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Biography, Humour, European travel and geography
From the bestselling author of ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET? (Radio 2 Book of the Year & voted Amazon Customers'… Fave Kindle Read 2011) comes a new hilarious and touching story of travel chaos.Chosen as one of Amazon's Best Kindle Books of 2013 Ben Hatch is on the road again. Commissioned to write a guidebook about France (despite not speaking any French) he sets off with visions of relaxing chateaux and refined dining. Ten thousand miles later his family's been attacked by a donkey, had a run-in with a death-cult and, after a near drowning and a calamitous wedding experience involving a British spy, his own marriage is in jeopardy. A combination of obsessions about mosquitoes, French gravel and vegetable theme parks mean it's a bumpy ride as Ben takes a stand against tyrannical French pool attendants, finds himself running with the bulls in Pamplona and almost starring in a snuff movie after a near fatal decision to climb into a millionaire's Chevrolet Blazer.Funny and poignant, Road to Rouen asks important questions about life, marriage and whether it's ever acceptable to tape baguette to your children's legs to smuggle lunch into Disneyland Paris.
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European travel and geography
You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Italy From… the beaches to the Alps from fine art to fine pasta Italy has it all With this book you ll trace Italian culture from Rome s Colosseum to Michelangelo s David to the bustling elegance of Milan Experience the art-drenched cities of Venice and Florence explore the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum and learn how to avoid the lines at the most popular museums Discover the villages of Tuscany and Umbria and the lazy rhythms of the Cinque Terre Shop at local market stalls sip a cappuccino at an outdoor caf and pick up a picnic lunch at an allimentari Relax and enjoy the life of Bella Italia Rick s candid humorous advice will guide you to good-value hotels and restaurants He ll help you plan where to go and what to see depending on the length of your trip You ll get up-to-date recommendations about what is worth your time and money More than just reviews and directions a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket
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Biography, Journals and memoirs, Religious biography
What would cause an eighteen-year-old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville Tennessee to disappoint her parents… by forgoing college break her little brother s heart lose all but a handful of her friends because the rest of them think she has gone off the deep end and break up with the love of her life all so she could move to Uganda where she knew only one person but didn t know any of the language A passion to make a difference Katie Davis left over Christmas break her senior year for a short mission trip to Uganda and her life was turned completely inside out She found herself so moved by the people and children of Uganda that she knew her calling was to return and care for them She has given up a relatively comfortable life--at a young age--to care for the less fortunate of this world She was so moved by the need she witnessed she s centered her life around meeting that need Katie a charismatic and articulate young woman is in the process of adopting 13 children in Uganda and she completely trusts God for daily provision for her and her family Despite the rough conditions in which Katie lives she has found a life of service to God to be one of great joy Katie s children bring constant delight and help her help others by welcoming whoever comes to their door As the challenges grow so does Katie s faith and her certainty that what she s doing in Uganda one person at a time will have far-reaching rewards It isn t the life she planned but it is the life she loves To further her reach into the needs of Ugandans Katie established Amazima Ministries The ministry matches orphaned children with sponsors worldwide Each sponsor s 300 year provides schooling school supplies three hot meals a day minor medical care and spiritual encouragement Katie expected to have forty children in the program she had signed up 150 by January 2008 today it sponsors over 400 Another aspect of the ministry is a feeding program created for the displaced Karamojong people--Uganda s poorest citizens The program feeds lunch to over 1200 children Monday-Friday and sends them home with a plate of food it also offers basic medical care Bible study and general health training Katie avis now 22 is more than fascinating she s inspiring as she has wholeheartedly answered the call to serve
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European travel and geography, Travel and geography
Hit France s can t-miss art sights and bites in two weeks or less with Rick Steves Best… of France Inside you ll find Strategic advice from Rick Steves on what s worth your time and moneyShort itineraries covering the best of Paris Normandy the Loire Dordogne Provence the French Riviera and Burgundy including Versailles Nice the D-Day beaches C tes du Rh ne Monaco Avignon and moreRick s tips for beating the crowds skipping lines and avoiding tourist trapsThe best of local culture flavors and haunts including walks through museums and atmospheric neighborhoodsTrip planning strategies like how to link destinations and design your itinerary what to pack where to stay and how to get aroundOver 400 full-color pages with detailed maps and vibrant photosSuggestions for side trips and excursionsExperience France s old-world romance and modern-day excitement for yourself with Rick Steves Best of France Planning a longer trip Rick Steves France 2018 is the classic in-depth guide to exploring the country updated annually Looking for a quick getaway Try Rick Steves Pocket Paris
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Food and drink, European travel and geography
