Epiphany Books

This is a great book. It contains moving stories and inspiring insights. The author gathers spiritual wisdom from regular people. He doesn't try to come across as an expert. He's not afraid to reveal his humanity and frailty. He has opinions, but he doesn't appear to be judgmental. The book expresses deep truths in a real way. Highly recommended.

Self-serving, ridiculous, shallow, delusional. I especially like the section in which he suffers a moment of self-doubt about abandoning his children to spend some quality time grooving on the west coast, but then instantly recovers with a fulsome and congratulatory rationalization. Maybe he'll give them a call! What a twit. Where's the INS?

I loved this book, and immediately ordered a dozen more for birthday gifts. Mr. Collins' storytelling is superb. I think I'd like to run into him in a coffee house some day!

"Insights" was a lovely read. This beautifully done, exquisitely written little book was an event that I instantly wanted to share. It's the kind of book that I'll buy for everyone I know. The author drew me in immediately & I found myself involved in each individual and their challenge to have a triumph of spirit. More than that, each story was a personal inspiration. While I did not relate to all of the personal styles, I found myself swept up in all of their journeys to find solace and strength.

Insights from the Coffeehouse is a collection of true stories of the human spirit and its strength in the face of adversity. The tales are told without sentimentality and are therefore all the more poignant. Woven between the stories are insights which ask the reader to contemplate his own spirit and its strengths and weaknesses.

Some of the stories may seem fantastic and beyond the realm of reality. However, the author remains firmly grounded with a healthy skepticism, allowing the reader to draw his own conclusions. At the same time, we are gently reminded that these stories are of the human spirit and therefore should be read without prejudice.

This book is a must read for anyone who has ever wondered how we all survive the vagaries of life's tumultuous path.

I'm still moved by the story about Kevin Kelly and his "second" chance at life. I'm a regular Wired magazine reader (which Kevin Kelly founded) but I didn't know this tidbit about his life. This is just one of the fascinating and often inspiring stories profiled in U-Turn. This book will at the very least make you question how sure you are about everything. Given all the intractable but hopefully not insurmountable problems (healthcare accessibility, climate change, dwindling natural resources) it would be beneficial if everyone questioned at least one long-standing view, even if just to reaffirm their commitment or get a spark for a new idea.

I enjoyed this book a lot. He covers the "phenomenon" of making big personal changes from every possible angle. The examples he relates ( with extensive quotes) make me want to find out more about these interesting people! The last chapters are quite interesting in relating that these personal epiphanies do not always happen in a vacuum... and that social and historical conditions of the time feed the personal changes and contribute to more social change, be it for good or bad, in a cyclical way. I would definitely recommend this book... a great topic to explore even if you are not (yet?) on the road to Damascus.

After hitting forty in 2006 I had the usual male "mid-life crisis." Buying a Harley three years before hadn't headed my mantastrophe off at the pass, and I began to ask various questions: Am I doing what I should be doing? Do I really believe in the faith of my youth? How come forty doesn't look like I imagined it would be at twenty? I looked for some good books to help me with my angst, and when I laid eyes upon "U-Turn: What If You Woke Up One Morning and Realized You Were Living the Wrong Life?" I eagerly grabbed it. I'm glad I did, because it was a catalyst for a major quest that resulted in a momentous U-turn.

Bruce Grierson indicates that a strong gut feeling is a sign that a potential U-turn is on the horizon. Symptoms can include anxiety, asking deep questions, and perhaps even an epiphany. However, we have to decide whether or not to acknowledge the gut feeling. If we put our head in the sand, then the U-turn can be smothered. But if we run with the gut, then we're on the path to course correction. In my case, it appears that the alarm of my "social clock" was blaring at full volume. I wasn't where I'd hoped to be, so I had to get there somehow - and I was ready to take a chance (an important aspect of the process). However, I wasn't sure what specific steps to implement. So for awhile, I kept reading, pondering, and arguing with myself over my next move.

