5 comments about ERIC LIDDELL: PURE GOLD.

1. Because of the surprise hit Chariots of Fire, the world knows the name Eric Liddell. Most people also know about the stand he made for his beliefs as he refused to run an Olympic race he was favored to win simply because the race was scheduled for Sunday. Those who have seen the movie know that it ends shortly after he wins an Olympic gold medal in an event in which he had barely trained. But in Pure Gold, a biography of Liddell weighing in at 333 pages, the race is complete by the ninety-eighth page. There is much more to Liddell than the movie portrays.
   
   Eric Liddell is a man who was sold out to God. He regarded his own desires and his own comforts as secondary to God's. Raised as the son of a missionary, he grew up away from his parents, for in those days children were left in their native country to receive their training, often seeing their parents only once every six or seven years. There was a period of over a decade in Liddell's life where he was with his parents for only 100 days. Despite the seperation, he received strong training, primarily in the Bible.
   
   While he grew both academically and spiritually, people also came to realize that Liddell had a gift for speed. He was fast. He was also uncouth, with a running style all his own. He would start like any other runner, but as he approached the finish line, he would throw his head back and his arms would begin to flail. Yet somehow, rather than slow him down, this gave him a burst of speed that often led him to victory.
   
   Some of his exploits from his early days are famous, such as the time he fell in a 400-meter race, but managed to climb to his feet and work his way back into first place, making up a deficit of over ten meters. And as we know from the movie, he earned a position on the British Olympic squad at the 1924 Olympic Games where he came away with two medals, a gold and a bronze. He returned to his native Scotland a hero - far and away the best-known athlete in the nation. It was this fame that provided the springboard for his mission work. Despite being a shy and quiet man, he criss-crossed the country, speaking before hundreds of thousands of people, telling them about the Lord and encouraging them to give their lives to Him.
   
   At the very pinnacle of his athletic success, Liddell laid it all aside to become a missionary to China, the country his father had served when Eric was a boy and the country he continued to serve to that day. Liddell counted his prestige as nothing and moved to the mission field. He served the rest of his life in China before his eventual death in a Japanese internment camp during the Second World War. It is this period of his life that so few know about, yet this is where we see Liddell at his finest. It is here that we see the power and effectiveness of a life that is sold out to God.
   
   This biography is well-written, inspiring and highly-recommended. It presents Liddell as he really was and helps the reader understand the foundation for his life. It portrays Liddell in his strength and in his weakness, through joy and sadness. It portrays the consistency of a man who lived in the same way when the eyes of the nation were upon him, or when he stood only before the eyes of the Lord.
   
   While Chariots of Fire has done much to bring Liddell to the public eye, and while it presented the man accurately, it tells less than half the story. However, the race which forms the climax to the movie can well be seen as a metaphor for Liddell's life. He finished the race of life the same way he had finished so many races long before - with his arms flailing and his head turned to the sky, enraptured purely with the joy of running.



2. Eric Liddell is an interesting & worthy subject for a biography but this one isn't it. The author did extensive research in primary documents, interviewed people who knew Liddell personally, & created an excellent bibliography. Unfortunately, the writing style is corny & some of the passages are fictionalized, particularly ones regarding Liddell's relationship with his wife Flo. The author puts thoughts in their minds that he couldn't possibly know. He so over-romanticizes his subject that he becomes almost unreal. Liddell was a great athlete & a great servant of the Lord, but the author so idolizes him that he becomes a kind of plaster saint. The main problem with this book is that it is explicitly written to be "inspirational," & so the reader is reminded over & over again what a great Christian role model Liddell was. This gets tiresome. Don't misunderstand me -- I am not knocking Liddell here at all, only the author's mode of presenting him. A less didactic book would serve Liddell better. His own words & actions speak for themselves.



3. I fell in love with the movie "Chariots of Fire" when I was in college over 20 years ago. I also enjoyed the paperback of the same name. Recently I became interested in this true story again and found "Pure Gold" on Amazon.
   This biography is slow-moving and tedious. I have never been to China nor do I have any interest in the Orient, so the setting of most of the book was not compelling. I was hoping that Eric's personality and dedication to Christian principles would pull me through when I was tempted to stop reading and give the book away.
   I was inspired enough to finish it but "ho hum" is my response to the writing.
   Maybe "Chariots of Fire" was a too "Hollywood-ized" version of the 1924 Olympics,(as Back Flash was to firefighting) but even if it was, I prefer it to this book.



4. Are you sure it can't be done??? well, think twice and then read this man's biography. Eric Liddell immortilized worldwide in the 1981 Hugh Hudson's motion picture Chariots of Fire in its purest form is presented in this book. A story on courage, capacity and determination. You should not miss it. You shall want to go out jogging and be a better person to say the least!
   
   From his birth on January 16, 1902 in Tientsin, China, to his unexpected death due to a brain tumor on February 21, 1945 in a japanese concentration camp in that same country, passing through his experiences at boarding school in the UK, his olympic victory, his religious commitments, his unbelievable determination, his beloved Florence ("Flo") and the beautiful love story that surrounded their relationship, the people who marked his life (his mother Mary, father James, brothers Rob and Ernest, sister Jenny, etc.). A book that brought out emotions from the beginning when I read about Florence (Eric's widow) watching Chariots of Fire and imagining her reactions, her feelings of pride... This book is a thoroughly rewarding experience!



