Books

God Is Closer Than You Think: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment Is the Place Where You Can Meet God

Average customer rating:

Where's Waldo?
Not bad
Don't try so hard!
I Am Convinced!
God Is Closer Than You Think

God Is Closer Than You Think: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment Is the Place Where You Can Meet God
John Ortberg
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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God Is Closer Than You Think Participant's Guide: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment is the Place Where You Can Meet God (ZondervanGroupware Small Group Edition)
The Life You've Always Wanted
Living the God Life

ASIN: 0310253497

Book Description

Every moment of your life is like a page in a Where’s Waldo book. God is there, the Scriptures tell us—on every one of them. But the ease with which he may be found varies from one page to the next. God is closer than you think!

Download Description

Two works of art help John Ortberg think about the presence of God. One is Michelangelo Buonarroti's brilliant painting of God and Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. God is close. His hand comes within a hair's breath of the hand of the man. It seems to say that God is closer than we think-he's here, now, today, accessible to all who will but "lift a finger." The second work of art is Martin Hanford's cartoon character Waldo. He is on every page of the Where's Waldo? books, but he can be difficult to find. In the same way, even though God is present on every page of our lives, he's often not easy to spot. In God Is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg examines this frustrating paradox of the Christian life. "When it is so easy to 'see' God all around me (in trees, in birds, in nature) why is it so hard to feel his presence-especially when I need him most?" Ortberg helps readers discover the secret to living daily in the reality of God's most frequent promise in Scripture, "I will be with you."

Customer Reviews:

Where's Waldo?.......2006-11-10

I purchased this book for a small group setting and it fit the bill perfectly. Ortberg has a way of uncovering truth and in this book, encourages you to find Waldo, a God who wants to be part of your everyday life. I enjoyed it personally, was challenged by it and found the group setting enhanced my learning. I do look for God differently now since I've read the book. He is closer than we think.
I would have kept the orginial jacket cover. It focuses you to the subject matter much better.

Not bad.......2006-09-23

This book is a pretty decent book if you are interested in a mostly narrative style of discussion on Christian Living. Entertaining, well written, and clear, I would recommend it if you are looking for this type of book.

Don't try so hard!.......2006-07-19

This is a very helpful little book on how to find God in your everyday life. The discussion of Martha & Mary is particularly astute. My only complaint about the book is that Ortberg tries way too hard to be funny and even hip. (This is the first book of his that I've read, so I don't know if he does this all the time or not; I suspect he does.) Humor should be natural, not forced, as it is in this book. His attempts to be hip are merely pathetic. For instance, he quotes the line "The jerk store called & they've run out of you" attributing it to a friend of his. He obviously has no clue it comes from a Seinfeld episode! Still & all, a good book, though, for a Christian at any level.

I Am Convinced!.......2006-04-14

Upon a recommendation from my pastor, I picked this book up and I was not disappointed. John Ortberg writes with a Max Lucado approach. Taking everyday things and making us realize that they too have a place in our spritual walk. He challenges us to look for God in everyday occurences. His premise, as indicated by the title, is that God is more active in our everyday walk than we give Him credit for. In turn, he challenges us to do our part in praying that God bring His Kingdom to earth.

God Is Closer Than You Think.......2006-03-15

This book helps the reader to better understand the different levels of relationship there is with God. It is also a wonderful gauge to see where our level is at any given time. This book is encouraging and uplifting to a mature believer or one just starting out. I recommend it to anyone who wants a more intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.

The Temperament God Gave You: The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with Others, and Growing Closer to the Lord

Average customer rating:

Good Book
AWESOME!
This book is a MUST read!
Is there anything better than 5 stars?
Can't Stop Talking About It!

The Temperament God Gave You: The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with Others, and Growing Closer to the Lord
Art Bennett , and Laraine Bennett
Manufacturer: Sophia Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

ASIN: 1933184027

Product Description

Unlock the secret of your personality and learn how to be a better spouse, parent, friend, & Christian! All of us are born with distinct personality traits. Some of us live for crowds and parties; others seek solitude and time for quiet reflection. Some of us are naturally pushy, while others are content just to get along. We don.t pick and choose these traits; they.re just part of the way we.re made. For in the womb God doesn.t merely mold our body; He also gives us the temperament that, all our days, colors our understanding, guides our choices, and serves as the foundation of our moral and spiritual life. Ancient philosophers identified four basic temperaments, and over the centuries, countless wise souls have used these four to understand human nature. Now comes The Temperament God Gave You, the first Catholic book on the subject in 70 years. Here veteran Catholic counselor Art Bennett and his wife Laraine provide an accessible synthesis of classical wisdom, modern counseling science, and Catholic spirituality: a rich understanding of the temperaments and what they mean for you and for your family. Drawing on decades of study, prayer, and practical experience, Art and Laraine show you how to identify your own temperament and use it to become what God is calling you to be: a loving spouse, an effective parent, and a good friend. Best of all, they give you a Catholic understanding of the four temperaments that will bring you closer to God and help you discover the path to holiness that.s right for you. Peace. Happiness. Holiness. You.ll find yourself growing in each of these qualities as you come to understand . and learn to use as you should . the temperament God gave you.

