In Reaching Beyond, Buddhist thinker and activist Daisaku Ikeda explores the origins, development,and international influence of jazz with legendary artists Herbie Hancockand Wayne Shorter.Reflecting on their lives and careers, Mr. Hancock and Mr. Shorter sharethe lessons they have learned from their musical mentors, including MilesDavis and Art Blakey, and how the Buddhist philosophy they’ve learnedfrom President Ikeda over the past forty years deeply resonates with theemancipatory spirit of jazz.These wide-ranging conversations include such thought-provoking topics as:• Music’s mission for peace in a time of discord• The importance of the artist’s spiritual growth• The Buddhist concept of changing poison into medicine• Ways to make the “ideal America” a reality for everyoneReaching Beyond offers positive new ideasfor musicians and nonmusicians alike.

If white Americans could reveal what they really think about race, without the risk of appearing racist, what would they say? In this elegantly written and innovative book, Paul Sniderman and Edward Carmines illuminate aspects of white Americans' thinking about the politics of race previously hidden from sight. And in a thoughtful follow-up analysis, they point the way toward public policies that could gain wide support and reduce the gap between black and white Americans. Their discoveries will surprise pollsters and policymakers alike. The authors show that prejudice, although by no means gone, has lost its power to dominate the political thinking of white Americans. Concentrating on the new race-conscious agenda, they introduce a method of hidden measurement which reveals that liberals are just as angry over affirmative action as conservatives and that racial prejudice, while more common among conservatives, is more powerful in shaping the political thinking of liberals. They also find that the good will many whites express for blacks is not feigned but represents a genuine regard for blacks, which they will stand by even when given a perfectly acceptable excuse to respond negatively to blacks. More crucially, Sniderman and Carmines show that the current impasse over race can be overcome if we remember what we once knew. The strongest arguments in behalf of equality for black Americans reach beyond race to the moral principles that give the issue of race itself a moral claim on us.

A conspiracy of the greatest proportions, threatening to destroy mankind... Murder on an international space vessel... Plundering the riches of an African nation... The first Court of Outer Space... Has the treachery so common on Earth found a new home in space? These seemingly unrelated events weave themselves into a mystery that encompasses every continent of Earth and the far reaches of outer space. The United States stands on the brink of its greatest conquest yet, the arrival of a crew on Mars and the exploration of the Red Planet. But powerful forces are at work to stop the West from reaching beyond. The extent to which these forces will go to stop the conquest of Mars is unimaginable and unforeseeable, that is, to everyone but a small tribe of Gypsies in Europe. RebeccasReads highly recommends REACHING BEYOND as a wonderous galectic story filled with suspense, deception & murder on an international space station & scale! REACHING BEYOND is a trendsetter in the contemporary legal thriller genre. Rebecca Brown

“Powerful and complex . . . [Karin] Slaughter gradually unspools her fascinating story, all the way up to its shocking conclusion.”—Chicago Sun-Times In a small Georgia town, Detective Lena Adams is accused of a vicious murder. A hundred miles away, Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver learns that his young detective has been arrested. And Jeffrey’s wife, pediatrician and medical examiner Sara Linton, fighting a heartbreaking malpractice suit, is thrust into the center of a bizarre and murderous case. For Lena has fled to the place where she grew up, careening back through the shadows of her past. Now only Jeffrey and Sara can free Lena from the web of lies that has trapped her—as this powerful novel races toward its shattering climax and a final, unforgettable twist. Praise for Karin Slaughter and Beyond Reach “Will leave you breathless.”—USA Today “Slaughter writes with a razor.”—The Plain Dealer “Slaughter will have you on the edge of your seat.”—Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Throughout recorded history mankind has attempted to define perfection. This always has been a most perplexing task, almost as difficult as attaining perfection once the term has been defined. One of the most vexing problems facing the perfectionist has been how to elevate themselves above matter, especially the body, in order to emulate their god-model. Reaching Beyond: Chapters in the History of Perfectionism highlights the concept of perfection in primitive man, in both Old and New Testaments, and in a variety of perfectionist individuals and movements throughout Christian history, including the Montanists, the Medieval Apocalyptist, Joachim of Fiore; the rationalist, Thomas Aquinas; a leading Eastern Orthodox mystic, St. Symeon the New Theologian; Calvin and his followers; early modern Puritans and later primitivists; and the Pentecostals, who strive for both purity and preparation. In short, this book is a study of the human perfectionist impulse and its motivations. In certain cases, perfectionism is a reaction against limitation, inadequacy, incompleteness and evil-a rejection of comfortable, popular religion. In other instances, perfectionism is a more positive effort, a striving after holiness or knowledge, a preparation for the parousia or a quest for a return to primitive religious roots.

If You Thought You Needed Vision, Would You Ask God For It? Exhausted by her role in the dramatic rescue of Kayla Henderson, Samantha McGregor is ready for a vacation from her God-given visions. But when Sam gets her wish and the visions actually go on hiatus, she’s beginning to wonder if she’s lost her spiritual gift forever. To make matters worse, her police friend Ebony needs her help! Peter Clark has been dead for several years, an open-and-shut case of suicide, but Ebony’s not convinced. Why would he do it? And why does Ebony suspect foul play? Sam has been no help in the investigation, and just when she’s lost all hope, God gives her a vision of a guy jumping from a railroad bridge. Suddenly the floodgates open and all of Sam’s visions involve suicide. Who is this guy? And what does this have to do with Peter’s death? It’s a race against the clock as Sam worries about every brown-haired guy she meets: her lab partner, Olivia’s rocker friend, Peter’s little brother–they all fit the description! Whoever the guy in her vision is, his identity is just beyond Sam’s reach, and he’s definitely losing his grip fast…Trusting God will lead her, Sam’s determined to send a message of hope and find him before he gives up.

Set in an uncertain future where Earths environmental problems and dwindling natural resources are producing ongoing catastrophic disasters, space, and what lies out there, is a compelling option for the future survival of mankind. The promise of a better life amongst the stars is the lure that could not only lead to salvation, but will take humans to the brink of establishing an impressive galactic empire. However, on beginning the initial stages of colonisation of Tau Ceti, the possibility of first contact with an intelligent, yet dangerously hostile species presents itself. As humans and the new species plunge headlong towards an interstellar war, a new menace is emerging from within. It is a peril that not only threatens technological and exploratory progress, but could push mankind to the point of extinction. Mat Kemel, a techno-scientist, seems to be the only one to understand what lies ahead, but could he provide the answers to the mounting problems that may destroy millions and ultimately, engulf life itself?