Future Books

I have always been intimidated by the language, numbers, and ins-and-outs of investing and retirement planning. The literature I have read in the past was always too technical and assumed I knew things I didn't. Well, for me, Retire Rich... could have been titled: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Successfully Planning for Retirement But Were Afraid to Ask. This book provided me with in-depth, intelligent information that I have wanted and needed to help me make plans for my future in a very clear, non-threatening, easy-to-read style. I have gained so much knowledge and confidence from it! I plan to give copies of this book to my 30/40/50Something friends and family! Many thanks and cheers to the authors of this timely and informative book!

My husband shared "Retire Rich" with me. Even though he has been in the financail services business for 20 years, I have to admit I never really understood all the concepts necessary to feel comfortable with what we have been able to save. "Retire Rich" led me through the maze of complex financial terms/concepts and explained them in words and examples that I quickly grasped. I found myself saying "I never knew that" or "I see" scores of times as I read through the book. I especially liked the style in which the book is written, it doesn't talk down or up to me. In a nutshell, "Retire Rich" answers questions that every spouse asks.

Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (11/08)

The day marked in red. Just the sound of it makes you a bit nervous. That day in red marked in your calendar, pinpointing the day of your retirement, will be one words cannot describe. As when you enter the wonderful world of adulthood/employment you are embarking on something that is unknown to you. Preparing to exit the workforce is just as important as when you were preparing to enter it.

"Retirement Readiness; Creating Your Vision, Knowing Your Position, & Preparing for your Future" is a guide to get you thinking, preparing and planning.

Jumping into Chapter 1, "See Your Future," enables you to focus on your dream asking what plans you have for your day in red and the ones that follow. Many years ago people did not live for as long as they do now. The retirement lifestyle of today is very different from it was years ago. People are focusing on their health and now do way more than rock on the porch in a rocking chair watching traffic go by. About 80% of people today say they will continue to work after retirement - choosing what they would like to do. My father chooses to hand out grocery samples since his day in red. He was a business man at the local paper mill and had worked there since he was 21-years-old. Why did he work after retirement? He didn't have to do anything; he was financially secure, and has more than enough money to last way beyond his years. He likes talking to the people in the store, for so many years he only talked business, now that he is retired he can talk to people for pleasure.

Chapter 2 lays the groundwork to "Create a Plan." Chapter 3, "Take Inventory," covers how you can estimate the amount of money you will need to work your plan. Your plan could go on smoothly for years, but as life, you will, at some point have problems. Chapter 4, "Bumps in the Road." prepares you for the unexpected. And, when the time comes, Chapter 5, "Make Sure It Goes Where You Want It To Go," gives you the information you need to begin planning your estate for when you are no longer with us.

In the concluding Chapter 6, "Now that I have Your Attention," Mike Bonacorsi states: "This is what I want you to get from this book. As you get close to retirement, I want you to put together a plan and communicate with your mate. Understand what issues apply and what decisions have to be made and how they will affect your lives."

You should really spend the $14.95 to purchase this book!

Just as the author intended, "Retirement Readiness" is a great item to get you thinking about your retirement. Easy to read and understand with worksheets throughout I would highly recommend this to people in their 30s and 40s so they can better prepare for their future.

To be free of work, to spend one's life doing what they want. "Retirement Readiness: Creating Your Vision, Knowing Your Position, & Preparing for Your Future" is a guide to planning for one's retirement so one can spend it how they dreamed themselves spending it. One spends up to four decades of one's life preparing for it, and Mike Bonacorsi has advice to make sure it is not floundered. "Retirement Readiness" is highly recommended for anyone who wants to make sure their future stays as planned.

These days, millions think that they are "green" or "sustainable" because they buy organic Cheetos and two dollars of carbon offset on some website. Meanwhile, the real work of ecological sustainability remains for future generations. This real work will involve changing the way business is done by fixing up broken systems and making a profit at the same time. Not an easy task - but luckily one man has a clear vision to offer us.

Storm Cunningham has written an absolutely brilliant book that is a prescient look at what real sustainability will require. He tells tale after tale of the leaders of business and government who found ways to profit while fixing watersheds, revitalizing waterfronts, improving schools, cleaning up toxic waste sites, repairing national economies, and much more.

While the current "green movement" is stuck in telling us what NOT to do, Cunningham gives us an expert guide of what we CAN do to improve our world and even make a few bucks.

Every business and government executive in the world needs to read this book twice!

I've been a Storm Cunningham fan for several years. The Restoration Economy defined opportunities that had the potential for unifying preservationists, developers, coastal restoration experts, government officials and everyone else concerned with our natural and built environment. reWealth! describes Storm's new Renewal Engine which has been expanded to include socio-economic factors such as culture and education and describes a number of successes in it's use.

