5 comments about How Do We Know When Its God?: A Spiritual Memoir.

1. Dan Wakefield is that rare writer who calls himself to reckon for his acts and thoughts and by his courageous example calls the reader to ask the hard questions of himself. Written with humor and humility, How Do We Know When It's God is a light in the darkness.



2. Wakefield described this book as "how not to do it", an extremely accurate description. In addition to being very informative, it is an extremely enjoyable read. He leads the reader through all of his victories AND his (many) mistakes and defeats. Although this book doesn't contain all "the answers", I felt so much better just knowing that the spiritual wilderness I am currently traversing has been survived by someone who lived to write about it! Thanks Dan!



3. As always, Dan Wakefield offers us an interesting, engaging, honest portrayal of his spiritual hunger--a craving that both leads him to places of darkness as well as hope. Without self-pity, Wakefield offers his mistakes and shortcomings as part of the pilgrimage of growth. This book, like his others, are candid and refreshing--the perfect read for imperfect pilgrims searching for an authentic voice in the world of spirituality.



4. If you are a fan of Indiana-bred novelist and spiritual writer Dan Wakefield, then make sure that you don't pass up this book! Although the title does not acknowledge any "Part 2", this book is actully a follow up to Wakefield's earlier spiritual autobiography "Returning". But whereas "Returning" dealt with the story of Wakefield's coming to faith in God after years as an atheist, this book deals with the up ever-winding Christian journey that Wakefield has lived since then. If you are fan of Wakefield's novels, then this book will give you some real insights as to what he was thinking and living when he wrote "Selling Out" and "Under The Apple Tree" in particular. This book also tells the story of how Wakefield's first novel, "Going All the Way", was made into a movie, with much involvement and enthusiasm from Wakefield himself. The book is quite episodic in its narative, and each chapter seems to move from one crisis and/or triumph to another. My favorite chapter deals with the time that Wakefield attended a supposedly Jung-ian "Post Christian" retreat, which in fact turned out to be nothing short of an anti-Christian brainwashing camp! The way in which Wakefield wisely deals with the pushy "Post Christian" group leaders, and verbally defends his faith in Christ along the way (under the worst of adversity and peer-pressure!), makes for some real page-turning moments! Some traditional Christian readers may be put off by Wakefield's almost brutal honesty in places. He admits to alcohol and drug abuse (although he has since gotten sober). He recounts several unhealthy sexual releationships, with a variety of diverse and willing women, and he is not above using occassional profanity. But if these things do not scare you away, then "How Do We Know When It's God" is well worth your time and money!



5. Dan Wakefield is all over the map in "How Do We Know When It's God?" an engaging but meandering memoir. I bought it because the title reminded me of Harold Kushner's writings, and I think the title is deliberately chosen to evoke him, but it is much more of a conventional memoir than a meditation on theological ethics. Wakefield does return several times to the theological concept of discernment, but the bulk of the text is about Wakefield's life -- relationships, his career, even addiction and weight loss issues. The style was compelling enough to keep me reading until the end, but I didn't come away with a really clear understanding of what Wakefield's philosophy is. Maybe this will appeal to fans of his other works, but as an introduction to the life and times of Dan Wakefield, I was left without a great desire to investigate further.

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2 comments about Don't Shoot, It's Only Me: Bob Hope's Comedy History of the United States.

1. This is an interesting combination of autobiography and history lesson. Hope (with co-writer Mel Shavelson, who was one of Hope's joke writers) tell Bob's show-biz career story through the lens of world events. It's not straight storytelling- jokes come at a quick clip, which makes for amusing reading.



2. This book is hilarious. I was laughing out loud from the very first page. I think that even people who don't consider themselves big Hope fans will be able to read this and find it funny, entertaining and insightful to a time gone past. It's a great part of American history; Bob Hope has his place therein. He was the perfect man to pull off all the things he accomplished during his amazing career. Entertaining the troops, putting himself in dangerous situations, making people laugh and forget the real world for a short time through films, radio, stand-up performances, Hope did it all and was the true king of all media. The book is very well-written and easy to follow the stories and jokes. You can just hear Hope's voice as you read his narration of events. I strongly suggest this book.

No comments about My Faraway Home : An American Family's WWII Tale of Adventure and Survival in the Jungles of the Philippines.

No comments about Female Scripture Biograpy, Volume II (Large Print Edition).

5 comments about Tales of Graceful Aging from the Planet Denial (Thorndike Press Large Print Nonfiction Series).

