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Best Religious Leader Biographies

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity
A revised foreword and introduction A substantially extended epilogue that shares how Nabeel told his friend David of his decision to follow Christ, how his parents found out, and much more Expert contributions from scholars and ministry leaders on each section of the book, contributions previously included only in the ebook edition An appendix with a topical table of contents (for teaching from Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus ) An appendix tackling the objection that Ahmadi Muslims are not true Muslims And a sneak peek prologue from Nabeel’s forthcoming new book, No God but One: Allah or Jesus ? Nabeel Qureshi is a speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.
Reviews
"For myself, I was reliving the search I had pursued forty five years ago, when my embrace of existentialism had left me so empty and purposeless that I had to reconsider the claims of Christ, just in case they might be true. I found myself anticipating each next step in Nabeel's intellectual journey, as each critical aspect of the truth of Christianity was substantiated by his investigations. I even experienced to a degree Nabeel's family conflicts, though for me it was my mother's amazement and bitter disappointment with my choice after college of seminary instead of medical school."
"The dedication at the beginning of the book, read by the author himself, had me bawling like a baby. I was unaware of how much disagreement about doctrine that there is within different Muslim beliefs and Qureshi walks through them carefully and respectfully."
"I have to say that as a Christian, before reading this book, I had very little knowledge of the Muslim faith and how Muslim children are raised."
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Daring to Hope: Finding God's Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful
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. She invites us into her story and pushes us to the edge, challenging us to dare to hope no matter what life throws at us.” —Jefferson Bethke , author of Jesus>Religion and It’s Not What You Think. Her words and heart for Jesus will stay with me forever, and I’m honored to be on the sidelines cheering for all the chapters to come.” —Angie Smith , speaker, blogger, and author of Seamless.
Reviews
"She writes of her everyday journey as the mom of thirteen wonderful daughters, her ministry through her foundation the Amazima Ministries as well as ministry to everyone that God brings across her path and the joy of two extra blessing in her life – her husband Benji and her son Noah. But she writes of more ... During sleepless nights and the death of friends and the breaking of families, Christ is all that remains constant and He is the only one who is sufficient."
"Daring to Hope is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful tale of hope and faithfulness in life's most difficult situations. Katie's journey in this book is one that we don't talk about as often as we should. Is God still good when bad things happen?"
"Katie shares the truths that God helped her come to understand as she walked through difficult events that broke her heart. Katie writes very relatable truths--I was weeping before page 30 because my heart is still sensitive about things that broke my heart too--different things from what Katie experienced, but I could RELATE because the pain--and our healing God of hope--are the same. I am so thankful that Katie shared truths that brought healing to her so that I could find healing and hope as well."
"At first I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did the first one, "Kisses from Katie," but towards the end I loved it just as much. The sadness came when people had to suffer and God did not heal them here on earth."
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Same Kind of Different As Me
A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery. An upscale art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel. It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana . Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, this true story also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love. An MBA graduate of Texas Christian University, he divides his time between Dallas, New York, and his Brazos River ranch near Fort Worth.
Reviews
"In an era where media and politics are trying to divide our great nation- it is a wonderful reminder of how all races, nationalities, genders & socioeconomic classes seek & require the most basic necessities- love & God's grace."
"I bought this for a book club, and did not read anything about it in advance, which is rare for me."
"Also, this book would be good for anyone struggling with his or her faith in God. The characters faith in God helped me realize that I can trust God in everything I do and that even if things don’t go my way, God has an ultimate plan."
"I felt a special connection, having grown up in Fort Worth and also enjoyed many trips to visit my grown daughter and her family in Dallas."
"What a story!!!"
"At first the chapters alternating between the lives of two men was confusing."
"When reading this story I was reminded constantly about Matthew 25:35-40, when Christ said, when I was hungry you fed me, thirsty and you gave me drink, naked, and you clothed me."
"My mom said he would disappear for hours to read this, and she would often hear him laugh out loud at certain points in the book."
