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The 100 Best Volunteer Vacations to Enrich Your Life
by Pam GroutTravel industry experts report that more and more people are combining vacations with volunteer work—the growing phenomenon called "voluntourism." Professionals predict this will be a key growth area for years to come; the voluntourists themselves find it a rewarding activity, good for body and soul. And nobody provides such a fun, inviting overview of the possibilities as savvy travel writer Pam Grout in the latest title in our 100 Best Vacations series. With its elegant two-color design, playful cover, and winningly positive goal, it’s a travel guide with heart, inexpensive yet inspiring—an ideal gift book for people who care to share. From building houses in Appalachia to saving sea turtles in Costa Rica to teaching English in Thailand, this book is a rich resource of ways to use your skills to help out the world and reap some lasting benefits yourself. Like its two predecessors, it includes an engagingly descriptive menu of choices for tastes and talents of all kinds, along with detailed specifics to turn good intentions into satisfying reality. Throughout, sidebars describe nearby places to visit, little-known facts, and more, providing depth and variety, while a comprehensive resource listing gives additional information about the different organizations offering volunteer vacations.
Spiritual Bypassing
by Robert Augustus MastersSpiritual bypassing--the use of spiritual beliefs to avoid dealing with painful feelings, unresolved wounds, and developmental needs--is so pervasive that it goes largely unnoticed. The spiritual ideals of any tradition, whether Christian commandments or Buddhist precepts, can provide easy justification for practitioners to duck uncomfortable feelings in favor of more seemingly enlightened activity. When split off from fundamental psychological needs, such actions often do much more harm than good.While other authors have touched on the subject, this is the first book fully devoted to spiritual bypassing. In the lineage of Chögyam Trungpa's landmark Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, Spiritual Bypassing provides an in-depth look at the unresolved or ignored psychological issues often masked as spirituality, including self-judgment, excessive niceness, and emotional dissociation. A longtime psychotherapist with an engaging writing style, Masters furthers the body of psychological insight into how we use (and abuse) religion in often unconscious ways. This book will hold particular appeal for those who grew up with an unstructured new-age spirituality now looking for a more mature spiritual practice, and for anyone seeking increased self-awareness and a more robust relationship with themselves and others.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Beyond the Matrix
by Patricia CoriThose concerned with the current eco-crisis most often look only to scientists and politicians for solutions. In this important book, Patricia Cori invites another, overlooked group--perhaps the most important one--to join the discussion. Beyond the Matrix collects some of the most provocative, forward-thinking interviews conducted on Cori's radio show of the same name, bringing together leaders in various fields of alternative thinking to propose new and exciting perspectives on the future of humanity as we approach the potentially life-changing 2012.Beyond the Matrix offers a portrait of a refreshingly optimistic future in a time when we are bombarded with an apocalypse scenario as the future of our civilization. The book features no-holds-barred, in-depth interviews with such renowned thinkers as New York Times best-selling author and theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, whom many call the Einstein of our times; respected UFO and ET investigator Stanton Friedman; radical Egyptologist Stephen Mehler; former astronaut and the sixth man on the moon Dr. Edgar Mitchell; crop circle expert Andy Thomas; intuitive physicist MaAnna Stephensen; Paradigm Research Group director Stephen Bassett; founder of bluevoice.org Hardy Jones; and nine others. The probing conversations cover a bracing range of subjects, from string theory, UFO and extraterrestrial life, crop circles, and ecology to healing, Egyptian mysticism, ascension, and other significant topics that swirl in our minds as we face a new paradigm for human exploration, where spirit and science finally merge. With its blend of fascinating dialogue and higher ideals, Beyond the Matrix offers both hope and reassurance in these challenging times.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Stress Relief for Men
by Jed DiamondDepression, fatigue, chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, anger, and irritability: these are just some of the toxic effects of stress. Stress Relief for Men introduces energy healing techniques based on ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science that are designed to neutralize stress so that you can regain inner strength and power in your life--without talk therapy or drugs. According to preeminent heart surgeon and author Mehmet Oz, MD, "The next big frontier in medicine is energy medicine." This essential resource provides the most scientifically sound tools from this emerging new field applied to the most pressing problems facing men today. Learn how to: * Eradicate depression, anxiety, anger, and irritability * Improve your love life--including better communication with your partner * Eliminate chronic pain, reduce inflammation, and sleep better * Develop peace of mind, greater well-being, and a passion for lifeThis book teaches you how to apply these proven energy healing "power tools": * Earthing (Grounding)--healing through connection with the Earth's surface energy * Heart Coherence--heart-based breathing and visualization techniques * Attachment Love--activating healthy connection in relationships * Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT/Tapping)--described as an emotional version of acupunctureThe ultimate goal of these practices is health, vitality, and empowerment--so that you can successfully navigate relationships, skillfully face life's challenges, and enjoy your life!