Mayor Ray Nagin and the New Orleans City Council have been provided copies of reWealth!. I encourage everyone to get their own. Several friends gave copies of The Restoration Economy to college age relatives hoping they would catch the trends and reWealth! is even more exciting!

Thanks Storm!

Although labeled and promoted as a book on christianity this work is much more. Anyone with a serious interest in history, social issues, social psychology or what one might do to make the world a better place will find plenty to think about in this very interesting read. I have no religious inclinations and found the aproach of looking for documented truth rather than proselytizing refreshing. This book should appeal to free thinkers of the left, right, and center. Although this book may stand alone, it is understood more easily if one has read Cayley's previous book with Illich, "Ivan Illich in Conversation," and the fine work by Lee Hoinacki "The Challenges of Ivan Illich; a Collective Reflection."
A real treat for free thinkers, and a challenge for folks with strong opinions.

Anyone who has read Illich knows that his thought was ever-evolving. This work extends his critique of christianity, along with providing glimpses of how we may pick up where he left off. He spoke truth when few listened. You owe it to yourself to read Illich and open your mind to his unique thought process.

Using sagas, so called "myth", archaeological finds and first hand historical sources Davidson constructs Norse Pagan belief and customs pertaining to death, funeral customs, the afterlife, the spirit world, conception of the soul, necromancy and more.

Once again I'm blown away by Davidsons work. This actually is most likely her best book and thats saying a lot coming from me. Ellis-Davidson was strictly an academic and was not a Heathen as far as I know but if your an Odinist this and Davidsons Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe should be at the top of your reading list ahead of any of the contemporary "Asatru" writers who are most often heavily influenced by new age, wiccan and judeo-christian ideas. I don't understand why this great book is out of print when inferior books on northern European Heathenry are being published left and right.

Hilda may not be a heathen, but she does do justice to this subject from an academic point of view. THis is required reading by many Heathen/Asatru clergy programs, and should be by all.

This book provides practical tools to increase profits for your organization. Gerald Kendall shares the criterion to prioritize/choose themes for improving customer satisfaction. He suggests that one should focus on those issues for improvement so that the customer is either willing to pay a higher price or ready to give you additional volume, or this would prevent the customer from switching over to a competitor. Improving those customer dissatisfactions, that would not result in one of the above, would not benefit your organization at all. I find many such tips through out this book.

I am a Jonah's Jonah focused on eliminating market (external) constraints in a variety of industries. I found this book while taking the External Constraint Course at the Goldratt Institute. While the Eli Goldratt book "Its Not Luck" was inspirational and the Institute class was excellent, "Securing the Future" is what I refer to day by day.

Being an author myself, I spend a great deal of time reading and my preference is for mystery/suspense novels. This book was given to me as a gift and I read the entire book in two sittings. It is easily read and does not bog you down with unnecessary descriptions. There are surprises throughout the story that will keep you turning pages. I am anxious to read her next book.

"Sentenced To Redemption" is a well written novel about the actions and consequences of a 16 year old boy. I am writing this review as a reader and not as the author's son.

Jack Hawthorne has a bright future ahead of him until he takes the life of a young girl. The shocking twist to the story is not that he killed this little girl, but instead the verdict that the judge passes on him.
Put yourself in the girl's parents shoes. What would you do if the boy who was responsible for killing your daughter was sentenced to live in your house for a year?
Want to know what the Brewster's did?
Read the book.

Setting The Stage For Eternity by Dr. Harlan D. Betz is
an invaluable addition to the library of any pastor or layman,
who is interested in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The
book, focusing specifically upon the Judgment Seat (Bema) of
Christ, is excellently researched and written in a very readable style. Betz also sets forth many practical methods for implementing into everyday life the Biblical truths he uncovers in this study.

Of special interest are the Study Guides at the end of each chapter and the helpful charts that explain and compare many
perplexing questions related to Biblical eschatology.

Holding a B.A., degree in Classical Greek from the University of Iowa, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Cambridge Graduate School, and with 35 years in Christian ministry, Dr. Betz is eminently qualified to write in this area of Biblical eschatology.

I highly commend Setting The Stage For Eternity! I am now in my second reading of the book and I'm still learning.

