SOLD Biography of Muhammad

 

SOLD

Mint condition. 268pp. PB. $20 including postage anywhere in Australia

Muhammad was born in 570 C.E. Over the course of the following sixty years, he built a thriving spiritual community and laid out the foundations of a religion that has changed the course of world history. There is more historical data available about his life than that of the founder of any other major faith, and yet, particularly in the West, his is a consistently misunderstood story.

An acclaimed authority on religious and spiritual issues, Karen Armstrong offers a balanced portrait of this revered figure. Through comparison with other prophets and mystics, she illuminates Muhammad's spiritual ideas; she uses the facts of his life, from which Muslims have drawn instruction for centuries, to make the tenets of Islam clear and accessible for modern readers of all faiths. This vivid and detailed biography strips away centuries of distortion and myth to reveal the man behind the religion.

Karen Armstrong, bestselling author, scholar, and journalist, is among the world's foremost commentators on religious history and culture. Post-9/11, she has become a crucial advocate for mutual understanding between the world's major faiths. Her books include Buddha: A Biography, The Battle for God, and Islam: A Short History.

"Respectful without being reverential, knowledgeable without being pedantic, and, above all, readable. It succeeds because [Armstrong] brings Muhammad to life as a fully rounded human being." -The Economist

Australian women at WWI

 

Rare book. Mint condition. Unavailable at Amazon.PB. 336pp. $35 including postage anywhere in Australia.

The battlefields of WWI bring together Genevieve Howard, who becomes an Australian Army nurse, and Madeleine Aspinall, a British ambulance driver. Coming from very different beginnings, the horrors of Gallipoli and the Western Front provide the violent background to their friendship and the relationships with the men in their lives. 

Two Women Went to War is a novel about love, war and the complex bonds of friendship. Lives are challenged in numerous ways through the turbulent and dramatic landscapes of WWI and the years that follow. The battlefields of WW1 bring together Genevieve Howard, who becomes an Australian Army nurse and Madeleine Aspinall, a British ambulance driver. 

Coming from very different beginnings, the horrors of Gallipoli and the Western Front provide the violent background to their friendship and the relationships with the men in their lives. Two Women Went to War is a novel about love, war and the complex bonds of friendship. Lives are challenged in numerous ways through the turbulent and dramatic landscapes of WW1 and the years that follow. 

L.E.Pembroke was born and raised in Sydney. This, her second book, reflects her passion for history and the extraordinary stories of ordinary women and men. 

The story of an Australian who fought at Tobruk

 

Ex-library. Mint condition. Rare book. Amazon retails at over $200. 319pp. $35 including postage anywhere in Australia.

Journey to Tobruk tells the remarkable life story of John Murray, a genuine Australian hero, on and off the battlefield. This engaging blend of military history and biography - with a strand of family history (and family secrets) woven through - follows the transformation of a raw young bushman into a courageous soldier and inspiring leader. 

A lifelong correspondence between John and his mother is a feature of the narrative; Murray's laconic tone, which never falters even as he endures the horrors of the North African campaign as a 'rat of Tobruk', is definitively Australian. 

An illegitimate child whose wealthy grazier father never acknowledged him, John was sent at age fourteen to work on an outback sheep property as a jackeroo. The harshness of this environment schooled him for survival, forging the strength and resourcefulness that were later tested in the crucible of war. While the story also follows Murray's post-war life, the focus of this moving and impeccably researched book remains John's six-year wartime odyssey, from Australia, to Tobruk, El Alamein, New Guinea and Borneo, evoked in heart-gripping detail, supported by maps and images. 

Through it all, this fascinating, brave, resilient and humane man retains an optimism and stoicism that allow him to face and conquer the horror he confronts.

Walking through Gallipoli

 

Ex-library. Mint condition. 298pp. $35 including postage anywhere in Australia.

This book normally retails for over $50.

Every year tens of thousands of Australians make their pilgrimages to Gallipoli, France and other killing fields of the Great War. It is a journey steeped in history. Some go in search of family memory, seeking the grave of a soldier lost a lifetime ago. For others, Anzac pilgrimage has become a rite of passage, a statement of what it means to be Australian. 