Customer Reviews:

Good Book.......2007-01-19

First, a disclaimer... I only read the parts my wife told me to read. I'm not a religious man, so reading the whole book would just turn my stomach. But, my wife seems to think it's a great book and the temperaments seem to be pretty accurate, which helps us understand a little bit more about each other. I'd recommend it for anyone thinking "why does my spouse, or child, act like that?" (if you don't mind the Catholic religious spiel that comes with it)keep in mind,though, it does not tell you how to change the person, but instead how to live with and motivate the person.

AWESOME!.......2007-01-05

Do you ever wonder why two people could be in the exact same situation but react totally differently? This helps explain it. This book was so dead-on to my temperament that I felt like they had done an interview with my subconscious. It's quick and interesting read. You'll end-up using it as a reference book.
This book also explains how to relate to differing temperaments and has truly opened my eyes to the way my loved ones "tick". It also has great tips for the work environment. Most importantly it has helped me pin-point the style in which I should approach my relationship with God.
If you know anyone who is engaged...A MUST READ!

This book is a MUST read! .......2006-02-18

This is a GREAT BOOK! I'm a homeschooler and this is really helping me to understand my 4 boys' temperaments, especially how to approach them the right way regarding their schoolwork. You think you know your children and then you read this and realize just how much you need to learn. I highly recommend it.

Is there anything better than 5 stars?.......2005-11-18

If there is, this would be my #1 highest pick. Truly, this book will help you out so much! It helps you understand why people do what they do, how to deal with each temperament, and motivating every type of person(teachers-this is SOOOO the book for you!) I can't recommend it highly enough. Its modern, catholic, and easy, enjoyable reading. It allows you to take a "temperament" test to decide which temperament is yours, and how to most effectively motivate yourself to become the person God wants you to be. A great conversation starter and awesome gift for any young, old, or in between Catholic. I can't say enough! You'll love this book!

Can't Stop Talking About It!.......2005-10-05

I'd like to go with 6 stars for this book which I can't stop talking about. The words choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic and - woe is me - melancholic have carved a permanent place in our vocab. A fun read and very user friendly for the layman who wants a better understanding of human relationships.

The Friendship Factor: How to Get Closer to the People You Care for

Average customer rating:

A helpful read, sometimes
friends
A word from the wise.
Can't even remember ordering
Excellent

The Friendship Factor: How to Get Closer to the People You Care for
Alan Loy McGinnis
Manufacturer: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0806635711

Book Description

At the heart of each relationship, says McGinnis, is the friendship factor--the essential ingredient of warmth and caring. With captivating case histories and anecdotes about such famous people as George Burns, Howard Hughes, and C.S. Lewis, McGinnis shares the secret of how to love and be loved.

Customer Reviews:

A helpful read, sometimes.......2007-05-30

The advice in The Friendship Factor was helpful - if you read it, you will learn valuable information about being a friend, sometimes (the good points you can read in other reviews). Some parts are pretty good. My main reason for giving it 3 stars is based on how it compares to other books about relationships and self-growth - comparatively, there are better.

My qualms have mostly to do with the way the book was written: at times, it feels like the author is describing topics, instead of providing essential information. Passages that would be better if they were expanded are small, and circular examples that seem to be trying to persuade you to the benefits of fulfilling a point the author is making about what it means to be a good friend seem *too* long. I think the author was trying to motivate readers this way, and perhaps it works for some.

I've been on a self-help book binge lately, and this author more than any others seems to be outside relationships, looking in. He says it best when he states that his position as a psychotherapist has given him a unique "window" on relationships. Like I said, the information is good, but it's presented from the outside looking in - I feel it's all being written from a window ledge, which is something I didn't feel with examples of relationships from other authors' books. The changes he suggests come from the outside and so your changes will be external until you *gradually* feel internal changes. If you change the inside first - the way you think about, look at, interact with, appreciate and love the world and the people in it - change will be more rapid and fulfilling.

