S.J. Parris
S.J. Parris writes about her inspiration for Heresy, which masterfully blends true events with fiction into a page-turning murder mystery set on the sixteenth-century Oxford University campus.
Adam Haslett
A conversation with Adam Haslett, author of Union Atlantic, a deeply affecting portrait of the modern gilded age, the first decade of the twenty-first century.
Ethics For The New Millennium: Summary and book reviews of Ethics For The New Millennium by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, plus links to an excerpt from Ethics For The New Millennium and a biography of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.
"I am convinced that human nature is basically gentle, not aggressive. And every one of us has a responsibility to act as if all our thoughts, words, and deeds matter. For really, they do. Our lives have both purpose and meaning." --from Ethics for the Next Millennium
In this time of increasing violence and confusion, modern society seems to have lost its ethical direction. The Dalai Lama contends that what we perceive as a drift into ethical chaos is not caused by a loosening of moral standards, but rather by an inherent flaw in the way our morals have been structured: They were formed with the assumption that humankind, if left unsupervised, will perpetrate horrible acts.
The Dalai Lama bases his exquisitely argued cry for a new look at society on the radical notion that human beings are "originally pure"--not originally sinful--and he presents a persuasive examination of our fundamental natures. In chapters offering helpful advice on how to enhance compassion, deal with anger and hatred, and cope with suffering, Ethics for the Next Millennium proposes that if enough people operate from an understanding of their true nature, a global revolution of peace will ensue.
Book Reviews
Booklist - Donna Seaman
Stating bluntly that it is far more important to be a good human being than to be a religious believer, the Dalai Lama encourages his readers to act out of concern for the well-being of others rather than indulge our habitual preoccupation with self. This may sound simplistic, but there is nothing superficial about the Dalai Lama's argument or the ethics he defines.
Kirkus Reviews
As His Holiness himself says, very little in this book is original. But his message is so often neglected that it sounds very fresh indeed. Simple but not simplistic.
You are about to travel to Edgecombe St. Mary, a small village in the English countryside filled with rolling hills, thatched cottages, and a cast of characters both hilariously original and as familiar as the members of your own family.
The Postmistress is an unforgettable tale of the secrets we must bear, or bury. It is about what happens to love during wartime, when those we cherish leave. And how every story-of love or war-is about looking left when we should have been looking right.
Masterfully blending true events with fiction, this blockbuster historical thriller delivers a page-turning murder mystery set on the sixteenth-century Oxford University campus.
Kostova's masterful new novel travels from American cities to the coast of Normandy, from the late 19th century to the late 20th, from young love to last love. The Swan Thieves is a story of obsession, history's losses, and the power of art to preserve human hope.
Lisa See has written a great book! This story is satisfying on many levels, some scenes horrifying, but seemingly truthful, and her handling of the ...
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I was sorry to see that there were so few reviews. I started reading COAL and could not stop. The only thing I am going to say is that I wish ...
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The tragedy, the sorrow, the loss, is almost too much for me to recommend this; on the other hand Mistry made me believe I knew these characters. I ...
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UK Orange Award longlist announced(Mar 17 2010) Hilary Mantel, Sarah Waters and Barbara Kingsolver have made the longlist for the 2010 Orange Prize, a 20-strong list described by chair Daisy Goodwin as...
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National Book Critics Circle Awards announced(Mar 11 2010) Each March, the NBCC present awards for the finest books and reviews published in English (in the USA) the previous year in six categories: Fiction,...
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