This book, first published in 2006, explores the memory of the Great War through the historical experience of pilgrimage. It examines the significance these 'sacred sites' have acquired in the hearts and minds of successive generations and charts the complex responses of young and old, soldier and civilian, the pilgrims of the 1920s and today's backpacker travellers. 

This book gives voice to history, retrieving a bitter-sweet testimony through interviews, surveys and a rich archival record. Innovative, courageous and often deeply moving, it explains why the Anzac legend still captivates Australia.

SOLD Primer on Islamic faith and culture

 

SOLD to a lawyer in Tasmania.

Mint condition. PB. 403pp. $25 including postage anywhere in Australia.

Islam is the way of life for million of people around the world. Its teachings guide people to live harmoniously and in balance with themselves, others and the world around them. Everyday people come into contact with Islam and those who practice this faith. The need to know about the Islamic teachings has become more important then ever.

As Muslims assimilated the English language into their rainbow of languages, the need for clear and concise literature grows. This is especially true when one considers that there are millions of Muslims whose native language is now English. In addition many seekers of truth have been yearning for a book that would present the clear and precise Islamic view of life in a format that not only invites further study and research, but that also provides the path to achieve this goal.

"What Islam is All About" is a textbook designed to meet all of these needs. In one volume is included the basic history of the Prophet Muhammad, (peace be upon him), the teaching of Islam, the history of the ancient Prophets, the study of the Quran, the Islamic philosophy of the world and life within it, Islamic law, Hadith, contemporary issues and much more.

Perfect for Muslim schools, Sunday schools, adult study classes, independent learners, students of religion, seekers of truth and anyone interested to know more about Islam from an insider's point of view. You will not find a more complete, compelling, and pleasant presentation of Islam and what it teaches anywhere else!

Plain language for lawyers

 

Mint condition. PB. 352pp. $25 including postage anywhere in Australia

Professor Kimble names Michele Asprey's book Plain Language for Lawyers as one of the top publications in the history of plain language. In Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please - The Case for Plain Language in Business, Government, and Law - Carolina Academic Press, Durham, North Carolina, Professor Kimble lists Michele Asprey's book as number 7 on his list of the top publications - quite an accolade. It appears alongside David Mellinkoff's book The Language of the Law (from 1963), Richard Wydick's book Plain English for Lawyers (from 1979), Rudloph Flesch's work, and Ernest Gowers's The Complete Plain Words, among others.

The idea that lawyers can - and should - write in plain language is not new. There have always been plain language lawyers. There just aren't enough of them. The plain language movement in Australia has been with us for decades. Plain language has been taught in law schools in Australia for almost 20 years. But still too many lawyers don't write in language that clients, and other readers, can understand. Plain Language for Lawyers can help. Over the 18 years it has been in print and it has established itself in Australia and overseas as a comprehensive, entertaining and enormously useful text. It includes international references, contains practical advice, and can be read and enjoyed by anyone who is interested in plain language in the law. The 4th edition has been completely revised and updated.

Divorce & kids

 

Mint condition. PB. 254pp. $20 including postage anywhere in Australia

Expert advice for discussing divorce with your children

Written by Dr. Samantha Rodman, founder of DrPsychMom.com, How to Talk to Your Kids about Your Divorce teaches you how to raise a happy, thriving family in a changing environment. Each page offers expert advice for discussing your decision in healthy and effective ways, including breaking the initial news, fostering an open dialogue, and ensuring that your children's emotional needs are met throughout your separation. With Dr. Rodman's proven communication techniques, you will:

• Initiate honest conversations where your children can express their thoughts
• Discuss divorce-related topics and answer questions in age-appropriate ways
• Validate your children's feelings, making them feel acknowledged and secure
• Strengthen and deepen your relationship with your kids

Whether you're raising toddlers, school-aged children, or young adults, How to Talk to Your Kids About Your Divorce will help your kids feel heard, valued, and loved during this difficult time.