I recommend reading Feel the Fear Guide to Love, which will help your intimate relationship. I also recommend Jeffer's Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway - instead of expecting good relationships to improve all aspects of your life, I recommend improving all aspects of your life together, which will help you be able to build good relationships with both yourself and your friends, in addition to helping everything else in your life.
As for a book centered just on friendships, I recommend The Art of Friendship by Roger and Sally Horchow - it contains more information - all of it useful - and much fewer factoids and quotes than this book, and it's a lot more straightforward and practical. (I guess the Horchows figured if you're reading their book, you already have the motivation to improve your friendships.) If you follow the "rules" in The Art of Friendship, or especially if you do all the things in Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, you won't have to read The Friendship Factor, you'll getting more if you pay attention and do what those books recommend.

friends.......2007-05-08

This book is a great book for people trying to get closer relationships...it's very specific.

A word from the wise........2007-02-18

This book gave me brilliant insight into freindships and relationship building. It is a real privaledge to be able to learn from Alan McGinnis the keys to good frindships. These are tried and proved priciples and I thought the value placed on true fiendship and the practical examples were inspiring and helpful.
Using Jesus was not over the top as it gave us insight into someone most people know about and and an awesome example of how to live the ultimate life.
A real help to thoses who feel the need for richer frienships in this increasingly lonely world.

Can't even remember ordering.......2007-01-19

If I ordered this I wonder if I ever got it because I don't remember it.

Excellent.......2007-01-04

The book was easy to read, interesting with valuable information. It is a must for all couples wanting a Christian relationship.

God Is Closer Than You Think Participant's Guide: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment is the Place Where You Can Meet God (ZondervanGroupware Small Group Edition)

Average customer rating:

I guess I am a below average Christian
Excellent Small Group Bible Study
Nothing but fun reading
God Is Closer Than You Think

God Is Closer Than You Think Participant's Guide: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment is the Place Where You Can Meet God (ZondervanGroupware Small Group Edition)
John Ortberg , Stephen Sorenson , and Amanda Sorenson
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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God Is Closer Than You Think: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment Is the Place Where You Can Meet God
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If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat - Participants Guide
Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them
Grace

ASIN: 0310266394

Book Description

The story of the Bible is the story of God’s desire to be with his people. God is extending himself, stretching out to reach us and to fill our lives with his presence. Every moment of your life is like a page in a Where’s Waldo book. God is there, the Scriptures tell us, but the ease with which he may be found varies from one page to the next. God is closer than you think! A six-session guide to be used with the DVD curriculum.

Customer Reviews:

I guess I am a below average Christian.......2007-05-04

Comments from commenter #2 crack me up. I have heard many folks refer to John Ortberg as "Dallas Willard Lite" or "Dallas for dummies." I have had the opportunity to spend time with both the author and his wife, and I find both his speaking and writing to be very refreshing to my mind, spirit and life. I find John's writing simple and practical. Is it Dallas Willard deep? No. However, it's more like a great message that you hear in a weekend service. One that you can see clearly how applicable it is. Also, for you to get the most out of this book, you need to have a sense of your own brokenness and fallenness. Otherwise, you will find it simple and for average or below average people.........which, if I recall, is the same peeps that Jesus TOTALLY hung out with and loved deeply. In fact, some of their names were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Thomas..............

Excellent Small Group Bible Study.......2007-01-06

Not sure what the other reviewers are talking about. I have been a Christian for years and am finding this study quite interesting. Ortberg is the moderator and is excellent at word pictures that stick with you. The study makes you dig into the Bible which is what you want in a small group. Studying on your own in between group meetings requires quite a bit of scripture look up and reading. There are great discussion questions. This study has definitely strengthened my walk with the Lord. Our entire small group really enjoys the DVD part and is getting alot out of the study. I highly recommend this for small group study.

Nothing but fun reading .......2006-10-06

This book is okay for fun reading. The observations offered by the author are slightly entertaining, and may be even quite insightful to the very easily-impressed and motivated readers. For example, using conductor and resistor as analogy is misrepresenting the physics and meaning of the scientific terms. The counterpart of conductor is insulator. Actually a resistor in an electrical circuit is the part that does all the work - that makes the light bulbs or pickle glow, for instance.

Using surfing as an example of overcoming failure is okay. However sidetracking to muse about sharks and dolphins is juvenile and distracting.

I suppose this book is targeted for the average person and below for marketing purpose

God Is Closer Than You Think.......2005-10-08

I believe I was mislead. I ordered the material. The description described that I would get the DVD, the Participant's guide and the hardcover book for the price of the item. When just the DVD arrived I felt disappointed.