1. There were lots of amusing bon mots in this work by the creator of the cartoon Sylvia, but I was disappointed. I would have expected a little more personal growth, just as I expect of myself, entering retirement. Not in this book. Apparently decades of overwhelming evidence-- in sexual predation on children, rising rape assaults, the end of the woman-friendly institution of life-long marriage and the effect of the ephemistically termed 'blended families' on children-- surely might make someone growing in wisdom that something is stinky with the flippant, thoughtless, selfish notion that, "Sex is for fun and I'm allowed any kind I want, anytime I want." But no. Neither Sylvia nor Hollander seem to have learned from the last forty years. She should just grow up.



2. This book gave me the best laugh I've had in ages. And such a beautiful cover!
   Ok! It helps to start with a fairly jaded opinion of this culture's obsession with eternal youthfulness and be prepared to find your aging baby boomer self somewhat ridiculous (how did we get here?) For all the multitudes of us who did not have kids this book is particularly poignant and celebrates the joys and travails of friendship. The humor with which the author treats the chaos and incongruity of getting old, the not being that well prepared or graceful, leads to a certain kind of 'graceful' that laughs in the face of it all.



3. This kept me laughing at the dr. office so that they came to check on me.



4. Nicole Hollander has been a national treasure for years; this may be her best, most important book. As usual, it's very, very funny, full of the kind of mad social commentary that's kept the Sylvia strips cumpulsory reading for so many years. But in this book, she gets closer to the bone, discussing the possibility of a full, rich, life after (fill in your number here.)
   
   A must-read for boomers who like to laugh!



5. I hate it when someone takes all the good lines. (I have this feeling every other week.) But Nicole Hollander's book, "Tales of Graceful Aging," takes the cake. She has covered it all, from hair to hearing to hot flashes. (Remember them?). She has done the impossible. She's found humor in aging. (Even saying the word hurts.) If her cartoons are pithy and concise, the book is, well, nothing short of hilarious. It's a great, right-on read. It resonates. It sings. It's the real deal.

No comments about The Autobiography of a Quack (EasyRead Large Edition): The Case of George Dedlow.

5 comments about I'm Only One Man!.

1. I watched my father write this -- longhand, in a spiral notebook, no less. (Dad can barely find the "on" switch for the computer.) I learned things about my family that I never knew. Anyone familiar with him, even if only through his work on television, can absolutely tell that the words are his. Poor Bill Zehme had the unenviable task of keeping him focused. And, he did a great job! It's a good, quick read. Get it. Read it. Pass it on.



2. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I learned things about Regis that you won't learn by watching him on TV. I enjoyed reading about his trials and tribulations of his career, from his early days to the present. I have recommended this books to others. Whoever has my copy, please return it! This is one book you can read again.



3. Reading this book is like sitting down with Regis and listening to him tell you stories. You will be able to look deeper into the man that engages in Host Chat with Kathie Lee everyday. This book is an example of how far Regis really came in life and how hard he had to work for it. This can almost be a self-help book in a way because it portrays the commitment to excellence put forth by Regis to achieve his dream....and did he ever!



4. Regis's book logs many of the days(incl some holidays) between 6/15/94-5/19/95 with some of the yesterdays prior to 6/14/94 .....Good intro by the Regis and Cathy Live staff at that time( Michael Gelman and Cathy Lee Gifford) Gelman still Gelman and Cathy Lee ,has moved on for even better someday.. ,plus there is much levity through out( It was given as a gift to me for Xmas 2000,I've skimmed through the entire book and got a few chuckles without even getting to much into the NY ,NY details(photos were great,& joke about Perry Como quite funny). It ends with smoothness and ease:as Regis, in his biography says to the reader" I've got to find my plane tickets,back my bags and get ready for the next show.After all,I'm only one man". 12/27/00 abj



5. Regis is one of my favorite celebrities! He is a down-to-earth family man who approaches life with good humor and a likeable manner. I enjoyed accompanying him as he talked through some typical days in his very busy life. Listening to him more than a decade after he shared these reflections gave the story an outdated feel, as a lot of the pop-culture personalities he mentions have disappeared from the scene, and the old-timers he reminisced about are way before my time. As well, now that he is paired with Kelly Ripa, he seems younger, hipper and more light-hearted than he was at the time he recorded this memoir. She brings out something special in him that Kathie Lee never did.
   
   The book is a nice representation of the entertainment business and pop-culture, made all the better when expressed by a personable and respected celebrity like Regis.

No comments about A Hero and Some Other Folks (Large Print Edition).

No comments about Richard Burton My Brother (Transaction Large Print Books).