The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

Amazon.com

Barack Obama's first book, Dreams from My Father, was a compelling and moving memoir focusing on personal issues of race, identity, and community. With his second book The Audacity of Hope, Obama engages themes raised in his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, shares personal views on faith and values and offers a vision of the future that involves repairing a "political process that is broken" and restoring a government that has fallen out of touch with the people. We had the opportunity to ask Senator Obama a few questions about writing, reading, and politics--see his responses below. --Daphne Durham

20 Second Interview: A Few Words with Barack Obama

Q: How did writing a book that you knew would be read so closely by so many compare to writing your first book, when few people knew who you were?
A: In many ways, Dreams from My Father was harder to write. At that point, I wasn't even sure that I could write a book. And writing the first book really was a process of self-discovery, since it touched on my family and my childhood in a much more intimate way. On the other hand, writing The Audacity of Hope paralleled the work that I do every day--trying to give shape to all the issues that we face as a country, and providing my own personal stamp on them.

Q: What is your writing process like? You have such a busy schedule, how did you find time to write?
A: I'm a night owl, so I usually wrote at night after my Senate day was over, and after my family was asleep--from 9:30 p.m. or so until 1 a.m. I would work off an outline--certain themes or stories that I wanted to tell--and get them down in longhand on a yellow pad. Then I'd edit while typing in what I'd written.

Q: If readers are to come away from The Audacity of Hope with one action item (a New Year's Resolution for 2007, perhaps?), what should it be?
A: Get involved in an issue that you're passionate about. It almost doesn't matter what it is--improving the school system, developing strategies to wean ourselves off foreign oil, expanding health care for kids. We give too much of our power away, to the professional politicians, to the lobbyists, to cynicism. And our democracy suffers as a result.

Q: You're known for being able to work with people across ideological lines. Is that possible in today's polarized Washington?
A: It is possible. There are a lot of well-meaning people in both political parties. Unfortunately, the political culture tends to emphasize conflict, the media emphasizes conflict, and the structure of our campaigns rewards the negative. I write about these obstacles in chapter 4 of my book, "Politics." When you focus on solving problems instead of scoring political points, and emphasize common sense over ideology, you'd be surprised what can be accomplished. It also helps if you're willing to give other people credit--something politicians have a hard time doing sometimes.

Q: How do you make people passionate about moderate and complex ideas?
A: I think the country recognizes that the challenges we face aren't amenable to sound-bite solutions. People are looking for serious solutions to complex problems. I don't think we need more moderation per se--I think we should be bolder in promoting universal health care, or dealing with global warming. We just need to understand that actually solving these problems won't be easy, and that whatever solutions we come up with will require consensus among groups with divergent interests. That means everybody has to listen, and everybody has to give a little. That's not easy to do.

Q: What has surprised you most about the way Washington works?
A: How little serious debate and deliberation takes place on the floor of the House or the Senate.

Q: You talk about how we have a personal responsibility to educate our children. What small thing can the average parent (or person) do to help improve the educational system in America? What small thing can make a big impact?
A: Nothing has a bigger impact than reading to children early in life. Obviously we all have a personal obligation to turn off the TV and read to our own children; but beyond that, participating in a literacy program, working with parents who themselves may have difficulty reading, helping their children with their literacy skills, can make a huge difference in a child's life.

Q: Do you ever find time to read? What kinds of books do you try to make time for? What is on your nightstand now?
A: Unfortunately, I had very little time to read while I was writing. I'm trying to make up for lost time now. My tastes are pretty eclectic. I just finished Marilynne Robinson's Gilead, a wonderful book. The language just shimmers. I've started Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, which is a great study of Lincoln as a political strategist. I read just about anything by Toni Morrison, E.L. Doctorow, or Philip Roth. And I've got a soft spot for John le Carre.

Q: What inspires you? How do you stay motivated?
A: I'm inspired by the people I meet in my travels--hearing their stories, seeing the hardships they overcome, their fundamental optimism and decency. I'm inspired by the love people have for their children. And I'm inspired by my own children, how full they make my heart. They make me want to work to make the world a little bit better. And they make me want to be a better man.

Book Description

“A government that truly represents these Americans–that truly serves these Americans–will require a different kind of politics. That politics will need to reflect our lives as they are actually lived. It won’t be pre-packaged, ready to pull off the shelf. It will have to be constructed from the best of our traditions and will have to account for the darker aspects of our past. We will need to understand just how we got to this place, this land of warring factions and tribal hatreds. And we’ll need to remind ourselves, despite all our differences, just how much we share: common hopes, common dreams, a bond that will not break.”
–from The Audacity of Hope

In July 2004, Barack Obama electrified the Democratic National Convention with an address that spoke to Americans across the political spectrum. One phrase in particular anchored itself in listeners’ minds, a reminder that for all the discord and struggle to be found in our history as a nation, we have always been guided by a dogged optimism in the future, or what Senator Obama called “the audacity of hope.”

Now, in The Audacity of Hope, Senator Obama calls for a different brand of politics–a politics for those weary of bitter partisanship and alienated by the “endless clash of armies” we see in congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of “our improbable experiment in democracy.” He explores those forces–from the fear of losing to the perpetual need to raise money to the power of the media–that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He also writes, with surprising intimacy and self-deprecating humor, about settling in as a senator, seeking to balance the demands of public service and family life, and his own deepening religious commitment.

At the heart of this book is Senator Obama’s vision of how we can move beyond our divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families, the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and the transnational threats–from terrorism to pandemic–that gather beyond our shores. And he grapples with the role that faith plays in a democracy–where it is vital and where it must never intrude. Underlying his stories about family, friends, members of the Senate, even the president, is a vigorous search for connection: the foundation for a radically hopeful political consensus.

A senator and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a skeptic, and above all a student of history and human nature, Senator Obama has written a book of transforming power. Only by returning to the principles that gave birth to our Constitution, he says, can Americans repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. Those Americans are out there, he writes–“waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them.”

