Amazon.com
Christian lecturer and counselor John Eldredge follows up his bestselling Sacred Romance with The Journey of Desire: Searching for the Life We Always Dreamed Of, a book whose very title evokes hope and possibility. The first half of Journey of Desire argues that Christians have forsaken their heart's desire due to the failures and sorrows of life. This is tragic, Eldredge insists, because "absolutely nothing of human greatness is ever accomplished without it." A rousing call to search for the life you've only dreamed of ensues. The question naturally arises as to the "wayward" desire that lies within us, and how it is to be controlled let alone differentiated from our true desires. While the answer isn't clear, the second half of the book focuses on what Christians have to look forward to in heaven--what they are to set their hope upon. Each chapter begins with insightful literary quotes and aptly applied modern song lyrics pertaining to the upcoming text. While the contents could fuel many a theological debate, Eldredge does inspire one to consider what lies in the recesses of his heart, and for Christians hopefully it is a primarily desire for God alone. --Jill Heatherly
Book Description
Sometimes it seems we just can't get what we want. Circumstances thwart our best-laid plans. We struggle to live a heartfelt life. Worst of all, says Eldredge, the modern church mistakenly teaches its people to kill desire (calling it sin) and replace it with duty or obligation (calling it sanctification). As a result, at best Christians tend to live safe, boring lives of resignation. At worst, their desire eventually breaks out in destructive ways such as substance abuse, affairs, and pornography addictions. In
The Journey of Desire, Eldredge invites readers to rediscover God-given desire and to search again for the life they once dreamed of.
Customer Reviews:
Recommended with caveats.......2007-06-19
HIGHLY recommended. Other books of Eldredge may be more popular and interest generating. However, this is his foundational book. This book provides brilliant insight into our desires.
The caveat is that one must complete the reading of this book by reading a couple of other authors.
First, John Piper's books such as Desiring God or The Pleasures of God.
Second, Lou Giglio's book - The Air I Breathe.
These two authors complement Eldredge and corrects Eldredge's more 'man-centric' focus.
Discover Hope--the energizer of faith and love.......2007-06-04
I cannot state strongly enough how enthusiastically I recommend this book. I truly believe this message is a gift from the Lord, delivered through Eldredge. There is a reason that faith, hope, and love are the three cardinal virtues; yet Christians often seem to be tremendously lacking in hope. And for our faith and love to be what they should, they need the empowerment of hope.
The basic message of the book is this: our hearts demand Paradise; we simply cannot arrange for it in this life; it is indeed coming (for those who will receive it from the Lord).
"Journey of Desire" is a wonderful guide to growing in hope, to understanding why we're deficient in it, to illuminating the threats to it...to understanding life. This book is a compelling guide and invitation to the life that's worth living. Absolutely, positively "must" reading. Indeed, more than simply reading this book, it deserves to be studied, meditated on, digested. The message delivered in this book is one of the most important I've ever received.
p.s. I've also read "Wild at Heart", "Epic", "Waking the Dead", and "Sacred Romance". They are all excellent, all important. I believe the Lord has much to say to us through Eldredge.
Great read!.......2007-04-16
Books are highly subjective, but I have always liked John's books. Be aware of all the pompous critics out there who claim that John is 'aloof' or not quite 'in touch'. I know that God has used his writing in wonderful ways for myself, and MANY that I know. And that should be testament to itself. Always check everything that you read against or compared to the Scriptures, but read his book for yourself before deciding to take the 'advice' of the raters!
Join the Journey!.......2007-03-16
I love this book! John Eldredge takes the reader on an adventure. What a book!
Pass it forward - An abundant life is a passionate life.......2007-03-13
The author captivates his readers with his authenticity. I've read this book at least 3 times and find new nuggets every time. I have used it in coaching and mentoring and most recently I gave it to a friend to "pass it forward" (instructing the next person to do the same). Read this book with a prayerful attitude, then read "The Dream Giver" by Bruce Wilkinson. Many people travel through this life without experiencing the pleasure of passionate living. Passionate living is not based on our circumstances, it is based on relationship. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is defined by His passion for life and for us. "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living..." (Lk 20:38). Read the book and then PASS IT FORWARD!