I have found this book to be consistent in its thought and riveting in its conviction - it certainly convicted me, to monitor and check my life daily, holding myself accountable. The book is based on the judgment of all believers based on their good and bad deeds, and the rewards that will be given or taken away (burned up) as a result of the way we have lived our lives.
As I read the book, I began to realize that this book has been written especially for me and about me. I began to think - how could Harlan Betz possibly know that I was and am having difficulty about these things and in these areas of my life?
It almost immediately made me want to change the way I think, speak and act towards others for fear of losing the rewards that God has planned for me to have. He has designed the material in such a way that is very easy to read and even easier to comprehend. This is no uncertainty or ambiguity in the thoughts and points brought forth that make anything unclear.
The point is repeated over and over that the life that God has designed for us to live eternally is up to us. We have a choice - what we think, say, and do, as believers will have an eternal outcome on our capacity to appreciate, enjoy and comprehend eternal joy in the presence of God Himself.
The underlying essence of this, is that, as believers, each one will enjoy eternal life to the FULLEST extent of our capacity, but each one of us will have a DIFFERENT capacity based on our rewards - and, all of the preaching, teaching, tithing and long, uninterrupted records of church attendance will not gain eternal and imperishable rewards unless the motives are right - I will gain all that God wants me to have ONLY if I totally submit to living a daily life centered on the teachings of Jesus.
The book compels one to want to ask, "How can I, as a human being, gain eternal rewards? For me, the answer is this: by living a life that pleases God - by forgiving sincerely, loving unselfishly, giving up control of myself, praying faithfully and sincerely, confessing my sins, being a witness for Christ with joy, boldness and confidence, and all of this, on a daily, consistent basis for the rest of my life - I would gauge each day of my life to be an example of Christ to and for others - not to live for myself, but to die to myself and live for Christ
The study guides and the summaries at the end of each chapter serve as a review of the chapter's thought and concepts and serve as a self-check to study and analyze one's life.
In conclusion, "SETTING THE STAGE FOR ETERNITY" should be read by every person who is concerned about their eternal destiny - those who want to change their lives and seek God's will and purpose on a daily and consistent basis for the remainder of time they have left here on earth
Charles A. Rabalais, 05/08/06

There are more books in this sci-fi series by Richard S. McEnroe, but they are even harder to find. At the end of "The Shattered Stars" is a coming soon ad for "Wolkenheim Fairday" which was supposed to be the next Far Stars and Future Times novel. It did get printed but I'm not sure where it fits in the series. The actual book 2 is titled "Flight of Honor", and there is a 3rd book, "Skinner." All are rare and if I ever locate one, I'll scoop it up.

Very solid SF story telling. A compelling storyline with well written and believable characters. The cover of the book states, "The first novel in an exciting new future history." I wish it were so. I wish this guy had written more books. If you like good SF books, you can't go wrong here.

For a comprehensive view of these darkening days tenty years ago, and an understanding of the forces at play, please read this work in companionship with the Reverend Father Charles Curran's Faithful Dissent and Loyal Dissent: Memoir of a Catholic Theologian (Moral Traditions) and the Reverend Father Schillebeeckx's Schillebeeckx Case, etc., and the Reverend Father Hans Kung's Why I Am Still a Christian and the several others in this vein such as the ever excellent Peter Hebblethwaite's The New Inquisition? The Case of Edward Schillebeeckx and Hans Kung and those of other such subjects of the eighties.

Discover how our Church on the brink of leaping as did Saint Paul across the river to Asia Minor to bring the Gospel to the whole world, and become truly a world religion, instead retreated into a much diminished and restrictive silent pre-conciliar Polish National parish and now tightly centralized corporation with hand picked rubber stamp legislature.

This too shall pass. Why I am still and ever Catholic, hiding out with our "preferential option for the poor," learning and living the truths of our Faith among our most unlettered.

Harvey Cox, Protestant professor of theology at the Harvard School of Divinity, world-renowned author of The Secular City, here writes his take as an independent (and thus not subject to silencing and interrogations) yet informed and sympathetic observor, discerning certain signs of the times in the Eternal City of the eighties, and in Brazil. Here he weaves a brilliant tapestry from many perspectives, including inside the Vatican and Petropolis, etc., whose warp and woof is nevertheless occassionally jarringly interrupted by a stylistic pebble in the thread, such as an inexact adjective (the term gothic for example is normally associated with the present Pope, and principal of this gothic tale,'s native Bavaria and not with the first centuries of our Church) or the superficial understanding of an outsider straining to understand.

Nevertheless, as a trained academic, Professor Cox does his homework completely and well, doing much research and travel, reading where we might not read, and interviewing all of the players, including the then prefect Ratzinger. Unfortunately his report of that interview consists of telling us the questions he wished he had asked had he not been so intimidated by the inquisitiotnal odor. However Cox does manage here one of the best and most complete analyses available of the infamous Ratzinger Report: An Exclusive Interview on the State of the Church, interviews done with the vacationing prefect just prior to his interrogation of the Reverend Father Leonardo Boff.

