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A kind of "mongrel litter" by way of Pascal, Voltaire, and Ambrose Bierce, this theological run through the alphabet goes from Abraham and Agnostic straight through to YWHW and Zaccheus--the tax collector who shimmied up the tree on Palm Sunday to get a good look at Jesus. In between we get a heady brew of humor and wisdom. On Anger, for example, Buechner writes: "Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun.... In many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you." Or this, on wine: "Unfermented grape juice is a bland and pleasant drink ... [but] it is a ghastly symbol of the life blood of Jesus Christ, especially when served in individual antiseptic, thimble-sized glasses. Wine is booze, which means it is dangerous and drunk-making. It makes the timid brave and the reserved amorous. It loosens the tongue and breaks the ice especially when served in a loving cup. It kills germs. As symbols go, it is a rather splendid one."
And the book's title? Find it under "W": "Christianity is mainly wishful thinking.... Sometimes wishing is the wings the truth comes on. Sometimes the truth is what sets us wishing for it." --Doug Thorpe
Book Description
In Wishful Thinking, the first book in his much-loved lexical trilogy, Frederick Buechner puts the language of God, the universe, and the human spirit under his wry linguistic microscope. In his often ironic and always keen-sighted reflections on such terms as agnostic, envy, love, and sin, he invited us to look at theses everyday words in new and enlightening ways. Freshly revised and expanded for this edition, Wishful Thinking is a "beguiling" [Time] adventure in language for the restless believer, the doubter, and all who love words.
Customer Reviews:
very helpful book.......2007-01-09
a very good book for "seekers" and those who think they have already "found."
A Christian's view of philosophy........2007-01-05
This is a book for those who require their Christian beliefs to be confirmed and supported.
Not in my opinion a work that will provide any balanced explanation of metaphysical philosophies.
I would suggest that a true exploration in to faith should begin with a good understanding of many theological perspectives, not something that I found in this book.
Upbeat and profound.......2006-03-21
This little book by Fred Buechner is a gem. It's crisp, hopeful Christian theology. It's an upbeat page-turner, but it is not dumb-downed for the masses. I keep going back to my dog-eared 1974 original version of this book by my bedside. I bought the updated paperback version both as gifts and as a traveling companion.
continually thought provoking.......2006-02-19
This book is so much fun. Buechner writes so well and thinks so clearly. It's a kind of iconoclastic dictionary. He invites us to look at words, concepts and articles of faith differently and to shatter the platitudes-all by giving short definitions of the terms we use every day as people of faith.
I've found it especially useful when writing or preparing sermons as a way to get out of the box and see a text or a concept differently with a twist. Essential for the thinking preacher
A treasure of a book.......2005-10-28
This was the first book by Frederick Buechner I have read, and I have already ordered more.
It's a quick read, yet full of little treasures. I enjoyed some of his thoughts so much that I made a list of favorites while reading, so I could go back and read those parts again, such as "homelessness".
Written in a style that should prove an easy read for all, I found it thought provoking and heart warming.
Book Description
Another great historical Christmas anthology from HeartQuest featuring
Catherine Palmer, Elizabeth White, and Peggy Stoks. Each new story by these favorite authors celebrates faith, love, and the joy of Christmas. Each story is followed by a letter from the author and a favorite Christmas recipe. Readers of the Town Called Hope series will love Palmer's novella "A Rose for Lucy."
Customer Reviews:
Three short stories - different -but worth reading!.......2002-07-16
In the first story Catherine Palmer returns to the town called Hope and picks up the lives of the familiar characters. A surprising twist makes this one especially good. The second story is by a relatively new author to me, but now I will read more of hers since this one is great...The last is an entirely new concept to me, that of the courtship of a senior couple. Most Christian romance stories steer away from those folks in their sunset years, but this one is sweet and believable. I would recommend this book. Each author gives the reader a glance into her own life and some interesting recipes are included as well.
A must read........2001-02-26
Catherine Palmer has again written a fabulous book. In this anthology she revisits a town called Hope and tells the story of Rolf Rustemeyer. I have read all of the books in the 'A town called Hope' series and this story lets me revisit my favourite series. Readers can also watch the lovable German farmer Ralf find his true love of the Kansas praire.
Included in this anthology are stories by Elizabeth White and Peggy Stoks. Both of these women are fabulous authors and their love for the Lord is evident in their stories. Annie and Betsy make wonderful heroines and I fell in love with them as well as their men, Seneca Jones and Elmore Determan.
This book is a must read for all Catherine Palmer fans and everyone who loved the 'A town called Hope' series.
