10
Books That Screwed Up the World: And 5 Others that Didn’t Help By Benjamin Wiker, Ph.D. published
by Regnery Publishing, Inc. This book was deeper than my normal tastes and abilities, but after two “intellectual” friends
recommended it and I saw the title, I couldn’t resist. I have not been a student of ideologies.
I had only a cursory knowledge of the authors and works this book addresses, yet I found it to be interesting and very
informative. The author surveys the major writings of ideologues such as; Machiavelli, Descartes,
Rousseau, Marx, Darwin, Nietzche, Sanger, Hitler, Kinsey and others. The book includes the premise behind
each work, background on the author and the results of their theories on the culture and ideologues to follow.
I was surprised to find how much these ideologies have permeated our culture and even my own thinking.
The author starts the book with the concept that ideas have consequences. That certainly is evident
in the pages that follow. It is clear to me how easily we can buy into these ideas; most often because they satisfy our flesh
or pride. It was interesting and revealing that all of the ideologues claimed to be atheists. The author’s Judeo-Christian
position is not demonstrative but also not hidden. I found this paragraph in the book especially helpful. “What
is ideology? We live in such an ideological age that it’s hard for us to distinguish good thinking
from bad. The crucial distinction is that ideology is not philosophy. Philosophy is
the love of wisdom, the love of what is real, whether we happen to like it or not. It is the desire for
truth, and the continual humility to remold our desires to fit reality. Ideology comes at truth from the
opposite direction, molding truth to what we happen to desire….Pseudo-science is thus the handmaid to ideology.
Politics is its hammer.” A shout out to Christina and Joel for recommending the book,
I found it eye-opening and well worth reading. Parents of Missionaries: How to thrive and stay connected when your children and grandchildren
serve cross-culturally
by Cheryl Savageau, EdD & Diane Stortz If you
are looking for a how-to book on being parents to a missionary, this may be the book for you. “Parents
of Missionaries” is a comprehensive look at the practical and emotional journey parents travel when their children decide
to serve God in a cross-cultural ministry. The book was thorough in looking at the process beginning
with your child’s decision to go into missions, the preparations to go, and ending with life while they are on the field.
The authors both are parents of missionaries and called upon their experience and that of many others, including missionaries
themselves, in writing the book. I found reassurance in the fact that the thoughts and emotions I had struggled
with were not uncommon among the parents. There is quite a bit written regarding personal issues parents may be having regardless if their
child is in missions. Although this information could be helpful it felt more like filler material than
specific to the situation. The book was excellent at acknowledging the logistical issues that come with a “missions family”,
things that one may never think about. Those issues include; expectations for visits and furloughs, housing on and off the
field, the coming and going and coming and going, grand-parenting from a distance, and finances for the parents. The
goal of the book is to help parents address the issues and emotions but also learn to thrive under their new role as parents
of missionaries. You might be surprised to find that task is not as straightforward as it looks. I found
the book to be light on spiritual insight and solutions but it was not totally absent. Quite frankly this is the only book
I am aware of written specifically for parents of missionaries. So it was refreshing to have someone take
on the task. The authors provide lists of other resources including websites and newsletters. Overall,
I think the book was helpful for parents who find themselves starting this journey or in the middle of it. It
would make a great gift!
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Just a word
about "Book Jacket"
At first I felt compelled to provide reviews of new or at least recent books. Although
that may be the case at times I decided that really isn't who "Calico Woman" is. Calico Woman finds books
at thrift stores, second hand stores and garage sales. Oh yes...I do order new books and shop at my favorite bookstore,
but it is most likely you will find books here that I've been "meaning to read" for a long while. I will
make sure that they are still available to you either new or used or via the library. Happy Reading!
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