Paul Mani
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Dear Zealots: Letters from a Divided Land by Amos Oz Conversation Starters
Amos Oz does not exempt himself from being called a fanatic and proposes that readers embrace the responsibility of facing the fanatic who resides in our own souls. He provides a closer look at Judaism and asks what its essence is. The book is considered by critics as a necessary work that tackles urgent matters addressing the rise of zealotry all over nations worldwide, including...
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The Virtue of Nationalism by Yoram Hazony Conversation Starters
The Virtue of Nationalism is written by one of the leading conservative thinkers in our world today — Yoram Hazony. In his book, he argues that the only realistic guard of liberty in today's world in the nationalist order. He says that nationalism is the real issue of our age. Hazony cites the politics behind Donald Trump's "America First" to the rise of the right in European nations...
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How Bernie Won: Inside the Revolution, That's Taking Back Our Country-and Where We Go from Here by Jeff Weaver: Conversation Starters
Bernie Sanders overcame big challenges and earned the respect and admiration of many when he ran the presidential race. He won the race. He ignited a movement that inspired millions of Americans. His presidential campaign manager explains how the 2016 race showed the conflict that was happening within the Democratic...
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Heads You Win: A Novel by Jeffrey Archer: Conversation Starters
Alexander Karpenko's father is assassinated. He and his mother Elena have to flee Russia and they find themselves at the dock, with two cargo ships in front of them, one leaving for New York and the other is heading to London. Mother and son decide to toss a coin and let fate decide which ship to take. Living parallel lives, Alex and Sasha reestablish themselves in a new country. But...
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Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink Conversation Starters
The common belief that most people have is that the best motivation for anyone is the carrot-and-stick approach of offering rewards like money. The bestselling author of To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Motivating Others Daniel H. Pink says that this is a big mistake. In his bestselling book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us,...
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Sold on a Monday: A Novel by Kristina McMorris Conversation Starters
In 1931, a mother wrote the sign: Children for Sale on their farmhouse porch. It is her last resort. During this time, this sign could be found anywhere. There were endless bank runs, breadlines, and broken dreams. The sign meant that the mother faced impossible choices between her children and their welfare. Ellis Reed was a struggling reporter during this time. When she saw this...
7) Summary of Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living
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Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist: Conversation Starters
A collection of essays revealing Shauna Niequist's deeply moving reflections on very personal issues like motherhood, faith, and marriage, she says these are her sources of support and purpose. But they also become causes of stress and anxiety. She thinks being able to balance these two aspects of her life is a good way...
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DIRTY, LAZY, KETO: Getting Started: How I Lost 140 Pounds by Stephanie Laska: Conversation Starters
Stephanie Laska was a size 26 and weighed almost 300 pounds. Classified as obese III on the BMI scale, she couldn't find clothes that have her size. Seatbelts didn't fit her either. Her diets didn't work and was about to give up dieting altogether when she came across the keto diet. "In my opinion, there are way too many rules and expectations about...
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Kushner, Inc.: Greed. Ambition. Corruption. The Extraordinary Story of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump by Vicky Ward: Conversation Starters
Jared and Ivanka made many forays into national security and policy-making which is unthinkable in policy protocol. Their actions show their agenda which is to increase their wealth and no one has raised any precautions against their actions, according to journalist Vicky Ward. The author unveils the motivations...
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Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.by Brené Brown Conversation Starters
It is ironic that society is not investing in the development of hearts and minds of leaders while people are trying to figure out what people can do that machines and artificial intelligence cannot. Brene Brown says human beings have the skills that robots don't have and these are empathy, courage, and connection. How can leaders become more daring...
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Lincoln's Last Trial: The Murder Case That Propelled Him to the Presidency by Dan Abrams: Conversation Starters
Abraham Lincoln was the lead defense counsel in the trial State of Illinois vs. Peachy Quinn Harrison. Harrison was accused of murder after stabbing and killing Greek Crafton just outside the town of Springfield. The victim was his trainee in his law office while the accused was the son of a dear friend a political supporter. The trial,...
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Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom: Conversation Starters
Morrie's name in Hebrew means "my teacher." In college, sportswriter Mitch Albom looked up to Morrie as his mentor and promised to stay in touch after graduation. He went on to become a successful journalist, winning awards and recognition along the way. For the second time, as Morrie comes close to dying, he is once again a mentor to Albom,...
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The Corrosion of Conservatism: Why I Left the Right by Max Boot: Conversation Starters
When Trump declared that Mexican immigrants are rapists and that he will be running for president, Max Boot thought he was witnessing America turn into the dystopian story that science fiction wrote about. A historian who has studied the presidencies of respected Republicans like Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Reagan, he couldn't believe how conservatives could support...
14) Summary of The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small C
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The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time by Alex Korb: Conversation Starters
There's nothing wrong with your brain, just like there's nothing wrong with the air in Oklahoma - despite the devastating tornadoes. The depressed person has not damaged goods but the brain is wired differently. It is a result of poor communication between two systems in the brain. A downward spiral is caused by...
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Nine Lives: My time as the MI6's top spy inside al-Qaeda by Aimen Dean Conversation Starters
He is first drawn into religious studies group as a teenager in Saudi Arabia. He soon becomes a member of al-Qaeda and is interviewed by the leader himself, Osama bin Laden himself. In Darunta, he joins the efforts to manufacture of biological and chemical weapons. He meets other top-ranking Islamic militants including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the planner...
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The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created by Jane Leavy: Conversation Starters
The "Symphony of Swat" was a show bigger than other circuses that ever toured the country. Award-winning sports writer Jane Leavy recounts the tour that brought baseball legend Babe Ruth closer to his fans around America. In September 1927, Babe Ruth hit his record-breaking 60th home run and started his three-week barnstorming travels across America. Touring with...
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How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 by Joanna Faber: Conversation Starters
Parents often ask what to do with a kid who won't brush her teeth, who avoids his vegetables, who screams out what she wants. Or how to deal with the kid who goes overeager in exploring the supermarket, who disarranges books in the library, or who treats the baby as a toy doll. Small children are truculent, ferocious, foolhardy,...
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Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans by Ben Shapiro: Conversation Starters
Strategies used by the left to bully conservatives are myriad. They cite race issues, raise issues about class differences, and highlight topics about sexism. They use every possible means to demonize the other side to keep them quiet. Then they act as if such threatening actions are justified because they believe that conservatives are...
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Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown: Busy Readers Conversation Starters
The way of the Essentialist is to do "less but better." Greg McKeown advises readers to constantly pause and ask whether one is investing one's time in the right activities. Learning to know the difference between the trivial and the vital is an important skill of the Essentialist. Essentialism is not about doing more things but doing the right things....
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Family Trust: A Novel by Kathy Wang: Conversation Starters
Stanley Huang will soon die and leave his millions to his two wives and two children. His first wife, Linda, barely got financial support from him. His son Fred is a disappointed middle manager who keeps hoping for a promotion in the investment firm he works for. His daughter Kate has a husband who works for a startup that hasn't started earning yet. Mary, Stanley's second wife, finds it...