Book Description
Lyrical, beautifully written tales of life in Africa
Africa evokes a deep sense of mystery. It is a place that retains what most of the world has lost: space, roots, traditions, awesome beauty, true wilderness, rare animals, and extraordinary people. In this wonderful and haunting collection of stories, Kuki Gallmann writes of her life in Africa, where every day brings challenge and adventure. African Nights is a treasury of memories, in which fascinating people and places are brought to life. The healing powers Africa can have on those who embrace the land as a place of mystery, superstition, danger, and beauty.
Customer Reviews:
A collection of anecdotes that depict a true reality, beautifully.......2007-09-02
My family and I visited Kenya last year and were utterly overwhelmed by the experience. Following that trip we read several books on Africa and amongst them was firstly "I dreamed of Africa" and latterly "African Nights". On a subsequent trip to Oman, I was reading the former book on the plane and had to stop, lest the flight attendants and fellow passengers witness me breaking down in tears. (Kuki's words at her son's funeral service). The spirit and the eloquence of her writing and indeed of her very experiences touched our hearts deeply. So much so that we traveled this year (August 2007) to Likepia, to her 'ranch' (now a conservation area), as a kind of pilgrimage to an Africa that has mostly vanished, swallowed up in commercialism, in over-grazing and exploitation. What did we find? An incredibly special place where conservation efforts harmonise with nature; where people are valued. Where students from all over the world come to research 'projects', encouraged by the owner of the land - Kuki. We met a variety of people, both African and otherwise. Pokot Tribespeople. Belgium guides. Eastern European Photographers. Kenyan Musicians. Village children at the custom built school... An eclectic mix of people with a common passion - for Africa, for its people and for its land. All inspired by one person. An author of two books.
The grammar in Kuki's second book may, according to several reviews, not be immaculate or even American, but given the life that Kuki has led, and indeed continues to lead, I believe that people should simply get past such utterly insignificant details and try to feel the reality that the author describes.
Kuki tells her story her way, and obviously leads her life her way. She has suffered loss and tragedy, but this is an author who has 'moved on', in control of her destiny and embracing change with a passion and an artistry that the vast majority of us could not hope to emulate.
Perhaps her sentences may be deemed a bit long by some. But when she describes a vignette of her family, of Africa.... you are there with her: With her husband at the coast. With her son catching snakes by the lake... And in being there through her writing, you are actually the closest you'll likely come to a very special part of Africa. A part that isn't on the tourist trail. A part that is rapidly encroached by charcoal burning; by agriculture, by population explosion. But a part that is still home to both Elephant and to Lion and to a very special community.
Put criticism of grammar or sentence structure behind you. These matters do not rate for much in the overall tapestry of life. And it is that tapestry that Kuki so artfully weaves, allowing you to enter her world, and become a part of her life by doing so.
An Attentiveness That's Admirable.......2005-07-12
How she does it I don't know. She's incredible, seeing beauty in everything, painting vivid pictures for all to delight in. Presuming it to be only remnants from her perfect book I Dreamed of Africa, I doubted the caliber of this work. I was skeptical but willing - but Gallmann has proved that everything she touches illuminates in melodious detail. Whether it is the amplification of a salmon pink sky, silhouettes at dusk, a tree that appears imbued with knowledge, or a night sky saturated with the sounds that are Africa, Kuki's awareness and ensuing stories are exceptional - encroaching inspirational. There is something in every story that appeals to heart and soul. I almost wanted to frame each story separately as if it were a sapphire or quartz rarity, explicit, precious and real. I'm so impressed by her writing and the lighted manner in which she takes in Africa. It's wonderful.
I liked this book.