CodeNotes for C#
by Gregory BrillCodeNotes provides the most succinct, accurate, and speedy way for a developer to ramp up on a new technology or language. Unlike other programming books, CodeNotes drills down to the core aspects of a technology, focusing on the key elements needed in order to understand it quickly and implement it immediately. It is a unique resource for developers, filling the gap between comprehensive manuals and pocket references. CodeNotes for C# illustrates Microsoft's new language for the . NET platform, emphasizing syntax features and object-oriented concepts. Major capabilities of the . NET platform, including the Common Language Runtime (CLR), Base Class Libraries (BCL), and Assemblies, are also covered, as are popular . NET services such as ADO. NET, web services, and ASP. NET. This book is aimed at the experienced developer (Java, VB, C++, etc. ) who wants to learn the C# language and evaluate its new features. This edition of CodeNotes includes: * A global overview of this technology and explanation of what problems it can be used to solve * Real-world examples * "How and Why" sections that provide hints, tricks, workarounds, and tips on what should be taken advantage of or avoided * Instructions and classroom-style tutorials throughout from expert trainers and software developers
Your Voice in My Head
by Emma ForrestA dazzling and devastating memoir -- Girl Interrupted for the Juno generation.Talented, prolific and charming, Emma Forrest was settled in Manhattan at twenty-two and on contract to the Guardian when she realized that her quirks had gone beyond eccentricity, past the warm waters of weird and into those cold, deep patches of the sea where people lose their lives.Lonely, in a dangerous cycle of cutting and bulimia, and drawn inexplicably to damaging and cruel relationships, she found herself in the chair of a slim, balding and effortlessly optimistic psychiatrist -- a man whose wisdom and humanity would wrench her from the vibrant and dangerous tide of herself, and who would help her to recover when she tried to end her life.Emma's loving and supportive family and friends circled around her in panic. Like Ophelia, Emma was on the brink of drowning. But she was also still working, still exploring, still writing. And then she fell in love.One day, when Emma called to make an appointment with her psychiatrist, she found no one there. He had died, shockingly, at the age of fifty-three, leaving behind a young family for whom he had fought to survive. Processing the premature doorstep, a failed suicide, she was adrift. And when her significant and all-consuming relationship also fell apart, she was forced to cling to the page for survival.Your Voice in My Head is spiked with wit, humour and unique perception. It not only explores the crashing weight of depression, mania and suffering, but also the beauty of love and the heartbreak of loss. It is also, fundamentally, about our relationship with ourselves.From the Hardcover edition.
Stuff Every College Student Should Know
by Blair ThornburghFrom the best-selling series of how-to guides comes Stuff Every College Student Should Know, the ultimate reference for every part of campus life. Packed with tips, tricks, and handy lists, the book gives college kids the lowdown on everything from pulling all-nighters to navigating dorm room drama to actually doing their own laundry. Covering everything from move-in day to graduation, this pocket-size handbook is the perfect gift for high-school seniors . . . because textbooks can teach you only so much.
The Real Win: A Man's Quest for Authentic Success
by Colt Mccoy Matt Carter"I can't speak highly enough about the way this book addresses manhood in our culture. Biblically challenging and radically applicable, it honestly addresses the deepest longings and fears a man faces." --Matt ChandlerPrepare for a paradigm-shifting view of biblical manhood.Every man wants to succeed. But for so many, life seems to get in the way. We all have friends--good men, followers of Christ even--who start out well but before long, they're failing at relationships, bending ethical standards, or driving themselves so hard at work they're losing the hearts of their wife and kids.In The Real Win, Colt McCoy and Matt Carter wrestle deeply and personally with this challenge, then deliver down-to-earth, biblical answers. Based on their personal experiences and a close study of Scripture, McCoy and Carter show men:* Why so much depends on who you trust and who you serve* Why every man is called to lead and why every man can* How to man up to temptation--and conquer it* How to fi nd the "win" even in your biggest failure"The real win means trusting the Lord and walking with Jesus no matter what," write Matt and Colt. "That kind of faithfulness is possible for any man who follows God with all his heart. No matter what circumstances threaten him, a faithful man is the most truly confi dent man in the room."COMPLETE WITH PRACTICAL STUDY GUIDE FOR PERSONAL OR SMALL GROUP USE.From the Hardcover edition.