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Best Social Activist Biographies

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
#1 New York Times Bestseller |. Named one of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times • The Washington Post • The Boston Globe • The Seattle Times • Esquire • Time Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Nonfiction | Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction | Winner of a Books for a Better Life Award | Finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize | Finalist for the Kirkus Reviews Prize | An American Library Association Notable Book A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time. Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. a searing indictment of American criminal justice and a stirring testament to the salvation that fighting for the vulnerable sometimes yields.” —David Cole, The New York Review of Books “Searing, moving . Just Mercy will make you upset and it will make you hopeful.” —Ted Conover, The New York Times Book Review “Inspiring . Stevenson is not only a great lawyer, he’s also a gifted writer and storyteller.” — The Washington Post “As deeply moving, poignant and powerful a book as has been, and maybe ever can be, written about the death penalty.” —The Financial Times “Brilliant.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer “Not since Atticus Finch has a fearless and committed lawyer made such a difference in the American South. Just Mercy is his inspiring and powerful story.” —John Grisham “Bryan Stevenson is one of my personal heroes, perhaps the most inspiring and influential crusader for justice alive today, and Just Mercy is extraordinary. But at the same time that [Bryan] Stevenson tells an utterly damning story of deep-seated and widespread injustice, he also recounts instances of human compassion, understanding, mercy, and justice that offer hope. Just Mercy is a remarkable amalgam, at once a searing indictment of American criminal justice and a stirring testament to the salvation that fighting for the vulnerable sometimes yields.” —David Cole, The New York Review of Books. For decades he has fought judges, prosecutors and police on behalf of those who are impoverished, black or both. Injustice is easy not to notice when it affects people different from ourselves; that helps explain the obliviousness of our own generation to inequity today. Against tremendous odds, Stevenson has worked to free scores of people from wrongful or excessive punishment, arguing five times before the Supreme Court. The message of the book, hammered home by dramatic examples of one man’s refusal to sit quietly and countenance horror, is that evil can be overcome, a difference can be made. Stevenson has been angry about [the criminal justice system] for years, and we are all the better for it.” —Ted Conover, The New York Times Book Review “Inspiring . “As deeply moving, poignant and powerful a book as has been, and maybe ever can be, written about the death penalty.” —The Financial Times “Brilliant.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Not since Atticus Finch has a fearless and committed lawyer made such a difference in the American South. Bryan Stevenson, however, is very much alive and doing God’s work fighting for the poor, the oppressed, the voiceless, the vulnerable, the outcast, and those with no hope. The stories told within these pages hold the potential to transform what we think we mean when we talk about justice.” —Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow “A distinguished NYU law professor and MacArthur grant recipient offers the compelling story of the legal practice he founded to protect the rights of people on the margins of American society. It is inspiring and suspenseful—a revelation.” —Isabel Wilkerson, author of The Warmth of Other Suns “Words such as important and compelling may have lost their force through overuse, but reading this book will restore their meaning, along with one’s hopes for humanity.” —Tracy Kidder, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Mountains Beyond Mountains “Bryan Stevenson is America’s young Nelson Mandela, a brilliant lawyer fighting with courage and conviction to guarantee justice for all. It is as gripping to read as any legal thriller, and what hangs in the balance is nothing less than the soul of a great nation.” —Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Reviews
"My tendency is to put things into "liberal" and "conservative" buckets and this one seemingly fit into the liberal bucket and I am a professed conservative."
"I have a new hero . Bryan Stevenson. This is a great book."
"This is a system that condemns children to life imprisonment without parole, that makes petty theft a crime as serious as murder, and that has declared war on hundreds of thousands of people with substance abuse problems by imprisoning them and denying them help. JUST MERCY explores a number of devastating cases, including children as young as fourteen facing life imprisonment, and scores of people on death row - mostly poor, and mostly black - who have been unfairly convicted. But the central focus is on Walter McMillan, a black man sentenced to death for the murder of a prominent young white woman. Ours is no longer a country that sees compassion as a virtue; instead, we write harsher and harsher laws that demand longer and longer sentences for those we consider undesirables. It's rare these days to meet someone who truly dedicates himself to those least able to help themselves, especially someone who isn't after media attention or self-promotion."
