Want a true balm for the soul? My Travels with Wagner tells the story of how author Chris McQuaid’s journey took him from young Irish soldier suffering from PTSD, to the finest opera houses in Europe and a passion for the music of Richard Wagner. The 19th-century composer produced dramatic operas and musical works that greatly influenced the course of Western music. “I was a lover of Wagner’s music long before I came to Ireland and listened for hours on the floor of my brother’s flat in Putney, in the early 1950s. Soon afterwards I went to Bayreuth – and went on going. When I came to Ireland, I joined the Wagner Society and met Ireland's supreme Wagnerian, Chris McQuaid. I left the society when he did, in deep sympathy, and sharing his unparalleled love and knowledge. It is reflected, over again, in this book, rich in passionate concern for Richard Wagner and his unique place in Music.” – Bruce Arnold, author and journalist

At eighteen, Paula is already a seasoned traveler, having begun life in England, crisscrossed the US as a young child, and survived a year in a London boarding school, immersed in her mother’s heritage. But when, at eighteen, she leaves home for Israel to explore her father’s Jewish roots and learn Hebrew on a kibbutz ulpan (a work/study program on a collective farm), her quest will change her life forever. Seduced by her love of language, she continues the journey to France for several years before returning at last to settle to Israel. As she navigates her odyssey from vision to reality, she will learn much more than two new languages—and realize that if she is ever to forge her own identity, she must also separate from her twin sister and follow her own path.

A practical, step-by-step guide to help men know themselves deeply, root out weaknesses, enhance strengths, and upgrade their experience of life So many self-help books encourage men to get in touch with their feminine side if they truly want to embrace change. This book blows this theory out of the water, enabling men to transform themselves entirely—to find their mission; to live a life of strength, wisdom, and honor—while working with their positive masculinity instead of against it. Straight talking, down-to-earth, and humorous life coach David Wagner addresses the challenges that modern men typically face. He asks the reader to join him in a series of profound self-examination exercises and questions covering life purpose, male identity, spirituality, self-limitation, sexuality, relationships, fatherhood, and more. Every chapter offers practical advice and also includes observations and examples from David's own life as well as insights gained from the many clients and men's groups he has worked with over the years. Combining no-nonsense wisdom with brutally honest exercises, Backbone is the ultimate man's handbook to understanding himself, his purpose, his passion, and his power.

Life Can Be Hard. Dream Anyway! Get inspired to engage in life’s greatest quest: discovering and reaching God’s purpose and dreams for your life. You’ll be empowered, equipped, and freed to give life to your dreams and to live with joy and expectation for an adventurous future. Why Are You Really Here? This question reveals the deepest longing of the human heart—a desire for meaning and significance. We recognize that we are on this earth for a purpose. Discovering that purpose is our life’s work and the key to unlocking our greatest dreams. With contagious passion and humor, Philip Wagner blends biblical truths and real-world insights to invite you to: * Reach beyond the ordinary to find the extraordinary gifts God has given you * Disentangle yourself from lesser goals and embrace a God-size dream * Navigate inevitable setbacks, disappointments, and distractions * Build the ultimate team to energize your dreams with support and encouragement * Discover your true calling and forge a unique path to an adventurous life Whether you’re a student, a parent, or a professional—no matter your background or your life’s current season—it’s never too early or too late to uncover your God-given purpose and move boldly in the direction of your dreams!

The greatest creators in human history -- from Mozart to Meryl Streep, Jackson Pollock to Jay-Z -- don't just have talent -- they also understand their motivations for pursuing art. What's Your Creative Type? helps artists do the same in a fun and witty way. Stepping away from the hyper-focus on how people create, What's Your Creative Type? instead explores why. By identifying your creative motivation type, you'll be able to find renewed energy, overcome creative blocks, and release the artist within. Drawing from creativity theory and personality typology, each chapter of the book is devoted to a creative type, from the A-Lister seeking recognition to the Activist who wants to change the world. What's Your Creative Type? is peppered with pop-culture studies of famous artists and illustrates each type with entertaining examples from legendary figures. Whether you're a seasoned artist or writer in search of inspiration or simply looking to explore your budding creative talents and motivations, What's Your Creative Type? has fresh and reliable advice and insight for you.

Though his image is tarnished today by unrepentant anti-Semitism, Richard Wagner (1813Ð1883) was better known in the nineteenth century for his provocative musical eroticism. In this illuminating study of the composer and his works, Laurence Dreyfus shows how WagnerÕs obsession with sexuality prefigured the composition of operas such as TannhŠuser, Die WalkŸre, Tristan und Isolde, and Parsifal. Daring to represent erotic stimulation, passionate ecstasy, and the torment of sexual desire, Wagner sparked intense reactions from figures like Baudelaire, Clara Schumann, Nietzsche, and Nordau, whose verbal tributes and censures disclose what was transmitted when music represented sex. Wagner himself saw the cultivation of an erotic high style as central to his art, especially after devising an anti-philosophical response to SchopenhauerÕs Òmetaphysics of sexual love.Ó A reluctant eroticist, Wagner masked his personal compulsion to cross-dress in pink satin and drench himself in rose perfumes while simultaneously incorporating his silk fetish and love of floral scents into his librettos. His affection for dominant females and surprising regard for homosexual love likewise enable some striking portraits in his operas. In the end, WagnerÕs achievement was to have fashioned an oeuvre which explored his sexual yearnings as much as it conveyedÑas never beforeÑhow music could act on erotic impulse.

MY TRAVELS WITH CAPTS. LEWIS AND CLARK BY GEORGE SMITH Kate McMullan and Adrienne Yorinks "Delectable period details, surprising facts, and classic moments keep the story lively. An inspiring journey." – Publishers Weekly (starred review) This fictional journal tells the true story of sixteen–year–old George Shannon's adventures with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, through perilous rock–infested waters, bear attacks, Indian war parties, and a host of other thrilling events. Accompanied by Adrienne Yorinks's illustrations drawn as if sewn by George himself, this is an adventure not to be missed.