ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 15, 1990

A sunny survey of nine secular saints by the author of Out of Darkness Into the Light (1989). In 1975--as described in that earlier book--Jampolsky, then an alcoholic psychiatrist, read the channeled book A Course in Miracles and was transformed into a non-drinking knight of Love, founding the Center for Attitudinal Healing for sufferers of catastrophic illness. Here, in relentlessly upbeat prose boosted to a pious pitch by quotes from his channeled bible (""When you believe in something you have made it true,"" etc.), he enshrines nine comrades-in-compassion in hope that their stories will ""encourage you to love, nourish, and cherish [the] innocent child within all of us."" The nine range from celebrities--Ted Turner, Wally ""Famous"" Amos, Lech Walesa--to lower-profile do-gooders: Ruth Brinker, founder of San Francisco's Open Hands, which feeds AIDS patients; George Wood, an altruistic obstetrician; Fanny Ray, a Harlem grandmother dedicated to the grass-roots war against drugs. Each speaks of the joy of helping others (""Loving and forgiving is what life is all about"" says ""Famous"" Amos, who, like the others, comes off as sweet as his chocolate-chip cookies); all, except for Ted Turner, relate their work to God--as does Jampolsky, who concludes with vague advice (ask yourself, ""What can I do to bring more light and love to this planet of ours?"") to help each of us ""to make a difference."" Well-intentioned, and inspirational in flashes, but overall Jampolsky's halo-ed portraits and sugar-guru advice have all the depth and impact of a smile button.

Pub Date: Nov. 15, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Bantam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1990

Categories: NONFICTION