Book Description
Why do people dodge responsibility when things fall apart? Why the parade of public figures unable to own up when they screw up? Why the endless marital quarrels over who is right? Why can we see hypocrisy in others but not in ourselves? Are we all liars? Or do we really believe the stories we tell?
Renowned social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson take a compelling look into how the brain is wired for self-justification. When we make mistakes, we must calm the cognitive dissonance that jars our feelings of self-worth. And so we create fictions that absolve us of responsibility, restoring our belief that we are smart, moral, and right—a belief that often keeps us on a course that is dumb, immoral, and wrong.
Backed by years of research and delivered in lively, energetic prose, Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) offers a fascinating explanation of self-deception—how it works, the harm it can cause, and how we can overcome it.
Customer Reviews:
Has some good points but..........2007-10-02
Makes some valid points, but the primary purpose of this book in my opinion is to bash conservatives and their views. Examples of poor liberal decisions are few. I would assume liberals make mistakes too... If you are looking for something that gives good analysis without the severe leftward slant look elsewhere.
Why people rationalize and justify obviously bad actions.......2007-09-23
After hearing a NPR interview with Carol Travis, I sought out this book and was delighted with it. With ample basis in scholarly research, it was solid and had practical applications in my own life.
I have often been fascinated with why seemingly good people commit poor actions, and then go to great lengths to rationalize and justify their actions, at the expense of and to the detriment of others. Politicians and bureaucrats are those from whom I expect this.
But when it enters your own life, your interest in understanding the basis for it becomes necessary and vital in your own well-being.
The concept of cognitive dissonance and how it drives people to distort their perception of reality, so that the difference between their ideals and their behavior goes away, enters our daily lives. Of course, the problem with this is it reinforces the behavior that caused the dissonance in the first place, and it starts you down a road of deceipt and lies built upon more lies. Having lived the nightmare of being subjected to a "cognitive dissonant" of the nth degree, Travis assisted me in opening my eyes.
The political discussions by Travis will, no doubt, displease conservative readers, and was brave on her part to tackle. This book is strong and I highly recommend it.
The authors make a dry subject come alive!.......2007-09-14
Renowned social psychologists Carol Travis and Elliot
Aronson have written a truly fascinating book, MISTAKES
WERE MADE (BUT NOT BY ME). . . its subtitle made me want
to read it even more: WHY WE JUSTIFY FOOLISH BELIEFS,
BAD DECISIONS AND HURTFUL ACTS because I have long observed
this tendency--even in my own life.
The authors make what could be a dry subject come alive
by the use of many examples . . . in addition, I liked how
they incorporated much research--cited in nearly 40 pages
of endnotes--but made it come alive via a lively writing style.
When they explained how our memories tell more about
what we believe now than what really happened then, I had
to laugh . . . and recall the story of how I once took Risa,
my daughter, to my first home . . . from there, I proceeded
to take her to my elementary school, which I could have
sworn was nearly a mile away . . . in reality, it turned out
to be less than two short blocks away!
MISTAKES WERE MADE further shows how couples can
break out of the "he said,she said" spiral of blame and
defensiveness, and perhaps most importantly, how all of
us can learn to own up and let go of the need to be right.
There were many memorable passages in the book; among
those that most caught my attention were the following:
* The same DNA that exonerates an innocent person can be used
to identify the guilty one, but this rarely happens. Of all the convictions
the Innocence Project has succeeded in overturning so far, there
is not a single instance in which the police later tried to find the
actual perpetrator of the crime. The police and prosecutors just
close the books on the case completely, as if to obliterate its
silent accusation of the mistake they made.
* De Klerk, who had been elected president in 1989, knew that a
violent revolution was all but inevitable. The fight against
apartheid was escalating; sanctions imposed by other countries
were having a significant impact on the nation's economy;
supporters of the banned African National Congress were
becoming increasingly violent, killing and torturing people whom
they believed were collaborating with the white regime. De Klerk
could have tightened the noose by instituting even more repressive
policies in the desperate hope of preserving white power. Instead,
he revoked the ban on the ANC and freed Mandela from the prison
in which he had spent twenty-seven years. For this part, Mandela
could have found entirely legitimate. Instead, he relinquished
anger for the sake of the goal to which he had devoted his life.
"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with
your enemy," said Mandela. "Then he becomes your partner." In
1993, both men shared the Nobel Peace Prize, and the following
year Mandela was elected president of South Africa.
