Author: Alex Berenson File Type: epub Amazon.com ReviewAmazon Exclusive Alex Berenson Talks About His New Novel, The Midnight House As a reporter for The New York Times, Over the course of his first three missionschronicled in And, of course, there was that time he was infected with the plague. Just writing this list makes me wince a little bit, too. You see, John is real to meand, based on the e-mail I receive, to lots of readers, too. Unlike a typical action hero, hes not a human Etch-a-Sketch. He cant shake himself clean, forget everything hes seen and done, and wake up ready for his next mission. He has nightmares and fits of depression. Yet he will never give up his roles as protector andunique to Wellsinfiltrator, each of which brings with it specific and intense psychological stresses, and so he has no choice but to soldier on. Put simply, Wells, like many veterans, has posttraumatic stress disorder. The syndrome has gone by different names over the years shell shock, the thousand-yard stare, combat fatigue. Most soldiers dont like talking about it, especially to civilians. And with the help of their families and fellow soldiers, the great majority eventually find a way to put their experiences behind them. But some suffer terribly. The number of suicides in the Army has more than doubled since the Iraq war began, rising from 67 in 2003 to at least 150 in 2009. So in writing my fourth novel, The Midnight House, I wanted to respect the real-world impact that war has on the men and women who fight it. I hear from soldiers and veterans who read these novels, and who see themselves in Wells. I would hate to betray them by turning him into a comic-book character. And I am very conscious of the trauma Wells has accumulated, both physical and psychic. Its just not realistic to bring him to the edge of death over and over and expect him to survive. I also wanted to give him a break from killing, to the extent I could. Not that hes become a pacifist far from it. But, without giving too much away, he is a detective as much as a soldier in this book, and he tries to avoid using force whenever he can. (In Dont worry, though. From start to finish, The Midnight House has plenty of excitement, and the early reviews have been great. Kirkus Reviews called the novel a superbly crafted spy thriller that doubles as a gripping mystery, and Publishers Weekly said it is exceptional and compelling. I hope youll agree. And I hope that when youre done reading, youll remember that although John Wells is only as real as the pages (or screens) of these novels, the valor and sacrifice that he represents is alive every day in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and in the homes of soldiers and veterans across America. --Alex Berenson (Photo of Alex Berenson Sigrid Estrada) From Publishers WeeklyAfter saving New York City in 2009s The Silent Man, CIA agent John Wells, the hero of bestseller Berensons exceptional espionage series, retreats to rural New Hampshire in his compelling fourth outing. He hikes and thinks, accompanied only by his dog, Tonka, but soon enough, John hears from Ellis Shafer, his sort-of boss at the agency, who calls him back to Washington, D.C., for a new assignment. An unknown assassin is targeting members of Task Force 673, a now-disbanded secret unit whose job was interrogating terrorists, in particular high-value detainees, by any necessary means. Five of the 10-person squad are missing or dead, with the rest in mortal danger. In his pursuit of the killer, John encounters all manner of political intrigue, including convoluted plots set in motion by agency chiefs vying for control of Americas security apparatus, who rely on low-level field spies to carry out their various and bloody plans. (Feb.) Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.

Author: Mark Deymaz File Type: pdf Through personal stories, proven experience and a thorough analysis of the biblical text, Building a Healthy Multi-ethnic Church illustrates both the biblical mandate for the multi-ethnic church as well as the seven core commitments required to bring it about. Mark DeYmaz, pastor of one of the most proven multi-ethnic churches in the country, writes both from his experience and his extensive study of how to plant, grow, and encourage more ethnically diverse churches. He argues that the homogenous unit principle will soon become irrelevant and that the most effective way to spread the Gospel in an increasingly diverse world is through strong and vital multi-ethnic churches.(Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series)

Author: Irene McMullin File Type: pdf This innovative volume argues that flourishing is achieved when individuals successfully balance their responsiveness to three kinds of normative claim self-fulfilment, moral responsibility, and intersubjective answerability. Applying underutilised resources in existential phenomenology, Irene McMullin reconceives practical reason, addresses traditional problems in virtue ethics, and analyses four virtues justice, patience, modesty, and courage. Her central argument is that there is an irreducible normative plurality arising from the different practical perspectives we can adopt - the first-, second-, and third-person stances - which each present us with different kinds of normative claim. Flourishing is human excellence within each of these normative domains, achieved in such a way that success in one does not compromise success in another. The individual virtues are solutions to specific existential challenges we face in attempting to do so. This book will be important for anyone working in the fields of moral theory, existential phenomenology, and virtue ethics. **Book Description This innovative volume argues that flourishing (eudaimonia) is achieved by individuals successfully balancing their responsiveness to three different normative claims self-fulfilment, moral responsibility, and answerability to intersubjective standards. It will interest those working in morality, existential phenomenology, and virtue ethics. About the Author Irene McMullin is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Essex. She is the author of Time and the Shared World (2013) as well as of numerous articles in journals including Philosophical Review, European Journal of Philosophy, Kantian Review, and Philosophical Topics.

Author: Rolf Steininger File Type: pdf For over a century, the Middle East has weathered seemingly endless conflicts, ensnaring political players from around the world. And perhaps no nation has displayed a greater range of policies toward, and experiences in, the region than Germany, as this short and accessible volume demonstrates. Beginning with Kaiser Wilhelms intermittent support for Zionism, it follows the course of German-Mideast relations through two world wars and the rise of Adolf Hitler. As Steininger shows, the crimes of the Third Reich have inevitably shaped postwar German Mideast policy, with Germany emerging as one of Israels staunchest supporters while continuing to navigate the regions complex international, religious, and energy politics. **