5. 
   Outstanding book on the life of a young dedicated christian.
   Should be of great encouragement to young people who desperately need someone as an role model in this day of confusion.
   Book is well written and brings out his courage to do that which is right in the face of adversity.
   Book is written in a foremat that can be enjoyed by those of any age group.

5 comments about John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace.

1. The story of John Newton's life is one of my personal favorites. Like most of us, Newton's journey to his destiny was filled with false starts, obstacles, and a good deal of regret. Perhaps of all the biographies that I have read, the story of this man's life resonates most with me as genuinely truthful and truly inspiring.
   
   Most people may not initially recognize the name of John Newton, that is until it is noted that he wrote the hymn Amazing Grace. Despite that it was written over 200 years ago, Amazing Grace is the most sung, most recorded, most played song ever. Not bad for a creation that was meant only to serve as a simplistic way to teach scripture to Newton's congregation in Olney.
   
   Perhaps this song resonates so deeply with so many people because the words reflect John Newton's own extremely troubled life journey. Newton spent many years of his young adulthood completely lost. Career wise, he had no idea what he wanted to do and seemed bent on rebelling against everything that was given to him. The only thing he seemed to excel at was creating havoc. His greed and resentment led him to do horrible things including becoming a slaver.
   
   After a series of what Newton perceived as divine interventions, the man slowly began realizing that he needed to change his life. After a lot of false starts, Newton turned his life around and dedicated himself to God's word. In his lifetime, he became a bestselling author bringing religious material to the masses. His frank testimony about his actions in the slave trade was also significant in the abolishment of slavery in Britain.



2. Jonathan Aitken has written an excellent biography, one of the best Christian biographies I have read. Newton is a great subject for a biography for he had a long and amazing life. Aitken is well qualified to write about "From Disgrace to Amazing Grace". He writes with style. His chapters are refeshingly short and to the point. The story is thrilling with "many dangers, toils and snare". One looses counts of the dangers from which the young Newton escapes. It is the story of a great sinner who was found by a great Saviour. Aitken tells the tale with real spiritual as well as historical undrstanding of his subject so that in concluion he can point the reader to spiritual lessons to be learned from Newton's life. For example. God's timing is not ours. Newton had to wait six years from applying, to be finally ordained as an Anglican minister. His marriage is an exemplary and touching story. Newtons spitiuality and prayer life are a real challenge. Aitken shows how faithful and inovatory Newton was as a pastor and how he helped many, especially his best friend William Cowper. Without Newton there would have neem no great poet only a forgotten suicide. Similarly, without Newton we would probably not have has Wilberforce, politician and reformer. Aitken also tells the story of Newton's famous hymn, its composition and rise to fame. Aitken faithfully relates Newton's faults too. His support of the American rebels had to be withdrawn but one is led to understand why many in England, especailly non-conformists, were suppporters of the rebels. Newton was an eirenic man who eschewed party labels and associated with Christian irrespective of denominational labels. This is a great biography and I hope we will have more from this fine Christian author.



3. What I Enjoyed:
   
   Aitken does a wonderful job of putting together the life of Newton into a beautifully weaved story. One of the literary features that makes this work shine is the inclusion of Newton's letters. Sometimes it feels as if Newton is writing his own biography. One of the temptations in writing a biography is to portray the subject without many flaws and often times almost above human status. Part of the beauty of Newton's story is that he was such a great sinner. The more that we can see Newton as a great sinner the more it points to Christ as a great Savior. Aitken keeps Newton human.
   
   What I Disliked:
   
   In as much as Aitken shines on displaying Newton as a great sinner, I felt that in expressing latter half of Newton's statement ("...Christ is a great Savior") Aitken dropped the ball. Newton would be disappointed to find that a biography on himself did not have at its center the magnificent work of Jesus Christ. One standard I apply in reading biographies is this: after reading the biography, do I want to learn more about the man or am I driven to know Christ more. After reading this, I want to know more about John Newton. That is not altogether bad but a very important part of the story played a flat role. Newton was the main character when it should have been Jesus. Because of this we miss discovering what it was that made Newton tick.
   
   Should You But It:
   
   Nonetheless, it is a great work on John Newton and will serve the reader well. My hope is that it only introduces the reader to Newton and inspires you to pursue more of his work, because therein one might see and savor Jesus Christ. Should you buy it? Yes. Should it be the only Newton book in your collection? No.



4. Mr. Aitken's book takes us through John Newton's amazing life, and I found myself very pleased to read the story of Newton's role in the abolition of the slave trade through his influence on his friend Wilberforce (who served in Parliament devoting his life to abolition) as well as his own testimonies to the British authorities. Further, his Christian devotion to William Cowper helped that troubled man get through many dark periods -- even suicide attempts -- and he, Cowper, became one of the leading lights of 18th century English literature.
   Also, his devotion to and love for his wife, Polly, is also heavily accented in this work. It was a 43 year love affair, despite the fact that many found her to be unattractice and somewhat deficient between the ears. Also, they never had children. Nonetheless from the day he first set eyes upon her until the day of her death, she was his one and only.
   Rev. Newton also demonstrated singular devotion to hymnody in worship services which was suspect in high Church of England circles at that time. He showed a sympathy for and interest in some of the religious enthusiasts of the day that rankled some of his Church of England contemporaries, but his charitable attitudes seemed to win over those who needed to be won over, and the cause of Christ was served mightily by the man until he was in his eighties (he was exceedingly long-lived for a person in that century).
   The author is thorough in his treatment of the above themes, but the work is a little too cooly detached for my taste which is why I have given it a four rather than a five. It's filled with facts, yet the texture of the man doesn't really come across. I would have liked a chapter on Newton's theology, a chapter discussing the themes and lyrics of his hymns, his role as a preacher other than his impact on the famous individuals Wilberforce and Cowper, and some more personal touches that one usually finds in good biographies, whether one learns his favorite food, his reaction to issues of the day (other than slavery), and some critique of his writings. He was a pastor for so many years, but one comes away with scant sense of the man.
   Despite these shortcomings, I highly recommend this volume. It's worth every cent. As one reviewer notes, it shows that there is definitely room for Christian involvement in politics that one sees clearly after reading this volume. Christian statesmen are still needed.
   Likewise, I was pleased at his caring and patience for his desperate and suicidal friend Wm. Cowper. He did not assume that because Mr. Cowper was not walking around cheery and seemingly joyful all the time that he was not saved. Too often today Christians are ashamed to say they are sad,and many are disconsolate, yet are made to feel guilty about this. Christ told his disciples to "be of good cheer," but we are not rejected by Him if we are not.
   Read this book and learn from it, but don't expect literary flair or an analytic treatment.