Life on a pedestal of African oppression.......2005-05-31
I was quite offended by this white settler's life of endless parties, adventures, gourmet foods and travel around the world and throughout the stunning countryside of Kenya. Based on the colonial legacy of British, one of the many brutal European powers that profited from the domination of Africa, Gallmann was able to purchase 100,000 acres of land, stolen through the colonial system. All of Africa is in fact the birthright of the African people themselves. Gallmann's book is full of idealized and romanticized stories in which she is the central star. For a more realistic view of Kenya where nearly 60 percent of the people still live on less than $2 a day with a life expectancy of only 45 years, see, for example, Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain's Gulag in Kenya by Caroline Elkins. This is the story of the British slaughter of the Kikuyu people of Kenya in the 1950s who were put by the millions in concentration camps and murdered when they were rightfully struggling for the liberation of their homeland.
Avoid This Book.......2005-03-22
If there is such a thing as "the ugly American abroad," then this book is proof that there is also an "ugly Italian abroad." The book is poorly written and the author has no cultural sensitivity whatsoever. I grew up in Africa, and can't imagine that there is a reason for anyone to read this book.
African Nights by Kuki Gallmann.......2001-08-05
This book was very interesting, descriptive, mystical and provocative. I enjoyed reading the details that painted a picture of Kenya in my head. The short stories were often touching, tragic, joyful, and sometimes unbelievable. I thought this was definitly worth reading, but you should borrow it from a friend, the library or buy it used because it isn't nearly as good as Kuki's first book I Dreamed of Africa.
Book Description
How can you learn the keys to achieving the expressions of your potential? How do you make your levels of professional performance second to none? How do you acquire the closely guarded secrets that distinguish outstanding and successful people from the simply average? The answer lies in the time-honored tradition of mentoring. While much has been written about mentoring, few if any books uncover the strategies and methods to finding mentors for every aspect of one's life. Mentoring reveals the secrets to achieving high degrees of success: personal, professional, economic, and emotional through a series of stories and letters illustrating the mentoring relationship. Floyd Wickman and Terri Sjodin (as mentor and protege themselves in writing this book) prove that mentoring can be an important catalyst to success. The authors worked together for five years researching and developing the work, calling upon mentoring experiences of other highly successful and fulfilled people. Mentoring relationships are not only available to a lucky few. As this book explains, anyone can maximize their potential with the help of the right mentor. Readers will discover how to create a successful mentoring lifestyle, including: four basic reasons why mentoring works and the benefits of having a mentor; how to select a good mentor or protege; 16 laws of mentoring; how to involve mentors in every facet of your life from family to fitness to spiritual development; secrets for effectively working with and developng a protege; creating meaningful synergy between mentor and protege.
Customer Reviews:
Mentoring by Wickman and Sjodin is real world!.......2001-01-27
This book was a pleasure to read...it provides a "how to" guide for both mentors and proteges that is REAL! I really appreciate the specific ideas and steps that show you what to do. Great Stories from both sides of the fence.
