A New Earth

Book Description
The highly anticipated follow-up to the 2,000,000 copy bestselling inspirational book, The Power of Now

With his bestselling spiritual guide The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle inspired millions of readers to discover the freedom and joy of a life lived "in the now." In A New Earth, Tolle expands on these powerful ideas to show how transcending our ego-based state of consciousness is not only essential to personal happiness, but also the key to ending conflict and suffering throughout the world. Tolle describes how our attachment to the ego creates the dysfunction that leads to anger, jealousy, and unhappiness, and shows readers how to awaken to a new state of consciousness and follow the path to a truly fulfilling existence.

The Power of Now was a question-and-answer handbook. A New Earth has been written as a traditional narrative, offering anecdotes and philosophies in a way that is accessible to all. Illuminating, enlightening, and uplifting, A New Earth is a profoundly spiritual manifesto for a better way of life—and for building a better world.

About the Author
ECKHART TOLLE is a contemporary spiritual teacher who is not aligned with any particular religion or tradition. In his writing and seminars, he conveys a simple yet profound message with the timeless and uncomplicated clarity of the ancient spiritual masters: There is a way out of suffering and into peace. Eckhart travels extensively, taking his teachings throughout the world.

Unaccustomed Earth

Unaccustomed Earth By Jhumpa Lahiri

“Lahiri extends her mastery of the short-story in a collection that has a novel’s thematic cohesion, narrative momentum and depth of character. . . . Some of her most compelling fiction to date. Each of these eight stories . . . concerns the assimilation of Bengali characters into American society. The parents feel a tension between the culture they’ve left behind and the adopted homeland where they always feel at least a little foreign. Their offspring, who are generally the protagonists of these stories, are typically more Americanized, adopting a value system that would scandalize their parents, who are usually oblivious to the college lives their sons and daughters lead. . . . The stunning title story presents something of a role reversal, as a Bengali daughter and her American husband must come to terms with the secrets harbored by her father. The story expresses as much about love, loss and the family ties that stretch across continents and generations through what it doesn’t say, and through what is left unaddressed by the characters. . . . An eye for detail, ear for dialogue and command of family dynamics distinguish this uncommonly rich collection.”

Kirkus Reviews (starred) (February 1, 2008)

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini

Three decades of middle-eastern history are rolled out in gripping, flowing word work: "...watching the bulbul bird darting from tree to tree, stories of the two-headed snake, the watermelon seeds...spelling out 'Allah'." In places raw sewage flows in the river. Beheaded bodies lie about in public.

It is not often a pretty picture, yet is an extraordinary presentation of life in the palm of our hands. Everyday actions as simple as plucking fruit, folding paper toys, going fishing or giving birth are played out against a backdrop of bombs bursting and punitive amputations. The author fleshes out the culture and pumps it with blood so that the reader shares the daily lives of Afghan women, men and children as they deal with war, warlords, and conquerors from both in country and from here overseas.

Ever wonder what is must be like to be one of several wives in a plural marriage? What does the husband feel? Get some answers; read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

review by Akiba Shabazz

As the World Burns: 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Stay in Denial

By Derrick Jensen & Stephanie McMillan
Seven Stories Press

As The World Burns: 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Stay In Denial is a graphic novel that will no doubt startle readers as to the ecocide taking place on this planet. Complete with a slew of interesting characters like a one-eyed bunny, robot machines from space, various woodland animals, and two environmentally-conscious little girls, this novel is both funny and extremely shocking in terms of what’s going on in the world.

In part a satire of the book 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Earth, the little girls argue with each other concerning the book’s list. Even if everyone in the world did everything on that list, the dark-haired girl argues, it is not enough. Instead, she says, it gives people “the illusion that the problems we face are easily solvable.” It is not so simple. While lifestyle changes like becoming a vegetarian, basing your garden “on the principles of permaculture” and so on are great, people should not delude themselves as to “which diswasher’s soap” they use can “stop the system from destroying the planet.” The real problems are corporations. ExxonMobil alone “has released fifty percent of all carbon emissions put out by this culture.”

While the little girls argue about how evil corporations are, the heads of such corporations are selling the planet to robot aliens in exchange for gold. People who actually oppose the destruction of the planet for profit are deemed terrorists. A particularly funny bit in the novel is when a corporate bigwig asks his subordinate whether or not the “terrorists” have been arrested - all while reading his Bible.

Another funny yet horrifying episode involves the President and First Lady discussing their new-found source of renewable energy, the very letters and petitions people sent to the White House protesting environmental destruction. The two laugh as the President talks about throwing the letters in the fire.

The little girls and their animal friends might win the fight over the planet-eating aliens, but they also acknowledge they’ve only eliminated one threat to the planet and now must go after greedy corporations. The book’s last words are very inspiring, as one corporate bigwig says to another, “What are we going to do if the wild terrorists don’t let us consume the planet? How will we maintain our lifestyles?” “We won’t,” replies the other.

Review by Kent Page McGroarty