On the twentieth anniversary of the publication of this work, therefore, we do well to revisit her in order to understand our present coyuntura, much as Cox's Secular City was also once, or twice, Revisited.

The theological reflection is excellent, and the second half of the book, once the narrative of Boff is handled, is engrossing and clear and sets it all within a millenial context and all of salvation history, yet written in a way not just for the specialist, and with an academic skill presenting all the major school of theologies, including von Balthazar, who stresses the post-Resurrection Christ superceding the preaching, teaching and life of Jesus, superceding even the earlier accounts of salvation. Cox fairly presents the Ratzinger evolution of theological thought fully, and very rarely permits us to glimpse the theology of Harvey Cox, except for one mention of a position which he holds to be true. Rather he dedicates this page-turner to a full and fair presentation of all of the facts and of all of the perspectives, which some will therefore read as leaning against Ratzinger. He seems to fall at times for the Wojtyla/Ratzinger good cop/bad cop game, which Father Curran oddly read inversely in his own narratives of persecution.

There is much of urgent interest in this book, urgent for all the baptized striving to pratice our salvation authentically, urgent for every believer, for every seeker. reading the varying perspectives so cogently presented by Professor Cox is gripping, and lucid, and I could not put this book down all night, and am still only half way through, and unable to face now the challenge of presenting a few brief representative citations; there is so much here that is so important and so good. This is not just all about Boff; this is about our present and our future as a Church.

INterestingly, as by the fruits you shall know them, less than one fifth of the anticipated turn out greeted the new Pope, the old prefect, on his recent trip to Brazil. The only fruit of the silencing of Boff is the extinguishing of the Catholic candle in Brazil, and relegating that great and once Catholic nation to the sects. The only reason his silencing was lifted, imposed after a long conversation about a detail of Latin translation and the meaning of "in substance" from a document unrealted to Father Boff, was the unity of the BRazilian cardinals forcefully in his defense. Wojtyla had not yet stacked the College of Cardinals to assure his hand picked successor (Ratzinger) and his own canonization process, and had to pull an about face to please them.

There is much theological as well as machiavellian analysis in this book, much we need to read and reflect upon, , very carefully in every chapter, but here is one crucial turning point indicating which side of the wall we have fallen off, and whether we can be put together again. How much of Jesus do we find in Christ? How Jewish is Jesus?:

"Both sides insist that 'Jesus' and 'Christ' must always be held together. But for Boff and Sobrino, Jesus gives the content to Christ, while for Ratzinger and von Balthasser his being the Christ is what ultimately is essential about Jesus. The liberation theologians contend that the life and teachings of the Nazarene give substance to the Christ of Faith. It was not just anyone who was raised on Easter. It was a particualr man, along with what he said and did. Their critics think this emphasis loses the esseential combination by putting too much weight on 'Jesus.' Von Balthasaar, who is sometimes called 'the pope's favorite theologian,' frequently makes this case against going back to Jesus, ending the argument in one book with the stern Latin warning Aut Christus aut nihil (either Christ or nothing. (p. 153)"

For more on this please read the tomes of the learned and holy REverend Father Edward SChillebeeckx Jesus: An experiment in Christology and Christ: The Experience of Jesus as Lord as well as Father Boff's own Jesus Christ Liberator: A Critical Christology for Our Times. Further words from this section (there are so many throughout) contrast the Liberation theologist seeing God's saving action for His people throughout salvation history as rescuing the poor and oppressed from exploitation and political domination, as in Egypt and Babylon, with denying that pre-Christian history and seeing the Resurrection as fully superseding all that went before, making the Old Testament an irrelevant anachronism and devoid of any salvific import or value. Thus:

"Admittedly the supersessionist position that von Balthasaar and Ratzinger take - that the Christian church has definitively replaced Israel as the 'new people of God' - has been the dominant one for centuries. But starting about two decades ago, spurred by the painful recognition that the supersessionist view may well have contributed to the anti-Semitism that culminated in the Holocaust, scholars began rethinking both the biblical evidence itself and this inherited theological depreciation of the Jews. . . .(p. 154)"

As you can see there is much of great substance to consider in this slim volume. Please get one soon while we may, and pray with it, and for the future of our great Church.

"Takes the reader behind the scenes of the silencing of Leonardo Boff (a Latin American priest/theologian) into the chamber of the Prefect and the cloister of the Friar and into the mindsets of Joseph Ratzinger and Leonardo Boff. This is not just a religious book with a parochial interest but a treatise that any who wants to stay abreast of social and political developments in the world must read" -- Ignacio Castuera (from the back cover of the book) Includes a great exposition of the character of Boff's thought and theology! Really good stuff.