Book Description
Imagine waking up every morning believing that your actions can make a significant change in the world.
For everyone who has ever yearned for a better life and a better world, Craig and Marc Kielburger share a blueprint for personal and social change that has the power to transform lives one act at a time. Through inspirational contributions from people from all walks of life and moving stories drawn from more than a decade of their experience as international change-makers, the Kielburgers reveal that a more fulfilling path is ours for the taking when we find the courage to reach out.
Me to We is an approach to life that leads us to recognize what is truly valuable, make new decisions about the way we want to live, and redefine the goals we set for ourselves and the legacy we want to leave. Above all, it creates new ways of measuring meaning, happiness, and success in our lives, and makes these elusive goals attainable at last.
After you've absorbed the ideas presented in this book, your life may not end up as you had envisioned. You may not acquire a house on a beach in the Caymans, but you may find your toes grounded in the sand. You may not see an enormous change in your social life, but in your life you may very well see enormous social change. You may not find the person of your dreams, but you will help people young and old go beyond their's. This book will open your eyes and change the way you look at life. Treat it as an invitation: an invitation to discover the power of the Me to We philosophy and to join the growing community of people around the world who are embracing this way of life.
Customer Reviews:
Me to We review.......2007-05-21
Free the Children is a fantastic organization, and reading more about it inspired me to live more of the "Me to We" philosophy. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you..........2007-05-07
I enjoyed this book immensely. Especially, the universal, multi-cultural worldview of the authors. Initially, I borrowed it from our library system in Maryland to see whether I wanted to add it to my collection. Then I purchased the book on amazon.com and gifted it to my friends in Eagle River, Alaska. I purchased the CD to listen to in my car. The concept of "me to we" is not new; however the book is based on the authors' experiences and successful ventures on behalf of the children of the world. As you encourage others to be less materialistic, be blessed and continue to be a blessing to others.
Mary Paschall
author "In The Silence"
If I could give it more stars I would..........2007-04-20
The Kielburgers have managed to do it yet again. This book certainly matches the quality of the others they have put out in the past. Though this book really is for everyone, it appeals to an adult population that may not have already been reached. I seldom purchase books for others and I have already purchased 2 copies for friends and plan to give even more. Though labeled as a self-help book, it is less of a self-help and more about how we can help others. It reminds us of our responsibility to others and provides inspiration to continue to good things with great love. This book is perfect for those who have traveled to third-world countries, are helping others in their own communities, are participating in service learning, and those who may need a glimpse of the world beyond their front door. This book is, hands down, my favorite book of all time and is a book that I continue to read over and over again. It is great to see the work and message of people like Joe Opatowski continued through this book! Buy it and you will not regret it!
Amazing!.......2007-04-05
Words cannot describe the impact this book has had on my life. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Today's society is so "me" focused, we forget about everything else. After reading this book I started my own 501C3 organization. It's not everyday you read a book that reminds you why we are all here.
ME TO WE tells exactly how and will serve as an inspirational guide especially recommended for public library collections........2007-02-09
The authors of ME TO WE are brothers who found that reaching out to others helped them be happier in their own lives: at age 12 Craig founded the international organization Free the Children, and human rights issues and work have led both to journeys around the world finding new connections. ME TO WE blends personal experiences with a philosophy geared to commitment and improving lives, offering the belief that individual action CAN make a difference in the world. ME TO WE tells exactly how and will serve as an inspirational guide especially recommended for public library collections.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Book Description
People have long gazed in wonder at the universe and asked, Why are we here? Until recently, the answer has been the province of priests and philosophers, but now scientists are starting to weigh in with ideas that are both surprising and deeply controversial. In his new book, physicist Paul Davies shows how recent scientific discoveries point to a perplexing fact: many basic features of the physical universe— from the speed of light to the most humble carbon atom—seem tailor-made to produce life. A radical new theory says it’s because our universe is just one of an infinite number of universes, each one slightly different. Our universe is bio-friendly by accident; we just happened to win the cosmic jackpot. While this multiverse theory is compelling, it has bizarre implications, from infinite copies of each of us to Matrix-like simulated universes. Davies believes there’s a more satisfying solution to the question of existence: the observations we make today could help shape the nature of reality in the remote past. If this is true, then life and, ultimately, consciousness aren’t just incidental byproducts of nature, but central players in the formation of the universe.
Customer Reviews:
Reading Jackpot.......2007-10-02
Very interesting reading, captivating topics, most definitely a great source of reflection. Without diminishing the fascination of the big bang and inflation theories, I enjoyed more the second half, related to the fundamental questions about Universe and Existence. I found out for the first time about a possible Self-Explaining and Self-Determined Universe, where our existence could have a special and privileged meaning. Some parts of the book seemed a bit inclined towards classifications as opposed to rich dissertations "Elegant Universe" style.
A good exposition of physical theories for the uninitiated.......2007-10-02
Having read his scientific arguments in the rest of the book, I was somewhat surprised (although he says his inclinations "will be clear") by the author's concluding section (p.267), where he states, "I do take life, mind, and purpose seriously, and I concede that the universe at least appears[italicized word] to be designed with a high level of ingenuity".
Elsewhere (p.196) he contrastingly says, "If there is a designer, then this being is clearly not micromanaging the process very well", and alleges some "design flaws". Interestingly, he also writes (p.192) that biological organisms "look nothing short of miraculous. The many and diverse components function together in a coherent and amazingly orchestrated manner", and that the living cell contains "exquisite examples of nanotechnology", and so forth.