Customer Reviews:

Obama Stakes Out Centrist Ground.......2007-10-09

I routinely give history books five stars, but I am compelled to limit this one to four. The political manifesto is limited as a genre, and I was not quite ready after Obama's last book to be brought back down to earth. The stories in this book, while by turns sad and funny, are no longer told for their own sakes like the ones in "Dreams from my Father," but to illustrate a point. Still, Obama manages to be polemical without being strident. When they deserve it in his view, he bestows credit and even praise on individual Republicans, and quotes the sage advice that President Bush once gave him -- that he was rising so spectacularly that people on his own side might come to see him as a threat. He also has a lot of praise for his staff members, listing the more senior ones by name and telling stories of things he and they discovered at the same time.

The leading characteristic of this book is that Obama strives to be Informed about every issue he comments on. Accordingly, he attacks those on the extreme poles of the debate on all these issues for encouraging their constituents not to be informed. He will frequently say, in so many words, that while Republicans need to acknowledge X, Democrats equally need to acknowledge Y. The eighth chapter, "The World Beyond Our Borders," indicates even if his more recent rhetoric did not that if you are looking for a candidate who will get our troops out of Iraq quickly, Barack Obama is probably not your man. He reminds me of no one, in fact, so much as Bill Clinton in his knowledgeable approach to the issues, bolstered frequently by statistics.

My favorite chapters were the third chapter -- in which Obama sets forth his view of the Constitution, and talks of his respectful meeting with onetime Klansman Sen. Robert Byrd -- and the sixth chapter, where he talks about religion and his race against Alan Keyes (having discussed most of his other political opponents in the previous four chapters). While he beat Keyes handily, Keyes made him more uncomfortable than the others for his implicit charge that Obama's faith is insincere or "adulterated," the word Obama uses. From this chapter, however, I gleaned that Obama's faith is hard-won. He had higher expectations of religion perhaps than most, a higher threshhold that he insisted it meet before he would embrace it; but he is sincere. Keyes has now entered the Presidential race (his third try for his party's nomination); I suspect that more than anything he wants another crack at Obama. In the last chapter before the epilogue, we see Obama as a family man, a side of him which didn't make it into his first book.

Obama writes far more readable and entertaining books than the Clintons do -- which doesn't necessarily mean he would make a better President than either of them. But I am glad he exists. He is one of those singular people who seek to prove we as a nation are who we say we are. If I was teaching American history in an inner-city school, and was not compelled to use the same books as everyone else in the state, Obama would be one of five or so authors I would assign. (Did I mention his insights on the need to completely restructure public education, shared in the fifth chapter, "Opportunity"? He's a bit short on details of his solution here, however.) As mentioned above, I give this book four stars.

Hope and Compromise.......2007-10-04

I am particularly struck by the contrast of Obama and George W. Bush. Obama stays in touch with the masses by talking in air terminals and wherever he finds them in public. Jim Wallis (author of "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It") comments from his meeting the President:

"And he (George W. Bush) really did listen, more than presidents often do. He also asked questions. One sounded lofty, yet it resonated with those of us seated around the room: 'How do I speak to the soul of America?' My answer to that was simple: Focus on the children. Their plight is our shame, I told him, and their promise is our future. Reach them and you reach our soul. Bush nodded in agreement. The conversation was rich and deep for more than an hour and a half.

When the discussion officially ended, Bush moved around the room, talking with us individually or in small groups for another hour. I could see that his staff was anxious to whisk him away (cabinet appointments were being made that week and there were key departments yet to fill). Yet he lingered and continued to ask questions. At one point, he turned to me and said, with what I could only read as complete sincerity, 'Jim, I don't understand poor people. I've never lived with poor people or been around poor people much. I don't understand what they think and feel about a lot of things. I'm just a white Republican guy who doesn't get it. How do I get it?'"

Here, in Obama's book, Obama is an ordinary American who has entered a lofty position in Washington, but he has not forgotten the people, not only the people of America, but of Indonesia and Kenya as well.

Obama's style is assertive, with a stunning line or two for each chapter.

Still, I believe Obama isn't spot on. When he speaks of hope, for example, the word opportunity would be more exacting and prospective. While Obama speaks of compromise, it would be appropriate to examine areas of agreement, but work towards independent solutions rather than compromise.

A New Kind of Politics.......2007-09-30

"They are out there, I think to myself, those ordinary citizens who have grown up in the midst of all the political and cultural battles.....They are out there, waiting for Republicans and Democrats to catch up with them".

That statement sets the tone for Senator Obama's refreshingly honest look at policy and politics. In this book, you'll find Obama as open to pointing out flaws in conventional liberal thinking as he is to criticizing his opponents on the right. Likewise, he praises certain aspects of Reagan's policy as openly as he criticizes other parts of it, or as openly as he applauds Bill Clinton's policies. Obama's ability to empathize with a differing point of view, yet maintaining a firm belief in his own position is very endearing.

The most interesting aspect of the book, perhaps, is its ability to see today's issues in a historical context. When examining U.S. foreign policy, Obama first walks the reader through the positions taken by Washington, Jefferson, Woodrow Wilson, Nixon, Reagan and others in trying to preserve America's national interests through interventions abroad. Likewise, when looking at the role of faith in American politics, Obama starts by giving the readers a glimpse of the how America's founding fathers thought about these issues, and how the cultural and social changes in the sixties eventually led the religious right to start playing a more active role in politics.

Obama also talks openly about his family, and his experiences while growing up, that have shaped him as a person. While talking about racial issues, he is comfortable talking about personal experiences that offer him hope. He's equally comfortable talking about his initiation into faith, having been brought up by a mother who wasn't religious.

If you're looking to understand the details of policy that Obama would champion if elected President, this book doesn't offer you a lot. However, what it gives you is the framework of beliefs which shape how Obama thinks about politics and policy. It lives true to its title, and offers hope for a new kind of politics, one that would help us all get closer to the American Dream. All in all, a very enjoyable read, and highly recommended.

Uplifting and inspirational.......2007-09-22

Regardless of their political affiliations, it's hard to find a person who doesn't think Barack Obama isn't a decent guy. He never tries to oversell himself and doesn't claim to know everything. He's also very down to Earth and isn't afraid to admit when he's made mistakes. All of these qualities have made Obama a successful politician who may be rewarded with the ultimate prize in November 2008.