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Best Historical Germany Biographies

A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II
It was the encounter that would haunt both Charlie and Franz for forty years until, as old men, they would search the world for each other, a last mission that could change their lives forever. Simply told, splendid, and well worth the read.”—Joe Galloway, co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller We Were Soldiers Once...and Young. “It is often said that ‘war is hell’—and it is—however, this story reveals how the human spirit can shine in the darkest hours.”—Colonel Charles McGee, Tuskegee Airman, WWII. “ A Higher Call exemplifies beautifully the brotherhood of warriors and will forever change how you look at World War II.”—Eric Blehm, author of the New York Times bestseller, Fearless.
Reviews
"You are introduced to Franz (the German pilot) first and then Charlie's story (the American pilot) is intertwined later on."
"His Catholic background and his having been exposed to the honorable men he flew with, such as Ludwig Franzisket, Gustav Rodel, Werner Schroer, Johannes Steinhoff, Eduard Neumann, Emil Clade, Friedrich Korner, Adolf Galland, and especially Hans-Joachim Marseille reinforced that sense of chivalry, and code of honor among these airmen that is often overlooked in the post war propaganda and the maelstrom of uneducated bias. I suggest that this book, which is ironically in competetion with The Star of Africa, written by my wife and I, be read in public schools and by the average American. His experiences with JG-27 in North Africa, and the exposure he had to the previously mentioned men, especially Marseille, and the impressions left upon him, helped mold his attitude."
"A Higher Call by Adam Makos: Review by Tom Gauthier. How often do you have trouble reading the last page of an action packed war story because of the blur of tears? After eight years of painstaking research, Makos has produced a singular piece of work: the true and incredible story of two pilots who locked eyes--and I feel locked souls--across a span of deadly sky over Nazi Germany in 1943, changing the fortunes and the futures of all who were there. Engines failed, damage was extensive to flight surfaces, yet under the strong hands of their young pilot, Charlie Brown, the ship remained precariously in the air. As they approached the European coastline, Charlie knew that any moment the coastal flak guns would open up and finish them off. The story of their meeting decades later and the ability to share the personal feelings of all who were touched by the incident near Christmas 1943 over Germany."
"Oddly enough I have had a desktop Background of this exact situation on my laptop for at least the last year. before running across this excellent read."
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Best Historical European Biographies

Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice
Because of that, he became Putin’s number one enemy, especially after Browder succeeded in having a law passed in the United States—The Magnitsky Act—that punishes a list of Russians implicated in the lawyer’s murder. A financial caper, a crime thriller, and a political crusade, Red Notice is the story of one man taking on overpowering odds to change the world, and also the story of how, without intending to, he found meaning in his life. "The first half of Red Notice traces Browder’s improbable journey from prep-school washout through college, business school, and a series of consulting and Wall Street jobs before becoming Russia’s largest foreign investor....This book-within-a-book does for investing in Russia and the former Soviet Union what Liar’s Poker did for our understanding of Salomon Brothers, Wall Street, and the mortgage-backed securities business in the 1980s. Browder’s business saga meshes well with the story of corruption and murder in Vladimir Putin’s Russia, making Red Notice an early candidate for any list of the year’s best books." “In Red Notice , Bill Browder tells the harrowing and inspiring story of how his fight for justice in Russia made him an unlikely international human rights leader and Vladimir Putin's number-one enemy. It is the book for anyone interested in understanding the culture of corruption and impunity in Putin's Russia today, and Browder’s heroic example of how to fight back.” (Senator John McCain). Bill Browder is an amazing moral crusader, and his book is a must-read for anyone who seeks to understand Russia, Putin, or the challenges of doing business in the world today."
