Very powerful and versatitle
588264
This little unit is very powerful and able to do a lot of different things. I am currently using it as a wireless media access device on my tv and pulling back video files from my network storage. Its great.
46540
It is very powerful and gets the reader right where they need to be. It is very well written. It'll definitely be one I re-read many times. The author knows what we all need to hear and makes it very easy to read.
1814502
This book is so powerful yet so different than anything I have read before. The concept of unwinding is chilling yet compelling. The idea that a parent could have the option to 'unwind' their child anytime between the ages of 13 and 18 is so bizarre yet makes sense in the world this book created. Unwinding is the process of dividing up a person into parts and using/selling the parts to other people (sort of like extreme transplants...an entire leg/arm, bits of brain matter and organs are all discussed in the book). 99.4% of the person is 'kept alive' in a 'divided' state. It also touches on the idea of what is life?

I normally don't like books that jump viewpoints (this book is told mainly through the eyes of Connor (a troubled teen who's parents have chosen to have him unwound), Risa (a ward of the state who is being unwound because of budget cuts) and Lev (who's parents concieved him and raised him in the knowledge that he was a tithe (to be unwound in order to provide parts as a service to God)). But the viewpoint switchers were seamless and each individual had such a great story to tell that it didn't bother me (there are also other chapters told from the eyes of minor characters or groups...each change is clearly labeled and easy to follow). There's also some very moving chapters and well-rounded characters who grow and change as the story progresses. I also liked how each 'villian' still had good qualities and how the 'heros' were still flawed.

My few complaints were from what I didn't see. I wanted more details in the evolution of Risa and Connor's relationship. There's also a part of the book where the author leaves Lev for a while and then returns to him with something to the effect of where Lev had been and how he got there didn't matter as much as where his thoughts were at that moment. In this spanse of time Lev has changed radically yet we see nothing of this change. We see the start of his change in his time with Cy-Fy-Ty (a great chapter) but we're not shown what happens and how those actions change Lev. While it wasn't vital to the story (and the story is good and sound without it) I think it would have made the story stronger to see Lev's evolution.

I was also facinated by the storking concept (a mother can leave her child on the doorstep of a stranger and walk away without punishment and the child becomes the responsibility of the homeowners whether they want another child or not) but it did raise a question. If the person who is storked is responsible for any child they find on their doorstep, how do children end up wards of the state like Risa? If people who are storked can simply turn the child over to the state, why are they so upset about being storked (and why does Connor's family/neighbors react the way they do?). It's a small thing but it was something I wish had been answered.

This story will make people talk and I can see how it could divide people (think of how much abortion divides people today!) but I think it's interesting and well-written. I would recommend anyone who likes a good story, anyone who likes dystopian novels and anyone who just wants something different. You won't be disappointed.
263184
Powerful and life changing. At a loss for words adequate to describe how helpful this book has been in my life.
3040850
As a recovered alcoholic, an agnostic and a recently out of the closet older man, I found this novel to be extraordinarily powerful. It impacted me both emotionally and intellectually.

I have never personally experienced the power of the loving bond described here between these two men. However, I found myself yearning for them to be able to live together and seal their love in marriage.

Campbell's empathy and skill in painting the alternate environments in which his two lovers exist seems extraordinary to me. Charlie has evolved a comfortable, secure life as an openly gay man. Ben is deeply rooted in his fundamentalist Christian church, his family and his work. Campbell's sensitivity in describing both these worlds makes the book feel very realistic.

Finally, although the novel makes a powerful case for same sex relationships and marriage it feels more sad than angry.
I highly recommend it.
598681
This is a powerful and poignant book to read. It is very easy to read, but a hard subject to deal with. I like the way the author allows the clergyman to reveal his character through his love letters to her.  You can tell by his writings what an intelligent and seemingly God-fearing man he is/was.  That's what makes his choices so hard to accept. The lesson for me from this book is of the importance of maintaining a vibrant and intimate relationship with the Lord.  As much as we should love our husbands, we should love God more. I plan to use this book to challenge the ladies in my Bible Study to do that very thing. None of us knows what the future holds and we need to be ready to honor our Lord by the way we handle the challenges and trials that come our way. The author has done that in this book.  Thank you for showing us how God can be our strength through the pain as He heals our broken hearts.
4217610
First of all, let me say that I am the guy that you don't want standing behind you in Church. I have got to be in the lower 10% of the population as it relates to natural musical abilities and listening to me sing is actually quite painful. Having said that, there has always been a certain power that music seems to have over me. It is powerful in that it does something to me. Music affects my emotions in a very unique way that other experiences don't. I have spent time asking the questions of why and exploring certain answers mostly found in popular culture, but there has never been a satisfactory explanation for me. In comes Begbie's book. Much of the technical side of the book was very foreign to me, in fact it was almost like reading a foreign language at times. However, the central message of the book awakened something in me that I hope will lead to an increased appreciation for music, a new immersion into a gift that has been given by God to help us understand his world and ultimately himself in deeper ways and a new perspective to reflect on theological subjects. This book was hard work for me to get through, but it really was worth it. I could say much more, but I will leave more technical reviews to the experts and just say that this is a book that can be read by non-technical people and that they can benefit greatly from it. Thanks Jeremy!
3550616
This writing is very powerful in it's frankness of the power of the literal name of 'Jesus' over the forces of darkness.  Well written with interviews and statistics. "Be not afraid" isn't just a title of a book it is a quote from scripture referencing the fact that all followers of Crist are given authority over the, all, powers of the devil, 'darkness'

This book details real world accounts of that power and authority in very logical and frsnk 'real life' examples. This is not a book written by 'hand wringers for hsnd wringers' This is a book written by 'worriors" to other 'worriors'  Excelent manual re:defeating powers/forces of dstkness. Highly recomended for all believers and non believers alike! !
4416440
Someone gave me this book to read, and I couldn't recommend it more highly.  The concepts are simple, as is the format of the novel, but very powerful.  It changed the way I look at life and helped conquer some behaviors I've half-heartedly tried to change for years.  I have since given copies of this book to my family, my friends and 15 of my direct reports at work.  Everyone should read this book.
3817443
The title does not do justice to the depth of insights and practical advice in this book.  Maybe that's one of the points.  One's best self promotion is not to "promote", it's to be yourself, take actions that come from within, and help.  Bruce Kasanoff does this, which is why his writing is so powerful.
1278372
Think and Grow Rich has long been a powerful classic that is read by ALL those who are in the human potential movement.  However, this edition is very special, very powerful, and very necessary due to the blank, lined margins on the sides of each and every page.