The Butterfly Experience
by Karen Whitelaw-SmithChange is one of life's absolute certainties, but so many of us are held back by a fear of the unknown, by constant procrastination and by living in the shadow of negative thinking about what the future holds for us. This book shows us how to bring positive energy into our life by breaking out of the cocoon, shifting our focus from the negative and embracing change. Written by life coach, clinical hypnotherapist and healer Karen Whitelaw-Smith, The Butterfly Experience reveals how changing your mindset, focusing on abundance, living in the present and learning the skills of relaxation will help you overcome your fears and become the person you deserve to be. The book offers a wealth of practical tools such as visualizations, meditations and affirmations to help you to forget about past mistakes and habits and find the inspiration for change deep within yourself. Learn how to take responsibility for your own thoughts, stop waiting for the miracle that will make you happy, and trust your intuition rather than looking to other people for approval.The journey from caterpillar to butterfly is full of profound transformations and stubborn obstacles to overcome, but this book shows us that if we continue to focus on what we don't want, or on what makes us fearful, then we are certain to stay where we are and we will never experience the exciting challenges and wonders that lie ahead. Apply the groundbreaking techniques of The Butterfly Experience and discover the key to a healthy, happier life.
Magical Animals at Bedtime
by Lou KuenzlerFrom Aesop's Fables to shamanic totems, animals have long been at the centre of our imaginative world, providing wise insights. In many tribal cultures, animals underpin the spiritual world and are honoured as advisers. This delightful new collection of stories at bedtime features inspiring, funny and enlightening animals from all over the world. Here you will find the firefly who can't find his fire, the baby kangaroo who's ashamed he hasn't yet learned to hop and a condor who lives atop a temple at Machu Picchu in Peru and helps to rescue a lost girl. You will also discover amazing legendary creatures including a fire-breathing dragon who just wants a friend and a beautiful unicorn who teaches a spoilt princess the joy of sharing. The stories will not only excite your child's imagination: they also explore issues your child may well encounter in his or her daily life, including coping with shyness and managing change. 'Magical Messages' at the end of each tale help to highlight its positive message.Designed to be read either by parents to their children or by children on their own, these lovely narratives focus the child's mind and provide a soothing transition into sleep or to give food for thought during daytime reading.
The Power of Acceptance
by Annemarie PostmaThe "Wheelchair Supermodel" is back with an Inspirational Book on the Power of Acceptance What if, starting today, you stopped thinking in terms of lack and imperfection? What if you stopped trying to change reality with the power of our thoughts and intention? What if you no longer thought that everything needs to be fixed, healed or improved? In her new book, The Power of Acceptance, Postma (author of The Deeper Secret and The Secret Within) explores the mental and emotional blocks that keep us from true joy. She writes, "Rarely has anything in my life gone the way I had hoped, expected or thought. There have been some heavy blows. However, in hindsight, I can see that everything turned out just as it should have." Calling upon many wisdom traditions and her own hard-won insights, Postma traces a gentle path that will lead to the renewal of your mind and spirit. She writes, "To embrace reality is an act of total renewal. When we dare to see things as they truly are it immediately brings us a feeling of liberation, strength and healing. Therefore it is no coincidence that Buddhists describe 'experiencing God' as being 'completely present' in reality. To surrender means to let go of the control you think you have in your life. It means releasing your preconceived thoughts and notions about how you think your life should be. It is all about no longer forcing your personal will on reality. In fact, to surrender is a celebration of real freedom." Postma knows whereof she speaks. As a precocious 11 year old with her whole life in front of her, she was struck with a sudden illness that left her wheelchair-bound for the rest of her life. Doctors now believe that she was bit by a virulent tick. Instead of wallowing in misery, however, Postma took it as a wake-up call. "From the beginning," she says, "nothing needed to be 'made bearable' for me. I knew and felt from the start: This is OK." Since then, she has dedicated her life to overcoming obstacles and helping others do the same. She studied law and became the first professional model in Europe with a disability. She has been a goodwill ambassador of the Netherlands Foundation for Handicapped Children and speaks frequently across northern Europe on issues of self-esteem and self-respect. Postma is also known for her gentle critique of the hit book, The Secret. In her two previous titles she urged readers to trust the workings of the Universe rather than try to change them or to manifest a different reality. In her latest book she continues the theme and engages in conversations with some of the best-known spirituality writers about it. With Gregg Braden she has a dialog on life; with Lynn McTaggart she discusses the idea that life is not a fight that needs to be won; and with Dr. Eric Pearl she converses about reconnecting with the cosmic frequencies. Writes Postma, "Spirituality is nothing more than giving up your resistance to what is. Living spiritually is daring to see what is in front of you and daring to experience your life as it is right now. And experience means conquering our greatest human fear: living as a complete human being."
