Books about Literally from Amazon.com

Amazon Best of the Month, September 2007: Make no mistake: A.J. Jacobs is not a religious man. He describes himself as Jewish "in the same way the Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant." Yet his latest work, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, is an insightful and hilarious journey for readers of all faiths. Though no fatted calves were harmed in the making of this book, Jacobs chronicles 12 months living a remarkably strict Biblical life full of charity, chastity, and facial hair as impressive as anything found in The Lord of the Rings. Through it all, he manages to brilliantly keep things light, while avoiding the sinful eye of judgment. --Dave Callanan

Amazon.com
Subtitled: "One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible," Jacobs, or A.J., as his two-year-old son calls him, does just that. It is likely that no one but A.J. Jacobs could have accomplished such a feat. After all, his last book, The Know-It-All, chronicles his reading of the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica, from A to Z. No one but a smart, witty, self-deprecating, nitpicky kinda guy would undertake two such daunting tasks, and complete them with grace, no pun intended.

Jacobs, a New York Jewish agnostic, decides to follow the laws and rules of the Bible, beginning with the Old Testament, for one year. (He actually adds some bonus days and makes it a 381-day year.) He starts by growing a beard and we are with him through every itchy moment. Jacobs is borderline OCD, at least as he describes himself; obsessing over possible dangers to his son, germs, literal interpretation of Bible verses, etc. He enlists the aid of counselors along the way; Jewish rabbis, Christians of every stripe, friends and neighbors.

In an open-minded way he also visits with atheists, Evangelicals Concerned (a gay group), Jerry Falwell, snake handlers, Red Letter Christians--those who adhere to the red letters in the Bible, those words spoken by Jesus Himself, and even takes a trip to Israel and meets Samaritans. Through it all, he keeps a healthy skepticism, but continues to pray and is open to the flowering of real faith. Jacobs is a knowledge junky, to be sure. He enjoys the lore he picks up along the way as much as any other aspect of his experiment. One of the ongoing schticks is his meeting with the shatnez tester, Mr. Berkowitz. He is the one who determines whether or not your clothes are made of mixed fibers, in keeping with the Biblical injunction not to wear wool and linen together. The two become friends and prayer partners, in only one of the unexpected results of this year.

In the end, he says, "I'm now a reverent agnostic. Which isn't an oxymoron, I swear. I now believe that whether or not there's a God, there is such a thing as sacredness. Life is sacred." Not a bad outcome. --Valerie Ryan.
Price: $6.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Morning and evening meditations to literally create your heart's desire..
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A wry and engaging look at trite, trendy, grammatically incorrect, inane, outdated, and lazy uses of words, phrases, and expressions

By turns gleefully precise and happily contrarian, this is a highly opinionated guide to better communication. In Literally, the Best Language Book Ever, author Paul Yeager attacks with a linguistic scalpel the illogical expressions and misappropriated meanings that are so commonplace and annoying in everyday conversation. Identifying hundreds of common language miscues, Yeager provides an astute look at the world of words and how we abuse them every day.

For the grammar snobs looking for any port in a storm of subpar syntax, or the self-confessed rubes seeking a helping hand, this witty guide can transform even the least literate into the epitome of eloquence..
Price: $7.89 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Reading the Bible Again for the First Time is Marcus Borg's follow-up to Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. Like his earlier book, this one is written for lay people whose faith has been frustrated by their misapprehension that fundamentalism's claim to be the one true faith is valid. Borg, a professor of religion at Oregon State University, describes an alternative to fundamentalists' so-called "literal" readings of scripture. (He believes that such "literal-factual" readings do not live up to that description, and that the limitations of such readings have alienated many people who would otherwise remain part of the church.) Borg calls his alternative "historical-metaphorical" reading, a way of "taking the Bible seriously without taking it literally." Reading the Bible begins with a history of recent conflicts regarding biblical interpretation. Borg navigates the minefields of his subject with sensitivity and precision, explaining, for example, the important distinction between evangelical and fundamentalist readings of the Bible. He then offers historical-metaphorical readings of some key texts from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. Throughout, Borg writes with calm assurance and respect for those who would disagree with him. Reading the Bible is a credible guide to the project it names. It is a faithful exercise of reason, undertaken to help Christians hear more clearly the many voices recorded in the Bible. --Michael Joseph Gross.
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There is Nothing More Dangerous for a Man Than a Woman with a Plan

With a level of confidence and style that most women would envy, De'Borah Harriston stood at the church sanctuary doors wearing a stylish designer ensemble so sophisticated and eye-catching that a trustee almost dropped the collection plate and his religion trying to get another glance of her revealing lowcut neckline. De'Borah's breasts were more out than some men in the choir. Clearly the older women in the house of worship were quite offended, but it made no difference to De'Borah. It wasn't their attention or approval she was after.

Pastor David Josiah Goodwell had just entered the sanctuary wearing a robe that King Solomon would have wanted to borrow. Prior to his dad, the Honorable Reverend Cecil Douglass Goodwell, passing away, he thought the greatest challenge he would ever face in life would be living up to fatherÂ's expectations. Pastor Goodwell now agonize over the daunting task of having to tear down and destroy the bulk of everything his father built, including his family name, as he attempts to preach and teach the truth about Jesus to a congregation that ultimately may prefer to have the sugar water, non-substantive, carefree, no accountability to God gospel that causes for its church membership to grow, but not the people in it.

