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Defender of Faith: The Mike Fisher Story
by Kim WashburnAs a veteran of the National Hockey League, Mike Fisher has a lot to be proud of. He plays for the Nashville Predators, was an alternate captain for the Ottawa Senators, has played in a Stanley Cup final, and has been nominated for the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the league. But it's not just his guts, grits, and talent that have taken him to the top. His power comes from the top---he puts his faith in Christ first and has demonstrated his love for God both on and off the ice.
Defenders of Democracy / Contributions from representative men and women of letters and other arts from our allies and our own country, edited by the Gift book committee of the Militia of Mercy
by Militia of Mercy . Gift Book CommitteeThis beautiful book is the expression of the eager desire of all of the gifted men and women who have contributed to it and of the members of the Militia of mercy to render homage to our sailors, soldiers, nurses and physicians who offer the supreme sacrifice to free the stricken people of other lands and to protect humanity with their bodies from an enemy who has invented the name and created the thing "welt-schmerz"—world anguish.
Defenders of the Faith: The British Monarchy, Religion and the Next Coronation
by Catherine PepinsterIn 1953, millions across Britain and the world were glued to their TV sets, watching the first televised coronation of a British monarch. What they saw was a deeply religious, medieval ritual. Since then Elizabeth II's reign has been profoundly shaped by her Christian faith, expressed in her coronation vows and in her 70 years as Queen, from her role as head of the Church of England, to her annual Christmas broadcasts, her encounters with Popes, Islam and the other religions of 21st Britain and the Commonwealth. Like her husband, Prince Philip, her faith can be described as her 'strength and stay' amid the turmoil of a nation becoming increasingly secular at the same time as her subjects become increasingly more varied in their religious beliefs. But what part will religion play in the reign of Charles III and in the coronation of a Prince of Wales who once pledged to be defender of faith, not just defender of the Christian faith? Is this the moment to junk an ancient ceremony and reinvent the Coronation to appeal to multicultural Britain, especially its young people, or one where the nation embraces tradition and its rich Coronation heritage? Could the coronation become a marketing device for ambitious politicians keen to use it to promote the image they want for Britain? Defenders Of The Faith explores the powerful connection between the British monarchy and religion, from its earliest times, to the Reformation, the Civil War, and the reconfigured wholesome family monarchy of Victoria and her successors, whose Christian faith steered their response to the atheistic regimes of fascism and communism that threatened Europe and their royal relatives.
Defenders of the Norman Crown: Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey
by Sharon Bennett ConnollyA history of one of medieval England’s most powerful families, from its origins in Normandy to its demise during the reign of Edward III.In the reign of Edward I, when asked Quo Warranto—by what warrant he held his lands—John de Warenne, the 6th earl of Surrey, is said to have drawn a rusty sword, claiming “My ancestors came with William the Bastard, and conquered their lands with the sword, and I will defend them with the sword against anyone wishing to seize them.”John’s ancestor, William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, fought for William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. He was rewarded with enough land to make him one of the richest men of all time. In his search for a royal bride, the 2nd earl kidnapped the wife of a fellow baron. The 3rd earl died on crusade, fighting for his royal cousin, Louis VII of France . . . For three centuries, the Warennes were at the heart of English politics at the highest level, until one unhappy marriage brought an end to the dynasty. The family moved in the highest circles, married into royalty and were not immune to scandal.Defenders of the Norman Crown tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, of the successes and failures of one of the most powerful families in England, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III.Praise for Defenders of the Norman Crown“In this book Sharon not only provides the reader with a deep insight into the whole Warenne dynasty, but also opens a window into a turbulent period of English history.” —Aspects of History“A riveting insight into the rise and fall of the most influential family you’d otherwise never have heard of. . . . 5/5.” —HistoriaMag“Sharon Bennett Connolly’s detailed, meticulous research brings together a wealth of sources to give the reader a fascinating view of one of the powerful families on which the Crown depended for centuries. Politics and power, Marriages and mistresses, Lordship and land, Defenders of the Norman Crown has it all. [Connolly] has written a very fine book indeed—I loved it.” —Elizabeth Chadwick, bestselling author of historical fiction“A vivid portrayal of a powerful aristocratic family. . . . A highly readable and well-illustrated survey.” —Michael Jones, author of The Black Prince