* Making mistakes is central to the education of budding scientists
and artists of all kinds, who must have the freedom to experiment,
try this idea, flop, try another idea, take a risk, be willing to get the
wrong answer. One classic example, once taught to American
schoolchildren and still on many inspirational Web sites in various
versions, is Thomas Edison's reply to his assistant (or to a reporter),
who was lamenting Edison's ten thousand experimental failures in
his effort to create the first incandescent light bulb. "I have not failed,"
he told the assistant (or reporter). "I successfully discovered 10,000
elements that don't work." Most American children, however, denied
the freedom to noodle around, experiment, and be wrong in ten ways,
let alone ten thousand. The focus on constant testing, which grew
out of reasonable desire to measure and standardize children's
accomplishments, has intensified their fear of failure. It is
certainly important for children to learn to succeed; but it is just
as important for them to learn not to fear failure. When children or
adults fear failure, they fear risk. They can't afford to be wrong.
That said, you won't go wrong by reading MISTAKES WERE
MADE . . . I was so impressed by it that I now plan to get
copies of the book for many of my colleagues at my college,
in that they will be able to relate to much of it . . . so will you.
Understanding and motivation.......2007-09-09
This is an extremely readable, perceptive and important book. It explains clearly and undoubtedly accurately how many people think and act.
I bought book after reading a friend's copy, just so I could reread it and make notes all over it.
Scary and hopeful - everyone should read this.......2007-09-03
I was impressed by the wide varieties of topics in how this self-justifying thinking can occur. Examples ranging from worldwide US politics and war, to prosecutors and detectives, to the average husband and wife, to the elderly taken by scams, to education, in order to show how we self-justify and coerce others into believing "our side" is right.
I would consider this essential reading, especially to US citizens. Our culture has been one of being duped time and time again by the media, politicians, that become so engrossed in this behavior of deceptive emotional rationalization, we accept it as normal and do it ourselves. We live in a "hot potato" culture that quickly throws the hot potato (the blame) in someone else's lap and then justifies it. This must stop.
I felt the writing was easy to read and interesting. I didn't have to "strain my brain" to get the point. There are plenty of footnotes to support what is being said. Others have talked about liberal slant. I didn't see that. When speaking of Christian/Islamic relations, negatives were shown on both sides. How is that liberal? Seems rather unbiased to me to point out the flaws of both sides in order to support how the escalation of violence and war has occurred over the past millennium. As well, US political leaders were picked from both Democratic and Republican parties to use as examples. Where is the slant in that?
I give it 4 stars as I noted some grammatical errors, and some of the flow could have used some better editing. But hey, "mistakes were made" let's move on. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in a position to dramatically influence other's lives, such as lawyers, doctors, politicians, journalists, judges, teachers, etc. But change starts at home, and so everyone should give this book consideration in order to create a society that is more harmonious and less dissonant.
Average customer rating:
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It's Not about Me Journal
Max Lucado
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It's Not about Me: Rescue from the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy (Lucado, Max)
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Give It All to Him
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Traveling Light Releasing The Burdens You Were Never Intended To Bear
ASIN: 1591452058 |
Book Description
Pop culture and psychobabble tell us to make ourselves the center of the universe in order to be happy. Churches have communicated the false idea that God exists to give us all that we selfishly want. Max Lucado reminds us that it's not about us, it's all about God. It is through this shift in thinking that we can truly live an unburdened, happy life.
Book Description
Pop culture and psychobabble tell us to make ourselves the center of the universe in order to be happy. Churches have communicated the false idea that God exists to give us all that we selfishly want. In this book, Max Lucado reminds us that it's not about us, it's all about God. It is through this shift in thinking that we can truly live an unburdened, happy life.
Customer Reviews:
NOT ONE OF MAX'S BEST WORKS.......2007-09-24
ANY BIBLE BASED INSTRUCTION IS GOOD BUT THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE BY RICK WARREN HITS RIGHT ON THE MONEY WHERE MAX MAY NOT DRIVE IT HOME AS WELL ON THIS ONE.
What makes us feel worthy?.......2007-09-12
I read this book twice and really enjoyed it! I love it so much because when I read this book I have a sense of comfort, protection, and ...well a sigh of relief! I rush around and feel like I'm trying to make the world happen, but this book reminds me that I can rest, sit next to Dad and enjoy being with HIM. Whew!! The pressure is off of me. Where else can I get a true sense of worth then from Him. I'm beginning to understand that sometimes that is the only thing that endures. I didn't feel belittled by his book but drawn into a secure humbleness. I find it relaxing that I don't have to find the VERY THING that pleases me. I usually can't find it anyway, especially when I'm focused on myself.
MAX LUCADO BOOK "IT'S NOT ABOUT ME".......2007-08-23
WONDERFUL, TERRIFIC, HIT'S THE NAIL ON THE HEAD!!
LUCADO GETS BETTER WITH EVERY NEW BOOK, MY LADIES BIBLE STUDY DID THIS AS A GROUP STUDY AND WE LOVED IT, HE DRAWS PICTURES WITH WORDS, BROUGHT THE SCRIPTURE TO LIFE.
Rescue From.......2007-05-15
It's Not About Me: Rescue From the LIfe We Thought Would Make Us Happy (Lucado, Max)Think you are living the "good life"? Think again and read this book to learn how to really live the 'GOOD LIFE". This book will "truly rescue" you from a life of drudgery and teach (and show) you how to truly live a better life with God.
It's Not About Me.......2007-05-12
Max Lucado seems to have an endless trail of up lifting, and encouraging books. This book is no exception. I started out with Max a couple years ago with the book called, "Come Thirsty," and I am afraid I have to admit it, I am a Lucadoholic.
I highly recommend this book and any other Book by Max Lucado.
Doug Bolton
Book Description
Who couldn't use a little encouragement from time to time? In this delightful collection of stories and life lessons, you'll discover how you can experience hope, joy, and peace even in life's most trying times. In chapters such as "When the Fountain of Youth Has Rusted" and "I Know I'm Lost, but the Scenery Is Spectacular," you'll find the encouragement you need to shoo away any buzzards and face life's difficulties with the security of knowing that God is in control. By mixing humor with poignant truths and practical methods for finding hope when life gets tough, Stan Toler will have you boldly laughing in the face of difficult circumstances.
Customer Reviews:
Delightful.......2007-01-04
During the Holidays, which was really busy, I looked forward to just relaxing and reading a few chapters at a time.
God most definitely has a sense of humor, I gave one to a friend, and she has ended up purchasing several for gifts, as I did.
One of the funniest books I've read.......2006-03-18
This book is awesome! In it Stan Toler tells many stories of how people have overcome grief and dispair. This book is a homerun hit, if you like "God's Never Failed me, but He's Scared Me to Death a Few Times" you'll love this book. It's a sequal to that one that covers some very serious issues with the humorous and profound way that I've come to expect from Toler.
Book Description
Pop culture and psychobabble tell us to make ourselves the center of the universe in order to be happy. Churches have communicated the false idea that God exists to give us all that we selfishly want. In this book, Max Lucado reminds us that it's not about us, it's all about God. It is through this shift in thinking that we can truly live an unburdened, happy life.
Customer Reviews:
Great Discussion Book .......2007-01-11
This book is wonderful to spark discussions with Middle & High School age students in your church. I highly recommend this book.
Excellent book for teens and adults.......2006-12-01
This book was amazing. Easy to read and short chapters. As a parent of two teenagers, I thought it had a lot to offer my kids and myself as well. I am also a High School Youth Group sponsor, so I spend a lot of time in the teen world. Today's society spends all it's time telling our kids to think only of themselves. This book challenges them to think beyond themselves and put God first.
Average customer rating:
- The Story of a Man and a Hero,
- If you like Suzanne Brockman's novels, you'll hate this
- Forget Me Not (Seal Team 12) (Warner Forever)
- Oh..simply beautiful!
- forget me not(seal team 12)
|
Forget Me Not (Navy SEALs, Book 1)
Marliss Melton
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To the Brink (The Bodyguards, Book 3)
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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
ASIN: 0446614823 |
Book Description
Description: Gabe Renault doesn't know why he was in a prison camp. He has no memory of the past three years or of the Navy SEAL mission that went wrong. Only two things kept him going: thoughts of his wife and the certainty that he must escape.After Gabe is presumed dead, Helen Renault pulls the tattered pieces of her and her daughter's lives back together. Married young and for all the wrong reasons, she's standing on her own two feet at last#151;and proud of it. Then comes the biggest shock of all#151;Gabe returns home. Gone is the distant, secretive husband he once was. This new Gabe is a man she could easily#151;finally#151;lose her heart to. But his memory is slowly returning, exposing a trail of government treachery#133;and jeopardizing his and Helen's second chance at love.
Customer Reviews:
The Story of a Man and a Hero, .......2007-08-30
I loved this book!
After one year of being announced "missing in action" Gabe Renault, a navy Seal, returns alive from the jaws of hell, after having been double crossed on enemy territory, in which one of his own team betrayed him. Gabe has endured a terrible year of torture. He has lost his memory, and does not remember the mission, or his wife and step daughter of 3 years. Upon his return Gabe begins to discover the kind of husband and father he was before his disappearance. He had always ignored Helen his wife, refusing to give her his love, or open up to her. He was always distant. He had even refused to legally adopt Helen's daughter Mallory, and been absent from Mallory's life for most of the time.
Helen Troy, is ready to rebuild her life. After one year of being MIA, her husband Gabe Renault was announced dead, just the week before. So it was with no small amount of shock that Helen learned that Gabe had just returned from the dead. She is wary of him, and she is bitter because of his mistreatment of her. While she had given him her love, he had ignored her and abandoned her, hence breaking her heart and shattering all the beautiful feelings she had harbored for him. Now she just wants to help him get better, and regain his memories, then they would get a divorce. He'll return to his life and work as a Seal, and she'll return to bask in her new gained independence. Helen is honest with Gabe, informing him that once he is better they will get a divorce.
And so the story starts, as Gabe struggles to come to terms with who he had been, and why. While this new "real" Gabe is not distant from his wife or daughter. He shows love, care and compassion towards them. Helen retains her wariness of him, as Gabe sets out to regain his family and prove to Helen that he really loves her. He just wants a second chance to prove to her how wrong he was. He had always assumed that allowing himself to feel and care would weaken him, but it was only his love for Helen that had sustained him through the terrible torture and imprisonment in the past year. Gabe loves his wife and his step daughter, and he will do all in his power to regain their affections and trust. They are the most important in his life, and nothing comes before them.
And we the readers get to see how Gabe and Helen get together, as they heal each other and have a chance at a new start. While Helen may seem a bit cold and distant through a good portion of the book, it was understandable due to her past experience with Gabe. And her fear that once Gabe regains his memories he would return to that distant man who had so callously broken her heart.
Gabe also has no memory of his last mission, leaving him vulnerable to the attacks of those who do not want him to remember. For someone is still out there waiting for the right moment to silence Gabe forever, before he can remember the truth and reveal it. This is the story of a hero and a man, who upon return from the jaws of hell, after one year, starts to rebuild his life on a journey of self discovery and love, while trying to stay alive and protect his family from a danger and an enemy he does not know. For only Gabe's memories can save him... if they do not kill him first...
A great romantic suspense read. Highly recommended!
If you like Suzanne Brockman's novels, you'll hate this.......2007-07-10
Wanting a light read to help pass the time on 5 hour airplane flight, I picked up Melton's FORGET ME NOT because a reviewer here compared it to Suzanne Brockman's navy SEALs books. Melton's plot is interesting: A navy SEAL escapes captivity and returns home with PTSD-induced amnesia after a year-long bout of brutal torture, but the SEAL's amnesia renders him vulnerable to the treasonous military who sold him out in the first place. Meanwhile, the SEAL's relationship with a wife he doesn't remember is turned upside-down when this once macho and emotionally distant man returns home emotionally vulnerable and in touch with what really matters in life. The problem with FORGET ME NOT, unfortunatley, is shoddy writing and unforgiveably poor research. Melton spends the entire book telling the reader how her characters feel, rather than showing us with action and dialogue. Also, Melton's phobic-like avoidance of the word "said" became annoying quite quickly. For example, in the span of
2 pages, her characters
"drawled," "muttered," "inquired," "interrupted," "encouraged," "asked, "prompted," "gasped," "agreed" - rather than "said." And her lack of research was way beyond lazy. For example, one character is introduced as a psychologist, then for a few chapters he's referred to as a psychiatrist, then he's referred to as a psychologist again. Does the author really not know the two professions are entirely different?
Where was Melton's editor???
Which brings me to another point: Why is it so difficult to find a well-written romance novel? It's books like this, published in draft form (by major publishing houses!), that give the romance genre a bad name. This is entirely the fault of the publishers. Rather than churning out a glut of unpolished, unedited novels, I wish they'd get themselves back into the business of publishing quality fiction.
That said, if it's a well-written romance with a military backdrop you're after, stick with Suzanne Brockman. (She probably edits her own work!)
Forget Me Not (Seal Team 12) (Warner Forever).......2007-03-26
Perfect Item & Fast Shipping. LOVE this author!
Oh..simply beautiful!.......2007-01-25
I wish I had read this book before Time To Run, because although that was a good book, it was nothing compared to Forget Me Not. This is a beautiful love story of a SEAL coming back home after a year of captivity and who has no memory of the past 3 years from the time he met his wife. Gabe is a wonderful hero and made me cheer for him when he sets out to win his wife again who I felt wasn't cold, but was just treading carefully after rejections in the past. This book has romance, suspense, and even some action and I couldn't have asked for more. Please read this book and experience the talent of Marliss Melton!
forget me not(seal team 12).......2006-11-09
liked it alot, hope she does more of the seal team books, definitely directed toward women, but lots of action and romance
Average customer rating:
- A hard book to put down
- I couldn't put it down!
- The Comic and the Nazi
- An Excellent Read
- Not jealous. Well ...maybe slightly.
|
Not Me: A Novel
Michael Lavigne
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
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ASIN: 0812973321
Release Date: 2007-02-13 |
Book Description
Not Me is a remarkable debut novel that tells the dramatic and surprising stories of two men–father and son–through sixty years of uncertain memory, distorted history, and assumed identity.
When Heshel Rosenheim, apparently suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, hands his son, Michael, a box of moldy old journals, an amazing adventure begins–one that takes the reader from the concentration camps of Poland to an improbable love story during the battle for Palestine, from a cancer ward in New Jersey to a hopeless marriage in San Francisco. The journals, which seem to tell the story of Heshel’s life, are so harrowing, so riveting, so passionate, and so perplexing that Michael becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about his father.
As Michael struggles to come to grips with his father’s elusive past, a world of complex and disturbing possibilities opens up to him–a world in which an accomplice to genocide may have turned into a virtuous Jew and a young man cannot recall murdering the person he loves most; a world in which truth is fiction and fiction is truth and one man’s terrible–or triumphant–transformation calls history itself into question. Michael must then solve the biggest riddle of all: Who am I?
Intense, vivid, funny, and entirely original,
Not Me is an unsparing and unforgettable examination of faith, history, identity, and love.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
A hard book to put down.......2007-08-09
This book is a tapestry of different themes on identity, alongside the age-old question of "when is one relieved of their sins?" I really enjoyed this completely different approach to the subject matter of WWII and the Concentration Camps, and became so engrossed in the novel that I just couldn't put it down. I thoroughly recommend it.
I couldn't put it down!.......2007-07-24
"Not Me" poses a horrifying concept, and is beautifully written. It raises so many moral questions, page by page, and is an exciting read that makes you think about the meaning of identity, purpose, redemption, family, truth, etc.
The Comic and the Nazi.......2007-04-30
This is a first novel. It suffers from cliche at times, and in the end gets terribly sentimental about being an American Jew in one's fifties without having understood what being Jewish means - having 'missed out' on the Holocaust and Zionism. But it reads fast. The first person narrator - a middle-aged son struggling to cope with his dying father - is a quirky, funny, sometimes maudlin soul trying to sort out his life. Separated from his wife and son in California, this middle-aged comic is alone in Florida and having a hard time. Failing at being a father himself, the narrator quickly learns that his ailing octogenarian Dad is not exactly who he says he is. But the ambiguity of Dad's identity is (too) quickly extinguished through the translation of the old man's German diaries. While not exactly a war criminal of high order, Dad, aka, SS officer Heinrich Muller, explains how he transformed himself from accountant to victim in a few short weeks before the Camps were overrun by Allied armies. Muller starves himself, adds the blue ink number tatoo to his arm, adopts the name of a corpse, and then gets swept up in the displaced persons program. Soon he is on his way to a kibbutz in Palestine. He ends up in the Palmach, fighting in Israel's war for independence. Romance and self-hatred take hold in equal measure. Perhaps he should simply run down to Gaza and tell the Egyptians who he really is and leave these Jews behind him?! These parts, set south of Jerusalem and along the northern end of the Negev (and his continuing dialogue regarding his self-hatred) are the best part of the book. In the end, however, the tension over Dad's identity doesn't bring resonance to the American son's personal issues so much as give us a look at the way in which people can get caught up in the crushing events of the 1940s, especially if they were European Jews, and German. The character of the 'Nazi' father is better imagined, I think, than that of the comic son, and the possiblity of "lying narrator" (the father's diaries and conversations with the son) might've been better exploited in order to leave the reader with greater puzzle and wonderment. It gets a bit sappy and repetitive - how many times will his mother's hat float across the pool as an expression of grief and deracination? The opportunity for a cross-generational discourse is sidelined for nebulous emotional effect. We do see, however, that one can make up a life; the fear of being tainted by our original sins can lead us to utterly transform the self. The searing experience of the camps and the death of a daughter reveals for the author an old testament God whose knowledge of our fundamental character is not forgiving.
An Excellent Read.......2007-04-11
I read a lot of "Holocaust fiction," but this book escaped my notice until the author was named a runner-up for the new Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature last month. Now that I've read the novel, I can see why it's earning such accolades. Hopefully, now that the book is available in paperback it will reach a wider readership. I agree with all the other readers who found it a "page-turner" or "couldn't put it down." That was my experience, as well. I won't soon forget it.
Not jealous. Well ...maybe slightly........2007-02-28
As an acquaintance of the author, I naturally harbored the faint hope that his first published novel would be horrid. However, I confess to having inhaled the whole book from cover to cover. Not Me is as funny and trenchant as Phillip Roth - if Roth could still write funny - with the added fillip of a whodunit element which, in my case, kept me up until 3AM. Note to S Spielberg: A great first movie role for Seinfeld.
Average customer rating:
- The real reality book
- She likes it!
- Judith Viorst comes up with another great Alexander story
- Do you hear me?
- Alexander is definately moving...off the charts!
|
Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move
Judith Viorst , and
Ray Cruz
Manufacturer: Aladdin
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Similar Items:
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Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday
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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
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My Mama Says There Aren't Any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Demons, Monsters, Fiend
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Absolutely, Positively Alexander
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If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries: Poems for Children and their Parents
ASIN: 0689820895 |
Book Description
Alexander is not going to leave his best friend Paul. Or Rachel, the best babysitter in the world. Or the Baldwins, who have a terrific dog named Swoozie. Or Mr. and Mrs. Oberdorfer, who always give great treats on Halloween. Who cares if his father has a new job a thousand miles away? Alexander is not --
Do you hear him? He Means it! -- going to move.
Alexander's back, facing another of childhood's trials and tribulations with Judith Viorst's trademark humor and keen sense of what's important to kids.
Customer Reviews:
The real reality book.......2007-07-28
Judith Viorst speaks the thoughts of a young person so truthfully that my children/grandchildren just love Alexander books. Our seven year old granddaughter just moved to a new neighborhood, new school, new everything. I sent this book to her and she wrote me a thank you note telling me how much she loves Alexander because he knew how she felt. She said, "he was really mad" and it helped her realize it was normal for her to have those angry feelings, too. But, he settles in and so has she. Kids need to know that negative feelings are normal under some situations. Judith V's books are humorous and the lessons they teach are subjects kids relate to, but she doesn't preach. She just brings out another side to look at.
She likes it!.......2007-05-12
Nicely written and my five year old who DID NOT want to move thoroughly enjoys it. As a parent I was kind of looking for a happy ending, but it was only alluded to and I'm not sure my daughter actually understood the happy ending. At least, I'm not going to buy her a dog just because we moved.
Judith Viorst comes up with another great Alexander story.......2004-09-14
"Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" is an absolute classic of children's literature, even if I have heard Judith Viorst's story done way too often at speech tournaments. The idea of feeling so mad or sad that you want to move to Australia remains one of the great punch lines. In "Alexander's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move" she comes up with a story almost as good. Alexander might talk about moving to Australia, but when his mom and dad tell him that the family is moving to a new home a thousand miles away he decides that he is not going to move. He is not even going to pack.
His father might have a new job a thousand miles away and there might be a new house a thousand miles away but Alexander does not care. Right next door to the new house there might be a boy who is the same age of his brother Anthony and down the street there might be a boy the same age as his brother Nick, but Alexander figures that there is probably nobody for a thousand miles who is his age. He will never have a best friend like Paul again or a great sitter like Rachel. Alexander has a long, long list of favorite friends and special places that he will never have again if he moves. Therefore, he is not packing. Never. Not going to happen.
"Alexander's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move" is illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, who pointedly does so in the style of Ray Cruz, who first illustrated Alexander in print and who was unable to complete the work on this endeavor. This book might come in second to the original tale, but for any kid who has to deal with the trauma of moving (as an Air Force Brat my family moved a half-dozen times when I was growing up) this story will ring true and help put things in perspective. Final Note: I was surprised to read that Judith Viorst has three sons named Anthony, Nicholas, and Alexander. This must have made for an interesting household. I wonder what happened to Alexander when he grew up. Maybe he moved to Australia.
Do you hear me?.......2002-04-28
This is a continuation of the Alexander books. We should all have read about his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day already. I also use this book in my classroom and have found that while the kids do like to hear another story about this adorable little boy, this story just doesn't click with them. The success of Alexander's other stories came from the way kids were able to relate to his situation. This book just doesn't have that.
What it does have though is a wonderfully planned out story and some good imitations of Ray Cruz's original depictions of Alexander. Again, things just aren't going Alexander's way and his imagination begins to spin ways he can keep from moving with his family. He learns his brothers and parents are much more understanding of his situation than he first thought however.
