The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)

Book Description

"I have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that I've suddenly come up with the answers to all life's questions. Quite that contrary, I began this book as an exploration, an exercise in self-questing. In other words, I wanted to find out, as I looked back at a long and complicated life, with many twists and turns, how well I've done at measuring up to the values I myself have set."
âSidney Poitier

In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measureâas a man, as a husband and a father, and as an actor.

Poitier credits his parents and his childhood on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the unflinching sense of right and wrong and of self-worth that he has never surrendered and that have dramatically shaped his world. "In the kind of place where I grew up," recalls Poitier, "what's coming at you is the sound of the sea and the smell of the wind and momma's voice and the voice of your dad and the craziness of your brothers and sisters...and that's it." Without television, radio, and material distractions to obscure what matters most, he could enjoy the simple things, endure the long commitments, and find true meaning in his life.

Poitier was uncompromising as he pursued a personal and public life that would honor his upbringing and the invaluable legacy of his parents. Just a few years after his introduction to indoor plumbing and the automobile, Poitier broke racial barrier after racial barrier to launch a pioneering acting career. Committed to the notion that what one does for a living articulates to who one is, Poitier played only forceful and affecting characters who said something positive, useful, and lasting about the human condition.

Here is Poitier's own introspective look at what has informed his performances and his life. Poitier explores the nature of sacrifice and commitment, price and humility, rage and forgiveness, and paying the price for artistic integrity. What emerges is a picture of a man in the face of limitsâhis own and the world's. A triumph of the spirit, The Measure of a Man captures the essential Poitier.

Customer Reviews:

Nice man, wandering story..........2007-10-04

I had to force myself to finish this book, simply because I didn't want to waste my money by leaving it when I was tempted to. It was interesting to realize that an actor whose work I had appreciated came from such a spare beginning, but by halfway through the book, the continuous wandering asides and disclaimers of the author so overwhelmed the narrative that I could barely tolerate it. It seems to me that the story could have been told to greater effect with half the words!

****LOVED IT****.......2007-09-24

Kept me interested...I really enjoyed this book...I couldn't put the book down until I finished reading it!!!!

MEASURE OF A MAN does not measure up.......2007-09-21

Wow, a book about Sidney Poitier. An outstanding actor with a book that just does not give him true justice. The reading tends to be dry and lacks substance. His life struggles could have been the story of any man or woman, black or white. The writing and editing are weak in some sections.

You should rent or buy one of Poitier's movies instead. His movie roles show his true skills.

SPIRITUAL "Of, Relating to, Consisting of, or Affecting the Spirit" MERRIAM-WEBSTER.......2007-08-30

I've always been smitten with Poitier's voice--his diction and control on film, the flow of his words as they travel in and around ideas during interviews--so I read THE MEASURE OF A MAN with an ear for his voice. I wondered, Is it translatable to print? It is, but that means allowing Poitier's thoughts to meander until they find their point, and that his thoughts are less formulated (or formal) and more "in his own words," than they might be if they were written by a biographer. (I read just enough "You know?"s "You hear me when I tell you?"s and "You follow?"s to feel like he was talking to me, but not too many to be annoyed.) I read to imagine what it might be like to have a conversation with Poitier. The book reinforced what I already knew--I'd be as intimidated as heck--but it also gave me the courage to think I'd be able to speak my mind.

As an editor, I read Poitier's book because I wanted to know how he defines a "spiritual" autobiography. Is it a I-Was-A-Sinner-But-I-Found-Jesus-And-Now-I'm-Saved chronology? Is it about how Christianity or another faith influenced his life? Neither. Poitier examines the people, events, circumstances, beliefs, and so on, which have related to, consisted of, or affected his "spirit," and, in doing so, he writes about childhood experiences in the Bahamas, his changing perceptions of his parents, how he adapts to living in the United States, his approach to acting and filmmaking, and his attitude toward fatherhood. He also shares a debate a friend and he had about the Basic Truth of Nature, a debate worth every second of reading it takes to get to.

Is THE MEASURE OF A MAN going to satisfy readers interested only in Poitier's film career? No, but I urge them to read it anyway, if for no other reason than to find out how his "spirit" influenced the films he starred in.

Books.......2007-08-21

I purchased this book for my daughter and she loved it!
She is a teacher and plans to teach this story in her English class fall 2007.
A great story with a great moral.

The Way Of The Superior Man: A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Woman, Work, and Sexual Desire

Average customer rating:

Interesting but not scientific
MUST reading for all men
Great look at sex in loving relationships
Unravel the mysterious behavior of women!
totally made up

The Way Of The Superior Man: A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Woman, Work, and Sexual Desire
David Deida
Manufacturer: Sounds True
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Love & Romance | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591792576

Customer Reviews:

Interesting but not scientific.......2007-09-25

How does a person become a spiritual/sex guru? I was curious and decided to purchase and read this book.

I did some research on David Deida, and it appears he has no formal education on either psychology or human sexuality. What he does appear to have, however, are powerful insights into eastern beliefs on sexuality greatly differing from our own western version.