To add to these conflicting observations, the author downgrades the Intelligent Design movement, an American defense of the idea that organisms have an intelligent designer. Perhaps he does so because he is British, since other Brits have that attitude, but what seems truly unfortunate is that the Intelligent Design group is the only one he denigrates with name-calling. He speaks of their being "political" (p.284n.8), their "propaganda" (p.196), not to mention "confusions".
Not to be misunderstood, I love Americans and Brits equally (I am of middle-European Jewish birth), but I consider the Intelligent Design group just as honorable and intelligent as others, though I hold, like other cases, its arguments deficient. Presently, my concentration is on the author discussed, and I find numerous weaknesses in his argumentation.
He puts special emphasis on the concept of explanation. To him every fact must be explained; otherwise it must be "taken on faith" (p.217). He illustrates this on that page and the preceding one with humorous pictures in which the Earth is "explained by a deeper reality" of resting on an elephant, the elephant explained by resting on a turtle, which rests on another turtle, and, to "avoid infinite regress", last is "a levitating super-turtle, which is self-explaining and self-supporting".
The trouble is that the author is unclear about what he means by "explanation", by a "reason", and why some is always necessary. There exist various "reasons". A most common one is giving a cause for an event. Another one is giving a proof for a logical or mathematical proposition. All these have the purpose of satisfying some desire for resulting knowledge. But much of knowledge is gained directly, without explanation, by for instance any immediate perception of something. Laws pertaining to things are likewise often learned from experience, without need of further explanation, unless an underlying broader law might be helpful. The point is that once certain facts are learned, they become objects of knowledge, whether or not one learns more about them. If accordingly the existence of God, considered as a "super-turtle", is the question, it is beside the point whether or not "God exists reasonlessly" (p.219).
Returning to the first-mentioned last section (p.267), the author disputes there a like "exist reasonlessly", but this time appears to connote an additional sense of "a reason", namely "a purpose". He evidently means that, with the universe "a package of marvels", he takes "life [and] mind...seriously" as resulting by some "purpose", saying, "It seems to me that there is a genuine scheme of things--the universe is 'about' something". However, in Darwinian fashion he says, "I do not believe Homo sapiens to be more than an accidental by-product of haphazard natural processes". Here goes inconsistency again; he believes in both, life (and mind) as purposeful and as accidental.
Let me observe for one again that mind, consciousness, is the medium by which all reality is known. One is reminded of Berkeley's dictum, "To be is to be perceived" (Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues (Oxford World's Classics)). It is hard to explain how a world can be certain to exist if unperceived, that is without live beings like us perceiving it. As regards life itself, in that last section the reviewed author wonders about a "life principle", and one can indeed speak of life in terms of purpose, as I have tried to convey in reviews before and especially, among other issues concerning knowledge, in my book On Proof for Existence of God, and Other Reflective Inquiries. Unlike held by scientists for whom, as the author notes in that section, "any suggestion of a teleological (purposive) trend...is anathema", purpose in life is so glaringly staring us in the face that it may be for that reason this purpose is completely overlooked: All of life is characterized by its unceasing purpose of action toward self-preservation.
It is satisfying to me that the author considers at least this "half-glimpsed life principle". He, as indicated, is besides lucidly informative of contemporary theories, even if I personally question the correctness of a number of them. I accordingly gladly recommend the book for its educational worth.
Almost there!.......2007-09-19
This is the first popular cosmology book I have read in years. (They were getting a bit samey - big bang, quantum theory, multiverse etc etc.) But this book is an interesting addition to the genre. Anyone reading this, whether a born-again Christian or a convinced MWI atheist, will have his thoughts well and truly provoked.
I get the feeling that we are almost there. Just one little brainwave away from linking consciousness and the universe to explain the whole shebang. If it comes to me, I'll let you know.
A summary of the cutting edge ideas.......2007-09-01
This book talks about everything that is known about cosmology as of 2007. The author argues with an anthropic bias, the theories of the origin of the universe. He tries to make sense of the many questions, like why we are here, why the universe is as we see it, what is it that breaths fire into the equations etc. In the light of all theories about the universe, the author attempts a synopsis of which one makes more sense than the other. Again his main criterion is which theory gives life, mind and consciousness a priority and tries to incorporate them as a fundamental thing in universe. He also argues for the Goldilocks universe, that is everything in this universe looks too right for life to evolve, saying that any theory that talks about the origin of the universe must explain these anthropic conditions. Theory of Multiverse is just a Platonic scapegoat to all these questions. This book teaches you not to indulge into too much of mathematics, but to pause and ponder where are we heading and also what are we doing, and ask oneself the question whether it all makes sense or not.
broad.......2007-08-31
Very good in all respect. Broad and up to date view of the universe and a deep discussion of the problem (or solution) of God. Religions, long time ago, tried to explain the creation of the world and science took this task afterwards. The bigbang and a single universe extremely biofriendly (why?)seems almost an probabilistic absurd (without God). Than (using strig theories) science invented (or discovery)a multiverse, whith an infinity number of diferent universes, and ours is one of them. Whith an infinity number, some should be biofriendly. But this also is problematic because send the problem a step backward. The solution (up to now) is a loop, a self creating universe cosmos/life/mind/cosmos ...
Book Description
I Am Not Perfect is a simple statement of profound truth, the first step toward understanding the human condition, for to deny your essential imperfection is to deny yourself and your own humanity. The spirituality of imperfection, steeped in the rich traditions of the Hebrew prophets and Greek thinkers, Buddhist sages and Christian disciples, is a message as timeless as it is timely. This insightful work draws on the wisdom stories of the ages to provide an extraordinary wellspring of hope and inspiration to anyone thirsting for spiritual growth and guidance in these troubled times.