Book Description
White Knuckles and Wishful Thinking Learning From the Moment of Relapse in Alcoholism and Other Addictions This book builds on one relentless fact about addictive relapse: At the moment of picking up the first drink/drug we all say one of two things. Either "One won't hurt" (or a handful of "wishful" variations) or "F--- it" (or a smaller, less frequent list of "white knuckle" variations.")
What does this mean? Why is it that so many different people, -- different addictions, different stages of the illness, different educational and cultural back- grounds -- all say the same thing at this critical moment? After all, this is the very moment that treatment and recovery strive to prevent. And if we could understand it, might we not help more people not have to repeat it?
For over twenty years now, the author has looked inside this fateful moment. With a relentlessness surpassed only by addiction itself, he has sought to enter and comprehend the psychic world of the person living it. He also steps back and looks at this moment from the perspective of the would-be helper. Whether we read to help ourselves or to help others, we, too, must be able to see from within and without. Like the author, we must sift through psychological and biological theory. The theories mean nothing if they do not connect with human experience.
What does the author have to report from his obsessive quest? You will find one "nuclear" chapter for understanding the "wishful" relapse and another for the "white knuckle" relapse.You will find three chapters on denial, how it functions up to the moment of relapse.You will find three chapters on acceptance -- what it is, how it happens,how it prevents relapse. All of the chapters specify tools for working with self or others about the experience of relapse, how to replace it with the experience of recovery. The relationship between recovery and spirituality is clearly spelled out in terms of the actual relapse moment. The chapter on what coping is and how to do it may become a classic. The Second Edition introduces the "SPARROW" model for coping, for taking the"Serenity Prayer" down off the wall and putting it to work. Each chapter now features study guides for students of chemical dependency and treatment exercises for those struggling with their own relapse.
Two other features make this book not only practical but readable. The humorous and evocative line drawings by French illustrator Sylvain Depretz. And the writing of an author with an ear for dialog and an eye for metaphor, one who has mastered the craft of writing to communicate. You would almost think he had fun!
Customer Reviews:
White Knuckles and Wishful Thinking.......2000-06-02
One of the FINEST books on the process of relapse. Mr. Du Wors presents a finely crafted work; clear and concise, offering the reader a NEW look at an old problem. Written for the practicing therapist, student, and most important of all, the recovering individual. SUPERB text for use in the classroom with begining students in the field of chemical dependency counseling. Mr. Du Wors brings deeper meaning and understanding to the idea that many recovering people experience, "One won't hurt." A fine blend of 12 step philosophy, and a practical, workable guide that will CHANGE the way you look at relapse - one drink, one cigarette, or one line of cocaine does not have to lead to another and another. A MAJOR WORK in the field of addictions that has been needed in a critical and long misunderstood area of human behavior. The chain of relapse has finally been broken. Read this book today it will CHANGE the way you view the relapse process!
Book Description
“A thoughtful examination of the machinery of extinction . . . By turns harrowing and elegiac, thrilling and informative.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
Three or four times an hour, eighty or more times a day, a unique species of plant or animal vanishes forever. And yet, every so often one of these lost species resurfaces. “Having adventures most of us can only dream about” (The Times-Picayune), Scott Weidensaul pursues stories of loss and recovery, of endurance against the odds, and of surprising resurrections.
Customer Reviews:
ghost with trembling wings.......2006-12-14
Quite an interesting book, and in some ways, rather haunting.There is a lot more to this book than the somewhat small size of it would seem.It is also somewhat engrossing.
Dude, Where's My Book?.......2006-08-22
Uh, like it's difficult to review a book that I haven't, like, received yet, dudes. Maybe if you didn't keep, like, pushing the delivery date to the right, I could maybe, like, have something more constructive to contribute.
A gorgeous mind-opener.......2006-02-06
For 310 of the most engrossing pages about things that live on earth, you won't do much better than Scott Wiedensaul's The Ghost With Trembling Wings. I came at the book with virtually no science ability and only a passing knowledge of naturalism or species conservation, but it doesn't matter - Trembling Wings works so effectively because all it really requires to catch onto Wiedensaul's point of view is any sort of awe at the variety of organisms and the varied regions in which they show up. Wiedensaul's prose is transporting in the best way - he gives the mosquito-encrusted white reaches of Siberia the same impressive eloquence that he gives the rivers of Louisiana or the Mato Grasso region of Brazil. His eloquence is so surprising, he manages to find poetry in the everyday actions of species, fascinating or not. Check out this description simply of film footage of the Thylacine in Tasmania: "Though the thylacine was said to be stiff and awkward in its movements, this one seemed as graceful as the cramped, artificial surroundings would permit; the film showed a lithe, tapered animal, but to an eye used to a dog or wolf, the proportions seemed a bit off - the head looked too long and conical, the ears too small, the almost tubular tail too straight and stiff." It's written mastery like that that makes The Ghost With Trembling Wings as beautifully specific as it is evocatively universal, giving vivid breadth to the human need to penetrate the outside world in whatever form rouses our deepest passions.