"The reasonable thing is to learn from those who teach.".......1999-03-23
Mentoring, A Success Guide for Mentors and Protègès by Floyd Wickman and Terri Sjodin is an excellent, enlightening and comprehensive book on the art of mentoring. For anyone who wants to enhance their knowledge and abilities in the practice of mentoring, this book meets their needs and expectations. What makes this book especially unique is that it is written as a guide for both the mentor and the mentee or protege. The authors provide a litany of practical information accompanied with charming anecdotes which give the reader simple, practical and easily understood information which can be applied to any developing mentoring relationship. Like an unfolding story, Mentoring describes insightful stories and letters about the mentoring relationships of others that are shared throughout the book. I especially enjoyed these stories because they touched the heart of human interaction, and personal growth, providing the reader brief moments for reflection and insight. Starting with a history of mentoring, the authors explore the reasons mentoring works. I found it interesting that the authors themselves were mentor and mentee in writing this book. After covering a number of aspects of mentoring: the 7 basic types of mentoring, the benefits of having or being a mentor, the qualifications of a good mentor and mentee and how to select one, the authors outline what they call the 16 Laws of Mentoring. Each chapter reaches into the soulful depth of a mentoring relationship without preaching. The feel is more in the lines of take what you want and leave the rest without threatening the developing relationship. If a mentor takes the advice, the opportunity for success increases tremendously. One needs to be conscious of where and how one chooses a protege and how a protege chooses a mentor. Each person needs to take responsibility for areas of reflection which create for each growth and insight into new areas of professional and personal development. When the student is ready the teacher will appear. This marvelous book offers the reader methods for taking advantage of the information given by those teachers who have learned well, embraced reflection, sacrificed, delved and explored their potential and are willing to share it with others. When one takes advantage of these angels who seem to appear at the right time, with their guidance, their support can only benefit one's journey and direction. Practical means of determining forces which direct a person to seek a mentor are revealed throughout the book. "Mentoring reveals the secrets to achieving high degrees of personal, professional, economic and emotional success through a real-world formula you tailor to create your own mentoring road map. One's mentor is a sounding board and source of pearls of wisdom. A mentor is someone who can help solve your problem yourself, a surveyor of your continent." (pg. 53) The authors believe that if each of us had a mentor, and each of us had a protege, then the world would be greatly improved. If a person responds to the gentle nudges of advice exchanged in the mentoring process and is committed to adapting the mentoring lifestyle, one will see marvelous change take place. This book would be an excellent resource for any class or discussion on mentoring. The authors have modeled each of the roles, the relationship, and the lifestyle involved in mentoring. It is obvious and apparent throughout the book that they practice what they so enthusiastically preach. Mentoring, A Success Guide for Mentors and Protègès by Floyd Wickman and Terri Sjodin is an excellent, enlightening and comprehensive book on the art of mentoring. For anyone who wants to enhance their knowledge and abilities in the practice of mentoring, this book meets their needs and expectations. What makes this book especially unique is that it is written as a guide for both the mentor and the mentee or protege. The authors provide a litany of practical information accompanied with charming anecdotes which give the reader simple, practical and easily understood information which can be applied to any developing mentoring relationship. Like an unfolding story, Mentoring describes insightful stories and letters about the mentoring relationships of others that are shared throughout the book. I especially enjoyed these stories because they touched the heart of human interaction, and personal growth, providing the reader brief moments for reflection and insight. Starting with a history of mentoring, the authors explore the reasons mentoring works. I found it interesting that the authors themselves were mentor and mentee in writing this book. After covering a number of aspects of mentoring: the 7 basic types of mentoring, the benefits of having or being a mentor, the qualifications of a good mentor and mentee and how to select one, the authors outline what they call the 16 Laws of Mentoring. Each chapter reaches into the soulful depth of a mentoring relationship without preaching. The feel is more in the lines of take what you want and leave the rest without threatening the developing relationship. If a mentor takes the advice, the opportunity for success increases tremendously. One needs to be conscious of where and how one chooses a protege and how a protege chooses a mentor. Each person needs to take responsibility for areas of reflection which create for each growth and insight into new areas of professional and personal development. When the student is ready the teacher will appear. This marvelous book offers the reader methods for taking advantage of the information given by those teachers who have learned well, embraced reflection, sacrificed, delved and explored their potential and are willing to share it with others. When one takes advantage of these angels who seem to appear at the right time, with their guidance, their support can only benefit one's journey and direction. Practical means of determining forces which direct a person to seek a mentor are revealed throughout the book. "Mentoring reveals the secrets to achieving high degrees of personal, professional, economic and emotional success through a real-world formula you tailor to create your own mentoring road map. One's mentor is a sounding board and source of pearls of wisdom. A mentor is someone who can help solve your problem yourself, a surveyor of your continent." (pg. 53) The authors believe that if each of us had a mentor, and each of us had a protege, then the world would be greatly improved. If a person responds to the gentle nudges of advice exchanged in the mentoring process and is committed to adapting the mentoring lifestyle, one will see marvelous change take place. This book would be an excellent resource for any class or discussion on mentoring. The authors have modeled each of the roles, the relationship, and the lifestyle involved in mentoring. It is obvious and apparent throughout the book that they practice what they so enthusiastically preach.
