For people of faith, a thoughtful exercise in soulcraft.
An entrepreneur and strategist considers this time of turmoil and what lessons can be drawn from it.
Riversides are good places to court spiritual truths, and Dowd, former chief political analyst for ABC News, delivers 10 of his own discoveries uncovered along the banks of the Blanco in central Texas. After working for numerous Republicans, including George W. Bush, Dowd switched over to the Democratic Party and recently announced a run for lieutenant governor of his troubled state. The author touches lightly on political themes, condemning the Jan. 6 insurrection, “where the chambers were taken over by an armed mob and people killed.” He also observes that during his time at ABC, he regularly received death threats “because of my criticisms of the past administration.” Of the tribe that would commit such acts, Dowd tries to be understanding, if not forgiving, but it’s clear where his sympathies lie. In a homiletic moment, he urges, “Let us turn this ends-justify-the-means approach 180 degrees on its head and move toward a means-justify-the-ends way of life.” The author writes from a Catholic position, though with just as strong an ecumenical streak, quoting Buddhist thought, Kahlil Gibran, and the Quran. Love reigns supreme throughout his examination of major themes, including trauma, the division between religion and science, and the interconnection of all people. Dowd takes a New Age–meets–Star Wars turn when he writes that love “is the strongest energy operating in the universe,” but for those worrying about whether God is really love, his assurances are quiet but insistent. Usefully for those beset by worry in the first place, the author counsels that “trauma and fears often hold us back from being our best self” and then offers actual concrete actions to hold those fears at bay.
For people of faith, a thoughtful exercise in soulcraft.Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5107-6863-5
Page Count: 168
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Review Posted Online: Nov. 16, 2021
A conversational, pleasurable look into McConaughey’s life and thought.
All right, all right, all right: The affable, laconic actor delivers a combination of memoir and self-help book.
“This is an approach book,” writes McConaughey, adding that it contains “philosophies that can be objectively understood, and if you choose, subjectively adopted, by either changing your reality, or changing how you see it. This is a playbook, based on adventures in my life.” Some of those philosophies come in the form of apothegms: “When you can design your own weather, blow in the breeze”; “Simplify, focus, conserve to liberate.” Others come in the form of sometimes rambling stories that never take the shortest route from point A to point B, as when he recounts a dream-spurred, challenging visit to the Malian musician Ali Farka Touré, who offered a significant lesson in how disagreement can be expressed politely and without rancor. Fans of McConaughey will enjoy his memories—which line up squarely with other accounts in Melissa Maerz’s recent oral history, Alright, Alright, Alright—of his debut in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, to which he contributed not just that signature phrase, but also a kind of too-cool-for-school hipness that dissolves a bit upon realizing that he’s an older guy on the prowl for teenage girls. McConaughey’s prep to settle into the role of Wooderson involved inhabiting the mind of a dude who digs cars, rock ’n’ roll, and “chicks,” and he ran with it, reminding readers that the film originally had only three scripted scenes for his character. The lesson: “Do one thing well, then another. Once, then once more.” It’s clear that the author is a thoughtful man, even an intellectual of sorts, though without the earnestness of Ethan Hawke or James Franco. Though some of the sentiments are greeting card–ish, this book is entertaining and full of good lessons.
A conversational, pleasurable look into McConaughey’s life and thought.Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-13913-4
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
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
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