Who are we? Why so we so often fall short of our goals for ourselves and others? By seeking to understand our limitations and accept the inevitably of failure and pain, we being to ease the hurt and move toward a greater sense of serenity and self-awareness. The Spirituality Of Imperfection brings together stories from many spiritual and philosophical paths, weaving past traditions into a spirituality and a new way of thinking and living that works today. It speaks so anyone who yearns to find meaning within suffering. Beyond theory and technique, inside this remarkable book you will find a new way of thinking, a way of living that enables a truly human existence.
Customer Reviews:
Spirituality of Imperfection.......2007-09-23
The book was most helpful in evaluation my spirituality and I have or will give 5 copies to my relatves for their improvement.
new book1.......2007-07-21
I've read the book before. Glad to have my own copy now. Package arrived soon after ordering in good condition. Very pleased.
From AA to Zeitgeist.......2007-07-15
This is a remarkably wise book, whatever your spiritual history. From Desert Fathers and Thomas Merton to the Tao Te Ching, its scope is broad and charged with a vision of understanding that stands at the base of any effort to the growth of the soul through the five indices: prayer, observance, disciline, thought and action.
Understanding and Acceptance.......2007-05-14
Ernie Kurtz has written a comprehensive book about the acceptance of self and our human frailities that brings us into a closer relationship with a higher power and deepens our spirituality.
Sometimes over complicated and a bit confusing, but carefully
documented.
It made the differance.......2007-05-12
I was struggling with AA and my recovery and was recommended this book I read it in pieces at a time and the light bulb went on. I got it how storytelling is the true way to the heart and by passes the brain and we all can connect at that place in our stories and how AA meetings are like sitting around the fire and shareing our experiances. The idea that only through my imperfections do I experiance spirituality. And that's really true in my christian walk.
Book Description
An Inspiring Classic on the Nature of God
What is the nature of God? How can we recapture a real sense of God's majesty and truly live in the Spirit? This beloved book, a modern classic of Christian testimony and devotion, addresses these and other vital questions, showing us how we can rejuvenate our prayer life, meditate more reverently, understand God more deeply, and experience God's presence in our daily lives.
Informative and inspiring, The Knowledge of the Holy illuminates God's attributes'from wisdom, to grace, to mercy'and shows through prayerful and insightful discussion, how we can more fully recognize and appreciate each of these divine aspects. This book will be treasured by anyone committed to the Christian faith. It bears eloquent witness to God's majesty and shows us new ways to experience and understand the wonder and the power of God's spirit in our daily lives.
Customer Reviews:
One of the greatest books on the nature of God ever written.......2007-09-17
I honestly think this is one of the most wonderful, deep, profound books on the nature of God that's ever been written.
Tozer wrote, and spoke, so much awesome truth about the attributes of God - but this is his most succinct, intense, short, boiled down version of all that wonderful revelation.
I strongly recommend it.
Tozer is a great writer.......2007-09-07
This book is GREAT and I recommend it to everyone who would like to get to know God's attributes a little better! 5 stars from here!
Stepping toward the deeper life in Christ.......2007-07-01
An execelent work on the attributes of God written to teach the child and challenge the scholar. Worth reading several times with meditation.
Know WHOM you worship and why you do it.......2007-06-26
This book is like an oasis in the middle of our busy lives. Here we get closer to God because we learn to know Him and thus, to love Him.
This book reminds us that we are not to mistake God for a nice fellow whose job is to help us out. No, this one is an earth-shaking book. It inspires awe in the hearts of the fainted, it awakes you from your self-deluding day-dreams. By describing His attributes (holiness, immutability, divine omniscience, wisdom, omnipotence, transcendence, omnipresence, faithfulness, goodness, justice, mercy, grace, love, sovereignty...) is describes Him, and it produces a humbling experience in us so great that we feel embarrassed to spend so much time thinking of ourselves and so little of Him.
It is a shame that we only remember Him to ask favors or to thank Him mechanically for blessings; if we only took some time to really focus on Him, to contemplate all His attributes, what He is and does in the world and in our lives. If we could only appreciate Him more completely, and not so narrowly... it would be humbling and awe-inspiring.
This book really helps those who have a mechanical faith: a faith that has stopped growing because the focus has narrowed into attitudes like: "business as usual", or "it's all about me", or "what should I do". And we don't think about Him (the Trinity) actually; we think about things, whether spiritual or worldy, but things anyhow. Well, stop or you'll extenuate yourself. Focus of Him: Father, Son & Holy Spirit. How? Here are His attributes explained. It gives a completely new meaning to the words 'praise and worship' because, when you finish the book, you'll really know Who you are praising and worshipping. It won't be mechanical any longer.
Then we can truly say that knowing Him is loving Him. Amen.
Know our God!.......2007-06-08
For those who are seeking to know more about God, this is a book that should be among the first to be read. As author A.W. Tozer states in the very first chapter of his book, "We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God." "The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved of ten thousand temporal problems." "There is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God." And then he launches into describing the God about whom we truly know so little, by examining, one by one, His attributes: His self-sufficiency, His eternity, His omniscience, sovereignty, holiness, etc.
If the reader's search to know his God is a heartfelt one, he should be prepared to be surprised and awed by what Tozer reveals. For he examines God's attributes thoroughly and with a clarity born of great wisdom. For the seeking Christian, this book will be a treasure. Otherwise, of course, this book will make no sense at all.
For me, an added bonus was the writing style of Tozer. As an author who lived during the first half of the 1900s, he obviously belonged to that age which greatly valued literature, and wrote accordingly. I reveled in the beautiful way he expressed himself: "The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian Church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him."