However, in addition to being a good politician, Obama also happens to be an excellent writer. I was very impressed with his first book, "Dreams from My Father," which is more of an autobiography than this book is. In "The Audacity of Hope," Obama explores some of the major issues facing Americans today. He does devote a chapter to politics, but also focuses on foreign policy, education, the economy, and family values. Obama peppers his chapters with personal experiences, pieces of American history, and an examination of the current state of affairs. He doesn't offer detailed, step-by-step solutions to these problems, admitting that he doesn't have all the answers. Instead, Obama presents his ideas logically, passionately, and sincerely. He has a very laid-back writing style that is very similar to the way he presents himself when speaking in public. Most importantly, he's very realistic. Obama addresses both sides of each issue and explains his views in a way that's very easy to understand and also illustrates that the senator has a lot of good common sense: something that many of his Washington counterparts are severely lacking.

I'm sure Obama must have at least been considering the idea of a presidential bid when he wrote this book, but "Audacity" isn't just a political text. It's a book about all the things that make America great, and it generates a sense of hope that things have the potential to get a heck of a lot better around here. That alone is enough of a reason to read this inspirational book written by a passionate man who was born to be a leader.

Five starts on the title alone.......2007-09-21

This is a gift for my father so I have not read it. The title and my impression are very positive but I can't help you.

Average customer rating:

A Classic!
Best bedtime book ever!
Classic.
Classic Favorite!
Love this book

Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown
Manufacturer: HarperFestival
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Board Books | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Goodnight Moon | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0694003611

Amazon.com

Perhaps the perfect children's bedtime book, Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for--or attempting to postpone--his own slumber. He says goodnight to every object in sight and within earshot, including the "quiet old lady whispering hush." Clement Hurd's illustrations are simple and effective, alternating between small ink drawings and wide, brightly colored views of the little rabbit's room.

Finding all of the items mentioned throughout the book within the pictures is a good bedtime activity--a reappearing little mouse is particularly pesky. By the end of the little rabbit's goodnight poem, the story has quieted to a whisper, and the drawings have darkened with nightfall. As you turn the last page, you can expect a sleepy smile and at least a yawn or two. (Picture book)

Book Description

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room--to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one--he says goodnight.

In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

Customer Reviews:

A Classic!.......2007-09-30

I give this book as a baby shower gift or a birthday gift to my friends' kids who are 5 and under. It's a sure favorite.

Best bedtime book ever!.......2007-09-28

I first had this book read to me at a public library when I was 4. I never owned it growing up, but I would borrow it and force my parents to read it to me.
I bought this book for my dear friend who is about to give birth as I write this for her little one. I think it is an integral part of the bedtime routine and it can be fun to have your child say goodnight to their room as well.

Classic........2007-09-24

This book is a classic and my daughter has enjoyed it for many months. She is now old enough to point out the cats and mouse etc and the story is a darling one. We have bought this book many times for family and friends.

Classic Favorite!.......2007-09-17

I have read this book to my baby nearly every night since she was born. I was using an old paperback copy I had, but my 7 month old wants to turn the pages herself. So glad it's available as a board book. It's a timeless classic and a favorite.

Love this book.......2007-09-10

A great beginning to my grandson's library. I bought this for his first birthday.

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

Average customer rating:

warning
"PT 109" for the 21st Century
Moving, eloquent and inspirational...
A worthy memoir of Obama's complicated early life
just great

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
Barack Obama
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

African-American & Black | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1400082773
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Book Description

In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father—a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man—has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey—first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother’s family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father’s life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.

Customer Reviews:

warning.......2007-10-09

great read, but once you're done there's no way you could look at this man the same way again.

"PT 109" for the 21st Century.......2007-10-08

As my readers will know, I am a tough critic, but I can find precious little about "Dreams from my Father" to criticize. Of course, the book will not appeal to those who don't care about race in America, or who have extremely fixed ideas about the subject. I like to think though that the majority of the reading public at least (if not the general public) are both engaged with and to some extent open-minded about our nation's central bugaboo/crisis/character flaw.

An editorial review mentioned that Obama's mother is almost absent from the book. To some extent he may have taken her somewhat for granted -- unlike his father or himself, he always had a good idea who she was and what she was about. In the preface to this edition, Obama mentions that she has died of cancer between the original publication and his nomination for U. S. Senate from Illinois, and that if he had known she would not be around to see that, he might have written a different book, spending more time hailing her for having stood by him. In the introduction to the first edition (written in 1995), he admits that he can't speak for everyone in the world. This is the most ironic part of the book, since it was only a year after that that he first ran for the Illinois state legislature. Thereafter, he has increasingly been compelled to try to do just that.

Although finding oneself has become a cliche, especially in the literary world, it was Barack Obama's mission for the first thirty years of his life. Defined as a black man, he sought to make his race more than a social construct, but something central and ineffable, and at the same time not cut off his ties to the rest of humanity, particularly his white mother and grandparents. He doesn't take his mother completely for granted -- he spends thirty to fifty pages talking about her background and that of her parents, who moved from Kansas to Hawaii, seeing it as the last frontier, when she was about to start college. Another one hundred pages or so explore his life with them in Hawaii (with a short stint in Indonesia, where his mother married a man who had studied in America and gave birth to Obama's half-sister Maya).

Readers of any race will be overwhelmed by the sheer power of Obama's writing. I choked up reading this several times. That is ultimately the best reason to read it, not the fact that Barack Obama has become a serious candidate for the presidency. This book also helps you figure out how he did that. The only thing he feels more keenly than his own hopes and fears are the hopes and fears of everyone around him. At the end of the book, having learned the whole story of his father's and grandfather's lives, he stands over their graves and weeps, feeling what they must have felt at each turning point of their lives. Although Obama is quintessentially American, I somehow would not be surprised, given the epiphany he had there, if he chose upon his death to be buried in Kenya alongside them. But perhaps my sympathy is making me romanticize the man.