The Art of Closing Any Deal: How to Be a Master Closer in Everything You Do

Average customer rating:

The Art of Manipulation
One of the very, very best sales books.
The best book for selling
the art of closing any deal, how to be a master closer
The Art of Closing Any Deal

The Art of Closing Any Deal: How to Be a Master Closer in Everything You Do
James W. Pickens
Manufacturer: Business Plus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 044667785X

Book Description

THE ART OF CLOSING ANY DEAL takes readers into the trenches of the psychological war called selling-and who better than sales guru James W. Pickens to give them the hard-hitting ammunition for every type of customer out there. From the 'I'm just looking' to the 'Know-it-all' to the 'I don't care' and the 'yes-man', Pickens takes aim at them all. Readers will learn to control buyers since the author's simulated conversations will arm them with winning and positive comebacks for every negative customer reply. Closing secrets include: deadly closing tips to make people buy; unbeatable closer responses to the most common objectives; how to read the customer's emotions and use perfect timing to nail the lid on the final close; and more. Readers will ultimately learn how to conquer buyers, as Pickens' take-no-prisoners techniques show them how to move in for the final attack.

Customer Reviews:

The Art of Manipulation.......2007-04-07

This book is a cleverly repackaged version of "The Closers" written many years ago by Ben Gay III. While there is some powerful sales technique in this book the book centers itself around manipulating a prospect into the buying decision and encourages the use of hi-pressure. A salesman may gain some great insights into sales but must guard against losing some of their ethical balance in the process.

One of the very, very best sales books........2007-01-09

I'm a high ticket salesman and devour sales books looking for the nuggets of gold within them. Even the most shallow of sales books have one or two things in them that you can learn, adapt, and use. Then there are books that have whole veins of gold running through them. This is one of them.
For what it's worth, here's my take on the book: If you need any help on closing, then this book is a masterpiece.

The best book for selling.......2006-11-25

This is by far the best I've ever read. Gives details on how to sell and close customers. Detailed information includes customer excuses for not wanting to buy and response to those excuses.

the art of closing any deal, how to be a master closer.......2006-03-20

exactly what you need if you consider your self weak in closing like I did. I was selling timeshare and now I'm selling real estate and insurance and I learned a lot from the book and I recommend it to anyone who needs to harden up and sell!

The Art of Closing Any Deal.......2005-12-11

This the worst book I have ever read on the Profession of selling. One can picture this bust out in white shoes, a white belt, oily hair, and checks and plaid.

This is clearly a book to read on WHAT NOT TO DO. Very smarmy....

Would have given 0 star, but you don't offer that ranking.

Go Away, Come Closer: When What You Need the Most Is What You Fear the Most, a Book About Intimacy

Average customer rating:

Just Go Away
My Revirew
Looked good but failed to deliver
Not As I Expected
Reader From PA

Go Away, Come Closer: When What You Need the Most Is What You Fear the Most, a Book About Intimacy
Terry Hershey
Manufacturer: W Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Intimacy Struggle: Revised and Expanded for All Adults

ASIN: 0849990319

Book Description

We can't live completely isolated from others. We can try. But, intimacy has always been a risky business. Hard to figure out, harder to achieve. This book reassures the reader that a lifestyle of intimacy is a risk worth taking. It is a reflective and personal look at how our fear pushes others away; our relentless pursuit of intimacy via romance and ecstacy; our inability to find acceptance where we are; and our need to see intimacy as a celebration of life as it is and not as it should be. There are a lot of people and books that will tell you what to do--five easy steps and all that--and even more to make you feel downright horrible for what you didn't do. This book doesn't tell you what to do. It give you permission to recognize that the journey begins with you.

Customer Reviews:

Just Go Away.......2007-01-09

Very tedious read....probably my mistake in picking this particular book...I'm sure the content was great for some...but it did not speak to me....was quite "text-booky".....better luck next time!

My Revirew.......2007-01-04

This is a very good explanation of what I call the merry-go-round effect for the emotions felf by the families of these afflicted persos. You are either up or down and always going around in circles thus causing the family to never get beyond and grow.

Looked good but failed to deliver.......2006-05-10

I bought this book thinking it would help me to sort out issues I was having in a current relationship. Unfortunately I found the writing style tedious and hard to follow. I am sure there was a message in it but some of it seemed to be religion based and I haven't managed to pick it up long enough to finish it yet. I own my own bible and if I wanted to read scripture I would have picked that up. No doubt others found this book helpful as is evident in other reviews and I don't want to take away from what were obviously positive experiences for them. I also bought "He's Scared, She's Scared : Understanding the Hidden Fears That Sabotage Your Relationships" by Steven Carter, Julia Sokol and also available from Amazon. I switched to that halfway through and I found this to be a far more helpful book and ultimately it has helped me a lot more than the book in this review.

