Customer Reviews:
Shoot yourself........2007-03-18
If you have to read this shoot yourself.
I cannot believe this man is responsible for teaching educators.
Amazon.com
These are indeed cynical times. But to hide behind the smugness of cynicism is a kind of self-imposed death sentence, explains writer and social commentator Paul Loeb. In fact, now is the ideal time for gathering all our strengths and wisdom as spiritual beings and applying ourselves to shaping a better world, he claims.
Are we talking social activism here? Well, yes. But before you cringe from images of shrill, humorless, burned out activists, keep in mind that Loeb is talking about a new kind of activism--an exciting, spiritual model for creating social change. We don't have to be pious or martyred saints (as he explains throughout one chapter), starving ourselves in the name of a cause or staging protests in freezing rain. We can be "good enough" activists, assuming the task of helping 10 people in need rather than taking on the globe. We can remember the power of storytelling when convincing an audience, rather than angrily spewing scary facts. We can replenish ourselves so that we do not burn out. We can emphasize themes such as community and forgiveness rather than separatism and blame.
This is a deeply spiritual book, but make no mistake: Loeb's writing, research, and integrity are as solid as they come. Soul of a Citizen may well become The Handbook for activism at the turn of the century. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
Soul of a Citizen awakens within us the desire and the ability to make our voices heard and our actions count. We can lead lives worthy of our convictions.A book of inspiration and integrity, Soul of a Citizen is an antidote to the twin scourges of modern life-powerlessness and cynicism. In his evocative style. Paul Loeb tells moving tells moving stories of ordinary Americans who have found unexpected fulfillment in social involvement. Through their example and Loeb's own wise and powerful lessons, we are compelled to move from passivity to participation. The reward of our action, we learn, is nothing less than a sense of connection and purpose not found in a purely personal life.
Customer Reviews:
A non-academic book for the baby boomer generation.......2007-03-29
As many other reviewers I was asked to read this book as a part of a college course. My wife was recently assigned the reading in her MSW program. I do believe it has some value, but to a specific generation and type of activist. The book rarely (if at all) discusses a model of activism outside of that born from the peace and love movement of the 60-70s. If you are from these eras, by all means this is the book for you. If you are or will soon be a college student you will likely find little to connect with in the book. I suspect that its over use in courses at this time is a result of faculty promoting a book they feel applies to them greatly without thinking of how it applies to younger generations.
duh!.......2006-12-05
I read this book for a college class on Social Work, and although Loeb tells many meaningful and powerful stories, this is the same text I have heard before. If you read the first and last paragraph of each chapter you basically get the point. It's an easy read, and some may find it powerful, but I just found it repetitive and over-told.
A must read if you believe in service to others.......2006-10-21
Paul is an outstanding voice in our world. Fantastic book helping bring hope to a difficult time for those of us who aspire to service. It is a challenge to keep engaged in service and Paul does provide hope. I also appreciate his newsletter and recommend it to those who appreciate his work. Great insights.
Every citizen must read.......2006-08-11
I read Soul of a citizen which inspired me to action. I am now a volunteer activist in my neighbourhood and have formed a group of concerned citizens to negotiate and participate in our city's development plan. We have made an impact in the corporation and even had a few small successes along the way.
tired of it.......2006-07-09
Must we indulge yet another collection of tripe in the guise of self-help? Didn't we get this sort of nonsense out of our systems a long time ago?
If you are the type who hangs around in the self-help section of Borders looking for something you haven't yet read, hoping the nice-looking man ordering the latte isn't as bad as your ex-husband, well, sure, pick this up. You can read it a few hours later after you've snuck that man past your sleeping children's doors and out to his car, and feel good about yourself and how wonderful a person you are for reading something like this.
For the rest of us that live with a real sense of morality, well, we know books like this are just excuses - a mechanism by which the anointed democrat leftists sanctify themselves. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure why I wrote this review. If it offended you, you're beyond help. If it rang true, you already know you don't want to get anywhere near this book.
Product Description
Discusses methods of multiplying disciples through life transformation groups.
Customer Reviews:
Fuels Missional Transformation.......2007-04-17
Neil Cole presents a straightforward approach for multiplying disciples that anyone can do anywhere. "The Life Transformation Group (LTG) system is a grass roots tool for growth. Through this simple system the most essential elements of vital spiritual ministry are released to common Christians without the need for specialized training. It taps the disciple's internal motivation and provides the support needed to grow in the essentials of a spiritual life. The LTG empowers the common Christian to do the uncommon work of reproductive discipling." (p. 63)
Here is a simple overview of what an LTG is: (p. 70)
1. LTGs meet once a week for approximately an hour.
2. LTGs are groups of two or there (the 4th person is the beginning of the second group and multiplication is imminent).
3. The groups are not co-ed, but gender specific.
4. There is no curriculum, workbook or training involved.
5. There is no leader needed in the group.
6. Only three tasks are to be accomplished:
a. Sin is confessed to one another in mutual accountability.
b. Scripture is read repetitively, in entire context and in community.
c. Souls are prayed for strategically, specifically and continuously.
Cole believes in the raising of leaders from the harvest for the harvest. His practical and reproducible approach is a great strategy for church planters who are seeking to start new churches by reaching non-Christians instead of attracting Christians.