Although the author sites absolutely no scientific rationale to provide support for his views, I found his views to be fascinating. For example, in a chapter "Stop Hoping for Your Women to Get Easier":

"So she will test you. She might not be fully conscious of why she is doing it, but she will poke your weak spots, especially in moments of your superficial success, in order to feel your strength. If you collapse, you've flunked the test....It never ends. A woman will always test her man for the pleasure of feeling his strength in loving, his capacity to transcend nuisance, his persistence in his own truth, and his capacity to share that truth in love with her, even when she is complaining- especially when she is complaining."

The author provides a refreshing eastern perspective on sexuality, masculinity, and feminity. It isn't entirely politically correct. But it is sexually correct. I am sure not all feminists would agree with the author's views. But those who seek the truth will find the author's unique perspective to be invigorating as having a good night with a woman who loves, and therefore tests, him.

MUST reading for all men.......2007-09-20

This is the 'how-to" book our fathers could never write (God bless them), and the best men's book on relationship I've ever read. Not because it teaches you tricks, or how to please a woman, but because it it shows men how to stand in our masculine power as our true selves, rather than someone who denies themselves to please others. I could never be in the incredible relationship I'm in today without the lessons I've learned from this book, and that includes having clear boundaries where self respect, awareness, integrity and purpose must come first in our lives. We always get the relationship we deserve...this book helps us deserve more. I use this book as a basis for the men's group I'm leading.

Great look at sex in loving relationships.......2007-09-09

I was impressed at the level of honesty by the author. He was very open about his desires and fantasies, and how these can exist in a committed relationship. He really teaches that it is not our dark side that is inappropriate, but how we handle it.
His views on the relationship dynamic were also helpful. The male and female priorities are inherently different, and once we accept these differences, love can actually exist. This theory has helped me in my personal life and relationships.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is willing to be honest about their relationships and sexual life.

Unravel the mysterious behavior of women!.......2007-08-30

Deida gives guys a great guide to understanding the often maddening behavior of their woman. He explains what they are really desiring and how we can satisfy those desires.

I've been astounded at the reactions I get from girls who I share his ideas with. They unanimously confirm that he's right on track. I wish I had known these secrets sooner in life!

A must read for any guy who wants a fulfilling relationship rather then a maddening one. Also, woman could also learn a lot about themselves and their guys by reading this.

totally made up .......2007-08-26

The author of this book must be laughing all the way to the bank. He has no credentials and doesn't support anything he says with any research - just his own opinion. Seems to be written for the man who only wants to get ahead - and this makes him feel good about it. Come on guys - we're talking the 1950s male mindset....

The Measure Of A Man - A Spiritual Autobiography

Average customer rating:

profound
An Insightful Autobiography
A True and Honest Measure of Oneself
A story well told
Insightful into a surprisingly diverse number of areas

The Measure Of A Man - A Spiritual Autobiography
Sidney Poitier
Manufacturer: Harper-san Francisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Actors & Actresses | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0062516078

Amazon.com

Sidney Poitier wrote The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography because he "felt called to write about certain values, such as integrity and commitment, faith and forgiveness, about the virtues of simplicity, about the difference between 'amusing ourselves to death' and finding meaningful pleasures--even joy." Yet Poitier's book does not speak from on high; its tone is conversational and endearingly self-critical. He begins the first chapter by recounting an evening spent channel-surfing and wondering, as most of us do at one time or another, "What am I doing with my time?" The spiritual reflections in The Measure of a Man are nonsectarian; Poitier's faith is clearly influenced by his experience in Christian churches, but he is not, strictly, Christian. Though idiosyncratic, his faith is disciplined and rigorous, informed by leaders as diverse as Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Poitier's love--for himself, his family, and the world--infuses his recollections of his early life on Cat Island in the Bahamas and his memories of his stage and film career (including his Oscar-winning role in Lilies of the Field). Poitier has been rich and poor; he has been popular and despised; and his extremely varied experiences have made him a wise man, as he demonstrates with statements like this one: "[W]hat we do is stay within the context of what's practical, what's real, what dreams can be fashioned into reality, what values can send us to bed comfortably and make us courageous enough to face our end with character."

Book Description

"I have no wish to play the pontificating fool, pretending that I've suddenly come up with the answers to all life's questions. Quite the contrary, I began this book as an exploration, an exercise in selfquestioning. In other words, I wanted to find out, as I looked back at a long and complicated life, with many twists and turns, how well I've done at measuring up to the values I myself have set."

In this luminous memoir, a true American icon looks back on his celebrated life and career. His body of work is arguably the most morally significant in cinematic history, and the power and influence of that work are indicative of the character of the man behind the many storied roles. Sidney Poitier here explores these elements of character and personal values to take his own measure--as a man, as a husband and father, and as an actor.

Poitier credits his parents and his childhood on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas for equipping him with the unflinching sense of right and wrong and of selfworth that he has never surrendered and that have dramatically shaped his world. "In the kind of place where I grew up," recalls Poitier, "what's coming at you is the sound of the sea and the smell of the wind and momma's voice and the voice of your dad and the craziness of your brothers and sisters ... and that's it." Without television, radio, and material distractions to obscure what matters most, he could enjoy the simple things, endure the long commitments, and find true meaning in his life.

Poitier was uncompromising as he pursued a personal and public life that would honor his upbringing and the invaluable legacy of his parents just a few years after his introduction to indoor plumbing and the automobile, Poitier broke racial barrier after racial barrier to launch a pioneering acting career. Committed to the notion that what one does for a living articulates who one is, Poitier played only forceful and affecting characters who said something positive, useful, and lasting about the human condition.