This book leaves me with two regrets and one big hope. First, it is probably unfilmable. Second, there is one man running with even more vision and courage than Barack Obama, so I won't be able to vote for him in the primary election (although I will in the general if he is the candidate). My big hope is that Obama will write a third book in 2017, having waited eleven years between books as he did between his first and second, that will combine the autobiography he did with this book and the political manifesto he did with "The Audacity of Hope" (a phrase which you have to read "Dreams from my Father" to know Obama doesn't take credit for). Although I haven't finished the latter book, there is basically no way it could top this one. I give it my highest recommendation.

Moving, eloquent and inspirational..........2007-09-26

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama is a moving, eloquent and honest book that was originally published in 1995. This is an amazing story, and not just because he is a presidential candidate. Although autobiographical in scope, it is not intended to be a complete history of the author's life. Instead, it is "a boy's search for his father."

Barack Obama had a most unusual childhood. His mother was a white American living in Hawaii. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was a brilliant black Kenyan who received a college scholarship to the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two, his father graduated college and received a scholarship to obtain his PhD at Harvard. Unfortunately, the scholarship did not include living expenses for his family, and this proved the end of the marriage. After that, Obama only saw his father one more time before being killed in an auto accident when Obama was 21. Obama's mother subsequently married a man from Indoesia, where Obama lived for several years. But that marriage also ended and Obama returned to Hawaii to live with his grandparents. Dreams from My Father also includes Obama's college experiences, as well as the work he did as an organizer in Chicago.

The most moving part of Dreams from My Father involves his trip to Kenya for the first time several years after his father died. As a youth, he describes the reaction of others when they discover his background "Privately, they guess at my troubled heart, I supposed--the mixed blood, the divided soul, the ghostly image of a tragic mulatto trapped between two worlds." In Kenya, he meets his African family including grandparents, half-brothers and sisters, step-mothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. At the Kenyan airport, an airport employee recognizes his name and knew his father. "For the first time in my life, I felt the comfort, the firmness of identity that a name might provide, how it could carry an entire history in other people's memories...My name belonged and so I belonged." I was also moved by Obama's discovery of faith.

Even if Obama was not a presidential candidate for the 2008 election, Dreams is still an eloquent and inspirational story about his search for his father and his efforts to reconcile the histories of this white and black families.

A worthy memoir of Obama's complicated early life.......2007-09-06

Due to its multi-section arrangement, falling into three precise stages, this book feels like a well-paced coming-of-age novel, an impression buoyed by the fact that, to a degree that is unusual for politicians, Obama can actually write well. If you are looking for information on what policies Obama would support as a presidential candidate, you should look elsewhere. However, the book does give the impression that the writer is unusually forthright, both about himself and his beliefs.

Watching Obama's attitudes on race evolve is one of the key points of interest in the book, and the reader comes away with a picture of a man who is both reflective and self-critical. It is somewhat apparent that the author was not running for office at the time the book was written, and yes, it (very briefly) mentions his now infamous flirtation with cocaine use. However, if you want to read a portrait of the man, if not his political platform, and interested in the struggles of someone growing up in between two different cultures, this book is well worth reading.

just great.......2007-08-17

Obama wrote his memoirs of his growing up some years ago (and with his political career I expect he'll be writing them again in twenty or so years). It is an honest book about a remarkable man who had a remarkable life. Nothing political about it.

Average customer rating:

For new baby
Good all-around baby book
Don't Like the Message
Family favorite
Wonderful - this really is a very good book

Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Guess How Much I Love You | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 076360013X
Release Date: 1996-03-06

Amazon.com

All children want reassurance that their parents' love runs wide and deep. In Guess How Much I Love You, a young rabbit named Little Nutbrown Hare thinks he's found a way to measure the boundaries of love. In a heartwarming twist on the "I-can-do-anything-you-can-do-better" theme, Little Nutbrown Hare goes through a series of declarations regarding the breadth of his love for Big Nutbrown Hare. But even when his feelings stretch as long as his arms, or as high as his hops, Little Nutbrown Hare is fondly one-upped by the elder rabbit's more expansive love.

Anita Jeram's illustrations are bound to elicit an "aw" from even the sternest of readers; these loving rabbits are expressive, endearing, and never cloying. In turn, Sam McBratney tells a simple bedtime story of sweet familial love with humor, insight, and a delightful surprise at the end. Children and parents will love snuggling up for this one--a treat to be read again and again, just before the lights are turned out. (Click to see a sample spread. Text © 1994 by Sam McBratney. Illustrations © 1994 by Anita Jeram. Permission from Candlewick Press.) (Ages 4 to 8)

Book Description

The American Booksellers Book of the Year nominee is available as a sturdy board book for the youngest of children. Little Nutbrown Hare wants to show Big Nutbrown Hare how very much he loves him - but love as big as his is very hard to measure!

Customer Reviews:

For new baby.......2007-09-22

The first time I heard of this book was in my childbirth class. I loved it so much I had to buy it. I'm hoping it will become one of my baby's favorite books.

Good all-around baby book.......2007-09-19

I bought this baby book based on the reviews and the fact that Guess How Much I Love You is one of my favorite children's books. The book does a nice job of asking enough questions to make a complete record for your baby without being overly burdensome. Some of the other books I looked at seriously asked what the weather was on the day you found out your were pregnant. Seriously, who would care about that? This baby book also gives great suggestions for a few pictures which is helpful--like the place to put a picture of you pregnant. I am very pleased.

Don't Like the Message.......2007-09-15

I know many people love this book. I don't know why. We received one as a gift, and after reading it to my daughter, I was disturbed by the story. I felt sorry for the bunny whose parent invalidated his expression of love on each page. As many other reviewers said, it was a competition the adult wouldn't let the child win. This book contains a mean-spirited, misguided, sad, and disturbing message.

Family favorite.......2007-08-01

"Guess how much I love you" is a classic. The story is a simple dialog between a big rabbit (the parent) and a little rabbit (the baby), each professing and comparing the depth & "height" of their love for each other. We read this book almost every day to our infant daughter. She loves the watercolor illustrations & coos at the pictures. A lovely addition to a kid' book collection.