As I continued through his book, I was afraid that Mr. Grierson's thesis would peter out and I'd be left high and dry. I'd had that happen before in books where the author's point merited an essay at best. Thankfully, that didn't happen with "U-Turn." He was able to propel his subject matter forward using different and interesting perspectives in each chapter. For example, "The Likely Candidate" asks if there is a U-turn "type"; "The Change of Heart" looks at emotion's role in change; and "The Parole Board's Dilemma" differentiates true U-turns from bogus ones. Page after page I found gold, and as I read I became surer that I needed to obey my gut and act decisively. But what should I do?

Eventually, the answer came to me within the text. Mr. Grierson mentions how taking a life-assessment time-out at the age of forty benefits a man. "U-Turn" was one of two books I read that discussed this idea, and it seemed like a sign. So in the summer of 2007 I took a leave of absence from my job to walk the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain, a trek I had long considered doing. I stepped off from St. Jean Pied-de-Port on July 14th, and 500 miles later on August 24th I walked into Santiago, Spain. The Camino was worth the risk and effort because it stripped me down to a basic level and gave me plenty of time to silence my social clock and work through my pressing issues.

After I returned, I felt like I had completed an important quest. I'd done something arduous that people write books about, and I wasn't the same person as when I left. And what about my own U-turn? Well, the Camino led to that too. The major problem I wrestled with on the Way was my waning Christian faith. Over the years I had struggled with various problematic doctrines, infernal dogmas, and the disparity between faith and experience. Ironically, walking a religious pilgrimage trail served to lead me away from my long-held Christianity. Soon after returning from Spain, I left the Church and became an agnostic.

My fortieth birthday led to a couple of critical events, and reading "U-Turn" was an integral part of that process. It was one of the most helpful life-alteration books I read during my mid-life crisis. Another significant one was the humorous and insightful "Fat, Forty, and Fired" by Nigel Marsh. I recommend both titles for anyone who is reconsidering his or her life's road and looking for the off-ramp.

I initially liked this book until as I got further along it became apparent that the author saw this as an opportunity express a political viewpoint. The "U-turners" he chooses as examples are nearly all of the same political bent. It really destroys the author's credibility when he makes it seem that only one kind of person (liberal or conservative) is capable of making a U-turn. Not a book I'd recommend.

Everyday I encounter people who have made U-Turns and their lives are richer and happier as a result. After reading Grierson's exploration of dozens of people who abandoned or reinvented their previous lives--often in dramatic ways--I am even more inspired and intrigued by the possibility of second chances.

Obviously, Grierson is a great listener and a wonderful storyteller. Unlike most non-fiction books I read, I found this one needed to be read slowly. After one or two stories, I had to stop and think about the tale Grierson had told. Equally inspiring is how obvious it becomes that anyone, anytime, anywhere can find themselves making a U-Turn into an authetic new life.

I'm not sure how anyone can speak of this book as well-written, and I'm even more horrified that the racist tirades contained in it are described as a complex secondary narrative. No way. This is poorly written self-congratulatory racism, homophobia, and (much more subtle) sexism. The author doesn't have the skill necessary to spin a complex secondary narrative, much less one that is critical of its narrator; this racism is heartfelt, and it should not be ignored or overlooked. It turns my stomach.

My perspectives of Sambo are changing, growing, surely becoming mesmerized each time I have an annual medical or happen to see him in public! He always seems like an old, yet still youthful, and wiser, more knowledgeabe... "Good Friend!" From my first early physical in his Fayette Medical Center, he finished-up in using his usual "recorded Review" of my visit: "within my new patient, Fred Hood, the first words I heard were...Depression!"

Earlier I had met Dr. Sams, visiting his older, medical patients in Fayette Community Hospital! His nephews John Goza and Frank Cole were hospital staff Doctors. One day after Pastoral Visits I chanced to converse with both, as to how come "so many members of the Sams family" had chosen to become Doctors?" They quickly agreed that it was strictly because of Sambo's influence!