You canÂ't have an affair with attorney Crystal Champagne Calloway's husband, become pregnant with his child, leave text messages saying Crystal's man is divorcing her, and then turn around and be the one behind releasing sex photos of her on the web--that she didnÂ't even know existed, causing for Crystal's mother to have a heart attack in church--while simultaneously being the unidentified source in the newspaper that has the police falsely charging her with aiding and abetting a money laundering, prostitution and drug cartel, and think you're going to have Crystal's kids calling you Mommy while she's locked up in the penitentiary for the rest of her life. Who you kidding?

Sunday school class member Alexis Benson was scheduled to get married in St. Thomas prior to finding out that her fiancé, Deacon Derrick, had been cheating on her. It was several months later that she found out that during the period they were seeking marriage counseling, her fiancé had been secretly having sex with the associate minister providing their marriage counseling. How does Alexis's faith in God reach new heights in the midst of her church hitting new lows?.
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While the original Biblical text was written from an Ancient Hebraic perspective, all modern translations of the Bible are written from our modern western perspective. This traditional approach to translation does allow for ease in reading but it erases the original Hebraic style and meaning of the text. In addition, translations take many liberties by removing, changing or adding words from the text in order to "fix" the text for the English reader. The Mechanical Translation is a new and unique style of translation that will reveal the Hebrew behind the English by translating the text very literally and faithfully to the original Hebrew text. A great tool for those interested in studying the Bible who have no Hebrew background as well as for those who are learning to read the Bible in its original Hebrew language. Features: . An introduction to the Hebrew language and grammar. . The Hebrew text from the Biblia Hebraica Leningradensia. . A literal word for word translation of the Hebrew text. . A revised translation for understandability in English. . A dictionary of words defined from an Hebraic perspective. . A concordance of all words found in the book of Genesis..
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With all of the chaos, confusion, and uncertainty of life, we all need to know of the blessed assurances that God has for our lives.

Blessed Assurance is an enjoyable, empowering, engaging, and encouraging example of the everlasting truth that God can move us from heartache to healing, burden to blessings, depression to deliverance, and from trials to triumphs.

Fast-paced, witty, entertaining, and inspirational, the writings are modern day renditions of biblical stories.

In the short story, The Best of Everything, based on Hannah, you gain a better level of appreciation and thankfulness for what God has already done in your life, which will provide you with strength to endure in the midst of a crisis as well as give you patience as you await new blessings. Lust and Lies, based on Samson and Delilah, reminds us of the temptations of lust, the importance of honesty, the dangers of sin and the significance of repentance. Traveling Mercies, based on the parable of the Good Samaritan, teaches us not to place limitations on how and through whom God may send a blessing, and our responsibility to help people whom we often do not know.

Baby Blues, based on Abraham and Sarah, lets us better understand the importance of timing, patience, and consequences of operating in God s permissive will versus God s perfect will for our lives. A Sprig of Hope, based on Tamar, acknowledges that tragedy, sadness and betrayal are an unfortunate part of life, and yet ultimately there is healing, restoration and happiness if you place your trust in God. Sword of the Lord, based on Jephthah, confirms that your past can t define you if you give your future to God and that everyone at some time or another needs to forgive.

Enjoyable, Moving and Inspiring Reading
A DEFINITE MUST READ!!!
Blessed Assurance: Full of Hope and Strength for Life s Journey
By ESSENCE Best-selling Authors
Victoria Christopher Murray, National Best-selling Author of Temptation and A Sin and A Shame
The Best of Everything based upon Hannah
''...Pastor Ford hesitated for a second before she asked, 'Would you want a child if it wasn t God's will; if that wasn t His purpose for your life? ...''

Jacquelin Thomas, National Best-selling Author of Prodigal Husband and Jezebel
based upon Tamar
''...Her delicate beauty haunted him night and day, making her his one obsession....''

S. James Guitard, National Best-selling Author of Chocolate Thoughts and Delilah's Revenge
Love Lust and Lies based upon Samson and Delilah
''...Lustful rendezvous and misguided love have me lying in the bed while lying to a woman who I know deep down doesn t really love me....''

Patricia Haley, National Best-selling Author of No Regrets and Still Waters
Baby Blues based upon Sarah and Abraham
''... I know this is an enormous and, perhaps, bizarre request...I want you to have my husband s baby ....''

Maurice Gray, Popular Author of To Whom Much Is Given
Traveling Mercies based upon the Good Samaritan
''...It was ridiculous for her to even think about getting any more involved, but she couldn t help herself....''

Terrance Johnson, Popular Author of Shades of Black, Eyes of Faith, and Baptism of Fire
Sword of the Lord based upon Jephthah
''...I m a fighter, a warrior. Wherever there s a brawl, I try to be in the center....''.
Price: $12.91 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Have you ever wondered why men act the way they do
and why they refuse to give up what they call their player’s card?

In the national bestseller, Checkmate: The Games Men Play, Mark Crutcher writes an empowering book for women to gain understanding of the dating process as well as the tricks and techniques men who are players vow never to reveal. A former player, pimp and even a gigolo, Mr. Crutcher has given up his player’s card in an effort to help relinquish the heavy burden on his heart.

Checkmate provides uncut and uncensored access into the secret moves that men who are players use to win women’s hearts, souls, minds and of course, their bodies. In a chess match, the objective is to place the opponent’s king in an inescapable position on the game board. In the game that players play, the objective is to persuade women to maintain casual, uncommitted, sexual relationships with them. By the time women realize that a player’s intentions are purely physical, it is too late. They are already addicted to the experiences they have shared and cannot or will not let go. Checkmate.

Checkmate: The Games Men Play will have you looking beyond your normal perceptions of reality and seeing the true meaning behind a man’s actions and words..
Price: $12.36 [Notify me when price goes down.]