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Blood Red Sunset: A Memoir of the Chinese Cultural Revolution Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an absolutely phenomenal book. There's so much about the Cultural Revolution and the early days of Communist China that just gets glossed over in history classes and general books about the country. Ma Bo was on the inside of it all, and despite his unflinching belief in Communist ideals, was nonetheless punished by the very system he had so much faith in.
I was worried that this book would be tainted by the stain of moralizing one way or the other. What a relief it is to read on such a charged subject and not be preached at. Ma Bo simply tells his story, and you take away from it whatever you will. There's deep understanding of what motivated the Chinese then (and to one degree or other still motivates them today), and there is much to be learned from this tale.
Whatever your thoughts on Communism, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is at all curious about this major chapter in modern Chinese history.

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What Happy People Know: How the New Science of Happiness Can Change Your Life for the Better Review

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(More customer reviews)I've read so many self help books over the years, and I can't say any of them have been very helpful. Interesting, definitely - but nothing that got me closer to feeling the way I've dreamed about for so long: happy, confident, & relaxed. I've gotten so skeptical. Thank God there was still enough of a spark of desperate hope buried in me to get me to pick up this wonderful book.
A thousand "Thank You!"'s to Dan Baker who has shown me the light and allowed me to embark upon a whole new journey as I actually begin to enjoy my life and succeed at everything I try the way I never thought I could. Everything in this book now seems so obvious to me, now that I have worked many of Mr. Baker's brilliantly simple ideas into my thinking and my daily life and things are becoming 2nd nature. I wonder why so many of us drag ourselves through our miserable lives for so long, never coming to the conclusions represented in this book.
Some of the key ideas in this book include understanding the relationship between fear and appreciation, taking power over our emotions, finding good in everything, and seeing the pitfalls of money and possesions. The terrible VERB's (victimization, Entitlement, Rescue, and Blame). Dan Baker spits liquor in the face of traditional psychotherapy with all its failings. (Ever been to a shrink who said, "How does that make you feel?," "and how does that make you feel?," "and how does that make you feel?...." - all a bunch of crap, just as you probably suspected.
There's no way for me to explain the content of this book, and there's no need to. This book is an easy and enjoyable read. Get this book! I wish I had found it 20 years ago. I have wasted so much time and energy wandering through life miserable, exhausted, moody, anxious, fearful, angry, irritable, overwhelmed, and sometimes very depressed - with my eyes and my heart closed. When I think about this, for just a second I feel sadness and loss about all that wasted time, but I am so excited about the future that it doesn't even matter. The future is all that matters now. This book holds enormous implications for parents. Worried your kids are picking up your negativity, your worry, your moods - they are - do something about it - read this book.
Some quotes from Dan Baker:
"When you focus on problems...you become bogged down in you own negativity and fear. It's much smarter to focus on possibilities."
"Life hurts. If it doesn't hurt some of the time, it's not life. But you can't allow yourself to get wrapped up in this hurt, constantly reliving it, fearing the futre and grieving the past. That's victimization."
"I often see this [entitlement] happen to rich kids. They grow up in the condition that I call "enriched deprivation." They have so much that everything becomes meaningless. There's nothing left to yearn for, so they lose their power to grow and grasp. They feel entitled to luxury and come to expect it - but expectations, as you may recall, are one of the worst enemies of happiness. These kids become weak, jaded, and ungrateful... They not only lack of self esteem, they lack a sense of self."

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Understanding and Mastering The Bluebook Review

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(More customer reviews)This book won't answer all of your questions, but it will help you navigate the confusing Bluebook. The Bluebook gives very poor examples, but this book helps clear some things up. This is a must have for any editor of any review or journal. If your legal writing course or seminar course is Bluebook heavy, this book will help you too.

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The Affluent Entrepreneur: 20 Proven Principles for Achieving Prosperity Review

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(More customer reviews)The Affluent Entrepeneur was a pleasant surprise. I normally don't enjoy non-fiction books because they don't hold my interest, either through poor writing, or poor subject matter. The Affluent Entrepeneur was well-written and interesting. Giving concrete, real-world examples of each principle and how to put those princilple into affect in your own life. Patrick Snow has written an easy to follow road map for all who wish to become more affluent, not just monetarily, but in all aspects of their life. Great job.
Tara

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Take charge of your financial future and improve your overall well being
In today's unpredictable economy, the best way to ensure financial security is to build your own business. You can neither count on nor control your employer's success, but you can depend on your own creativity and solid work ethic to achieve prosperity.
The Affluent Entrepreneur empowers you to identify your innermost marketable passion, and then turn that passion into your profession by becoming a successful business, regardless of your background, experience, or level of education.
Provides you with 20 proven principles to achieve success faster than you ever imagined
Propels existing entrepreneurs toward reaching the next level with their business
Offers proven advice from an author who has been featured in major newspapers such as USA TODAY, The New York Times, the Denver Post, and the Chicago Sun-Times, as well as on hundreds of radio stations

If you're tired of depending on others for your success and well being, The Affluent Entrepreneur gives you the edge you need to launch and grow your own business and create your own long-term financial freedom and security.

