Books published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc

The ultimate survival guide for starving artists, writers, performers — and anyone whose dreams can’t be contained by an office cubicle.Filled with down-to-earth advice and sustenance for your most far-flung dreams, The Lost Soul Companion is the perfect guide for anyone grappling with the darker side of creativity.A source of support when your day job gets you down, a refreshing reservoir of humor when you’re knee-deep in rejection slips, this remarkable little book offers both inspiration and compassion, plus surefire strategies for surviving in what can sometimes seem like “a world of meanies.”From the anti-procrastination “chopstick plan,” to the importance of staying well nourished (toaster-oven-snack recipes included), The Lost Soul Companion will speak to anyone with big dreams and creative spirit who nonetheless finds it tough some days just to get out of bed.

With the baby boom generation came the genre of parenting books that told parents how to teach their kids everything from toilet training to developing self-esteem. Generally the message has been: go easy on your child, but hard on yourself. It is starting to become apparent, especially in the best of families, that giving your kids lots of choices, validating their feelings at great peril to your own and providing "enough" individual attention for each child is creating a generation of kids over whom we have no control.Cassidy argues that this comes from over-thinking our role as parents. We''ve pondered every step so much that the juice, the joy, and worst of all, our confidence is gone. The reasons are clear: We have fewer children later in life so we''ve had more time to ponder. We''ve grown up just as research on infant and child development has come of age, so there''s no shortage of material to think about. As a generation we''ve prided ourselves on self-improvement and we bring the same zeal to child improvement. We''re less likely to live close to our families, and so are more likely to seek out expert solutions.To counter this thinking, Cassidy will suggest keeping the big picture in mind--what kind of people do you really want your kids to be? Honest, kind, cooperative, empathetic? It may mean losing sight of whether enough play dates are scheduled for the week and if you''ve positively reinforced the latest creative endeavor, but it will bring back your instincts about what is important to your family as a whole, and to your kids to become decent people.

The ultimate sourcebook from America''s leading alternative health expert.Yes, you can feel better, look better, and extend the best years of your life through proper nutrition and exercise. And there is no better guide to optimum health than this classic reference and sourcebook.Compiled by Gary Null, Ph.D., America''s leading health and fitness expert, a TV regular and host of his own nationally syndicated radio program, this invaluable resource offers a comprehensive overview of protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and minerals with the facts about their role in maintaining and restoring health.Learn what''s in the food you eat and what it can do for--and to--you. Discover the pros and cons of supplements, which to take, how to take them and safe and effective dosages for each. Find out: The best way to lower high blood pressure and lose weight How to know if you''re getting enough--or too much--protein The role of sugar in cardiovascular disease The best foods--and supplements--to meet changing nutritional needs Why exercise is more important than diet for weight control, and which  exercise is best of all The vitamin that slows down the aging process Why you may be inviting heart disease when you eliminate all cholesterol-containing foods from your dietGary Null cuts through the myths and hype and presents the facts: everything you need to know about living well every day of your life.

Whether you''re a world-class palyer or a weekend  enthusiast, improving your golf game begins with  your mind. You may be amazed to discover what  happens when you free yourself from overthinking you  shots and let your unconcious mind play the  game.Now acclaimed sports counselor Dr.  Marlin Mackenzie provides more than 30  situation-specific exercises to help you deepen your  awareness of your emotional and intellectual barriers.  You''ll learn to capitalize on your inner resources  to play up to your potential.

Finally, here is a comprehensive, down-to-earth plan to turn homework from drudgery into a genuine learning experience for both parent and child, and make even the most resistant child interested—even enthusiastic—about their schoolwork. Friendly and full of anecdotes from the authors’ own child development practice, Hassle-Free Homework includes:The Six Week Plan: A guide to developing learning skills, including organization, motivation, memory, and concentration. Homework Hotspots: Concrete tips for helping children with specific subjects, like math, science, spelling, and other problems areas.Homework Helpers: Show how physical activity, music, visual arts, and the home computer can be homework motivators, and list recommended educational computer programs and books.   “Through well-constructed and constructive approaches, the Clarks show that homework can represent an opportunity rather than a burden.”—Howard Gardner, Harvard University, Graduate School of Education

Well-known retreat master and author of the bestselling Centering Prayer, Basil Pennington now demonstrates the spiritually enriching power of that ancient prayer technique when used in conjunction with scripture. Just as a centering prayer involves listening to a call, he explains, so too our encounters with the Word of God are a listening experience.This devotional book contains thirty excerpts from Matthew''s Gospel with corresponding meditational essays that invite prayerful reflection through "centering." We are guided through such areas as poverty of spirit, self-alienation, the transformation of consciousness, authentic love, abandonment and "letting go," and openness to the Spirit.Equally suites for a personal at-home retreat or in a prayer-group setting, this treasury of Gospel spirituality brings even greater joy to the experience of centering prayer.

In this enriching book, Father Pennington reveals how the spiritual insights of "centering" have profoundly changed the lives of contemporary Christians everywhere.  "I believe in its simplicity," he writes, "it readily adapts itself to wherever one is on [life''s] journey.  It can open the space for God to lead us all the way into the fullness of the life he offers us...It is truly a gift that belongs to all the People of God."  Centered Living is an excellent guidebook for those who already practice centering prayer, as well as those just discovering it.

"An electrifying book from the first line. No one interested in Christian spirituality and its relation to contemporary problems can afford to miss this powerful witness to the power of living faith in Christ founded on an intense life of prayer." - Benedict J. Groeschel, O.F.M. Cap.Many people fear that the process of secularization will end by undermining faith and that, as a consequence, life with God will continue to diminish until it is completely extinguished.My personal impression is exactly the opposite. Secularization could be compared to the dark night of the senses. It is the most radical purification of the image of God. As a result, the believer of the secularized age will finally be able to live with pure and unadorned faith, without its false supports...God is not the "maternal womb" that liberates us from the risks and difficulties of life. After creation, God very quickly cuts the umbilical cord, leaving us alone in the open struggle for liberation and independence, and He comes to us saying, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it." (Gen 1:28). The true God, then, is not One who alienates but a Liberator who makes great, mature, and free individuals and nations.This secularization, we insist, is thus a true dark night of the senses. From now on, faith and life with God will be a risky adventure...Those who return from this adventure will be figures sculpted by purity, strength, and fire. Transformed by the ecstatic closeness of God, above them will appear the living and illuminating image of the Son. They will become the transparent witnesses of God.from Sensing Your Hidden Presenceby Ignacio Larranaga, O.F.M. Cap.

From the thirteenth century to the present, Francis of Assisi endures as our best-loved and most-admired saint. He is our companion, brother, friend, teacher and lover of life. This inspiring compendium contains 365 selections--one for each day of the year--drawn from the sayings and writings of Francis as well as from stories about him.In Through the Year With Francis of Assisi the reader finds a daily source of inspiration, a gentle stimulus towards living a more caring and loving way of life--free of unnecessary entanglements. These specially selected excerpts, grouped under such familiar themes as poverty, love of creation, justice, prayer, death and virtues constitute a personal "day book" that can be treasured and kept at one''s side for year-round reflection and meditation. As Bodo explains in his introduction, Francis'' way of life and living was that of a pilgrim, and we, too, share the same journey in faith. What better guide, then, than this simple soul who has touched and taught generations of people.

Jean Shepherd was one of America’s favorite humorists, his most notable achievement being the creation of the indefatigable Ralphie Parker and his quest for a BB gun in the holiday classic A Christmas Story. But he was so much more, a comic Garrison Keillor–like figure whose unique voice transcended the airwaves and affected a whole generation of nostalgic Americans. The Ferrari in the Bedroom is Shepherd’s wry, affectionate look at the hang-ups and delusions of Americans in the 1970s. From his sardonic assessment of fads such as the nostalgia craze (“Thinking that the old days were good is a terrible sickness. Everything was just as bad then as it is now.”) to a modest proposal for the foundation of S.P.L.A.T. (The Society for the Prevention of the Leaving of Animal Turds), Jean Shepherd provides a generous measure of his special brand of wise and warm humor as an antidote for some of America’s more ridiculous obsessions.

"...will help you cope with the pain of being human and revel in the joy of it" --Ann LandersWith the same understanding and compassionate insights that have made his Pain of Being Human and Joy of Being Human bestselling books, Eugene Kennedy here discusses the inner barricades that people erect in their life and how certain attitudes can impede our self-realization and happiness. "We miss the human situation when we try to break away from it," he writes, adding that we must learn to accept certain limitations and human imperfections as we search for inner freedom and peace.These essays cover a wide range of situations that comprise the fabric of all human life: dealing with anger, impatience, insecurity, obsessions, loss, and death. We are helped here in seeing the meaning beneath what may appear as only a jumble of everyday events. In facilitating our greater self-understanding and self-acceptance, Kennedy helps pave the way for our handling the challenges and problems inherent in all our other relationships. The key to our success, he advises, is "our readiness to enter into our experience--to suffer it as well as to celebrate it--and always to call it by its right name."This is a helpful and practical book that gives its readers a chance to pause, reflect, and get a renewed perspective on life.

