You know him as the rotund merry-maker in the red suit. But set aside the childhood myth. In this portrait, you’ll encounter the true St. Nicholas, a figure revered for his astonishing miracles and a humility that redirected all attention to God’s glory. You’ll be amazed to find St. Nicholas always turning up at just the right time—rescuing sailors from the certain death of a violent sea, saving three young women from a life of prostitution, and guarding an infant from the burns of a boiling bath. A tireless defender of God’s truth and His people, St. Nicholas’s wonderful and mysterious deeds illustrate, time and again, a heart for the weak, the poor, and the endangered—truly “the patron saint of practically everybody” and one of the most fascinating figures in all of Christian history. We learn about life through the lives of others. Their experiences, their trials, their adventures become our schools, our chapels, our playgrounds. Christian Encounters, a series of biographies from Thomas Nelson Publishers, highlights important lives from all ages and areas of the Church through prose as accessible and concise as it is personal and engaging. Some are familiar faces. Others are unexpected guests. Whether the person is D.L. Moody, Sergeant York, Saint Nicholas, John Bunyan, or William F. Buckley, we are now living in the world that they created and understand both it and ourselves better in the light of their lives. Their relationships, struggles, prayers, and desires uniquely illuminate our shared experience.

True stories of people who endured the shock and trauma of war—and whose spirits triumphed. A priest in the infamous Bataan Death March who kept others alive with his faithful recitation of the Lord’s Prayer The journey to faith by a skeptical B-17 copilot lost at sea A young American widow caught in the “Dresden Inferno” who survived the firestorm with her three children The lesson of post-war forgiveness learned by a British soldier tortured by the Japanese A rowdy Arizona cowboy who achieved World War I flying ace status in a matter of weeks and many more Soldier Stories’ true, soul-stirring accounts of those who have risen to the challenge of unimaginable circumstances will inspire you—no matter what obstacles you may face.

The magic of life with a cat! They keep us company, provide unconditional love, share in the ups and downs of our lives, and make every day an adventure. How do cats do it? They brighten our days, act as our therapists, and become our best friends—without saying one word. They’re frequently hilarious, often heroic, and surprisingly human. And we learn so much from them, too. You’ll find yourself laughing a lot, tearing up at times, and nodding your head in recognition as you read these tales, chosen from Chicken Soup for the Soul’s library, about the magical experience of sharing life with a cat. From comical to courageous, mischievous to miraculous, and everything in between, you’ll enjoy a wide variety of entertaining stories in these ten chapters: • Meant to Be • Miracles Happen • My Very Good, Very Bad Cat • Who Rescued Whom? • What I Learned from the Cat • We Are Family • Natural Therapists • Canine Friends • A Cat’s Purpose • Over the Rainbow And your purchase of this book will help support the important work of American Humane, creating a better life for cats everywhere. Chicken Soup for the Soul books are 100% made in the USA and each book includes stories from as diverse a group of writers as possible. Chicken Soup for the Soul solicits and publishes stories from the LGBTQ community and from people of all ethnicities, nationalities, and religions.

To celebrate 90 years of publishing “reads of lasting interest,” Reader’s Digest offers this editors’ selection of our best stories since our founding in 1922. Chock-full of essays and true tales by some of America’s most famous authors and thought leaders, these great reads inspire and uplift, open the door to new possibilities and connect us emotionally. In this volume, readers will be inspired by stories like these: Author James Michener recounts the mysterious present from a neighbor that changed the course of his life Playwright Neil Simon witnesses his mother experience a moment of pure happiness Pulitzer prize winner Alex Haley shares why he broke down in tears when he first visited the offices of a famous newspaper Former President Dwight Eisenhower urges all American students to complete their college education Novelist Susan Shreve recalls the fierce love that motivated her mother to reach out to the famous shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo for help Organized around timeless American values—joy, miracles, giving, gratitude, holidays and healing—readers will laugh, cry, cheer, sigh and renew their faith as they enjoy the powerful impact of a well-told story.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Cats will delight readers with its heartwarming, amusing, inspirational, and occasionally tearful stories about our best friends and faithful companions -- our cats. We are all crazy about our mysterious cats. Sometimes they are our best friends; sometimes they are aloof. They are fun to watch and often surprise us. These true stories, the best from Chicken Soup for the Soul’s library, will make readers appreciate their own cats and see them with a new eye.