book review

When my son Xavier was born (named after St Francis Xavier) a friend lent me this book on Heroic Leadership (available at Amazon) in which Francis was outlined on several occasions as an illustration of a Heroic Leader.  I read the book more to learn about the historical person of Francis Xavier, however in doing so, have enjoyed this book and had my whole view of the Jesuits, Catholic Orders and similar things totally changed. 

As a follower of Christ having grown up in a Protestant environment we develop many ideas about Catholics.  Fortunately I was blessed to have attended a Catholic High School (Emmaus College) and was able to have realised what a blessing the Catholic System is.  However I had developed some ideas about the Jesuits from books I had read.  This book changed all of that for me and gave me a very high regard for the Jesuit Society.  I realise in fact that without the Jesuit Society (and similar Catholic Orders), the world today would not be what it is. 

I have been staying at my Aunty & Uncle’s home for a few days (today was the lats day) and it’s always refreshing to read other people’s books.  They had a book on the shelf called “Stop the Traffik” which is all about slavery in today’s world and people trafficking.  I hadn’t realised it was such a HUGE issue.  In fact slavery and trafficking today is so large that it is the second biggest international crime issue behind illegal weapons sales. 

Today in the world there are also more people in slavery than in the whole entire time the British empire were trafficking slaves to the Carribean for the sugar plantations.    Back then a British politician called William Wilberforce made it his life’s work to campaign against slavery and was able to have it abolished.  See the movie Amazing Grace for this story.

Recently for my birthday my wife gave me a $20 iTunes gift card.  I used that to buy “The Shack” as an audiobook.  I had heard so many things about this book - some really good, and some really bad that I didn’t know what to expect. 

One of my new year's resolutions in 2010 was to read one good quality educational book every month for the rest of my life. I have heard it said that twelve good books is the equivalent of a university degree. If that is true, then I have a number of degrees.

Recently I have been reading a series of books about Israel and Palestine trying to gain an understanding of the history of the situation there, and also what the actual facts are on the ground today.  Neither of those (the history or the present situation) are pretty.  In fact a lot of what has happened, and is continually taking place in Palestine, is horrifying to the extreme. 

I have always been someone who has listened to the news, read newspapers and occasionally seen the news on the television.  I have always known who the Prime Minister of Israel was, and been up to date with facts about the Palestinian Authority and other key pieces of information – but none of the things I have been reading about lately have ever been in the news – not as far as I have seen anyway. 

My wife and I are having a baby – it’s due March 22.  Whilst I’m praying for March 17 (I like St Patrick) it could come anytime now.  So we have been reading up all about all baby related issues.  Here is my book review for the latest book I have devoured. 

My wife is having a little bub in March – and so we are reading up a whole stack of information about these little wonders.  I decided recently that I would always write up a book review whenever I read a book.  So as weird as it seems – here is my “baby book review.” 

Read a book today called The Traveller's Gift which was rather thought provoking. Its a fictional book about a guy who loses everything and tries to commit suicide but is somehow rescued and has a series of experiences which change him. He meets Abraham Lincoln, Colonel Chamberlain and even little Anne Frank from Holland in World War 2. His experiences change him and turn his life around. Anyway I thought you might like the book.

Being born in a middle class home we grew up with certain assumptions about money, but this book by Robert Kiyosaki has opened our eyes to see things we never thought of before. There are 6 basic financial concepts in the book and other tips and hints that are well worth considering. Here is my review: