3 comments about Tell it All: A Woman's Life in Polygamy.

1. For those interested in finding out the real truth about polygamy in early Mormonism this book is wonderful. I have read many, many books on the subject and I put this first-hand account at the top of the list.



2. This book is written by an educated woman who lived in polygamy in the mid 1800s in Utah. Although she was a strong Mormon, she felt that God would not make women live under such a terrible "principle", as polygamy was referred to. Because of her husband's work for the Mormon church, she was in the highest circles of the Mormon elite which makes her writing very compelling reading. She was very brave to write this book and suffered the consequences.



3. Once in a long while you will find a book so compelling you can not lay it down and this is such a book! I felt like I was pulled into the story and suffered with Fanny Stenhouse as she fought the good fight against the Mormon Church and her enemies who wanted to shut her up.. This was not an off shoot of the Mormon Church but the original Church and it is a chilling example of an organization gone astray and exploiting women to satisfy men's lust. She quotes Brigham Young and how he received from heaven the exact dogma of plural marriage and as she says so well... "with bad grammar and all." It is a must read for those who enjoy history and want light shed on the issue of plural marriage and of women really felt of this practice, no matter how hard the church will try to define it. You will never forget this story and never defend this church with it's brutal and nasty past. Thank God Fannie did get out of Mormonism, but at a great risk to her life and limb.

1 comments about Let Me Go to the Father's House: John Paul II's Strength in Weakness.

1. reading this book made one seem that the entire life of john paul 2 was his suffering and death. this book was , of course, about his passing, but it was written in such a way that made you feel guilty to be alive. moribund at its best.

5 comments about The Small Woman.

1. This is a true story of an insignificant English maiden who went to China to tell the Chinese people of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Alan Burgess weaves a masterful tale, including harrowing escapes, a clash of cultures and customs, extreme poverty and deprivation, amidst an enchanting background of picturesque cities tucked in the misty mountains of Northern China, official Mandarins on palanquins, and the dusty mule trails that tie it all together.

   There is even a love story of Gladys and a Nationalist army officer tucked in between the bombing of her town and the marching of 100 children refugees over treacherous mountains to Sian (Xian) in search of an orphanage to care for them.

   You'll not be able to put this book down, and you'll laugh and cheer for the glorious work that God does through this determined and hardy woman.




2. If you are interested in China and the missionary experience, this is a book you must not miss. It is extremely easy to read, you'll finish it in no time!! If you have read about China this book may give you insight into one of the most remote corners of the country. It is also a story of incredible bravery and sacrifice to others.
   
   I always believed the missionary effort in China had been quite hopeless, but reading this book made me see the way one "small woman" influenced so many lives, leaving a lasting impression and truly changing people for the better through patience and above all, a lot of intelligence.



3. As a non-religious person (I had a Buddhist and Christian upbringing but grew to be non-religious in my adult years), to me what is most moving about the life of Gladys Aylward in war-torn China is how she persevered in her efforts to integrate herself into a new culture in a foreign land, at one of the most tumultuous times in history, while still maintaining her own faith and managed to convert others to her religion by first grasping others' perspectives and understanding their experiences. Somehow she lost her cultural baggage (literally and metaphorically), got over it, and quietly learn the locals' ways of life by interacting with them on a personal level rather than positioning herself as a high-and-mighty missionary preaching to the ignorant natives. Mentored by an experienced missionary with a no-nonsense attitude, Gladys learnt and grew to love and respect the local ways of life, with an open-minded freshness that came from a curious mind and a generous personality. The contrast of Gladys' warmth and integration with the local culture with another older missionary who never learnt a word of the language despite decades of living in the country is startling. Aylward showed genuine Christian humility and from a timid and clueless parlour maid grew to become an assured and resourceful woman whose virtues shown through to all who came across her, so much so that she was given a Chinese name signifying 'the virtuous one'. This is the part of this small book that I most enjoyed - she really is a 'small woman' in the best sense of the term, by leading others through her quiet example.
   
   The Japanese's bloody intrusion into the tough-yet-idyllic existence of this rural community is honestly and harrowingly rendered, the cold-blooded cruelties of which constrast sharply with, and overshadow, the narrative on the budding romantic relationship between Aylward and the Nationalist general. Here she reminded me a little of the character Maria in the Sound of Music - one whose love of God did not prevent her from loving and being loved by a man, even in the throes of war.
   
   All in all, an epic tale of a woman's life in a foreign land, how she grew to love her new-found life and how she was loved and respected by all around her in return. The major feat she pulled off towards the end, taking 100 orphaned children with her to safety while playing cat-and-mouse with the Japanese army, did not seem so improbable when one sees how she has grown and developed under the grace of God in spite of the unexpected turns in her life path. This is a small book that would be appreciated by anyone with an interest in experiencing life in war-torn China beyond the official statistics and male-driven narratives, as well as by people who are looking for a heart-warming story about the fortitude of the human spirit in the face of adversity, with the heros being an unassuming woman and her orphaned children. Above all, this book would be loved by both religious and non-religious readers, for this slim volume depicts the humble story of an unpretentious missionary whose spiritual grace crosses language, cultural and religious barriers. An absolute gem.