Once I began reading this EPIPHANY, his 7th book, I discovered along with his other reviewers, Sambo is the epitome of a superb story-teller! He can quickly draw one into his uniquely creative pictured characters of personality. His strengths for using Mark Goddard and Gregry McHune as his colaborators becomes obviously related between his actual life as husband and his wife, Helen!

I sat waiting in his office with new book of Prayers written by Professor Walter Brueggemann, as Sambo entered and saw that same book I had given him earlier. "This morning I was reading his 4th Prayer, "Stunned By Morning." Then he proceeded to quote the whole page of prayer, word by word without looking at the book!

In all of our conversations about his writing or what he's up-to in reading... he seems totally interested and caught-up becoming interested to my questions or reponse to his stories. Whenever we get to our "process of physical aging" he's agile, positively humorous, and places total emphasis upon inner, spiritual and mental attitudes. I am definitely an avid admirer of the medical expertise, powerfully gifted story-telling of my personality care-taker, who analizes, diagnoses, and even fullfills his own prescriptions! May he continue being the Blessed Physician for us for many more moons! Retired Chaplain, Fred W Hood

Epiphany is a book that contains three inspirational stories meant for the heart. For this review, I am going to focus on the title piece, Epiphany.
The two main characters in this story are Mark Goddard, a doctor, and Gregry McHune, a down to earth southerner. This is a story of these two's relationship with each other and how their lives intertwine. Throughout the course of this book, both Gregry and Mark learn lifelong lessons and adopt some of each other's customs. For example, Mark starts to use some of Gregry's slang and Gregry discovers Christianity with the help of Mr. Goddard. Both of these men deal with trouble in their lives and confide in one another. While going through their seperate struggles they become best friends of which neither of them expected to happen.
From a technical view, this book is very solidly written. The dialect of each character is done flawlessly so you get the feel that you know each and every person in the story. The character development in this story is great but it is very subtle. It seems to sneak up on you when you least expect it.
Overall, I would say buy this book if you enjoy heartwarming stories that make you want to cry. A caution to readers, this book deals with some very heavy themes such as rascism, murder, and prison life, so keep that in mind.

Each story strikes a cord of familiarity. Wth funny, touching and heart warming recollections of what feel like real life events, Sams, as usual, makes you laugh and cry. One story reminded me so much of my father, I wondered if he was the model! The reader experiences the depth of involvement all good "old-fashioned docs" have with interesting patients. As well, one gets a humurous look at the restrictions placed on health care by ignorant bureaucrats, The interaction between husband and wife in another story hits home for all married couples who have laughed at adverse conditions together - and suffered through them to reach even greater understanding of each other. For all of us as we grow older and remember what it was like to be an all-knowing teen, the third story stops you in your tracks as you reflect on where you have been and where you are going. A wonderful read that reaches deep inside and grabs you where you "feel".

This book, although not a classic, I agree, is a naked view of the war through the eyes of the soldier. This book addresses some of the most raw, most difficult things about war - the emotions behind the bloodshed. Previous writer may want to rethink their comments about the book, and read it for what it is - a bit of history through one man's eyes.

I guess we have finally reached the stage where anything written about the Vietnam War is considered a classic work. I was a student of the author in the late 70's, at which time his course requirement was purchase of this at the time unique work. One whole semester of this drivel. It was enough to make you wish you were in the foxhole with him and didn't survive. I guess if you suffer from flashbacks, this conjures up pleasant memories. What is next, poetry about the OJ Simpson trial, Chandra Levy or Desert Storm ? I guess it's easier to get published than we all realize.

Wilfred Owen, Britain's warrior poet of World War I, could not have done a better job of describing war from the warrior's perspective. Bryan Alec Floyd has written a masterful collection of poems. Lovely stuff, really.

I have never read a more honest look at Vietnam, Bryan explains what was really going on.