A step by step process for creating a mentor relationship........1999-03-22
The purpose of this book is to help the reader use mentoring to achieve what they want in life. The book explains the benefits of having a mentor or being a mentor, how to fnd a mentor or protégé and how to involve mentoring in every facet of your life. This book would be good for anyone who is looking for a step by step process on how to set up a mentoring relationship. At the end of each chapter there are highlights given that recapture the main ideas. This is a handy guide to refer to when needed. I felt the book acclaimed the many benefits of having a mentor but didn't adequately address the benefits of being a mentor. The general tone of the book seemed a bit too self-serving and business oriented. The important aspect of a mentoring relationship, self reflection, is not addressed.
A book for those who want more out of their careers!.......1998-10-22
This is a great book for all of those who are at the turning point in their careers. It provides the answer to those inevitable questions, "What next?" "Is that all there is?" and "What can I do to get rejuvenated in my career?" Yes, the answer is mentoring, but this book provides the justification for this ancient form of education and it contains a detailed action plan to make it a successful experience for both the mentor and the protege. A definite must-read.
Customer Reviews:
A captivating story of Africa, personal courage and love.......2007-02-21
I Dreamed of Africa is a fascinating, compelling story of an indominatable, larger than life individual, Kuki Gallman, and her life's journey from aristocratic beginnings in Italy to settling in the Great Rift Valley area of Kenya, Africa, with her adventuring, glamorous second husband, Paolo and her son Emanuele. The book is a personal and touching story of discovery, transformation, overcoming major tragedy, and the land, dreams and hopes of Kuki's Africa.
OUTRAGOUS!.......2006-10-20
It was a heart warming story and its one of the things where the book is better than the movie. And it is so sad that it makes it good. I love it and going to get the movie when it comes out and also I'm going to save the book for a long time.
I Dreamed of Africa and Woke Up Reading an Awful Book.......2006-06-18
I Dreamed of Africa is a ponderous, meandering book about a woman's experience setting up a ranch/home in Africa. Along the way, she loses both her husband and son to totally avoidable accidents. I have read many, many books about Africa and this one clearly falls under the guise of "European Aristocrat Who Values Nature and Other Aristocrats More Than Africans." There is countless name dropping, frequent references to noble lineages, and absolutely no mention of how this woman can maintain an extravagant lifestyle including multiple servants, a sprawling estate in a region known for sprawling estates owned by White colonialists, an airplane (if they are such a necessity in Africa - why don't all Kenyans own one???), and a graceful home in Nairobi. She and her husband pick up and move to Africa on a whim...nice gig if you have the cash and lack any real commitments. Her life seems to be a neverending circle of cocktail parties, interspersed with tragedies that wear thin - especially when her family members have a reckless streak that begets an early and untimely death. Africans are relegated to the role of anthropological relics, while the author cavorts with the really strange cast of white folks that are long-term Kenyan residents (such as the Dellameres - one of whom is on trial in 2005-2006 for murdering a Kenyan game warden and facing the death penalty). Much time is dedicated to expounding upon the wonders of her son (a genius, psychic, great with the ladies, budding scientist, etc - you get the idea) - who she lets raise poisonous snakes that eventually (SURPRISE!) kill him. If one did not know any better and judged all Whites in Africa by this book, they would erroneously think Robert Mugabe took just action confiscating White-owned farms in Zimbabwe, after reading this book. Spare yourself the trouble and stay clear of this book.