5. This is one of the best books I have read in the past 12 months. It is tightly written, full of insightful anecdotes, and paints the life of an ordinary man that God used to make an extraordinary impact on the world in which Newton lived...and beyond. Even if you are not a regular reader of christian biographies (like me) this one is worth picking up.

5 comments about Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People.

1. Great reading and very inspirational. God is a wonderful business partner. My husband serves on our city council and recieved this book as a gift from the mayor of our town. My husband, after reading it and enjoying it so much, ordered this book for all our store managers(we are self employed). All our managers have found it to be great reading and inspirational as well.



2. This book was very good. It encouraged people to respect each person as an individual and help them build ownership and self respect in their work ethics. It also shared the rewarding value of performing service and giving credit where credit is due.



3. Why is S. Truett Cathy so successful? The answers are in this book. It's not rocket science. Work hard. Make people a priority. Live your values. Nail the fundamentals and most other things tend to fall into place. For Chick-Fil-A, the fundamentals are Customers, Cleanliness, and Quality. No surprises there. But the difference is in the execution of these values. How does he do it better than the rest? He hires the right people. People who care a lot. People who have character that match the character of Truett. After he hires them, he inspires and motivates them. The result is a fast food chain that is among the best.
   
   Truett makes no secret that his values come from being a Christian. His faith isn't a private thing. It encompasses every part of his life and is deeply integrated into the business. He actually believes that applying biblical teachings brings success. He gives numerous examples of this throughout his life. The official statement of corporate purpose says that they exist "to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A." Is that any way to run a fast food chain? Apparently it is; they now have well over 1200 restaurants and more than $2,000,000,000.00 in annual revenues. Truett has achieved this success steadily over many years. He never went public (IPO), like most larger restaurant chains do. His method makes me think of a few Proverbs:
   
   "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."
   
   "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense."
   
   "Do you see those who are skilled in their work? They will serve before kings."
   
   This book should be required reading for managers in the fast food industry. As one of Truett's top managers says; the method followed is "can't miss." Normally that kind of comment would fire up my skepticism, but after reading this book, I know just what he means.



4. 
   Author Truett Cathy believes in building businesses by building people. He practices what he preaches --- his Chick-Fil-A stores are places where employees are treated like family and offered many chances to succeed. Cathy, who not only believes in mentoring but has spent a lifetime practicing it, writes an inspiring book about how to improve yourself by helping others.
   
   Great gift book for co-workers or clients. Great Father's Day gift.
   Buy an extra copy for yourself!
   
   Dr. David Frisbie
   The Center for Marriage & Family Studies
   Author of Raising Great Kids on Your Own: A Guide and Companion for Every Single Parent



5. I truly enjoyed reading this book about Cathy's life and the trials he went through to build Chick Fil A. I have always liked the company, but have newfound respect for the it's ethics and mission. Great read! Fabulous company.

5 comments about The Camino : A Journey of the Spirit.

1. I've read this book twice. I don't know if I believe everything that Ms. MacLaine claims but it was a fun read and I enjoyed every bit of her journey.



2. Interesting read until she got into her dream visions about the beginning of time and adam and eve and paradise, etc... I mean, yes, possible but it sounded too cookie cutter to me. Like she made it up and tried to make it fit into a mold we already know and threw some sparkles in there for good measure. I like Shirley and have believed what she's been through in the past but now I have my doubts. I think the experience of the camino and her dealings with her environment there is a much more interesting read. She should have stuck to that.



3. Since marrying a Spaniard, most of our vacations have been to Spain. As a result, I tend to key in on books dealing with Spain. When I picked up "The Camino", I anticipated a quirky tale on hiking the Camino (i.e. an entertaining quick read). The book initially met my expectations. She explained her Camino decision and within a few pages was starting her pilgrimage on the trail. As expected, she meets some "unique characters" along the way and provides insight into the trail conditions (or lack thereof). However, the book slowly turns into a "vision quest". As you progress through the book, descriptions of the trail and modern day pilgrims are replaced by detailed descriptions of dreams and visions as well as her run-ins with the Press. The ending is anti-climatic and rushed. If I had paid full price for the book, I would be kicking myself for the purchase. Fortunately, I found the book in the bargain bin. Ignoring the purchase price, was the book worth reading? I did gain insight into the Camino trail conditions. However, I paid a high price for that insight. Only my determination to not leave a book half read got me through this relatively short book. All in all, I cannot recommend this book.



