One lonely Christmas morning, Kristin Ohlson wandered into a downtown Cleveland church for mass. Once there, she was moved by the traditions of her childhood, but more than that, her curiosity was captured by a group of cloistered nuns. They were the Poor Clares—a tiny, threadbare congregation of elderly nuns with one mission: to pray day and night for the sorrows of the world. As Ohlson, a longtime skeptic, opens up to the Poor Clares, she opens herself to the possibility of the sacred. The result is an inspiring personal journey as well as a poignant reflection on the power of church and faith.

Thousands of years of poor farming and ranching practices—and, especially, modern industrial agriculture—have led to the loss of up to 80 percent of carbon from the world’s soils. That carbon is now floating in the atmosphere, and even if we stopped using fossil fuels today, it would continue warming the planet. In The Soil Will Save Us, journalist and bestselling author Kristin Ohlson makes an elegantly argued, passionate case for "our great green hope"—a way in which we can not only heal the land but also turn atmospheric carbon into beneficial soil carbon—and potentially reverse global warming. As the granddaughter of farmers and the daughter of avid gardeners, Ohlson has long had an appreciation for the soil. A chance conversation with a local chef led her to the crossroads of science, farming, food, and environmentalism and the discovery of the only significant way to remove carbon dioxide from the air—an ecological approach that tends not only to plants and animals but also to the vast population of underground microorganisms that fix carbon in the soil. Ohlson introduces the visionaries—scientists, farmers, ranchers, and landscapers—who are figuring out in the lab and on the ground how to build healthy soil, which solves myriad problems: drought, erosion, air and water pollution, and food quality, as well as climate change. Her discoveries and vivid storytelling will revolutionize the way we think about our food, our landscapes, our plants, and our relationship to Earth.

Soon after the fall of the Taliban, in 2001, Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan as part of a group offering humanitarian aid to this war-torn nation. Surrounded by men and women whose skills–as doctors, nurses, and therapists–seemed eminently more practical than her own, Rodriguez, a hairdresser and mother of two from Michigan, despaired of being of any real use. Yet she soon found she had a gift for befriending Afghans, and once her profession became known she was eagerly sought out by Westerners desperate for a good haircut and by Afghan women, who have a long and proud tradition of running their own beauty salons. Thus an idea was born. With the help of corporate and international sponsors, the Kabul Beauty School welcomed its first class in 2003. Well meaning but sometimes brazen, Rodriguez stumbled through language barriers, overstepped cultural customs, and constantly juggled the challenges of a postwar nation even as she learned how to empower her students to become their families’ breadwinners by learning the fundamentals of coloring techniques, haircutting, and makeup. Yet within the small haven of the beauty school, the line between teacher and student quickly blurred as these vibrant women shared with Rodriguez their stories and their hearts: the newlywed who faked her virginity on her wedding night, the twelve-year-old bride sold into marriage to pay her family’s debts, the Taliban member’s wife who pursued her training despite her husband’s constant beatings. Through these and other stories, Rodriguez found the strength to leave her own unhealthy marriage and allow herself to love again, Afghan style. With warmth and humor, Rodriguez details the lushness of a seemingly desolate region and reveals the magnificence behind the burqa. Kabul Beauty School is a remarkable tale of an extraordinary community of women who come together and learn the arts of perms, friendship, and freedom.

Winner of the 1997 National Jewish Book Award for Jewish Thought, "Stalking Elijah" traces Rodger Kamenetz's rollicking and profound cross-country journey in search of the great teachers revitalizing Judaism today.

Edited by Rebecca Skloot, award-winning science writer and New York Times bestselling author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and her father, Floyd Skloot, an award-winning poet and writer, and past contributor to the series, The Best American Science Writing 2011 collects into one volume the most crucial, thought-provoking, and engaging science writing of the year. Culled from a wide variety of publications, these selections of outstanding journalism cover the full spectrum of scientific inquiry, providing a comprehensive overview of the most compelling, relevant, and exciting developments in the world of science. Provocative and engaging, The Best American Science Writing 2011 reveals just how far science has brought us—and where it is headed next.