Amazon.com
The Monk and the Philosopher is a collection of father-son dialogues between Jean-François Revel, a French philosopher and journalist famous for his leadership in protests of both Christianity and Communism, and Matthieu Ricard, his son, who gave up a promising career as a scientist to become a Buddhist monk in the Himalayas. The conversations recorded in this book took place during 10 days at an inn in Katmandu. The range of their subjects is immense: What is Buddhism? Why does it have such appeal to many in the West? Why do Buddhists believe in reincarnation? What are the differences between Buddhist and Christian monastic life? How do science and individualism make authentic Buddhist practice difficult for Westerners to achieve? Despite the simplicity of many of these questions, Revel and Ricard never give simplistic answers. Their discussions are rich without being dense, and, even more notably, they take every question very personally. The result is a book perfectly suited as an introduction to the elements of Buddhist religion (with a good bit of Tibetan history thrown in) that is also an excellent description of what it has been like for one man (Ricard) to practice Buddhist faith. However, as Ricard wisely notes at the end of this book, "No dialogue, however enlightening it might be, could ever be a substitute for the silence of personal experience, so indispensable for an understanding of how things really are." The greatest strength of The Monk and the Philosopher may be its power to return readers to careful attention to the way we pass our days. --Michael Joseph Gross
Book Description
Jean Francois-Revel, a pillar of French intellectual life in our time, became world famous for his challenges to both Communism and Christianity. Twenty-seven years ago, his son, Matthieu Ricard, gave up a promising career as a scientist to study Tibetan Buddhism -- not as a detached observer but by immersing himself in its practice under the guidance of its greatest living masters.
Meeting in an inn overlooking Katmandu, these two profoundly thoughtful men explored the questions that have occupied humankind throughout its history. Does life have meaning? What is consciousness? Is man free? What is the value of scientific and material progress? Why is there suffering, war, and hatred? Their conversation is not merely abstract: they ask each other questions about ethics, rights, and responsibilities, about knowledge and belief, and they discuss frankly the differences in the way each has tried to make sense of his life.
Utterly absorbing, inspiring, and accessible, this remarkable dialogue engages East with West, ideas with life, and science with the humanities, providing wisdom on how to enrich the way we live our lives.
Customer Reviews:
Meaningful & Intellectually Provocative.......2007-09-02
The dialogue between Revel & Ricard are meaningful & intellectually provocative. Their open, critical & coherent discussion not merely enabled me to learn more about meaning of life, thru the lenses of both Western philosophy & Eastern Buddism, but also guided me to see things in a more lucid perspective. I look forward to exploring, learning, & experiencing more about the path to enlightenment introduced by Ricard.
Wonderful conversation on religion and philosophy.......2006-10-21
This is a father son conversation on religion and philosophy. It is a wonderful and enlightening look at Buddhism and rationality. What an extraordinary opportunity to explore the juxtaposition between a father and his rational philosophical beliefs and his son having grown up a westerner in a rational family and moving to the spiritual realm of Buddhism. His western lens is very helpful to understand this body of belief.
A must read if you are interested in a conversation that leads to understanding and learning that bridges the rational and the spiritual.
Fantastic.......2006-06-03
I really enjoyed this book at various levels. First of all, as an intellectual exchange of views between father and son, both of whom are obviously very knowledgeable in their fields of expertise. Most of the conversations between them took place in Nepal, and some in northern France. Secondly, I enjoyed it as a means to elucidate some points of Buddhist epistemology and metaphysics. Matthieu did a very good job as a spokesperson for Tibetan Buddhism. Thirdly, I enjoyed it because of what it made me aware of: views like those of Revel, an atheist and skeptical philosopher who stands in the ethical traditions of both Epicureism and Stoicism, are not enough to satisfy my spirit's quest for a comprehensive and organic view of life, since they are issued from a merely philosophical and scientist perspective.
Every time Matthieu made a good point, Revel's reply would be like : "Oh, this idea too was known in the Western philosophical tradition...So and so said the same thing..." It may well be true, but all of these views are part of the Buddhist organic, comprehensive tradition, the chief aim of which is to attain liberation from the illusion of the self, or enlightenment. Clearly Revel prefers a syncretistic approach to a straight forward, comprehensive one, like the Buddhist or the Christian paths.
This was obviously a conversation, not a debate, in which Matthieu would have won hands down. There are many unfavorable reference to Christianity, which makes me wonder if either one, especially Revel, has ever studied the Christian theological tradition.
Intelligent and insightful.......2005-08-05
As some others have said, I have dipped my toes into Buddhism here and there and can say quite frankly that this is the first book that I thought really helped me to understand and visualize this religion/living system without getting too abstract immediately, or without being over simplified and childish. I truly felt that the dialogue challenged my understanding of Buddhism yet helped me get my grounding so that I can begin a deeper and wiser exploration. The usage of metaphoric and poetic language on the part of Matthiew was helpful for me to begin visualizing the ideals of Buddhism, and having Jacques play devil's advocate ensured that it was a healthy and balanced discussion that I truly got caught up in. It's an insightful conversation that makes you feel you are almost the third at the table and I look forward to revisiting this discussion often.
Not really a dialog; more of an introduction to Buddhism.......2005-04-30
As many reviewers have explained, this book is the transcript of a long series of discussions between French philosopher Jean-Francois Revel and his son Matthieu Ricard, a Tibetan Buddhist monk.
The majority of the book consists in Mattieu Ricard explaining basic principles of Tibetan Buddhism, and his father asking questions. They spend a lot of time clearing away basic misconceptions. In reading this book I felt that Revel could have answered nearly all the questions he put to his son by simply reading a few introductions to Tibetan Buddhism.
