Life Lessons on Hope and Survival
588429
Much like eavesdropping on a conversation, "3 Lifetimes in 1" by Mark Wayne Allen, introduces the reader to a man and his life and times in a way that breeds familiarity. The starts and stops in Mark's writing style are not unlike conversations you and I might have while reminiscing about our past. Mark's beliefs, character and resilience is starkly evident as he shares some intimately personal life experiences. His story is certainly a testament to never giving up on life with dramatic life lessons on hope and survival.
481158
An amazing story of survival and will to live!  An excellent book
776292
This book illustrates the hope and change that can come out of tragedy.
A mother raising daughters in a chaotic world, whether because of addiction or mental illness, and near-sociopathic self-involvement would  crush most children.  Sonnenburg uses her life experience with an emotionally vacant mother to resurrect herself and create a new life for herself and for her children.

 Sonnenburg's ability to create her own life, and finally accept her mother's inability to 'be there', reminds me of Alice Miller's words;  "...for the human soul is virtually indestructible and its ability to rise from the ashes remains as long as the body draws breath."

  This author shows courage in finding her own adult life out of harsh experiences.  When family members are destructive, it is okay to leave them, in my view.
Then healing can happen.

  The book is well put together.  Very readable and an inspiration to anyone who has destructive parents (OR siblings) in their lives.

  Worth reading !
4935736
How to Survive:  The Extraordinary Resilience of Ordinary People by Andy Steiner is not a fluff book. Its a book of raw stories and grit. Through a series of interviews, Steiner explores numerous life traumas including losing a job, bankruptcy, surviving radical changes in a loved one after injury or a stroke; and the death of a spouse or child. She doesnt sugar coat. She digs deep for what helped each person go on, day after day, in the midst of tremendous sorrow and change, and then offers concrete survival tips for every scenario. This short book will help struggling people feel connected and hopeful again, and might possibly provide a lifeline to some.
1232237
Even though I've not finished reading 'Les Misrables', I thoroughly enjoyed Bob Welch's companion book called '52 Little Lessons from Les Misrables'.

He shares the strengths of Hugo's masterpiece, and stresses areas that clearly point to hope, and mercy in the midst of devastating circumstances.

I love the way Welch shares personal stories of his own struggles.  He says we "give up our true riches to the things we unconsciously consider our saviors.  Work as savior, for example.  How easily we live as if getting things done is that which sustains us.  If I could live my life again---I'm fifty-nine as I write this---it is the thing I'd want to change most:  the pace at which I've lived."

And 'Les Misrables' is the perfect book to encourage a person to appreciate the little things---the joys.  It's a book full of pain, but mostly of redemption.  Welch's book helps the reader to see that.

(i received this book free to review from booklookbloggers)
1624651
Desperate Hope is the story of the tragic death of 23 year old Rick Pearson, brother to the author, Candi Pearson-Shelton.

Rick Pearson's life was taken by leukemia in 2005, and he left behind not only his immediate family, but his fiancee' Suzanne.  Candi writes about her personal struggle related to her brother's death and how her faith was rocked.  Losing her brother caused Candi to ask a lot of questions and it also helped her solidify her faith in Christ.  This book details her journey and ability to find hope mixed with faith and in the end, proclaim that God is faithful - no matter what.  I found this book to be a beautiful expression of Candi's faith and trust in God, and also a moving tribute to her brother.  What I found most inspiring about this book was at the very end  (Page 223).  Candi writes that all of the profits from the sale of this book are going to her brother's memorial fund, called Legacy.

Legacy supports various interests and organizations that Rick supported when he was alive - to learn more about this fund, visit [...]
522960
The idea of Disney World was the hope that kept a young boy struggling on as his family's poverty quickly reduced them to homelessness, a burning ember of hope.  The lessons learned in that childhood later transform the man into an advocate for the poor, the outcast, and the homeless.

An engaging read bouncing between the Author's childhood homelessness, his current advocacy for the poor and homeless in Pensacola, Florida, and the transition from the powerlessness of a homeless childhood into the eye-opening confusion of parenthood and community activism.  Chapters present a theme, broken into sections that bounce back and forth in related events.  I normally don't sit down and read a book through, but I did read "Chasing the mouse" cover to cover in one sitting.  While Love thy neighbour is very evident in the telling, the book isn't really focusing on the religious aspect - He's not preaching here, just telling you what it felt like, and the changes those experiences can make in a person.

I plan on purchasing a few extra copies to give to family and friends.
883500
This book is so incredibly inspiring!  The lessons Todd learned through some really tough experiences have given me truly valuable tools as I move forward with challenges in my life.  It's tough to imagine being hit by a boat as a teenager and having your legs and body mangled, and then having your leg amputated seven years later because of infections.  He dealt with identity struggles and learned amazing lessons about the greatness within each of us, and how patience and love help you find peace and forgiveness in the midst of some very difficult relationships, including his wife who took all of his money and left him after obtaining her citizenship papers.  He talks about overcoming drug addiction after becoming hooked on pain killers and how he never let obstacles keep him from pursuing his goals.  His world-record mountain climbing expedition led to his further discovery of some very novel ideas, like the unreality of fear and the rewards that come from staying on your life-path.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great book that teaches valuable life lessons through a compelling and inspirational story!
4915341
Tuesday's with Morrie is a great book that encompasses many valuable lessons that most people don't have the opportunity to learn in a lifetime. One cannot finish this book without feeling some sense of pride in humanity and an urge to do more for others as well as make more of their own life. The story of a man in his last days that wishes to remain optimistic and create a journal of his life through another person is inspiring to us all. May the arteries of friendship forever endow us all and may we all learn from the lessons this wonderful book beholds.
4687319
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/I-Will-Not-Be-Broken-Five-Steps-to-Overcoming-a-Life-Crisis/dp/031236895X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">I Will Not Be Broken: Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis</a>

Just finished reading I Will Not Be Broken by Jerry White and this is an amazingly uplifting and hope-filled book.

