Online Read Books

Archive for May, 2011

This is nothing new, but it seems people ought to be reminded of all the great Christian resources that are at their fingertips. I’m referring to Christian books. As people go through things in their lives, whether it is something positive or negative, there is a book that can help them get through it.

Christian books are generally designed to impart at least one important message. We live in a world filled with trouble so picking up a book that has a solid message of hope can only do your soul good.

With so many books available, it can be difficult to choose where to start. First of all, you should decide which type of book you are interested in reading. Do you want a self-help book that will help you build character or work through an issue? If so, then you can begin your search based on that particular topic. Or maybe you’d like to read a book to learn more about a certain area of Christianity, such as the life of Jesus. If so, you will probably find some ideas in the Bible Study section of the bookstore or website. It could also be quite possible that you just want to enjoy a good Christian novel, with positive themes. If this is the case, then you should check out the Christian fiction section for some good choices.

The Bible is obviously the “go to” book to learn about God but there are many great authors who have written books that will enrich your knowledge about God. Bible study books are very popular and there is at least one for every book in the Bible. They are designed to help you delve deeper into that particular book of the Bible so that you can have a better understanding of it. An author might have a whole series which cover the entire Bible. The choices are pretty much endless.

Lucky for us, there are plenty of talented Christian writers who are willing to share their life experiences with us. These can be very helpful if there is a particular issue you or someone you know is dealing with. These books tend to cover topics such as overcoming depression, finding joy in your life, emotional battles, divorce, growing in marriage, and the list goes on. They are great resources for personal growth and might save you hours of counseling sessions.

The underlying goal of most Christian books is to help the reader grow closer to God. That is one of the main benefits of reading these type of books; they can touch you spiritually as well. There’s something interesting that happens to Christians. They start learning about God and it makes them want more. Of course, the growing process can only happen when you pursue growth yourself, no one can do it for you. But if your goal is to be closer to God then you are on the right track by reading all that you can about Him and His word.

Of course it’s no secret that the Internet has made the ease of finding that perfect book even easier. All you need to do is visit an online Christian bookstore and search for the type of book or author that you are looking for and you should be given plenty of results. They will also have their books organized by category so that you can get some quality suggestions as well. Sometimes you can also find a “coupon code” online to get free shipping or a discount.

In order to enjoy Christian books, you don’t only have to get the self-help kind. You can also enjoy a good Christian novel from romance to fantasy; they are all out there. If you think you don’t have enough time for reading, then cut out even just one to two hours of TV watching a week and spend it reading. You might find that you enjoy reading even more. Books can take you on great adventures. Good luck to you in your endeavors of spiritual growth.

Steven Covey has written numerous self-help books with the most famous of them being The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He could have named his latest book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Schools, but he probably thought that it would have been too repetitive and instead named it The Leader in Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness.

The book begins with several pages of testimonies from different Teachers, community leaders, School Principals, and other administrators all praising Steven Covey and his effective methods of success. In a nutshell, Covey believes that when you put your children in mind stimulating environments, it will lead them to do great things.

Covey praises this elementary school in North Carolina called A.B. Combs Elementary throughout the book. He considers this school a role model for all schools in America as it is known for its great teachers who teach leadership skills to kids when they are still in kindergarten. It teaches them to be responsible, respectful and tolerant children and prepares them for greatness by making these virtues part of their lives.

The 3rd chapter titled:Crafting a Blueprint, is probably the most important one in the book. It talks about the approach called “the ubiquitous strategy” which is designed to motivate students to reach their true potential. Schools must go beyond teaching academic skills to instilling in children leadership skills and life skills  that prepare them for the challenges they will inevitably face.

Children these days are pampered and spend way too much time in front of the television. If they are not challenged in school, they will not be prepared to stand on their own two feet when the time comes for them to be independent. Covey says we can prepare kids to be adults by allowing them to participate in adult activities and do the things that we expect grown people to do.

He stresses in the later chapters of the book  that students need to taught to become independent. He says parents should focus on making their children “interdependent” so they can be able to work on their own as well as on a team.

Public speaking skills is something that Covey thinks should be taught in elementary schools because it helps students become more confident and it helps them develop the social skills that are needed in today’s society.  At the end of the book, he mentions the story of Helen Keller and how she was blind and deaf and had animal like behaviors but still ended up a successful student with the help of her mentor, Anne Sullivan. Mr. Covey wants more Anne Sullivan’s who will go out of their way to get children to learn and not just view teaching as a way to collect a paycheck.

The criticism that I have with this book is that it does not even mention individual teachers who have been successful in bringing out greatness in students. One of them is Rafe Esquith who has turned underprivileged and at risk youth of central Los Angeles into some of the highest achieving students in the nation.