You can pick up this book, and open a page at random and read.  I challenge you to NOT get an idea, a goal, a thought worth writing down and acting on...if you do it in the book, right where your idea came from, you will capture the Universe's message to you.  This is so powerful and so simple.  I am so thankful to have taken this course to learn about this book.
2061546
While this book is small and very easy to read, it is packed with powerful lessons.  While some may seem common sense, it's these things that we tend to take granted and believe that we are doing.  I read the book for the first time just as an overview but the second time went in to digest the words. Don't judge the power of the content by the size of the book.  This is a great reminder to many of us in the things that can make you successful.
3238152
A quick scan of the chapter titles is enough to pull you into this book. Once you begin reading it, you cannot put it down. This is one of the most powerfully written self-help books that I have come across. The analogies are so picturesque that they will remain in your mind long after you finish reading the book. I would definitely recommend this book for BOTH women and men, it is not only beautifully written and well thought out but it is also very motivational and will change your life and your relationship with your mate(or potential mate) and God forever! I am forever grateful to Reginald Bell for his insights and candor.
2082886
Do You Believe? is a powerful story of how one question will ultimately change the lives of people all over the city of Chicago, including a pregnant and homeless teenager, a couple of kids in a gang, a soldier, a suicidal woman, an elderly couple grieving the loss of their only child, a parolee, a homeless woman and her daughter, a paramedic, a nurse, a doctor, an attorney, and a pastor and his wife.

The question is this: Do you believe in the cross of Christ?

To Pastor Matthew Wesley, the question seems simple. He IS a pastor so of course the answer is easy, right? But the second half of the question stops him cold.

So what are you going to do about it?

Those simple questions spark a series of events that effect more than a dozen people throughout the city. Told in alternating viewpoints from all of these people, the author weaves a powerful story of how God works in the lives of those who believe. The viewpoint changes were hard to follow at times due to all of the characters involved, but once I got a handle on all of the players it became easy to follow. I was excited to see how the story would play out and how the author would weave all of the different character arcs together to a final conclusion. The ending did not disappoint! It was dramatic and powerful. However, for me it was very quick and tidy. There were a couple of things that needed further development and explanation.

This book has been made into a major motion picture by Pure Flix and I am excited to see this book come to life on the big screen.

Great book with a powerful message  I highly recommend it!
2937149
This book is full of wisdom. The absolute best section for me was the focused attention on empowering your team. In business, unless there is a unified culture the chance for success is very small.

Creating the systems, collaborating strategies together, then assessing the results. There are so many ways how not to run a business. But I think there are key fundamentals that make all successful businesses become that way.

Oh, haand the letters. This was very unorthodox. I applaud the courage, because they really resonate a fathers love.
4883592
This book is great! However, it's all about what you put into it. My approach to the book was to just read it first and digest Sonia's storyline. Her stories are really powerful. I found it to be too much to read it and then try and roll through with the rituals. Now that I have read the book, I am now going back  and moving through the rituals on  a weekly basis, as some do seem a little odd. Depending on your personality you may have to work your way up to writing a song or creating those little positive notes and placing them around your home. So right now I am making myself flexible and open to the rituals. One that I found most powerful in the very beginning was identifying my fears and lighting the paper and burning it. Very powerful, once I seemed to identify my negative mindsets toward myself I realized that the progress began with me identifying and calling out my fears and insecurities. This book is filled with wisdom, but you have to act in order for this Creative Law to work!
3258177
THE POWER AND THE GLORY

I was listening to a new song by The Cult entitled `This Night in the City and Forever,' when it climaxed with the lines "The power and the glory...the glory and the power."  It was dramatic, and I was attracted to those lines and the spirit of the song.

I Googled those words and found this book.  It immediately sparked my interest, and although I have no proof the book inspired the song, the song seems consistent with the message of this book.  Plus, knowing a lot about the band, it makes sense.

In my opinion, the book is about the glory and the power, as the title suggests.  The glory is the glory of God and as man can represent that.  The power is also the power of God, and as man can represent that.

This is definitely about more than just particular characters and material things.  Mortality is ever present in the story.  We are reminded of death all the time.  The vultures are always looking down to remind us of death.  They are always watching the scene waiting for death which is implicitly always possible.  This is to remind us of our humble station in the greater story.

If not for my recent review of Buddhism, I may not have recognized so clearly that pride is depicted here as a primary means by which true spiritual transcendence is prevented.  The unnamed Priest says at one point that Pride is the Worst.  Perhaps he went unnamed throughout to highlight that exact point, to remove the greater I from this central character.

While a certain time and place in history is used as a backdrop, it is really concerned with universal juggling act we try and continue between our egos, guilt, shame and the ever-present potential for forgiveness and redemption...the power...and the glory.

The book's overall style also seems to reinforce this theme--it is understated and subtle. Symbols are littered throughout.  A second or third re-read would hurt anybody!

Five Stars *****