Disappointing.......2005-09-23
While Kuki Gallman may not be this way in real life, she does come across in her book as a self-indulgent privileged white woman. Although she speaks about her fascination for Africa starting from her childhood, it is never presented to the reader in tangible or inspirational terms. Okay, a few of the hunting scenes and descriptions of the wildlife were vivid, but the land and the people are never really made interesting enough for the reader. The reader should be aware that this book is a very personal account and one made to show the writer in the best light. I think many important things were conveniently glossed over. Such as, how did her and her husband Paolo buy the ranch? Her affair with a married man and the unspoken 'complication' that ended their relationship to name a few.
She has, undoubtedly, suffered many horrible tragedies in her life and I did feel sad reading about them but towards the end it was like, 'enough already'. I felt like she was just running off lists of the latest person to die. The good work she has actually done in the area of conservation almost gets lost amongst all the tales of woe.
The way she talks about Africa and the Kenyans also reminded me of the 19th century 'noble savage' cliche. While her family and friends are portrayed for their inate specialness, we never get to know much about the African people, other than their role as her servants. In fact, it seems that her staff have no other life than the one that revolves around her, her parties, and the tragedies she suffers. The only one she really gives much praise to is the cook and that was only because he was apparently 'clever' enough to learn the European style of cooking that would impress Kuki's VIP guests. Given that this book is set in the 1970's and 1980's these parts just made me cringe.
I wouldn't recommend this book at all, unfortunately.
The Beauty That Is Africa.......2005-06-13
I Dreamed of Africa is one of those books that gets assimilated into your bloodstream and becomes a part of you. Kuki's perspective on Kenya's landscape and the lifestyle she afforded there is remarkable. It touches you in places you knew existed but havent visited in a while. She takes all her love, all her pain, and all her strength and uses words as the medium, converting them into truth and beauty. The wonder of this world is seen through the African lens. This is one of the better books out there.
Book Description
The astounding story of the eighteenth-century New Englander who traveled farther on four continents than anyone else in his day and who pioneered an American archetype: the restless explorer.
Called a "man of genius" by his close friend Thomas Jefferson, John Ledyard lived, by any standard, a remarkable life. In his thirty-eight years, he accompanied Captain Cook on his last voyage; befriended Jefferson, Lafayette, and Tom Paine in Paris; was the first American citizen to see Alaska, Hawaii, and the west coast of America; and set out to find the source of the Niger by traveling from Cairo across the Sahara. His greatest dream, concocted with Jefferson, was to travel alone around the world and cross the American continent from the Pacific Northwest to the Atlantic. Catherine the Great dashed that dream when she had him arrested in deepest Siberia and escorted back to the Polish border. Ledyard wrote the definitive account of Cook's last voyage and his death at the hands of Hawaiian islanders, and formed a company with John Paul Jones that launched the American fur trade in the Pacific Northwest.
Before the Revolution, Americans by and large didn't travel great distances, rarely venturing west of the Appalachians. Ledyard, with his boundless enthusiasm and wide-ranging intellect, changed all that. In lively prose, journalist James Zug tells the riveting story of this immensely influential character -a Ben Franklin with wanderlust-a uniquely American pioneer.
Customer Reviews:
A World Wanderer.......2006-09-06
When you think of the great American explorers, you pretty much start with Lews & Clark, throw in your Daniel Boone types and assorted mountain men, and then maybe close out with assorted ill-fated Arctic explorers. Few today know of one of the earliest and most widely traveled of this breed, John Ledyard, the American traveler of this book's title.
In his brief life, he dropped out of one of the first classes of the then-new Dartmouth College, sailed around the Caribbean and Atlantic, deserted merchant ships, joined the British army and then the navy, was a member of Cook's fatal third Pacific voyage, became the first American to see Hawaii, Alaska, and the West Coast, traveled across the bulk of Siberia in a quixotic attempt to walk around the world, and met and corresponded with such notables as Thomas Jefferson, James Cook, the Marquis de Lafayette, Joseph Banks the scientist, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris the financier, and many more.
