Book Description

Lane-Poole's classic biography of Saladin, the chivalrous opponent of Richard the Lionheart, depicts the sultan's decisive victories during the Crusades and his ambitious creation of an Islamic empire. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The life story of a truly unique leader
Written by the late British historian Stanley Lane-Pools (1854-1931), Saladin: All-powerful Sultan And The Uniter Of Islam is an informed and informative biography of the great warrior, statesman, and faithful believer in Islam, Salah ad-Din ibn Ayyub, more commonly known as Saladin (A.D. 1138-1193). From his early years in a Kurdish military family to the beginning of his military service at age fourteen, to his conquest of Jerusalem marked by an unprecedentedly humane treatment of the citizens within, to his belief and application of civilized justice, Saladin: All-powerful Sultan And The Uniter Of Islam is the life story of a truly unique leader who deservedly earned his legendary status both in the West as well as throughout Islam. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

One of the Best Biographies
I usually do not read many biographies, as they tend to be somewhat dry or either too skimpy or way too much. However, this one I really enjoyed. I highly recommend reading it for either a good biography or to learn more about Catholics and Pope John Paul II. The only, only thing I can find fault with is the ending. It seemed a bit cut off, and I almost wanted to find the words "The End" because I just didn't feel like it ended. But then again, I find my ears perk up whenever I hear about the pope, in a chance to learn more about Pope John Paul II, or simply Karol Wojtyla.

The best John Paul biography.
"His Holiness" stands as the best biography of Karol Wojtyla, later to become Pope John Paul II and the first Pope of the third millennium. His papacy has revolved around inceessant travel and an effort to re-establish orthodoxy in the Church through rigid supression of dissent led by Joseph Ratzinger.

This incessant travel has led John Paul to be seen as a mdeia superstar, and at the same time is strong doctrinal stance has led to him being seen by some as a restorationist and as a successor to Pius XII rather than John XXIII.

This book avoids many of the problems of other John Paul biographies. Bernstain and Politti write with more clarity than, say, Tad Szulc, and they do a very good job of explaining the contradictionas that really are to be seen in the Wojtyla papacy: the authoritarian church leader versus campaigns for justice in the wider world. Most aspects of Karol Wojtyla's life up to the time of the book's printing are described most effectively - such as the conclave and how Wojtyla came through against several Italian candidates.

This is the book to read to know John Paul II.

Must Read
Best book I ever purchased. Well written and very informative.

Reveals John Paul II as Deus Ex Machina in Foreign Affairs
"The roots of all he felt and did as pope, in terms of both Catholic dogma and geostrategic doctrine were to be found deep in the soil of his native Poland. As a youth, like many of his compatriots, he had steeped himself in the lore of Polish messianism, the idea that Poland was the Christ of the Nations that one day would rise again to point the way for all of humanity." So begins this spellbinding account of Pope John Paul II, and the history of our time.

Not since Malachi Martin's "The Keys of This Blood" has there been a book that so meticulously traces and makes clear the global ambitions of the Catholic Papacy. Carl Bernstein's excellent reportage combines with the sometimes irritatingly unctious contributions of Italian journalist Marco Politi to write a book that is filled with so much high-drama and intrigue it is difficult at times to keep in mind that this is not a novel, but real life history being made right before our very eyes.

Perhaps the most compelling chapters in the book have to deal with how Karol Woytila as pope, conspired with Ronald Reagan and his Cabinet, which was virtually made up of all Catholics, to assit Poland's Solidarity movement, and hasten the demise of Communism.

This book copiously documents how the United States Government, together with organized labor, made common cause with the Vatican to conduct a modern-day Berlin airlift of sorts to keep Soldarity alive during the days of martial law in Poland.

This pope's purely political side is brought out for all the world to see. Not since Malichi Martin's book has there emerged a portrait of this pontiff which shows just how cunning, politically motivated, and hegemonistic he really is. John Paul II is portrayed as being a "very important asset" to our government. "And what was in it for the pope," a deputy of Secretary of State Alexander Haig was asked. "Something he probably wanted more than anything else...I think he is a very political man-what this gave him ...was that he felt he had a high-level intimate relationship with the world's most powerful country. He was a player. That's what it gave him."

In this book emerges a portrait of a pope that many people haven't seen, or do not believe exists, and that is the portrait of a man on a mission to establish worldwide, what has been established in his native Poland; a world dedicated to the Virgin Mary, governed under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church.

A person would only have to review the history of Catholic absolutism in history, especially in the Dark or Middle Ages, and in the period from the 1870's to the Second World War to see how truly frightening this prospect is. This book clearly shows that John Paul II is the Deus Ex Machina in foreign affairs. This book is every bit as compelling as a novel.

A differing viewpoint
As a Catholic, I enjoyed this book and found it highly readable. Previous reviewers have cited bias on the part of the authors, and there is some truth to it. But hey, issues such as abortion and contraception are the modern issues the Church deals with, and if they may seem a little anti-Catholic at times, who cares! It's actually refreshing to get a different viewpoint instead of some censured, flowery prose from an authorized Catholic publisher.

P.S. Besides, isn't that one of the central themes of JPII's philosophy: respecting people even if they have different viewpoints? ... Read more

Book Description

More than any other world leader in recent times, George W. Bush is a man of faith…a conservative Christian who has brought the power of prayer and the search for God’s will into the Oval Office. His faith has proven to be a bedrock of strength and resolve during two of the most tumultuous years in our nation’s history.According to Newsweek magazine, “this presidency is the most resolutely faith based in modern times. An enterprise founded, supported and guided by trust in the temporal and spiritual power of God.”David Aikman, skilled journalist and former senior correspondent for TIME magazine, pens this dramatic and gripping account of Bush’s journey to faith. Based on interviews and behind-the-scenes stories, you’ll learn how…

· His life changed after a conversation with Billy Graham on the beach at Kennebunkport

· He walked away from alcoholism toward a new destiny

· The events following 9/11 caused many to view him as God’s chosen man for this critical time in history

· His decision to go to war with Iraq became the ultimate test of his faith

A Man of Faith…an intimate look at how Bush’s spiritual life has impacted his presidency, the nation, and the world.

Reviews (17)

Revealing Story of Our 43rd President
Aikman has written an excellent book on George Bush's Christian faith - how he became a Christian, and how Christianity has positively impacted his life.

Indeed, while the president is a very polarizing figure (much like Clinton), one would have a hard time arguing the sincerity of his faith. Unfortunately, some people like the reviewer from Philadelphia have taken it upon themselves to judge whether George W is going to heaven or hell. Why can't they just stop judging and admit they don't like the man? While I do not agree with everything he has said and done, I cannot doubt the sincerity of his faith and the transformation he has experienced over the years.

Also to the reviewer from Philadelphia - please be very careful about quoting Scripture out of context:

1. Many people in the Bible were finanically well off - Abraham, Job, Matthew, Isaiah, David, Solomon, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, etc. Yet God did not condemn them because of their riches.
2. Jesus rejected the power the Jews offered Him because they offered power apart from God's will. Over thousands of years God has elevated people to positions of power. Power in and of itself is not bad, it's what we do with it that counts! God will raise and lower those whom He pleases.

Among the areas of George W.'s life covered in the book are:

1. Early childhood, teenage, and college years at Yale and why he was turned off by the liberalism displayed on college campuses.
2. The strong marriage he has enjoyed with his wife Laura.
3. Active involvement in church over the years and how he has ministered to the less fortunate.
4. How he has cooperated with people of other denominations (although a Methodist, he has worked with Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcoplians, Pentacostals, and Catholics) and faiths (Jews, Muslims, etc.) over the years.
5. Close relationships he has enjoyed with ministers of different ethnic and denominational backgrounds (and who says conservatives can't work with others?) despite having differences of opinion on particular issues.
6. His involvement in politics (from working on his father's campaign to becoming governor and eventually president).
7. The uniques challenges he has faced as president (911, numerous UN Resolutions, faith-based iniatives, tax rebates, etc.).

I appreciated the author's sincerity in covering all aspects of George W.'s life - good and bad. Aikman does not gloss over Bush's struggles with the bottle, smoking, and foul language. Yet the author also quotes several sources close to the president who have seen great improvements in these areas over the years - yet another testimony to the power of the transforming grace of Jesus Christ working in and through a person's life!

Read, enjoy, and be encouraged by the faith of our 43rd president and do not concern yourself with those who wish to tear him down at all costs!

Who has actually read this book?
There are some reviews here that appear to be written by those who plainly dislike Pres. Bush but did not read this book. I feel sorry for them, as this is a wonderful book going into the life and development of Bush as our President. The reviewer from New York, the non-Christian, appears to have little grasp on what Christianity is. The other from Crawford must assume that all church services are on Sundays. As many Baptist will say, church is not merely a place to worship. It is the culmination of worship and study. Aikman shows how Mr. Bush changed from a rambunctious young man into a respectable, admirable leader. He has his faults and makes no qualms against them. Aikman, an outsider to the family, took anecdotes and lessons from Mr. Bush's life through colleagues, friends and family. What you have here is the embodiment of those interviews. No, Mr. Bush has not been faultless in his Presidency, as no President ever has been faultless. (Clinton was a far-cry from faultless...the sworn liar.) But he has shown time and time again that he has a sincere heart to love and a God-driven will to serve the people for the betterment of the world. He earned more respect from me through this book, after reading of the years where he was not the most well-mannered or appropriately behaving person. However, he had a need to save himelf from his own destruction, and he chose God as the one to lead him out of his perils. He has followed God and Christ since those days and become an example of a renewed Christian. What could be a better testament to his life and his family than this book? Read it, whether you do not agree with his politics or not. I don't claim that it will change your political opinion of him, but I know it will give you more insight on why he does certain things or speak in certain ways. Just have an open mind when you begin this book. If anything, you will learn how he could easily have been one of your friends from your hometown, college or workplace. Give this book a try. Don't discount it automatically and ignorantly. David Aikman does a wonderful job in telling a story you may enjoy.

Insightful look into the faith of George W. Bush
Former Time correspondent David Aikman explores the faith and spiritual journey of President George W. Bush, who presides over one of the most faith based administrations in American history. Aikman launches the book with the "political bombshell" of then Governor Bush answering a question during a debate, "What political philosopher do you most identify with and why?" with the response, "Christ, because he changed my heart." In the chapters that follow, we learn of Bush's roots, beginning with his great-great-great grandfather Obadiah Bush all the way down to his father George H.W. Bush. We learn of his childhood, adolescence, college days, military service, marriage to Laura -which began his switch to Methodism after years of attending a Presbyterian church-, and his years as a businessman and owner of the Rangers. Aikman reveals how Bush's faith gradually began to take on a greater role in his life as we are introduced to many of the mentors who guided the future president, including Billy Graham and James Robison. Perhaps I read this book from a different perspective than most; I am a religious Jew. For a community that has historically tended to vote Democrat, significant numbers of American Jews are increasingly voting for conservative candidates. This can be attributed to many factors, including, the long overdue realization that liberalism is intrinsically opposed to traditional authentic Jewish values which are more accurately reflected by conservatism, coupled with the moral confusion and moral-relativism characterizing so much of the Left and the Democratic Party. That many Jews are becoming staunch Bush supporters becomes all the more understandable after reading David Aikman's A Man of Faith, where the reader learns, in chapter seven, of Bush's deep affinity for the land of Israel and the Jewish people, not to mention his personal friendship with Ariel Sharon. When Bush told the American Jewish Committee only months into his presidency, "A top foreign policy priority of my administration is the safety and security of Israel," this wasn't mere rhetoric. As Aikman chronicles, Bush is perhaps the greatest friend Israel has ever had in a United States president. Aikman writes, "Jewish leaders have also come away from meetings with George W. almost enraptured by the sense of commitment to the defense of Israel and the protection of Jews worldwide that George W. has often conveyed." In this chapter we also read of a rabbi who told Bush, "Mr. President, I didn't vote for you, but if you had been president in 1938, I now think the Holocaust might not have happened." When I read that first time around, I literally had chills, for I am one Jew, and a grandson of Holocaust survivors, who fully shares these sentiments of deep gratitude to our commander-in-chief. As this book discusses in great length, it is Bush's unabashed faith as a devout Methodist which animates his moral compass, his determination to actively identify and confront evil, and his resolve to uphold the traditional Judeo-Christian values that make America great- and which are currently being jeopardized on many fronts. G-d bless America, the president, and our troops!

Great overall biography!
I have finished the first half of the book and am amazed at what I did not know about George and Laura and the Senior Bushes. It really is very encouraging to see how W's faith grew through the years.

God has been pleased to grant our nation Christian leadership at this critical turning point in our history, and I can only say "Praise God from whom all blessings flow". I am in prayer for our nation every day!

A minister to the nations
I have read several books about the Bushes -- and specifically about George W. Bush. The author is a good writer, writing fairly from both sides of the issue, and portrays a man who has had to deal with personal failure, like we all do. Our nation was established by Christian principles, and it is by Christian principles we are still a nation. As our society continues to slide into darkness, we will be held responsible for not living for God. GWB is committed to the principles for which this nation was begun, and I felt the writer beautifully scripted the tapestry of providential destiny for a man named, George W. Bush. ... Read more

Book Description

Life was one big act for wrestling super star Steve Borden, a.k.a. Sting. On the home front, however, his marriage faltered on the brink of failure while he took the fast track in his wrestling career—and to a radical entertainer lifestyle, including an addiction to prescription drugs. Confessing his problems to his wife was the beginning of a process that brought the prideful, self-sufficient champion to his knees. It was to be the greatest wrestling match of his life, and God was taking him to the mat.