When I bought the book, it was under the belief that they would be having a two-way dialog, discussing issues from their different perspectives. That is not at all what happens, and this book really works best as an introduction to Buddhism. If you are new to Tibetan Buddhism and you are interested in learning a lot about it, this is a very good introduction, because Revel is not a Buddhist and asks a lot of the kinds of questions Westerners will inevitably ask of Buddhism. It succeeds well on its own modest terms.
Book Description
Jim Henderson pays people to go to church. In fact, he made national news when he "rented" a soul for $504 on E-Bay after its owner offered an "open mind" to the highest bidder. In Jim & Casper Go to Church, Hendrson hires another atheist--Matt Casper--to visit ten leading churches with him and give the "first impression" perspective of a non-believer. What follows is a startling dialogue between an atheist and a believer seeing church anew through the eyes of a skeptic, and the development of an amazing relationship between two men with diametrically opposing views of the world who agree to respect each others’ space. Foreword by George Barna.
FEATURES:
- Unique perspective of both Christian and atheist on the church & Christians in the USA
- Intelligent and respectful, seeking dialogue between key characters
- Helps the Christian understand the change in attitudes and actions required when shifting from defending the faith to defending "sacred space"--from talking to listening, from strength to weakness, from debate to dialogue, from manipulation to intentionality
Customer Reviews:
it's ok.......2007-09-26
The book is ok. It has some good insights, but is merely two guys opinion. I think you have to take their age and everything into account. It is an important read, and I would like to see more books like this to get a well rounded opinion from "the outsiders".
For What It's Worth.......2007-09-18
A Book about churches written by an ex-pastor and an atheist is at best entertaining. It reminds me of those books by ex-members of a president's administration--always eagerly awaited by the other party but needing a grain of salt, given the circumstances of the "ex's". The latest trends are easy targets so Jim and Casper are right on at times, but still, the sneering ridicule is exactly the attitude they accuse church people of having toward outsiders--judging them without knowing them. For example, how exactly did they expect people to relate to them when they come in and sit in the back working on their laptops during a worship service. A reasonable person would have seen them as IRS agents or for what they really are--a couple of outsiders trying to make a buck in the religious pundit business. And why not? There are now more pundits (people who comment on other people's actions) than those who actually do things. Cool! Fun! But just how credible?
Really a good read but keep things in perspective.......2007-09-03
I just finished the book today (and this is my very first review). It's a quick read. Not much as far as in-depth analysis. In reality it's only the first impressions of someone who is not familiar with church culture. In some ways it feels like the script from a reality tv show. Funny, interesting, but something of substance is missing.
That being said, I think what is worth thinking about the book are exactly those first impressions, particularly the line, "Is this what Jesus told you guys to do." That, I think is, how the book cashes out. But I must admit I was torn...
One one hand, there are certain ancient traditions that Christians still practice today (the sacraments) that would be hard for any person outside of the Christian community to completely understand. In fact, it would be presumptuous for us to conclude that someone who is not a follower of Christ would understand theological concepts such as substitutionary atonement, imputation, justification, and sanctification. And before you shut me out because these concepts are "theological" - two things. First, pastors used to be sort of the theologian/philosopher/shepherd in their local community. They were less concerned with lights, smoke machines, and what have you, and really concerned about the state of people's souls. Second, these concepts work themselves out in how we live the Christian life in practical and often mundane ways. There's no way around this.
On the other hand, I agree wholeheartedly that some of the practices that are a part of church today are not ancient but are new and in my opinion, kind of goofy. Some of the things that made Casper squirm are the very things that make me squirm. As a pastor I think there is much to consider here particularly when it comes to forcing community on people in sappy ways or giving the appearance that we are always happy, or as Dallas Willard likes to say, giving the impression that Christianity works in some sort of superficial magical way. We neglect the deep work of the Spirit in revealing both our virtues and vices that are deeply habituated in our hearts and minds.
I still get the feeling that I'm in on a postmodern conversation. For instance, "I love the teachings of Jesus. I love the teachings of Buddha." I'm not sure how to make sense of that. There are other hints that the Christian faith is not necessarily a reservoir of knowledge but rather one simply accepts it by faith. I'm not comfortable with that. I certainly understand why Jim would hold back and not "befriend" Casper so as to debate him about the nature of truth. I agree that we are not looking for certainty (like Descartes) but the tradition of Christianity is that you could know certain things were true without acting like a pompous jackass. If you're confused read J.P. Moreland's chapter 5 in "The Kingdom Triangle."
That being said, I think the book is worth reading. In fact, I laughed out loud in quite a few places agreeing wholeheartedly with Casper's thoughts. It's given me pause to think about ministry, my heart in all of this, and most importantly God's heart for people.
New Perspective.......2007-08-18
This book is very well written. It brought a whole new prespective to the way that I think about church and christianity. A book with an insighful purpose.
Productive Conversations.......2007-08-16
I just finished the book and have little experience in befriending an Atheist. I loved the book and the perspectives that Casper shares simply for my exposure to his beliefs seen through his observations and the questions he raises.
I also really enjoy getting to visit churches from all over and was immediately drawn to this aspect of the book - sad that the tour did not include any churches outside of the USA. God is so much bigger than the United States (as wonderful a country this is).
My highest respect for Casper is built when he concludes with, "Be open-minded. Learning is the best thing that can happen to anyone." What an amazing opportunity for both Jim and Casper to learn about one another.