Wonderful - this really is a very good book.......2007-07-24

This is a fabulous book for little children and the grownups who read to them. When children are read to daily, they learn to love reading. Perfect bedtime stories, to calm everyone down and make us ready for sweet dreams. If you can find the LARGE size book get it- they're fabulous keepsakes. Perfect gifts for any child, and a perfect tradition in your own home and family!

The Accidental Mind: How Brain Evolution Has Given Us Love, Memory, Dreams, and God

Average customer rating:

Nicely done, accessible account of the human brain
Entertaining?
A Very Refreshing Book On Brain Science
A Perspective-Changing Read about the Brain
For your thinking and reading friends....

The Accidental Mind: How Brain Evolution Has Given Us Love, Memory, Dreams, and God
David J. Linden
Manufacturer: Belknap Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0674024788

Book Description

You've probably seen it before: a human brain dramatically lit from the side, the camera circling it like a helicopter shot of Stonehenge, and a modulated baritone voice exalting the brain's elegant design in reverent tones.

To which this book says: Pure nonsense. In a work at once deeply learned and wonderfully accessible, the neuroscientist David Linden counters the widespread assumption that the brain is a paragon of design--and in its place gives us a compelling explanation of how the brain's serendipitous evolution has resulted in nothing short of our humanity. A guide to the strange and often illogical world of neural function, The Accidental Mind shows how the brain is not an optimized, general-purpose problem-solving machine, but rather a weird agglomeration of ad-hoc solutions that have been piled on through millions of years of evolutionary history. Moreover, Linden tells us how the constraints of evolved brain design have ultimately led to almost every transcendent human foible: our long childhoods, our extensive memory capacity, our search for love and long-term relationships, our need to create compelling narrative, and, ultimately, the universal cultural impulse to create both religious and scientific explanations. With forays into evolutionary biology, this analysis of mental function answers some of our most common questions about how we've come to be who we are.

Customer Reviews:

Nicely done, accessible account of the human brain.......2007-08-08

David Linden's "The Accidental Mind" is a neat little book. He has two main purposes: (a) to write a readable introduction on brain science, accessible to nonspecialists; (b) to make the case that (page 6) `. . .the brain is an inelegant and inefficient agglomeration of stuff, which nonetheless works surprisingly well." As to the first point, this volume is a far cry from the magnificent work, Michael Gazzaniga's The Cognitive Neurosciences III: Third Edition. However, if one is not well steeped in knowledge and understanding of the neurosciences, Gazzaniga's edited work is close to impenetrable. This book is well and crisply written, explaining simply how neurons work the structure of the brain, how the brain develops, and so on.

As to the second point? He asserts that, quoting Francois Jacob (Page 6), "'Evolution is a tinkerer, not an engineer." That is, evolution operates on organisms as they are and then the process of change takes advantage of the material already existent to adapt to new conditions and challenges. Thus, the human brain is mounted on older, more primitive structures, in an ill fitting complex. As he says (page 21): "The brain is built like an ice cream cone (and you are the top scoop): Through evolutionary time, as higher functions were added, a new scoop was placed on top, but the lower scoops were left largely unchanged."

Thereafter, he speaks of the structure of the brain, how the fully mature human brain develops (with both nature and nurture having roles to play), how the brain is associated with all manner of emotions, learning, religion, and so on.

The Ninth chapter has a title that speaks directly to Linden's first theme--"The Unintelligent Design of the Brain." Here, he slyly critiques advocates of the "Intelligent Design" perspective by noting that the brain is hardly an exemplar of some great design. As noted already, he sees the brain as inefficient and "jury-rigged."

This is a book that provides plenty of insight into how neuroscientists study the structure and function of the brain--and presents some of the exciting possibilities for future research.

In sum, this is a work that ought to be attended to by those interested in the brain sciences, but who cannot readily read the technical literature.

Entertaining?.......2007-07-30

This is a great book for readers who are interested in an overview of the anatomical and physiological functions of the brain. If you have had any previous A+P, this book may give you flashbacks (and does a good job of explaining how those feelings were "created.") You may even recognise many of the examples and case studies right from classic lectures.
If you are approaching "The Accidental Mind" as pure entertainment, enjoy. If you are looking for juicier or more in depth case studies, keep browsing.

A Very Refreshing Book On Brain Science.......2007-07-18

The addition of this review is to fill in one gap in particular. Dr. Linden is the first scientific author I have read in quite a while that wasn't flip with schools of thought. He has distilled research with varied hypothesis and has enough respect for his field and the reader to frankly state when "We just don't know." My only regret is that Dr. Linden didn't make this book the "larger tomb" he mentions when wrapping up the research that didn't make it into the book. Highly recommended to anyone who is mystified by belief and dreams.

A Perspective-Changing Read about the Brain.......2007-07-04

Why do we sleep? What is love? What is happening when we dream? These questions seem so basic to our human experience, and yet the average person in at a complete loss to explain even the most common of our daily experiences. This is where the Accidental Mind comes in. Linden's book offers a refreshingly different perspective on the brain. After reading this book, you will have a much better understanding of how your brain shapes your experience, it's limitations, and what is going on "behind the curtain." Intelligence, gender identity, sexuality, are all covered with an eye to how these factors play out in the architecture of the brain.

This book also provides a great deal of information on the biological basis for issues that are being debated in our culture, which many people will find enlightening and necessary for making informed comments.

If you are considering picking up this book, read Chapter 7 on sleep, available for free from Linden's website:

[...]

While the book may sometimes goes into great detail on the biology, most readers will find plenty of compelling information in these pages. People who enjoy this book and are interested in some of the practical insights that new research is providing about humans, how we work, and practical advice for improving our lives should check out The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt.

Happy reading!

For your thinking and reading friends...........2007-05-31

I found The Accidental Mind a well written, humorous and thought-provoking introduction to neuroscience and to some profound ideas about evolution and other topics. It's the kind of book that makes you interrupt your partner's reading every five minutes with "Hey, listen to this...." If Dr. Linden lectures as entertainingly and interestingly as he writes, his classes at Johns Hopkins University must be in great demand.