4. As a longtime reader of Shirley's book's, this was the next one for me. I learned alot and at this time, learning is very important to me.



5. Shirley MacLaine is ever the entertainer in recalling her trek across Spain on the Camino. The physical descriptions about her voyage are inspiring, and her determination to succeed in completing the journey is admirable.
   
   The most interesting part of the book for me was the journey itself. It succeeds in making you want to try it yourself if you have a month to spare.
   
   The spiritual aspect of the book is thought provoking, if nothing else. Shirley doesn't withhold and for some, I'm sure it's a little bit hard to digest, but you have to admire her honesty.
   
   I thought the ending would have been more glorious. I would like to have seen a moment when she paused and reflected at the end of her journey, but instead she rushed through it like it was something to get over. All in all, it was a good read.

5 comments about He Leadeth Me.

1. I started reading He Leadeth Me because I thought it might have some interesting thoughts on God and suffering, as a general concept. I had no idea, however, how very applicable Fr. Ciszek's hard-learned insights would be to my day-to-day life as the average American stay-at-home mom.
   
   The wisdom he learned after five years in solitary confinement and 20+ years at a Siberian slave labor camp is not just how to grow closer to God in the face of great upheaval and suffering, but how to know and live God's will in the face of the frustrating, the humdrum, and the mundane.
   
   I can't recommend this book highly enough to everyone -- whether you're experiencing great suffering or just frustrated by the daily grind, you will undoubtedly find Fr. Ciszek's story life-changing.



2. Just a fantastic book. I am not sure what I can add to further comments already added other than this book hit the spot for sincerity, truthfulness, and captivity of worthwhile imagination. I have just sent it to a friend that teaches English in Libya as I am assured that a wonderful book like this can only enhance her "desert experience" abroad as well.



3. Matthew Kelly (see [...]) recommended "He Leadeth Me" by Walter Ciszek, S.J., to me as it had a significant influence on him and his spiritual journey. The book has also had a profound influence on me - so much so, that I cannot get it out of my mind.
   
   In "He Leadeth Me," U.S. born Ciszek recounts his life as a Catholic priest who enthusiastically volunteered for preaching the gospel and administering the sacraments in communist Russia and ended up spending twenty three agonizing years in Soviet prisons, including five years of solitary confinement in Moscow's feared Lubianka prison and fifteen years of hard labor in Siberian prison camps.
   
   Upon his return to the US in 1963, as part of an exchange for two convicted Russian spies, Ciszek was asked over and over again how he survived. "He Leadeth Me" is his response. This book is about the faith he discovered and the simple truths he learned by trial and error. Truths he came to appreciate only after much anguish of soul and a great deal of prayerful reflection; truths that sustained him through the years of doubt and darkness, of hardship and suffering.
   
   The learned truth that threads its way throughout the book is that no one can know greater peace, no one can achieve a greater sense of fulfillment in his life than the man who believes in the truth of the faith and strives daily to put it into practice. "A spirituality based on complete trust in God is the surest guarantee of peace of soul and freedom of spirit."
   
   There are moments of crisis in every life, moments of anxiety and fear, moments of frustration and opposition, moments sometimes even of terror. Only by a lively faith can man live in peace among the tensions of the world. Faith is the fulcrum of our moral and spiritual balance - our powerlessness to solve the problems of evil, sin, injustice, suffering, and even death will not be a cause of despair or despondency when we have an unshakable trust and confidence in God.
   
   After great anguish, doubt, and repeated resistance by Ciszek, he submitted to the will of God realizing that every moment of our life has a purpose, that every action of ours, no matter how dull or routine or trivial it may seem in itself, has a dignity and a worth beyond human understanding. No moment can be wasted, no opportunity missed, since each has a purpose in God's plan. We need to strive to know God's will and to do it each day of our lives - working this out with constant effort and attention to just those persons and circumstances God presents to us each day. He expects no more of us, but He will expect nothing less of us, and we fail in our promise and commitment if we do not see in situations of every moment of every day of His divine will.
   
   God asks for the complete gift of self...absolute faith in His existence, His providence, His power to sustain me, and His love perfecting me. While it sounds all too simple, one quickly learns how difficult it is when they try to put it into practice. "Is this too simple or are we just afraid really to believe it, to accept it fully, to yield ourselves up to it in total commitment? This is the ultimate question of faith, and each must answer this for himself. But to answer it in the affirmative is to know peace, to discover a meaning to life that surpasses all understanding."
   
   "He Leadeth Me," first published in 1972, is a classic and continues as an all-time best seller. Ciszek has written a powerful testimony that will challenge your view of life and, possibly, a source of a transfiguration. "It is my hope, indeed my prayer that what I have learned and come to understand so slowly and painfully might be of service to others. God is a most patient teacher, even to the most stubborn of students."



4. I read this book on a retreat and had to buy it. The message of trusting in the will of God is so strong. No matter how many times I read this I know I will be helped each time.



5. Purchased book as gift for departing Catholic Father, I hope it is a good book as that was the image I hoped to convey. Sorry, I can't review contents for you, but there was no time for me to read it first.

5 comments about Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict (Second Edition).

1. "Seeking God" helped bring "The Rule of St. Benedict" into focus for me, enabling me to see clearly the wisdom of Benedict's vision for our day. For two other books that explore Benedictine wisdom for parents, look for "The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home" and "The Christian Family Toolbox: 52 Benedictine Activities for the Home", both by David Robinson (New York: Crossroad,2000 and 2001). Benedict still speaks relevantly and prophetically in our day!