In 1984, Jerry White lost his leg in a landmine accident while on vacation in Israel. He later became a co-founder of the Landmine Survivors Network, which has recently changed it's name and broadened it's mission to become Survivor Corps

The book is a compilation of Jerry's own experiences and the lessons learned in surviving by many other people he's met, and it's subtitled "5 Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis".

The book breaks down the keys to surviving and Thriving during that survival, into the 5 steps,which you can find listed on the website for the book, and for me, that was part of why I felt the book would be such an invaluable tool for anyone recovering from a cataclysmic loss in their life. Because of my volunteer work with Soldiers Angels , I was particularly thinking of wounded soldiers while I was reading this book.

Many wounded soldiers refer to the day they almost lost their life in combat as their "Alive Day", and although Jerry doesn't use that term in his book, I found this sentence on page 7 that seems to epitomize what "Alive Day" means...." I want to encourage all of us to honor our toughest dates - the tragedies that bind us - in an effort to transform victimhood into survivorship."

The book does a wonderful job, in my opinion, of giving practical advice for How to "transform victimhood into survivorship",and is also filled with the stories of How so many Other survivors of tragedies have done exactly that.

It's an easy read, and I would recommend it highly to anyone who is currently facing a life-altering tragedy in their life, or the life of someone close to them.
4274670
A book for all who have lost a loved one, or endured the cruelty of life.  There is hope out there and always signs
1970004
The Author does not sugar-coat circumstances in life. She uses her personal experiences as well as scripture to point the way to finding and living in hope.
478956
Scott's achingly candid description of his belated recognition of how his father's abandonment of the family had affected his behavior with others holds within it some universally valuable lessons on how to grow outgrow negative reactions to past experiences and into proactively choosing the kind of person you want to be now - with and for others. He writes, for example, "It was only later, in my twenties, that I noticed the effects the sad seed of those early years had planted. Why did I love to argue? Why did I hate to lose? Why did I share so little with people I was close with? "

Framing these lessons from experiences from his own life - and from our culture (including movies and legends) --pulls us into examining our own hot buttons and considering why and how we want to live a more noble, positively meaningful life.  Notably, he secured permission from both his parents to share these experiences in this helpful, ultimately uplifting book. I found this book to be an ideal companion to Rachel Naomi Remen's classic, My Grandfather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging
1462460
I found the book inspirational and helpful, exciting and sad - and because these survivors all share this bond in different ways, they tell their tales here in a great way.  None of these people live ordinary lives, each one carries "luggage."  Some contributors are stars in their professions - but in each instance, there are great "take-aways," examples by which any reader can "step-up" in their own lives, either when a momentary shadow falls on their lives or tragedy strikes, either short or long term.  Personally, the most interesting aspect of the book is that many of the contributors share closely-held thoughts and feelings with each other, oftentimes, not realizing they share these close bonds.

There are many, many worthwhile quotes and thoughts from the book and I'll share one by Judge Karen Friedman, "To me, my (grand)parents and their generation were unbelievable heroes. The strength of spirit that it took to emerge from utter desolation, to arrive in a strange new land, and to rebuild is unimaginable. (Kindle Locations 1023-1024)."
2890977
Living life may bring challenges - but working through them yields gifts of love, compassion and strength of soul. The lessons that Kevin wrote about in his book, and expressed on my Bringing Inspiration To Earth radio show, demonstrate that no matter what circumstances are presented to us ~ we have the capacity to survive and have a more enriched life experience.
3524588
Under a Desert Sky by Lynne Hartke is an inspiring memoir of one woman's journey with cancer. Cancer is the toughest path one finds in life. It takes hold of us, crushing us under its pressure. Sometimes, we feel like we've lost the battle and want to give up. However, this book, redefines hope, beauty, and faith in the hardest places. Lynne Hartke's words grabbed my attention immediately. Her words made me cry and feel that hope never dies. Pain only makes one stronger. Beautifully written by a survivor, who went through it all. Pain, grief, and hope. Overall, I deeply recommend this memoir to all.

(I got this copy from the publisher. This, is my honest review.)
1209372
We all face set-backs in life at one time or another. Whether it be an economic downturn, new and greater competition, negative associations, you name it, life is full of challenges. We all face them, and we all must decide on how to face them. That is the crucial part. In Jon Gordon's little parable, THE SHARK AND THE GOLDFISH, we learn about Gordy, the goldfish. In a sudden series of events, Gordy finds himself no longer in the comfortable confines of his fishbowl, but loose in a vast ocean of uncertainty. Luckily for Gordy, he finds a mentor in Sammy the Shark.

Gordy learns lessons from Sammy we all need to learn and apply to our everyday lives, both personal and professional. Author Jon Gordon does a terrific job of presenting valuable lessons in an entertaining way. For me, the part I liked most was a short but concise lesson on the commonalities and differences in faith and fear, the effects of each, and how to leave fear behind and replace it with faith. This little lesson alone is more than worth the price of this little book.

I'm looking forward to introducing this story at my next meeting. There are some great training tools here on positive ways to not only face change (in an ever changing world) but how to come out on top of change and make that change work to your benefit.

If you're looking for a quick and easy read that will change focus and outlook, this is it. I have several employees who all but refuse to read. This one can easily be digested in about an hour, so it perfect for non-readers to get them on the right track and create a positive change for them.