He was an educated man who served as a marine corporal, a collector of vocabularies and handicrafts and tattoos, an amateur ethnologist with a tremendously sympathetic view of indigenous peoples, a theorizer who correctly deduced the connection between the Siberian peoples and the Native Americans, a sponger off wealthy acquaintances and a fancier of fine clothing, and a would-be fur mogul.
Besides his overwhelming wanderlust that drove him relentlessly forward, so that in the last seven years of his life, the longest he stayed in one place was six months, he was possessed of an erratic temper that could flare forth with regrettable consequences. Despite his scholarly gifts, he was not averse to bouts of pugilism or worse: "He got into fistfights in London, started a shoving match in Tonga and challenged a Siberian provincial governor to a duel."
Today he would be (probably correctly) diagnosed as a manic-depressive, but he channeled his energies well. He may also have had a touch of a death wish, as his last journey was singularly ill-advised under the conditions and he seemed to have a premonition of his own doom.
Zug tells Ledyard's story in a mostly unadorned fashion suitable for the layperson, not too heavily weighted down with jargon or digressions. He draws heavily upon primary sources, mostly letters to and from Ledyard, keeping their original idiosyncratic grammar, rhetorical flourishes, and spelling intact. His prose is sometimes a bit clumsy, but he also is capable of an amusing turn of phrase, as when he notes that "Thrashing and punching were not his only reactions to Londoners".
The book includes a couple of maps at the front, a selection of illustrations in the middle, and a section of notes at the end to which the reader should refer periodically.
Ledyard's is an interesting tale told competently, although I feel Zug slightly overstates his significance. But this is a good account nevertheless and certainly a valuable addition to the field of exploration literature.
Great find........2006-02-27
American Traveler: The Life and Adventures of John Ledyard, the Man Who Dreamed of Walking the World is a great find.
John Ledyard lived in interesting times: second half of the 18th century. His 37 years of life was capped by a manic two decade long roller coaster ride across the world. He came of age in pre-Revolutionary War America, then under sketchy circumstances began service in the British military. He served on Cook's third around the World voyage as part of a Marine Guard - their job to prevent mutinies - a unique position to observe the historic exploration, particularly the first contact in the Hawaiian Islands.
After the experience of the third Cook voyage Ledyard seemed to develop a vision of the world. His vision: the world is a benign place for the lone traveler. He believed that he could cross the North American continent so long as he went alone and carried nothing of value other than letters attesting to his good character. Was that possible? It would almost have to be easier then most of what he ended up doing by heading east, from France.
I'm left thinking what if? What if John Ledyard had listened to Jefferson and started in Kentucky. Could he have crossed to the Pacific on foot in the late 1780s? What if? There are many `what ifs' suggested by John Ledyard's story. What ifs about the man and what ifs about the times he lived.
A Must Read for Anyone Who Appreicates Travel.......2006-02-25
I'd never heard of John Ledyard before ordering this book; I greatly enjoy travel and this story is incredible. Every once in awhile, I had to stop turning the pages to reflect upon what I'd just read. The adventure and tales were awesome. More than once, I had to remind myself that this is non-fiction. Ledyard really believed he could walk around the world? I'm not one to lightly label a books as must read, but this one should be on such a list.
Here's to you, John Ledyard.
A portrait of a remarkable 18th Century American.......2005-07-03
John Ledyard has been mostly forgotten today, but this late eighteenth century New England Yankee dreamed of exporing an as-yet largely unknown world and, before his death while still in his thirties, he had accomplished part of that dream. Ledyard, a correspondent of Thomas Jefferson, was very much cast in the mold of an explorer and natural philosopher at the end of the Age of Reason. Russian bureaucracy and xenophobia cut short Ledyard's planned journey around the globe on foot (with water transportation when necessary) and he died on the eve of setting out on an expedition to explore central Africa, so his largest ambitions remained unfulfilled, but nonetheless he had been a companion and chronicler of Captain on his last, fatal voyage to the Pacific.