A collection of stories and 100 sweet and savory French-inspired recipes from popular food blogger David Lebovitz reflecting the… way modern Parisians eat today and featuring lush photography taken around Paris and in David s Parisian kitchen It s been ten years since David Lebovitz packed up his most treasured cookbooks a well-worn cast-iron skillet and his laptop and moved to Paris In that time the culinary culture of France has shifted as a new generation of chefs and home cooks--most notably in Paris--incorporates ingredients and techniques from around the world into traditional French dishes In My Paris Kitchen David remasters the classics introduces lesser-known fare and presents 100 sweet and savory recipes that reflect the way modern Parisians eat today You ll find Soupe l oignon Cassoulet Coq au vin and Croque-monsieur as well as Smoky barbecue-style pork Lamb shank tagine Dukkah-roasted cauliflower Salt cod fritters with tartar sauce and Wheat berry salad with radicchio root vegetables and pomegranate And of course there s dessert Warm chocolate cake with salted butter caramel sauce Duck fat cookies Bay leaf poundcake with orange glaze French cheesecake and the list goes on David also shares stories told with his trademark wit and humor and lush photography taken on location around Paris and in David s kitchen reveals the quirks trials beauty and joys of life in the culinary capital of the world
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Religious biography, Inspirational and family life
The exchanged life Hudson Taylor first used the term to describe what it means to know Christ as… our sufficiency in all things Taylor is but one of the many Christian luminaries who have discovered Christ as the secret to abundant living John Bunyan Andrew Murray Amy Carmichael Oswald Chambers Charles Finney--behind the varied lives and personalities of these and other men and women lies a common theme a pattern that leads from desperation to the abundant life Jesus promised From their stories we too can find the path to deeper faith and a more vital relationship with God In They Found the Secret Raymond Edman presents the lives of twenty well-known and little-known Christians The details of their experience of the crisis of the deeper life are delightfully different Edman writes yet their testimony to the reality of the joy and power of the Spirit-filled life is unanimous It is the Lord who satisfies the longing soul He is the secret of the exchanged life
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Religious biography, Inspirational and family life
In a culture that praises blending in over standing out, productivity over purpose, and noise over truth, many women find… their God-given voice compromised, quieted, or even mocked. We all long to live out our divinely designed passions and unique talents, yet too often it becomes so much easier in the face of opposition to stay silent altogether. What if God is calling you to so much more? As a working mom, wife, artist, and abolitionist, Natalie Grant has struggled to live on purpose while battling the worldly demands of keeping up the appearance of perfection. Emerging from her own dark spiral of suffocating inadequacy, Natalie found fresh hope in the truth that God has already given women everything they need to live out their God-given identity, passions, and calling. Finding Your Voice offers the heart-rallying, life-giving truth that a woman’s voice is not an uncalled for interference to be silenced, but a gift to be used for God’s Kingdom purposes. In voice lessons as in life, a strong vocal identity requires us to first stand firm, breath deep, and finally, go for it—loud and clear. With rich scriptural study and personal stories infusing every chapter, Finding Your Voice reveals how to discover your own unique talent, train it according to God’s Word, and start using it for the good of others—without guilt and apology.
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War, European travel and geography
Backed up by thorough research, Russell Freedman tells the story of Austrian-born Hans Scholl and his sister Sophie. They belonged… to Hitler Youth as young children, but began to doubt the Nazi regime. As older students, the Scholls and a few friends formed the White Rose, a campaign of active resistance to Hitler and the Nazis. Risking imprisonment or even execution, the White Rose members distributed leaflets urging Germans to defy the Nazi government. Their belief that freedom was worth dying for will inspire young readers to stand up for what they believe in.<P><P> <P><b>Jane Addams Children's Book Award Medal Winner <P>Winner of the Sibert Honor</b>
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Biography, Journals and memoirs, European travel and geography
A beguiling memoir of a childhood in 1950s Fontainebleau from the much-admired New York Times bestselling author of The Piano… Shop on the Left Bank For a young American boy in the 1950s, Fontainebleau was a sight both strange and majestic, home to a continual series of adventures: a different language to learn, weekend visits to nearby Paris, family road trips to Spain and Italy. Then there was the château itself: a sprawling palace once the residence of kings, its grounds the perfect place to play hide-and-seek. The curiosities of the small town and the time with his family as expats left such an impression on him that thirty years later Carhart returned to France with his wife to raise their two children. Touring Fontainebleau again as an adult, he began to appreciate its influence on French style, taste, art, and architecture. Each trip to Fontainebleau introduces him to entirely new aspects of the château's history, enriching his memories and leading him to Patrick Ponsot, the head of the château's restoration, who becomes Carhart's guide to the hidden Fontainebleau. What emerges is an intimate chronicle of a time and place few have experienced. In warm, precise prose, Carhart reconstructs the wonders of his childhood as an American in postwar France, attending French schools with his brothers and sisters. His firsthand account brings to life nothing less than France in the 1950s, from the parks and museums of Paris to the rigors of French schooling to the vast château of Fontainebleau and its village, built, piece by piece, over many centuries. Finding Fontainebleau is for those captivated by the French way of life, for armchair travelers, and for anyone who has ever fallen in love with a place they want to visit over and over again.From the Hardcover edition.