2. Seeking God is an elegant, insightful, and extremely valuable treatment of the spirituality inherent in St. Benedict's Rule. The further into the book I read, the better I realized it was. Again and again I was impressed with the wisdom and psychological astuteness of the Rule as deWaal explained it. Benedict's way of moderation, humility, and balance, as interpreted by deWaal, seems one of the wisest and healthiest examples of Christian thinking that I have encountered. It is an excellent antidote to the regrettable tendency of some to want to separate body from soul and the material world from the spiritual world; Benedictine spirituality instead balances and integrates them!



3. I found Esther's book to be very insightful and concise. The only thing that trip me up a bit was the very small print and small fonts. Other than that she has a very clever way of explaining the rule of benedict and what it could mean for ones lay lifestyle. This is an excellent read for anyone wishing to become an Oblate.



4. This is an amazing book in it ability to provide modern day interpretation to the St. Benedict's teachings. The insights of this saint who lived in the 6th century contain uncanny wisdom and direction for us today, whether as religious, lay person, for family and business leaders. Ms de Waal's style is thoughtful, prayerful, inspiring.
   I recommend it to anyone who is interested in personal, and/or societel growth.



5. Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict not only explains the rule in clear terms, it shows how it can be implemented (i.e., lived) by an individual living outside of a monastic community. As a married man with children (now grown) who loves his family oriented vocation, the book gave me both insight into, and a way to live out my calling to a contemplative spirituality in a world that rarely appreciates or acknowledges such a mixed vocation. It's been more than 25 years since I first read the book and while I've only re-read it cover to cover a couple of times over the years, I have frequently picked it up to re-read a few pages or a chapter that seems relevant.

No comments about Light of Fearless Indestructible Wisdom: A Brief Account of the Life and Legacy of Kyabje Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche.

5 comments about The Confessions of St. Augustine (Signet Classics).

1. In reading the few reviews of people who did not like this book, it seems that it is the genre more than the book itself which they don't care for. Is this book redundant, as one reviewer accused it of being? Most assuredly so, but that should hardly be a surprise in a text such as this which explores the inklings of a powerful intellect that is attempting to grapple with the "big" questions.

   Augustine writes with a brutal honesty about himself & his weaknesses of which most of us, I would wager, would be incapable of duplicating. The book is filled with theological speculations and a sense of deep-seated guilt that Augustine feels because of his sins. Some of the passages regarding faith might seem a bit ad-hoc to the modern reader, but I suppose there is no way around that.

   This is a good book, but it is not a book for everyone. I would recommend it if you have an interest in philosophy, religion, or the philosophy of religion. I would admonish those who do not have an enthusiasm for these three areas not to read this book.




2. As a big fan of Augustine's writing I give this book five stars. The way that he has interwoven his thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences with the humble eloquence of repentance will have you as the reader very exuberant. In reading this work you will learn more of Augustine's life, the spiritual turmoil he faced, and how he came to knowledge of the truth in a most triumphant manner. Although, that's not all that you will find interesting in the Confessions. In fact once Augustine converts to Catholicism and discovers the mystery of the faith, he then proceeds to fill in the blanks philisophically were he had once been left in error. Finally Augustine ponders on the book of Genesis and discourses a respectable point of view on the creation of heaven and earth. Oh Yeah! I forgot to explain how Augustine corresponds the subject matter of this book with a profound emphasis on the Holy Scriptures. So I recommend this masterpiece to anyo ne who has a love for great Latin literature, or to all that wish to read the prestige of Christian writings.



3. I bought this book over a year ago and I was not quite sure why I bought it. About a month ago, I began going through a troubled period in my life. The writings of St. Augustine helped me live through this period.

   While the book is most known for its philisophical proof of the existance of God, the book's value runs even greater. Augustine also discusses the meaning of our own existance. Each of us is molded by the opportunity to grow by each experience of our life. Ultimately, we must see the error of our ways to find true happiness in life through God. In this way, God molds us into better people. While the existance of God is not something we can easily explain, Augustine offers insite into this dilema. God created us in his own image, but this does not mean he looks like a human being. He created us as loving creatures like himself. In addition, Augustine address many other issues relating to God in his biography.

   This book may be difficult reading to the casual reader. I would suggest potential readers only read this book if he/she plans to study it with the dedication it deserves.




4. Despite a superb translation, "Confessions" was not the autobiographical classic that I had hoped. Broadly, the first half details Augustine's pre-conversion life and paints an interesting portrait of life in ancient Italy. The relationships and stuggles that he details are as relevant today as there were in centuries past. The second half, however, is profoundly theological and lacks the personal touch I had hoped for. Similar to Emerson's essays, Augustine writes chapters on various aspects of bibical literalness and catholic doctrine. I found these musings to be difficult to follow and disconnected. A profound work, but one that the reader needs to be prepared for.



5. I recently reread "The Confessions of St. Augustine" after many years and am glad that I did. This book, which is often called the first autobiography, is really not an autobiography in the sense that we use the term. It is Augustine's Confession to God, from which we glean many details about Augustine's life.

   In this we learn of Augustine's family, his early life, his search for truth and, throughout the book, his teachings on theology. Here we see him move to the gradually larger world, from Tagaste, to Carthage, to Rome, to Milan, where he finally finds Truth. He is then ready to return to his native Africa, his preparation completed for the work which would make him one of the greatest, Christian theologians of all time.