Here, finally, is Poitier's own introspective look at what has informed his performances and his life. Poitier explores the nature of sacrifice and commitment, pride and humility, rage and forgiveness, and paying the price for artistic integrity, What emerges is a picture of a man seeking truth, passion, and balance in the face of limits--his own and the world's. A triumph of the spirit, The Measure of a Man captures the essential Poitier.

Customer Reviews:

profound.......2007-08-13

An humbling read in deed...this is a man with a profound sense of self,I'll come back to this book often in the years to come.

An Insightful Autobiography.......2007-05-07

Learn about the man behind the great actor and storyteller who captivates audiences on the big screen.

A True and Honest Measure of Oneself.......2006-03-18

Sidney Poitier has always been one of my favorite actors and he has meant so much to me personally as a lover of the cinema. He is one out of a handful I can say that about. His autobiography is impressive and he is ever so modest about many of his accomplishments.

Sidney Poitier is one of America's greatest screen actors, a multi facetted practitioner of the performing arts and a true humanitarian. Not only did he portray men of humanity with a sense of dignified morality but his own career as a black actor broke racial barriers that ran parallel with the perception and acceptance of blacks in American films.

The beginnings of Sidney Poitier's big break into theatre and films have always seemed sketchy and are slightly different depending on what sources are available. However several events do seem to stand out and these lend credence to Poitier's place as a humanitarian because the poverty, the racial prejudices and the people that helped start his career were never forgotten. Sidney Poitier was understudying Harry Belefonte in the play "Days of our Youth" while working at the American Negro Theater. It does seem likely that he filled in for Belefonte for several performances at which he gained experience and proficiency through Belefonte's assistance. After several more productions and a national tour of "Days of Our Youth" Poitier got his first staring film role two years later in 1950's NO WAY OUT with Richard Widmark and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. This is a role that his good friend Harry Belafonte said put the truth about black people on the screen for millions to see due to Poitier's brilliant performance as a young good natured yet morally strong doctor pitted against bigoted Widmark.

Throughout the fifties, Sidney Poitier made some very important films in the history of cinema and some that were controversial during their time. BLACKBOARD JUNGLE made in 1955 was a realistic look at adolescence contempt for society at an inner city trade school for delinquent boys. Glenn Ford played a new teacher who decides that his only chance of teaching the boys anything is to reach the roughest boy of the bunch played by Sidney Poitier. Poitier gave a brilliant performance as the one youth that new true right from wrong and only used his tough facade to survive in a world of his peers where he would otherwise have been the low man on the rung. 1958's THE DEFIANT ONES directed by the progressive filmmaker Stanley Kramer was an engrossing story of two escaped prisoners, Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis, who must overcome issues of race in their struggle for freedom from police in the deep South. Sidney Poitier was nominated for an Academy Award.

In 1961 Sidney Poitier starred in A RAISIN IN THE SUN from Lorraine Hansberry's play, the first by a black playwright to show on Broadway. It was about a black Chicago family's attempts to make a better life against the many problems they faced both from within and from outside their household. In 1962 Sidney Poitier won the Academy Award for Best Actor for director Ralph Nelson's LILIES OF THE FIELD. Poitier played the handyman stranger who helps build a chapel for German-speaking nuns in the American southwest. Just prior to LILIES OF THE FIELD Poitier made PRESSURE POINT produced by Stanley Kramer. It was an intelligent drama based on a true case, with Poitier playing a prison psychiatrist trying to search out the problems of his deranged Nazi patient played by Bobby Darin. This was one of Poitier's best performances but the film has been long forgotten.

By 1965 Sidney Poitier was truly becoming a mainstream actor and his race seemed to play a minor factor in the characters he was portraying. In 1965 he made THE BEDFORD INCIDENT, THE SLENDER THREAD, A PATCH OF BLUE and appeared in George Stevens' THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD. In 1966 he starred in Ralph Nelson's DUEL AT DIABLO a violent tale about bigotry between whites and Indians out west. However, 1967's GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER directed by Stanley Kramer involved the first interracial kiss in screen history. Some reviewers criticized the film's story of interracial romance, as being unrealistic since Poitier played a black man who had such impeccable credentials race was hardly a factor. Kramer pointed out that that was his point. He wanted to put Poitier and his fiancée on an even playing field where their only differences could only be the color of their skin. Therefore, was there really a difference?

In 1967 Norman Jewison's IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT Poitier plays a black big-city black detective who assists redneck Southern sheriff Rod Steiger solve a murder. This is an excellent film and makes a great social commentary on color, respect and friendship. It also contains an innovative score by Quincy Jones. This film is a modern classic and is still powerful today. In 1967's TO SIR WITH LOVE, written and directed in Britain by James Clavell, Poitier plays a West Indian teacher to a bunch of tough East End teenagers who becomes successful and reaches them by teaching the class about survival in the real world. Poitier was and remains a force to be reckoned with.

Sidney Poitier helped change many persistent racial attitudes that had persisted in this country for centuries by the image he projected on and off the screen and the very life that he has lived. He has opened the doors for countless artists in succeeding generations. He is an actor who stood and still stands for hope, for excellence, and who has given happiness and the will to persevere in questionable times to millions of people around the world.