"...destined to be a standard text and reference book in Catholic circles for many years to come" --EmmanuelPublished to widespread critical acclaim, this is an impressive and sweeping study of the New Testament canon: the preeminent source of Christian doctrine and the center of scholarly discussion/controversy for decades. Introduction to the New Testament presents the full spectrum of thought regarding the New Testament with clarity and completeness, and in a welcome and prestigious entry to this most important field of study.Marked by thorough research, Collins''s study covers the formation of the New Testament and the history of its research; the various exegetical methods used on the twenty-seven books that comprise the New Testament, explaining the methods and giving examples of each one''s use. A concluding section gives an overview of New Testament exegesis in the Catholic Church today, including the latest developments within different schools of interpretation. Throughout, Collins emphasizes inspiration and its part in Catholic biblical studies.In its Image paperback edition, this volume will be welcomed by a broad spectrum of scholars, students, teachers and interested laity. It is, as John Meier remarks in the book''s Introduction, "one of the most important contributions to American biblical studies in the last few decades."

Compiled by a top comedy writer, a rib-tickling collection of sharp, topical one-liners on every subject under the sun, alphabetically arranged by category for easy use.

Colorful, festive, and filled with imaginative ideas, this superb Christmas cookbook features cakes, cookies, and other holiday favorites, plus full-course menus, great gift ideas, and much more.Full color photographs and B & W illustrations throughout

This hilarious illustrated catalog contains practical jokes from offices, hospitals, colleges, parties, schools, and weddings . . . for in-laws, bosses, scheming colleagues, rude neighbors, and ex-lovers. Plus, much more! Containing pranks and stunts for every occasion and classics from the pantheon of pranksters, The Complete Book of Outrageous and Atrocious Practical Jokes will show how to write the memo that will have scheming colleagues hiding under their desks while you squeal with laughter; how your stereo system can be adapted inventively to deal with noisy neighbors, professors, and roommates; how to take the air out of assorted stuffed shirts at dinner parties with creative use of fishing line and insects; and how husbands and wives maintain their version of marital harmony using nail polish and the insinuation of shoplifting.

CELEBRATING THE SINGLE LIFE is a book that tells how to have a seriously committed, spiritually grounded single life. For the fifty million people in the United States who live alone -- whether by choice or circumstance -- the author suggests concrete dynamic ways in which single men and women can live fully human, fully Christian lives."The single state is the foundation of all human formation," notes Susan Muto. "We are born single (that is, unique) and we die single... God calls [all] to give witness temporarily or for a lifetime to the originating uniqueness that is His gift to every human being." This encouraging book goes far in dispelling often held presumptions or stereotypes concerning singles as "outsiders" in a family- or community-oriented culture. Muto demonstrates that the single life-style is not incompatible with warm, loving relationships or with a happy and rewarding life. Her book covers such topics as solitude vs. loneliness; silence, service, and caring for others; resisting the workaholic phenomenon; single parenting; singles and the Church; the essentials of single spiritual living.CELEBRATING THE SINGLE LIFE breathes fresh air on a subject of immense interest and importance in the modern age. As such, it is both challenging and insightful reading for all serious Christians no matter their chosen life.

A way of life both stimulating and troublingThis is the way of life St. Francis shows us. It asks that we look again at the possibilities within us and around us and see Francis''s life and examples as a way of embracing our "dark side," of reconciling the opposites in ourselves and the world. The Way of St. Francis offers all Christians a guide to following the spirituality of the beloved saint from Assisi.Father Murray Bodo challenges himself and us with a renewed understanding of Francis--to whom we turn again and again in interpreting our own human experience and our experience of God. We reflect on the saint''s ways of "letting go," of achieving poverty, of simplicity and non-violence, of entering all creatures. Franciscan spirituality is no different from any other Christian spirituality, observes Bodo. But the way that Francis lives the Gospel has an irresistible attraction for all. "Francis makes me feel loved; he makes me feel that I matter," the author writes. "That is the power he exercises over us...and that is why so many look to him as the model of what they, too, can be."This is a book for all spiritual seekers and lovers of St. Francis--a man who has inspired millions for over eight centuries.

Popular antiques expert George Grotz reveals how to make real money in the antiques trade--must reading for every collector, auction-goer, and flea-market fanatic.

