Alvin is peerless when it comes to painting American scenes of extremes, where people are either leaving town or promising never to leave again. Haunting, spellbinding in intensity and sobriety. --L.A. Weekly.

In a tour de force of historical reportage, Timothy Egan’s National Book Award–winning story rescues an iconic chapter of American history from the shadows. The dust storms that terrorized the High Plains in the darkest years of the Depression were like nothing ever seen before or since. Following a dozen families and their communities through the rise and fall of the region, Timothy Egan tells of their desperate attempts to carry on through blinding black dust blizzards, crop failure, and the death of loved ones. Brilliantly capturing the terrifying drama of catastrophe, he does equal justice to the human characters who become his heroes, “the stoic, long-suffering men and women whose lives he opens up with urgency and respect” (New York Times). In an era that promises ever-greater natural disasters, The Worst Hard Time is “arguably the best nonfiction book yet” (Austin Statesman Journal) on the greatest environmental disaster ever to be visited upon our land and a powerful reminder about the dangers of trifling with nature. This e-book includes a sample chapter of THE IMMORTAL IRISHMAN.

In a time of uncertainty and devastation--from pandemics to environmental catastrophe--a call to action for finding beauty, creating art, and healing in community. When a beloved place is decimated by physical damage, many may hit the donate button or call their congressperson. But award-winning author Trebbe Johnson argues that we need new methods for coping with these losses and invites readers to reconsider what constitutes “worthwhile action.” She discusses real wounded places ranging from weapons-testing grounds at Eglin Air Force Base, to Appalachian mountain tops destroyed by mining. These stories, along with tools for community engagement—ceremony, vigil, apology, and the creation of art with on-site materials—show us how we can find beauty in these places and discover new sources of meaning and community.

“In this crazy world where survival is all that matters, we come face to face with the new leader of our troubled neighbors, and let me tell you, things get real tense, fast. Garrett and I, we're holding our rifles tight, eyeing them skeptically when they show up. Dad’s not having it with this guy’s friendly overtures and I’m not sure what to believe. Darius, their new leader, and Zane, his right-hand man, they're calm and without weapons. They're talking about food, which hits close to home. I tell them how we've been dealing with the predators, trying to sound confident. But truthfully, we haven’t seen one in a long time. I try to keep my cool as they size us up, trying to figure out who we are in this ragtag settlement. The vibe shifts again, as they spill their own story – searching for a new place to call home, hoping Coeur d’Alene is it. They sound friendly, but you can never be too sure in these times. As we dig deeper, the truth unravels – Darius and Zane's hunt for a fresh start. It's a wild mix of hope and uncertainty. But just when things seem settled, a curveball hits, that messes with our newfound harmony. Zane brings up Paisley, his missing daughter, and that’s when things take a dark turn. Memories and emotions start stirring, and the air gets heavy with tension. Doubt creeps in, and I'm itching to untangle the mess and get to the bottom of what's really going on because there’s no way I’m letting this guy near Paisley.”

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This inspiring guide to healing and growth illuminates the richness and potential of every life, even in the face of loss and adversity—now updated with additional toolbox materials and a new preface by the author In the more than twenty-five years since she co-founded Omega Institute—now the world’s largest center for spiritual retreat and personal growth—Elizabeth Lesser has been an intimate witness to the ways in which people weather change and transition. In a beautifully crafted blend of moving stories, humorous insights, practical guidance, and personal memoir, she offers tools to help us make the choice we all face in times of challenge: Will we be broken down and defeated, or broken open and transformed? Lesser shares tales of ordinary people who have risen from the ashes of illness, divorce, loss of a job or a loved one—stronger, wiser, and more in touch with their purpose and passion. And she draws on the world’s great spiritual and psychological traditions to support us as we too learn to break open and blossom into who we were meant to be.

The stories in this book were written to encourage, inspire, and motivate the readers to be strong in their faith when life's challenging times arise in their lives. It is without question that your faith will be tested, but you must understand that God can speak through situations and circumstances that occur in daily living.