Why 4 stars?:
This book still deserves a place in your library, however it can't compare to the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Still, children will enjoy hearing another story about Alexander and if any of them have moved or are moving, they will get even something more out of this cute story.
Alexander is definately moving...off the charts!.......2001-06-27
Alexander, Who's Not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to move by Judith Viorst is a great childrens book. It is wonderfully illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. The storyline is realistic and approaches a subject in a creative style. It is attractive to young readers and manages to shed light on Alexander's negative feelings towards moving. Alexander ends up happy and so will the reader.
Book Description
Fast, effective answers to today's tough questions and slogans that often leave Christians speechless. A rapid response to help keep the dialogue going in witnessing circumstances.
Customer Reviews:
True for You, but Not for Me.......2005-08-03
**** Many people in the post-modern world would have you believe that there is but one absolute truth, that there is no absolute truth. All roads lead to God, if there is one, they say; and morals can be adapted to fit the current situation. However, in this book, those arguments are quickly revealed to be paper tigers. In a highly readable fashion, Mr. Copan defends the Christian worldview and all that goes along with it. In the end, you will reach the logical conclusion that truth is always true, no matter what. ****
Reviewed by Amanda Killgore, Freelance Reviewer.
Just more debate............2004-09-24
Paul Copan does it again. He turns the Christian faith into a debate/logic/philosophy class. More logic, logic, logic. Uuuugh.......
Besides, having a pat and well-rehearsed response to everything a non-Christian says is not genuine faith, but ultimately bullyism. A Christian's response to a non-Christian must come from GOD, not from ONE'S OWN LOGICAL MIND. I'm pretty sure Moses did not say to God when He called him, "Uh, hey God, uh, I don't know what to say. Can I have a script or something? It would just sound more convincing if I could read off the paper and rehearse so I can get it just right and.....". God told him He would give to him the right words to say to Pharaoh.
Debate and "proving" are ultimately wastes of time. The way to wisdom is by learning at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38), not from rehearsing and practicing pre-fabricated arguments in front of a mirror. Besides, when Christians spend inordinate amounts of time trying to prove theological matters to non-Christians, they actually lose credibility in that they sound like robots simply spewing forth pre-programmed statements.
The book seems like so much philosophical circle-running. It's tiring to both the eyes and the brain to be able to absorb all of this anyhow. Christians simply need to pray and allow God to guide them into the truths of Scripture.
Simple logical flaw - and I include my name.......2004-08-19
Here's an example -
"If all religions lead to God, but some of
them claim to be the _only_ way to God -
isn't that a contradiction?"
Well, no.
If I choose to believe (notice, _I_ am choosing to
believe) that all religions which teach certain
beliefs which I hold as universal spiritual
principles will lead to gnosis of the Supreme,
the fact that the Denoberites believe that belief
in Denoberite doctrine is essential to that spiritual
development is irrelevant.
Or, to put it in real world terms - the doctrine of
the Roman Catholic Church holds that salvation outside
of that church is impossible. Lutheran Christians
may (in all probability, do) hold a similar belief
regarding their own church. If I believe that _both_
of them can come to know God and attain salvation -
there's no contradiction on my end. If I throw Buddhists,
Wiccans and Eckanckar-ists into the mix - likewise,
no contradiction.
Similarly, the 'true for you, not for me' presupposes
at least two different values of 'true'. From the point
of view of a nonbeliever, a Christian's faith in YHWH
is equivalent to an Asatruan's faith in Odin or Thor.
Odin's existence is 'true' for the worshipper in the second
case, but it's the same kind of 'true' as G-d's existence
in the first case. Then there's the 'true' of 'it is true
that water is wet.' The usual thing about writers like
Copan that sticks sideways in my throat is the assumption
that what _he believes_ is the second kind of true, whereas
what other people believe is the first kind.
Hope that helps!
A unique approach.......2002-11-25
Paul Copan's "True for You, but Not for Me" is a thought-provoking work that seeks to take an alternative approach to evangelism and theological discussions. In our day, relativism rules supreme, as every person feels their interpretation of reality is as valid as any other. Copan shows that it is difficult - if not impossible - to share Christ with those who have no desire to discuss Him on a level playing field of reason.
At the very heart of the book is the idea that there is absolute truth and that acknowledging this is essential for evangelization or any discussion that attempts to define "Truth". This book helps point out the lack of reason behind relativistic arguments. Fallacious logic and suspect beliefs systems are dealt with by showing people how to use logic to punch holes in relativistic thinking without having to know vast sections of Scripture. By taking Copan's clear reasonings to their logical conclusions one can create common ground for the sharing of the Gospel, increasing the likelihood of success.