God had been planting seeds in Borden's life from the time he entered professional wrestling—his brother and sisters's conversions and witnesses, his family's prayers, the witness of wrestler Ted Dibiasi—and the peace and joy he saw in the lives of other Christians. Now, the confrontation by his wife, whom he didn't want to lose, plus the fear of life without his two young sons, made his fame and fortune worthless. He was humbled. That was in August 1998. Sting became a new man in Christ and his marriage was restored. Today, he drops scriptures into conversation as easily and naturally as he once dropped opponents in the ring. He still loves a challenge, but where he once relied on a fluorescent face and shocking stunts, he now tackles each challenge with a firm faith in Christ alone.

Amazon.com

"A child takes life as it comes because he has no other way of taking it," Frederick Buechner writes in this first of his autobiographical books. With this statement he attempts to explore the event that is at the center of this book, and which forms the (missing) center around which so much of Buechner's fiction and essays take shape: the suicide of his father when he was 10 and his brother 8.

As with much of Buechner's work, there is a movement in this narrative from suffering to grace, a grace that comes in unexpected ways and places. Here it comes through the preacher George Buttrick on a Sunday sermon: Jesus refused Satan's crown, Buttrick said, but "he is crowned in the heart of the people who believe in him. And that inward coronation takes place ... 'among confession, and tears, and great laughter.'" It was when he heard this final statement, Buechner writes, that something turned over for him, and led him to speak to Buttrick and ultimately led him--driven literally by Buttrick--to Union Theological Seminary. Here in this beautiful book this soul-changing journey across Manhattan stands for "the sacred journey" of a life--and of all of our lives. Whether it ends in truth or dream we cannot know, but Buechner sides with King Rinkitink of Oz who says, "Never question the truth of what you fail to understand, for the world is filled with wonders." --Doug Thorpe ... Read more

Reviews (6)

listen to your life
I have read The Magnificent Defeat, Godric and the meditation book, Listening to Your Life. I've read other books by Richard Rohr that have blown me away in how they've illuminated Christianity for me but I've never read anything quite so beautiful, so rich with humanity as this slim little volume.

It is rare that words fail me but it seems that anything I could say about this work wouldn't do it any justice at all. It's not about Christianity, it's about looking into your life, listening to all the strangeness, horror and wonder and perchance finding what God might be saying.

and still my words fail. Read this and take the journey yourself. You'll see what I mean.

Honesty and courage
Do not be misled -- this first of Buechner's four autobiographical works is slim, but there is much to be found here -- much that will make the reader connect with the author and reflect on his or her own life.

A feeling of quiet comes over one during the reading. This is intensely personal, intensely honest writing. I was prompted to examine my own life as directly and intently, wondering why I had never done so before. Truthfully, wondering if I could.

Highly recommended, as are the works that follow.

once below a time...
The mystery of our lives. The oddity of memory. The things that make us who we are. Frederick Buechner explores all of these topics in the first volume of his autobiographies, "The Sacred Journey."

Slowly--word by word and line by line, Buechner has won my respect as an author. How he unravels the story of his own life, how he makes the past breathe, gives it life...it has all combined to deepen my esteem for him. He is one of the greatest living authors.

Buechner's honest search for something universal in his story has captivated me. We all stand, in one way or another, in the shadows of our own lives. Alone, we cannot even comprehend the whole of our own journeys. The value of Buechner's excavation of his past is that when others view it, it may help them see the importance of their own journey.

In spite of the author's uncertainness about writing them, I have found Buechner's autobiographies to be of great value. I am thankful for the man's openness, courage and skill (they are fun to read).

I give "The Sacred Journey" my wholehearted recommendation.

A reflective, honest book
Perhaps the best thing about Rev. Buechner's book is that, in reading about his early journey toward finding Christ, it really will, as so many have noted, help you reflect on your journey. Buechner writes about how our lives are like novels, that they have a structure and a meaning, and indeed, they do, if we take the time to delve into them and try to process them. God, of course, is the Author of that meaning, and as Buechner finds meaning in his life, so too can we find meaning in ours. This is one I am sure I will read again and again. (Fair warning -- the cover photograph will come to haunt you as you read about what happens to Buechner's father!)

Beautiful language, beautiful message
Rev. Buechner has an amazing gift for crafting language to portray exactly what he feels and needs to say. He writes this autobiographical and spiritual book, he says, with the hope that the reader will see the threads of his or her story weaving in and out of his own.

Buechner's work is popular, and this book is the perfect introduction, explaining the major events of his childhood, which shape his life, minsitry, and writing. Sacred Journey is certainly not a self-help book, but you will be encouraged toward reflection on your life past and present, and if you let him, Buechner will shape your life. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1969, the year following the death of Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen published his first book. Who, reading Intimacy: Essays in Pastoral Psychology, at the time could have guessed that its 37 year old Dutch priest-author would become one of the most popular spiritual writers of the 20th-century?

Unlike Merton, whose strictly spiritual writings appealed almost exclusively to Roman Catholics, Nouwen had an enormous following among Protestants as well as Catholics. What was it about this man and his work that so resonated with the American psyche over the past thirty years?

In The Spiritual Legacy of Henri Nouwen, Deidre LaNoue analyzes Nouwen's voluminous writings in the context of his life and times, providing a key to his more than forty individual books as well as a cogent summary of his contribution to the spiritual lives of millions of people. The book includes a complete bibliography of Nouwen's writings as well as a Scripture index of his books. ... Read more

Book Description

A short account of the life and achievements of one of the great figures of history, this volume also serves as an excellent introduction to one of the world's major religions. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent shorter scholarly biography
Most readers probably won't have the patience to slog through Watt's two bigger volumes, Muhammad At Mecca and Muhammad At Medina. This slimbooks is a good compromise, and an excellent introduction to Western scholarship on the subject. Unlike later, more radical historians like Wansbrough and Crone, Watt sifts through the early Muslim accounts and accepts most of them as being historically reliable.

awful
this book is providing unneccesary info about islam that is false and very unacceptable.. especially page 17 when he writes
"The modern Westerner has no difficulty in showing how Muhammad may have been mistaken." it is
biased
and totally not reflecting history but showing a great deal of propaganda..