Indigo Dreams: Relaxation and Stress Management Bedtime Stories for Children, Improve Sleep, Manage Stress and Anxiety (Indigo Dreams)

Average customer rating:

Great CD
Great for my 3 yr old!!
Soothing and relaxing for little ones
A nice cd
Great for 4 year olds and 30 year olds!

Indigo Dreams: Relaxation and Stress Management Bedtime Stories for Children, Improve Sleep, Manage Stress and Anxiety (Indigo Dreams)
Lori Lite
Manufacturer: Lori Lite
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books

Self-Esteem | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Stress Management | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Dreams | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Meditation | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Accessories:

ASIN: 0970863349
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Book Description

Book Description Indigo Dreams is a 60 minute CD/audio book designed to entertain your child while introducing them to relaxation/meditation techniques. Four unique stories introduce breathing, visualizations, muscular relaxation and affirmations. Children follow the characters along as they learn to manage their own stress, anxiety and energy with A Boy and a Bear, The Affirmation Web, A Boy and a Turtle and The Goodnight Caterpillar spoken by a female narrator.

Indigo Dreams offers shorter stories for shorter attention spans and beginners.

The narration is accompanied by healing sounds of crickets, gentle breezes and forest animals. An additional music sound track is included to further enhance your child's relaxation experience.

The Affirmation Web A Believe in Yourself Adventure Voted "Book of the Month" by The IAM Foundation

Affirmations or positive statements build self-esteem and empower children to be the best they can be. Children follow a girl and her animal friends as they weave The Affirmation Web. They learn to believe in themselves while replacing negative messages with positive self talk. Children love this feel good story and the positive effect it has on their lives. Show children just how special life can be. Feel good!

A Boy and a Bear The Children's Relaxation Story

Breathing for relaxation and wellness is a basic technique practiced by cultures throughout the world. Children love to follow A Boy and a Bear as they experience diaphragmatic/belly breathing. This self calming technique can be used anytime, anywhere. This easy, yet powerful stress management tool can offset the effects stress is having on today's children. Many children are classified as being hyperactive. Empower your child by teaching them to ground themselves and manage their own energy. Let's breathe!

A Boy and a Turtle The Children's Visualization Story

Visualization is an effective technique widely used for achieving sports goals, creating success and attaining wellness. Now children can follow A Boy and a Turtle as they fill their bodies with the colors of the rainbow. Colorful imagery quiets the mind and relaxes the body. Parents as well as children enjoy falling asleep while playing in the field of colors. Some children are sensitive to energy and can often use it for healing. Enhance your child's abilities to feel and see energy. Relax with colors!

The Goodnight Caterpillar The Ultimate Bedtime Story

Muscular Relaxation is essential to a good nights sleep. Children follow The Goodnight Caterpillar as they learn to unwind, relax and see things more clearly. This easy, gentle exercise relaxes muscles throughout the body as anxiety and tension slip away. Children and parents will fall asleep more easily and experience a deeper peaceful night's sleep. Sweet dreams!

The 4 stories found on Indigo Dreams are also available in book format. The Goodnight Caterpillar, A Boy and a Bear, The Affirmation Web and A Boy and a Turtle.

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2007-09-30

I bought this CD for use as a relaxation activity in an early childhood classroom for 3 to 5 year old children and it's wonderful. If I could give it more stars, it would have 10! This would be great for your child to listen to at night to help them wind down for bedtime, or in the afternoon for a rest time activity, and it's great for the classroom. I highly recommend it.

Great for my 3 yr old!!.......2007-09-25

I have an especially bright but anxious 3 1/2 yr old. I wasn't sure whe was going to take to this cd even after I listened to it. But she LOVES it and goes to sleep every night listening to it! I think it gives her something other than monsters to think about as she is falling asleep. We have been nightmare free wince we got it a week ago!!! I am thinking of making a copy for my 9 month old to listen to in our room as well.. the voice is so soothing and maybe she will like it as too!

Soothing and relaxing for little ones.......2007-09-23

I love these cd's. I got this for my 5yr old because he is highly sensitive. After the daily stresses of (to him) loud noise, ugly smells, crowed class rooms, this cd helped him make it through kindergarden. And now he's enjoying first grade. I don't know what I would of done without Indigo Dreams.

A nice cd.......2007-09-08

My kids and I have listened to this, and it's very relaxing. My 4-yr-old son and 8-yr-old daughter have both been fairly wiggle-free during listening. It's a nice wind-down at the end of the day. Sometimes the speaker seems a little too slow-talking for me, but when I just relax and calm down, it doesn't bug me as much. I very much enjoy relaxation and visualization techniques, and am happy to pass along the benefits to my kids.

Great for 4 year olds and 30 year olds!.......2007-06-22

I bought this for my 4-year-old daughter who is high-spirited and has a hard time settling down at night. She loves this. We keep the CD on "repeat" through the night. That way if she wakes up, she just listens to the CD and it puts her back to sleep. No need to come to Mom and Dad's room! Yay! It's also the only meditation CD that I enjoy, for myself.

The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream

Average customer rating:

A keeper for the home library
One of the most fascinating books
Chasing dreams
Just Okay
Yea, I'll add to the hype, but just look past it all.

The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream
Paulo Coelho
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Metaphysical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Visionary Fiction | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Popular Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Book Clubs | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0062502182

Amazon.com

Like the one-time bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sniff a bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo introduces Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving Spain to literally follow his dream.

Along the way he meets many spiritual messengers, who come in unassuming forms such as a camel driver and a well-read Englishman. In one of the Englishman's books, Santiago first learns about the alchemists--men who believed that if a metal were heated for many years, it would free itself of all its individual properties, and what was left would be the "Soul of the World." Of course he does eventually meet an alchemist, and the ensuing student-teacher relationship clarifies much of the boy's misguided agenda, while also emboldening him to stay true to his dreams. "My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity." --Gail Hudson

Book Description

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world, and this tenth anniversary edition, with a new introduction from the author, will only increase that following. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

Download Description

My Heart Is Afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky."Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams."

Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist is such a book. With over a million and a half copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has already established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Paulo Coelho's charming fable, now available in English for the first time, will enchant and inspire an even wider audience of readers for generations to come.

The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.

The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.

Customer Reviews:

A keeper for the home library.......2007-09-11

This is a special book that makes an uplifting gift to someone wanting to seek their dream, but isn't sure to take that first step. I will read this again.

One of the most fascinating books.......2007-09-06

The Alchemist is an amazing book for anyone "searching for answers". It really reinforces the notion that it's all about the journey - not the destination. Well written and far more complex than the simple writing style might lead you to believe. This edition was a gift for a friend - it's beautiful to look at, as well.

Chasing dreams.......2007-08-23

A co-worker brought her copy of this book in one day for me to see. It was love at first sight and I knew I wanted my own copy. A month later, I bought one for myself on my birthday. I read it in two afternoons. It is a really good book. I would suggest it to anyone. It is very simple writing but the message is quite deep.

Just Okay.......2007-08-03

I liked THE ALCHEMIST, but didn't love it. It starts out very well, but it quickly gets bogged down by excessive symbolism and a lot of detail that didn't seem essential to the story.

The major point of this book is to pursue your life dreams, as opposed to making excuses for not doing so. I certainly support this message, but I felt that Coelho took 165 pages to convey a relatively straightforward point. This book is also heavily unrealistic in spots (the wind talks, the sun, etc.), which diminishes the power of its message, at least to me.

I read the most recent trade paperback edition of THE ALCHEMIST, and would suggest that you read the four-page introduction by Paulo Coelho before purchasing this novel. In that introduction, Coelho summarizes the main themes and ideas of THE ALCHEMIST in a crystal clear manner that I thought was more effective than the novel itself. If the message resonates with you, then by all means buy this book and enjoy it. Otherwise, you probably will not like it.

Yea, I'll add to the hype, but just look past it all........2007-07-31

No spoilers.

If you're reading these online reviews in order to determine if you'll like The Alchemist based off of what others thought about it, then you're probably a little confused right now. The best advice on this I can give is that if you read it and like it/love it like many people here, then obviously you'll be happy with your choice, but if you read it and don't like it/hate it, it's not a big deal because it's one of the shorter quality novels you'll ever come across at only 192 pages.

Having said that, I'm adding to the hype about this book by saying that I can't recall coming across novel with such presence and thought in such a simple form. One negative reviewer claimed reading this was like reading a high school book report, and the odd thing about that comment is, while I can see where a comment like that would come from due to simplicity of the writing style, the thoughts behind the words come from nothing less than a great thinker.

If you're skeptical about reading this book, please just ignore the reviews (I guess that would mean mine too :] ) and take the chance to do it for yourself. Will this book change your life? No. Is it the best most ispirational book ever written. Well that's subjective, but for me, no. It's just a great book to step away from your hectic world with for an evening (and believe me, you probably will finish this in an evening), so give it a try.

Average customer rating:

Cute but too short
a great book!
Delightful!
No more tears at bedtime!
All Time Favorite Board Book

The Going-To-Bed Book
Sandra Boynton
Manufacturer: Little Simon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Sleep | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Accessories:

JumpStart Baby

ASIN: 0671449028

Amazon.com

For a little one who is reluctant to go to bed, sometimes a silly book is just the ticket. And when it comes to silly books, Sandra Boynton is the undisputed queen. In The Going to Bed Book, an ark full of animals watches the sun go down and then prepares for bed. They take a bath ("in one big tub"), find pajamas, brush their teeth, do exercises up on deck (imagine an elephant jumping rope, a moose lifting weights, and a pig doing handstands), and finally say good night.

The moon is high. The sea is deep.
They rock
and rock
and rock
to sleep.

Boynton's inimitable animal characters have graced the pages of scads of picture books over the years. She has an extraordinary knack for knowing what appeals to small children: simple rhymes, goofy animals in goofy settings, and sweet, comforting stories. This book, along with her many other board-book titles (Moo, Baa, La La La!, But Not the Hippopotamus, and others) will surely remain a favorite. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawn versions of her multi-million selling board books. These whimsical and hilarious books, featuring nontraditional texts and her famous animal characters, have been printed on thick board pages, and are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages.

Customer Reviews:

Cute but too short.......2007-10-10

I am forever searching for bedtime books because we rotate them out at night and it is always good to find new ones. I was really excited by reading the reviews of this one as we are big fans of Boynton. It is a cute book, but I think it is too short. Perhaps my daughter just likes to have a little more time reading before going to bed but I really wish it was just a few pages longer like some of her others.

a great book!.......2007-10-02

my daughter loves this book! we used to read a different story each night, but we have been stuck on this book for a couple of months, now. the story is fun and the pictures are bright, cute and great for kids to look at. it is the perfect length and works great for our night time reading ritual.

Delightful!.......2007-09-19

This book is utterly delightful! I bought it 3 years ago for my youngest son and it was hands down his favorite book. We read it so much that we still recite it by heart. Sandra Boynton has a way of writing books that not only delight the child, but it's infectious! (My little 1 year old daughter who is fascinated by belly buttons- also adores The Belly Button Book by the same author.) The Going To Bed Book is an absolute must for snuggly, silly bedtime routines (that actually are looked forward to!) with your little ones. It sits right next to another old favorite of ours...Goodnight Moon. =0)

No more tears at bedtime!.......2007-09-18

Send you child to bed laughing for a change, with this wonderful, fun-filled, silly, bedtime book! Great for baby sitters, too! Author/Illustrator

All Time Favorite Board Book.......2007-09-11

My kids and I love this book. We all have it memorized now after reading it for so many years, now we just quote it together for memory. I love to give this as a baby present.

Average customer rating:

This is a Top Ten Creepy Children's Book
A comfort
I love my mom
a book for every family member / old & young
My dying mother read this book to me when I was a homeless drunk. I am no longer a homeless drunk.