Not As I Expected.......2006-03-26

This book wasn't what I expected. I was searching for a book about all types of intimacy - friendship, family and romance. But this just focused on romance. Also, the religious quoting and writing throughout the book made me uncomfortable.

Reader From PA.......2005-12-08

After Reading some excerpts out of this book, it sounded like it was going to be great, something to relate to, but after I got it, I realized it was alot of talk about god, and other things, but the intimacy part I did not get. I like alot of other books on intimacy then I did this one, I had a hard time keeping my attention on it to get through it.

The Secret Symbols of the Dollar Bill: A Closer Look at the Hidden Magic and Meaning of the Money You Use Every Day

Average customer rating:

Superficial pamphlet promoting the pagan god of masonry
Interesting way to pass some time

The Secret Symbols of the Dollar Bill: A Closer Look at the Hidden Magic and Meaning of the Money You Use Every Day
David Ovason
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Money & Monetary Policy | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060530456
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Book Description

Do you know the true meaning of a dollar?

Few people do. Now an expert on arcane symbolism uncovers the fascinating secret meanings behind the design of the money we use every day.

In The Secret Symbols of the Dollar Bill, David Ovason explores the visual complexity and magic behind the world's most influential currency. Lively and readable, this extraordinary book invites you to take a dollar bill in hand and set off on a visual adventure. You will discover dazzling explanations of its secret contents -- from the symbols derived from the Great Seal to the extraordinary strands of numerology interwoven into its structure, to sur-prising hidden alignments.

Once you discover the magic and mystery revealed in The Secret Symbols of the Dollar Bill, you will find that the dollar in your wallet is worth so much more than what you can buy with it.

Customer Reviews:

Superficial pamphlet promoting the pagan god of masonry .......2006-09-27

This little pamphlet of a book reads like it was written by either a blue lodge mason bucking for a promotion, or an advanced degree mason careful not to give too many secrets away to the "uniniated." This Ovason guy deals with notoriously Luciferian symbols with about as much depth and honesty as a winking mason might. The breadth of the symbols of the dollar bill are discussed, but nowhere at much depth, and this helps Ovason in his constant superficial and disingenuous attempts to link masonry with Christianity. At last on the closing page of the book, Ovason let's in a tiny ray of truth in his glowing report of pagan symbolism, when he (finally!) reveals, albeit extremely briefly, that the all-seeing eye was actually historically representative of the Egyptian sun deity Horus...but then Ovason subtley slips back into craftspeak by bogusly reiterating, without explanation as is his method, that, nowadays the all-seeing eye represents "God." Yeah, sure. Ovason's god. His masonic "Great Architect of the Universe." Sure, I'll buy that. But this pagan promoter, like the mormons and so many other cult-sellers, implies a connection with the God of the bible, and that's just plain deceitful. I wish I would have known this was a book written by a salesman of masonry; I would never have wasted my dollar in buying it (I bought it used). I learned nothing knew from this. What struck me most is what this booklet did NOT reveal about the symbols, and that was a lot, judging from stuff I've read from more scholarly approaches than this one. No wonder this was so short. It couldn't have been easy for Ovason to speak of such deep and pagan and arcane symbology in such superficial terms for very long. So he didn't.

Interesting way to pass some time.......2005-06-28

The author has 100 points (factoids) about the one dollar bill. He focuses on the various symbols found on this familiar item, the possible signficance of this symbols, when and why they first appeared etc. Some of this information is aleady quite well known, such as the fact that many of government officals in the past and present are Masons and that many of our nation's symbols have a basis in Masonic tradition. Other items are not as well known, such as the extensive (according to the author) use of numerology.

I found the book interesting but was a bit frustrated by the format. Instead of a regular narrative divided into chapters with subheadings the author has 100 numbered sections of one or more short paragraphs giving the book the look and feel of a rough draft.

The author also has a tendancy to state his point and then simply move on. At the end of the book I had learned several intriguing tidbits but was left wondering 'so what?'.

If you would like to find a way to spend a few hours and pickup a few factoids to toss out then get this book, a dollar bill and a ruler and enjoy. Don't be surprised though if after dazzling your friends by displaying unsuspected triangles and pointing out the repetitions of various numbers and symbols if you are not asked what is the point to all this.

