So candidly written and very absorbing. I feel now that I am far less sceptical than I was previously concerning spirits and the power to heal purely So candidly written and very absorbing. I feel now that I am far less sceptical than I was previously concerning spirits and the power to heal purely with energy. Do I now even, perhaps, desire to become a healer myself…? Well if the capacity is there.
If you were to read this book for nothing but the heart-warming and inspiring stories it would still be a great delight. ...more
It's very humbling to know that men such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer & Hans von Dohnanyi ever existed. They fought against the Nazi regime in the best possIt's very humbling to know that men such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer & Hans von Dohnanyi ever existed. They fought against the Nazi regime in the best possible way they could; using their talents and learned disciplines - one in law the other in theology - to resist the terrors Hitler's far-right agenda.
I enjoyed reading about these two courageous men very much. They were helped on one side by numerous relatives, friends and acquaintances but beset on the other by members of the Gestapo, Hitler and his officers and even at times the citizens of Germany themselves. These men along with other resistors to the regime orchestrated not one but two attempts at Hitlers life, both failed but both went unnoticed and unpunished. I can't imagine the will and bravery to undertake such action knowing full well the consequence to themselves and family had they been caught.
A great read, well written and full of inspiration to acquire sound knowledge to the best of your ability to fight injustices to you and your society. ...more
Gorgeously flowing prose from Maya Angelou. Really wonderful to read.
Engaging with the people in Maya’s life as she moved from Ghana to Hawaii, from HGorgeously flowing prose from Maya Angelou. Really wonderful to read.
Engaging with the people in Maya’s life as she moved from Ghana to Hawaii, from Hawaii to California and from there to New York all in the space of a couple of years, I got a sense of comfort knowing that if it was alright for Maya Angelou not to be settled on a career and place of rest with a family, then it must be okay for others too.
She writes so lovingly about her brother Bailey, small of stature but sharp of wit with a large heart and her other close friends like James Baldwin, Jerry Purcell and the unlikely friend of Dolly McPherson, throughout her reminisces. To me this added to the warmth of this lady, the love she inspired in her friends and the impressive support she was given – and burgeoned in herself - for her cause to attain greater equality in African – American culture. ...more
Immersed in the adventures of George Byron’s love lives, experienced throughout his life - from an early age with both men and women - I found to be eImmersed in the adventures of George Byron’s love lives, experienced throughout his life - from an early age with both men and women - I found to be enthralling. There are tales of debauchery, malice, deep affection, audacity and real compassion, all converging in this one man to construct a being of unparalleled enigma.
A very well written book, quite fleeting in parts but not without real passion. ...more
I think I would like to be one of these men; especially perhaps the author and Captain of the Endurance, Frank Worsley with his impeccable navigating I think I would like to be one of these men; especially perhaps the author and Captain of the Endurance, Frank Worsley with his impeccable navigating skills, writing ability and love for his fellow man.
In everything that is described in this book, with the chance encounter at the onset of the exploration by Worsley strolling though London after dreaming about the Antarctic ice, the exploration itself and the mammoth hardships all of the men had to encounter, what struck me most and was obvious to me from Worsley’s documentation and piecing together of this book was his indelible respect he had for the leader of their group; Ernest Shackleton. And he wasn’t the only one.
Shackleton was circumspect to the extreme. It appears he always put his men before himself or any ambition of his own. He made one want to work at whatever it was that was in front of him and saw it as his duty to attend to whatever was asked of him also. To inspire this sort of loyalty and devotion I can only imagine as I have never encountered it but it’s wonderful to even hear of it existing.
It seems to me to be, by some degree, the most important factor in the eventual survival of all the men who left that day 1st August 1914. So after reading of the failed attempts at recovery from Elephant Island, the despair Shackleton felt for his stranded men and the duty of care he took upon himself, I feel completely reverential....more
What did I think about this book. It's tragic, there's no doubt about that. For myself it made me want to stay ever so clear of Mount Everest or SagarWhat did I think about this book. It's tragic, there's no doubt about that. For myself it made me want to stay ever so clear of Mount Everest or Sagarmatha as it is known by the Sherpa and indigenous of Nepal. So far, in fact, as to be conscious not to learn any more about the challenge and grit it requires to attempt such a feat of mountaineering; for the fear that it might entice me as it has done so many others. The author clearly states the mountain becomes a magnet for cranks and the half mad.
Courageous and ambitious certainly but with everything considered, perhaps in the end, it's a negative sum game....more
That's my encounter with death covered for the next few weeks...
This book didn't excite me in any particular way and in fact the accounts of the life That's my encounter with death covered for the next few weeks...
This book didn't excite me in any particular way and in fact the accounts of the life of Alan Bennett's relatives, and eventual deaths, are relatively morose; however there is charm in this brief history of a single family....more
I found this book in one of those small swapping libraries that a few people collectively set up. One has been positioned in Oxford where I live and II found this book in one of those small swapping libraries that a few people collectively set up. One has been positioned in Oxford where I live and I’m pretty chuffed I picked this out.
If someone had asked me at ten years old whether I was religious I would have said I was a Christian. Five years on and the answer would have been somewhat different albeit I was still uncertain of what an atheist was or needed at the end of a stressful work week. So, this book on losing faith and why you should aim to regain it, in theory, should relate to me on a few levels. The thing is though I’m not looking to completely rejuvenate my faith in Christ or perhaps even slightly but I am curious. I’m not of the opinion however that any theism is a lack of reason and driven by anxieties of an individual; religion has given meaning to many people and it’s worth looking into as far as I’m concerned.
What I didn’t like very much about the book. It started with reasons why someone who once had faith in God and Christ might end up questioning their beliefs and turn towards ‘darkness’. He calls this a scary and meaningless place to inhabit; word of warning to anyone in that situation I guess… “gulp”. I thought his emphasis on this point and making it several times was unnecessarily daunting.
There didn’t seem to be much structure in the way he was presenting his ideas and they came at you from many different angles and were often repeated with each chapter ending with the familiar ‘where God’s love is calling out, not absent at all but we being absent from God’. It got tiring.
What I thought was pretty great was his emphasis on positive doubt. This as far as I could tell was about being okay with doubting the presence of God and being comfortable in investigating cracks and abnormalities in the Christian faith. I learnt from Mr Pritchard that he believes in carrying this doubt with you in spite of your strong belief is a recipe for healthy religion. He also believes that it can work alongside and even serves to strengthen faith and your capacity for love.
What he also touches upon was what he perceived to be the lack of beauty in a secular life. I thought at this point ‘how is it the author knows the values of atheist’s and how they find meaning in their lives.’ It seemed to me presumptuous to suggest this, however it does stand to reason that believing in a force which encapsulates love, which is inside of you and everyone you encounter, leads to a more fulfilled life. He writes about a benevolent universe and God living within every one of us and asks what is easier to believe, that the Cosmos is against all of humanity or that it’s actually on our side.
As far as I can tell there is a force that unites all of us and if believing in a God which loves unconditionally, whether it does or doesn’t have anything to do with the Christian faith, enhances life – why not pray to it?...more
Loading...
