BOOKS
I Was a Monk: The Autobiography of John Tettemer
by John Tettemer
For 25 years John Tettemer lived behind the cloistered wall of one of Catholicism’s most austere religious orders. As Father Ildefonso he rose to the Church’s loftiest heights, finally becoming Consulator General of the Passionist Order at the unprecedented age of 38. A confidant of Popes, a brilliant and respected teacher, his future promised greatness. But he abandoned it all because his life as a monk was no longer tenable. After experiencing deep states of higher consciousness, and the unity of all life in God, he lost faith in “orthodox or dogmatic religion of any and whatever form.” Regarding his decision to leave both the monastery and the Church he writes: “My conscience forced the decisions on me.”
An unforgettable, deeply inspiring story. Available through Re-Quest Books.
Carry On, Jeeves
by PG Wodehouse
First published in 1925, this magical collection of short stories follows the hilarious adventures of Bertie Wooster and his manservant, Jeeves. The stories, set in New York, Paris, and London, usually begin with some minor mishap that quickly leads to comic mayhem. When Wooster or one of his upper-crust pals gets involved in a disastrous social situation, it is up to the ever-resourceful Jeeves to devise an ingenious solution. Each story, populated by a cast of colorful characters, is funny and well-written. and provides an excellent introduction to the world of P.G. Wodehouse.
The Handy Science Answer Book
This new edition of The Handy Science Answer Book provides answers to more than 1400 unusual or frequently asked questions such as these: Why do golf balls have dimples? What makes people snore? What is a nuclear meltdown? Written in non-technical language, topics include: Physics and Chemistry, Climate and Weather, Energy, Environment, Biology, and Health and Medicine and much more. A fun and informative book for adults, older children, and teens.
Compiled by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
The Silver Chalice
by Thomas Custain
This 1952 historical novel, set in a time shortly after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is a fictional account of Basil, a young silversmith, who is commissioned by the apostle Luke to fashion a holder for the cup Jesus used at the Last Supper. To fulfill the commission, Basil must travel throughout the ancient Roman world, where he meets the apostles and other historical figures who knew Jesus intimately.
The Silver Chalice was a best-selling fiction title in 1953, and remained on the New York Times bestseller list for 64 weeks.
The Ohlone Way
by Malcolm Margolin
In this well-researched book, Malcolm Margolin describes the life and culture of the American Indians who inhabited the San Francisco-Monterey Bay Area prior to the arrival of the first Europeans. Two hundred years ago, on the land now occupied by a vast metropolis of inter-connecting freeways and cities, wild life proliferated in abundance and supported one of the densest Indian populations in North America. The Ohlone Way vividly recreates this lost world and the people who lived there just a short time ago.
Recently included in the San Francisco Chronicle’s ”Top 100 Western Non-Fiction” list, The Ohlone Way has been described by one critic as a ”mini-classic.”
Irreducible Mind: toward a Psychology for the 21st Century
by Edward Kelly and Emily Williams Kelly
This book challenges conventional theories in psychology and neuroscience that maintain that physical processes occurring in the brain generate all aspects of the human mind and consciousness. Arguing that the properties of the mind cannot be fully explained by those of the brain, they marshal evidence for a variety of psychological phenomena that are difficult, and in some cases impossible, to account for in conventional materialistic terms: near death experiences, reincarnation, telepathy, auras, clairvoyance, and much more. This book speaks to all open-minded persons concerned with the still-unsolved mysteries of the mind.
Edward F. Kelly is currently research professor in the Department of Psychiatric Medicine at the University of Virginia.
MOVIES
Jodaa Akbar, 2008 (Hindi with subtitles)
Set in the sixteenth century India, this historical drama centers around the epic romance between the Muslim Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great, and the Hindu Princess, Jodhabai, who becomes his wife. Arranged for political gain, this marriage between two cultures and religions evolves into a relationship of true love.
This engaging and beautiful film has won numerous awards including the following: Best Foreign Language Film Award at the São Paulo International Film Festival; two awards at the Golden Minbar International Film Festival; seven Star Screen Awards; and five Filmfare Awards.
Available: DVD; Not Rated
Nine to Five, 1980
Three women office workers who are fed up with their egotistical boss, entertain fantasies of revenge. But when they believe they accidentally put rat poison, instead of sugar, in his coffee, their fantasies inadvertently turn into reality and the fun begins. An ensuing comedy of errors sets into motion a series of hilarious misadventures. Through no fault of their own, their egotistical boss ends up getting his comeuppance.
Nine to Five is number 74 on the American Film Institute’s “100 Funniest Movies” and is rated “82% fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes.
Available: DVD; Rated PG
The Right Stuff, 1983
Based on Tom Wolfe’s excellent, best-selling book of the same name, The Right Stuff is the story of the seven Mercury astronauts and the birth of the U.S. space program. The film, covering roughly 15 years, begins with NASA’s first attempts at breaking the sound barrier in 1947 and ends with the first successful manned spaceflights in the 1960s. This film brilliantly depicts the personal, political and technological achievements it took for America to win the space race, and also the everyday fears, frustrations and heroics of the astronauts involved in the program.
In 2013 the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Available: DVD; Rated PG
The Way Back, 2010
The film, The Way Back, based on the book, The Long Walk, by Slawomir Rawicz, is an epic story of survival, solidarity and indomitable human will. After narrowly escaping from a wretched World War II Siberian labor camp, a small band of multinational soldiers undertake an almost impossible 4,000 mile trek across Siberia, the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas to freedom in India. They face freezing nights, lack of food and water, mosquitoes and seemingly endless desert that test the limits of human survival under the most extreme conditions. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Makeup.
Available: DVD; Rated PG-13
The Battle of Hastings 1066, 2007
On October 14, 1066, William the Conqueror defeated King Harold II of England at the Battle of Hastings and established the Norman French as the rulers of England. This epic nine-hour battle changed the course of western civilization, for without William the Conqueror’s victory, Britain may well have become a Scandinavian province. This excellent documentary, told through computer graphics and dramatized eye witness accounts, vividly brings to life this historic battle and how it ushered in a new era in British history. Narrated by Michael Leighton and featuring expert commentary by war historian Dr. David Chandler.
Available: DVD; Not Rated
Ram Dass: Fierce Grace, 2002
This inspiring documentary is about the life of Ram Dass (Richard Alpert) and his attempts to recover from a massive stroke that left him physically incapacitated. Combining archival footage with interviews of close friends and others who have known him, this documentary looks back to his childhood, and the evolution of his spiritual search, which led him to his guru Neem Karoli Baba. A powerful and moving portrayal of spirituality, consciousness, healing and the unexpected grace of aging.
Named by Newsweek as one of the Top Five Non-Fiction Films of 2002.
Available: DVD; Not Rated