Defending Alice: A Novel of Love and Race in the Roaring Twenties
by Richard Stratton“Gripping courtroom drama and social commentary . . . the story flows well . . . [the author is] masterful in building suspense.”—Kirkus ReviewsSet in 1920s New York, an addictively readable, thoroughly entertaining historical novel involving sex and secrets, race and redemption, and power and privilege—based on a sensational real-life case that made international headlines—in which the marriage between a working-class black woman and the scion of one of America’s most powerful white families ends in a scandalous annulment lawsuit.When Alice Jones, a blue-color woman with at least one Black parent marries Leonard “Kip” Rhinelander, the son of one of New York’s most prominent society families, the scandal rocks high society—and eventually sets the city afire when Kip later sues for an annulment, accusing Alice of having hidden her “Negro blood” and intentionally deceiving him that she was white.While New York society in the Roaring Twenties witnessed more than a few scandals, the real-life Rhinelander case set tongues wagging and became perhaps the most examined interracial relationship in American history. In Defending Alice, Richard Stratton reimagines this remarkable story, from the couple’s courtship through their controversial marriage to their shocking divorce trial and its aftermath. Chronicled by Alice’s attorney, brilliant trial lawyer Lee Parsons Davis, and told in flashbacks and entries from Alice and Kip’s fictional personal diaries, this epic page-turner vividly brings to life the New York of a century ago—a world seemingly far removed yet tragically familiar to our own.Stratton brilliantly evokes this dazzling era in all its glamour and excess, and in retelling the Rhinelander story, explores issues of sex, race, class, prejudice, and justice that are as relevant today as they were a century ago when this headline-making trial took place.
Defending Baltimore Against Enemy Attack
by Charles Osgood1942. the nation is reeling from the first blows of World War II, nine-year-old Charlie spends his days planting victory gardens, collecting scrap metal, going to ball games and goofing around.
Defending Baltimore Against Enemy Attack: A Boyhood Year During World War II
by Charles OsgoodFrom beloved broadcaster Charles Osgood, a poignant memoir about one unforgettable childhood year during World War II. Defending Baltimore Against Enemy Attack is a gloriously funny and nostalgic slice of American life and a moving look at World War II from the perspective of a child far away from the fighting, but very conscious of the reverberations. With a sharp eye for details, Osgood captures the texture of life in a bygone era.
Defending Crete from the Fallschirmjagers: Memoirs of a Royal Engineer & POW
by Andrew G. Taylor Jack SeedBy the spring of 1941, the enemy had taken much of Southern Europe: Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, and with Italy in the Axis it stood to dominate. The powerful British Naval Fleet and the amassed allied infantry of Britain, New Zealand, Australia, disposed Greeks, and the good people of Crete stood between the Axis powers and total control of the Mediterranean. This is the story of a soldier involved in the defense of Crete. The Luftwaffe commanded the air with their Stuka, Junkers and the formidable German Paratroopers: the Fallschirmjäger. It begins with Jack Seed’s part, as a Royal Engineer, in the Balkan Campaign of 1941. Starting with an account of the defense of Crete, it tells of the retreat from an overpowering enemy and of a determined survival until the victorious moments of the war’s end. Along with his comrades, Jack was taken prisoner of war and moved from Stalag to Stalag in railway trucks, enduring terrible hardships at the hands of his German captors for four years. With barely enough food to keep body and soul together, he and his fellow captives were sent out in gangs to work, often in perishingly cold conditions. They devised ways of getting extra food, but their schemes were often discovered by the German guards. They burnt the wood from their bunks in order to keep warm at night. They grew weak and weary and wondered how much more hardship they could stand. But finally, Hitler was dead, Germany had surrendered and the war was over. Within days, Jack was bound for home, flying over the white cliffs of Dover. He had survived. Jack Seed wrote his Second World War memoir during the 1970s, typing two copies for posterity on a mechanical typewriter. