We All Need Heroes: Stories of the Brave and Foolish


Book Description

Are your ideas stupid? Unreasonable? Or maybe just non-existing? If that is the case, We All Need Heroes is a book for you. Simon Zingerman, with his fantastic collection of anecdotes about the believable, unbelievable and always winning ideas, inspires even the most uninspired couch potato to get up and DO SOMETHING! If your creativity is on a standstill, or if you're just stuck in a project, small or big, this book can be the key to you getting back in business. With these stories you get the feeling that everyone can succeed, if it's about getting a prosperous career, earning a fortune in an innovative way, or just become an emotionally richer individual. You can read about clever solutions to big problems, intelligent inventions or accomplished marketing. Or about people who never give up despite hopeless failures, but whose dreams eventually come true because of stubbornness and a never-ending storage of optimism. This is a great feel-good book that you can either gorge all in one go for more than a mouthful of motivation, or pick up every now and then for a sporadic reliance when hope is slipping away. If anything, it's a lightsome collection of both heart-warming and brain-tickling tales that everyone should take part of. "- Elin Hermanson, Kulturellan.com." We All Need Heroes is the quite astonishing result of author Simon Zingerman's last project as a university student. As his thesis he compiled his favorite inspirational stories that he'd been gathering for almost three years and turned them into a book. Packed with 120 short-stories from all around the world, and from many different decades, We All Need Heroes celebrates people with brave and innovative ideas. Simon believes that the stories will convert the skeptical into believers, make heroes out of cowards and turn dull entrepreneurs and directors into trendsetters. Learn the importance of making enemies, why one should not strive to win awards and how you can practice to be in the right place at the right time. Read about impressive guerrilla marketing campaigns and stupid business ideas that made homeless people into millionaires. Learn to see things with new perspective and to step out of your comfort zone. Get encouraged to create something different. Start that business you've dreamed about but never had the guts to turn into reality. There is simply no limit on what you will gain by reading We All Need Heroes. The stories might be told about a completely different line of business than the one you're in, but the main idea behind them and the essence of finding new ways to tackle problems - are universal. ""By showing the greatness of others I strengthen myself in my profession. These projects and people have encouraged me to follow my crazy dreams and pursue my chosen career. I give examples of possible moral, lessons to be learned from each story, but of course they're free for you to interpret. I truly hope that my chosen favorites will continue to inspire others to dare take the step, and get the courage to do something different. Reading about other people's success stories will hopefully help you create your own!" - Simon Zingerman, Skyborn Works. "




INSPIRED REFLECTIONS ON SUCCESS


Book Description

If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut"― Albert Einstein ;"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm."― Winston S. Churchill;"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."― Salvador Dalí