Here are some of the strengths of utilizing Life Transformation Groups in a local church (p. 49-51):
1. LTGs build Community - Life change doesn't happen in a vacuum; it happens in relationship with others. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
2. LTGs foster Accountability - Few things would get done in life without some degree of accountability. (Matthew 18:15-17)
3. LTGs maintain Confidentiality - It is easier to maintain confidentiality in a group of two or three rather than a larger group of ten or twelve. (Proverbs. 25:9-10)
4. LTGs provide Flexibility - It is much easier to coordinate the calendars of only two or three than a typical small group of fifteen. (Matthew 18:20)
5. LTGs model Reproducibility - It is easier to reproduce a smaller, simpler group than a larger and more complex entity. (2 Timothy 2:2)
I definitely recommend this book! Neil Cole does an excellent job of presenting a simple, reproducible strategy for disciplemaking. His personal passion for reaching the lost is contagious.
(If you haven't read his book "Organic Church," I recommend it, too!)
Simple, powerful tool for disciple-making.......2005-02-14
This book introduces Life Transformation Groups (LTGs), groups of two or three people who get together once a week for an hour, perhaps over a meal, for mutual accountability (using predefined accountability questions), to reflect on the Scripture they've been reading during the week, and to pray strategically for their unbelieving friends. Probably the simplest and most easily replicable approach to disciple-making we have come across.
Book Description
In Roe v. Wade, perhaps the most controversial United States Supreme Court decision, Norma McCorvey fought for and won the right to secure an abortion. Though she never had an abortion, under the pseudonym "Jane Roe," Norma reluctantly became the poster child for the pro-choice movement. Over the next two decades, Norma experienced the grief and despair of millions of women who chose to abort their babies; she witnessed the destruction of thousands of human lives in abortion clinics where she worked; and the "champion: of the pro-choice movement was soon being crushed by the weight of so much death, and so many ill-considered "choices." Finally, she began to break. She found out that the real choice she had been burdened with was not about abortion but about eternal life. It was a choice that would shock the world and change Norma's life forever.
Customer Reviews:
just a few thoughts.......2006-10-09
After reading S. Fatina's review I was compelled to write this in response.
Why must people make hateful remarks such as " rabid abortion-rights activists " and " Feminist-in-Chief Hillary Clinton ", as highlighted here? Its rude and discriminatory. Hillary Clinton doesn't represent the feminist movement, which isn't a outlandish idea at all. Feminism is derived from the (at the time) radical idea that women are people too. That we have hopes and dreams that aren't limited to running a household or being a parent. That we want the option of independence and opinion in society, just like men. That's all feminism is based on. And, FYI, there is no stance that I know of that is "pro-abortion" as you put it. That says too me that people haphazardly believe every pregnancy should be terminated, and thats just rediculous. It's called pro-choice for a reason. Women have and should continue to have, in my opinion, the fundamental right to choose a life of happiness whatever that may mean to them, under our laws and be free of persecution for that choice.
I doubt that anyone having to make a choice of this magnitude is exbuerant or enthusiastic about having terminating a pregnancy, however, I also don't believe that a child born to a mother who is ill-prepared for the serious undertaking of becoming a parent before her time will have the opportunities or life that it deserves. The life and happiness of not ONLY the mother are at stake, the potential child must also be considered. The problem with doing away with abortions in our society is that we haven't addressed the issue at hand or the driving force to terminate a pregnancy. There is for some women no other forseeable option. When we as a nation are allowing government cut backs or the complete elimination of federally funded family planning organizations, which help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies to begin with, where we teach 'abstinence only' sex education, which is proven many times over not to be effective, where we cut wellfare programs for un-wed parents, we ignore reality and leave no fit option in many peoples lives. It's not a tax issue. The amount of money we are spending supporting a war that kills many innocent civilians and young soldiers is by far more than is spent or has EVER been spent supporting family planning organizations or wellfare recipients.
How do you suppose, if all fetuses were born, they should be cared for? A teenage mother with no high school diploma has very little chance of gaining decent employment. Walmart and fast food restaurants in most parts of our nation don't pay a living wage. Many young, single fathers aren't held responsible for their actions and if they are, $200 a month for child support doesn't buy much more then diapers. So other than writing a check every month, he's off the hook. There is no such thing as forced visitation and I certainly don't see many young men jumping from their seats, biting for the responisiblity of caring for the child on their own. The parents of the unprepared or unwilling mothers should not be forced into having to financially, and most likely physically, care for these unintended newborns. Adoption is an option but the trauma of giving birth and moments later not seeing the child again is heart wrenching and pregnancy has far more potential health risks then receiving an abortion from a licensed provider. In addition, the average cost of a hospital delivery and 24-hours of care to the mother and a healthy child ALONE is around $9000, double that for cesarians. The average cost of an abortion and after care is $300-600. Besides if every child was born and placed for adoption in similar circumstance there would be far too few willing families to take in these children. The foster programs would be more overwhelmed than they already are. In my county alone there are multiple hundreds of children in the foster system available for adoption or placement with no person or family to take them in and thats just to put a roof over their heads. Those are just the monetary issues.
Should a child, born to a young mother, have to bare the guilt or shame that is often associated with the life they had no choice in creating? Who will love and care for this child emotionally? Will they be doomed to repeat the mistakes of their parents if they are raised in situations where their mother has to compromise what's best for the family vs. what is feasible? Until society, individual states and the federal government address the reality of unintended pregnancy and come up with acceptable programs to address those issues, I feel that it is a choice of the potential mother or both parents that matter most and not the choice of a man, standing behind an alter, preaching about an issue he would never have to face, nor that of a man in a suit on capital hill. It is the decision of the potential mother and father; end of story.
