The Legend of Bagger Vance

This book differs radically from the movie, so if you enjoyed the movie and are expecting the same thing, you might be disappointed. It would be very difficult for Hollywood to capture the true meaning of this book in a two-hour movie.

I requested this book from the library after hearing Wayne Dyer mention it in one of his presentations. Apparently the novel, written by Steven Pressfield, is based on the Bhagavad Gita, where Bagger exists as God-like teacher and guru. It follows the story of Rannulph Junah, an amateur golfer from Savannah, Georgia, who is commissioned to play what would become a legendary match against two golf greats: Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. The game of golf is simply a metaphor for the game of life. The novel is written from the point of view of a man named Hardy, who accompanied Junah and Vance during that fateful match. There is an additional character, Michael, in the novel that is not present in the movie, and Junah's story is told to him by Hardy.

The novel really is wonderfully written as it explores man's greatest fears and the illusion that we are in this life alone. We all have a Bagger Vance that walks beside us, advising us and encouraging us, we just have to stop and listen.

Mother Teresa (DK Biography)

We as an American society are at a loss for good role models. When asked to create biography posters of people they admire, middle school students typically choose professional basketball players like Kobe Bryant, singers like Justin Bieber, actors like Miley Cyrus, and soccer stars like David Beckham. Occasionally a student will choose a parent, sibling, or other relative that has inluenced the student in some way. While all of the people chosen by the students have at least one admirable trait, rarely has a student chosen someone like Mother Teresa, a woman who consistently exhibited truly admirable qualities while working tirelessly to make our world a better place.

If you can ignore her religious affiliation with Catholicism (if it bothers you), I am confident that you will find that she was a remarkable woman. This particular book explores her childhood (born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) in the Ottoman Empire, the day she decided to join the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary, her years spent teaching children, and her life-changing decision to start the Missionaries of Charity, a group of nuns and eventually lay people that ventured into the depths of India's slums to treat and care for the sick and dying. Today the Missionaries of Charity has expanded internationally.

While reading this very quick yet informative biography, I found myself stopping frequently to grasp the magnitude of the effect Mother Teresa had not only on the people of India, but on all the people of the world. Her perseverence and dedication to a life of helping others is not only admirable, but inspirational. She touched those affected with leprosy when others wouldn't. She chose a life of simplicity over one filled with possessions and the newest gadgets. She chose to spend her life spreading love to those that needed it most. She was a refuge to people who had lost all hope.

I have so much to learn from this extraordinary woman. In a society ruled by television, videogames, superstars, grossly overpaid athletes and CEO's, this biography of Mother Teresa offers an opportunity to go within and observe how we're living our own lives. Who do we want to be? There is no reason why company CEO's and oil moguls should be earning million-dollar bonuses while people around the world starve to death and don't receive adequate medical care. There are more than enough resources on this planet to accomodate everyone, if only we could learn to adopt an attitude of sharing instead of greed. I think that only when we begin to understand that what we do to/for someone else we do to ourselves, will we be able to change this global catastrophe. We have a lot to learn about how to treat other people, and thus ultimately our selves.

This book is a starting point.

The Little Soul and the Sun

I was introduced to the parable of the little soul and the sun while reading the book Conversations with God (see previous post for more information about that book).


This is really a wonderful parable for children and adults alike, as it explains perhaps why people do "bad" things to us on earth. This offers an alternate explanation of people's behaviors, suggesting that possibly it's because they are helping us to know and experience something about our own selves. Without their help we might not remember Who we Are.


So maybe experiences we observe and label as bad, traumatic, terrible, and intolerable are really necessary to help us along this journey we call life.


I know I'll be reading this to my own children someday. I read it twice today, and both times there were tears in my eyes. It's beautiful.

Conversations with God, Book3

WARNING: You need to read this book with an open mind.

Something happens to you and you get really mad and you lash out at God in some way. Who, at some point in their lives, hasn't had this happen? The author of the book was in a really bad place in his life and he was angry with God, so he let God know. He wasn't expecting what happened after that. God responded. Clearly and audibly. So the author wrote down what he heard, asked more questions, and kept writing. Those pages became this three part series.

Don't wonder about whether you should or shouldn't read this book. You WILL read it when you are supposed to. And that may not be in this lifetime.

This book is the third part in a three-part series. The first book focuses on some major issues humanity is facing today in their personal lives, spirituality, and how they function in today's world. The second book goes into a bit more detail, and this third book goes into more detail about more specific things like (don't laugh) life on other planets, more highly evolved beings (HEB's), and how we are treating our bodies and our environment. Everyone can learn something by reading this book (or the other 2). You really should start by reading the first in the series.

The main message from "God" in the book is to remember Who You Are and Who You Choose To Be. If you make all your life decisions based on that idea you will lead a more fulfilled life. You will let go of all fear (False Evidence Appearing Real) and doubt because you will realize that they are the opposite of what God is. You will start to really LIVE andyou will enjoy it, all of it. The things you used to determine as "problems" will be seen as blessings. We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, rather we are spiritual beings having a human experience. God is with us all the time because he can't NOT be. He is everywhere, ALL the time. When we understand that, we can really let go and let God.