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European history, Humour, European travel and geography
The book that made Mark Twain famous and introduced theworld to that obnoxious and ubiquitous character the American tourist… Based on a series of letters first published in American newspapers The Innocents Abroad is Mark Twain s hilarious and insightful account of an organized tour of Europe and the Holy Land undertaken in 1867 With his trademark blend of skepticism and sincerity Twain casts New World eyes on the people and places of the Old World including London Paris Rome Odessa Constantinople Damascus and Jerusalem He skewers the idiosyncrasies and pretensions of Americans abroad and delights in tormenting the local tour guides In Lake Como he insists that Lake Tahoe is nicer In Genoa he and his fellow travelers claim they ve never heard of Christopher Columbus First published in 1869 The Innocents Abroad made Mark Twain a national celebrity For the rest of the author s life it outsold all his other books and remains one of the bestselling travelogues of all time Part satire part guidebook it s a must-read for fans of this inimitable author and anyone who has experienced the pleasure and the pain of being a tourist This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices
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Journals and memoirs, Religious biography, Health and medicine
In this engrossing, provocative, and intimate memoir, a young journalist reflects on her childhood in the heartland, growing up in… an increasingly isolated meditation community in the 1980s and '90s--a fascinating, disturbing look at a fringe culture and its true believers.When Claire Hoffman's alcoholic father abandons his family, his desperate wife, Liz, tells five-year-old Claire and her seven-year-old brother, Stacey, that they are going to heaven--Iowa--to live in Maharishi's national headquarters for Heaven on Earth. For Claire's mother, Transcendental Meditation--the Maharishi's method of meditation and his approach to living the fullest possible life--was a salvo that promised world peace and enlightenment just as their family fell apart.At first this secluded utopia offers warmth and support, and makes these outsiders feel calm, secure, and connected to the world. At the Maharishi School, Claire learns Maharishi's philosophy for living and meditates with her class. With the promise of peace and enlightenment constantly on the horizon, every day is infused with magic and meaning. But as Claire and Stacey mature, their adolescent skepticism kicks in, drawing them away from the community and into delinquency and drugs. To save herself, Claire moves to California with her father and breaks from Maharishi completely. After a decade of working in journalism and academia, the challenges of adulthood propel her back to Iowa, where she reexamines her spiritual upbringing and tries to reconnect with the magic of her childhood.Greetings from Utopia Park takes us deep into this complex, unusual world, illuminating its joys and comforts, and its disturbing problems. While there is no utopia on earth, Hoffman reveals, there are noble goals worth striving for: believing in belief, inner peace, and a firm understanding that there is a larger fabric of the universe to which we all belong.