4. This is the story that the movie The Inn of the Sixth Happiness was based on. After I watched the movie I wanted to read the book & I can say the book was just as great if not better than the movie. The book is a very plain, simple appearing story, but let me say it packs a powerful punch...so don't judge this book by it's cover!



5. I was amazed at the speed of delivery, i had expected a paper back copy and received a hard back copy, it was well packed and in pristine condition. I am very pleased with the service i received.

1 comments about William Carey: Father of Missions (Heroes of the Faith).

1. It will not be an overstatement to call William Carey the father of modern missionary works.
   This cobbler-turned-evangelist showed the slave-raiders of his era that there was a lot to do in foreign lands than to wedge slave-hunts. He truly loved humanity, and persevered in order to expand his apostolic works. He is a true hero.
   This is another fine book from Wellman!

1 comments about The Women of Azusa Street.

1. Alexander has done a marvelous job putting together these biographies of Azusa personalities. The stories are fresh, focused, and well documented. She has a command of her subject and her writing style is easy to read. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Muhammad, Prophet of God.

1. Daniel Peterson's biography of Muhammad is an ideal introduction to the life of this crucial figure in world history. This balanced biography provides insights into the foundations of Islam, and its impact on the Muslim world today. Highly recommended.



2. I found myself wishing I had known the Prophet; Professor Peterson presents a very human picture of Muhammad, his locale and times. His early history includes the known material, without additional speculation.
   Because Peterson has also produced scholarly translations of classic Arabic texts, I was prepared for a dry or difficult text, however the author's style is warm and comfortable.
   Clearly he enjoys his subject and people.
   The separation between well documented events and those possibly or probably added by adherents at a later time is usually clear.
   That Muhammad's teachings and more importantly his actions were magnanimous is repeatedly illustrated.
   The history and examples of his relationships, and wars, with Jews and Christians was very revealing. He clearly saw them as 'believers', cousins if you will, to the thoughts and patterns of his heart.
   What his followers did with those teachings after his death is only briefly recounted. This is not a study in Islamic thought and historical course, it is limited to Muhammad.
   The Qur'an is the main reference quoted in the text.
   I highly recommend this book, you will enjoy reading it and you will feel much better about Muhammad and Islam.



3. My previous review was removed.
   Please Do not limit FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
   
   This author has made many serious, non-scholarly , most likely deliberate mistakes, errors and accusations in his book.
   
   I have contacted the Author of the Foreword, and found out that Islamic Scholar Khaleel Mohammad was tricked into writing of his foreword and has not even read the Blueprint before the publication of this deceiving work.
   
   Some laughable mistakes...
   
   He claims Qur'an's style is most definitely likely of the Arab Poetry.
   (This is why so many Arabs embraced Islam, Qur'an was so different and higher standard that it reformed and standardized Arabic. This is a baseless attack, the miracle of the Qur'an was its unique style, that can and has been demonstrated by scholars multiple times)
   
   He claims Early Qur'an wasn't truly monotheistic, neither the Prophet.
   (This is comical, THE VERSE OF MONOTHEISM, Al-Ikhlas is an early Sura, and all Suras are inherently unmistakably monotheistic, That's Islam, That's Muhammad (sas))
   
   He says this was a "later" development. (Clear Deception)
   
   He claims Qur'an verses depict Jesus(as) God Incarnate. (LOL)
   (There is not a single verse he can produce for this claim)
   
   He tries to claim that Qur'an borrowed from Christian and Jewish
   sources.
   (This is an old school deception that's been discussed and refuted many times, this can not be established, nor can be proven. The Qur'an itself states it has come to be a guardian of the Scriptures, meaning to restore the truth and correct the mistakes and that's just what it does.)
   
   Overall, the author's image he's trying to give is an Objective, Loving Scholar is a hoax and this book is nothing but a desperate attack upon the Religion of Islam and Beloved Prophet Muhammad(sas), If BYU wants any respect from the Muslim community, it is their duty to pull this Deceptive Book of Lies off publication.
   
   Thank you.



4. This book is truly a wonderful introduction into the life of Muhammad and the beginnings of Islam. It is well-written and concise, never going into any more detail than is needed for such an introduction. It is an excellent starting point for anyone just getting started in learning the history of Muhammad and Islam.



5. I, like most westerners, have a very shallow understanding of the story of Muhammad. I've read chapters of him in textbooks, and have picked up bits and pieces of his life and influence through various channels. I wanted to learn a bit more, so I picked up this book based on some recommendations.
   