YOU CAN'T GET MUCH CLOSER THAN THIS: Combat With Company H, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division

Average customer rating:

Good honest memoir but not a great read
Well done!
A 'you are there' atmosphere
VESTED INTEREST
required reading

YOU CAN'T GET MUCH CLOSER THAN THIS: Combat With Company H, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division
A Adkins(Jr)
Manufacturer: Casemate
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Bootprints
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Descending From The Clouds: A Memoir of Combat in the 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division

ASIN: 1932033289

Book Description

Andrew Z. Adkins, Jr., graduated from The Citadel in May 1943 and immediately attended the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School, where he was commissioned and sent on to the 80th Infantry Division, then undergoing its final training cycle in the California-Arizona desert. Upon reaching the division, 2d Lieutenant Adkins was assigned as an 81mm mortar section leader in Company H, 2d Battalion, 317th Infantry Regiment.

When the 80th Infantry Division completed its training in December 1943, it was shipped in stages to the United Kingdom and then on to Normandy, where it landed on August 3, 1944. There, Lieutenant Adkins and his fellow soldiers took part in light hedgerow fighting that served to shake the division down and familiarize the troops and their officers with combat.

The first real test came on August 20, 1944, when the 2d Battalion, 317th Infantry, attacked high ground near Argentan during the Allied drive to seal huge German forces in the Falaise Pocket. While scouting for mortar positions in the woods, Andy Adkins ran into a group of Germans and shot one of them dead with his carbine. This baptism in blood taught him the answer to a question every novice combatant wants to hear: He was cool under fire, capable of killing when facing the enemy. He later wrote, "It was a sickening sight, but having been caught up in the heat of battle, I didn't have a reaction other than feeling I had saved my own life."

Thereafter, the 2d Battalion, 317th Infantry, took part in a succession of bloody battles across France. Ineptly led through the tentures of several battalion commanders, the unit suffered grievous losses even as it took hills and towns away from brave and well-led German veterans. In the course of fighting graphically portrayed in this soldier's memoir, Andy Adkins acted with remarkable skill and courage, placing himself at the forefront of the action whenever he could. His extremely aggressive delivery of critical supplies to a cutoff unit in an embattled French town earned him a Bronze Star Medal, the first such award in his battalion.

You Can't Get Much Closer Than This is at heart a young soldier's story of war. In vibrant, piercing terms, a junior officer's coming of age in battle is the compelling focus of page after page of action sequences that add up to a solid description of what modern warfare is really all about. Before his death in 19--, Andy Adkins was able to face his memory of war as bravely as he faced the war itself. He set it all down on paper, honest, unflinching, and straightforward. In 1944 and 1945, young Lieutenant Adkins did his duty to his men and his country, and much later he did his duty to his readers. Indeed, you really can't get much closer than this.

Customer Reviews:

Good honest memoir but not a great read.......2007-06-18

"You Can't Get Much Closer Than This: Combat with Company H, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division" by Andrew Z. Adkins Jr. and A.Z.A. III represents a non-homogenized non-sterilized look at the Second World War from foxhole level. Nearly everything in this book comes from A.Z. Adkins Jr's wartime journal, and thus presents a view of the war from one individual's perspective. If you're looking for a 'bigger picture' tied into this story (somehow this reviewer thought that because A.Z. Adkins III brought his fathers journal to life he might provide some 'filler' to tie together items - no such luck). The book can be broken into four basic parts (not the chapters of the book though) representing four chronological periods that fall naturally along lines of major events in the ETO. The first period is the Normandy/bocage fighting period, the second is the Breakout, pursuit and initial West Wall (Siegfried Line) action, the third is the Battle of the Bulge and following action leading up to the Rhine crossing, and the forth is the Rhine crossing to V-E day. Of all these sections the third is by far the best in terms of visceral impact and readability. The other three sections unfortunately suffer from a dull prose that is only infrequently livened by an engaging story or writing style. Fortunately, Adkins and Adkins do not candy coat combat and in presenting an un-sanitized version of events do give the reader some less common in the genre. Still this positive does not sufficiently outweigh the negative of style (not to mention the numerous typos and other editorial issues).

As "You Can't Get Much Closer Than This" is one mans story of the Second World War with little of the 'bigger picture' woven in it is hard to review (positively or negatively) the historical value of the book, rather it seems appropriate to review it from the standpoint of whether it is a good read or not. Regarding this latter criteria this reviewer would have to break with the praise given in nearly all other reviews and say that this is a good 3.5 star read at best. The book is short enough to get through quickly, readers will get a truer picture of war than in most 'memoirs', but the reading will not always be easy or fully engaging and enjoyable. 3.5 Stars.

