Speaking from the traditional Quaker claim of inward knowledge of Christ the Light, the author shows her accord with early Friends’ writings and the Scriptures they affirmed. Promptings arising from daily readings and personal interactions provide the starting point for many of the book’s essays. Other genres, including interviews and dialogues, also present a perspective that largely has been lost to modern-day forms of the faith. Though not allowing authoritative texts to displace the prerogative of Spirit, the author often cites both Scriptures and seventeenth-century Friends to support her themes with their good sense and authority, and thus she demonstrates the unity of the faith from century to century, from millennium to millennium.

A Look at a Legacy Faced with potential blindness because of a recurring detached retina, James Moore makes a last attempt to save the sight in his right eye. Hoping for a miracle, he travels from Austin to Memphis to meet with eye specialist, Steve Charles, a physician whose inventions of machines, tools, and techniques have been transformative in the field of retinal surgery, and who has performed more vitreoretinal procedures than anyone in history. As he struggles to see, Moore comes to realize that while no doctor has perhaps had a broader impact on vision and ophthalmological surgery, no one outside the field really knows who Charles is or what he’s accomplished. Moore decides to change that. New York Times best-selling author of Bush’s Brain and Emmy award-winning television news correspondent James Moore documents his own journey in the struggle to save his eyesight, while also weaving in a detailed account of the doctor’s profound accomplishments and their global impact on people. Part biography, part autobiography, Give Back the Light is a dual-track narrative that highlights the challenges and achievements of modern health care. ​This is a book about a physician who has been intimately involved in saving the vision of millions of people through the spread of his technology and surgical techniques. Dr. Charles is an historical and yet mostly unknown figure who has lived a remarkable life of great importance. In the telling, Moore helps readers view the wider world and their contributions to it in different light, and offers a prosaic understanding of the sheer joy of just seeing.

A National Bestseller “I love this book… It is rich in wisdom, religious and personal, and it is absolutely charming.” —Anne Lamott, author of Dusk, Night, Dawn and Help, Thanks, Wow An inspiring approach to a happier, more fulfilling life through Sikh teachings on love and service. As a boy growing up in South Texas, Simran Jeet Singh and his brothers confronted racism daily: at school, in their neighborhood, playing sports, and later in college and beyond. Despite the prejudice and hate he faced, this self-described “turban-wearing, brown-skinned, beard-loving Sikh” refused to give in to negativity. Instead, Singh delved deep into the Sikh teachings that he grew up with and embraced the lessons to seek the good in every person and situation and to find positive ways to direct his energy. These Sikh tenets of love and service to others have empowered him to forge a life of connection and a commitment to justice that have made him a national figure in the areas of equity, inclusion, and social justice. The Light We Give lays out how we can learn to integrate ethical living to achieve personal happiness and a happier life. It speaks to those who are inspired to take on positive change but don’t know where to begin. To those who crave the chance to be empathetic but are afraid of looking vulnerable. To those who seek the courage to confront hatred with love and compassion. Singh reaches beyond his comfort zone to practice this deeper form of living and explores how everyone can learn the insights and skills that have kept him engaged and led him to commit to activism without becoming consumed by anger, self-pity, or burnout. Part memoir, part spiritual journey, The Light We Give is a transformative book of hope that shows how each of us can turn away from fear and uncertainty and move toward renewal and positive change.

This biographical novella is about family life, surviving world wars, immigrating and adapting to a new culture. It’s a story based on the life of Michele DiMarco (1893-1975). Readers will envision the majestic natural beauty of Michele’s home village in central Italy and learn of its rich history. Readers will also sense the harsh reality of life that forced Michele to emigrate. Shortly after Michele arrives in the US, he is drafted into the Italian army. He returns to Italy to fight in W.W. I, is wounded, taken prisoner, and escapes. Michele crosses the Atlantic a second time, takes menial jobs and eventually starts his own bakery. His success leads to purchasing a home, marrying, and having three sons. How does the mafia and the Great Depressions change his life? Although the story line focuses on Michele, strong relationships are presented throughout, the main being with his parents, brother, wife, and grandson. What happens to his family and friends in Italy during WW II is also detailed. This biographical novel is about life values revolving around family, a strong work ethic, humor, and love. The main character is not a unique representative of this value system. Many others sacrificed as he did, cared for their families and had compassion for others. This book will encourage everyone who has grey-haired relatives to get to know their stories, especially if they are immigrants. Their histories nourish our roots so healthy branches continue to grow.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 I have learned that deflecting ignorance and hate doesn’t help anyone, and that we won’t ever truly care for one another until we connect with one another. #2 I’ve learned to not care what people say about me, because I know it’s not true. I’m not a threat to anyone, and I want to help people. #3 I have learned to remain calm in the face of racism. I have also learned that people’s words reveal their cultural ignorance, and that underneath their statement is a pair of twin assumptions that the United States is not a place for people who look like me. #4 I wore a turban every morning before school, and I loved it. It helped me with my form, and I felt more comfortable wearing it than without. I never had a formal ceremony to begin wearing a larger turban, but I began wearing a smaller turban when I was in elementary school.

Major League Baseball All-Star Darryl Strawberry has triumphed … not only on the baseball diamond, but in life. “Don’t Give Up on Me” skillfully weaves Darryl’s story of childhood abuse, anxiety, drug and alcohol addiction, and ultimately, recovery, with easy-to-understand explanations of addiction from trained professionals. Presented through the eyes of a psychoanalyst, neuropsychiatrist, licensed clinical social worker, and addiction specialist, this book offers hope and a path to healing. By shedding the light on addiction, “Don’t Give Up on Me” speaks to all people – from those who are still trapped in the depths of addiction to those who are currently in recovery to caregivers, parents, friends, and therapists. This book also stresses the importance of good parenting–feelings of low self-esteem, low self-worth, bullying, as well as emotional and physical pain, can sow the seeds of substance abuse at an early age. Whether the addiction is to alcohol, heroin or other opiates, gambling, food, or sex, this book shares the hard truths and hopeful messages for anyone impacted by this deadly dilemma.