I Know This Much Is True


Book Description

With his stunning debut novel, She's Come Undone, Wally Lamb won the adulation of critics and readers with his mesmerizing tale of one woman's painful yet triumphant journey of self-discovery. Now, this brilliantly talented writer returns with I Know This Much Is True, a heartbreaking and poignant multigenerational saga of the reproductive bonds of destruction and the powerful force of forgiveness. A masterpiece that breathtakingly tells a story of alienation and connection, power and abuse, devastation and renewal--this novel is a contemporary retelling of an ancient Hindu myth. A proud king must confront his demons to achieve salvation. Change yourself, the myth instructs, and you will inhabit a renovated world. When you're the same brother of a schizophrenic identical twin, the tricky thing about saving yourself is the blood it leaves on your bands--the little inconvenience of the look-alike corpse at your feet. And if you're into both survival of the fittest and being your brother's keeper--if you've promised your dying mother--then say so long to sleep and hello to the middle of the night. Grab a book or a beer. Get used to Letterman's gap-toothed smile of the absurd, or the view of the bedroom ceiling, or the influence of random selection. Take it from a godless insomniac. Take it from the uncrazy twin--the guy who beat the biochemical rap. Dominick Birdsey's entire life has been compromised and constricted by anger and fear, by the paranoid schizophrenic twin brother he both deeply loves and resents, and by the past they shared with their adoptive father, Ray, a spit-and-polish ex-Navy man (the five-foot-six-inch sleeping giant who snoozed upstairs weekdays in the spare room and built submarines at night), and their long-suffering mother, Concettina, a timid woman with a harelip that made her shy and self-conscious: She holds a loose fist to her face to cover her defective mouth--her perpetual apology to the world for a birth defect over which she'd had no control. Born in the waning moments of 1949 and the opening minutes of 1950, the twins are physical mirror images who grow into separate yet connected entities: the seemingly strong and protective yet fearful Dominick, his mother's watchful "monkey"; and the seemingly weak and sweet yet noble Thomas, his mother's gentle "bunny." From childhood, Dominick fights for both separation and wholeness--and ultimately self-protection--in a house of fear dominated by Ray, a bully who abuses his power over these stepsons whose biological father is a mystery. I was still afraid of his anger but saw how he punished weakness--pounced on it. Out of self-preservation I hid my fear, Dominick confesses. As for Thomas, he just never knew how to play defense. He just didn't get it. But Dominick's talent for survival comes at an enormous cost, including the breakup of his marriage to the warm, beautiful Dessa, whom he still loves. And it will be put to the ultimate test when Thomas, a Bible-spouting zealot, commits an unthinkable act that threatens the tenuous balance of both his and Dominick's lives. To save himself, Dominick must confront not only the pain of his past but the dark secrets he has locked deep within himself, and the sins of his ancestors--a quest that will lead him beyond the confines of his blue-collar New England town to the volcanic foothills of Sicily 's Mount Etna, where his ambitious and vengefully proud grandfather and a namesake Domenico Tempesta, the sostegno del famiglia, was born. Each of the stories Ma told us about Papa reinforced the message that he was the boss, that he ruled the roost, that what he said went. Searching for answers, Dominick turns to the whispers of the dead, to the pages of his grandfather's handwritten memoir, The History of Domenico Onofrio Tempesta, a Great Man from Humble Beginnings. Rendered with touches of magic realism, Domenico's fablelike tale--in which monkeys enchant and religious statues weep--becomes the old man's confession--an unwitting legacy of contrition that reveals the truth's of Domenico's life, Dominick learns that power, wrongly used, defeats the oppressor as well as the oppressed, and now, picking through the humble shards of his deconstructed life, he will search for the courage and love to forgive, to expiate his and his ancestors' transgressions, and finally to rebuild himself beyond the haunted shadow of his twin. Set against the vivid panoply of twentieth-century America and filled with richly drawn, memorable characters, this deeply moving and thoroughly satisfying novel brings to light humanity's deepest needs and fears, our aloneness, our desire for love and acceptance, our struggle to survive at all costs. Joyous, mystical, and exquisitely written, I Know This Much Is True is an extraordinary reading experience that will leave no reader untouched.










Exalting Jesus in John


Book Description

Exalting Jesus in John is part of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series. Edited by David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, this new commentary series, projected to be 48 volumes, takes a Christ-centered approach to expositing each book of the Bible. Rather than a verse-by-verse approach, the authors have crafted chapters that explain and apply key passages in their assigned Bible books. Readers will learn to see Christ in all aspects of Scripture, and they will be encouraged by the devotional nature of each exposition presented as sermons and divided into chapters that conclude with a “Reflect & Discuss” section, making this series ideal for small group study, personal devotion, and even sermon preparation. It’s not academic but rather presents an easy reading, practical and friendly commentary. The author of Exalting Jesus in John is Matt Carter and Josh Wredberg. “The balance of biblical accuracy, clear outlines, captivating illustrations, and life-changing applications make this commentary a must-have addition to the library of every pastor and everyone else who wants to understand and apply the Gospel of John.” Stephen Davey, Th.M., D.D., senior pastor, Colonial Baptist Church, Cary, North Carolina; president, Shepherds Theological Seminary, Cary, North Carolina “Matt and Joshua provide an excellent resource on John's Gospel. With a clear outline of content, a concise purpose for writing, and a faithful handling of the text as it points to Jesus, the authors give the reader a valuable resource for study and preaching. They herald a clear message to remind the reader, ‘The gospel is the good news that you no longer have to wander about in the darkness and despair of sin, but you can enjoy the light of righteousness through Jesus Christ’ (p. 27). I commend this commentary as it will prove beneficial for many, for years to come.” Lane Harrison, D.Min., lead pastor, LifePoint Church, Ozark, Missouri “The Gospel of John has no shortage of commentaries, raising the obvious question: what sets this one apart from all the others? The unique contribution of Matt Carter's work is rooted in his personal profile. Carter is both a highly successful church planter and long-tenured pastor who has built and led a large church through text-driven preaching. A church holding forth the truth in the heart of one of the most socially liberal cities in the country. A church that has multiplied itself many times over through planting new churches in their own city and in some of the most difficult countries on the planet. As a trustworthy, twenty-first-century pastor-theologian, Carter has not only produced a commentary, but a sermon and bible study starter for preachers and teachers seeking to accurately interpret and prophetically apply the Word of God to this radically changing culture.” Nathan Lino, senior pastor, Northeast Houston Baptist Church; president, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention “This commentary on John is incredibly practical. Written from a pastor's heart, it provides both deep theological insight and practical application. Both ministers of the gospel and people in the pew need this work!” Jerry McCorkle, executive director, SpreadTruth Ministries, Bloomington, Illinois “As a pastor for more than twenty-one years, I appreciate a commentary that stands on solid scholarship while at the same time fitting comfortably in the pulpit. Any pastor, teacher, or small group leader will be able to open this book and find a Christ-centered resource at their fingertips which will enhance their preaching or teaching ministry. In fact, any believer reading this Christ-centered exposition will find themselves learning more about the Lord Jesus Christ and His place in Scripture. The Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series seeks to exalt Jesus. This volume succeeds in meeting that goal!” Eric Peacock, D.Min., senior pastor, Westchester Baptist Church, High Point, North Carolina “As the church navigates an age of profound confusion and doubt, the Gospel of John serves as an immoveable anchor. This commentary is an invaluable tool for believers in understanding and applying God’s Word to our lives as we combat the litany of competing worldviews that surround us. This work remains faithful to the timeless truth of Scripture while challenging contemporary issues in a thoughtful manner. Believers will be well-served by using this book to supplement their efforts to delight in God’s Word and to live by faith in Jesus, the Savior of the world.” Kevin Peck, lead pastor, The Austin Stone Community Church, Austin, Texas “John said the purpose of his Gospel was ‘so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name’ (20:31). This volume is a literary GPS in helping us arrive at that place. Carter and Wredberg wed exegetical integrity with sermonic beauty, and they combine historical accuracy with contemporary relevance, all to show us Jesus. Pastors, teachers, and all who love the Bible and its Christ will be helped greatly by this work.” Jim Shaddix, Ph.D., D.Min., W. A. Criswell Professor of Expository Preaching, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina “Josh and Matt have given us a gospel-fueled treatment of John. You will discover, as I have, that this volume exposes areas you thought you had conquered. Worship your way through this exposition by these two Christ–Centered Ninjas.” Kyle Shearin, D.Min., pastor of preaching and vision, Faith Family Church, Oak Grove, Kentucky




Harper's New Monthly Magazine


Book Description

Important American periodical dating back to 1850.




Foolish Hearts


Book Description

A contemporary novel about a girl whose high school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream leads her to new friends—and maybe even new love.




the quiver


Book Description




Harper's New Monthly Magazine


Book Description

Harper's Magazine made its debut in June 1850, the brainchild of the prominent New York book-publishing firm Harper & Brothers. Harper's Magazine, the oldest general-interest monthly in America, explores the issues that drive our national conversation, through long-form narrative journalism and essays, and such celebrated features as the iconic Harper's Index. With its emphasis on fine writing and original thought Harper's provides readers with a unique perspective on politics, society, the environment, and culture.