Yoga Meditation
by Stephen Sturgess"All yoga practices are preparation for focusing the mind during meditation," notes renowned yogi Stephen Sturgess. In his new book, Sturgess demonstrates how to use a wide range of yoga meditation practices as a portal to higher consciousness. Initial chapters explain what yoga meditation is and why it is so useful in our busy, modern lives. Here, Sturgess gives insight into the Eight Limbs of Yoga (an established approach to the successive stages of yoga) and enlightens us on the workings of our internal energy system - all of which lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the practices to come. Sturgess then guides us through the key seated meditation postures and a range of helpful mudras (hand gestures) and bandhas (energetic seals) before going on to offer clear, step-by-step guidance on a wide choice of the most effective yoga postures, purification practices, breathing exercises and meditation techniques to still the mind and awaken the inner spirit. In the final chapter he recommends how to put these practices together in the form of nourishing daily routines to suit your individual needs, as well as giving advice on how to establish an overall healthy lifestyle, based on ancient Indian health traditions. Beautifully illustrated, highly practical and deeply inspirational, this is the ideal guide to establishing a regular holistic health program. It will allow you to connect with your true divine Inner Self, realize your fullest potential for creative thought and action, and establish balance, harmony and happiness in every aspect of your life.
You Are What You Imagine
by Dina GloubermanThis is a practical book that guides the reader step by step from difficult times through a turning point to a new beginning. Each chapter includes a section entitled Spiritual Gym, which features imagery exercises relevant to that chapter. Dr Glouberman's website will host MP3 downloads to help guide the reader through the exercises. The content is based on a 3-step approach to new beginnings: 1. The catalyst: the life event or inner search that gets the person moving. 2. The turning point: an expansion in perspective on oneself and life. This includes an acceptance of present feelings and situations, a connection with deeper and more stable levels of oneself, and a vision of the possible futures. 3. The new beginning: accepting the vision without expecting to be "happy ever after". The various stages of the process are illustrated through quotes and accounts from interviews with friends and colleagues, as well as prominent figures. Interviewees include Chad Varah, founder of the Samaritans, Gabrielle Roth, Five Rhythms creator, actor Michael York and poet and men's movement founder Robert Bly. The book combines a chatty, approachable and humorous style with original insights of subtlety and depth, as well as state-of-the-art utilisation of imagery throughout.
College Reading and Study Skills
by Kathleen T. Mcwhorter Brette M. SemberCollege Reading and Study Skills teaches reading, critical thinking and study skills for today's diverse students, encouraging them to apply these integrated skill sets to their coursework and future academic success. Kathleen McWhorter wrote College Reading and Study Skills, primarily, for courses that are half reading, half study skills. Emphasizing comprehension and metacognition, College Reading and Study Skills approaches reading and study skills as essential skills necessary for college success. The text focuses on reading and learning as a cognitive process, encouraging students to approach reading as an active mental process of selecting, processing, and organizing information to be learned.
