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Staff Favorite Books
Title - the Closer
Author - Mariano RiveraCall Number - 796.357 RIVERA
Book Description
The greatest relief pitcher of all time shares his extraordinary story of survival, love, and baseball.Mariano Rivera, the man who intimidated thousands of batters merely by opening a bullpen door, began his incredible journey as the son of a poor Panamanian fisherman. When first scouted by the Yankees, he didn't even own his own glove. He thought he might make a good mechanic. When discovered, he had never flown in an airplane, had never heard of Babe Ruth, spoke no English, and couldn't imagine Tampa, the city where he was headed to begin a career that would become one of baseball's most iconic. What he did know: that he loved his family and his then girlfriend, Clara, that he could trust in the Lord to guide him, and that he could throw a baseball exactly where he wanted to, every time.
With astonishing candor, Rivera tells the story of the championships, the bosses (including The Boss), the rivalries, and the struggles of being a Latino baseball player in the United States and of maintaining Christian values in professional athletics. The thirteen-time All-Star discusses his drive to win; the secrets behind his legendary composure; the story of how he discovered his cut fastball; the untold, pitch-by-pitch account of the ninth inning of Game 7 in the 2001 World Series; and why the lowest moment of his career became one of his greatest blessings.
In The Closer, Rivera takes readers into the Yankee clubhouse, where his teammates are his brothers. But he also takes us on that jog from the bullpen to the mound, where the game - or the season - rests squarely on his shoulders. We come to understand the laser-like focus that is his hallmark, and how his faith and his family kept his feet firmly on the pitching rubber. Many of the tools he used so consistently and gracefully came from what was inside him for a very long time - his deep passion for life; his enduring commitment to Clara, whom he met in kindergarten; and his innate sense for getting out of a jam.
When Rivera retired, the whole world watched - and cheered. In The Closer, we come to an even greater appreciation of a legend built from the ground up.
Title - the Auschwitz Escape
Author - Joel RosenbergCall Number - F ROSENBERG
Book Description
A terrible darkness has fallen upon Jacob Weisz's beloved Germany. The Nazi regime, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, has surged to power and now hold Germany by the throat. All non-Aryans - especially Jews like Jacob and his family - are treated like dogs.When tragedy strikes during one terrible night of violence, Jacob flees and joins rebel forces working to undermine the regime. But after a raid goes horribly wrong, Jacob finds himself in a living nightmare - trapped in a crowded, stinking car on the train to the Auschwitz death camp.
As World War II rages and Hitler begins implementing his "final solution" to systematically and ruthlessly exterminate the Jewish people, Jacob must rely on his wits and a God he's not sure he believes in to somehow escape from Auschwitz and alert the world to the Nazi's atrocities before Fascism overtakes all of Europe. The fate of millions hangs in the balance.
Title - Personal Faith, Public Policy
Author - Harry Jackson and Tony PerkinsCall Number - 261.09 JACKSON
Book Description
Harry Jackson and Tony Perkins believe that America stands at a crossroads. As a nation we must choose God's blessings or His destruction of our society. The "Religious Right," as it has been termed, often looks to the world as its enemy, and many Christians have seen themselves as combatants in war against anti-God forces. In Personal Faith, Public Policy, Jackson and Perkins take a radical new position, stating that the Christian church must lead morally and impact the culture with personal spiritual power and unified Christian public policy, demonstrating how a unified church can tackle each one of the seven major problems of our culture. Achieving victories in each of the seven areas presented will result in vanquishing the big problem facing our country-moral decay.Title - Atlas Shrugged
Author - Ayn RandCall Number - F RAND
Book Description
This is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world - and did. Was he a destroyer or the greatest of liberators? Why did he have to fight his battle, not against his enemies, but against those who needed him most, and his hardest battle against the woman he loved? What is the world's motor - and the motive power of every man? You will know the answer to these questions when you discover the reason behind the baffling events that play havoc with the lives of the characters in this story.Tremendous in its scope, this novel presents an astounding panorama of human life - from the productive genius who becomes a worthless playboy - to the great steel industrialist who does not know that he is working for his own destruction - to the philosopher who becomes a pirate - to the composer who gives up his career on the night of his triumph - to the woman who runs a transcontinental railroad - to the lowest track worker in her Terminal tunnels.
You must be prepared, when you read this novel, to check every premise at the root of your convictions. This is a mystery story, not about the murder - and rebirth - of man's spirit. It is a philosophical revolution, told in the form of an action thriller of violent events, a ruthlessly brilliant plot structure and an irresistible suspense. Do you say this is impossible? Well, that is the first of your premises to check.
Title - Implosion: Can America Recover From Its Economic & Spiritual Challenges in Time?
Author - Joel RosenbergCall Number - 277.3 ROSENBERG
Book Description
Bestselling author and international political expert Joel C. Rosenberg tackles the question: Is America an empire in decline or a nation poised for a historic Renaissance?America teeters on a precipice. In the midst of financial turmoil, political uncertainty, declining morality, the constant threat of natural disasters, and myriad other daunting challenges, many wonder what the future holds for this once-great nation. Will history's greatest democracy stage a miraculous comeback, returning to the forefront of the world's economic and spiritual stage? Can America's religious past be repeated today with a third Great Awakening? Or will the rise of China, Russia, and other nations, coupled with the US's internal struggles, send her into a decline from which there can be no return?
Implosion helps readers understand the economic, social, and spiritual challenges facing the United States in the 21st century, through the lens of biblical prophecy.
Title - the Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens
Author - Debra BellCall Number - 371.04 BELL
Book Description
Debra Bell has helped numerous homeschooled students, including four of her own, gain college admission and win substantial scholarships to the schools of their choice. Now she can help you and your child navigate high school at home and successfully transition to the college and adult years. Inside this incredible resource, you will find:- How to help your teen discern his gifts and calling
- How to prepare your child for high school during grades 6 through 8
- Study-smart strategies for maximized learning
- Tools for developing critical and creative thinking skills
- What to do if your child is behind or ahead
Title - Mind of the South
Author - W J. (Wilbur Joseph) CashCall Number - 975 CASH