A story well told.......2006-01-15

Sidney Poitier's autobiography illuminates not only why he is true hollywood royalty, but why he is also to be considered a royal man. There is nothing pompous or egotistical about his journey from the island to Hollywood, but rather it is a very human story told with humility and grace.

Insightful into a surprisingly diverse number of areas.......2005-07-09

Poitier recounts his very humble childhood on Cat Island in the Bahamas. He then tells us stories about coming to the USA, making it into Hollywood, his experience with racism and civil rights, his reflections on life and spirituality, and the making of his movies. The book is a little uneven: I loved his stories about getting started in acting and making his films, while I got impatient with some of his thoughts on the nature of the world. But overall, this memoir is insightful and entertaining.

He provides an engaging narrative of the Civil Rights Movement from the perspective of black artists in show business. He gives a powerful example as he tells the story of refusing a film because it would have betrayed the values that his father taught him, and of how that refusal ultimately led to his Hollywood career taking off. He also entertains with anecdotes about his experiences with Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Harry Belafonte, Carl Sagan, and many others. Shortly after watching his film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, I read the story of how that film got made and enjoyed the insight that story provided.

Along the way, Poitier shares some wonderful insights about life and culture, progress and overconsumption.

If you have any opportunity to listen to this book on tape, I recommend it. Poitier reads the entire book himself, and his voice and intonation would make this worth listening to even if the memoir were less good than it is.

If the Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love on a Spiritual Path

Average customer rating:

disappointing
EMPOWERING, and if you're a grrl, read "Women, Sex, and Addiction"
A great guide.
Excellent book
If the Buddha Dated

If the Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love on a Spiritual Path
Charlotte Kasl
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0140195831

Book Description

In this practical, playful, yet spiritual guide, Charlotte Kasl, author of the highly successful Finding Joy: 101 Ways to Free Your Spirit and Dance with Life, shows you what it would be like to have the ancient wisdom of the Buddha to guide you through the dating process.

Kasl brings a compassionate understanding to the anxiety and uneasiness of new love, and helps readers discover their potential for vibrant human connection based on awareness, kindness, and honesty. She approaches the dating process as a means for awakening, reminding us that when we live by spiritual rules, we bring curiosity and a light heart to the romantic journey.

Filled with quotations from Zen, Sufi, and other wisdom traditions, and informed by the experiences of people from all walks of life, here is a relationship book that will appeal to readers looking for more than a Venus-meets-Mars solution to the complex affairs of the heart.

Download Description

"In this practical, playful, yet spiritual guide, Charlotte Kasl, author of the highly successful Finding Joy: 101 Ways to Free Your Spirit and Dance with Life, shows you what it would be like to have the ancient wisdom of the Buddha to guide you through the dating process. Kasl brings a compassionate understanding to the anxiety and uneasiness of new love, and helps readers discover their potential for vibrant human connection based on awareness, kindness, and honesty. She approaches the dating process as a means for awakening, reminding us that when we live by spiritual rules, we bring curiosity and a light heart to the romantic journey. Filled with quotations from Zen, Sufi, and other wisdom traditions, and informed by the experiences of people from all walks of life, here is a relationship book that will appeal to readers looking for more than a Venus-meets-Mars solution to the complex affairs of the heart. "

Customer Reviews:

disappointing.......2007-10-02

Rather than a clear buddhist take on relationships, this book is a melange of pop psychology, superficial ideas of buddhism, and other spiritual approaches (sufism, quakerism). The author is of course entitled to her personal path, but it seems a misrepresentation to use the buddha's name to sell her own brand of advice.

EMPOWERING, and if you're a grrl, read "Women, Sex, and Addiction".......2007-05-10

Kasl's books are amazing, IF YOU ARE ON A SPIRITUAL TIP. Ladies, her earlier book, "Women, Sex, and Addiction" is the most eye-opening book I've ever read in my life. That is more of a "medical therapist" book than this one, but an amazing read that changed the way I view all relationships. I truly feel that this is the perfect book to read AFTER reading "Women, Sex, and Addiction" by Kasl. She is truly a godsend.

A great guide........2006-11-10

This little book is big on good advice. The author explores many different spiritual paths to express her points, but suceeds in making the book very non-denominational. A great choice for anyone who is looking to go a little deeper in their search for a potential mate.

Excellent book.......2006-08-28

This is a great book for someone interested in developing an "intimate partnership". Seeing the truth is difficult in close relationships, as we often deny the things we see in the name of "love". Dr. Kasl encourages us to seek the truth in our relationships, and in that way they continue to mature (or fade away naturally with as little pain as possible).

I hope to practice dating like the Buddha myself someday!

If the Buddha Dated.......2006-08-23

Excellent book about becoming ready to give and receive love. Do not have to be buddhist

No Man Left Behind: How to Build and Sustain a Thriving, Disciple-Making Ministry for Every Man in Your Church

Average customer rating:

Best Tool Kit Anywhere
Scratching my head
Great help in revitalizing our Men's Ministry
No Man Left Behind - Indispensable Resource.
Best book yet on Men's Ministry!

No Man Left Behind: How to Build and Sustain a Thriving, Disciple-Making Ministry for Every Man in Your Church
Patrick Morley , David Delk , and Brett Clemmer
Manufacturer: Moody Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0802475493

Book Description

This is a foundational book for men's ministry in the context of the local church. The honesty and veracity with which these three men map out a successful men's ministry is very encouraging. Its theme is ''building faithful men'' and it targets leaders of men's ministry who can then reach the men of their congregations and neighborhoods for Christ in a very practical and meaningful way.

Customer Reviews:

Best Tool Kit Anywhere.......2007-06-01

This is the Best book available anywhere to help build or evaluate an all encompassing ministry to men. Any leader of Men would do well to study and apply these time proven principles to move and motivate their men to experience a deeper walk in Christ.

Scratching my head.......2007-04-19

I have read this book in preparation for beginning a "mens ministry" in our local church. As I read through the book and made comments and marks in the margins, it seems that nearly every page is fraught with problems. There is very little scriptural support for this program, and when scripture is used, it is often misused or pulled out of context. Many outlandish assertions are made without any substantiation. Most of the principles are borrowed from the business and marketing world. I would love the opportunity to give all of the specifics, but suffice it to say, I had questions marks on virtually every page. In this book I see very little resembling biblical Christianity. God's Word tells us the true marks of a man of God and the true purpose of His church. This book does neither.

Great help in revitalizing our Men's Ministry.......2007-04-10

Our church's Men's Ministry was stagnant and in need of revitalization. Our Men's Ministry Leadership Team read the book together and worked through the blbilical, common-sense principles it prescribed. We are on our way to a revitalized and dynamic ministry.

No Man Left Behind - Indispensable Resource........2007-03-12

No Man Left Behind is a valuable resource for those who want to establish or strengthen men's ministry in their churches. What the reader won't find is "ten easy steps to men's ministry". This is because men's ministry is hard and the authors won't let us think otherwise. In a paraphrase of the authors the book is not "prescriptive" but "preceptive".

I found one fundamental jewel amidst the treasure contained here: these things should work for any type of discipleship.

I look forward to using this tool as we put together our own men's ministry.

Best book yet on Men's Ministry!.......2007-02-06

This book hits all levels of Men's ministry. If you are a small or large church this book applies great principles and techniques to utilize while forming your ministry. The practical steps needed are well formulated and provide an easy step by step process for implementation.

I highly recommend this book if you are serious about starting or enhancing a Men's ministry in your church. A true gift to any leadership team. The best book I have every read on the subject!

Ken Snover
Ascension Lutheran Church Men's Ministry
Waukesha, Wisconsin

Code Name God: The Spiritual Odyssey of a Man of Science

Average customer rating:

East + West = "God"
Good thing I'm familiar with these physics topics
We Are One
A Must-Read for Inquiring Minds
EXCEPTIONAL

Code Name God: The Spiritual Odyssey of a Man of Science
Mani Bhaumik
Manufacturer: Crossroad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Bhaumik offers us his remarkable rags to riches story, his understanding of the true nature of science, and his vision of spirituality as that which gives meaning to our lives.

Customer Reviews:

East + West = "God".......2007-09-13

We live today in a world so divided by disparate religious ideas that there is a very real possibility that we as humans won't survive these differences.

The spectrum of this divde is great and varied. Extreme Christian fundamentalists longing for a biblical Armageddon promote political choices that could bring on an ultimate nuclear holocaust. More moderate Christians eschew science in favor of a literal reading of the Bible and turn a blind eye to scientific "theories" as varied as global warming, the evolution of our species or the age of the universe.

Extreme Islamic fundamentalists scoff at earthly political goals altogether and wish only to live in a world governed entirely by the Koran. Unfortunately, like the Judeo/Christian Bible, interpretation of these sacred scriptures is subject to whoever perceives that he/she has been selected by his or her god to do so. This has resulted, in many instances, in the wide-scale destruction of people by those convinced by these chosen spokesmen that they will achieve heavenly rewards by their own and their victims' deaths.

Obviously, examples like these can be found everywhere in the world and in many other religions as well.

In a fervent desire to get beyond religious misconceptions of basic spiritual concepts, many thoughtful people have followed one of two divergent philosophical paths of inquiry concerning the universe and our place in it.

Science and spirituality (as opposed to religion) both seek the answers to this most fundamental question. While never quite at physical odds with each other, proponents look askance at each other for the others' naive understandings of reality. Yet a few individuals in both camps have been able to take a "quantum leap" of understanding and realize that science and spirituality should not just "agree to disagree".

For some scientists, David Bohm, Rupert Sheldrake, Karl Pribram and others, the deeper science goes towards discovering the most fundamental nature of Matter and Energy, the more the paths of science and spirituality merge into one.

On the spiritual side, a person such as the Dalai Lama honors the discoveries being made by science; to the extent that he says that if science proves a concept that is counter to his own Buddhist tradition, then the Buddhist idea must succumb to science! Truly a remarkable statement in view of most religious orthodoxies.

Mani Bhaumik is one of these "leapers", whose early life happened to be suffused in mystical Hindu traditions. Yet, the talents for science and mathematics he displayed at a young age allowed him to escape the poverty and ignorance epidemic in his community.

Finding his way to the West and his subsequent invention of the Exemer Laser (known commercially as Lasek) culminated in his enjoying a fabled lifestyle of the rich and famous; coincidentally the name of a popular television show of the day in which he displayed his wealth. His Hollywood star-studded life of parties and luxury in Beverly Hills is the stuff of dreams.