Opening Heaven's Door
by Patricia PearsonFrom the award-winning, groundbreaking author of A Brief History of Anxiety...Yours and Mine comes a touching, exhilarating, challenging exploration of the inexplicable gleamings of another world many of us experience, in life, in grief, and near death. Sparked by extraordinary experiences that occurred in her family when her father and her sister both died in 2008, Patricia Pearson was launched on a journey of investigation into what she calls "a curious sort of modern underground--a world beneath the secular world, inhabited by ordinary human beings having extraordinary experiences that they aren't, on the whole, willing to disclose." Roughly half the bereaved population, about 20% of those near death who recover, and an unreported number of the dying witness or experience a sensed presence, the mystery of near-death awareness, and, if they are not in horrible pain or medicated into unconsciousness, rationally inexplicable feelings of transcendence and grace as they depart on the journey from which none of us return. Pearson brings us effortlessly into her illuminating quest for answers, inspiring us to own up to experiences we may never have shared with anyone. Secular or religious, all of us wonder deeply about these things if we let ourselves, and also about the medical, social and psychological implications of understanding what it means to pass through heaven's door.
A Bigger Prize
by Margaret HeffernanA visionary business writer shows how to acheive success in all areas of life--by not competing for it. Tiger mothers stand by with tutors to make sure schoolchildren keep pace. At college, deepening debt is the only way to stay ahead. In the world of work, bond traders and derivatives sellers push ever-riskier products onto unsuspecting customers, themselves eager to pay for a lifestyle that demonstrates how well they're doing. How did we get sucked into a worldview that has proved so destructive, anti-social and wasteful? Whatever made us believe that competition would reward the smartest people, the greatest products, the best companies? Why do we trust that competitive games, markets and tests will magically identify the just winner? Surrounded by over-complex technology and cheap and tawdry merchandise, how could we imagine that competition is anything other than a forcef or devastation and waste? In her brilliant new book, Margaret Heffernan reveals how blind pursuit of success in business and life limits our opportunities and keeps us from positive choices. She argues that instead of allowing ourselves to be slaves to competition, we should tap into natural reserves of altruism, collaboration and cooperation. Those talents are innate and genetically hardwired, ripe for development, primed for innovation. Drawing on the latest scientific and economic research and her own numerous interviews with everyone from captains of industry to neuroscientists to Olympic athletes, Margaret Heffernan debunks competition as the ultimate answer to our biggest questions. But in doing so she reveals its positive aspects that until now have gone largely unacknowledged. This superbly readable book shows us how to do competition differently--and better--in business and in life.
Hot Commodities
by Jim RogersThe next bull market is here. It's not in stocks. It's not in bonds. It's in commodities -and some smart investors will be riding that bull to record returns in the next decade.Before Jim Rogers hit the road to write his bestselling books Investment Biker and Adventure Capitalist, he was one of the world's most successful investors. He cofounded the Quantum Fund and made so much money that he never needed to work again. Yet despite his success, Rogers has never written a book of practical investment advice-until now. In Hot Commodities, Rogers offers the lowdown on the most lucrative markets for today and tomorrow. In 1998, gliding under the radar, a bull market in commodities began. Rogers thinks it's going to continue for at least fifteen years-and he's put his money where his mouth is: In 1998, he started his own commodities index fund. It's up 165% since then, with more than $200 million invested, and it's the single-best performing index fund in the world in any asset class. Less risky than stocks and less sluggish than bonds,, commodities are where the money is-and will be in the years ahead. Rogers's strategies are simple and straightforward. You can start small-a few thousand dollars will suffice. It's all about putting your money into stuff you understand, the basic materials of everyday life, like coal, sugar, cotton, corn, or crude oil. Once you recognize the cyclical and historical trading patterns outlined here, you'll be on your way.In language that is both colorful and accessible, but Rogers explains why the world of commodity investing can be one of the simplest of all-and how commodities are the bases by which investors can value companies, markets, and whole economies. To be a truly great investor is to know something about commodities.For small investors and high rollers alike, Hot Commodities is as good as gold . . . or lead, or aluminum, which are some of the commodities Rogers says could be as rewarding for investors.From the Hardcover edition.