One last side note: "Jane Roe" never had the opportunity to have the abortion that she fought for. Her pregnancy came full term and she delivered the child during litigation. As for her not being invited to attend major pro-choice functions, perhapse being that she used a fictional name during her court battles it was believed that she wished to maintain her anonimity and privacy, not becoming a poster child for the issue. Though her opinion on the matter at hand has changed as she "found god", she still never had an abortion. I believe that the vast majority of women who terminate a pregnancy continue to believe in a womans right to choose, even years later, and do not regret the decision they made. Though the circumstances themselves are regretable, at the time, it was their decision to make and was made so they might be better able to achieve their hopes and dreams.
Very Informative.......2006-06-18
This book is a good read. It discusses the whole issue of abortion in very detail begining from its roots. Its also about abortion and how Norma McCorvey's life revolves around it. Pro-life vs Pro-choice is a never ending controversial debate. But Norma is a good writer. She is sometimes very humourous (she uses a lot of her dark funny side). She also discusses how she fought with pro-life leaders in the begining and eventualy became their friend. The debate between pro-life and prochoice is written so that a layperson can understand. She has clearly depicted how abortion industry has killed babies. Nonsensical abortions should come to an end in the States.
Two stars for a slanted view.......2005-08-27
I think it's swell that Norma McCorvey has found Jesus and all that but some of the world (including me), well, we're not Christian and as sinful as some see it, we're not huge believers in God.
Based on the reviews I've read here, the majority of readers are Christian. I'm not going to criticize them for their beliefs but it seems that they feel it's ok to criticize mine and put legislation on my body.
Before Norma found religion she was ok with making her own medical decisions. Now that she's found it, she doesn't think I should be able to make my own medical decisions.
I applaud her for choosing not to abort the fetus she carried. That was the right decision for HER. Abortion is the right decision for some people and not all of those people suffer the grief claimed by anti-choice advocates.
Congratulations on finding God, if that's your desire. Some of us are happy believing in a version of God that doesn't espouse hate and dictation over women's bodies. Some of us don't believe in God.
Your religion should not dictate my medical decisions. And neither should Norma McCorvey's. My medical decisions should be left to me, my doctor and my god, IF I have one.
TY & GN.
Both sides now.......2005-07-02
It was worth reading as a companion piece to her first book. Her religious conversion was neither insightful nor inspiring. Without the context of her first book, this one does not stand well on its own. Sounds like she was ill=used by both sides of the abortion debate.
The love of a little child.......2003-11-17
It was a couple of years ago that I read this book. A friend of mine from a pro-life group lent it to me, and I couldn't put it down. It told the story of a young woman who was involved in a court decision which helped legalize abortion in the United States, and spent much of her life working for an abortion clinic to try to convince herself that there was nothing wrong with it.
Ironically, a pro-life group moved in practically next door. Norma McCorvey saw the love of this little group, and the love of little children... which melted her heart. Thus the title of the book - "Won By Love". She completely turned around, and while she still worked in the abortion clinic, she started being blatantly honest with women who would call up asking for abortions. She would tell them the truth - that they were wanting to kill children. This convinced some women to change their minds about their desires for abortions, and the clinic lost business. If I remember correctly, she was fired from that job (in any case, she stopped working there).
Today, Norma McCorvey, the "poster girl" of Roe vs. Wade, is fighting to overturn that court decision.
Definitely a book I'd recommend reading - if you're an avid anti-abortion advocate you'll definitely enjoy the book.
Average customer rating:
- Promising but ultimately preaching and biased
- Hard to review without giving away the end, but I'll do my best
- Very technical
- A LONG, interesting read...
- Liberal with a capital "L"
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Conviction: A Novel
Richard North Patterson
Manufacturer: Random House Audio
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ASIN: 0739301357
Release Date: 2005-01-25 |
Book Description
In his acclaimed career as a perennial bestselling author, Richard North Patterson has established himself as one of our most important voices in fiction and a keeper of the American conscience. He consistently writes novels that are intensely dramatic and deeply thought provoking. Now, in Conviction, Patterson tackles one of the most emotional and complex of all legal debates: When, if ever, does the state have the right to exact the ultimate punishment–and is the death penalty a crime unto itself?
Fifty-nine days. That’s how long Rennell Price has to live–after spending fifteen years on death row for the horrifying sexual assault and murder of a girl whose body was found floating in San Francisco Bay. But attorney Terri Paget, who has fought her own way out of hopelessness and abuse, has dedicated her life to fighting for people like Rennell Price. This time, Terri has a client she believes may actually be innocent, which means that an unpunished killer may still be free.
“I didn’t do that little girl” is all Rennell Price has ever said in his own defense. In a trial, Rennell, along with his older brother, Payton, was found guilty of the heinous crime, and the conviction has been upheld through one appeal after another. But as Terri spends time with Rennell and re-creates the events that put him on death row–beginning with the first minutes of the police investigation–she starts to understand the forces that shaped Rennell and the reason he has never been able to defend himself adequately.
As Terri prepares for a last appeal, she gets a new weapon for her battle–fresh evidence suggesting that another man, not Rennell, helped Payton commit the atrocity. But the grim machinery of capital punishment is already in motion, involving precedent and politics reaching from California to the highest court in the nation. As more people are drawn into Terri’s last-ditch battle, and as agendas and personalities clash while time is running out for Rennell Price, this much is clear: The serious doubts about Rennell’s guilt may not be enough to save him.
Conviction raises issues of ethics, political expediency, and personal trauma that will shake readers to their core. For here, in a novel of vivid characters on both sides of the law and profound tension on every page, Patterson illuminates the mysterious precincts between justice and truth–where the fate of one man involves not only his own life and the lives he has affected but the moral life of a nation.