*The* Portrait of Muhammad
If you're looking to gain an understanding of the life of Muhammad, grab this book. Watt presents a prose description of Muhammad's life, backed by sound and comprehensive study. It is actually enjoyable reading, almost like a story, yet completely historically accurate. (Or as much as we can be.) Watt does not make either extreme mistake of simply accepting the traditions of the Hadith or the Qur'an as absolute truth; or of looking only at Western denigrations of Islam. Rather, he appears to recognize historical truths in the Qur'anic traditions, and in Western and Eastern scholarship. If you've been trying to learn about Islam and have spent time looking over the Qur'an, this is *the* book to turn to get that background on Muhammad and "flesh" him out. Watt shows a human, beyond the traditions and myths, that changed his world, and then the rest of the planet. ... Read more

Book Description

In his autobiography, Franklin Graham tells his story of how God has taken his life and turned it into His Glory.Elizabeth Dole says, "Franklin has provided a very thoughtful and provocative account of how a young man develops and matures in his faith as the son of one of the world's most respected and admired spiritual leaders." ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Inspiring as Well as Informative!
This autobiography of Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, is inspiring as well as informative. Graham gives the reader an insight into what it was like being raised in the shadow of the most famous preacher of the twentieth century. He shares honestly and from the heart.

While by today's standards Graham was not that rebellious of a child, it is still refreshing to see that even the son of Billy Graham had his struggles. Smoking, drinking, and defying authority were three of his greatest vices. He describes his journey from a rebellious son of a minister to a servant of Jesus Christ in his own right.

I admire Franklin Graham for being his own person, rather than trying to become a mere imitation of his father. While struggling for years to find his own, unique place in God's plan, as time passed he did finally discover it. He serves today as the head of "Samaritan's Purse" ministry, a ministry much different than the well-known crusade ministry of his dad.

I recommend this book highly to anyone wanting to learn more about Franklin Graham. I especially recommend it to the children of ministers, who may be struggling to find their own identity in the shadow their father. This work is also a good insight into the personal dynamics of the Graham family. Buy it, read it, and discover more about this rebel who finally found his cause!

Wonderful Biography
This is a very powerful book. Franklin Graham is the son of Dr. Billy Graham and Ruth Bell Graham. This is his story of "Growing Up Graham," and all of his struggles. He pulls no punches about his life and times. To all of you out there who've lead a rebel life as I once did, you'll love this book. In short, it's a story of growing up in and around Christianity. As he ran from Jesus, he eventually ran right to Jesus and did get saved. He also tells of his life in the ministry after his conversion. So, to anyone who feels called into the ministry, this book will be a great resource for you as well.

If you know of someone who hasn't gotten saved and is fighting it, or if you know of someone that was once a renegade and eventually got saved, this book would be an excellent gift.

Thank you Franklin Graham for being so honets and sharing your story and of your public display of your Christian faith. Keep up the good work!

A Very Good Autobiography
Franklin Graham, son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, had written this autobiography from his beginnings as a "rebel" to a President of Samaritan's Purse. It also leads its readers the twists and turns that Franklin had endured to where he is today. This is a very interesting and inspiring autobiography that one shouldn't miss to read.

Worst Book Ever Written
Discussions in this book about other religions are absolutely false to say the least. Many facts are simply wrong, the least of which is the discussion about the rituals of Hinduism.

Anyone who reads any of Franklin Graham's books must not take a single word of the discussion of other religions seriously, for his books are filled from cover to cover with blatant and gratuitous religious intolerance.

Instead of this book, I recommend reading Voltaire's Treatise on Tolerance, ISBN: 0521649692

An amazing journey without special consideration!
The most extraordinary thing about this book is that you'll see clearly that Franklin did not get where he is because of who his father (Billy Graham) is. You will be intrigued by how his life took the twists and turns it did. His journey will fascinate you. His landing will assure you. There is only one reason possible that he ended up where he has. A great read. A great gift. ... Read more

Book Description

After a difficult childhood in the deep South and with her marriage failing, Toni Varner arrived in San Francisco looking for happiness. Joining the counterculture, she spent two decades on a spiritual search. Then, in 1990, she met Papaji, an awakened master in the lineage of Sri Ramana Maharshi. She had never wanted a guru, and she certainly hadn't wanted an Indian name. But when she met Papji, he stopped her in her tracks. In meeting him, she discovered the source of true fulfillment.

Since that time, Gangaji, a beloved spiritual teacher, has been holding public meetings and retreats across the United States and around the world. In her autobiography, written with Roslyn Moore, Gangaji tells her story. It is a candid, inspiring, and often humorous account. "Just Like You" includes dozens of pictures, a section of penetrating questions and answers, and an appendix with letters exchanged between Gangaji and her teacher.

Gangaji says she is just like you and me, that she would be happy to tell us if she weren't, but she is. By sharing the experience of her life she is offering herself as living proof that it is possible for anyone to stop telling their endless story of suffering, to wake up to what is, and to live life truly and freely. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Southern Charm
I thoroughly enjoyed this frank tale of a life in pursuit of happiness; a pursuit that after many missteps ultimately led to fulfillment.Gangaji is one of the few spiritual teachers who seems genuine.She credits her achievements not to hard work nor to brilliant predestination, but to luck.Is such disclosure not to be admired?

Gangaji is part of the lineage of Ramana Maharshi, a brilliant Indian sage whose message is disarmingly simple.The enlightenment that Maharshi exemplified does not promise magical powers, it does not hint of immortal pleasures; the truth is one of peace and presence, an ineluctable and very modern religious insight.This message is not for everybody but certainly to be admired and employed in whatever measure possible in the lives of thoughtful beings.

It is hard not to like Gangaji because she communicates Maharshi's profound message eloquently and does not duck the more terrifying aspects of life.She confronts death as an important truth for spiritual seekers.Death is not to be glossed over or disproved, it must be integrated as a reality for thus can we become real and live well in the present.Death deflates narcissism; it makes narcissism impossible.How can one think of oneself as more important than any other person if we all share an identical fate?Understanding oneself to be a colorful manifestation, a flicker of fire, allows us to recognize that we all participate in a larger whole and that though our flicker has come and will go, the fire will continue.

It is so rare to see a popular guru who does not speak of wonders for children, but rather speaks truth for adults.The book details a very normal life for an American woman of her era.She does not try to glorify her life in any way; if anything, she highlights her shortcomings too much.Such honesty would embarrass a normal person but not a sage.It is a joy to hear this woman and appreciate the message she conveys.

A bullseye!
What a fabulous book this is! Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It's hard to believe that a book could be so jam-packed with exactly what I am interested in.