Copan also includes excellent and reasonable ways to counter many of the harder arguments that many will raise with common sticking points in theology. For example, there is an extended section that addresses the question of how a loving God can send people to Hell who have never had the chance to hear the Gospel. Other questions on this same order of difficulty are discussed, with well-reasoned responses that will help Christians deal with the tougher questions they are often asked by those investigating Christianity.
The author's angle on evangelizing those firmly in the relativistic camp is simple, intelligent, and true to the idea that being logical and rational is part of calling oneself a Christian. Not a lot of Scripture here, since that is not the author's point. Getting to a common ground by dismantling resistance to even discussing the Bible is.
I liked the angle of the debate here and the call for greater logical thinking for Christians. The main flaw comes from the overuse of certain tactics of logic when another method of reasoning could be used - at times Copan seems repetitive. Another issue is not the fault of the book, per se, since while it is very helpful, it must be used to supplement, rather than supplant, a full knowledge of Scripture. Arguing logically is surely a help, but without a good command of the Bible all evangelism will fail. Discussing points logically can never get one to salvation - the Bible makes this clear ("Faith comes by hearing the word of God.")
So if you wish to have a logical approach to dealing with relativism and the difficult questions non-Christians ask, this is certainly an excellent source when used in conjunction with the Bible.
Reponse to Inerrancy Remark.......2002-10-25
Personally knowing Paul Copan and having discussed his view of errancy, I'm writing this to clarify a remark made in an earlier review. Paul does believe in inerrancy, but he does not believe that you need to hold to inerrancy to see the reliability of the New Testament documents. This is the academic way of looking at all sources of literature whether you hold to inerrancy or not.
Future readers who approach this work should know that Copan's view of Christianity is a classically evangelical one.
Book Description
On June 28, 1987, four Dallas-based Christian leaders were killed in an airplane crash as they were returning from a Focus on the Family retreat in Montana: George L. Clark, chairman of the board and CEO of MBank; Dr. Trevor E. Mabery, a surgeon who helped found Humana Hospital-Medical City; Hugo W. Schoelkopf III, an entrepreneur and sporting goods manufacturer; and Creath Davis, founder and director of Christian Concern Foundation.
Among the losses their families shared, Creath's wife, Verdell, also lost part of her identity: No longer was she a pastor's wife, and no longer was she sure what she believed. This deeply moving book, gleaned from parts of journals that she kept during the loss of her husband, offers a source of hope and healing for anyone experiencing grief. With remarkable honesty, courage, and generosity, she shares how to examine grief and ultimately find healing in the process.
Customer Reviews:
A great help while mourning.......2003-10-03
I just finished reading this book and am so grateful at all the chapters I was able to relate to. Even though our circumstances were very different (my husband was killed while working as a Sheriff's Deputy and we were married only 2 years), I found so many similarities in my life and hers. She allows the reader to feel and think whatever is in their heart without rushing them through the process. The book reminds us that hope and peace is to be found only in Christ and His sustaining love.
"Thankful".......2000-08-14
Thanks be to God for his use of people like Ms. Davis who have walked the dark road of grief, lonliness, and despair and shared that experience with those of us who would also travel this journey. I lost my husband in November,1999 after 23 years of marriage. My three sons and I came to know of this book through the suggestion of a friend and spiritual mentor. I've read it twice and it has become a very trusted companion during my times of profound lonliness, gut-wrentching sobs,unrelenting guilt and overwhelming responsibilities. I've identified with so many of the thoughts and feelings.I cry each time I read it, for many of her experiences are my experiences. The prayers are my favorites for I know they touch the very heart of God.This book helps me find the courage to go on.It helps me to know that God is true to His word and being that he is no respector of persons, His unfailing love will see me through just as it has seen her through.It gives me hope and reinforces the fact that my experiences are not unnatural for one who has suffered the trauma of loosing a spouse. I thank God for Ms. Davis. I thank Ms. Davis for being a willing vessel for God's use. I am tremendously helped by her candid sharing, her honest self- appraisals, her valuable insight and heaven-reaching prayers.This book chronicles a journey out of the darkness of loss and because of it the following verse of scripture has taken on new meaning for me:"Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation,that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (II Cor.1:3 NKJ) THANK YOU GOD!!! THANK YOU Verdell Davis!!!
GCMartin 8/13/00
An excellent help for those going through the grief process.......1999-04-18
Of all the grief recovery books I have read, this is by far the most helpful. It deals comprehensively with all the issues surrounding the loss of a spouse.
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