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
In his acclaimed career as a perennial bestselling author, Richard North Patterson has established himself as one of our most important voices in fiction and a keeper of the American conscience. He consistently writes novels that are intensely dramatic and deeply thought provoking. Now, in Conviction, Patterson tackles one of the most emotional and complex of all legal debates: When, if ever, does the state have the right to exact the ultimate punishment–and is the death penalty a crime unto itself?
Fifty-nine days. That’s how long Rennell Price has to live–after spending fifteen years on death row for the horrifying sexual assault and murder of a girl whose body was found floating in San Francisco Bay. But attorney Terri Paget, who has fought her own way out of hopelessness and abuse, has dedicated her life to fighting for people like Rennell Price. This time, Terri has a client she believes may actually be innocent, which means that an unpunished killer may still be free.
“I didn’t do that little girl” is all Rennell Price has ever said in his own defense. In a trial, Rennell, along with his older brother, Payton, was found guilty of the heinous crime, and the conviction has been upheld through one appeal after another. But as Terri spends time with Rennell and re-creates the events that put him on death row–beginning with the first minutes of the police investigation–she starts to understand the forces that shaped Rennell and the reason he has never been able to defend himself adequately.
As Terri prepares for a last appeal, she gets a new weapon for her battle–fresh evidence suggesting that another man, not Rennell, helped Payton commit the atrocity. But the grim machinery of capital punishment is already in motion, involving precedent and politics reaching from California to the highest court in the nation. As more people are drawn into Terri’s last-ditch battle, and as agendas and personalities clash while time is running out for Rennell Price, this much is clear: The serious doubts about Rennell’s guilt may not be enough to save him.
Conviction raises issues of ethics, political expediency, and personal trauma that will shake readers to their core. For here, in a novel of vivid characters on both sides of the law and profound tension on every page, Patterson illuminates the mysterious precincts between justice and truth–where the fate of one man involves not only his own life and the lives he has affected but the moral life of a nation.
Customer Reviews:
Promising but ultimately preaching and biased.......2007-04-29
This book started out with a good deal of promise in the first third, but ended up falling far short of my expectations.
The story revolves around a family of lawyers who take up the case of Rennell Price, who was sentenced to death along with his brother Payton, for murdering a young girl. Price has only a few weeks left until his execution as the lawyers try to find a way to save his life, believing he is innocent of the crime. Their case rests on three claims - the first that the Price may be completely innocent based on an 11th hour confession of his brother and co-defendant, made only days before his own execution. The second is that even if guilty, the Price is mentally retarded, and therefore not subject to the death penalty under recent case law from the US Supreme Court. The third is that the Price received inadequate legal representation due to the fact his attorney at the time of his trial was a cocaine addict who was using the occasion of the trial to take the Price's guardian, his grandmother, for all she had in order to fuel his cocaine habit instead of providing a legal defense.
The book starts out very strong. The case that the lawyers must make is a tough one, and the author does a good job of presenting issues which should make death penalty supporters and opponents alike think about some very tough questions. What is the standard for mental retardation with respect to excluding an inmate from the death penalty on that basis? What is the standard for adequate or competent trial counsel? Most intriguing, what is the standard of proof for reversing a guilty verdict? Is it as little as introducing a reasonable doubt and thereby negating the reasonable doubt standard of proof required at trial? Or is it the other extreme, with the burden of proof now on the convicted to prove innocence beyond a reasonable doubt? Should the smallest prospect of exonerating evidence be enough to stay an execution, even one several years coming, because of the finality of the death penalty? And in all this, where does the people and victim's requirement for justice fit in?
Once these issues are raised, we expect to hear these arguments pored over, explored, and debated in heated legal battles. This is where the book falls flat. The author tries, but this never occurs because of the author's prejudices.
The author is clearly an anti-death penalty activist, and this ideology is evident throughout the book. About a third of the way through the book, we are subjected to a preachy lecture on all the reasons the death penalty is a bad thing as told through the viewpoint of the protagonists. From then on, the characters are lumped into categories - the anti-death penalty crowd who are portrayed and thoughtful, feeling moderates who are seeking justice, and the pro-death penalty crowd who are portrayed as blood-thirsty, callous ideologues who only care about winning and have no care or compassion for the condemned. The author's personal opinions prevent him from creating interesting, nuianced characters. Instead all the characters become uninteresting personifications of the stereyotypical opinions surrounding this issue.
Even the far left Ninth Circuit Court is portrayed as a pillar of judicial light among the incompetent and uncaring courts of the land.
The book further devolves into an virtual editorial on the politics of the day. Although the disclaimer in the front reads that this is a book of fiction and that any resemblance to real life is coincidental, the "coincidental" resemblances to real life are so obvious it's laughable. We have a California Governor who is facing a recall election with a "tough guy movie star" waiting in the wings (Grey Davis and Arnold Schwartzenegger?). The book (finished in 2004) contemplates a Kerry victory in the 2004 Presidential election and his subsequent appointment of a woman to the Supreme Court and to be Chief Justice. The name of the fictional president is Kerry Killcannon. It's also painfully obvious that the fictional Supreme Court is modeled on the Supreme Court of the time, with the evil right-wing death monger named Anthony Fini (Antonin Scalia) as well as a black justice who is appointed despite many other black jurists of more accomplishment, and who blindly follows Fini (Clarence Thomas).
This obvious prejudice of the author prevents him from arguing the pro-death penalty stance effectively at all. His right-wing characters are so one-dimensional and dull that there is no intellectually honest dialog or argument.