Well done!.......2007-01-16

This is interesting first person account of World War Two from the perspective of a soldier from my area of Florida! That alone made the book a pleasant surprise. But besides that, I found this book a well written account of a young man taken from college to fight with the 80th Infantry division.

The book reads like a great war story rather than a war-time biography or diary. It's a quick, informative, read that does not overwhelm the reader with details. You really don't have to be a WWII historian to really enjoy this fine book.

What I think is unusual about the book is it mentions cities not normally mentioned in the history of other units and events not commonly written about. For example, the author goes into great detail regarding the use of motors in close action with the infantry. The fact the author received an absentee ballot for an election, voted and mailed it back home (that's a first in over 300 WWII history books I've read).

It also has an excellent short history of the 80th Infantry Division, including cities and counties it "visited" along with attached units and other statistics.

A 'you are there' atmosphere .......2007-01-07

Andy Adkins Jr. was a Second Lieutenant and served in Company H, 80th Infantry Division during World War II: his regiment landed at Normandy in 1944 and fought they way on foot across France and into Germany. If you want a riveting, hard-hitting memoir which recreates the moment of a soldier's experience, the title says it all: YOU CAN'T GET MUCH CLOSER THAN THIS: COMBAT WITH COMPANY H, 317TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 80TH DIVISION. First-person memories of war experience assume a 'you are there' atmosphere as the author speaks with comrades and experiences battles, rough conditions, and struggles.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

VESTED INTEREST.......2006-10-26

My uncle, Harry Goldsborough, served in CO. F, 2nd Battalion, and I had heard a few stories from my Mother about her brother's experiences in World War Two. The stories were few and and unpleasant, and I gather that he did not speak much of the war. The reading from this book gave a great insight to where my uncle was during his time in the 80th and what he probably went through. I found the reading very easy and it made me proud of his service to his country.

required reading.......2006-07-20

I wish this book were made required reading for high school and college students. I am well aware that even my generation are unable to comprehend the dedication, loyalty and honor of military men flawlessly portrayed in this amazing diary, let alone the ignorance and apathy so prevalent in our younger generation of today. I am SO proud of my dad and grandfather, WW II and WW I vets respectively, whose pride and sacrifice for our country allowed me to enjoy SO many freedoms I NEVER take for granted. Thank you to the Adkins family for sharing this poignant diary from a man I never met BUT, nevertheless, will never forget.

God Is Closer Than You Think: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment is the Place Where You Can Meet God (ZondervanGroupware Small Group Edition)

Average customer rating:

Good small group resource
Great study materials

God Is Closer Than You Think: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment is the Place Where You Can Meet God (ZondervanGroupware Small Group Edition)
John Ortberg , Stephen Sorenson , and Amanda Sorenson
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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God Is Closer Than You Think Participant's Guide: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment is the Place Where You Can Meet God (ZondervanGroupware Small Group Edition)
God Is Closer Than You Think: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment Is the Place Where You Can Meet God
Just Walk Across the Room Curriculum Kit: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith (Small Group DVD)
Acts
The Life You've Always Wanted Leader's Guide: Six Sessions on Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (Groupware)

ASIN: 0310266351

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Good small group resource.......2007-05-15

Ortberg does it again! This is a good series for any small group. The video teaching is good and the production quality is high. It also works well in large group settings (church Sunday school, etc), which is the way I used it. I would recommend it.

Great study materials.......2006-03-16

The package was a complete one; book, study guide, PowerPoint, & video presentations. I read the book first, then proposed it to my church as a book study, which they enjoyed very well. John Ortberg is a good author and presenter of his materials, challenging common ideas about God with correct biblical ones.

Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom...Why the Meaningful Life is Closer Than You Think

Average customer rating:

A great introduction to positive psychology
Interesting and engaging balance between science and readability
positive psychology is making a difference
Well written. Informative. Fun. Hard to put down.
Insightful happiness framework -- and a great read!

Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom...Why the Meaningful Life is Closer Than You Think
Jonathan Haidt
Manufacturer: Coach Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Stumbling on Happiness
Happiness: A History
Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment
A Primer in Positive Psychology
Happiness: Lessons from a New Science

ASIN: 1596590971

Book Description

This is a book about ten great ideas. Each chapter is an attempt to savor one idea that has been discovered by several of the world's civilizations - to question it scientifically, and to extract from it the lessons that apply to our modern lives.

