Short fiction is easy to read, and a perfect way to use a short period of time. This book of short stories, poems and essays will amuse you, and touch your heart. In it, you will meet a child trying to swap his pet turtle for a grandfather, a grandfather dealing with a chatty, potty-mouthed granddaughter, a woman dealing with her husband's ghost and another arranging a husband's murder. There are poems about being a writer, and one about a dinner guest who won't shut up. There is a poem and a short story about a beloved dog and one about Howdy Doody's wife (you didn't know he had one did you?) There are poems about sleeplessness, an essay on banding owls and how to feel good about writing. There are stories about Christmas misery and redemption and a revered Holy tortilla. This book is full of variety and is sure to keep you amused on a long flight or while you are waiting at the dentist. You are sure to enjoy this one

The title of this book is a misnomer. It is not an attempt to get anyone to shut up, but rather to provoke a discussion. This book is intended to be a warning about the philosophy of "Christian postmodernism." The reader will learn some basic principles that can be used to engage their arguments. Part 1 is a response to some of the recent writings by Frank Schaeffer, the son of the late Francis Schaeffer. This was originally written as a defense against Frank's attacks on pro-life street activism - a movement that his father helped bring into being through his books. Part 2 is a response to Colonel Doner and his book, Christian Jihad: Neo-Fundamentalists and the Polarization of America. There are thousands who have had their lives impacted in a powerful way by the elder Francis Schaeffer. As a new generation is emerging, it is important to recognize the mistakes that Christian activists have made in the past even while holding to a vision for the future.

The first collection of stories from “one of the great short story writers of our time” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) breathed new life into the American short story, showing us the humor and tragedy that dwell in the hearts of ordinary people. "[Carver's stories] can ... be counted among the masterpieces of American Literature." —The New York Times Book Review "One of the great short story writers of our time—of any time." —The Philadelhpia Inquirer "The whole collection is a knock out. Few writers can match Raymond Carver's entwining style and language." —The Dallas Morning News

The #1 New York Times Bestseller: “A hilarious take on that age-old problem: getting the beloved child to go to sleep” (NPR). “Hell no, you can’t go to the bathroom. You know where you can go? The f**k to sleep.” Go the Fuck to Sleep is a book for parents who live in the real world, where a few snoozing kitties and cutesy rhymes don’t always send a toddler sailing blissfully off to dreamland. Profane, affectionate, and radically honest, it captures the familiar—and unspoken—tribulations of putting your little angel down for the night. Read by a host of celebrities, from Samuel L. Jackson to Jennifer Garner, this subversively funny bestselling storybook will not actually put your kids to sleep, but it will leave you laughing so hard you won’t care.

Explores the relationship between college students as friends and competitors.