...if you realize that there's a little Damian Peruso in you afte reading this book. A great read about a great character! Short, but definitely not sweet, although it has its tender moments, too. The scariest part is, I know the author, and there is certainly a LOT of Damian Peruso in him.

This guy is old-school. Sometimes being disaffected and frustrated is no fun..Quick read..A little too short, though I like the hard, sharp, caustic, harsh tone. It's quite sad too...I know how old Damian Peruso feels, I've been there myself. He's a great character

I'm not sure how I discovered this one, but I'm glad that I did. It's a lightning-fast read that sucks you in, toys with your imagination, rattles your cage, sticks its thumb in your eyes, and punches you in the stomach...It might provoke one in the wrong manner if they don't understand the author's intentions of strongly condemning greed and lust..Tarantino should pick this one up.

I'm not sure how I came across this one but it's a lightning-fast read. It enters your imagination, rattles your cage, then punches you in the stomach. I wish it was longer..It leaves its mark..I think this book will have an impact, some adverse. They will only be adverse if the reader doesn't understand the authors scathing condemnation of what money and lust can do to a man.... It would make a surreal David Lynch-like movie, put Tarantino on this project..

Heavy On My Mind:  Freedom Through Poetic Verse by Jeff Haskins is a wonderful portrayal of a man free of the restraints of hiding, one who is able to effectively express himself.  He speaks openly about various topics ranging in the spiritual, sensual, and even intellectual realm of his thoughts.  In the five sections of his book, Haskins focuses on "sex, love, and intimacy," "spirituality & religion," "the family unit," "political speaking," and closes the book with the section "heavy on my mind."

From this wonderful collection of thoughts, I found several to my liking.  A few were "Spiritual Love," "Take a Break Sister," and "Alone in a Crowd."  All of these poems force the reader to dig deep into their psyche and connect with the author, understanding more about themselves in the process.  Most people will be able to understand the type of spiritual love that transcends the conditional love of man, the union of man and woman, and the loneliness of being without someone you can truly depend on. These three poems are insightful and direct, but also inspiring; and only a small representation of this book.

Haskins has written a thought-provoking collection of poetry and essays which makes one reflect on life; the good and the bad.  Furthermore, he has done so in a smooth-flowing manner in which the reader is captured into the movement of his words, the power of their meaning, and the knowledge gained as a result of reading the book.  He doesn't write in any one particular rhyme or cadence, but mixes the various types of poetry to present a well-rounded ensemble that is easy to read, yet would be even more powerful as spoken word. I enjoyed Heavy on My Mind and look forward to future books by this author.

Reviewed by Miz Melody for Loose Leaves Book Review

Jeff's poetry profoundly reflects some of the passions and deepest sensualities of a man who is true and gracious with his feelings.

I am dazzled by the many areas which he delves into and discusses so freely. You definitely receive his slant on several prolific issues, but Jeff's poetry allows a freedom for the individual to identify with his elaborately strung words. His poetry also allows a freedom of formulating one's own's opinions. It's like having a discussion with the author.

Either way as a spoken word art or as a deep and meaningful read, the recipient will be left satisfied and yearning for more.

HEAVY ON MY MIND is the real deal. After reading Jeff Haskins collection of poetry, I was taken aback by the realism. His poetry does not come from a place of fantasy, but from the heart of a real Black man. He puts real issues into poetic verse.

His collection is divided into five sections titled "Sex, Love, and Intimacy", "Spirituality and Religiosity", "The Many Pieces of the Family Unit", "Politically Speaking" and "Heavy on My Mind". At the start of each of these sections, Haskins gives the reader his thoughts on the subject matter and the subsequent poems follow that theme. I found this to be rather unique. It provided me with the opportunity to feel the extra emotion behind the poetry.

This collection is appropriately titled HEAVY ON MY MIND. It explores real issues that have been on the conscience of the population at one time or another. His words properly convey the emotions, which I identified with and have experienced within my own life. This is a well written collection of poetry.

Reviewed by Aiesha Flowers
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

The twentieth-century bohemian artist Caryll Houselander is a fascinating figure in English spirituality. Described by Maisie Ward as a "divine eccentric," the mystic Houselander focused her work on those on the margins, especially troubled children and refugees. Permeating her vision of God as Father and Mother was an empathy with others, a firm scriptural grounding, a gift for seeing the divine in the ordinary, an intuitive Christology, and a devotion to Mary and the saints.

In "A Child in Winter: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany with Caryll Houselander," Thomas Hoffman has selected passages from Houselander's works and organized them into a series of daily meditations for Advent and the twelve days of Christmas. He provides a scriptural passage to introduce each meditation, followed by a brief comment and closing prayer.

The meditation for the Saturday of the first week of Advent has stuck in my mind. In a passage from "The Passion of the Infant Christ," Houselander makes a distinction between "expensive" and "simple" people. Expensive people are those whose demands on us -- whether because they are "untruthful or touchy or hypersensitive or that they have an exaggerated idea of their own importance or that they have a pose" -- are so complicated that "we cannot respond spontaneously and simply, without anxiety," to them. Simple persons, in contrast, are those who accept themselves as they are and consequently make only minimal demands on others. In his comment, Hoffman takes Houselander's trenchant remarks and suggests that fidelity to our baptismal vows will move us away from being "expensive" persons and result in an honest gift of self to others.

This was good spiritual reading to help keep the Christian in the mindset of the real meaning of this time dedicated to the incarnation and to help him truly appreciate the advent/Christmas season in all of its liturgical length--from the first Sunday of Advent to the Baptism of Jesus. Caryll Houselander's writings stand easily on their own, and are well worth reading in their full and original texts, but Hoffman's reflections and short prayers were usually a good addition. They are nicely arranged to fit the season. While it is more common to use this type of spiritual aid during Lent, this volume shows that Advent is an equally appropriate time to use the same sort of approach. During the hustle and bustle of December and the "new beginnings" of January, these little reflections, short as they each were, serve as a healthy opportunity to reflect on what it is all really about. Though the tree and decorations of the cultural celebration may have long been returned to their place in the attic, A Child in Winter carries the reader gently through to the absolute completion of this holy season.

This book is almost unreadable. Without a solid background in literary theory, deconstruction, death of god theology, Heidegger, Nietszche and other postmodern methodologies and persons, the words used are too big, too abstract, and too specialized to make any sense to a general readership. I sense that Winquist has something relevant to say, but it's going to take me quite a while to get a grip on the language. Winquist's co-edited 'Encyclopedia of Postmodernism' would be minimum background reading before even thinking of getting into Epiphanies. Perhaps the reason Death of God Theology never took off was because nobody could understand what it was saying !

Few religious thinkers have the philosophical sophistication of this author. This book is profound in its ability to bring together much of what is deepest and most disturbing in our age together with the reality of a theological desire for more.

"He'd never left that holy state while He was appearing to us as we were; that heavenly power was added to an infant body, and yet the earth's resources weren't any poorer...To them it's just plain embarrassing that God should walk around in a funny, ill-fitting body. To us, of course, it's a greatly encouraging sight." p 57

Griffen has compiled a rich resource of the reflections of one of the Church's great minds on one of the Church's great narratives. In a time of pithy refrains and a secular hijack of our season of worship this book is a refreshing resource. It just takes a little patience to get there. By a regrettable editorial choice he opens with a 47 page sermon on the genealogies and inner-marital chastity that Augustine was literally preaching for the second time because the first time he tried it his audience largely fell asleep - not good times. The sermons that follow however, soar with rich reflections on the temporal genesis of the God-man and the sublime intersection of the celestial and corporeal in the event of the incarnation.