excellent anthology.......2005-08-08
of supposedly lost and newly rediscovered species. Weidensaul concentrates on the few selected species which have been catalogued as extinct, yet which anecdotal evidence tells us may still be out there. This is a wonderful book, full of travelogues and hope by the author in search of supposed mystery creatures, both likely and unlikely. He maintains a skeptical yet optimistic mind in his own searches and touches upon species as varied as the "extinct" Sempler's Warbler and the Loch Ness "monster". It is carefully and objectively written without a hint of sensationalism, but maintains an open discourse related to the species' possible existence. One of the top three "cryptozoology" guides; the other favorite of mine is Matthew Bille's book on a similar subject. Toss the rest as National Enquirer material, including the venerable Heuvelmans' tome.
Superb Read!.......2005-05-07
A superb book. Fascinating, extermely well written and difficult to put down. Weidensaul renders his vast curiosity, observation,and love of nature contagious.
Customer Reviews:
Buechner Shares his Insightful Reflections on Everyday Words .......2006-01-08
"To confess your sins to God is not to tell him anything he doesn't already know. Until you confess them, however they are the abyss between you. When you confess them, they become the bridge." F. Buechner
Theological short essays:
A decade after Bishop Robinson, of Woolwich, wrote his little thought provoking book, 'Honest to God' in 1963, initiating a huge wave of theological examination of personal faith, and the western understanding of Christian religious concepts, a new lexicon is deeply sought. Based on redefining Church dogmatics, Buechner articulates those basic concepts of everyday life, in metaphoric analogies, and theologically provocative terms. "..., if you don't have any doubts, you are either kidding yourself or asleep. Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith." He describes faith as "A journey without maps," in his first volume of his trilogy.
Wisdom in Humor:
Buechner entertains with original humor that has empowered his witty distinct style, of subtle wisdom expressions, to reach out to and engage his readers. "Christianity is mainly wishful thinking...Sometimes the truth is what sets us wishing for it." He finds anger as, 'the most fun of the seven deadly sins,' and wine is booze, which makes the timid brave and the reserved amorous."
Wishful Thinking:
In the first book of his popular lexical trilogy, Buechner shares his insightful reflections on everyday words and issues like, envy, love, and sin, persuading us to examine them in novel ways and fresh perspective. The book has been praised by The Christian Century, as "Original, pungent and joyful." Chicago Tribune describe it as, "a dictionary for doubters and restless believers." The New York Times Book Review claims that 'Wishful Thinking' levels up with C.S. Lewis books.
About the Author:
Frederick Buechner, a superb aphorist, theological critic and author of more than thirty books, is an ordained Presbyterian minister. He has been a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist, honored by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
A Refreshing Look at Theological Words and Concepts.......2005-05-07
I've owned a copy of this book for over 20 years and still refer to Buechner's definitions of theological words for sermon illustrations or ideas in teaching Bible studies.
Buechner writes with a depth of someone who lives the Christian Faith in the real world. His sometimes funny and sometimes poignant definitions challenge the reader to think about theology and provide insights into God that present God's grace and forgiveness in new ways.
Average customer rating:
- The self-help book for people sick of self-help books
- Wow! Bloch Has Done It Again!
- Why this is my favorite book to give as a gift
- New Age Self Help gets the Murphy's Law treatment
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Healing Yourself With Wishful Thinking
Arthur Bloch
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
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Murphy's Law: The 26th Anniversary Edition: The 26th Anniversary Edition
ASIN: 1580084400 |
Book Description
Healing Yourself with Wishful Thinking by Arthur Bloch
This little book can change your life. If you believe that, you're well on your way toward HEALING YOURSELF WITH WISHFUL THINKING. Self-delusion, argues humorist Arthur Bloch, is not the obstacle to happiness, it's the key. Through such innovative techniques as "never-minding," "glossing over," and "positive forgetfulness," Bloch shows how to empty the mind (completely), tune into the Muzak of the spheres, and answer that age-old question, "How many angels can dance on the head of a moron?" It's the first New Age book to appeal equally to the skeptic and the believer, who can both agree on the healing power of a sense of humor.