My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper
by Gabrielle Reece Karen KarboSo you got the guy on the big white horse, and the beautiful little mermaids, and the picket fence, and your life isn' t . . . perfect in every imaginable way? You're not alone. In 1997, Gabrielle Reece married the man of her dreams--professional surfer Laird Hamilton--in a flawless Hawaiian ceremony. Naturally, the couple filed for divorce four years later. In the end they worked it out, but not without the ups and downs, minor hiccups, and major setbacks that beset every modern family. With hilarious stories, wise insights, and concrete takeaways on topics ranging from navigating relationship issues to aging gracefully to getting smart about food, My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper is the brutally honest, wickedly funny, and deeply helpful portrait of the humor, grace, and humility it takes to survive the happily ever after.ns the notion that women can "have it all" on its head. As Gabby dismantles the notion of happily ever after, she gives readers plenty of concrete takeaways about how to deal. She underscores the notion that you have to make yourself happy before you can make anyone else happy. My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper is an irresistible, hilarious, and helpful portrait of the humor, grace, and humility it really takes to stay sane given the challenges of being a modern wife and mother.
Powerful Inspirations
by Kathy IrelandKathy Ireland first gained recognition as a supermodel, but today she is respected for her design talents and business acumen as CEO and Chief Designer of Kathy Ireland Worldwide. Ireland, independent and strong-minded, has an entrepreneurial drive coupled with the desire to break free of the skewed standards of the modeling business, that gave her the impetus she needed to start her own company. Her billion-dollar business began with a line of socks, then apparel, and today it extends into home furnishings, flooring, and accessories designed for women like herself -- busy moms whose top priority is taking care of their families. She also dedicates her energy to a wide range of nonprofit organizations, many of them dedicated to improving the lives of women and children. Powerful Inspirations reveals the sources of Kathy's strengths and enthusiasm, through insightful lessons that form a life-changing plan for her readers. In sharing her plan, Ireland also tells stories from her life, describing her close-knit family, the work ethic her parents taught her, and the sense of compassion they instilled in her. She offers an intimate portrait of her inner life and her spiritual growth, writing movingly of the support and comfort she has found in the Bible and other Christian teachings. She writes movingly of her failures and the lessons she's learned while triumphing over them. Kathy's account of her journey from the beaches of Santa Barbara to the boardroom, from supermodel to successful businesswoman provides readers the inspiration and encouragement to create a rich and rewarding life for themselves.From the Hardcover edition.
The Zen of Creativity
by John Daido LooriFor many of us, the return of Zen conjures up images of rock gardens and gently flowing waterfalls. We think of mindfulness and meditation, immersion in a state of being where meaning is found through simplicity. Zen lore has been absorbed by Western practitioners and pop culture alike, yet there is a specific area of this ancient tradition that hasn't been fully explored in the West. Now, in The Zen of Creativity, American Zen master John Daido Loori presents a book that taps the principles of the Zen arts and aesthetic as a means to unlock creativity and find freedom in the various dimensions of our existence. Loori dissolves the barriers between art and spirituality, opening up the possibility of meeting life with spontaneity, grace, and peace.Zen Buddhism is steeped in the arts. In spiritual ways, calligraphy, poetry, painting, the tea ceremony, and flower arranging can point us toward our essential, boundless nature. Brilliantly interpreting the teachings of the artless arts, Loori illuminates various elements that awaken our creativity, among them still point, the center of each moment that focuses on the tranquility within; simplicity, in which the creative process is uncluttered and unlimited, like a cloudless sky; spontaneity, a way to navigate through life without preconceptions, with a freshness in which everything becomes new; mystery, a sense of trust in the unknown; creative feedback, the systematic use of an audience to receive noncritical input about our art; art koans, exercises based on paradoxical questions that can be resolved only through artistic expression. Loori shows how these elements interpenetrate and function not only in art, but in all our endeavors.Beautifully illustrated and punctuated with poems and reflections from Loori's own spiritual journey, The Zen of Creativity presents a multilayered, bottomless source of insight into our creativity. Appealing equally to spiritual seekers, artists, and veteran Buddhist practitioners, this book is perfect for those wishing to discover new means of self-awareness and expression--and to restore equanimity and freedom amid the vicissitudes of our lives.From the Hardcover edition.
