A bright, happy primer on using one’s beliefs to change one’s reality.
A short inspirational handbook about positive aspects of life.
In her nonfiction debut, Forbes weaves a slender parable through a series of full-page affirmations (such as “Put down the problem and it unties itself,” “Happy is everywhere when you look for it,” and “You see what you look for”). The parable is about a girl’s journey through life, and about the many misguided lessons that she learns: “Her beliefs were her practiced thoughts. Hard work, long hours and pain are the road to success. All people are fake. She can never have what she wants. She can never rely on herself; only others can take care of her. She is not worthy of love.” In the manner of much inspirational literature, the girl is clearly intended to be a stand-in for the reader, which gives its advice and remedies a great deal of resonance: “She learned that reality is her perception,” Forbes writes. “Perception is the story she tells herself…HER REALITY IS HER HABIT OF THOUGHT!” The short work’s emphasis consistently and strongly returns to how belief can change one’s existence; the girl gives herself permission to “believe in her worthiness,” and good things flow from there: “Every moment of every day. She gets to choose.” The juxtaposition of these observations with playful typefaces and colorful, sometimes-abstract imagery gives the entire work the optimistic feel of an illustrated children’s book. However, many of the sentiments expressed are more reminiscent of Zen koans, such as “Pushing against the unwanted thoughts only makes them stronger—She replaces them instead.” Overall, it’s a simple but uplifting read.
A bright, happy primer on using one’s beliefs to change one’s reality.Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-982220-93-8
Page Count: 42
Publisher: BalboaPress
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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