Customer Reviews:
The self-help book for people sick of self-help books.......2004-01-05
Tired of self-help books that take themselves too seriously? Hate reading mindless drivel that passes itself off as serious advice? Then this is the self-help book for you!
With a delightful blend of insightful research, tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, and laugh-out-loud humor Arthur Bloch takes a wide-ranging look at self-help techniques that will keep you in stitches while providing a basic introduction to New Age thinking. In 23 brief chapters Bloch manages to introduce and poke fun at Meditation, Visualization Techniques, Spirit Guides, Chakras, Inner Child Therapy, Positive Thinking, Past Life Regression, Alternative Medicine, Shamanism, Angelic Guides, Channeling, and some techniques new to this book like Wishful Thinking, Blame-Fixing, and Positive Forgetfulness.
Even if Wishful Thinking is not your idea of the solution to your problems, the delightful humor of this book will go a long way towards giving you a happier life.
Wow! Bloch Has Done It Again!.......2003-01-04
Bloch has done it again with this book. I nearly died laughing, but kept looking over my shoulder to see who was watching. A must for every doctor's waiting room alongside "Murphy's Law: Doctors: Malpractice Makes Perfect".
Why this is my favorite book to give as a gift.......2002-12-22
No matter what your personal position on life's metaphysical issues, anywhere from skeptic to disciple, Bloch's blisteringly funny book will inform you while making you laugh from way down deep. If you've seen Bloch's other works in print, video and the Web, you know he is a first-rate researcher and takes no shortcuts. (His "Murphy's Law" books and "Thinking Allowed" TV shows are particularly famous.) Okay, so I like this book a lot, what's the gift angle?
I like to take advantage of birthdays, Christmas, parties of all kinds to give people gifts that I feel sure they will enjoy, and which also tell them something about me, about them, or best of all, about our relationship. I happen to be a fan of Aristotle and logic, prizing objectivity. So while I can't know what my gift-receivers think about all the metaphysical topics, I know that Bloch's book represents each one fairly and objectively. This means it won't offend me or my gift-receiver. I also know that Bloch will point out each topic's silly side. I happen to think that everything has a silly side somewhere, especially metaphysics, and the more seriously someone takes a subject, the more helpful it is for them to see its silly side as well. And as an instant-gratification bonus, Bloch is a highly skilled writer and knows how to make his points in very funny prose.
The end result of these features is that after giving this book, I can cheerfully discuss any of the included topics with the gift-receiver without fear of total ignorance, being trapped in excessive seriousness, or accidental offense. And I think the book's intelligence and common-sensical perspective reflect well on me as a gift-giver, as well as on the gift-receiver.
New Age Self Help gets the Murphy's Law treatment.......2002-12-16
This little book more than delivers on its sly promise to amuse and delight. It also provides a concise yet comprehensive survey of the entire astonishingly broad spectrum of New Age hooey. I was laughing out loud right away, WISHFUL THINKING is that good. Before I had even finished the first chapter, I thought of a half dozen friends to whom I must send a copy of this sweetly skewering, smart and sassy, sly and sophisticated, easy to read book. While it pokes fun at New Age malarky, this funny little book also supplies a brief course in critical thinking. Perfectly organized and accessible, beautiful printed and produced. My highest recommendation!
Average customer rating:
- Clean, witty humor
- classic humor
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Wishful Thinking
David Sipress
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
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ASIN: 0060960825 |
Customer Reviews:
Clean, witty humor.......2002-12-05
I love this book! I received it as a gift many years ago and just thinking about the comics inside makes me chortle.
classic humor.......2002-07-25
it doesn't try to be overly sophisticated, and it tickled my funnybone.
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I Love Genie ... Wishful Thinking
Rose Wilkins
Manufacturer: Macmillan Children's Books
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ASIN: 0330438808 |
Book Description
A funny, sassy story featuring one very sexy but very sarcastic genie! Fran and Francesca have been friends forever but now Francescas morphing into someone super-sophisticated. Shes hanging out with the cool crowd, including school pin-up Quinn Adams (though shes most definitely not one of his hopeless-loser groupies). Frans getting tired of being left in the background and wishes that just once someone would notice her wit, talent and all-round greatness. Shes about to find out that sometimes wishes can come true, but not always in the way you expected .
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The Remnant: Biblical Reality or Wishful Thinking?
Clifford Goldstein
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Between the Lamb and the Lion: A New View of Jesus in the Book of Revelation, from the Cross to His Coming
ASIN: 0816311927 |
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Books Index
Books Home
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The Alphabet of Grace