The First World Citizen.......2005-03-28
I've been fascinated by Ledyard since I first encountered him, in 1989, at a University of Washington history lecture. At the time I was struck by the fact that I'd never heard of him before. How could this guy have been forgotten? Poking around the stacks in the library led me to Sparks' and Watrous' work, but I couldn't believe that somebody wasn't out there researching and writing about Ledyard. I've been poking around ever since. At last, Zug has delivered the biography I've been waiting for.
American Traveler serves as an outstanding introduction to one of the most fascinating figures in American history. Zug does a wonderful job describing Ledyard's relationships with movers and shakers of the late 18th century (particularly Jefferson), as well as his role as a catalyst behind the eventual expansion of American power. However, the real strength of the book is Zug's portrait of Ledyard the world traveler--a guy on the road who, though frustrated by the restrictions of time and petty bureaucracy, takes a genuine interest in the people he encounters. Yes--Ledyard was a spectacular failure as a businessman, but he understood something that many (apparently including P.J. O'Rourke) do not: traveling isn't about arriving at your destination--it's all about the road trip and the people you meet along the way. In this sense, there has never been a more spectacular success than John Ledyard.
Book Description
The Marriage You've Always Dreamed Of offers couples usable, practical tools that, when applied, will help them break away from discouraging patterns and significantly increase the level of satisfaction in their marriages. Often, in an attempt to get one to do what the other wants, couples play on each other's core fears, which results in responses that injure the relationship. Greg Smalley helps couples identify their repetitive negative patterns of relating, which he calls the "fear dance." His profound relationship insight is taught through helpful lessons about honor, respect, and caregiving.
Download Description
The Marriage You've Always Dreamed Of offers couples usable, practical tools that, when applied, will help them break away from discouraging patterns and significantly increase the level of satisfaction in their marriages. Often in an attempt to get one to do what the other wants, couples play on each other's core fears which results in responses that injure the relationship. Greg Smalley helps couples identify their repetitive negative patterns of relating which he calls the "fear dance." His profound relationship insight is taught thruough helpful lessons about honor, respect, and care giving.
Customer Reviews:
Dream on..........2005-08-18
This thought provoking work focuses on you. As in any marriage "situations" arise that we need help with. The author provides us with support that we can use. Hope and good works...faith in God.
A very good read.
Book Description
Whether you want to become a better person, make more time for the things you love, or let go of your worries and appreciate everything you have, this inspiring collection will give you the motivation you need to follow through on every promise you've ever made to yourself. Filled with positive thoughts and daily promises, it will be a source of encouragement and a lasting reminder to make your life everything you've ever dreamed it could be. The unique handmade paper used for the cover of this book is first crafted from mulberry trees and then hand-colored by artisans. Each book cover in this eloquent series is distinct and different, and the environment is not harmed in the making of this paper.
Product Description
2 Book Set; the Journal of Desire: Searching for the Life We've Only Dreamed Of; the Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God.
Books:
- The Land Remembers: The Story of a Farm and Its People
- The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse: A Novel
- The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization
- The Memory Keeper's Daughter
- The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens: 8 Steps to Having More Money Than Your Parents Ever Dreamed Of (Motley Fool)
- The Mystery of the Kaddish: Its Profound Influence on Judaism
- The Remnant: On the brink of Armageddon (Left Behind)
- The Road From Home: A True Story of Courage, Survival and Hope
- The Shackled City Adventure Path (Dungeons & Dragons S.)
- The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness (Newly Expanded Paperback Edition)
Books Index
Books Home
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- I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman
- Molecular Modelling: Principles and Applications
- On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family
- Cable Cowboy: John Malone and the Rise of the Modern Cable Business
- How to Make Money in Real Estate With Government Loans and Programs
- Thomas Food & Beverage Market Place, 2000-2001: Equipment Manufacturers,Services, Suppliers, Tra
General
| Christian Living
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God
Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive
Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul
Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul
Epic: The Story God Is Telling and the Role That Is Yours to Play
