The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf |
| Bestselling author of 'Life Without Limits' releases second book Posted: 25 Dec 2012 03:12 AM PST Unstoppable: The Incredible Power Of Faith In Action A BOOK entitled Unstoppable quite expectedly features a front page illustration of a man waterskiing, wearing a smile that seems to say he's got the whole world in his hands. A closer look at this book cover will uncover a small discrepancy to that thought: he does not have a hand. Nor has he legs! You become quite interested. You read the subtitle: The Incredible Power Of Faith In Action. It gets more fascinating. This is how the journey typically starts with Nick Vujicic, international speaker, motivator and bestselling author of Life Without Limits. In this second offering, Vujicic shares, in his usual humorous and persuasive style, the powers that can be garnered if we let go and "let God". The book is really made of two parts. The first part is an inspiring walk through Vujicic's life and his definition of faith in action. He shares honestly and with humour the many obstacles that have defined his path of steadfast faith in God. In all his sharing, he comes off as sincere and humble and in no way condescending. There is a feeling that Vujicic genuinely writes to reach out to people and to make the reader understand that here is a man who is "a good example of a bad example". He relates bad experiences in acting without faith by allowing his ambition to overwhelm his business plans, which leads to emotional consequences. He assures us his honesty, only if we promise to learn from it. It must be said, there is more goodness about Vujicic's life than just bad examples. The other part of the book could be a struggle for a free-thinker, as Vujicic dives deep into what drives him hardest: God. By saying, "Will I always get what I want? No! But I will always get what God wants," Vujicic underlines the importance of faith before there can be action. Excusing some parts for its heavy preaching, the book is a delightful collection of stories of people who have defied odds and held on to faith and accepted God's plan for their lives. Their troublesome lives turn to beautiful opportunities and bad experiences become blessings. You could almost understand why Vujicic wants everyone to take that leap of faith in action together with him. Those who enjoy a religious journey will definitely enjoy this offering by one of the more unique evangelists of our age. Vujicic's flavour of preaching is very practical and, I feel, would be acceptable even to moderates. A perfect example is his narration of how Jesus Christ did not back down when harassed by religious persecutors. In the story, Jesus demanded an explanation from the man who struck him and stood up for his thoughts. One finds this brand of spirituality and power to the righteous more palatable than turning the other cheek. Most of what he shares is to the point and pleasantly engaging. From his stories of skateboarding down a steep hill exclaiming "Look Mum, no hands!" to the T-shirt collections of another limbless person with messages like "Arms are for Wimps" and "Who Needs Limbs When You Have God", Vujicic's story is a testament to the fact that a fulfilling life is possible despite having disabilities. In fact, Vujicic explains that his life has been such a great ride because of his disability, not despite of. However, the book could do without the one too many references to the people Vujicic has met and had an impact on. I was left wishing to hear more about Vujicic's own life and his challenges rather than another's. Nick Vujicic offers, through a Christian outlook, the universal message of loving all and serving all. This book brings with it a promise of emancipation; a possibility of joy in abundance if one could surrender to God and act in faith. Whatever be your belief system, you cannot deny the temptation of becoming Unstoppable by taking the leap of faith with that skiing man with a smile on his face. |
| Posted: 25 Dec 2012 01:35 AM PST FROM the funny to the outrageous, there's a Christmas-related book here for everyone. Laugh as Santa replies to kids pleading their way out of the naughty list or cringe while reading zombie-inspired Christmas carols. It's a quirky Christmas indeed! Santa Responds: He's Had Enough ... And He's Writing Back! by Santa Claus "Dear Billy, I know you honestly believe that the good deeds you rattled off represent your behaviour for the entire past year rather than the activities that occurred during the two hours leading up to the writing of this letter. Two hours of good behaviour hardly justifies a new Playstation, let alone a trip to Disney World! Your pal, Santa." Santa's just back from a particularly strenuous, chilly night riding his sleigh around town, and he's letting loose by replying letters sent to him by kids and pleading parents alike. Oh, and he definitely isn't holding back with his replies. You've been a good kid all year, you say? Well, Santa knows the truth. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham Imagine a year without Christmas. No sparkly decorations, mouth-watering indulgences, lavish parties and no Christmas tree. Come Dec 25, Luther and Nora Krank won't be staying at home as they usually would during Christmas, for they will be sailing across the Caribbean. The Kranks are in for a different Christmas indeed. Santa Claus Is Dead by Jason Twede An Elf is wandering around the forest when it stumbles upon a set of footprints leading to Santa's body. However, nothing else is around for miles and the footprints disappear. And so begins an investigation led by bitter detective Johnny Iceberg. Enter a world where Christmas tales come alive, and contrary to popular belief, your favourite Christmas characters aren't what you would expect them to be. More importantly, experience the heartache of past Christmases and the promise of Christmas futures. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Zombies! – A Book Of Zombie Christmas Carols by Michael P. Spradin Outside, the temperature's dropping. Snow is falling. Sleigh bells are jingling. Soon, it will be that time of flesh-devouring horror – Christmas is on its way! Santa Claws is coming to town, and he knows who's been naughty or naughtier ... and who'll taste best with a glass of Chianti! This merry macabre season, we present more than two dozen of the most soul-stirring carols composed for the decomposing. Favourites like I Saw Mommy Chewing Santa Claus, and Deck The Halls With Parts Of Wally, are guaranteed to lift the spirits of the undead and their temporarily still breathing meals-to-be. So sing loudly – to drown out the screaming! Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book: The Definitive Guide to Getting Your Ugly On by Team Ugly Definitive in every way, the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book includes the history of the event, how to throw the perfect party, what to wear, and how to judge the ugly Christmas sweater contest. But most importantly, it is packed with more than 100 hilarious photos of outrageously ugly sweaters, including Scarf Face, Wreath Witherspoon, and Ryan Treecrest. A must-have for those who plan to throw or attend an ugly Christmas sweater party – and it's all authorized by Team Ugly, experts on ugly Christmas sweater parties. Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle Let It Snow consists of three stories, The Jubilee Express, A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle, and The Patron Saint of Flying Pigs, that are all interconnected and based in a small city called Gracetown, which is right smack in the middle of a snowstorm during the events of the stories. There are stories about catching a cheating girlfriend, dyeing hair pink, and buying teacup pigs, which evidently sums up teenage romance. While braving the "biggest snowstorm in 50 years", however, each of them grows and finds love. (Yes, this is a normal young adult fiction book – well, into the weirdest collection a little normal must fall.) The Haunted Tea-Cosy: A Dispirited And Distasteful Diversion For Christmas by Edward Gorey In the preface to the ever-popular A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens wrote that he tried "to raise the Ghost of an Idea" with readers, trusting that it will "haunt their houses pleasantly". A few Christmases later, in 1997, New York Times Magazine asked Edward Gorey, also known as the "iconoclastic artist and author", to refurbish this enduring tale. The result? A dispirited and distasteful – and yet strangely compelling – diversion for Christmas. |
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