But somewhere along the way, the dream ended. Like many others throughout history, he finally had to ask himself, is this all there is?

Even while climbing the ladder of success, however, he never forgot the ground below from where he began. His political and spiritual grounding as an acquaintance of the "living saint" Mahatma Ghandi (in the political struggle for independence by the Indians against Great Britain) demonstrated to him how true spirituality can be manifested in the everyday world.

Throughout his early life in America he used his practice of Hindu meditation as primarily a method of remaining calm and centered in the high-flying academic and business worlds he was increasingly a part of.

But when he began to ask whether "this is all there is", he wanted to explore the deeper realms of reality found through mediation; those spoken of in the Gitas, the sacred writings of his religious tradition.

As a man with one foot in Western science and one foot in mystical Hinduism, he came to realize that it was perhaps his dharma to create a bridge between the two.

The result is the narrative of a wonderful, poetic journey through his own life before he begins the even more fantastic journey into the realms of quantum theory and sublime mystical states.

In the process, he does a truly amazing thing. He makes the underlying scientific field of all physical reality--which is, in fact, non-reality--move so closely towards the highest mystical states that it makes the a non-belief in "god" the most non-rational and least plausible conclusion one could make for a human being.

As a formerly agnostic seeker of knowledge, I've spent the past few years, trying to reconcile the remarkable scientific discoveries of DNA, quantum theory and consciousness with the fantastic realms of mind explored and written about by mystics, shamans, artists, users of entheogenic plants and others throughout the ages.

Mani Bhaumik's journey is a wonderful stepping stone on our own journey through a life that offers so many unanswerable questions. I've found that the most wonderful thing about our journey is that once a stepping stone is reached, another one appears almost magically.

And it's only one step away.

Good thing I'm familiar with these physics topics.......2007-07-13

I think this book is wonderful approach to the science of God's existence. If you've ever seen the "Elegant Universe" (I think it is called) on PBS where they delve into String Theory and explain quantum physics to the layman, this book is a perfect follow-up. I think that because I had seen this show, I absorbed much of the physics he presented very quickly. I remember stopping at one point and thinking, "this is some scientific stuff."

Even if you've never heard of String Theory or Quantum Mechanics, it is worth reading this book. Dr. Bhaumik's book presents complicated physics theories in simple terms, and then ties those principles into his statement that everything from human consciousness, to the farthest stars, to the smallest particles are all interrelated and have a single name: God.

When I got to certain points in the book, I could hear my brain frying ;-) These were some increbile points he was making and I was blown away.

The only reason I gave it four stars is because he spends a little too much time in my opinion on his upbringing in India. Yes, it helps set the stage for the life eventually goes onto, and underscores several of his ideas, but it should have been cut shorter.

We Are One.......2007-05-21

Dr. Bhaumik's book should be required reading for all religions! Using the discoveries of Quantum Physics and other areas of science, he proves how the universe we know all comes from one source, Code Name God, beginning with the Big Bang. He explains the seemingly conscious evolution of elements and the universal laws that permeate and guide our universe. Then he shows that we are all made of the same material (a nucleus consisting of one up quark and one down quark and electrons). In proving the oneness and interconnectedness of all, he shows how we are truly brothers and sisters. Perhaps if we all got that, we would stop our senseless fighting revere this beautiful home we have been given and live in peace.

A Must-Read for Inquiring Minds.......2007-04-11

This book has been most helpful in deepening my understanding of Hinduism and Christianity and their Common Ground. I am very thankful Bhaumik has committed himself to integrating his backgound of East and West, of science and mystery, and presenting his knowledge and insights in ways the lay person can begin to grasp. Now the scriptures have become fully believable, though I do not claim to comprehend it all. I am scheduled to review the book for a study group and I have recommended it to several friends.

EXCEPTIONAL.......2006-12-02

How often does a book captivate you to the point of altering your schedule, tracking down its author, and spending hours with him in order to engage in dialogue about the subject after you've read the book? This is exactly the effect Dr. Mani Bhaumik's "Code Name God" had on me.
Actually, it was the subtitle, "The spiritual odyessey of a man of science," that first grabbed my attention and made me buy the first of 30 copies. I needed something "smart" to pass on to my intellectual, over-achieving and under-believing agnostic friends and colleagues.
However, the one whose eyes were opened the most were perhaps my own.

Mani Bhaumik was a devestatingly impoverished child from the Indian province of Bengal. His beloved grandmother died before his very eyes when she gave Mani her ration of food so that he may live. The entire village sold what meager belongings they possessed in order to send the unusually gifted youngster to UCLA. As a result, today hundreds of poor children from India are enjoying higher education and radically improved lives not only for themselves but those from their communities as well, thanks to his efforts and numerous scholarships; and, millions of people around the world literally "see" because of his accomplishments. Dr. Bhaumik is best known for being the co-inventor of the excimer laser--the class of laser than made LASIK corrective eye surgery possible. Eventually, the dirt poor Indian boy became a Bel-Air mega-millionaire, found himself featured on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," and even dated the Paris Hilton of his day, Ava Gabor.

As fate would usually have it, success, position, awards, wealth and fame wasn't enough. A void ensued in his soul that required all else to be put into question and in perspective. It is this journey that makes the rest of his extraordinary life experiences pale by comparison. It is a journey that I hope you too will want to read about...one that will alter the course of your destiny as well.