It could be a cloud in the shape of a loved one's face or an extremely relevant song playing on the radio at the exact time of a friend's death--if we allow ourselves to stop, look, and listen, we can identify what spiritual teacher Ann Bolinger-McQuade calls personal oracles. And when we tune into these subtle messages from Spirit, we will discover guidance for navigating life's most trying situations. In this illuminating book, readers will learn that the universe is constantly conspiring in our favor and is ready to lend a helping hand when we need it most--if only we can look closely and open our hearts to the divine messages that are on display around us. Sharing stories of divine inspiration from her own life, as well as the lives of others (many of them well-known historical or contemporary figures), McQuade shows readers how: A PAIR OF SPARROWS SAVE A MAN'S LIFE: Journalist Byron Pitts narrowly escaped being hit by a car and saw a couple birds circling in front of him. The birds reminded him of the lyrics to his mother's favorite hymn: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The comforting reminder of guidance and provision encouraged him to persevere in his challenging career in broadcast journalism, which was ultimately rewarded when CBS offered him a position on 60 Minutes. A LITTLE BOY BRINGS HOPE BACK INTO A WOMAN'S LIFE: Nancy was reeling from her husband's recent diagnosis of AML, a rare form of leukemia, when a seven-year-old boy knocked at her door collecting donations for AML research. He smiled at her warmly as he told her how he had had AML since he was two, and then he announced proudly that a transplant had saved his life. SIR ISAAC NEWTON'S APPLE WAS ACTUALLY AN EVERYDAY ORACLE: Many are familiar with the story of how Sir Isaac Newton first discovered gravity when an apple fell on his head. It is a lesser known fact that Newton was interested in the supernatural. Born in the 1600s, when astronomy and astology were considred one and the same, the highly respected alchemist looked to the heavens to assist him in his quest to decode the mysteries of the universe. The falling apple that arrested his attention acted as a personal oracle. In addition to illuminating oracles through examples, McQuade discusses the history and science of oracles in general and of personal oracles specifically, offering the reader practical instructions for identifying and decoding the divine messages in their own lives.

Presents an anthology of the best travel writing published in the previous year, selected from magazines, newspapers, and web sites.

Christine M. Panyard thought she was studying Michelangelo and Renaissance art, but she was actually being moved towards God. The gothic cathedral is a metaphor for spiritual development in Stalking Michelangelo, Finding God. Her story began outside the church, where she was for many years. It takes the reader on a journey around and through the cathedral to the altar, much as she moved from being a lapsed Catholic to formation as a Secular Discalced Carmelite. Christine became an author and award-winning photographer on her way to God.

Keatyn’s life is like a movie. It’s following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most coveted lunch table. But really, things aren’t all that perfect. Her boyfriend gets drunk at every party, and her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her relationship is a sham. Deep down, she isn’t sure if she has any true friends. Except for Brooklyn—her surfing buddy and longtime crush. He understands both sides of her. The popular girl. The surfer girl. Even though her friends say it can’t be done, Keatyn decides to write a new script for her life. One where she stays popular and dates the surfer boy who has her heart. But Keatyn’s life is interrupted when a threatening note is found in her little sister’s backpack from a stalker obsessed with her movie-star mom. And when he gets dangerously close to Keatyn, it won’t matter who she is or what she’s scripted. Because popular girl or surfer girl, the pretty girl always ends up dead. At least, they do in the movies. Keatyn Chronicles Kiss, Keatyn Chronicles Love, Keatyn Chronicles Sex, Keatyn Chronicles Series, Keatyn Chronicles Love, Keatyn Chronicles Kisses, Teen and Young Adult, They Lived Happily Ever After, Happily Ever After Book, Happily Ever After, Keatyn Chronicles Love, Jillian Dodd Keatyn Chronicles, Jillian Dodd Keatyn Chronicles, Keatyn Chronicles, Keatyn Chronicles Sex, Captive Films, YA Romance in High School, High School Crush Romance, High School Romance with Sex, High School Romance, Private School Books, Jillian Dodd Captive Films, Captive Films Jillian Dodd, Magic Kiss Chronicles, Jillian Dodd Sex, High School Drama Books, Prep School, Boarding School, Preppy Kids, Boy Best Friends, Sagas, Love Triangles, High School Drama, Movie Stars, Surfer Boy, Beach Romance, Young Adult Romance Novels, Coming of Age Romance, Teen Drama, Instant Love, High School Romance Books, A Privileged Life, Stalk Me the Keatyn Chronicles, Jillian Dodd Keatyn Chronicles, Hollywood Life, Romance, Love Triangle, Friendship Books, Teen Romance, Triangle of Love, Romance and Sex, Sweet Romance, New Adult, Upper Class, Love Triangles, New Adult, High School, Boarding School, Emotional Journey, Female Protagonist, Rich, Wealthy, Young Adult fiction Books, Series, USA Today, USA Today Bestseller, Romance Series, Romance Books, Hot Guy, Love, Love Books, Kissing Books, Long Series, Long Romance Series, Swoon, Loyalty, Rich, Serial, Story, Stories, Love Story, Romance Love

The stunning sequel to instant New York Times bestseller, Wicked Saints Nadya doesn’t trust her magic anymore. Serefin is fighting off a voice in his head that doesn’t belong to him. Malachiasz is at war with who--and what--he’s become. As their group is continually torn apart, the girl, the prince, and the monster find their fates irrevocably intertwined. Their paths are being orchestrated by someone...or something. The voices that Serefin hears in the darkness, the ones that Nadya believes are her gods, the ones that Malachiasz is desperate to meet—those voices want a stake in the world, and they refuse to stay quiet any longer. In their dramatic follow-up to Wicked Saints, the first book in their Something Dark and Holy trilogy, Emily A. Duncan paints a Gothic, icy world where shadows whisper, and no one is who they seem, with a shocking ending that will leave you breathless. This edition uses deckle edges; the uneven paper edge is intentional.