First, there's the autobiographical part. To me, it was fascinating to read about this woman's life. It evoked so much for me. The tenderness of childhood, the shift to status and popularity as an adolescent, the dissatisfaction with all that as a young woman and turning toward psychedelics and then spiritual understanding as a way to find happiness. No one speaks more articulately about the spiritual search and leaving it behind than Gangaji does.

Then there is the transmission of light and love that pervades the book. In her opening Gangaji says, "This is an invitation to shift your allegiance from the activity of your mind to the eternal presence of your Being." By the time I'd finished reading her story and by the time I'd experienced hours of being in her company, so to speak, I knew exacly what she meant by that.

Walking in the mist with a great one
I've read this book several times now. Really. There's something about it that is working for me, or on me, and that is mysterious and intriguing. And positive and fun.

It's definitely not that the particulars of my life have been so much like Gangaji's. After all, I'm a man and didn't grow up anywhere near Mississippi. And while our life paths have some similarities, many of her experiences are completely foreign to me.

And it's not as if the book has such great explicit instructions, although there is wisdom, worldly and otherwise, gleaned from all the mistakes she made. The authors are careful to point out the danger of copying any patterns or methods to "get" something. Definitely the book is discouraging of following paths or copying anyone to achieve inner peace. "Nothing to be achieved, so stop trying, but do pay attention and do tell the truth."

It's more like there's a transmission here of something absolutely essential--call it wakefulness or peace or love--and it's changing me without any discernible effort, except the reading. And the way it's happening is comfortable, like walking for a while in a fine light mist. Eventually you discover you're soaked. I can't say I really know how this is happening, and I don't think it matters if I do know. But it seems I'm drenched, and loving it.

So I highly recommend that you try this book, open to the possibility that it may work on you also, and not to worry if it appears not to. It may anyway.

Simple and direct
I thought this was a very simple, straightforward autobiography, very unpretentious. The author/s are definitely not trying to impress the reader with this small volume. It is a clean write-up minus any verbose intellectuality....direct and to the point...if Gangaji intimidates you - from what I garner from it's pages - the problem is not hers. The story is lacking in particulars but I suppose she is just being very candid and speaking very humbly, speaking only about the most salient aspects of her life thus far - I was actually amazed(!) that other reviewers saw very much otherwise - she does come across as very ordinary...that is until you read her other books - they are indeed quite heavy and not light reading at all.

Not Like Me
Not a poorly written book, and mildly entertaining on a superficial level as an autobiography.But much like the spiritual ramblings I've seen on numerous occasions on public access TV, I find the enlightenment bestowed upon the masses by Gangaji to be vacuous and self-important.While it's a heartening journey she's undertaken to find peace with her own life, and admirable that she wants to share that with people seeking their own direction, I find her "teachings" to have an irritating smugness and all the substance of a bag of air.One must question the spiritual enlightenment of one who sells pictures of themselves on their own web site.

An Ok read purely for entertainment...seek enlightenment elsewhere. ... Read more

Book Description

Fueled by the music of revolution, anger, fear, and despair, we dyed our hair or shaved our heads ... Eating acid like it was candy and chasing speed with cheap vodka, smoking truckloads of weed, all in a vain attempt to get numb and stay numb.

This is the story of a young man and a generation of angry youths who rebelled against their parents and the unfulfilled promise of the sixties. As with many self-destructive kids, Noah Levine's search for meaning led him first to punk rock, drugs, drinking, and dissatisfaction. But the search didn't end there. Having clearly seen the uselessness of drugs and violence, Noah looked for positive ways to channel his rebellion against what he saw as the lies of society. Fueled by his anger at so much injustice and suffering, Levine now uses that energy and the practice of Buddhism to awaken his natural wisdom and compassion.

While Levine comes to embrace the same spiritual tradition as his father, bestselling author Stephen Levine, he finds his most authentic expression in connecting the seemingly opposed worlds of punk and Buddhism. As Noah Levine delved deeper into Buddhism, he chose not to reject the punk scene, instead integrating the two worlds as a catalyst for transformation. Ultimately, this is an inspiring story about maturing, and how a hostile and lost generation is finally finding its footing. This provocative report takes us deep inside the punk scene and moves from anger, rebellion, and self-destruction, to health, service to others, and genuine spiritual growth.

Book Description

In At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden, Yossi Klein HalevÍ describes his unprecedented and extraordinary spiritual journey to discover, as a religious Israeli Jew, a common spiritual language with his Christian and Muslim neighbors in the Holy Land.

Could religion be a source of unity? wondered Halevi. To find the answer, he began a two-year exploration of the devotional life of Christianity and Islam. He followed their holiday cycles, befriended Christian monastics and Islamic mystics, and joined them in prayer in monasteries and mosques -- searching for wisdom and holiness in places that are usually off-limits to outsiders of other faiths.

With a new introduction relating to Sept. 11th, Halevi chronicles the difficulty of overcoming obstacles -- theological, political, historical, and psychological -- that separate believers of the three monotheistic faiths. And he introduces a dynamic range of fascinating individuals attempting to reconcile the dichotomous heart of this sacred place -- a struggle central to Israel, but which resonates for us all.

Reviews (12)

This is a book for RIGHT NOW.
I work on promoting Mideast peace at an organization called Israel Policy Forum in Washington, DC. So I see all the literature. And I'm not easily impressed.
But this book approaches perfection. And I'm not just talking about the writing, which is superb.
I am talking about a book which miraculously appeared at a time we most need it. Following the 911 attack, an atack committed in the name of Islam, we have Yossi Klein Halevi, writing from Jerusalem, who explains, who shows, Islam's other face. This author, a devout Jew, demonstrates that Judaism/Christianity and Islam, at their best, are the same and that to fill one's heart with the true message of one, is to know and be all three.
(The corollary, of course, is that the fanatics in all three faiths are the same as well. Isn't it amusing how a Jewish extremist, clothed in black, disdaining women and all who represent the "other" does not recognize his twin in the other faiths, and vice versa. If the extremists would meet each other, they would realize that they are one and the same. Maybe we can get to peace that way!)
This book shows that there is a way out of the current horrors by reaching out and finding those aspects of each faith community that are common to all three. It understands that, in the Mideast, the seculars cannot make peace without the people of faith. Halevi shows the way. This book is a gift to us all.

A Message for Today's World
An extraordinary book. Yossi Klein Halevy is a deeply religious American-born Jewish journalist and Israeli citizen who has lived in Israel for almost twenty years. This book is written as a personal spiritual journey, in which Halevy attempts to experience and understand Islam and Christianity by joining in their rituals of worship. Despite the personal nature of the subject, his historical, political and social commentary are invaluable for those who wish to understand the Middle East conflict today. In a world where hatred is running rampant, he sends a message that solutions can only come through understanding, not violence.