Julie Chrystyn,
author of "Body Transformation"

Average customer rating:

Much too obvious
Outstanding
Not A Lot of Informantion
Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes
Life Changing Material

Disciplines of a Godly Man
R. Kent Hughes
Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Disciplines of a Godly Woman
Disciplines of a Godly Family
Point Man: How a Man Can Lead His Family
The Exemplary Husband: A Biblical Perspective
The Measure of a Man

ASIN: 1581347588

Book Description

âDiscipline is a subject about which the Scriptures say muchâbut contemporary authors have been peculiarly silent. Kent Hughes fills a gaping void with this superb volume.â¦ If there is a spark of spiritual desire in your soul, this book will surely kindle it into a blazing passion for godly discipline.â
â John MacArthur, pastor and best-selling author

âThis is a book for men who are eager to learn how to be more effective. It comes from the pen of one who has learned to serve as he has led and who is able to provide the reader with many practical applications of eternal truth.â
â C. William Pollard, Chairman and CEO, The ServiceMaster Company

âTo open this book and find someone taking seriously the biblical call ofâagonizing to enter the kingdom’ andâ¦ boxing and sweating like a champion to get victory over sin is the most refreshing thing I could have set my eyes on.â
â John Piper, pastor and popular author

âAn outstanding volume for men and women alike!â¦ Over 250 pages devoted to the practical outworking of discipline on subjects like purity, marriage, prayer, the tongue, the mind, our work, leadership, ministry, and many, many more. I guarantee: Digest this book and you will bid the blahs farewell.â
â Charles Swindoll, pastor and best-selling author

âI enjoyed reading Disciplines of a Godly Man because it challenged my spirit. I highly recommend it to men who are not thin-skinned.â
â Mike Singletary, Hall of Fame linebacker for the Chicago Bears

âAn inspiring and practical guide for men who seek to reflect God’s glory in their lives. This book is a challenging text for personal devotions as well as for assisting young followers of Christ to grow in their walk with God.â
â Lieutenant General Howard D. Graves (U.S. Army, Retired), Former Superintendent, United States Military Academy (West Point, NY)

Customer Reviews:

Much too obvious.......2007-09-18

This book was utilized as part of a men's study group at our church. I found the points made by the author to be way too obvious and superficial. Further, there was an element of disturbing legalism that troubled me in his solutions. For example, his admonition that a Christian man should never hug a Christian woman who is not his wife I found to be a ridiculous universal application. While for some men and women this kind of apparently innocent interaction may be problematic, I think to make it an across-the-board command is a legalistic casting away of ordinary common sense and denying the natural affection brothers and sisters in Christ should be able to show one another.

In addition, the whole book came across in a rather stiff and obnoxious preachy manner, as if the author was talking down to his readers, all the while making those points that were way too obvious. At no point while reading this book did I say to myself, "Wow-I never looked at it that way" or "Gee, I never thought of that!" If one has average common sense and a healthy walk with the Lord this book is a waste of time. It only benefited our study group by raising topics that the group members could discuss on their own. The group lost interest and never even finished the study based on the book, further evidence that this is not a very compelling read.

Outstanding.......2007-08-29

Direct, to the point and convicting. Great book for a men's study group or for your personal devotions.

Not A Lot of Informantion.......2007-07-26

Unfortunately, this book didn't cover a whole lot, I felt like it was trying to be as amazing as NO MORE EXCUSES by Tony Evans. Maybe since I read this book after it made it not as interesting. However, it does cover some decent information but it doesn't go into enough detail. Just okay as a book.

Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes.......2007-06-10

The only issue I take with this vendor is that the condition of the book was a bit over-stated...There was more wear to the cover and the book in general than the description given had seemed to indicate. It's not really that big a deal, as the price and the delivery were terrific. Also, the book itself is outstanding and challenging, and should be read by anyone who wants to grow in the Lord.

Life Changing Material.......2007-04-04

I consider myself a mature Christian and this book challenged me in such a way that I now realize I'm barely scratching the surface of what God has called me to be. I am leading a men's small group through this study and it has completely transformed us. As a direct result of the call to discipline ourselves, we have committed to reading the Bible through in a year, becoming members in our local church, carefully guarding the media we allow into our minds, and holding each other accountable at a level we just didn't touch before. As soon as we finish the last chapter (next week), I will immediately turn back to page one and start over.

Discipline is an essential building block of the Christian man and a this book is a valuable tool to develop it.

A Man's Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines: 12 Habits to Strengthen Your Walk With Christ

Average customer rating:

A Man's Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines: 12 Habits to Strengthen Your Walk With Christ
Patrick Morley
Manufacturer: Moody Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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No Man Left Behind: How to Build and Sustain a Thriving, Disciple-Making Ministry for Every Man in Your Church
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6 Rules Every Man Must Break
The Man in the Mirror : Solving the 24 Problems Men Face
How to Build a Life-Changing Mens Ministry: Bringing the Fire Home to Your Church

ASIN: 0802475515

Book Description

For every ten men in church, nine will have children who leave the church. Eight will find their jobs unsatisfying. Six will pay only the monthly minimum on their credit cards. Five will have a major problem with pornography. Four will get divorced (affecting one million children per year). Only one will have a biblical worldview. All ten will wrestle to balance work and family. The issues facing men today require solutions

White Man Walking: An American Businessman's Spiritual Adventure in Africa

Average customer rating:

Nothing too deep, but a very good book nonetheless
Walking with a White Man
A Page Turning...Couldn't Put Down... Will Read Again Book!