There are many powerful messages to be received in this book, no matter your background, religious or not. It's powerful and life-transforming. I'd say that based on recent global events our species could use some inspiring, powerful words to change what we're doing because IT'S NOT WORKING! And if it ain't working, we need to FIX IT. It starts here, with this book series.

Midnight in Paris

Ok, so even though this blog is supposed to be about books I read I am posting today's blog about a movie I saw today. But in all fairness it's a movie about writing and writers and books...sort of.


I just came back from viewing Midnight in Paris, and if you haven't seen it I've included a link to the trailer at the bottom of this post. Some people don't enjoy Woody Allen films. I think this was my first Woody Allen film, actually.


I enjoyed the movie for several reasons. One, it takes place in Paris - which most of you know is very near and dear to my heart. Two, the main character (Owen Wilson) is an aspiring novel writer and we have that in common. Three, it showcases the 1920s, which is such an interesting and important time period. Four, it introduces the audience to geniuses who transformed our culture by gracing the world with their brilliant talents: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Salvatore Dali, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and many, many more. People may not have enjoyed the story, but it would amaze me if people didn't leave the theatre feeling just a little more inspired than they were before seeing the movie.

If you can look past the time travel situation (which I happened to think was a very creative idea), there is great meaning and inspiration to take from this film. Some people live in the past, while others take what they feel is important from the past and learn from it and use it to better themselves. And other people are just oblivious to anything meaningful and live very shallow, incomplete lives. I think part of life is about trying to figure out which category you fall into and deciding if you're ok with that.


I recommend the movie, especially if you're an aspiring anything - musician, poet, artist, writer, etc. Find your muse and make it happen. I know I plan to.


http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi853581081/

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me

WOW. I'm thinking I'm pretty safe because I don't live anywhere near L.A. and I'm a total nobody, but I sincerely hope that I NEVER have to meet her. Never. Seriously. The stuff she does to people is effed up, and I definitely couldn't handle it if she did it to me. Imagine PUNK'd times 100,000. Ashton Kutcher's got nothing on Cheslea Handler.

My first introduction to Chelsea Handler was on a flight to Maui. I had downloaded her audio book My Horizontal Life onto my MP3 player. It was THE most entertaining flight I ever had. Fellow passengers continusouly stole glances at me while I laughed uncontrollably out loud. On more than one occasion I found myself whispering "What the f-?" She is one crazy mo-fo and her antics will leave your head spinning. If you're looking for funny, I highly recommend her stuff.

I had a hard time putting this book down. Supposedly it's written by Chelsea's family, friends, and other victims, but she adds a little paragraph at the end of each chapter. I'm suspicious that she didn't write more of it than she's admitting because each chapter is written in her voice and, well, she's a constant liar (see what the book taught me?).

She gets her jollies humiliating other people. She's sick in so many ways. But I couldn't help but love her at the same time. Isn't that twisted? She's like the friend you want to have but of whom you're also scared to death. After reading this book I keep asking myself, can somebody possibly be that demented? I fear that the answer might be yes.

Here is a little sampler platter to whet your appetite:

"It must be Christmas because I just gave you a Nut Cracker" after administering a massive wedgie to a co-worker

The pranks she has pulled on people are truly unbelievable. You will laugh hysterically, trying to regain your breath, and then when you've had time to digest what you were laughing about your jaw will hit the floor and you'll reread that section only to find yourself laughing just as hard as the first time. Then you'll ask yourself if you're just as sick as she is for thinking her prank/lie/joke was actually funny.

You will not be able to put this book down. 'Nuf said.

I have yet to watch her show, Chelsea Lately, on E! Do I dare?

Next up, Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea.

There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem

I am beginning to believe that anything by Wayne Dyer is amazing, but I may be partial. I love his soothing voice, his wonderful sense of humor, and his brilliant messages. If you are struggling in any area of your life, or if you're having a great time and want ti to get even better, then you really shoudl consider this book. According to him, there are no problems in life. We create the problems. I had to listen to this part several times because it's difficult to grasp. Life doesn't have to be struggle - we create our problems through our thoughts and how we react to things happening around us. (I'm also reading through Conversations With God - Book 3 and the message is synonymous with that of Dyer.) Nothing is real. Everything is an illusion. When we understand that we can let go of fear and doubt and negative thoughts and really start to LIVE the live that we were intended to.

There was a segment in the book that was particularly intriguing to me. Dyer references a man by the name of David Hawkins, who performed kinesthetic tests on people using things that would be bad for your body and things that would be good (i.e. Sweet&Low artificial sweetener and natural vitamin C). He tested people's individual strength when one of these things was held by each person. Amazingly, each person appeared weaker in strength when holding the product of chemicals, and stronger when holding the item found naturally in nature. Dyer suggests reading Hawkins' book titled Power Vs. Force, which explores this in much greater detail.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Don't be put off by the word "spiritual" in the title. This isn't a religious book. In fact, you don't even have to believe in God to get something from this book. It's an inspiring book chock full of positive suggestions on how to lead a better, happier, more rewarding life.