Book Description
This timely book expands on Viktor Frankl's seminal Man's Search for Meaning, examining the book's concepts in depth and widening the market for them by introducing an entirely new way to look at work and the workplace. Alex Pattakos, a former colleague of Frankl's, brings the search for meaning at work within the grasp of every reader using simple, straightforward language. The author distills Frankl's ideas into seven core principles: Exercise the freedom to choose your attitude; Realize your will to meaning; Detect the meaning of life's moments; Don't work against yourself; Look at yourself from a distance; Shift your focus of attention; and Extend beyond yourself. By demonstrating how Dr. Frankl's key principles can be applied to all kinds of work situations, Prisoners of Our Thoughts opens up new opportunities for finding personal meaning and living an authentic work life.
Customer Reviews:
Why do we feel so bad?.......2007-09-25
It's a question that each of us has asked at some point in our lives. It's been contemplated and argued for decades by some of the greatest minds in religion, philosophy and science. The feeling had become so prevalent in society, that in 1992, Forbes magazine dedicated its 75th Anniversary issue to answering this ominous question.
We live in a world of unprecedented abundance; arguably, the most "prosperous" time in the history of mankind. Yet so many of us lead lives of unhappiness and despair. The paths we have chosen have filled our pockets while emptying our souls of purpose and meaning. Victor Frankl addressed this troubling paradox through his life's work. Alex Pattakos picks up the torch and carries Frankl's message to a new generation.
It has been many years since I first read Victor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning". To this day, it has been one of the most influential books I have ever purchased. As a survivor of the Nazi death camps, Frankl had every reason to "feel bad". He was surrounded my torture and murder - atrocities which most of us will never fully imagine. Yet through this incredible suffering, Frankl found meaning and a sense of renewed purpose.
Although most of us will never face the horrors of a concentration camp, we still reside in our own self-imposed prisons as a result of unfulfilled jobs, failed relationships, and misguided searching. Alex Pattakos' book, "Prisoners of our Thoughts" rekindles the fire of Frankl's work with practical application to today's world.
Pattakos expands upon the significance of Frankl's philosophy of one's "choice in response". As Frankl believed, "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our happiness." Being responsible for our own choices in times of hardship often comes with great challenge. However, these challenges provide the source of authentic meaning. As Pattakos points out, these times of suffering provide the greatest test to our courage and that "courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness and ability to walk through the fear - to tread, if you will, into the darkness of life's labyrinth of meaning."
Pattakos' 7 Principles provide a simple and concise framework for applying the essence of Frankl's teachings to our current "condition" whether it be in our professional or personal life or both. His references to Frankl's work are timely and insightful. The visualizations, exercises and points of reflection which Pattakos details throughout the book provide additional assistance in connecting these important concepts to the applicable points in our lives.
As we integrate Victor Frankl's teachings into our life, we begin to realize that the freedom to choose our response in any given situation makes us a product of our decisions and not of our conditions. With that being said, "feeling so bad" truly becomes a question of choice.
Another great book!.......2007-05-30
Alex Pattakos is a skilled, sensitive writer who captures the essence of Dr. Frankl's thought on each and every page. The seven Core Principles are simple, easy to understand, and yet they cut right to the essence of realizing personal potential. I found the quote..."When we miss the meaning in our work life, we miss the life in our work"..to be especially helpful when working with people trying to overcome their addictive practices. Focusing on the importance of their work has been a big fisrt step!
A Great Challenge to Rethink Yourself and Your Work........2007-04-01
I have used "Prisoners of Our Thoughts" several times now in my Organizational Behavior classes in a local MBA program. It has always been received with great respect, and has, without exception, inspired students to rethink their career, their daily activities, and their plans for the future.
Very helpful in this book are the end-of-chapter reflection exercises, which encourage readers to think of their own personal circumstances and how they deal with them.
Although not used as a research foundation, Prisoners of Our Thoughts has served as an important work of balance in my own two recently produced books, "The Awakened Leader: One Simple Leadership Style That Works Every Time, Everywhere," and "Spirituality in the Workplace: What it is; Why it Matters; How to Make it Work for You" (the last one co-authored with Dr. Satinder Dhiman and Dr. Richard King).
Both of these books elaborate on the mindset that we can change our circumstances, and with that, the circumstances of those that are linked to us. Both of these books also leave room for readers to reflect at the end of each chapter.
Prisoners of our Thoughts is absolutely a positive experience for the serious reader who seeks inspiration in life.
Delivering Deeper Meaning.......2006-11-22
"Dr. Meaning" has it right here. With relevant examples and straightforward language, Dr. Pattakos connects our desires to search for meaning in all we do with a plan to make it happen. This is not a book of simple platitudes and 'feel good' sayings - this is a book rich in the application of Viktor Frankl's principles, applied to how we approach our work lives.
I will be using these principles for my own self-awareness and with my clients. Thank you for taking the time to write "the book that needed to be written"!
Prisoners no More.......2006-11-14
The title of Alex Pattakos' book, "Prisoners of our Thoughts" intrigued me, as I have studied areas of consciousness studies, psychology and spirituality that bear on this theme. It is an area of study with profound implications for how we experience life. The more "esoteric" or deeply philosophical aspects of this work can be a real challenge to convey in a manner that has practical value and clear applicability for general audiences.
In that regard, Alex has done an exemplary job of tackling this challenge. His presentation reminds me of the phrase "the simplicity on the other side of complexity." Through the use of short stories he weaves his principles into the fabric of our everyday lives. The complexity and sophistication behind those principles is clearly there in the background, but never overshadows the core of the principles themselves.
As I was reading through the book, I could continually relate how I was already using these principles in my life, and how they had led to significant improvements in the quality of life I am experiencing. The clarity with which Alex presents his message brought further clarity to my own understanding of the ongoing attention that needs to be brought to keeping thoughts in their place, and not allowing them to imprison one. There is an old phrase that I like to use - "the mind is a good servant but a poor master." Alex Pattakos has given us a great guidebook on how to live the truth in that statement.
Average customer rating:
- Absolutely delightful
- Insight into the big question in a roundabout and gentle way
- Great Book
- REAL AND REALLY FUNNY
- Sweet and funny
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The Meaning Of Life
Bradley Trevor Greive
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ASIN: 0740723367 |
Book Description
It's an age-old question that has stumped the great minds of history: What is the meaning of life? In his hilarious and uplifting style, best-selling author Bradley Trevor Greive finally provides the answer: Figure out what you love and do it.Illustrated with playful photographs of animals, BTG's insightful prose again hits his target straight on. He muses about why we're here and our greater purpose in the grand scheme of things. His informal style provides a refreshing counterpoint to what has always been one of life's big debates. For example, when it comes to discovering your passion, BTG writes, "First, no one else will tell you about it-it's just like walking around all day with a sign on your back that says KICK ME.The Meaning of Life is a witty, thought-provoking book that makes an ideal gift for anyone who's seeking their true purpose-and wants to laugh along the way.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely delightful.......2007-01-10
Excellent selection of photographs that are well matched to the witty prose. I recommend this book for anyone who needs a cheering up and a hearty laugh.
Well done!
Insight into the big question in a roundabout and gentle way.......2006-09-17
This book is a linear commentary on the little things in life. Each page and comment has a picture of an animal that adds meaning to the comment -almost always in a make you smile or outright laugh kind of way.
It is a gentle and sensitive light hearted book that everyone will enjoy and gain something from. Of course it doesn't answer the big question, it just gives you food for thought about it.
The only minus about this book is that all the pictures are in black and white. Color would have been so much better.
Great Book.......2006-03-28
I love this book. Everytime I read it I get something else from it. My kids like it to because of the great animal pictures. I have let co-workers borrow it and they had to buy their own. Wonderful for all ages.
REAL AND REALLY FUNNY.......2006-03-17
THIS BOOK IS SO REAL, AND SO FUNNY, I AM NOW BUYING IT FOR GIFTS, ANYONE WHO READS THE ENTIRE BOOK, WILL WANT ONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS BOOK, I WILL BE PASSING IT ALONG THE WAY....
Sweet and funny.......2006-03-15
Would recommend the book for anyone looking for a lightly thought provoking ideas.
Book Description
For over two decades, Abby Seixas has taught women how to slow down and reclaim their lives from the tyranny of their to-do lists. Based on the experiences of women whose lives have been transformed by her workshops, this highly anticipated first book presents her comprehensive program to nurture contact with the Deep River Within, the soul-nourishing dimension in each of us that flows beneath the busyness of daily life. With gentle encouragement, practical guidance, and compelling stories of struggle and success, Finding the Deep River Within details the three preliminary doorways and six core practices for inviting the rich resources of our deeper nature into everyday life.
Customer Reviews:
The best gift to yourself and to others.......2007-09-06
I am a major fan of the hardcover edition of this book and plan to order paperbacks as gifts for my friends. Author, Abby Seixas, tackles the subject crucial to all of us living in this culture of rush: how to slow down and live more effectively, enjoyably, and unselfishly. She provides practical tools on how to quiet your racing thoughts, live in the moment, and realize the life you were meant to live. Too often, we are slaves to unnecessary stress which limits the lives we were meant to lead. This book will help you not only to stop and smell the roses but to feed and nurture the whole garden that is your life. The price and the time you will spend on this book will be returned to you 10 times over in the rewards you will reap in your daily life.
One of my favorite books I've read this year.......2007-08-31
Abby Seixas' warm, wonderful guide left me in tears: tears of gratitude and recognition. I have four children, co-own a business with my husband, homeschool my two older children, and recently launched a second business: my life is full. I began "Finding the Deep River Within" on a day when I was exhausted, overwhelmed, feeling inside out, and wondering how I could make the various pieces of my life work.
Reading her book was like talking with a wise older sister or aunt. As women in the 21st century, we have so many opportunities. And yet those endless opportunities can create their own stress: If we can do everything, and we have endless choices, then how do we pick and choose to create a fulfilling, passionate life?
This is not a how to organize your life guide. It's a how to find yourself---your true self, your spirit---guide.
I read voraciously, at least a book or two a week, and Finding the Deep River Within was one of my favorite books I read this year: it's that good.
Great book.......2007-03-08
I love this book. It has practical advice for helping women to evaluate their lives and find balance. It is not another "how to organize" your life book. It truly invites one to take stock of what is important from inside out. It is a great resource for me as a retreat director.
Life doesn't have to be fast to be fun!.......2006-10-28
"A deep river" is a marvelous alternative metaphor for living that feels like endless "white water." While Seixas' advice to take time for yourself, befriend your feelings, and do what you love is not new, her written expression is compelling--even enchanting. For a more thoroughly Christian perspective on slowing down and living delight, see Addicted to Hurry: Spiritual Strategies for Slowing Down and Holy Play: The Joyful Adventure of Unleashing Your Divine Purpose.
Great Guidance for a More Meaningful Life.......2006-10-05
The six practices Abby Seixas describes in Finding the Deep River Within contain sound psycho-spiritual skills that bring me home to myself and provide excellent guidance for my clients. The great value of this book is that Seixas has laid out these essential skills in a coherent, well-organized way that's easy to understand and inviting to use. Her writing is direct and intimate, and her message is desperately needed to create balance in our demanding world. Valuable wisdom for enriching one's life, and a treasure to give to your women friends.