White Man Walking: An American Businessman's Spiritual Adventure in Africa
Ward Brehm
Manufacturer: Kirk House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Life Through a Different Lens: Reflections and Lessons from the Horn of Africa
The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good
Nice Girls Don't Change the World
The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun
Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty

ASIN: 1886513473

Book Description

In Africa, white men don't walk! They come in vehicles, they always drive. Ward was different. Ward Walked. He walked with us across some of the most difficult terrain in West Pokot, Kenya. No white man had ever done that before. So the message went out across the land, "A white man is walking to Mbaro." It was the first time many along the way had seen a white man. It was historic. Ward is, to us, a legend. At the end of the walk, the elders gave Ward the title "Nyakan," meaning "a brave man who faces the unknown with only faith in God." John Lodinyo, Pokot pastor

The pages of this book open the doors to a life-changing experience rich with unexpected fellowship, insight and self-discovery. Ward's adventure walking across the terrains of East Africa, and his encounter with the local people became a faith journey that was to change his life and his heart forever.

Customer Reviews:

Nothing too deep, but a very good book nonetheless.......2007-09-13

I have been to Uganda a two occations and I think that Ward expresses the universal thoughts and feelings of a short term American missionary in this part of the world. I enjoyed the book very much, but I don't know that people who are unfamiliar with this part of the world would find Ward's thoughts very deep or interesting. Ward himself expresses his frustration in his inability to communicate his African experiences to common Americans. It's a common frustration with people who have been to Africa, and this book may only exemplify this frustration with its inability to engage untravelled Americans. But as a world traveller, I enjoyed the book very much.

Walking with a White Man.......2003-09-18

I was drawn to this book by the title being a person of color and once i started it i actually felt as though i was really taking this extraordinary walk with the white man who wrote it!

The segways into other experiences that Brehm has had from among some of the most difficultand dangerous places in Africa to Statehouse meetings with Presidents was amazing! Great style of writing and an important message of hope about a continent in trouble.

A Page Turning...Couldn't Put Down... Will Read Again Book!.......2003-09-16

This is a difficult book to put down. From the very beginning, Brehm captured my attention and held it firmly to the end. It is a captivating story about a "Survivor-like" experience that takes place deep in the Kenya Bush. I enjoyed learning about the primitive people he befriended there several years ago and ultimately came to rely upon for his life in this adventure. Brehm has an easy-to-read writing style. His ability to share his emotions, humor and faith were especially refreshing. This will be a "read once a year" book and "reccomend to all my friends" book for this reader! Very powerful.

Healing the Whole Man Handbook: Effective Prayers for the Body, Soul, And Spirit

Average customer rating:

Healing the whole man
Surprisingly believable
Healing the Whole Man
How to Minister Healing and Wholeness
Very useful handbook!

Healing the Whole Man Handbook: Effective Prayers for the Body, Soul, And Spirit
Joan Hunter
Manufacturer: Whitaker House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Healing | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Handbook for Healing
How to Heal the Sick
Healing the Heart: Overcoming Betrayal in Your Life
10 Curses That Block the Blessing
You May All Prophesy

ASIN: 0883688158

Book Description

You can walk in divine health and healing. The secrets to God's words for healing and recovery are in this comprehensive, easy-to-follow guidebook containing powerful healing prayers that cover everything from abuse to yeast infections and everything in between.

Truly anointed with the gifts of healing, Joan Hunter has over thirty years of experience praying for the sick and brokenhearted and seeing them healed and set free. By following these step-by-step instructions and claiming God's promises, you can be healed, set free, and made totally whole-body, soul, and spirit!

Customer Reviews:

Healing the whole man.......2007-10-06

This book was so awesome, such and easy read and what I really liked about it was the fact that there where specific prayers for specific illness..I have practiced these prayers at the altar and have seen healings take place...thank you so much for giving us the direction and showing us how to allow God to use us..it's not about us, it's all about Him..

Surprisingly believable.......2007-06-16

I met Joan at a writer's conference and got a copy of her book. I was intriqued by the cover. Joan was a little excited. Her book was selling really well, and was going into second printing. She should be excited. Finally I got around to reading a chapter or two. The truth is undeniable. The hope is reviving. The potential is unlimited. You might as well get yourself a copy. Healing the Whole Man may be the cheapest fix for what ails you - spiritually and physically - that you could ever buy.

Healing the Whole Man.......2007-05-09

This book is an awesome book to aid you in ministering to those who need a touch from God. I would encourage you to buy it and use it for gods kingdom.

How to Minister Healing and Wholeness.......2007-04-23

The Bible tells us as Believers that we are to lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Joan Hunter not only spells out what God's Word has to say about healing, she clearly identifies many of the diseases which plague Christians and unbelievers alike. She provides specific, efffective prayers to enable God's healing power to minister to the individual. This is a very practical, easy book to understand and apply, one that is much needed today in the Body of Christ. I heartily recommend it.

Edna Love
United Methodist pastor (retired)

Very useful handbook!.......2007-04-13

This book provides specific information and is very useful for study and Biblical training.

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