He could have taken some tips from him and incorporated it in his book. He also could have mentioned Ron Clark, a teacher who inspired students in Harlem and raised their test scores and self-esteem to incredibly high levels. Both teachers have written bestselling books about their teaching methods and it would have been nice to see them in the book.

The Little Mornings, by C M Albrecht is a murder mystery with 262 absolutely absorbing pages. We have three main characters here – the grandfather, an alcoholic of questionable character, a slightly off balance woman (Angie) and an impressionable young man (Darcy) who becomes mixed up in a whirlwind of events. Murder, thievery and lies keep the unsteady relationship between Darcy and Angie on edge. Keeping a secret is no easy task, especially when someone else pops into the scene with inside knowledge to the truth. Darcy, unable to control the events, becomes another person entirely from the one we knew in the first few pages of the book.

Perhaps because I am a writer, and this book has to do with the publishing industry, I am partial to the theme. Grandfather’s description of a writer’s methods to reach their creative dreams had me laughing out loud – because it was so true. As were the frustrated, aspiring writers and the over worked publishers. I felt the book was very realistic in this regard.

I loved the first few paragraphs – they really pulled me in. I kept hearing Humphry Bogart’s voice in my head narrating the story as I read along. I sat on the edge of an uncomfortable plastic chair 2 days ago and opened the first page to begin reviewing The Little Mornings. I meant to take only a ten-minute break from my day to enjoy the sunshine. The next thing I knew, my leg and butt-cheek were both completely numb and lifeless… and I was on page 50! So be warned, readers, this book may very well take you out of commission for a few days. I could not wait to get back to it every minute I had to spare!

ISBN#: 1894942434
Author: C M Albrecht
Publisher: Zumaya Publications.

Clever Plot

The plot of The Gamechangers itself is extremely clever which hinges on the efforts to find out the real identity of the blogger. The spotlight of the book is, however, on the mastermind of the IBL, Lalu Parekh. The larger picture that emerges from the book is of conniving administrators, drugs, sex, ambitions of dominating the world and some cricket is there, too.

Guesswork Is Easy And Fun

The characters written about in the book are compelling enough to make “The Gamechangers” a must read for anyone interested in cricket or entertainment of both. All the characters including the Bollywood star, cricketers, cricket administrator is described in so detailed manner that the guesswork about who is who becomes very simple. This suspense also increases the fun quotient of the book.

There Is Romance As Well

Of course, the author makes all the essential assertions that all the characters are fictitious and what not, you still enjoy the fun. For example, the description of the director and close friend of a star is clear enough to arouse your interest in the book and forthcoming content of the book. The romance side story makes the book softer and more interesting. Cricket is full of politics and the book gives you an inside look at whatever is happening within the governing body of the game. Cricket is definitely secondary to all these things happening.

Very Readable

“The Gamechangers” is an extremely readable book and you will be almost forced to read it from start to finish. Some kind of action is happening in all the pages and all the paragraphs and you can’t skip even one section.

The Teen Girl’s Gotta-Have-It Guide to Money, Jessica Blatt with Variny Paladino, 2008, ISBN 9780823017270

This book is a basic introduction to the world of money for teens; how to get it, save it and spend it.

Before you can spend money on clothes or an MP3 player, you need some money coming in, so a job is a requirement. Apply at a favorite store at the mall, or the local supermarket, or advertise in your neighborhood as a dog walker. This is the time to put on your thinking cap and get creative. If you are underage, get the approval of your parents first.

Now that you have a steady income, what do you do with it? The authors suggest creating four “pots.” Put 30 percent toward everyday expenses, another 30 percent toward short-term savings (like a new pair of boots) and the other 30 percent toward long-term savings (it’s never too early to start saving for college or a car). Consider giving the last 10 percent to charity.

How do you get the most out of each dollar spent? Don’t be afraid to shop at second-hand or thrift stores. Many times generic cosmetics have the exact same ingredients as the brand-name cosmetics; you are paying for the marketing and fancy packaging. Do your own nails. Read the details of your cellphone plan and know exactly what you are paying for. Bottle your own water instead of paying for it, and think about hosting a DVD night with your friends instead of going to the movies.

Savings accounts are an easy, and safe, way of making your money grow. For those who are more daring, perhaps investing in the stock market is the way to go. The potential payoff is greater, but so is the risk of losing your money.

There are alternatives to “retail therapy,” the pick-me-up that comes from spending money. Hold a clothing swap, exercise, discover the things that your library has for free or become a volunteer at an organization that does work that you care about.

The authors do a wonderful job at painlessly taking the reader through the world of money. There are colors and graphics throughout, so it is really easy to read. Boys should not be put off by the title, this book is equally recommended for you, too.