to do what you might want out of life itself. Making vital decisions under pressure that not only affect you but your whole family. About living your life at whatever level you are at, and making decisions along the road as best you can for yourself and the people you love. What’s important in life for the individual is so different and complex! I thoroughly recommend this book!! -- Gerry Francis (Former Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur Manager)… what I appreciated most in this book was a priceless wisdom that has enabled him to navigate life. So how do you work out relationships, disappointment, disability, parenting, marriage, career? In chapter after chapter I just loved the paragraphs that explained how he was thinking and anchored in Jesus Christ when he was confronted by life’s complexity. There was gold in chapter after chapter. A riveting read that I thoroughly recommend to all. -- Rico Tice (Evangelist; Co–founder of Christianity Explored Ministries)Gavin’s story is varied, gripping and moving. I’ve never before read such an evocative description of how it actually feels to score a goal at the top level. Nor have I read a more spine tingling account of what it feels like to step up to the pulpit and preach. Football feels like a matter of life and death to some of us, but the gospel truly is … and Gavin gives us a pitch–side seat as we experience the wonder of both. -- Tim Farron (MP, Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats)Such a thought provoking read … It was a real pleasure to spend time with Gavin in the dressing room all those years ago. -- Les Ferdinand (QPR Director of Football and Former England, QPR, Spurs and Newcastle United striker)Obviously, I know Gavin from our time we played together at Newcastle and our Charlton links but this really is one of the most interesting and fascinating autobiographies I have read in a long time. A successful footballer to BBC pundit to Christian Pastor! Not many players have had such a diverse and fulfilling life. -- Rob LeeGavin Peacock is a unique guy who takes sport seriously and faith even more seriously. I’ve loved getting to know him over the past few years as he has great stories and yet still manages to inspire deeper more passionate faith. I’d recommend this book to anyone. Even if you don’t share his faith. And even if you don’t support Chelsea! -- Keith GettyReading Gavin’s fascinating memoirs sent me down memory lane to our talks & discussions on nights before away matches. A Greater Glory simply confirms the impression that I got of a curious, self–reflecting, helpful, yet ambitious gentleman. At a time when so many people get lost in the superficial world of social media, this book will provide simple tools for anyone to find purpose in life. -- Jakob KjeldbjergA pacey book filled with passion and purpose, the principles of the man and the power in his message shines through! -- Kriss Akabusi OBEUnlike any footballer’s autobiography you’ve ever read. Honest, intelligent and sincere. Rather like the man himself…. -- Tom WattTo be successful in one career takes talent and determination. To do so in three careers is something else. Gavin Peacock’s life story is unique. His autobiography is fascinating. -- Lance HardyI love reading biographies and autobiographies. Sporting and Political. I have read so many from Alex Ferguson to Andre Agassi, Margaret Thatcher to Tony Benn. But Gavin Peacock’s ‘A Greater Glory’ is one of the best I have ever read. It is superbly written, interesting, funny, littered with great anecdotes and thought provoking. An all–round brilliant read. -- Alun EbenezerGavin was a superb footballer, but more importantly a wonderful guy. His life story will be one of the football best ever reads for sure. -- Harry Harris This is about as far as you could possibly get from your ‘traditional’ footballer’s auto–biography. Given the almost unprecedented journey upon which he has embarked, it is both essential and fascinating to learn what shaped Gavin, from his family to his career in football to his faith. -- John DykesPastor Gavin Peacock has written a must–read book. He takes readers on a fun, insightful and nostalgic journey through his life. This book ‘A Greater Glory’ spoke to me personally. Reading through every page gave me more enlightenment as to how blessed I am to be alive in Christ doing the things I love to do. This book has all the elements of life in it and I would recommend it in a heartbeat. -- Jonathan MensahA fascinating insight into how one man coped with the vicissitudes of life in the world of football and beyond. From professional footballer to pundit to preacher is quite some journey. No Damascene moments, just a gradual and growing awareness of the power of faith, which is now central to his life. Despite being an agnostic I found his writing both moving and inspirational. A very good read. -- Guillem Balague This book is compelling, candid and clear. For those who love the beautiful game there is much here that will fascinate and inform you about what is involved in becoming and being a professional footballer. For those who are Christians there is much here to do the same and whole lot more. Is it possible to be a professional footballer and a committed Christian? What is involved in making it to the top of the professional game as a Christian? What is there after the final whistle and your career is over? All of this and more is addressed by Gavin Peacock in this book. Written with pathos, Gavin’s humble assessment of himself and generous evaluation of others in the football world coupled with his growing conviction about the most important things in life will cause you to laugh, cry and think. I believe no one will read this book without benefit, I am delighted to commend it to you. -- Robert BriggsA special man’s goal of finding his Holy Trinity, through a fascinating, thought–provoking journey of football, family and faith. A story for our time and all times. -- Mark SaggersA fascinating read about an alternative lifestyle path for a footballer. Gavin puts as much passion and focus into his life, as he did into his performances as a player. A great man on and off the pitch. -- Pete GravesThe world is struggling with identity but the way Gavin articulates this in his book is truly inspirational. A man with purpose and destiny – who unashamedly has a love for his faith. -- Michael Johnson What a phenomenal read! Gavin’s life story (so far!) surely resonates with many, many people. A proud family man, a never–say–die attitude as a professional footballer and BBC presenter. Not forgetting of course, the assuredness in his mind, body and soul of his ultimate goal! -- Alex McLeish

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Book SynopsisAutobiography of a Yogi is the life story of Paramahansa Yogananda, detailing his spiritual journey from childhood to becoming a monk and spreading Kriya Yoga teachings in America. It emphasizes self-realization, simple living, and has been a spiritual classic for over 70 years, translated into 40+ languages.