The Best Life Stories
by Editors of Reader's DigestCarefully selected from more than 6,500 essays, this wonderful collection of more than 80 stories reveals pure, common wisdom at its best, shared by ordinary people who look at life in an extraordinary way. From heartbreaking accounts to amusing snapshots, The Best Life Stories will leave you feeling hopeful, resilient, and optimistic that happiness can be found even in the darkest moments. Born out of a Reader's Digest Facebook contest that challenged readers to write their life stories in 150 words or less, this book features the editors' Top Picks, such as the inspirational tale of . . . one father's desolation and the renewal he found in his family's faith and love. one woman's ability to let go of her abusive past after rescuing an abused dog. a mother's pride in a life-changing decision made by her autistic daughter. a breast cancer patient's realization that her identity goes way beyond her diagnosis. a free-spirited woman's choice to live on her own terms. a young girl's proud recognition of her grandfather's simple but profound legacy. Plainspoken and honest, The best Life Stories will help you discover the meaning of life, the simple joy in the every day.
Disturbances of the Mind
by Douwe Draaisma Barbara FastingSergei Korsakoff, Alois Alzheimer, James Parkinson, Hans Asperger and other eminent scientists, are all names which have become synonymous with a disease, a syndrome, or an autistic disorder. Although the names of these psychiatrists and neurologists are familiar, we often know little about the individuals themselves and the circumstances surrounding their discoveries. What exactly did they discover, and who were their patients? Douwe Draaisma expertly reconstructs the lives of these and eight other 'names' from the science of mind and brain. Disturbances of the Mind provides a fascinating, illuminating, and at times touching insight into the history of brain research. Thanks to Draaisma's unerring eye and elegant, engaging style, the case histories of Asperger, Bonnet, Capgras, Clérambault, Korsakoff and Gilles de la Tourette syndromes; Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases; the areas of Broca and Brodmann; Jackson's epilepsy; and the Gage matrix are all brought to life and transformed into unforgettable tales.
Life...The Reader's Digest Version
by Peggy NorthropLife... is what you make it Getting the most out of life can be so much easier if you know the coordinates. Whether you want to take the scenic route, make a quick detour, or find the simplest shortcut, there can be no substitute for a good roadmap. Part instruction manual, part GPS, part beloved confidante, Life...The Reader's Digest Version brims with smart ideas to help you navigate those tricky roads you travel each day. Covering key topics, this handy little guide includes advice that spans from surprising tips for dealing with a crisis to surefire suggestions for remembering names. Inside, you'll discover how to: Talk your way out of a traffic ticket Score the best seats Make a great first impression Tie a necktie in 7 easy steps Be the life of the party ...and there's more. Each of the short-but-sweet topics delivers a shot of instant advice, distilled as only Reader's Digest can-a little life lesson that really works.
The Great Heart Way
by Gerry Shishin Wick Ilia Shinko PerezSelf-compassion. Positive social relations. An enduring sense of freedom and peace. They're essential parts of our everyday lives, or should be. But each of us struggles with difficult emotions and mental blockages: we might lash out when we should know better, or regress in negatively familiar situations, or struggle with our confidence. These types of problematic reactions occur--and recur--when we're unkind to and negligent of our inner selves. The Great Heart Way offers us all a way to heal inner wounds and transform our difficult emotions. Anyone can try it, and everyone should. Using clear language and personal anecdotes, The Great Heart Way shows how to follow the Great Heart Method, an efficacious program for healing and self-fulfillment. The Method is easily incorporated into busy schedules (it can take less than 30 minutes per day), and is accessible to all, regardless of spiritual background. The Great Heart Way gives readers the tools to safely work through uncovered emotional pain and establish a healthier, happier and well-balanced way of thinking.
Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Choices
by John S. Hammond Ralph L. Keeney Howard RaiffaWhere should I live? Is it time to switch careers? What is the best course of action for me? Decisions shape our experiences, from choosing which job offer to accept, to buying the right car, to selecting a good accountant. How do we know which choice is the smart one? How can we be consistent and confident in our decisions? In this book from the three leading authorities on decision-making, readers learn how to approach all types of decisions with a simple set of skills developed by professors from Harvard, MIT, and the University of Southern California. Combining solid research with common sense and practical experience, this user-friendly guide shows readers how to assess deep-seated objectives, create a comprehensive set of alternatives, determine likely consequences, make tradeoffs, and grapple with uncertainty. Not only will readers learn how to make decisions, they will learn how to make the smartest decisions. For anyone caught at a confusing crossroad–whether you’re choosing between mutual funds or deciding where to retire–the Smart Choices program will improve your decision-making abilities immediately, and make your life more rewarding and fulfilling.