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Biography, Religious biography, Royalty biography, Judaism
Of all the figures in the Bible David arguably stands out as the most perplexing and enigmatic He… was many things a warrior who subdued Goliath and the Philistines a king who united a nation a poet who created beautiful sensitive verse a loyal servant of God who proposed the great Temple and founded the Messianic line a schemer deceiver and adulterer who freely indulged his very human appetites David Wolpe whom Newsweek called the most influential rabbi in America takes a fresh look at biblical David in an attempt to find coherence in his seemingly contradictory actions and impulses The author questions why David holds such an exalted place in history and legend and then proceeds to unravel his complex character based on information found in the book of Samuel and later literature What emerges is a fascinating portrait of an exceptional human being who despite his many flaws was truly beloved by God
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Historical biography, Religious biography
Amazing Grace tells the story of the remarkable life of the British abolitionist William Wilberforce 1759-1833 This… accessible biography chronicles Wilberforce s extraordinary role as a human rights activist cultural reformer and member of Parliament At the center of this heroic life was a passionate twenty-year fight to abolish the British slave trade a battle Wilberforce won in 1807 as well as efforts to abolish slavery itself in the British colonies a victory achieved just three days before his death in 1833 Metaxas discovers in this unsung hero a man of whom it can truly be said he changed the world Before Wilberforce few thought slavery was wrong After Wilberforce most societies in the world came to see it as a great moral wrong To mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade HarperSanFrancisco and Bristol Bay Productions have joined together to commemorate the life of William Wilberforce with the feature-length film Amazing Grace and this companion biography which provides a fuller account of the amazing life of this great man than can be captured on film This account of Wilberforce s life will help many become acquainted with an exceptional man who was a hero to Abraham Lincoln and an inspiration to the anti-slavery movement in America
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Religious biography
IF THERE WERE SUCH A JOB AS THE NATIONÆS PASTOR, IT WOULD GO TO BILLY GRAHAM Graham wasnÆt born with… a mandate to become the face of modern evangelism. Growing up, he wasnÆt much different from other boys in his town. Billy was more interested in going to the movies than the moving of the Holy Spirit, and he spent more time chasing girls than God. But at a revival meeting the day before his sixteenth birthday, Graham committed himself to Christ and never looked back. That day, he started on the path that would make him the most influential Christian leader in American history. In Billy Graham: His Life and Influence, acclaimed author David Aikman probes critical episodes of GrahamÆs life that help explain his profound impact, both on the public life of America and other nations and the private lives of their cultural and political leaders. From the racial upheaval of the civil rights movement to the social turmoil of the cold war, Aikman traces GrahamÆs profound influence on a nation as it went through wrenching changes over the span of more than a half century. Through vivid anecdotes and fascinating details, Billy Graham: His Life and Influence tells the story of how a country boy from Charlotte with a heart for God grew up to help shape the world.
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Religious biography
Patrick was born the son of privilege and position but he was only a teenager when he was taken… from his home in Roman Britain by marauders and sold into slavery in Ireland Despite his terrible circumstances young Patrick did not give way to despair As he worked as a shepherd in the pastures of his new owner he kindled the faith he d inherited from his family and eventually escaped to freedom Then after returning home he experienced a dream that changed everything God wanted him to go back and take the Gospel to the country of his captors Patrick heeded the call Both humble enough to minister to beggars and bold enough to confront kings Patrick led the Irish through his brave and compassionate service into the Christian faith and baptized thousands Separating the many myths from the facts Jonathan Rogers weaves a wonder-filled tale of courage barbarism betrayal and hope in God s unceasing faithfulness Countless miracles have been attributed to Saint Patrick but perhaps one of the simplest and most amazing is that he won the hearts and souls of the same fierce and indomitable people who had enslaved him
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Religious biography, United States history, Christianity
Joseph Smith America s preeminent visionary and prophet rose from a modest background to found the largest indigenous… Christian church in American history Without the benefit of wealth education or social position he published the 584-page Book of Mormon when he was twenty-three organized a church when he was twenty-four and founded cities built temples and attracted thousands of followers before his violent death at age thirty-eight Rather than perishing with him Mormonism migrated to the Rocky Mountains flourished there and now claims millions of followers worldwide In Joseph Smith Rough Stone Rolling Richard Bushman an esteemed American cultural historian and a practicing Mormon tells how Smith formed a new religion from the ground up Moving beyond the popular stereotype of Smith as a colorful fraud the book explores the inner workings of his personality-his personal piety his temper his affection for family and friends and his incredible determination It describes how he received revelations and why his followers believed them Smith was a builder of cities He sought to form egalitarian just and open communities under God and laid out a plan for ideal cities which he hoped would fill the world Adopted as the model for hundreds of Mormon settlements in the West Smith s urban vision may have left a more lasting imprint on the landscape than that of any other American He was controversial from his earliest years His followers honored him as a man who spoke for God