One other note is that Griffen takes his `paraphrase translation' liberties to Eugene Petersonesqe extents. His adaptation of Augustine's Latin is often compelling but is sometimes just so contemporary that it seems a bit absurd or anachronistic. Regardless, these would be fantastic readings to integrate into either Protestant or Catholic reflections during the Advent/Christmas season. If you hunger for insights beyond `Jesus is the Reason for the Season' to center you on the Truth at the heart the Christian adaptation of the winter holiday, this is a great place to start...particularly around page 50.

There's no place like Hippo for the holidays. Especially when it's the turn of the fifth century and you've gotten yourself over to the cathedral early enough to score a good spot for the bishop's Mass. I'm telling you, that guy can flat-out preach.

Fast-forward 16 centuries. Many familiar with St. Augustine know him from his greatest written works, The Confessions and The City of God. Both are bedrocks in the Western literary canon, fussed over by students not only of literature, but also of history, philosophy and theology. But how many of us, his fawning fans included, know what it was like to have your ears tickled by the very voice of Christendom's greatest genius?

William Griffin thinks he has a pretty good idea. And he does a fine and fun job of putting his insights across in these translations of Augustine's Christmas-season sermons.

This is Augustine like you've never read him. Glib, pointed, playful, colloquial, streetwise: He'll say whatever needs to be said to get you to let the facts of Christ's coming open your mind, penetrate your heart and change your life. And, true to form, for all his crafty rhetorical flourishes, he doesn't speak a word or even think a thought that can't be directly traced to Scripture. We already knew that about the bishop of Hippo, but we haven't seen it relayed in quite this way before.

"Let's recognize this day for what it is, my dear Brothers and Sisters," Griffin's Augustine says of Christmas. "Let's pretend we ourselves are the day! Yes, when we were living unfaithfully, we were the night. Indeed the slip-sliding in our faith had made the nights longer and colder till day itself was about to be snuffed. That's how it was on the day Our Lord Jesus Christ was born. The shortest day of the year. The Winter Solstice. From this point onward in human history, the nights grew shorter, the days longer." John 1:9, anyone?

Just as Augustine was a dexterous and innovative interpreter of the Word of God, ever intent on making the Bible accessible to the widest possible swath of humanity, so Griffin shows himself a witty and creative interpreter of the words of Augustine. In fact, so breezy is the sermonizing here that many turns of phrase beg the question: At what point does Augustine leave off and Griffin pick up?

The latter drops some helpful clues. The largest single section of Griffin's informative and entertaining foreword is an apologia for his use of the paraphrasal method of translation, rather than the literal, in turning ancient Latin into contemporary English. It's an approach that allows him to present Augustine as he might sound were he alive today.

Naturally, it also permits plenty of leeway for artistic indulgence. "Neither [men nor women] should give the Creator the finger," Griffin has the saint saying, "for that horrible trick he played on them in the Garden."

The bishop of Hippo may well have been similarly jarring in person. But would he have used so low-brow an expression -- in a homily? I'm not sure, but I'm giving Griffin a pass on that passage and several others in the same vein because, on the whole, Augustine in this brusque, thoroughly modern voice is so arresting and thought-provoking. There are worse ways to get good theology. And I've seen no better way to absorb Augustine for Advent.

"The angel delivered the message," we read. "Kindly the Virgin listened to it. Against her better judgment she believed it. The conception took place. Faith in her soul. Christ in her womb. And that's all there was to it. ... What storyteller -- the great Isaiah included -- could do Justice to a birth like that?"

If Augustine wasn't up to the job, neither is William Griffin. But what a joy their combined efforts are to read -- make that hear -- as Christmastide comes each year.

David Pearson is features editor of the National Catholic Register.

This book is written in such a poetic way that it makes it an easy read. It's like you're reading someones diary. Yet, it offers words of comfort and inspiration. It gives parents the words to explain war to children and provides understanding for the loved ones of soldiers. I could read it over and over (sometimes I do!).

The book is filled with pretty interesting poetry. The fact that that's all there is is what's misleading. I was expecting more of a diary, not a collection of poems. If you'd rather read poems you'll definitly like it.