The author goes to great pains to paint the protagonists (and by extension himself) as genuine, caring people who are genuinely interested in justice rather than left-wing zealots. However, the true colors come shining through. Rennell Price's case for innocence revolves around a confession made by his brother, Payton mere hours before his execution. In it, Payton claims that a man named Eddie Fleet, not Rennell, murdered the girl with Payton. Our lawyers go after Fleet, and after finding him, ask the state to grant him immunity in order to compel him to testify about his part in the murder and Rennell Price's innocence. When price refuses, the lawyers begin investigating Fleet and find substantial evidence that he is a pedophile. Yet, they still petition the state to grant him immunity. Clearly, they are less concerned with justice for Fleet and his victims than they are getting their client off death row.
A book with great potential whose subject matter was let down by an author whose own prejudices got the best of him.
Hard to review without giving away the end, but I'll do my best.......2007-03-29
After I finished Patterson's last book on gun control (Balance of Power) and felt like I had been attending a lecture, I wasn't sure I would read any more of his books. I had always liked his legals thrillers, but I didn't like the preachy quality in Balance of Power. I was pleasantly surprised by the first 1/2 to 2/3 of Conviction. Although it's a derisive issue - death penalty - and there is no question on which side of the debate Patterson falls, I thought the plot was intriguing and engaging.
Then the case gets to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and it becomes a law school class. Having been through law school myself, I didn't enjoy the flashback to those days nor did I find it particularly interesting. The same was true as the case made it's way through the Supreme Court and the narrative completley forgot the main characters back in San Francisco. Although a non-fiction book about the inner workings of the Supreme Court might be interesting, a fiction book with this much legal detail (accurate or not) is tedious.
I won't say how it ends, but it does seem to end rather abruptly. The story lags for a long time in the court system and then just ends in a few pages.
I hope that Patterson eventually gets back to what he really does well - legal thrillers without all the legal education and soap box oration.
Very technical.......2006-08-28
The plot line was very similar to John Grisham's The Chamber, only this book was much more technical - lots more legal jargon. I had to skim parts because I was getting bored trying to wade through all of it. And speaking of legal jargon, the main female character was explaining legal concepts to her stepson that he should have learned on day one of law school! I realize that is the author's "tool" to explain those concepts to the reader, but it was hard for me to think it was credible that the character would not already know those things. I also think this book may be part of a series? I feel like I was missing lots of backstory and character development. But I don't know, So, it was good, but The Chamber was definately a more suspensful and character driven book.
A LONG, interesting read..........2006-07-24
Although I enjoyed the book as a whole, it was too long, too didactic, too polemical, and too demanding to serve as anything other than a read I had to totally focus on. The first mistake I made was bringing it to the Ocean with me for a week of R&R with my wife and children. The second mistake was to pick this book without the understanding that the author was taking a position on a controversial subject and that I happened to agree with him on the matter already.
This books isn't for you if you're looking for something quick, fast, energetic and which can be put down and picked up at various points.
This book might not be for you if you already have a very good understanding of the legal system relating to the death penalty.
Liberal with a capital "L".......2006-07-21
I understand that the death penalty is a divisive issue, but ultimately, pro or con, no one wants an innocent person put to death. In this book, Mr. Patterson seemed to me to equate the support of the death penalty to a support of wrongful death. I felt the story was woven in such a way as to SCREAM that there is no true justice in our legal system, and as such, we simply cannot allow the death penalty to stand. I was interested in reading a carefully woven tale, but instead got caught up in an op-ed piece. Personally, I prefer not to spend my money purchasing what I believe to be fiction, only to find out it is a cleverly wrapped soapbox.
Book Description
The first live cd of spoken word from one of the genres most electric performers.
Customer Reviews:
A must for any poets, teachers, writers and public speakers out there.......2007-06-13
You may be reading this review in the wake of a recent and very popular video which has been making the rounds on the internet by a particular writer and teacher and poet named Taylor Mali. He is a strong advocate for teaching and improving the quality of education in our schools.
If you are reading this review, however, I assume you want to know what makes it special, worth purchasing. First, I'd suggest you listen to samples of this, either here or at the poet's website. These are thoughtful poems, some fun, some serious and all created with variety and conviction. Listening to this makes me think about the creative process.
I'd also like to point out another thing. Mali often speaks in something called E-Prime. Follow a link to his website and you'll find an intriguing podcast called "Why I Speak the Way I speak" which will give you an oral example of E-Prime and his reasons for using it. For those not yet familiar with E-Prime, it basically focuses on
abolishing or limiting the use of the verb "To Be".
Examples of sentences using verbs with "to be" in them would include "I am depressed" or "He is cheerful". Now, consider the first sentence. Wouldn't it be clearer to say " I feel very depressed today because my dog died?" In contrast, if a person says, "I am depressed" it is harder to know if this is a permanent state of being, a temporary emotion or...?
As a former teacher and sometime journalist, I was automatically writing in E-prime a good deal of the time (but not always, wasn't fanatical about it) but not realizing WHY sentences used this way could be so effective, strong and focused. Now I am fascinated by the possibilities for using this in oral speech. I do think overuse of words like "is" "are" "were' "was" "am and "Be', among others, can water down sentence, muddle conversation and make things less clear.
Anyway, check out this this CD and related ones, as well as books on E-Prime (if you find Mali's use of it intriguing, as I do):
The Difference Between Left & Wrong
What Learning Leaves and see what YOU think:
More E-Prime: To Be or Not II
E-Prime III!: A Third Anthology
Mali's writing and his voice complement each other well.......2005-10-26
Several friends with whom I have shared "Conviction" insisted that Taylor Mali must be a stand-up comedian because of the track "Totally Like Whatever" and his poem about proofreading. Then I let them listen to the profoundness that he instills in poems about teaching, his father's key-labeling habit and an old family dog named "Winchester," and they tilt their heads to the side and nod.