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Awards 2023''There was always hope. There was always next season. Inshallah.''Inshallah United is about growing up as a strictly halal Stretford Ender; a devout Muslim and diehard Manchester Red. It's about praying five times a day that United would sign Alan Shearer and knock the Scousers off their perch. And it's a deeply personal account of life as a Muslim Asian Mancunian kid in the late 80s and 90s, bookmarked by the most successful period in Manchester United''s history.

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Book SynopsisThe memoirs of renowned Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard and his extraordinary journey toward inner freedom and compassion in action.Matthieu Ricard began his spiritual transformation at the age of twenty-one, in Darjeeling, India, when he met Tibetan teacher Kangyur Rinpoche, who deeply impressed the young man with his extraordinary quality of being. In Notebooks of a Wandering Monk, Ricard tells the simple yet extraordinary story of his journey and the remarkable men and women who inspired him along the way, including Kangyur Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and the fourteenth Dalai Lama, as well as great luminaries such as Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall, and a number of leading scientists.Growing up, Ricard, the son of philosopher Jean-François Revel and artist Yahne Le Toumelin, regularly found himself in the company of intellectuals and artists such as Luis Buñuel, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Igor Stravinsky. Young Ricard loved nature, classical music, and science and dreamed of unlocking the mysteries of molecular biology. But, six years after meeting Kangyur Rinpoche, Ricard gave up a promising career in genetics to pursue a meditative life in the remote Himalayas. While spending half a century in India, Bhutan, and Nepal, he visited Tibet more than twenty times and spent years publishing rare Tibetan texts and photographing his spiritual teachers and the world in which they lived. Elegantly translated by Jesse Browner and accompanied by more than fifty full-color photographs, some of which are Ricard’s own, Notebooks of a Wandering Monk charts Ricard’s lifelong path to wisdom and compassion. This candid and reflective memoir will inspire all readers, wherever they may be on their own journey to a meaningful and well-lived life.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewI am very grateful for Carolyn Whitney-Brown's accurate account of my brother Henri's inner feelings, hopes, wishes and despair. You brought Henri very close to me again. -- Laurent Nouwen, Founder of the Henri Nouwen Foundation on FLYING, FALLING, CATCHINGIn this book, I see Henri in the audience, smiling straight at me, clapping his hands above his head, enjoying our performance success as much as we did. This one is for you, my friend. -- Rodleigh Stevens, Founder of the Flying Rodleighs and former trainer with Cirque du Soleil on FLYING, FALLING, CATCHINGAnyone who knew Henri, either through his writing or in person, will immediately recognise how beautifully he’s been brought to life in this book.’ – his willingness to write so vulnerably about human relationships and feelings as a means to discovering our purpose in life, and a sense of the divine. -- Gary Donohoe, Professor & Chair of Psychology, National University of Ireland on FLYING, FALLING, CATCHINGFlying, Falling, Catching is far beyond religious belief or affiliation. It is a universal tale of mind-body connection and disconnection. While undoubtedly an account of a spiritual journey, Carolyn Whitney-Brown nimbly explores the corporeal inner life of Henri Nouwen as he literally swings through the air. It is brilliant! -- Ruth Rakoff, Author of When My World Was Very Small on FLYING, FALLING, CATCHINGNo question that flying, falling, and catching were unlikely teachers for Henri Nouwen, whose clear preferences were security, stability and being caught! I hope and trust that you, the reader, will allow Henri to guide your journey through risk to freedom! -- Sr. Sue Mosteller, CSJ, Executrix of Henri Nouwen's literary estate on FLYING, FALLING, CATCHINGFlying, Falling, Catching is a beacon of hope. It reminds us that despite all the perils and sufferings that surround us, with which we often collide, we can find healing, peace, and awe even in the most unusual detours that life offers. A must read. -- Marina Nemat, Author of international best-seller Prisoner of Tehran on FLYING, FALLING, CATCHINGA loving achievement and a riveting story of spirit meets body. With splendid pace and wit, Carolyn Whitney-Brown drops the words of Henri Nouwen’s flights of thought before us. Then, she arranges to gorgeously catch them. A singular spiritual tale written with tender-hearted eloquence from two arresting minds. -- Kathryn Bond Stockton, Author of Gender(s), Distinguished Professor of English, University of Utah on FLYING, FALLING, CATCHINGA lifelong search for wholeness takes a surprising late turn—toward the circus! As someone who’s spent much of my adult life absorbing beautiful spiritual truths in gritty entertainment venues, I can definitely relate. -- Shad, Rapper, Host of documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution on FLYING, FALLING, CATCHINGFor Henri Nouwen, a flying trapeze performance was like a Russian icon, drawing him into a spiritual world. This endearing true story about living and dying carefully brings together all of Nouwen's thinking on the Flying Rodleighs and the circus. Like the act itself, sheer elegance. -- Michael Ford, Author of Wounded Prophet and Lonely Mystic on FLYING, FALLING, CATCHINGIn Carolyn Whitney-Brown's deft hands, Henri’s intentions literally, vividly swing alive. This is a beautiful, moving story about interconnectivity, interdependence, and life's rich, beautiful, complicated pageant. I devoured it in a sitting. -- Lisa Napoli, Author of Susan, Linda, Nina & Cokie on FLYING, FALLING, CATCHING

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