Reviews
"I've read a lot of Russian and Soviet history and I am interested in hedge funds, so I picked this book off the Amazon Vine list. Red Notice is the story of Bill Browder's hedge fund, Hermitage Capital, which at one time was the largest foreign investor in Russia. Hermitage produced extremely high returns and, before its demise, Browder had four and a half billion dollars under management. Boris Yeltsin and his advisers who inherited the Russian state wanted to make sure that communism would never return. Gorbachev had almost been overthrown in a coup by the communist old guard, so Yeltsin and his advisers felt that they had to put the state on an irreversible course away from communism as soon as possible. This was the environment that gave rise to the Oligarchs, brilliant and ruthless men who built multi-billion dollar fortunes from the rubble of the Soviet State. He was fascinated by Eastern Europe and when few people saw the possibilities in Russia he established a hedge fund that became wildly successful buying up under priced Russian assets. He managed to get the famous billionaire investor Edmond Safra to put up the initial money for the fund and went on to make huge profits. The standard share for hedge funds is 20% of the profits, so Browder must also have become a very wealthy man (e.g., hundreds of millions of dollars). After buying the under-priced assets they exposed the corruption, which at least for a time drove the thieves away and caused stock prices to rise. What ever the case, there is some irony in Browder's renouncing his US citizenship, since it was the US that allowed him to gain some measure of retribution by passing the Sergei Magnitsky Act."
"Without giving away too much, the book starts with a brief history of the authors early life before proceeding to his university days at Chicago and Stanford before moving to London to be a research analyst for a few firms. To that end he setup his own firm, Hermitage Capital, moved to Russia and came across amazing opportunities as the fall of the Berlin wall and communism was taking place. Starting out with just $25 Million in seed money from Edmund Safra (one of the richest people in the world), Hermitage Capital went on to become one of the largest investment banks in Russia growing to over $4 Billion. This apparently came from President Obama as it would hurt his total appeasement plan of "resetting" relations with Russia and at the time Kerry himself was trying to get the Secretary of State position after Hillary Clinton. Only after another piece of legislation came to bear and the two were tied did it come to the floor but even then John Kerry gave totally shameful remarks during the passage of the bill."
"Both adjectives describe Vladimir Putin leader of Russia and according to Browder, the richest man in the world."
"A great book for understanding the current oligarchy in Russia following the fall of communism, for understanding the still heathen and corrupt system of government in that country, and for understanding the economic sanctions that Russia and the U.S.A. currently are imposing upon each other, back and forth, like little tyrants."
"I don't recall how this book got into my Kindle queue but I am so glad it did."
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Best Religious Intolerance & Persecution

Hiding in the Light: Why I Risked Everything to Leave Islam and Follow Jesus
It is also the untold story of how she ran from her father’s threats to find refuge with strangers in Florida, only to face a controversial court case that reached national headlines. As much as anything, this is a story about the first freedom upon which America was built—the freedom to believe and live one’s life according to those beliefs. Rifqa’s inspiring story reminds us why we must continue to stand for faith and freedom!”. —Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council. This story will give you not only insight into what it means for a Muslim to convert to Christianity and the heavy price associated with that, but also the importance of Christians breaking through the stereotypes and reaching out to Muslims in love.”. —Naghmeh Abedini, wife of imprisoned pastor Saeed Abedini. In my own experience as a child, I had hidden in a cocoon of despair and lived with the brutality of loneliness—I understand how she felt. Hiding in the Light is a testament to what happens when one ordinary person is touched by the one extraordinary Savior of the World.”. —John Stemberger, president and general counsel, Florida Family Policy Council.
Reviews
"We read the book starting in the early evening, continuing into the night, until we finished it in the morning. My heart broke for her as she fought for faith and conscience at an age when many girls are tossed and torn by identity issues and consumerism. Get a glimpse into Islam, immigrant life, the plight of many Muslim women, the dark side of Honor and Shame cultures, an incident of real injustice in the justice system, and the cost a young Muslim woman had to pay to receive Jesus here in America."
"This amazing relationship with God through Christ."
"Rifqa Bary was interviewed by Janet Parshall on her radio program and it caught my interest."
"WELL WRITTEN AND APPEARS TO TELL THE STORY AS IT UNFOLDED."
"I started reading this book and could not put it down, I finished the book in a little over a day!"
"The life of this believer is direct result of God's many miracles."
"I found this a great read, very inspiring."
"I loved this book!"