Love You Forever
Robert N. Munsch , and Sheila McGraw
Manufacturer: Firefly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0920668372

Amazon.com

The mother sings to her sleeping baby: "I'll love you forever / I'll love you for always / As long as I'm living / My baby you'll be." She still sings the same song when her baby has turned into a fractious 2-year-old, a slovenly 9-year-old, and then a raucous teen. So far so ordinary--but this is one persistent lady. When her son grows up and leaves home, she takes to driving across town with a ladder on the car roof, climbing through her grown son's window, and rocking the sleeping man in the same way. Then, inevitably, the day comes when she's too old and sick to hold him, and the roles are at last reversed. Each stage is illustrated by one of Sheila McGraw's comic and yet poignant pastels. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr

Book Description

A young woman holds her newborn son
And looks at him lovingly.

Softly she sings to him:
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."

So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions worldwide. Since publication in l986, Love You Forever has sold more than 15 million copies in paperback and the regular hardcover edition (as well as hundreds of thousands of copies in Spanish and French).

Firefly Books is proud to offer this sentimental favorite in a variety of editions and sizes:

We offer a trade paper and laminated hardcover edition in a 8" x 8" size.

In gift editions we carry:
a slipcased edition (8 1/2" x 8 1/4"), with a laminated box and a cloth binding on the book
and a 10" x 10" laminated hardcover with jacket.

And a Big Book Edition, 16" x 16" with a trade paper binding.

Customer Reviews:

This is a Top Ten Creepy Children's Book.......2007-10-03

This starts off kind of cute. The mother has a child in her arms and she tells him, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be." As an expression of a parent's unconditional love it's a great little saying from a mother to her son. And then you turn the pages, the kid gets older, and the you see the mom sneaking into the teenage son's bedroom and repeating the mantra. It seems a little Oedipus, as I'd not really like to think about my mom sneaking into my room when I was a teenager but ok, still kind of cute.

Then the son gets married and moves away. Happy ending? Not exactly. Now the mother straps a ladder to her car, drives across town, and breaks into the son's house, sneaks into his bedroom and while he's sleeping with his wife next to him tells him "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be." Ok, having seen Psycho, I have to say I'm a bit disturbed. This continues through the son's life, until the mother is dying, and the son repeats her mantra back to her.

The last page in the book shows the son, cradling his newborn, repeating his mother's mantra to the baby, and the cycle repeats. If this were a movie, I would have expected the creepy horror music to well up, have the son look into the camera and start an evil cackle as the picture faded to black.

A comfort.......2007-10-03

It was my Kindergarten teacher who introduced me to this book when I was about five years old. It was a hard time for me at that age because my mom was gone a lot but this book made it a little easier. The song "I'll love you forever" still rings true today and occasionally I even get a little misty eyed. Looking back I remember singing it to my grandmother who couldn't help the tears that filled her eyes and a slight smile on her face when she hugged me "Your right little one and it will never change". It's a comforting book about love between parents and yes even grandparents that passes on generation to generation.

This is one of my favorite children's books and will remain so. However I believe that sadly now we are becoming more and more politically correct and thats unfortunately effecting our children's books. Judge for yourself but remember that sometimes if you look to closely you lose the magic completely :)

I love my mom.......2007-09-28

This book is has impacted me in such a way, and from such an early age, that it will resonate forever.
It is only a sad book if you don't know how to celebrate the life of a loved one. I think it's good for children to question the lessons of this book.

a book for every family member / old & young.......2007-09-27

I bought this book years ago for my children who are now adults. We have since bought this book for every member of our family/ extended family. We write the main saying in the book on all our correpondences to each other. It is even on the flower holder at our parent's memorial. It is such an expression of pure love to all family members.

My dying mother read this book to me when I was a homeless drunk. I am no longer a homeless drunk........2007-09-27

You've read the other reviews of this book so you know it is powerful. All I can tell you is that this book is too strong for words. My five year old loves the book but is confused about why I cry and can't ever read the last few pages aloud. If you have children, if you have a mother, this book is for you. It isn't really for kids.

Hope Rising: Stories from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams

Average customer rating:

Beautiful
Simply Beautiful
Outstanding true stories of wounded horses and hurting kids
Absolutely beautiful
Hope Rising-Book of Miracles

Hope Rising: Stories from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams
Kim Meeder
Manufacturer: Multnomah
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Children's Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1590522699
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Book Description

Kim Meeder has seen horses go where no one else can tread - stepping through the minefield of a broken child's soul in a dance of trust that only God can understand. From a mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love washes away their barren places. Kim's ranch is a place where this miracle happens over and over again. It is a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of reality - a place where hope rises.

Where Wounded Spirits Run Free

Follow a horse where no one else can tread, through the minefield of pain that surrounds a broken child’s soul. From a mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love revives their barren places.

In the presence of unconditional love, a mute girl speaks for the first time. A defiant teenager teaches a horse to trust again...and opens his own heart to love. A rescued horse gives a dying man his last wish. A battered girl finds love and protection in the friendship of a battered horse...

Come visit a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of realityâa place where hope rises.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-09-19

If this testimony of God's work in the lives of those at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch doesn't pierce your heart, nothing will. It is well writen and absolutely beautiful.

Simply Beautiful.......2007-08-21

Inspiring, true stories of how neglected horses and neglected children help to heal each other. This book reveals over and over again the powerful miracles that can happen when one has hope.

Outstanding true stories of wounded horses and hurting kids.......2007-05-13

Kim Meeder is not only a fabulous person; she is a gifted writer. These true stories of mistreated horses and hurting children coming together for healing and enjoyment will gladden any heart. Even if you are not a horse lover, you'll love this book. It's about "horse therapy" for suffering children and the bonds and breakthroughs that happen when kids and horses interact on a safe and secure level. Kim Meeder writes with her heart and out of personal experience.

Absolutely beautiful.......2007-05-07

I loved this book. It was full of wonderful stories and personal experiences. Very touching and inspiring.

Hope Rising-Book of Miracles.......2007-03-20

This is a book of miracles. It is about love, faith, and healing. Ms. Meeder plays the human heart strings like a diva, and her stories of children healed by horses are as touching as they are inspirational.

J.R. Wise
Author of
"Give a Horse a Second Chance"

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books