Books by John Lawrence

This heartfelt, hilarious, self-deprecating and candid memoir of stumbling through medical school, takes readers along for the journey of medical school. John''s transformation, from an uncertain liberal-arts student into a medical doctor, keeps the pages turning due to his entertaining, unique, and tongue-in cheek storytelling. From the challenge of being accepted into medical school; to memorizing human anatomy using ribald mnemonic devices; to delivering babies, John recounts what really goes on behind clinic doors. As if medical school was not challenging enough, John survived two traumatic brain injuries right before medical school started, leaving him exhausted, and without much short term memory. Memory and an ability to stay awake are two qualities you might value in medical school. Anyone who has experienced imposter syndrome, the idea that you are a complete fish out a water, or who does not belong, will appreciate John''s humor and vulnerability describing not fitting in too well to the academic and professional environment. Pre-med students might wish an early look into what life might be like training to be a doctor. Anyone who has experienced being treated by a doctor will enjoy seeing the reality of the medical system and how medical professionals are educated.

This book is based on the true story of the first seven months of the authors' lives together, though some names and details have been changed to protect the identities of individuals. Although perhaps seemingly contrary to the book's title, the authors in no way aim to diminish the concept or existence of a one true God. It is their hope that though they had both lived separate and extremely different lives before crossing paths, this story will be able to illustrate the divine beauty and wonder of the intricacies of their individual life events as seen through a collective lens. Like threads woven to complete a fabric, circumstances have brought them together in serendipitous ways to shine a light on each of their individual strengths and weaknesses. Each journey, regardless of one's race, religion, social or economic status, can lead an individual to a deeper understanding and regard for life, nature, and, most of all, other human beings. It is this journey toward enlightenment which we, as the human race, can no longer afford to procrastinate. The time to awaken is now!

Not everyone chooses the streets. Sometimes, when everything is taken away, it's all that's left... The slums of Shindjin have long since been the champion of poverty. Violence and extortion are commonplace, where one's fate can literally be determined by a roll of the dice. A place where the fallout of these actions fall onto the shoulders of children. Shou and Jun are two such children, torn from the comfort of the lives they knew. Now thrust into an environment where organized crime IS law. With nowhere to turn, they're forced to become the very thing that ruined their lives.

This is the first comprehensive history of films made in or about Iowa. It reflects some twenty years of collecting, lecturing, and talking with some of Iowa's current generation of independent filmmakers. It covers the span from 1918 to 2013 and gives important background information on dozens of high profile films such as the STATE FAIR films of 1933 and 1945, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, FIELD OF DREAMS, and many others. It is designed as a companion for the State Historical Society's blockbuster "Hollywood in the Heartland" exhibition in Des Moines that is scheduled to run at least through 2016. The book has an interpretive essay covering the entire history as well as paragraph length descriptions of each film. A user-friendly feature is the Index of Films, which makes it easy to locate discussions of individual films. Marty Knepper is a featured commentator on video screens in the "Hollywood in the Heartland" exhibition.