   In much of the early book, Augustine tells us of his rejections of God's call. Seeking truth and honors, he searched through many sources and sought out many teachers. He sought wisdom from pagan and Manichean philosophers. His disappointment with the highly touted Manichean bishop, Faustus, whose speech was pleasing but whose answers failed to soothe Augustine's soul, caused him to turn to Catholicism.

   Learning from the respected bishop, Ambrose, Augustine came to recognize the truth of Christianity, but his slavery to a non-Christian life style long prevented him from following the call of God. This persisted until one day he heard the child's song "Tolle Lege, Tolle, Lege" (the title of my high school newspaper), "Take it and read." Taking this as a divine command to read the first passage of scripture to meet his eyes, he opened the book to the passage, "Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in concupiscence." Needing to read no further, his conversion occurred and he was ready for the great work which lay before him.

   Throughout much of the book, we are treated to Augustine's teachings on a variety of religious topics. We obtain his guidance on the nature of God, God's relationship with and expectations of man, as well as norms for the interpretation of scripture. This is the book for anyone with an interest in Christian theology or St. Augustine personally. Tolle Lege!

5 comments about The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed and Lorraine Warren.

1. A very well-written and informative book, highly recommended for those interested in hauntings/infestations.
   I ordered this book in combination with Hostage to the Devil Hostage to the Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Contemporary Americans, Interview with an Exorcist Interview With an Exorcist: An Insider's Look at the Devil, Demonic Possession, and the Path to Deliverance and An Exorcist Tells His Story An Exorcist Tells His Story. The Demonologist tells only part of the story in regards to negative paranormal activity. However, it is important to see their 'pastoral approach' to infestations, which is not addressed in the other Roman Catholic sources (which deal with severe possession). The Warrens, as devout Catholics, are not as interested in proving phenomenon as eliminating it, which they appear to be very effective at (for all the criticism of their work, I have yet to hear that they did not help the plaintiffs in their cases). In-the-know Catholics may have difficulty with some of their beliefs (the Warrens, in the book, confess a belief in reincarnation, which is against RCC dogma), but the RCC does not have a definitive statement regarding human spirits remaining in this world after death. Therefore, it is understandable that the Warrens, not having clear theological guidance in their work, might occasionally stray from sound doctrine.
   Anyway, this book is more of a novel than a handbook. In fact, there is no thorough treatment of the topic from a Christian perspective that I have been able to locate, but this book is a critical part of building a solid understanding of how these phenomena should be approached and treated.



2. Iam an Exorcist, the book was great, a lot of information, God Bless you for writing this book, let the truth be known.



3. The Demonologist WILL--no question about it--be shocking and even perhaps stomach-turning to anyone of, let's say, naïvety or too much "innocence" when it comes to spiritual matters. I, on the other hand, having just finished Malachi Martin's formidable guidebook to exorcism (Hostage to the Devil), was so well prepared that I was easily able to power through the Demonologist with nary a feeling of dread or shock, and, anyway, I humbly accept that there are forces beyond the mundane, so, again, that helps with the startling information in the Demonologist. Additionally, if you're secular and haven't encountered this information of demons before, I guess it'd help to desensitize you to the information if you're a fan of horror movies, as much of the Demonologist reads like the stuff out of one's worst nightmares!!!!
   
   This tome is but a snippet of some of the more notorious cases of demon-infestation that America's most well-known couple of demonology--Ed (now deceased since 2006) and Lorraine (probably classified better as a clairvoyant)--have tackled in their decades-long career of morbidity. It's written by the author (Brittle) in a very fluid and fast-paced manner interspersing interviews and quotes from the Warrens together with academic talk on the subject and a case-by-case walkthrough.
   
   Demonology is the study of the diabolical; the demonologist (Ed Warren) is not an exorcist but more of a scientist in that he actively compiles a case-load of evidence that actually corroborates matters of faith, i.e., the existence of evil spirits et al. In all seriousness, the Warrens are collectors of the morbid occult, and their home is a veritable stockpile/museum of all kinds of accursedly infernal objects: dolls, full-length mirrors, etc.. Additionally, they possess recordings of demoniacal voices during exorcisms; suddenly materialized objects from hauntings, and other "goodies" like "psychic photos." In the book, Ed reasons that through this stockpile of cold, hard, objective evidence, he feels confident he could go to court and scientifically prove beyond the shadow of a doubt the existence of the demonic!!!!
   
   Somewhat like a worn-out cliché, the Warrens' lifework of battling demons happened accidentally: as a young, married couple, they actually began painting haunted houses and selling the work at art shows for income. Soon, this morphed into them walking through the haunted houses and discovering that in most cases, the root of hauntings wasn't very friendly at all.
   
   The Warrens assert that most hauntings are in fact devilish; that is to say, INHUMAN SPIRITS are incurring the domestic disturbances, not merely Casper the Friendly Ghost. The Warrens are meticulous in differentiating between mere ghosts (once-human spirits) and demons (absolutely inhuman) because of a few, lethally important reasons. One, ghosts are psychically very feeble and can't hurt people or influence the environment much; demons have the power to hurt folks by their unnatural power through psychic, physical attacks, levitation, object-manifestation, oppression, and then possession!!!! Two, ghosts really have no intelligence in that they come short of interacting with people since they basically just repeat psychic-imprint actions they did during their lifetime; demons, conversely, will always use subterfuge to trick people into permitting possession of them.
   
   Some of the cases include a fretfully bizarre one that'd make for an effective horror story: the case of "Annabelle," a life-size, Raggedy Ann doll!!!! Here, the demon wasn't inside the doll, but it was deviously moving the doll around a woman's apartment to the point where it tricked her into believing it was merely the spirit of a little, lost girl. That was merely the MO of the demoniacal as the permission the woman bequeathed onto the invading demon to remain in the apartment was the foothold it needed to begin oppression. Before long, her roommate's boyfriend was actually attacked via several, long claw slashes across his chest. This case ended when an exorcism was done.
   
   Another case is more disconcerting because it involves the ignorant invitation of the demonic along with verily unnatural occurrences. The Warrens repeatedly warn that in most cases of demonic infestation, the fault belonged to ignoramuses for inviting inhuman spirits into their homes/lives via occult materials!!!! Case in point: a teen girl is actually bought--for Christmas, no less!--a book on conjuring demons by her mother! So, she recites the spells, and at first nothing happens...but this will change furiously very soon. The diabolically unnatural phenomenon increases from mere cold spots (Ed claims demons make rooms cold as their presence requires energy, meaning heat, which sucks the heat from a room) and heavy breathing in the teen-girl's bedroom to all-out disorder. After a short while, this escalates into unseen, demon hands beating on the teen-girl; birds "singing" outside her parents' window AT NIGHT; footsteps relentlessly ascending/descending stairs; radios playing and turning on/off relentlessly by themselves; furniture being thrown all over the living room; and pet dogs freakishly running BACKWARDS.
   
   In the aforementioned, the kids were exclusively the targets of the demoniacal attack insofar as the parents were largely spared this distressing phenomenon. Ed purports that this is another MO of the demonic: isolate certain family members to sow confusion, despair and infighting among the family unit. In fact, the Warrens clearly enumerate certain cautionary factors that you, the reader, can employ to determine whether you're experiencing anything infernal.
   
   You may be the victim of demoniacal oppression if:
   
   1) You feel a pervasive sense of doom OR evil all around you
   2) You experience disgusting smells
   3) You hear unexplainable moans, screams, rappings, poundings, whispering
   4) You endure mysterious changes in room temperature or ghastly visions
   5) You experience levitation, materialization, de-materialization, and teleportations of people and objects
   6) You receive strangling sensations around the neck
   7) You have your arms grabbed from behind
   8) You suffer cuts, wounds, gouges, burns or sudden illnesses
   9) You experience vulgarities mysteriously being written on your walls
   10) You endure random outbreaks of fire
   11) You have inhuman voices calling you on the phone!
   12) You see demon faces appearing on your TV!
   
   If you've experienced any of these in any cumulative pattern, it's advised you contact your local exorcist, priest or ghostbusters immediately!!!!
   
   If this sounds even the slightest bit disquieting, then chin up! This is actually but a taste of all the sordid details of the devilish that the Warrens go into in the Demonologist, and one must really read this book to get a full sense of it all.
   
   Nonetheless, some of the purports by the Warrens are so ludicrous that they stretch the bounds of plausible believability and, miserably, undercut their credibility. For instance, they allege that in exorcisms, the possessed can become hulking brutes that actually go on mini rampages, but in Malachi Martin's seminal Hostage to the Devil, not one of the possessed in any of his cases displays that chaotic power. Secondly, Ed Warren's logic at times is absolutely absurd and contradictory to common sense. In example, whenever dealing with accursed objects that demons allegedly infested, the Warrens routinely...get ready for this...take home the possessed objects!!!! Then, they allegedly display these accursed objects in Ed's study with, presumably, the infesting, inhuman spirit still attached to said object!!!! C'mon!
   
   Also, some of the Warrens' tales do seem rather tall as in unbelievable. Case in point: once, when taking home a possessed mirror that was used for summoning demons, Ed claims he and Lorraine were unrelentingly followed by a demon-truck on the freeway, that kept dumping green ooze/slime on their car!!!! This occurred in full view, apparently, of other motorists in packed traffic. Next, a demon-driven, black car planned to play "chicken" with their car as they were driving across a narrow bridge. Grossly questionable stories like that really sound falsified and hurt the Warrens' otherwise credible-sounding experience with fighting the diabolical. The inclusion of photos supposedly taken during "demoniacal activity"--which really only show trashed rooms and broken furniture--begs the question, Who staged this scene? I'm of course assuming the Warrens are telling the truth with the pictures, but there's always the hazard of deception.
   
   All told, though, the Demonologist is money well spent as it'll satisfy you on a few levels. If you're religious, then it will obviously seem profound to you. Even if you're an atheist, it will at least come across as a very scary read that will rival some of the best horror-fiction out there. If you're approaching this from a purely intellectual level, it will give you tremendous food for thought as you weigh the probability of inhuman spirits being real. The question you have to ask yourself above all else is, Am I brave enough to make it through the pages of the Demonologist? Well, are ya, buddy boy?!