Mali handles images wonderfully, and speaks with the clarity necessary to do his poems justice. As an entry into the world of spoken-word poetry -- where performance is every bit as important as composition -- "Conviction" is perfect. Some tracks are experimental, done with another poet or two, and sometimes with singing. But the well-written, perfectly-executed poems that frame Mali's wry sense of humor and love of children are my favorite, and anchor the volume in such a way as to remain appealing to almost anyone who hears it. Five stars.
Book Description
The bestselling author of Set Your Voice Free gives listeners the power to change how others perceive them-and how they perceive themselves. 'Voice Coach to the Stars' Roger Love has helped such bestselling authors as John Gray, Suze Orman and Anthony Robbins become the most sought-after speakers in their field. Now he reveals how any listener can benefit from the life-changing techniques he has taught to entertainment, media and business celebrities in ROGER LOVE'S VOCAL POWER. On seven CDs with a bonus CD-ROM workbook, Love explains how presence, charisma and star quality directly impact listeners' states of mind. He presents insights and exercises that help any listener transform his voice and overall demeanor, while learning how to: Overcome fear of public speaking Focus voice, mind and body to create star presence Master the power of breathing to communicate with authority and conviction Re-direct any negative inner dialogue into positive thoughts Care for and feed one's voice Maintain excellent posture, gesture correctly, and make a more memorable connection with any audience
Customer Reviews:
WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY!!.......2006-08-23
This so called coaching is a complete waste of time, and money. The first CD is FILLED with him telling you how great this is, rather than just showing it through the work. Then, it winds up being a lot of pranayama -- yogic breathing, and not well done at that.
I returned it the day after I received it.
Amazing!!!.......2006-07-05
I have been doing the daily exercises for slightly more then a month and they help tremendously! All the information Roger Love gives you in all of the CDs is all you need to understand how Vocal Power really works. The only thing thats missing is personal coaching, but thats only if you want further advancement or feel like you need it.
Recommend it to anyone who wants to develop charisma, clarity, and confidence in their voice.
Hummm...Save your money & go to a local voice coach........2006-01-09
I never made it beyond CD #1 because that was so uninteresting that I wasn't going to subject myself to further rambling. The "coach" does LOTS of name dropping & just giving examples. During the whole of CD #1, he gave about 2 mins. of actual work for you to try. The rest was just listening to him speak about...him. I would save my money and go to your local voice coach. I think you will be much better off. If one is not listed in your phone book, try your local high school music teachers (they give private lessons after school to make extra money). You can also try a local community college or church music director. Go for live help, not CD. Besides, an actual person can help you with specific areas where a CD just keeps repeating itself. I hope this helped...
Great for everyone!.......2005-11-10
I loved the insights and exercises given to help overcome the fear of speaking in public....and I don't mean just professional public speaking. Learning how to connect with others in a group, no matter how small, is something I always had a hard time doing...Roger Love teaches that posture, gestures, and breathing correctly, along with a positive inner dialogue can help you feel and sound more confident. The fact that this is on CD is so much better than if it were something written....he is so inspiring to listen to and his stories about his famous clients are wonderful and quite entertaining. This audio book will help so many people who are just a little shy and need to know how to communicate easily with others.
Same information as "Set your voice free".......2005-10-04
This Audio book is very similar to his regular book called "Set Your Voice Free". Although this book seems more geared towards speakers while the other seems more geared towards singers.
A lot of information about developing your voice (breathing, overcoming undesirable vocal traits, finding your middle voice) was also in his regular book called "Set Your Voice Free". There are a lot of passages that are copied word-for-word. A lot of the vocal exercises are identical. I found that information very helpful.
Some information, that is not in "Set Your Voice Free", deals more with pyschological mumbo jumbo about developing a postive mindset. Like overcoming your fears by telling yourself "they want to hear me. They love me". Or overcoming your nervousness by simply being prepared. I don't know whether this information is useful or not.
So if you get one book, you could probably just skip the other.
Amazon.com
At the height of his career, Richard Pryor did something no other comedian had done up to that point: he took listeners deeply into his life, baring himself before audiences as he exposed his foibles and his follies, his tumultuous dealings with women and his misadventures with drugs. "People can't always handle it," he writes in Pryor Convictions. "But I knew that if you tell the truth, it's going to be funny." The pain and truth came from Pryor's earliest years--from his childhood in Peoria, Illinois, where he was raised in bars and whorehouses, and sexually assaulted by an older boy when he was just 6 years old. After a stint in the army, Pryor set out to become an entertainer and began making the slow climb from hole-in-the-wall nightclubs to stardom. Sometimes profane, but always funny, Pryor Convictions is a no-holds-barred autobiography told in Pryor's inimitable comic voice.
Book Description
Richard Pryor's life story is one of the most controversial and shocking of any performer in American history. Raised in the bars and whorehouses of Peoria, where he gained first-hand knowledge of racism and hypocrisy, he toiled for years as a bland Cosby clone before finding his true voice as one of America's most brilliant comedians — and one of its most profound, and profane, social critics. At the apex of his career — one of Hollywood's biggest stars, and one of the most influential black men in the world — it all came tumbling down in a maelstrom of drugs, multiple marriages, heart attacks, violence, and suicide attempts, finally ending in a notorious incident where he lit himself on fire while freebasing cocaine. Pryor Convictions tells the uncensored story of the man behind the myth. Written in Pryor's own words, this human and compelling account is like the man himself: raw, funny, fearless, and completely unforgettable.