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Best Environmentalist & Naturalist Biographies

Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times
Featuring “five stand-alone case studies that are well-written and interesting” ( The. New York Times ), Koehn begins each section by showing her protagonist on the precipice of a great crisis: Shackleton marooned on an Antarctic ice floe; Lincoln on the verge of seeing the Union collapse; escaped slave Douglass facing possible capture; Bonhoeffer agonizing over how to counter absolute evil with faith; Carson racing against the cancer ravaging her in a bid to save the planet. Koehn's call for her audience to emulate them strikes a pleasingly hopeful note for an era of partisan discord and lack of faith in leaders." Wise, thoughtful, and valuable, this book will foster a new appreciation for effective leadership and prompt many readers to lament the lack of it in the world today.” —Kirkus (Starred Review). At a time when it has become almost invisible at the national level, Nancy Koehn has performed the invaluable service of reminding us what it looks like in five superbly told tales of inspirational human courage. — Joseph J. Ellis, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Founding Brothers and the National Book Award-winning American Sphinx. Forged in Crisis is a compelling historical work and a vital analysis of the skills required to lead in the most important—and often dire—situations." "A double triumph, artfully telling us the stories of five major historical figures while also providing wise insights into how they seized upon crises to grow as leaders." — David Gergen, Co-Director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and author of Eyewitness to Power. "A close analysis of five gritty leaders whose extraordinary passion and perseverance changed history . — Joseph Nye, former dean of Harvard's Kennedy School and author of The Powers to Lead.
Reviews
"Her profiles in courage focus on Ernest Shackleton, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rachel Carson, whose stories she tells with an extraordinary depth and breadth of knowledge and with a can't-put-it-down style of writing -- a combination that can't be beat."
"This book provides inspirations because the author portrayed the central characters with profound moral compasses, which our current American political leaders lack."
"For me this is a wonderful self help book about being real that includes all of one's humanity (positive & negative) & the decades of steadfastness or in the moment determination to keep going in the face of whatever shows up as a challenge."
"Perhaps better than any other leadership book I've ever read (and I hold a master's degree on the subject and spent a decade as a leadership coach and consultant) "Forged in Crisis" makes the case that our internal fortitude combined with the trials we face personally are the ingredients needed to live up to our full potential."
"Book was enjoyable to read, especially about Shackelford, Douglass, and Carson, about which I knew little in terms of the full story."
"The book is excellent!"
"An ideal gift to a talented relative who is herself a pioneer."
"Outstanding writing."
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Best Tribal & Ethnic Religious Practices

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)
In The Four Agreements, bestselling author don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. She is the co-author, with don Miguel Ruiz, of six books in The Toltec Wisdom Series , creator of “The Four Agreements for a Better Life” online course, and editor of Deepak Chopra’s bestselling title, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success .
Reviews
"I am an undergrad student of philosophy and linguistics, a branch of the humanities. I also deeply love this series of books because of its obviousness and simplicity. There is a huge tradition of skepticism in linguistics, especially about how language is used in various cultures to create belief systems. A belief system is basically a set of instructions inside your brain based on language. These instructions help you navigate the stressful world around you so you can survive. We are psychologically wired to think our belief systems are accurate and experience deep stress if we find them to be inaccurate. You may not be surprised to find out that philosophy majors have not come up with answers to these questions because there is always a case where we are going to be wrong or have a counter argument. Much of the study of philosophy is the collection of vocabulary words to describe beliefs. They even have a mathematical component called propositional logic, where one takes sentences and reduces them to symbols and creates "proofs" but even prop-logic is under fire from academics for its complete inability to predict anything. I believe Miguel Ruiz must have taken a linguistics course as well--as his first agreement attests to the power of language. Both Saussure and Derrida (and many, many others) did work on how we form ideas in our heads based on language. The gist is this: we have something called a "symbol" in our brain which is composed of two parts: the word and the visual representation of the object (look up semiotics for further detail). These symbols are in our mind and work together to form meaning, then belief. If you really want a deeper understanding on how linguistics has saturated our belief systems I recommend reading some of their academic essays or get Rivkin and Ryan's literary theory books. To simplify: scientists and academics in the millions have tried and tried and tried to find "the true belief" for thousands, maybe tens of thousands of years and we have not yet arrived at any truth. The need to be right is so ingrained within us that we create a huge drama when someone contradicts our beliefs. - I take all gurus, religions, indictments and gossip with quite a high level of benevolent skepticism, which allows me to be free from the fear that goes along with these stories."