A sincere seeker on a challenging quest
This is a deeply thought-provoking book. I ordered it because I have personally been involved in Jewish-Muslim-Christian dialogues (trialogues?) in the USA, and I resonated with the reviews I had read. What surprised (and saddened) me was the extreme difficulty that Yossi had in even finding people willing to dialogue in the Middle East. I had been told that Israel was a segregated society (not officially, but socially) but I did not realize how deeply the mistrust runs. Villages and monasteries that are within visual sight of each other might as well be on different planets.
To cross the cultural divide can literally mean taking your life inot your hands.

Author Yossi Klein takes that risk. With the help of various unconventional guides, he meets with Sufi shaykhs, Armenian priests, Catholic nuns and many others, hoping to communicate on the level of the soul rather than politics. Sometimes he succeeds, sometimes not. On so many occasions, history intrudes with its memories of past brutalities -- Crusades, Inquisitions, the Holocaust. This is not a sugar-coated utopian view of peace, but a scathingly honest chronicle of one seeker's search for common ground in a troubled land. With each new encounter, Yossi struggles with his own anger, distrust, and fear -- as did I when I read the book. Definitely a must-read for everyone who is or wants to be involved in interfaith dialogue.

A beautiful book
This is the story of a Jew who tries to discover if religion can be a source of unity in the Holy Land. He thus begins a two-year exploration of Christianity and Islam. He befriends Christian and Muslim mystics, joins them in prayer in monasteries and mosques searching for wisdom and for peace.

And he succeeds. That is the heartbreak and the triumph of this book. Yossi Halevi succeeds until "the madness comes;" until, as his brother Sheykh Ibrahim is forced into anonymity by the Palestinian Authrity.

Yossi Klein Halevi succeeded but, as Sheykh Ibrahim tells him (in English; using Hebrew is too dangerous for a man whom Arafat warned not to fraternize with Jews) "This is the time of the fanatics... I am crying every night."

Let us all cry.

A Scrap of Hope for Hard Times
I just finished reading At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden by Yossi Klein Halevi. I couldn't put it down. In his search for Muslims and Christians who would let him share in their spiritual lives, Halevi tries to find a way to connect with his erstwhile enemies outside of politics. He takes us along on his journey and what an astounding array of people we meet: Sufi sheikhs and French nuns and Armenian monks.

And most of all, we get to know Halevi, an American-born Israeli, sensitive and conflicted , who wants to participate in the rebirth of the Jewish people in its own land without harming other peoples, and understanding the tragedy that these two desires are in conflict.

It's a sad book because it ends with the resumption of armed conflict that began in 2000. But it's also a hopeful book because of all of the people Halevi meets who are willing to clasp hands across the divide. In one beautiful scene, Halevi attends a Moslem Sufi zikr, a session of mystical dancing which allows the participants to connect with each other and with God. Despite initial hostility, the experience brings home Halevy and his hosts together in mutual understanding and respect. It's a scrap of hope we can all use in these difficult times. ... Read more

Book Description

Written by the Dalai Lama as a young man in exile, this dignified testament re-creates the miraculous search that identified him as the reincarnated leader of his country. It paints a rare, intimate portrait of Tibetan Buddhism-a way of life that would end with a terrifying foreign invasion surpassing sanity and reason. And it reveals the evolution of a man from gentle monk to a world leader, one struggling to this day to free his country...one able to touch our hearts with the goodness that makes him one of the most beloved men of our time. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A little disappointed, but still a good and important read
I am a college student who has studied China extensively in school. I can speak Chinese and have traveled to China several times and to Tibet once. While I have never agreed with many of the Chinese governments policies in the areas of religion, personal freedom, Tibet, and Taiwan, I think this book could have done more for its cause.

I decided to read this book after I spent 2.5 weeks in Tibet last year while studying in China. Tibet was one of the most fascinating places I have been to and I really wanted to know more about what happened there after China invaded. This book tells the Dalai Lama's story very well. Up until the last 15 pages or so, I really loved the book. However, before closing, the Dalai Lama makes several accusations about Chinese human rights abuses in Tibet (beatings, child abductions and the like) but provides no evidence of their existence.

While I personally feel Tibet was and still is a sovereign country and what China has done is wrong in many ways, the charges made in the last few pages don't belong in this book. While the Dalai Lama's story of his life and last days in Tibet are very powerful, I really think it would have been even better had the those last parting shots been omitted. Charges of human rights abuses such as these are very important and would be better served in a book of their own.

I think most Americans will enjoy this book but not share the same reaction I had to the last few pages. I have studied China for several years now and have heard accusations from both China and the world on countless occasions on a wide range of issues. Maybe this is why I get turned off when I don't see concrete evidence included when someone makes a charge such as the Dalai Lama does at the end of his book. I still think the Dalai Lama is a wonderful man and has an important story to tell, but feel this one could have come across a little better.

the failure of genocide
The cry to "free Tibet" takes on new meaning and a more personal conviction after reading this book. This original autobiograhpy, published in 1962, is an intimate narrative of the Dalai Lama's life from his humble beginnings as the son of a Tibetan farmer to his evolution as the greatest spiritual leader known to the modern world.
It is also the story of a young man struggling with responsibilities that are unimaginable for someone so young and of a remarkable people who were willing to give up their lives in order to protect their unique way of life.
But, more importantly, this book tells the story of an attempt by a mighty military power to eliminate a small peace-loving culture thus eliminating it's religion, a religion based simply on having compassion for all living things. In this regard, the efforts of the mighty power failed. The government of China may have been successful in taking the beautiful land from the Tibetans (thanks in part to the rest of the world turning a blind eye to what was happening) but the culture and religion is still thriving thanks to the efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his government in exile.
In conclusion, this book reminds us that we all need to be aware of how frangible freedom is and that all peace-loving people must join hands throughout the world, regardless of cultural and religious beliefs, to protect that precious thing called freedom.

A memoir that stirs up compassion and feeling
I started this book with the thought that I would gain a better sense of the history surrounding the current events in Tibet, where I recently visited. What I didn't anticipate was that the book would generate such strong feelings of compassion and emotion within me. Read it slowly and allow yourself to fully digest the Dalai Lama's simple but compelling portrayal of the suffering his people have encountered, as well as the incredible courage they displayed- as a testament of their deep devotion to him and their unwavering belief in their most valuable posession: Buddhist religion. I had to stop every so often and calm the inner turmoil I felt, as I read. While I have deep respect for the Dalai Lama and his own struggle to save his people & religion and to keep the Tibetan story alive, it is truly the Tibetan people who have proved their heroism and strength. When I read about them surrounding the Potala, armed only with sticks and determination, in order to protect their holy leader, it just overwhelmed me to remember that human struggles of the most basic kind are still occuring and need to be remembered and championed by those of us so far away. When I was in Tibet, I thought that it would be a tragedy to lose such a rich and vibrant culture but now after reading this, it's even more unimaginable. There are few cultures that cultivate such inner strength and whose people demonstrate such devotion for what is meaningful to them- I hope Tibetans will find a way to survive the continued oppression of China and that China will soon recognize the value of what they seem intent on destroying.