and restored biblical religion His enemies maligned him as a dangerous religious fanatic an American Mohammad and drove the Mormons from every place in which they settled Smith s ultimate assassination by an armed mob raises the question of whether American democracy can tolerate visionaries The book gives more attention to Joseph Smith s innovative religious thought than any previous biography As Bushman writes His followers derived their energy and purpose from the religious world he brought into being Some of the teachings were controversial such as property redistribution and plural marriage but Smith s revelations also delved into cosmology and the history of God They spoke of the origins of the human personality and the purpose of life While thoroughly Christian Smith radically reconceived the relationship between humans and God The book evaluates the Mormon prophet s bold contributions to Christian theology and situates him culturally in the modern world Published on the two hundredth anniversary of Smith s birth Joseph Smith Rough Stone Rolling is an in-depth portrayal of the mysterious figure behind one of the world s fastest growing faiths From the Hardcover edition
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Religious biography, Women biography
In A Joyful Noise Deborah Weisgall tells a moving story of her turbulent coming-of-age in the shadow of two… remarkable men who lived life as if they were characters in an opera The daughter of a mercurial composer and the granddaughter of a legendary cantor Deborah as a child longed to be entrusted with their precious music and carry it on herself But it was impossible she was a girl A Joyful Noise recounts Deborah s search for a place within the family tradition and finally her triumphant discovery of a way to make the men who would exclude her who were also the men she loved listen to her voice A Joyful Noise is a tender heartbreaking beautifully written chronicle of the power of memory the survival of faith and the pursuit of a grand musical heritage A superbly written chronicle encompassing the grand themes of the power of memory and the survival of faith The Jewish Transcript Weisgall has written a valuable book The New York Times Book Review This is a lovely memoir of life in the acutely functional family of a fine and learned composer Deborah Weisgall writes of a milieu of discourse immersed in and emerging from music and in which love and knowledge are not at odds A Joyful Noise is that of her own particular music of remembering John Hollander An absorbing memoir with music in the background and foreground New York Jewish Week
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Religious biography
One thing a cupboard was the only thing in Tracy Elliott s life that didn t get shattered… As a stripper Elliot lived hard and suffered the consequences In Unbroken she tells the deeply impacting story of how her life was put back together by the power and redemption of God
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Religious biography
From the Hood to the Hill is Chaplain Black s story of overcoming unpromising beginnings in the ghettos of Baltimore… His travels through uncharted waters exemplify God s power for change Read his story and discover how you too can move toward unprecedented satisfaction through a living faith in God With Barry Black you don t just hear a sermon you see the sermon That sermon is captured vividly in this story of his life A life shaped by love humility confidence courage strength and hope - from the Foreword THOMAS R CARPER US Senator Barry Black is a leader among leaders Brilliant and articulate yet humble and approachable he is a force for integrity goodness and compassion on Capitol Hill this narrative From the Hood to the Hill is a fascinating read - DR RICK WARREN Best-Selling Author The Purpose Driven Life and Pastor Saddleback Church Lake Forest CA Chaplain Barry Black embodies the best of the American Spirit and the Christian tradition-a man of great erudition who has never forgotten hishumble roots a man of great faith who remains open to all the wisdom of all people a man of great seriousness who knows how to laugh The Senate and the country are grateful for his service - BARRACK OBAMA US Senator From a wonderfully unique man comes a powerfully unique story Barry Black is a testimony to God s faithfulness and grace - MAX LUCADO Pastor Oak Hills Church San Antonio TX This is an inspiring autobiography by an outstanding man of God a great leader a powerful preacher and a true patriot Barry Black is my cherished friend I m honored that he succeeded me as Chaplain of the United States Senate From the Hood to the Hill is a stirring and power-packed book of the way God uses whom He chooses - DR LLOYD J OGILVIE Former US Senate Chaplain
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Religious biography
A fascinating and riveting life sketch of one of the most respected spiritual leaders of our times which also… delves deep into the various facets of Buddhism The seventeenth Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje is the leader of the Karma Kagyu School one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism Born in 1985 in eastern Tibet to nomadic parents he was recognized as the reincarnation of the sixteenth Karmapa who passed away in the US in 1981 He became the first Tibetan reincarnation to be recognized by both the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Government The 15-year-old monk made headlines when he escaped to India in 2000 Currently living near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh India the Karmapa is widely seen as an important spiritual leader of the twenty-first century Over the past decade and a half he has grown up into a formidable leader and an impressive orator Behind the fa ade of scandals and controversies surrounding the Karmapa is an extraordinary young man full of charisma and intelligence Yet few know who the Karmapa is and what he believes in What are his teachings and what is his vision for the world How is he restoring his 900-year-old Tibetan Buddhist institution of which he is the head In a unique mixture of biography travelogue and reportage the author brings alive the life of the Karmapa who is grappling with immense challenges to modernize spirituality while keeping its essence alive Here is a timely volume that is highly relevant today given the worldwide attention on the developments in Tibet and its impact on Beijing