“Widely regarded as the nation’s most prestigious awards for short fiction.”—The Atlantic Monthly   The O. Henry Prize Stories 1985 gathers 21 of the best short stories of the year, selected from thousands published in literary magazines. Stories include: Jane Smiley “Lily” (first prize, jointly awarded) Stuart Dybek “Hot Ice” (first prize, jointly awarded) Ann Beattie “In the White Night” Helen Norris “The Quarry” Susan Minot “Lust” Claude Koch “Bread and Butter Questions” Wright Morris “Glimpse into Another Country” Louise Erdrich “Saint Marie” R. C. Hamilton “Da Vinci Is Dead” Joseph McElroy “Daughter of the Revolution” Steve Heller “The Crow Woman” Ward Just “About Boston” Tobias Wolff “Sister” Gloria Norris “Holding On” Peter Cameron “Homework” Ilene Raymond “Taking a Chance on Jack” Eric Wilson “The Axe, the Axe, the Axe” Joyce Carol Oates “The Seasons” Rolaine Hochstein “She Should Have Died Hereafter” Josephine Jacobsen “The Mango Community” John Updike “The Other”      

Business Letters Made Simple is a unique, contemporary, practical guide for today’s business letter writers. This helpful handbook contains over 150 sample letters designed so that they can be easily adapted for your own use. There are client letters, sales letters, credit and collection letters, letters to employees, to the media, to financial institutions, letters about services and products, letters about employment, letters of congratulation or condolence, and more. Each type of business letter is explained and demonstrated,including how to communicate effectively with overseas business correspondents. Handy tips on how to write each kind of letter appear thought out the text.

This Runner''s Bible is the perfect guide for those who want to start running and don''t know what their level of fitness is, how to maintain discipline, or how to implement basic training skills. Marc Bloom gives fundamental explanations on technique while exercising his strong sense of humor.

For almost thirty years Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen adressed the problems and preoccupations of life in a weekly column called "Bishop Sheen Writes," offering advice, solace, and the wisdom of experience. On Being Human is a collection of 117 of the best of these, culled from among more than a thousand which appeared in dozens of newspapers from 1949 to 1977.Here are Bishop Sheen''s thoughts on such subjects as the relationship between God and man, the quest for holiness, the pain of the human condition.Here are the fruits of lifelong meditation jon love, reason, the family, charity, freedom, education -- in short, upon the world as we live in it.Here is practical advice on how to deal with sex, with egotism, even with the atomic bomb.Here, above all, is the luminescence of belief in and commitment to humanity in all its many manifestations.

Turning is a personal account of the author''s journey to God that eloquently demonstrates how deep and complex the process of conversion can be--and how its beauty and power can be a source of inspiration to us all. This book is unlike most others of its kind in that its focus is intellectual as well as emotional.Emilie Griffin, an accomplished advertising executive, has written a lucid series of reflections on the process of her conversion to Catholicism through the experiences of other "pilgrims" who have encouraged and challenged her. Thus the stories of C.S. Lewis, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Bede Griffiths, and Avery Dulles wove their way into her own story, and in them all she began to see a pattern emerge. She takes the reader through the battle of intellect and will, the first stirrings of desire, through the struggles of mind and heart, to the ultimate act of surrender to the will of God. In addition, she takes up the important question of continuing conversion as the normal process of the Christian life.A work of utter candor and simplicity, Turning is a twentieth-century account of the experience of conversion whose insights and applications will be universally welcomed.

Catholicism has had a profound and lasting influence on the shape, the meaning, and the course of American history. Now, in the first book to reflect the new communal and social awakening which emerged from Vatican Council II, here is a vibrant and compelling history of the American Catholic experience—one that will surely become the standard volume for this decade, and decades to come.Spanning nearly five hundred years, the narrative eloquently describes the Catholic experience from the arrival of Columbus and the other European explorers to the present day. It sheds fascinating new light on the work of the first vanguard of missionaries, and on the religious struggles and tensions of the early settlers. We watch Catholicism as it spread across the New World, and see how it transformed—and was transformed by—the land and its people. We follow the evolution of the urban ethnic communities and learn about the vital contributions of the immigrant church to Catholicism. And finally, we share in the controversy of the modern church and the extraordinary changes in the Catholic consciousness as it comes to grips with such contemporary social and theological issues as war and peace and the arms race, materialism, birth control and abortion, social justice, civil rights, religious freedom, the ordination of women, and married clergy.The American Catholic Experience is not just the history of an institution, but a chronicle of the dreams and aspirations, the crises and faith, of a thriving, ever-evolving religious community. It provides a penetrating and deeply thoughtful look at an experience as diverse, as exciting, and as powerful as America itself.