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Anthem by Ayn Rand
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| What would happen if the word "I"-the very concept of "self"-were obliterated altogether? This short novel describes the nightmarish existence which would inevitably result. It also shows how the concept "I" would, quite properly, eventually reassert itself. A beautiful, poetic novel.
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The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun
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| The first in a long series of mysteries centering around crusty protagonist Jim Qwilleran and his beloved cat Koko (and later sidekick YumYum). Refreshingly pleasant, entertaining murder mysteries solved with the unlikely but (if you know cats) almost believable assistance of feline detection. Be sure to read them in order, starting with this title. Great refueling in between heavy reading, and an absolute must for cat lovers and detective novel fans alike.
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Shane by Jack Warner Schaefer
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| A story of hero worship and the pursuit of values. An inspiration for young adults (and grown adults) to live up to ideals and integrity rather than sneer at them. “Shane” is a Western in the truest and best sense of the word.
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Crosspoints: A Novel of Choice by Alexandra York
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| Crosspoints is a psychological thriller. Unlike a traditional "whodunit," where the reader tries to guess who killed the butler, the reader of Crosspoints becomes engrossed in the self-induced fate of richly drawn characters. The question throughout the novel is: What will happen to them? It's not that some outside force is doing anything to them--it's the consequences of their choices, premises, conclusions about life that lead them in different directions and to differing ends. The climactic events of the novel are logical though not predictable. I was hanging on to the very last page. The quality of writing is well beyond what I would expect from a first novel (Ms. York is the author of From the Fountainhead to the Future and also has been a guest on Dr. Hurd's radio/webcast Solutions-Not Excuses). I learned much about the world of art--much of it thought-provoking and interesting--though I learned much more about the human experience and what people do to themselves through the choices they make. In short, it was a damn good read! |
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Heart of a Pagan by Andrew Bernstein
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| It's like entering another world in a delightfully unexpected way -- unexpected because I don't follow college basketball (the novel's setting), but it doesn't matter. Swoop (the main character) lifts anyone who wants to be lifted. From a psychological point-of-view Andrew Bernstein's book is particularly interesting: the psychology of heroism. And the notion of having religion without it being religion is quite original as a theme! I can't describe how badly this sort of thing is needed in the world.
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A Turn for DeWurst by Sydney Kendall
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| A delightfully written children's novel with themes a (thinking) adult can fully appreciate. The heroine of the story, Astrid, is a highly gifted fifth grader who is being smothered under the lock-step conformist program of her teacher, Dr. Helton. Aside from being entertaining, the book illustrates the true requirements of the young human mind -- and the obstacles often placed in its way. The book concretizes the deeper moral themes of independence, integrity, and control-of-others versus self-interested rationality.
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The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
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| This well-written, inspiring novel shows how a young boy overcomes evil through the use of his mind-and his body. Leading first with his head, and then with his heart, he manages to stand up to bullies and make an exciting life for himself in the process.
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We The Living by Ayn Rand
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| A story reflecting the determined pursuit of human values no matter what the circumstances. The setting is early Communist Russia, but its theme is universal across time: the individual versus the state. Heartbreaking--yet at the same time uplifting.
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Little House Books (Boxed Set) by Laura Ingalls Wilder
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| These nine books tell the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder who, with her family, was among the early pioneers of the American west. (True stories, written in a fictional format). Laura traveled with her family by covered wagon through Kansas, Minnesota and finally the Dakota Territory. By no means only for children, these wonderfully written and illustrated stories give a sense of what life really was like for American pioneers. They concretize the values of independence and individualism as few other books do. (Warning: these books bear little resemblance to the sappy, inauthentic television series of the same name).
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The Winslow Boy by Terence Rattigan
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| Based upon the real-life court case of a young naval cadet unjustly accused of stealing a five shilling postal order. A beautifully written play dealing with the issues of justice, morality, and individuality.
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Complete "Anne of Green Gables" Books by Lucy Maud Montgomery
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| These wonderful books chronicle the childhood and adult life of Anne Shirley. Though intended for children, an adult will value them even more. Anne's story is of an individual with a wonderful sense of life. She loves life and approaches it with the intellectual and psychological honesty we all should. Nothing can crush her spirit, not even the narrow-minded, puritanical stance of adults around her. Uplifting and engrossing!
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Executive Orders by Tom Clancy
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| A thriller of political terror and global disaster. Truly refreshing, says one reader, to see a pro-American portrayal of a President who is honest and never once allows his integrity to be compromised.
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Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand
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| One of the best romantic dramas of all time, this play deals with the themes of romantic love, faking reality versus remaining true to it, and the insecurities of an unattractive man with a wonderful mind. |
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Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
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| Dostoevsky's penetrating novel of an intellectual whose moral compass goes haywire, and the detective who hunts him down for his terrible crime. It is a stunning psychological portrait, a thriller and a profound meditation on guilt and retribution. Although not especially uplifting, it remains one of the most brilliant psychological novels ever written.
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Glamorgan's Tales: A Cat's Garden of Verse by Lauren Bain
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| Introducing Glamorgan, a multi-dimensional and worldly cat. Glamorgan isn't just cute. He is a cat of principle and the Principal of Catness; for Glamorgan is a moralist in the best sense: he recognizes that life means action and that actions have consequences, and that, from a cat's perspective, some things are right, some things are wrong, and some things just happen. This is the first of two books of poems about Glamorgan. Behind this work is a poet who harkens back to that grand time when poems rhymed, had meter, and celebrated life instead of nihilism. Cats, by their nature, embody the celebration of life.
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From Timber Ridge to Daymer Gardens by Thorsten Kaye & Dorothy Bridges
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| A small book of original and very personal poetry written by classically trained actor Thorsten Kaye and Dorothy Bridges (Mrs. Lloyd Bridges). The poems are romantic, rhythmic, and they celebrate beauty, not the sneering cynicism so pervasive today. Wonderful for psychological "refueling." (Also available on CD, read by Mr. Kaye, who has a magnificent speaking voice).
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Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
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| Ayn Rand's most famous novel illustrates the slow murder-and eventual rebirth--of the human spirit. In the process, she demonstrates the philosophical essentials for life on earth. Unlike anything ever written-a magnificent integration of suspenseful plot and ideological abstraction. Ranked second only to The Bible as having an influence on readers' lives. |
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The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
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| Howard Roark, the heroic architect of this novel, is the ultimate individualist. He represents the unbreached self, sacrificing his soul to no one. If you want to grasp the true meaning of self-esteem and integrity-as a desperately needed contrast to today's unprincipled cynicism-then read The Fountainhead.
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