Clarity Magazine recommends the following books and movies:
Books
Let the Trumpet Sound: A Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Stephen B. Oates
Martin Luther King, Jr. remains one of America’s greatest leaders. His unswerving dedication to non-violence in the search for justice and equality, and his respect for and dedication to the ideals of America, made him a hero for millions. This excellent biography provides us with a detailed account of the life of a man whose vision of America as a land of brotherhood, justice, and equality is still unfolding today.
Winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Book Award and the Christopher Award, this brilliant examination of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. portrays in detail both the man and the dream that shaped America’s history.
In My Father’s House
by Corrie Ten Boom
Focused upon Corrie ten Boom’s life and family in Holland before the outbreak of World War II, this inspiring book describes in moving detail their lives above the family watch shop in Harlem and Corrie’s memories of the family before the war and subsequent persecution. Corrie believed that their family life before the war prepared them for carrying out God’s work later and gave her the strength to survive brutal hardship and persecution and begin her worldwide ministry.
Saint Bernadette Soubirous 1844 – 1879
by Abbe Francois Trochu
In this inspiring biography of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, Abbe Francois Trochu, a noted historian of great religious figures, gives us an extensive and detailed account of the life of this great saint. Beautifully set forth are detailed accounts of Bernadette’s eighteen visions of the Blessed Virgin and the challenges Bernadette faced as the recipient of these great blessings. Drawing upon a wealth of archival materials compiled during Bernadette’s lifetime, this book is without a doubt one of the finest books ever written about Lourdes and this humble, visionary saint.
The Tipping Point
by Malcolm Gladwell
The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate. In this widely acclaimed bestseller, Malcolm Gladwell explores and brilliantly illuminates the tipping point phenomenon, which is already changing the way people throughout the world think about selling products and disseminating ideas.
The Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
by Joseph Ellis
In this fascinating and easy-to-read history dealing with the first decade of the American Republic, the author, Joseph Ellis, brings to life the vital issues and personalities from what is considered the most important decade in our nation’s history. He explores how a group of gifted but flawed individuals – Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison – struggled to set the future course of our nation and turn thirteen tiny nation-states into a viable union, capable of survival in a still-hostile world.
Quick Service
by P.G. Wodehouse
Quick Service, a novel first published in 1940, is a hilarious Wodehouse farce set in a country estate where various competing parties are attempting to fake the theft of an oil painting to secure the required trust money for various reasons — marriage, employment or, perhaps, to pay off a bad debt. It is a typically Wodehouse comedy, featuring impoverished but romantic youths, grouchy relatives, charming and resourceful friends, chirpy criminals, country houses, imposters, and servants. A wonderful antidote to the stresses and strains of 21st century life. Absolutely worth the read.
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MOVIES
The Railway Children, 1970
Based on Edith Nesbit’s 1906 children’s story, this moving film is about the adventures of the three Waterbury children and their mother whose lives are suddenly shattered when their father, who works for the Foreign Office, is mysteriously arrested by the police for allegedly selling state secrets to the Russians. Forced to live in a poor country cottage in the Yorkshire dales, the children become fascinated by a nearby railroad and, befriending some of the passengers, discover one old gentleman who may be able to help clear their father’s name.
Available: DVD; Rated G
The Way, 2010
“The Way” is a powerful and inspirational story about an American doctor who travels to France to collect the remains of his adult son who is killed in a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James, an arduous 500 mile trek across Spain. Driven by profound sadness and a sense of loss, the grieving father decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage himself in an attempt to gain some insight into his estranged son’s life. Filmed entirely in Spain and France along the actual Camino de Santiago, this is a story of healing and renewal and an attempt to find greater meaning in life.
Available: DVD; Rated PG-13
Watership Down, 1978
Based upon Richard Adam’s best-selling novel of the same name, this animated feature is about a society of rabbits as they flee their doomed warren and seek to establish a new colony free of tyranny and human intervention. The film, an immediate success upon its release, became the sixth most popular British film of 1979. Since there are some scenes of violence, the film is not recommended for young children.
Available: DVD; Rated PG
The Founding of America, 2009
Watch history spring to life as you witness, in spellbinding detail, the inspiring early years of America’s struggle for independence and the men and women who risked their lives and their fortunes to bring this great country to life. With rare archival material, and commentary by leading historians, this DVD megaset presents historical programming at its comprehensive best.
Available from Amazon: DVD; Not Rated
Amazing Grace, 2006
Based on actual events, this historical drama recounts the life of William Wilberforce, an18th-century English politician who launched an aggressive, twenty-five-year campaign to abolish slavery in Britain despite staunch opposition from the moneyed interests and public indifference to his cause. In 1807, through his perseverance and determination, final victory was achieved and the slave trade was forever abolished throughout the British Empire.
Available: DVD; Rated PG
Finding Nemo, 2003
In this Oscar-winning animated adventure, two plucky fish, Marlin and Dory, search their underwater world for Marlin’s missing son, Nemo, who’s been abducted by a scuba diver and dumped into a dentist’s aquarium. When they discover Nemo’s whereabouts, the two companions, traveling a great distance, encounter various dangerous sea creatures in their attempt to rescue Nemo from the dentist’s office aquarium near Sydney harbor. In the meantime, Nemo, who can take care of himself, is finding his own way back to the sea.
Available: DVD; Rated G
Belle Verte (Beautiful Green), 1996
This delightful, family-oriented French sci-fi comedy deals with the noise, pollution and stress of modern day life in a humorous and simple way. As part of an intergalactic coalition that monitors the activities and evolution of planet earth, an alien space woman is sent to earth to gather information on the environment and the state of its inhabitants. She is shocked to learn how people are living and does her part to help planet earth become a better place.
Available: YouTube; Not Rated
What the Bleep Do We Know!? 2004
This interesting and provocative film combines documentary-style interviews, computer animated graphics and stunning special effects to explore in non-technical terms the cutting edge of quantum physics and its relationship to human consciousness. Engaging and entertaining, this moderately low-budget independent production was one of the sleeper hits of 2004, as word-of-mouth and strategic marketing kept it in theaters for an entire year, eventually grossing over $10 million dollars. A must-see for anyone interested in the connection between science and spirituality.
Available: DVD; Not Rated