Dalai Lama inside
A very honest and personal but also historical and buddhist account of the Dalai Lamas life written in his very own words. Besides the tragedy of the the subjugation of the tibetan people, which was the cause for the Dalai Lamas exil and indirectly for the writing of this book, it shows the development of a and of this Dalai Lama, the monk Tenzin Gyatso, as he likes to call himself. Without pretention he reports about his priviledged education as "a prisoner" of the Potala, the castle of Lhasa. During the last decades, this book was an introduction into matters tibetan for many western people and it can still be recomended warmly.

An amazing story, who's ending has not yet been written.
Whether you are a fan of H.H. Dalai Lama or not, this book is fascinating. It is written with the energy of a young man in a passionate struggle to save his people. It will grip, inspire and anger you. Read the book, and you'll be moved to give your support to the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet in their fight for freedom. ... Read more

Book Description

Ronald Reagan is hailed today for a presidency that restored optimism to America, engendered years of economic prosperity, and helped bring about the fall of the Soviet Union. Yet until now little attention has been paid to the role Reagan's personal spirituality played in his political career, shaping his ideas, bolstering his resolve, and ultimately compelling him to confront the brutal -- and, not coincidentally, atheistic -- Soviet empire.

In this groundbreaking book, political historian Paul Kengor draws upon Reagan's legacy of speeches and correspondence, and the memories of those who knew him well, to reveal a man whose Christian faith remained deep and consistent throughout his more than six decades in public life. Raised in the Disciples of Christ Church by a devout mother with a passionate missionary streak, Reagan embraced the church after reading a Christian novel at the age of eleven. A devoted Sunday-school teacher, he absorbed the church's model of "practical Christianity" and strived to achieve it in every stage of his life.

But it was in his lifelong battle against communism -- first in Hollywood, then on the political stage -- that Reagan's Christian beliefs had their most profound effect. Appalled by the religious repression and state-mandated atheism of Bolshevik Marxism, Reagan felt called by a sense of personal mission to confront the USSR. Inspired by influences as diverse as C.S. Lewis, Whittaker Chambers, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, he waged an openly spiritual campaign against communism, insisting that religious freedom was the bedrock of personal liberty. "The source of our strength in the quest for human freedom is not material, but spiritual," he said in his Evil Empire address. "And because it knows no limitation, it must terrify and ultimately triumph over those who would enslave their fellow man."

From a church classroom in 1920s Dixon, Illinois, to his triumphant mission to Moscow in 1988, Ronald Reagan was both political leader and spiritual crusader. God and Ronald Reagan deepens immeasurably our understanding of how these twin missions shaped his presidency -- and changed the world.

Reviews (15)

Excellent!
Mr. Kengor did a very thorough job of researching for this book and produced a very readable account of an extradorinary person. Ronald Reagan's legacy will always include the role he played in bringing about the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. Kengor does a very good job of showing how Reagan's faith (as instilled by his mother) helped to develop the ideals that he would carry with him to the presidency. I was too young to vividly recall many of Reagan's speeches, but I was amazed at just how often he referred to his faith. I find it interesting that Reagan was able see that defeating Communism was an ideological war...not a war to be fought on the battlefield. Reagan held true to his belief in God and the world changed as a result.

Captivating and Masterfully Done
If you believed the reviews from Publisher's Weekly and the bloke from Britain, Gandhi and Gorbachev are responsible for the end of the Cold War, not Ronald Reagan. However, a more discriminating reader would realize that these reviewers are indeed morons and haven't even read Paul Kengor's captivating and masterfully done spiritual autobiography of Ronald Reagan.

What other reviewers have failed to capture is the dual nature of the book - it manages to be what no other Reagan book is: both scholarly, and inspirational. Containing over fifty pages of footnotes, it is truly the work of a scholar, and yet oh so enjoyable to read.

Where other biographers have failed - the blundering Edmund Morris with his insertion of himself into the narrative and the emotionalism of Peggy Noonan - Paul Kengor succeeds simply because he relies on fact.

Don't take my word for it; many other scholars agree.

"An important volume about one of the most significant figures of the 20th century. Ronald Reagan's spiritual beliefs were central to who he was, and this aspect of Reagan's life has been neglected by far too many historians and political scientists. Paul Kengor has filled the void with this superb book-no interpretation of Ronald Reagan will be complete without reference to this vital work."
-Stephen Knott, Ronald Reagan Oral History Project, University of Virginia

"A penetrating history of the president's evolving religious faith."
-Kenneth W. Thompson, University of Virginia

"Meticulously researched and insightful."
-Andrew E. Busch, author of Ronald Reagan and the Politics of Freedom

"Throughout the Cold War, sophisticated people-conservatives and liberals alike-supposed that communism could possibly be contained, but not defeated. Ronald Reagan believed otherwise, and acted on that belief. Why did Reagan believe it could be done? In his fine new book, Paul Kengor argues that it was a matter of faith. In the vast body of Reagan scholarship, what has been missing is a spiritual biography. Kengor has admirably supplied our need."
-Robert P. George, Princeton University

"The conventional wisdom about Ronald Reagan is that he can be explained merely by understanding his conservative ideology. Yet Reagan was a man of faith, and that faith both deeply and significantly shaped his career, his policies, and his political style. Paul Kengor has taken that faith seriously and in this compelling book explains why students and scholars should do so as well. God and Ronald Reagan makes an important contribution to our understanding of the last major president of the 20th century, as well as to the undervalued role of religion in public life."
-Ryan J. Barilleaux, Miami University of Ohio

"The conservative Christian who rarely went to church: that is the conundrum most pundits used to refer to Ronald Reagan when discussing his relationship to religion. Now, Paul Kengor casts light on the Ronald Reagan most of us knew was there, but which few of us had the chance to see. Enjoyable and enlightening."
-Gary L. Gregg, University of Louisville

In sum, Paul Kengor renders the only real Ronald Reagan available in biography today - a man of deep faith who believed that godless communism enslaved the soul and that all men should be free to choose their destiny.

Bravo, Professor Kengor.

