Empowering Young Christians: Developing Bible-Based Leadership and Soft Skills

Name: Empowering Young Christians: Developing Bible-Based Leadership and Soft Skills
Author: Cary J. Green
ISBN: 978-1-4575-4099-8

by Cary J. Green ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

Highly worthwhile reading for religious youth looking for direction in planning their lives.

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A well-executed self-help book for Christian teens.

Green provides a guide for young people which, if not unique, is certainly capable of holding its own and providing value in both the self-help and Christian-lifestyle markets. The author explores the idea of reaching for success in life by developing leadership abilities and what he terms “soft skills”: “a collection of abilities, behaviors, and attitudes that increase your effectiveness.” In both cases, he calls for youth to strive for success against a Christian backdrop. He notes early on that receiving salvation and exploring God’s plan for one’s life are definitive keys to a life well-lived. He then moves on to the “3Rs”; in this case, they are “Readiness,” “Relationships,” and “Results.” These three fundamentals create the framework for the rest of Green’s book. “Readiness,” for instance, includes being positive and keeping things in proper context; “Results” include problem-solving and accountability, among other points. There are several strengths to Green’s approach; perhaps chief among them is his skill at outlining points succinctly and visually. A diagram at the start of each chapter maps out for readers what subjects are being discussed and how they relate to the “3Rs.” Green also uses bold typefaces and other visual tools to focus readers on important points. Secondly, the author uses stories effectively as learning tools. For example, he relates a situation in which he was at a law enforcement shooting range and thought he was doing well until he was told he was firing at the wrong target—an effective allegory for unconsciously pursuing the wrong goals in life. Third, Green brings lessons back to readers with easy but effective exercises, such as simply making a list of “your true values.” Christian parents will appreciate the author’s consistent use of quotes from Scripture and basic, faith-based advice (such as, “Pray to God and ask Him to reveal His values for you”) over the course of the book.

Highly worthwhile reading for religious youth looking for direction in planning their lives.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: 978-1-4575-4099-8

Page Count: 123

Publisher: Dog Ear

Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2015

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION

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NUTCRACKER

by E.T.A. Hoffmann ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 28, 1996

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This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)

Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996

ISBN: 0-15-100227-4

Page Count: 136

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION

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THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING
by E.T.A. Hoffmann ; adapted by Natalie Andrewson ; illustrated by Natalie Andrewson

- BOOK REVIEW
THE NUTCRACKER
by E.T.A. Hoffmann & illustrated by Julie Paschkis

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TO THE ONE I LOVE THE BEST

EPISODES FROM THE LIFE OF LADY MENDL (ELSIE DE WOLFE)

by Ludwig Bemelmans ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 23, 1955

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An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.