4. First off, I used to believe in the supernatural...until I grew up, went to college, and studied mythology, ancient religions, history, and other subjects. Secondly, does anyone in their right mind actually believe the stories in this book? Both my cousin and I find them far-fetched. Maybe the Warrens were delusional, I don't know, but the occurrences they spoke
   of in this book just don't sound rational to me. Devils being superior to demons? Come on now. And why does all this seem to happen mostly to those of the Catholic faith? Well, Catholics are primed to believe in the occult
   and supernatural to begin with, unlike Baptists, for example-any members of the churches I've attended would call the Warrens 'demonic', 'sinners'
   and quite possibly even 'Satanists'. Superstitious minds will take in just
   about any wild tale you could concoct. My great-aunt and grandmother, grandfathers, others of their generation, actaully believed in root magic,
   and that people-root doctors-could put a curse on you with these 'roots'.
   The Amityville Hoax was just that, a hoax-Ron DeFeo even said so in a true
   crime documentary I saw a few years ago-and here the Warrens claim in the book that it actually happened! Sorry, but I don't believe a word of any of these stories-the book is still a good read, but nothing scary about it
   and...well, I once owned a Ouija board, held seances, and practiced black
   magic and even tried to conjure up a demon-yet nothing supernatural ever
   happened to me! I also did not agree with the Warrens attempting to lump
   black magic in the same category with Wicca, which is a Nature Religion that predates Christianity, in its Pagan form. I am a Pagan and I do not pray to demons-there are no such creatures, and they are part of the Christianity myth anyhow.



5. The Demonologist gets off to a rough start, in terms of suspension of disbelief. "Non-fiction" and "being attacked by evil black vortexes" don't exactly go hand-in-hand. But there is a propulsive nature to this text, and it gets its fuel from the arrestingly sober assessment of bizarre and frightening things, rather than a "potboiler" narrative flow.
   
   Ultimately, this is not something trashy that you might find at an airport bookstore. It's a long and fascinating Q&A session with the Warrens, who are one of the most intriguing couples of the past half-century. By the time you get to the end of this book, you will understand why. Because they have not only encountered strange and evil things, but they have endured the sometimes murderous interest of the demonic, completely outside of their casework, if their accounts are to be believed. And if they are, then Ed and Lorraine are some truly sturdy people who have an abiding respect for God and a genuine and deep interest in the welfare of people who have tripped into dangerous things.
   
   For me, the most fascinating aspect of this book is the uplifting message at the end, about creating a positive environment around yourself and your family. Although they are devout Catholics, they frame this message outside of theology. Sadly, Ed Warren passed away a few years ago, at the ripe old age of 80, but Lorraine and this book live on, and I find myself wishing there had been some sequels in the intervening years. Truly engrossing stuff.

5 comments about Dakota: A Spiritual Geography.

1. Having moved from a large city to a small town in West Texas, I could totally identify with this book. I learned a lot about the dynamics of a small town, both good and bad. Spiritually, I came to the realization that I found my own desert. The insights that accompany that realization along with the prose of the book are definitely worth the time.
   
   That having been said, this book is not for everyone. It is highly spiritual and insightful, but in an understated way.



2. I read this book every couple of years and find it a fresh, new read everytime. I recently ordered an extra copy for some friends. To my parents, this was one of those books you love and give copies of to all you friends, siblings, and children. I think I will be doing the same thing.



3. The key to this book is right there in the title. The Dakota of Kathleen Norris' experience, depiction, and understanding is a decidedly spiritual state of being. Just as "deep calls unto deep," so the austere, high plains landscape both evokes and instructs Norris' interior world. Having traveled with Norris through her "Cloister Walk," and having learned her lexicon in "Amazing Grace," I was prepared to look around Dakota with her penetrating vision, to listen to the wind with her attentive hearing, to think deeply about what we were seeing together, and to let my heart grow still as she taught me. Now, though I've never yet been to the high plains, I have truly been to Kathleen Norris' unique and personal Dakota -- and is that not the best accolade for a travelogue, that the reader honestly feels that he's made the trip? I gave this book to a deep-souled friend who needed the time of quiet contemplation it provides, and I recommend it to you as well.



4. I had been meaning to read this book for years. After finally doing so, and then skimming through the 40+ previous Amazon reviews, it is clear that the book will appeal most to those of a highly spiritual bent (but probably not devout followers of an organized religious denomination or practice). I am not highly spiritual, so the book does not speak as intensely to me as no doubt it does to many. Nonetheless, I admire the author's sincerity and her individuality.
   
   As for the "Dakota" angle, that too is present, although not to the degree perhaps suggested by the title. Don't expect some sort of travelogue or overview of the Dakotas. In point of fact, much of the content is rather prosaic, which of course is not really a criticism of what is essentially an inward, spiritual book. Actually, the "geographical" locus of the book has more to do, I think, with the High Plains and with small towns than it does with the Dakotas.
   
   The book consists of thirty or so short stand-alone chapters, interspersed with what the author terms "weather reports". Thus, it is somewhat of a hodgepodge; it certainly is not an example or product of linear thought (which also denotes it as spiritual in nature). I ended up marking a few sentences or paragraphs for future reference. In that sense, I found the book to be somewhat like a magpie's collection -- a few sparkling gem-like pieces of glass amidst a lot of string, weeds, and twigs.



5. The book likens the experience of living in the western Dakotas to that of monasticism. Some poetry in prose as she enthuses over the landscape, and her occasional visits to a nearby Benedictine monastery. (Norris is a Presbyterian.) The book is marred by some digressions on economics that may have seemed necessary to the author, but which did not magnetize this reader; also, there are some remarks about her fellow townspeople (their provincialism, their being "set in their ways") that seem to flirt with "Snobama"-type elitism. There is the incredible claim on p. 210 that the Benedictine order predates "the Catholic hierarchy" -- to employ the popular code, whiskey tango foxtrot? But Norris's genuine affection for the monks, for the landscape, and (yes) for most of her neighbors, does come through and make us almost forget the flaws.