Customer Reviews:
Adequete incite from a necessary comedian.......2007-09-05
The book is immediately interesting and arresting. However, Mr. Pryor goes through lulls of semi-coherent, discractive writing. Pryor is very open with the reader in this book, describing everything he went through in fascinating candor. That alone makes this a must buy. Rich talks about selling out to mainstream Hollywood throughout his career. He did most pictures, regardless of the often atrocious scripts, admittedly, just for the money. There are also many fascinating stories about his habitual drug use and addiction(s). But this fact and the obligatory stories and excuses that follow allow the reader to realize he was a wild, carefree human being. Who was, admittedly, lucky to live as long as he did, considering the aforementioned drug abbuse.
The book is 247 pages and 30-plus chapters which makes for a quick read. You won't be emphatically pleased that you purchased this book, but you won't be upset either.
I tried..........2007-03-27
I tried to give Pryor a chance and see what makes him do what he did. I'd read his daughter's book first and he sounded like a pretty violent and mentally challenged man. I figure there are three sides of the story, so I'll read the second side. This dude blew me. He joked about beating up women like it was justifiable, had no idea it was wrong, and continuously excused his own faults. When children do it, I can blow it off as just having to grow up and understand responsibility. But how can I respect a comedian who does so many things that aren't funny? I wasn't a fan of Pryor before I read his book and now I'm definitely sticking to that opinion. I did, however, enjoy his alter ego's anecdotes.
Masterful Memoir.......2004-04-25
Using excerpts from his "Mudbone" monologues to accentuate the events of his life, Pryor puts together a collection of memories that make PC a must-read. I can only think of a few other autobiographies that even come close.
World's Most Profane and Profound Autobiography.......2003-03-02
In chapter 20 of this book Richard Pryor offhandedly calls his comedy style "profane and profound" and inadvertently sums up his life and this book perfectly. This is at various times the most dirtyminded, hilarious, shocking, or downright disturbing autobiography you may ever read, but always with his great dark humor. With a bizarre and damaging childhood in Peoria, Richard Pryor was raised in his grandmother's place of business - which happened to be a whorehouse with all of its shady and unwholesome characters. A violent and painful childhood full of profanity and prejudice came out in Richard's comedy, which was truly groundbreaking in its shocking honesty. He lived a wild life in the spotlight, with addictions and a constant parade of rough women, including five wives that he divorced six times. The wives are hard to keep track of, but Richard is always brutally honest about his attitudes toward women even if it's rarely pretty. He also has a very refreshing outlook on racial matters, as the prejudice that was so damaging failed to ruin his respect for all people of any color. Most of the tail end of the book concerns his nearly born again soul searching about his infamous addictions and latest losing battle with multiple sclerosis. In addition to Richard's straightforward and unforgiving narratives, there are very frequent asides from one of his stage characters, Mudbone, who here is acting as his even more brutally honest alter ego. This gives the book an often jarring schizophrenic character, and surely reflects the true workings of Pryor's dark genius.
More Respect than "Pryor".......2002-09-05
This has to be one of the most honest and compelling autobiographies I ever read! I have an immense amount of respect for the intimate details that Rich felt comfortable with sharing with readers about his early life and personal problems. Though some parts dealt with painful issues, the comedic genius he is, he manages to have readers smiling through tears. I found it particularly painful to read his battle with MS, which I watched my mother suffer with, but again, the humor is always there. Richard Pryor is the epitomy of a survivor, not to mention one of the most talented comedians of our time. This was a very inspirational and enjoyable read and I recommend the purchase A.S.A.P.
Book Description
Josh McDowell's Beyond Belief message is the foundation to launch a spiritual revolution among youth. This is a revolution to equip churches and families to raise up a generation of the cross--young people who have been transformed by Christ and the cross, who are empowered to live crossgrain to the culture and are committed to share Christ across all cultures.
Sixteen stand-alone products make up an entire family of resources that churches need to launch a church-wide revolution. These products are directed to every age group from 5 to 105, and help equip church groups and families with the tools to lead their children and youth to become transformed, passionate followers of Christ.
Already a best seller, this book lays the foundations for the CrossCulture Revolution. Every product within this family of resources finds its root here. Beyond Belief to Convictions offers a revolutionary blueprint to raise up a generation of transformed followers of Christ with deepened convictions who knows why they believe what they believe.
Customer Reviews:
"An householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.".......2007-06-05
On one level, this book is nothing new. We have read the material before in More Than a Carpenter and in The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict Fully Updated To Answer The Questions Challenging Christians Today. However this book is subtly different.
There is a joke among Christians: If Jesus is the answer, then what is the question? This book begins with the question, namely, the horror-statistics reminiscent of Bill Bennett's "Index of Leading Cultural Indicators" So the book puts the Christian answer (i.e. Christ), in the context of present-day problems. That is the first difference.
The second difference is the ends to which the information is used, namely, staring a "Beyond Beliefs To Conviction Campaign." The book deigns to be a handbook for revival, or really, a restoration of the Christian faith that is under attack. McDowell's objective is to bring members of the various Christian denominations back to Christ and the Gospel.
McDowell says:
"It is not that our kids are rejecting Christianity as they know it-they have simply been influenced to redefine it according to their cultural setting. They are putting together their own religious canon in a smörgåsbord style. They are led to believe it is better to pick and choose from various ideas, concepts of God, and religion around them until they construct a tailor-made "faith," one that's just right for them. They are being encouraged to piece their faith together themselves; that way it will be theirs personally, and it will offend no one." (10)
As an outsider to Protestantism, I am fascinated by the divisions within this branch (if you can call it that) of Christianity. It is a question that C. S. Lewis avoided in Mere Christianity, event though he answered it in his personal life. What are we to make of the evangelical and non-evangelical branches of Protestantism, the Megachurches, seeker-friendly models, U2charists, the fads and personalities, and so forth. This book seems to bridge the gap between the the old-school and new-school models. Which brings me to the last difference.
The third difference is the approach used in presenting the information. This book is a mixture of straight up text-book non-fiction, and emotionally engaging fiction, involving a group of young teens starting their own campaign.
This made for interesting reading, as I had to mentally switch gears. But it helped me to integrate the material. It is one thing to know a fact, but quite another to be able to cogently present the material to another person. So McDowell's approach was helpful. It is like comparing Plato to Aristotle: both can say the same thing. Aristotle will say it quicker, but Plato will present it in a memorable fashion. Think of C. S. Lewis's two Christological books: Mere Christianity, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia). There is a reason why we love the second fictional version.
This is all nice, but the real question is how effective is the book. I think the book is a good as it possibly could be. The real question is how well the principles are implemented. Another issue affecting effectiveness is that any individual would need a very tight support group--with interested parents, clergy, youth, and interested friends helping the campaign to get rolling. Unless this happens, it will always be "one of a city, and two of a family."
*
Parting Thoughts:
The last section is like watching an episode of the TRANSFORMERS Generation 1 (G1) : Complete DVD Box Set 15 Discs (98 Episodes+The movie): it is a not-too-subtle commercial for other products. Ahem!
The books tone is panicky at times:
* "In many ways, our young people today must endure a twenty-first-century Colosseum. They may not face literal lions, but they quite possibly encounter more ethical and moral temptations, greater spiritual battles and more intense emotional and relational struggles than any other generation in history." (4)
* "We may lose and entire generation." (295).
It begins with the normal shock-statistics that we all know and to which we all wince involuntarily. Whatever you think of McDowell or Christianity, you must admit that McDowell is driven, by the stick of postmodernism, and the carrot of Christ.
Beyond Belief to Convictions.......2007-01-09
This book is easy reading but has some good insights. I enjoyed the chapter on intrepeting scripture.
Why We Believe and Why It Matters.......2004-01-15
Over the years, Josh McDowell has become well known for his logical and factual arguments for the Christian faith. In this book, he takes his work to the next level.
The premise of this book is clear. In an age of relativism, we are loosing the youth of today because they don't believe in truth any more. Many believe that Christianity is just one acceptable way out of many and Jesus was a good teacher. Yet, today's youth are also adrift, not sure how to deal with what life brings their way.
The solution is to show youth that Christianity is true. If Christianity is true, it provides the answers to all of life. But it is not one way out of many or a blind faith. There is evidence that backs up what the Bible says. McDowell takes on the Deity of Christ, Scripture, and the Resurrection. In successive parts, he gives an overview of the evidence and then moves on to what that means in the lives of believers.
The call of this book is important. We must continue to be ready to give an answer to every man who asks as Peter tells us to do. And the logical extension of what that means to us is an important touch. Sometimes that is overlooked in the rush to present apologetics. This book challenged and encouraged me as I was reading it.
Unfortunately, it doesn't have quite the punch it could. McDowell tries to illustrate the importance of what he is talking about with stories from a fictitious youth group. While some of it works, other parts are weak and actually detract from the overall message. A little less time with the fiction and a little more time making his points other ways would have made this a stronger book.
This is an important step forward for modern apologetics, being ready to share with today's youth. The information presented here, while clearly only scratching the surface, is a good starting point for anyone interested in the subject of why Christians believe and what the means for life on Earth today.
Disappointed in Audio CD.......2003-10-26
Josh McDowell is a great speaker with passion and conviction. Having his book read by a professional voice, in a monotone style, does not work for this product. Save the money and order Josh McDowell's presentation from Focus on the Family for $5. It is much better, has the same content, only spoken with conviction by the author himself.
Book Description
This rerelease of the popular original edition continues to speak to parents in a society where "family values" no longer seem to exist. If anything, today's community standards threaten the family. Airwaves and movie theaters are drenched with obscenities; perversion is glorified; divorce is cheap and easy; "safe sex" is promoted instead of abstinence; parental authority is undermined; sex roles are confused. For children, such cultural chaos is crippling. But in Real Family Values, parents will learn how to sort through today's moral confusion, remove it from their homes, and change the world by zeroing in on the part they love most: their families.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty good read, a quality book.......2006-11-30
There is much about this book that I really liked, but I will find it difficult to highly recommend it to others because of its length and complexity to read. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't suggest it to a serious reader who is looking for an excellent book on how to better prepare their family for the spiritual chaos of the world - Lewis does a very good job of confronting several very complicated issues with the skill of a fine surgeon using the wisdom of God's Word to counter the wisdom of the world. Lewis begins by laying the foundation for the family - the biblical model that has been challenged and is becoming much more or a rarity in society today. But once Lewis has the reader on this issue, he turns to the issues confronting the family in the world today.
Lewis doesn't back down from anything in this book - he addresses the issue and impact of divorce and the need for men to step up and be the leaders of their homes. He also tackles homosexuality, racism and abortion from a biblical and practical perspective. In the final pages, Lewis lays out the "Lewis Family Values" and gives guidance how any family can come up with their own guidelines and principles to effectively communicate (and pass on to the next generation) the characteristics of a successful and godly family.
Again, Real Family Values is an excellent book and well worth the read, but at over 250 pages written in more of a "sermonic" tone, not many will realistically finish the course set before them in this book.
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