"Both are based on the philosophy of the Toltec, ancient people of southern Mexico who were known as women and men of knowledge. The author at times anticipates such problems on the part of the reader, and is indeed accurate in that regard. The Toltecs were not a race or tribe, or nation, but scientists and artists formed to explore and conserve the spiritual knowledge and practices of the “ancient ones”. The Toltec recognize that some 3000 years ago a human studying to be a medicine man woke to the realization that everything is made of light and that all that exists is one living being, and that light is the messenger of life because it is alive and contains all information. As children we believe what adults say, especially our parents, and our world becomes a dream, a reality built on symbols from others, not the silent feelings and observations that we experienced as infants. We live in a dream ruled by fear and filled with emotions of anger, jealousy, envy and hate. To escape our dream of hell, we must break the old agreements that are fear based and reclaim our personal power. The author suggests four basic agreements that you must make with yourself to reclaim your own power and find a heaven on earth, a life of joy and fulfillment. He feels that a sin is anything that goes against yourself, and being impeccable is not gong against yourself, taking responsibility for your actions, but not judging or blaming. He feels that gossip is the worst form of black magic, for it is judgmental language about others, even those we do not know. He gives the simple example of a child being told by her mother to shut up her singing because her voice was “ugly”. These are the type of agreements that we make in life that are harmful and destructive, that lead us into our dream of hell. And as you use such words, first by expressing love for yourself, you break all the many agreements that make you suffer, and begin to build your own dream of heaven on earth. Couldn’t someone’s anger be about us if our word was less than impeccable, but instead filled with the black magic mentioned by the author? I raise these questions in my mind because at times, as I read through this, it sounds as if one can “get a pass” for less than sterling behavior because he need not take others reactions personally. (True sadness from the passing of a child or similar “objective” tragedy is hard to relate to assumptions or taking things personally) I have found that people often assume my meaning, and sometimes take offense at something that was never intended to harm. I don’t know exactly why we are afraid to ask for clarification, maybe it roots back to those days when we were reluctant to ask questions in school. I think these two agreements about taking things personally and making assumptions are really part of a self centeredness that “it is all about me”. In fact it is really important to realize that it isn’t always about you, especially when the assumptions made generally do assume so and lead to taking things personally. Not making assumptions would seem to be one of the easier agreements to live up to, as it only involves a little bit of inquiry. I see his book as being primarily focused on reaching an internal contentment and happiness, not on navigating one’s way through the world at large. I just find a bit of a contrast between the focus of this work and something like “Falling Upward” by Richard Rohr where he acknowledges the need to survive in the competitive world as a means of gaining some level of confidence before, in the second half of life, we are able to discard much of the baggage of the first half and seek out a more personal and spiritual contentment. All see Western culture as imposing and espousing a very competitive, win/loose guilt ridden mentality. Such mentality may or may not be necessary for the struggles that we face, but, all my readings seem to agree that at some point our thoughts need to focus on attaining a more peaceful and inclusive level of spiritual contentment. By merely listening you show respect for the other person’s dream, for the reality he or she has created. The first Four Agreements taught us that out symbols are not the truth, and that many of these symbols–our entire symbology as he calls it- are lies that lead us to blame and shame and guilt, to a living hell. It is a war against that part of our mind that makes all the choices that guide us into our personal hell. It is that point where we come back to our real state, our divine self, where we fell a communion of love with everything in existence. We experience what he refers to as a resurrection, and it allows us to be wild and free like a child, except that we have freedom with wisdom instead of innocence. These books express a philosophy couched in rather mystical terms–in dreams and symbols, attention and awareness. I think he feels that a concept like goodness is also a truth that is intrinsically recognized and internal, and not a product of a value system that is imposed on us by others. But, at least to me, he doesn’t recognize such conditioning as being a necessary part of that portion of our lives when we must learn to cope in our world. The striking thing, as I read numerous books and other writings, and watch speeches, is the basic consistency in the message of oneness and the need to abandon, at least temporarily, much of what we have “learned” in order to open our minds, or perhaps clear our minds, so that we can receive the gift of interconnectedness."