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Confessions of a Former Bully Review

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(More customer reviews)Loved it.
Confessions of a Former Bully, honestly, should be read by every kid, and every teacher in grade school, and discussed at length. I am a former teacher and this is the most insightful book you will ever read on this topic. This is a book written by Katie, a former bully, about what she used to do/say to other kids to bully them. Her character arc from the beginning of the book until the end, what she learns about herself, what she learns about bullying and the impact it has on her and other kids, and how she changes her attitude and behaviors are perfect for class discussions. So many kids will see themselves, in different places, all over this book. Some might see themselves as bullies, others might see themselves as being bullied - or both, but it gives the kids insight, this incredible insight, as to who they are, and how their actions, positive and negative, impact others. Plus, Ludwig has put in Quick Facts about bullying, quotes from famous people, "what to do" types of advice, "tool belts" for dealing with bullies, and what good friends and bad friends look like. It's a story - but then there's all the practical stuff in there, too, about bullying. Can I say it this way? It's an awesome - excellent book.

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ADVERSARIES OF DANCE: FROM THE PURITANS TO THE PRESENT Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a particularly well-researched and comprehensive examination of opposition to dancing, especially by religious leaders and theologians, since before the Puritans. My background is in Renaissance dance, so I can't attest to the book's accuracy regarding the later periods, but the initial chapters on early antidance views are excellent. Sometimes Wagner fails to distinguish between Puritan and more mainstream Protestant reformers, but otherwise she provides an impressively thorough overview of antidance treatises and their arguments. This book is also pioneering in its scope; it examines common themes shared by antidance writers over four centuries and on two continents, and demonstrates how many later dance opponents borrowed heavily from their antidance predecessors.

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The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows (The Apprentice Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was very interested in reading this book after hearing James Bryan Smith speak at the Divine Conspiracy Conference. Upon reading the first few pages, I learned that his mentors were none other than Richard Foster and Dallas Willard! I was even more interested and fortunately I was not disappointed.
If you are familiar with Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, this book has similar imprints of these writing, but Smith has his own distinct style.
His style of writing draws you in, entices you to let down defenses, and shares his life experiences with you.
The book is laden with stories about his life and others. How real people are being conformed to the image of God. He talks about trust, by comparing the trust his son has in him. He affirms the Goodness of God even while talking about how he suffered through the loss of his daughter. The book is good, not only because it content, but because it is utterly realistic.
The book has 229 pgs, which consists of 9 Chapters. Each chapter has an addition with a spiritual discipline that should be practiced that week. Furthermore the book has questions associated with each chapter at the back.Which is very useful seeing that one of the purposes of the book is to be used in a group!
How is the content of the book? Here is an excerpt below:
"God loves us so much that he longs for us to be pure and works tirelessly to make us pure. MacDonald points out how God is against sin and thus for humans: 'He is always against sin; in so far as, and while, they and sin are one, he is against them-- against their desires, their aims, their fears, and their hopes; and thus he is altogether for them.'
God is against my sin because he is for me. And if I am for sin, God stands against those desires, MacDonald is saying, because they cause my destruction. I would not have it any other way. To be sure, I am prone to excusing my sin or rationalizing my weaknesses, but God is not in that business. Though we are now reconciled through Christ, God is not indifferent to my sin. It hurts me, and therefore it hurts God--because God loves me."
There are many other ah ha moments, which gives you a new perspective on certain things such as the will, or your identity in Christ, or even the nature of God. To Smith's credit, the book was never dull or boring. At the end the book just left me longing for the next book in the series: The Good and Beautiful Life.
I recommend this book and I think it would work well with other excellent books on spiritual formation such as renovation of the heart, longing for God, the spirit of the disciplines or even celebration of discipline. Buy the book and like me, you will be awaiting the next book of the series!
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Table of Contents
Introduction
How to Get the Most Out of This Book
1. What Are You Seeking?
Soul Training: Sleep
2. God is Good
Soul Training:Silence and Awareness of Creation
3. God is Trustworthy
Soul Training: Counting Your Blessings
4. God is Generous
Soul Training: Praying Psalm 23
5. God is Love
Soul Training: Lectio Divina
6. God is Holy
Soul Training: Margin
7. God is Self-Sacrificing
Soul Training; Reading the Gospel of John
8. God Transforms
Soul Training: Solitude
9. How to Make a Pickle
Soul Training: Slowing Down
Appendix: Small Group Discussion Guide
Notes
Acknowledgments
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Reviews & Endorsements
"The Apprentice Series is the best practice I have seen in Christian spiritual formation."
--Dallas Willard, author of The Divine Conspiracy
"I know from our long relationship that Jim Smith is a fine and trustworthy man, who authentically knows 'the good and beautiful God.' I can think of no higher compliment than this: I would happily trust the care of my soul to Jim and the good and beautiful God he commends to us."
--Todd Hunter, author of Christianity Beyond Belief and pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Costa Mesa
"This first book in The Apprentice Series, The Good and Beautiful God, is a treasure. Dr. Smith has thought long and hard about the process of human transformation into the likeness of Jesus. I urge you to buy this book immediately! Read it and apply it. Then live it out in the context of a loving community. You will not regret doing so."
--Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline and coauthor of Longing for God
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