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The Tao of Poo
(taoism,
philosophy, Eastern Religion)
This book is fantastic, it uses
Poo and his friends to talk about Taoism in light of the
characters personal philosophies. An easy and quick book
to read, both thought changing and enjoyable. This was
part of my wifes book collection.
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Rich Dad, Poor Dad
(investment,
personal finance)
Recommended by Chris this book
changed the way that I do business. I learnt more about
accounting from this than my Accounting degree. A great
guide to understand what personal finance and investment
is all about. This $30 book has earnt me thousands.
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Sophies World
(History of
Western Philosophy, Adventure)
This book takes you through all
the great western thinkers from Plato. The story is a
story within a story and has you on the edge of your seat
as it lets you really experience the world of thought.
One of the great things I got from this book was how much
science was attributed to religious thought. This one was
recommended by Matthew Dalton.
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The Cashflow Quadrant
(Investment,
Personal Finance)
Rich Dad, Poor Dad part 2,
following up from the success of the first book Robert
Kywosaki goes into more depth on the subject of setting
up your own personal style with a mix of employment,
self-employment, business ownership and investing. A must
read.
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Contact
(Science
Fiction, Philosophy)
Contact became a rather good movie
with Jodie Fostor, and I had actually seen it a couple of
times when Karup came for dinner and gave this to me as a
present. Contact challenged how we see ourselves in the
universe and what we might come to learn about ourselves
if we made contact with an advanced race. A very
enjoyable read.
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What Dreams May Come
(Religion,
Life after Death)
Matthews Brother gave us each
copys of this book after we had seen the film at the
movies and raved about it. The book although fictional
combined many peoples near death experiences into a
coherent picture of the afterlife. Which happen to fit in
well with my own ideas of life after death.
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The
Goal
(management
accounting, process organisation)
The Goal is a novel about a
business processes called the theory of constraints. It
goes through removing the barriers that stop you reaching
your goals. This was actually required reading in my
management accounting paper at university, but I never
read it. Bishop got me to read it when I was called to be
his counselor.
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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle
Maintainence
(Philosophy,
Eastern Religion)
Another from Matthew. This book
examines quality as the crowning attribute of life.
Really insightful it takes you through ideas and measures
that define what life can be all about. It certainly
brought to light lots of ideas I had never contemplated.
It is a bit deep at times but well worth the effort.
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Left Behind
(Religion,
Christian Apocalypse)
Given to me by Carey, Lyndi's
cousin after discussing various points of doctrine. This
is quite the adventure story, following a group of non
Christians converted by their loved ones miraculous
departures, as they seek to make sense of the impending
apocalypse. It is the first in a series that takes this
group through 7 years of trial. Deals with concepts such
as salvation and end of days, which almost everyone has a
different idea about.
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The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass (Aged 37 & a Half)
(Humour,
Christian Culture)
Matt again. A very funny book,
based on the teenage cult classic The secret diary of
Adrian Mole. It takes you through the quirks of the born
again christian sub culture, and lets you laugh at the
faith that brings the strangest groups of people
together. Something in here for everyone, especially the
church goer.
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From the Holy Mountain
(Religious
History of the Middle East, Travel, Eastern Orthodox
Christianity)
This one was recommended by a
lawyer at work when we got on to the subject of my
Orthodox Christian roots. The Author of the book follows
the travels of a 7th Century Byzantine Christian Monk
through Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt.
He relates the conditions in 697 A.D with those of now
and gives an insightful look into the lives of the barely
surviving orthodox christian community in the Middle
East. A fascinating account of this troubled and sacred
area shared by Muslim, Christian and Jews, which you dont
get close to in the media.
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Active
Parenting Today
(Parenting,
Psychology)
When
I became a parent I made a commitment to read a parenting
book each year. While I have some good prenting models to
follow, often I dont realise what skills I dont have.
This is my start 3 years on. Active parenting is the idea
that we should be active in raising our children as
balanced individuals rather than reactive to their
atention seeking. It is both a 'how to parent' book as
well as a guide to human behaviour, I found myself
evaluating other adults actions aswell as my childrens. I
think many adults have not mastered the behavoural skills
this book trys to help parents instill in their children.
A must for parents.
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Alone on the Great Wall
(Travel,
Chinese Culture, Adventure)
My friend Kelvin Jones was walking
the Great Chinese Wall, and told me that this book was
the inspiration behind the trip. This was quite a hard
book to get a hold of as it was almost out of print.
William Lindesay details his daring run along the great
wall, dodging security restrictions and hunger and
fatigue. And inspiring book of how to make your dreams
come true.
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Tuesdays with Morrie
(Sociology,
Psychology, meaning of life, how to die)
I had watched the TV movie and was
especially touched so jumped at the chance to read the
book when I saw one of my workmates reading it. Mitch a
successful sports writer takes time to write the last
lessons of his aging sociology proffessors life as he
succomes to Lou Garrets disease. A truly remarkable
insight into how to live and also how to die. One of the
best practical guides to lead a fulfilling life. A must
read, it was difficult not to cry in this one.
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Rich Dads Guide to Investing
(Investment,
Personal Finance)
The Third in the series of Rich
Dad, Poor Dad. It is a fantastic guide to getting your
finacial philosophy into place, and then following it to
great wealth. A great follow up and apex to many great
principles taught into the other 2 books. Recommended
after you have got the foundation of the other 2 books
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The Solitaire Mystery
(Philosophy,
Adventure)
Another from Jostien Garner who
also wrote Sophies World. I couldn't put this one down it
was so riveting. This is a book within a book, and like
Sophies World you become an active participate in the
philosophy. It challenges your concepts of time, god and
the universe but best of all it helps you to not take for
granted the everyday things that seem to have become so
common.
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Through a Glass Darkly
(Philosophy,
)
Another from Jostien Garner which
takes you through a philosophical discussion of life and
death, heaven and angels. While I enjoyed this book i
wasn't as impressed with this one as I was his others.
Many of the thoughts he goes over in this one I had
already contemplated and had reached different
conclusions. Still worth reading.
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To Kill a Mocking Bird
(Classic
American Literature)
This is a fascinating insight into
the minds and lives of small time America when the
questions of equal rights for Blacks hadn't yet been
entertained. Harper lee takes you on a journey of
discovery into racial and societal prejudice and through
her eyes manages to elevate her readers to a higher
ideal. A must read.
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The Catcher in the Rye
(Classic
American Literature)
This is a required read for most
American and some new Zealand schools and consequently is
rated in the 20 most influentail Books. However i foundi
it a very depressing read, about the mental breakdown of
a very emotionally challenged youth. It is very well
written, and does a great job of getting into the mind of
a dilenquient, but not one that I would recommend
reading.
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The God Boy
(A New
Zealand Classic)
This could be described as New
Zealands version of Catcher in the Rye, except much much
more entertaining and insightful. It follows the trauma
of a boys life as he trys desperatly to deal with the
horrific breakdown of his family. A very good read.
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The Eye of the Storm
(Missionary,
religion, faith, adventure)
My dear friend John Garbett is
currently making this book into a movie www.othersideofheaven.com Lyndi
bought me the book back from the States. It is a powerful
missionary story of Elder John Groberg on his mission to
Tonga during the 1950's. He survives a shipwreck,
hurricane, famine, persecution, and develops a great love
and respect for the Tongan people which allows him to
change the course of countless peoples lives including
his own. Probably the best adventure story and faith
promoting book I have ever read. The Movie is due out at
the end of 2001
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