"The Four Agreements are: - Be Impeccable With Your Words. - Don't Take Anything Personally. - Don't Make Assumptions. - Always Do Your Best. -When he says be Impeccable With Your Word, he means you should always speak,with integrity. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering. - when he says Don't Make Assumptions, he means you must find the the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want."
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Best Mormonism

The Hank Smith Collection: 10 Bestselling Talks for Teens and Families
Talks include: Thou Shalt Be Nice Real Life Be Who You Are My Soul Hungered Break Up with the World I Love My Friends 5 Temptation Killers Running Down Your Dreams Scripture Power Wake Up from Your Phone.
Reviews
"If you want 10 cds that are uplifting, funny, and share great messages, this is the perfect choice."
"Hank Smith is irreverent at times but when he gets serious, beautiful connections and lasting imagery is distilled on the listening soul."
"He has a great way of drawing you in and keeping you interested as he teaches about life and the gospel."
"Even though I've heard the stories over and over, they never fail to make me laugh."
"I think teens and adult alike will enjoy laughing, listening, and laughing some more."
"Ever since then, they back to listen to Hank Smith anytime we are riding in the car."
"I don't have to listen to fighting or the same movie playing in the DVD player over and over again. Hank has a great way of explaining the gospel for every one to understand and is very funny to keep you interested."
"Hank makes you laugh, he helps you make gospel connections with your own life and leaves you wanting to do and be better. I leave the collection in our car and 9 times out of 10 my kids will get in the car and immediately say, "Turn on Hank!""
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Best Philanthropy & Charity

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption
Katie, a charismatic and articulate young woman, adopted. thirteen children in Uganda and has established a ministry, Amazima, that feeds and sends hundreds more to school while teaching them the Word of Jesus Christ. "Kisses from Katie" is another wonderful reminder that 'big' things for the kingdom do not come from age or experience, but as an overflow of a deeper love within. "With reckless abandon, Katie Davis followed her heart to care for orphans living in extreme poverty in Uganda. "Katie Davis has the story that makes radio talk show hosts stop in their tracks and say with deep disbelief, 'No, she didn't.'. At the age of nineteen, Katie Davis left the upper-middle-class life to move to Uganda, start a nonprofit organization, and begin the adoption process for thirteen daughters who needed a mother. "I was profoundly moved, challenged, and convicted as I read "Kisses from K"atie, and I came away wanting to know Jesus the way that Katie does. This is an honest and compelling account of one young woman's journey of obedience to a Jesus who loves the whole world, especially the forgotten and the marginalized. But if you stand willing to act upon belief, here you will encounter the full heartache and joy that await any person who ventures near to God's heart through adoption and other ways of loving the orphan in distress." Her devotion to the Lord and her love for His children challenge me to give sacrificially, serve selflessly, and live out my salvation with radical abandon!"
Reviews
"The story of a young woman following her heart to serve her Lord in. a far off land."
"Amazing adventure of a young woman who falls in love with kids in Uganda."
"One of my all time favorite books!"
"Katie is an inspiring woman of courage and faith."
"A religious Sister gave it to my wife and I before leaving to Kenya to help at a girls school, and this book really inspired us!"
"As a parent of young adults who went to college and started their lives by marrying and getting decent jobs, I was asking myself, what would I have done if my child would have chosen to do what Katie did?"
"Does that mean God wants me to leave behind everything that is familiar to me to care for the poor and the orphaned on another continent? But she is confident that she is firmly in the palm of God's hand as she builds her family through adopting these daughters. It is altogether real that God wants to use us right here, right now, in our own comfort zone....or maybe just stepping out of it a little."
"Great book that demonstrates how God works and gives new passions to those who are obedient and open to what He has for them."
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Best Santa Fe New Mexico Travel Books

Christmas in Santa Fe
Christmas in Santa Fe and northern New Mexico is full of enchantment, a rich cultural feast of Spanish, Anglo and Pueblo traditions.
Reviews
"I purchased this book after my family visited some of these delightful historical places and I wish I had read this book first. I loved the photography of the churches fully decorated with Christmas spirit and to boot the book comes with great traditional recipes too."
"Susan Weber's Christmas in Santa Fe was an invaluable resource for planning and prioritizing the trip and a beautiful souvenir of our time there."
"Beautifully written and illustrated, this book elegantly showcases the magic of Christmas in Santa Fe."
"Our dream of one day living in or near Santa Fe came true a year ago when we moved out to Albuquerque."
"My grandma loves Santa Fe, and has visited many times throughout her life so I thought this book would be nice since she can no longer travel easily."
"Great way to understand ALL the Christmas time offerings in Santa Fe."
"Fortunately, we took advantage of the many Christmas opportunities provided by this area, and each time we read the stories and look at the photos it brings it all back to us."
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Best Shake Christianity

Issachar Bates: A Shaker’s Journey
Winner of the Communal Studies Association book award (2014) Issachar Bates (1758–1837) was a Revolutionary War veteran in rural upstate New York who, at the age of forty-three, abruptly turned from his family life to become a celibate Shaker. “Carol Medlicott’s choice to allow Bates to speak for himself through his autobiography, poetry, and music gives her fine biography a wonderful sense of immediacy.” (Andrew Cayton, Miami University, Ohio).
Reviews
"A few brave souls have tried to tackle the immense body of journals and manuscripts that remain from the Shaker West, but most of these efforts are so limited and fail to place the western communities in the context of Shakerdom as a whole. For example, anyone wishing to know why the Shaker Church covenant was revised again around 1830 will find the answers in her skillful treatment of the legal implications following the death of Father David Darrow and the closing of the Busro, Indiana, society. Moreover, the growing discontent among the young is not treated as a peripheral topic but is discussed in light of the stress caused by misconceptions about the very nature of the covenant and the inability of leaders to cope."
"Issachar Bates, one of three missionaries sent out from New York to "the west," was an important figure in establishing the Shaker version of Christianity in Kentucky and the midwest."
"Her biography follows the life of Issachar Bates, from his youth in New England and service as a fifer in the American Revolution, to his sudden conversion in 1801 to the Shaker faith, and ensuing role as an influential Shaker preacher."
"His natural gifts as a musician, composer, poet and dancer uniquely equipped him for this mission, and his eloquence was successful in converting hundreds of settlers to embrace Shaker teachings of pacifism, celibacy and gender and racial equality, concepts even more difficult to find acceptance in his day than they are today."
"Author Carol Medlicott brings this fascinating Shaker leader to life; his story jumps off the page and I honestly couldn't put the book down."
"Ms. Medlicott describes the journey of Mr. Bates in a readable, interesting way."
"If you ever wanted to know what it was like to be a Shaker man, this is the book for you!"
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Best Monasticism & Asceticism

The Seven Storey Mountain
It tells of the growing restlessness of a brilliant and passionate young man whose search for peace and faith leads him, at the age of twenty-six, to take vows in one of the most demanding Catholic orders--the Trappist monks. Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was born in France and came to live in the United States at the age of 24.
Reviews
"fantastic copy of the 1st edition, excellent condition -- and the book/story is riveting."
"This is one of the very best books out of many hundreds that I have read."
"The 50th edition of The Seven Storey Mountain has added information pertinent to understanding Merton from the publisher Giroux and Shannon."
"Truly inspirational for me at a time of deepening spiritual faith."
"Fascinating read!"
"I found the early narration rather tedious trekking from home to home, in and out of schools with mixed anecdotal commentary on Merton's early life and adolescence."
"This famous autobiography chronicles the author's life from childhood up to the point as a young man he makes the bold decision to enter the Trappist order. Eventually his love for God becomes a passion of awesome proportions, enabling him to bring his life into a wonderous balance, inspiring him to write some of the most influential religious reflections of our age or perhaps any age."
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