   Peterson has done a great job is this short biography explaining the background and major events in the life of Muhammad. He highlights the many strengths of this great man and puts what we westerners would consider weaknesses into the context of the times. It would be hard to find other leaders of the time that made such a positive impact on society. Peterson didn't highlight the aftermath of his life, but Muslim culture far outshone western culture for hundreds of years.
   
   Is Muhammad a true prophet? Peterson rightly leaves that for others to answer. Was he an honest and sincere man? It appears that most scholars agree that he was.
   
   I recommend this book for anyone seeking to understand more about Muhammad. I have a much clearer picture of his history now that I have read this book.

5 comments about Go Forward With Faith: The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley.

1. Very inspirational. At once shows that a prophet is just a man, yet also shows that Gordon B. Hinkley is no ordinary man. An amazing account of how the Lord prepares a person from the beginning of their life, over the course of many generations, to be his voice on earth and lead his church.



2. Gordon B. Hinckley is an interesting man who has had great influence on the LDS Church. Primarily a marketing guru, the book details the role he played in his early years working with Stephen L. Richards and J. Rueben Clark and others as an up and coming man in the church. He sufficiently impressed his superiors that they called him to be an assistant to the apostles and eventually an apostle.
   
   As a young apostle, Hinckley spent much of his efforts on the missionary program. It appears that he deferred to the elder apostles on matters of doctrine and interestingly played little role in some of the more colorful disputes that took place in the church during the sixties. While Harold B. Lee, Joseph Fielding Smith and Hugh B. Brown were trying to reign in Ezra Taft Benson's crazy political doctrines, Gordon B. Hinckley was apparently a non-entity (no mention of those events in Dew's book).
   
   As a senior apostle, Gordon B. Hinckley had tremendous influence as ailing older Presidents and Apostles relied heavily on him to be essentially the cheif administrative officer of the church. Eventually becoming President himself, Gordon B. Hinckley continued his role as primarily an adminstrator and marketing guru.
   
   Gordon B. Hinckley will not be remembered as someone who made contributions in Mormon doctrine. Sometimes, in the book, you almost sense a Gordon B. Hinckley who doesn't really believe in anything other than the organization. After reading the book, I feel I understand Gordon B. Hinckley as a capable administrator, a loyal member of the organization, but anything but a dynamic leader who actually stands for anything.
   
   I cannot think of a single revelation that Gordon B. Hinckley has made (other than some silly stuff about piercings and tattoos- how's that for earth-shattering). He has spent millions on temples, and has worked tirelessly on public relations pursuits for the church, but an inspired leader? Even with the author's best spin, I don't think so.
   
   Sometime in the future, I look forward to a biography on Gordon B. Hinckley that has the intention of telling his story, not selling his church.



3. This was a wonderful book about the life of President Gordon B. Hinckley's life.
   
   Gordon B. Hinckley's life is the the LDS Church and has been since His call to serve as a missionary.So don't be surprised if it talks a lot about the Chruch and the role that Gordon played in the history of it in the last century.
   
   It's an excellent read and you'll learn much more about this amazing man.



4. What a lovely man, so real and earthy, and how inspiring to read his story!



5. This is a wonderful book- the history, stories and inspirational advice
   from the life of the prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley are motivating and will lift your spirits.

1 comments about Mary Slessor: Light for the Dark Continent (Heroes of the Faith).

1. This is a great book. Mary Slessor is very inspiring. She was just a little woman & God used her in a great way. The book is well written. It is very exciting.

1 comments about Against the Pollution of the I: Selected Writings of Jacques Lusseyran.

1. Jacques Lusseyran writes with a love that you can feel permeating you as you read his words. My favorite essay in this collection of 6 was "Jeremy," the story of a blue collar saint in Buchenwald. I found myself crying and feeling wonderful at the same time. This writing defies description.

1 comments about Ignatius of Loyola: The Psychology of a Saint.

1. This is a difficult book to read unless you happen to be a psychiatrist. This book blends biography with psychological analysis. It took me at least eight months to finish this 400 pages plus book. The story of Iñigo, later to become Ignatius, is a remarkable one. You will witness the transition of Iñigo from a pugnacious young man, brave and passionate, into a mystic and an exemplary Christian (but still brave and passionate).
   
   The author threads between two poles; on one hand you have the Grace of God acting on a broken (physically and spiritually) man making him fit to be called a saint and a mystic and, on the other hand, you have a man oppressed by psychological issues (narcissism, sublimation of libido and aggression). Somehow Ignatius reconciles both poles.
   
   It is inappropiate for me to assign a rating for this book based on the merits of the psychological assesment made by the author, consequently, I am rating this book as a reflection of how much did I like it. I will give four stars to this book just because it is intricate and difficult to digest.