Jonathan Haidt skillfully combines two genres—philosophical wisdom and scientific research—delighting the reader with surprising insights. He explains, for example, why we have such difficulty controlling ourselves and sticking to our plans; why no achievement brings lasting happiness, yet a few changes in your life can have profound effects, and why even confirmed atheists experience spiritual elevation. In a stunning final chapter, Haidt addresses the grand question "How can I live a meaningful life?," offering an original answer that draws on the rich inspiration of both philosophy and science.

Customer Reviews:

A great introduction to positive psychology.......2007-06-13

This book is incredibly well written, and accessible for those of use that don't have a doctorate. It is well worth a spot in your library.

This isn't necessarily a self help book, but it may very well have a profound impact on your outlook.

Interesting and engaging balance between science and readability .......2007-06-13

As a mechanical engineer I don't know very much about psychology, so I appreciate the author explaining things in layman's terms. Haidt strikes a very nice balance between simplifying concepts and using groundbreaking studies in psychology to illustrate his points. For example, his use of a Wisconsin study using monkeys to explain human need for love found that balance perfectly. In addition to the writing style, I found the book to be interesting and engaging. My roommate had to ask me to stop talking about the book, in fairness to other conversation topics!

positive psychology is making a difference.......2007-05-13

Several good books about happiness have appeared recently, and I haven't read all of them, but this is likely to be the best. For people who aren't psychologists (that includes me), it's a good mix of practical advice and introduction to theory.

It is also an evaluation of ancient wisdom in light of modern science, which we have to regard as tentative but fascinating. Several chapters deal with basic virtues, such as justice, kindness, humility, love, determination, and so on.

But the best chapter is on religious experience (and my field is religion). He takes the first look I've seen at "elevation," the feeling we get when we see an inspiring story about integrity or love; a truly eye-opening idea, and one I hope we all become familiar with. (As I read this chapter, I gained a new respect for Oprah.) He also does a remarkable job of trying to understand both conservative and liberal perspectives on diversity and freedom. Finally, he explains how an atheist might understand and enjoy religious experiences, citing Abraham Maslow's "Relgions, Values and Peak Experiences," which I will now have to read.

All in all, this book does an amazing job of dealing fairly with science, religion, politics, and the meaning of life, and for that it deserves 5 stars and my highest recommendation to you.

If by chance you are not a religious believer, let me also recommend very strongly David Cortesi's Secular Wholeness: A Skeptic's Paths To A Richer Life. To everyone I recommend Connect: 12 Vital Ties That Open Your Heart, Lengthen Your Life, and Deepen Your Soul, but not until after you've read this one first. Finally, one of the things this book deals with is "the hedonic treadmill," which is the reason we think more money is going to make us happy, but we're wrong. And for overcoming that, the book to read is Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence, and like this book and Cortesi's book above, it is one that I'm truly glad I found.

Well written. Informative. Fun. Hard to put down........2007-05-12

I loved this book and have already bought a copy for my mom (because mine is now all marked up with underlining and asterisks).

The author writes as a person, not an impersonal analyst of the human condition. I enjoyed him sharing his struggles to understand religion, the meaning of life, depression, etc. I commend his inspired decision to look back into many classic human texts from various cultures, religions, and moments in human history. The insights he derives are real and useful.

My only complaint (other than wishing the book were twice as long because I was sad when I hit the last page) is that the author doesn't seem to know much primatology. I'm fascinated with chimps, bonobos, gorillas, etc. for the light they can shed on humans and our evolution. Frans de Waal, for example, has shown that chimps have (a form of) morality. I suspect this book would have been even more informative if the author could have also drawn on what we know about great apes and other primates.

Absolutely worth reading!

Insightful happiness framework -- and a great read!.......2007-04-29

An engaging discussion of what makes humans tick, what happiness is, and ultimately what influences an individual's happiness. The book is a great overview of psychological background combined with insight drawn from classic philosophical, religious, and literary sources.

Happiness (and human psychology in general) is discussed using a framework grounded in scientific research. However the author does not dwell on unnecessary details and is not afraid to add personal commentary. There are many passages, summaries of psychology experiments (some you are probably familiair with), and anecdotes that stand on their own. The whole comes together quite well, providing a structure for both understanding happiness and taking steps to improve yours. The diversity of human personality is embraced, while at the same time a number of surprising commonalities are illuminated.

This is no self-help book with a 10 step program for eternal bliss. Rather it is a guide for understanding one's self better, exploring the relationship of happiness to dynamics like success, and how you might increase the happiness of your own journey -- with a lot of hard work of course :>

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