Great book with detailed discription of Reagan's total life
I loved reading this book,even though I'm a liberal Democrat. I did think, when I had finished it, that I had missed the story of one of his most famous embarrassments-the "Iran-contra scandal". I then went to the list of "index of names" at the end of the book, and there was no Ollie North. What a glaring omission. I had always wondered how North had gotten him to agree to such a deal(did he lie to him,switch papers, or what?). I still can't figure it out, or why this was not encluded in this wonderfully detailed account of his life. Can the Author answer my question? Thanks, (cvaughn@cox-internet.com)

Lucid writing, but the content is so very censored
No matter which political ideology the reader believes in, he has to give the kudos to Kengor for planning such a well-written book. It simply dazzles with research effort; the content is very well-planned to illustrate the achievements of the Reagan Presidency. The book, however, fails to provide a complete picture of the presidency. Wise, well-read readers would hopefully prefer something that is not either completely for or completely against the subject matter. The legacy of Ronald Reagan is simly undeniable. But this book quite simply fails to portray Reagan in the broad sense. Americans should learn to appreciate public figures for their accomplishments as well as learn from their flaws. This book, as lucidly written as it is, completely and deliberately overlooks any of Reagan's very human flaws. If America truly loves Ronald Reagan, we should also be allowed to learn from his mistakes, not just a sugarcoated, safe, and appeasing account such is this book.

Read the book!
This is an excellent book. Very thoroughly researched and presented and truly inspiring. I cannot believe the "Reader from Oklahoma" actually READ the book. If you are going to review the book -- please Read the book! Your comments are pure gobbledygook! How can you read the book and come away thinking that Reagan didn't attend church for most of his life? Or that Kengor is ripping on Nancy?? Or that Reagan was not a Christian? Need I say more? You didn't read the book! ... Read more

Book Description

In the depth of every human being, there is a profound need for answers to the fundamental questions of existence. Is there a God? What is Truth? What is Reality? "The Knee of Listening" has transformed the lives of thousands of secular and religious seekers since it was first published in 1972, because it answers all of these questions.This autobiography shows, with incomparable wisdom and clarity, a life moved by the Divine, and a being of such unheard-of greatness that many readers are left amazed and touched by this book. Adi Da’s spiritual autobiography tells the miraculous story of his unique Incarnation and Revelation in the West for the sake of liberating all beings. To read it is to find the Very Heart of Reality--tangibly felt in your own heart as the Deepest Truth of Existence. It is the great mystery that you are invited to discover. This newly expanded edition includes an expanded description of Adi Da's early-life, leading up to his Divine Re-Awakening in 1970 and the secrets of his "Pre-History" before his birth in 1939. It also has new revelations about the Spiritual Work of the great Realizers in his lineage, and his unique Demonstration of the Seventh Stage of Life. The profound events of "Yogic death" (in 1986, 1999, and 2000) that occurred after his Divine Re-Awakening--events that completed his process of Incarnating the Divine Conscious Light are new as well.Adapted from the introduction: From time to time, there is a book that challenges, and eventually changes, the entire perspective of a civilization. "The Knee Of Listening" is such an epoch-making book. Appearing at the beginning of the third millennium of the common era, it carries a Revelation that has the potential to transform all future time. "The Knee Of Listening" is about Reality Itself, the Reality within which this earth and its cosmic locale arise--the Blissful, Effulgent, Conscious Force of Being which is always so, and which can be located and enjoyed under every possible condition, and in every dimension of space-time.

There are many worlds within the book--from simple narrative to ecstatic poetry to complex argument and sublime revelatory discourse. But there is one single Voice. "The Knee Of Listening" is a autobiography. It is the first-person account of the life of an unparalleled Spiritual Genius--alive today--whose appearance can be only be rightly understood by referring to the tradition of the avatar, or the incarnations of the Divine.

Adi Da Samraj, the author of "The Knee Of Listening", took birth on Long Island, New York, in November 1939. He was born in the most ordinary of circumstances. He was born in a state of unconditional radiant awareness, which he called the "Bright".

Nine months before the birth of Adi Da Samraj, the great Indian Realizer Upasani Baba made a remarkable utterance. Speaking in February 1939 to the head of one of the most important Hindu monastic orders (the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math), Upasani prophesied that an Avatar would "soon be born in a European", or a Western, rather than Eastern, "country". "He will be all-powerful", Upasani declared, "and bear down everything before him. And he will see to it that the Vedic Dharma", meaning the pure and original Teaching of Truth, "is firmly reestablished...". He was foretelling the appearance of One who would bring a unique clarification and completeness to all the Dharmas of the past. "The Knee Of Listening" is about the making of a Wisdom-Teaching of precisely that magnitude. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Not Hagiography
What I didn't realize until I was nearly at the end of this book is that the author is not a Catholic. He is an American Protestant, as well as being a good writer. So his viewpoint is not gullible or uncritical, but it is respectful and intelligent. I was able to get a rounded picture of Padre Pio from this book. And in the end, I came to believe that Padre Pio had unique gifts and mystical experiences.

Amazing Person
This book walks the reader through the life of the Italian Stigmatist, Padre Pio. Padre Pio's life is not the only thing that is facinating. His miracles and living with Christ's stigmatas truly elevated this man to another dimension. Ruffin's additions to the stories of individuals who knew Padre Pio and who have been touched by him are wonderful. God can touch people in amazing ways, and Padre Pio was a chosen one.

Heaven is Real!
This is a book that changes how one thinks about spiritual things completely. As "moderns" we find it easy to believe in "spiritual" things, but we easily divorce that from religion. When one reads this book, one's eyes are open to the true depth of spirituality and traditional Christianity. The author is not a brilliant writer, but his prose and research are exactly what is needed to tell Padre Pio's story in a straighforward and truthful manner.

Yes, this book brought me back from being a "modern spiritual" person, to being a practicing Catholic again.

Read it! You will be amazed!

This book will change your life!
I read this book 6 years ago, now, and I can still honestly say it changed my life! I still thank God for the now SAINT Pio (canonized on Sunday, June 16, 2002 by Pope John Paul II). I also still thank God for bringing me this book. If you are looking for a book to teach you about the previous millenium's greatest saint ... look no further ... this one is a sure thing. The beginning half of the book tells you about the pure holiness of Padre Pio and what made him a saint. The second half tells of the countless miracles associated with Saint Pio. This book introduced me to a saint who lived in our time and I PROMISE YOU it changed my life in a way I never thought it could or would. I pray the same for you my friend ... and I plead with you to buy it.

An amazing story
Ruffin gives a very complete picture of Padre Pio's life. It is an amazing story of the mystic priest whose life will put you in awe of his holiness and humble spirit. One cannot help by being moved and inspired to deepen your own spiritually. ... Read more

Book Description

For more than half a century ZVI has endured as the best-selling book produced by The Friends of Israel.Millions of people have b