Jean Guenther, Psychotherapist, Burlington, VT
Book Description
Professionals and business people in midlife are increasingly asking themselves 'what's next?' in their careers and personal lives. This book draws on the wisdom of the ages to help contemporary men and women plan for satisfying, useful, moral, and meaningful second halves of their lives. For centuries, the brightest people in Western societies have looked to Aristotle for guidance on how to lead a good life and how to create a good society. Now James O'Toole-the Mortimer J. Adler Senior Fellow of the Aspen Institute-translates that classical philosophical framework into practical, comprehensible terms to help professionals and business people apply it to their own lives and work. His book helps thoughtful readers address some of the profound questions they are currently struggling with in planning their futures:
Customer Reviews:
Strong start, disappointing finish.......2006-04-05
This book starts out with a strong review of Aristotle's ethics the application of these ethics to life in the 21st century. The writing is clear and easy to follow, even if you have no background in philosophy.
The second half of the book is weak. The book profiles people that the author believes have clearly failed or succeeded at finding happiness as Aristotle would define it. Unfortunately, almost all of the examples cited are wealthy, white men in their 50s, 60s and 70s. The book would have been much stronger if the author had profiled a broader range of people.
Different Recast on Aristotle's and Adler's work.......2005-05-31
The book is a recast of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics which was summarized ih Mortimer Adler's Time of Our Lives. What James O'Toole does well is to weave his personal story and struggles with these issues in a language and context of today. I found this personal view refreshing and move Aristotle's theory to a very practical level. The book is clearly aimed at baby boomers, like himself, who are struggling with meaning and unfulfilled career aspirations. Personally, O'Toole's writing got me to think more about the question of whether all vices are "fun and exciting" and all virtue is "boring". The book is easy to ready and allows one to access easily Aristotle's important writings. I recommend it for anyone struggling with these issues.
P.B.
Boston, MA
A contemporary as well as classical guide to happiness.... .......2005-04-13
Perhaps you're now asking the same question I once did: "Given the fact that he lived almost 2,400 years ago, what could Aristotle possibly have to say that is directly relevant to me?" In fact, a great deal. So many of us today -- especially those at mid-life -- are engaged in a search to find meaning and happiness. We often ask, as Peggy Lee once did, "Is that all there is?" The purpose of this book is show how Aristotle is an effective guide on that search, and how he can help each of us find our own practical answer to a critically important question, "What's next?"
In an interview to appear in the July/August (2005) issue of Chamber Executive magazine, O'Toole observes that "Aristotle was the most practical of all great philosophers. His audience was the business and political leadership of his day. He offered them wisdom they could apply in their own lives -- practical advice on matters ranging from ethical business practices to effective philanthropy. Aristotle even describes 'virtuous non-retirement' -- the lifelong commitment to engage in leisure work which is characterized by pursuit of the 'highest good' of individual excellence and the 'complete good' of community service. He offers practical tests to help us determine how much wealth we need to support us while we engage in those activities."
O'Toole goes on to say, "So my challenge was not making Aristotle relevant to today's successful professionals and managers; instead, I faced the nearly impossible task of making his difficult language clear to modern readers [begin italics] without dumbing it down [end italics]. I had to find a way to explore the depth and complexity of Aristotle in a way that makes sense in an age of sound bites and blogs. After all, who ever heard of a [begin italics] serious [end italics] self-help book? But that's what I set out to write."
As O'Toole explains in this book, Aristotle struggled with many of the same difficult circumstances (more than two centuries ago) which most of us face in 2005: "...in his career as a teacher and a consultant to leaders of ancient Athens, Aristotle thought long and hard about what it means to live a good life and how much it takes to finance it. His thoughts on this matter are particularly applicable today, given the baby boom generation's anxiety over insufficient retirement savings and shaky investments: Aristotle shows how we can find happiness at almost any level of income. Moreover, he argues that the ability to find true contentment correlates only tangentially with the amount of money one has cached away. Unlike so many of today's `life advisors,' Aristotle integrates financial planning with the broader task of life planning."
Throughout human history, there has been a constant challenge to get lifestyle and quality of life in appropriate balance. As O'Toole notes, "Aristotelian ethics concern moral decisions related to how we should allocate the limited time of our lives. We must each plan how we will allocate our energies among such activities as earning, learning, playing, being with friends and family, and participating in the community. As we make these choices, Aristotle warns, we will fail to achieve 'the chief good' -- that is, we will fail to be happy -- if we pursue the wrong ends."
If the pursuit of philosophy is to serve as a practical guide to action, and I believe it is, then the wisdom which Aristotle gained from his own experiences will guide and inform our own pursuit and achievement of "the chief good": personal happiness. In the Foreword to one of O'Toole's previously published books, The Executive's Compass, Lodwrick M. Cook (former chairman and CEO of Atlantic Richfield Company) explains O'Toole's use of the central metaphor: "The beauty of the compass is that it provides a framework for the executive to create order out of the growing chaos of cultural diversity and conflict of values. Like a real compass, [O'Toole's 'value compass'] helps us to find where we are, where others are, where we want to go, and how to get there. Like the Aspen experience itself, O'Toole's compass is aimed at developing executive judgment by expanding our understanding of the interrelationships of fundamental values."
Cook's comments are also relevant to Creating the Good Life. For those now struggling to define and then create the good life for themselves, whatever their current circumstances may be, Aristotle's wisdom can indeed serve as a "compass." In this volume, O'Toole prepares his reader to use it effectively.
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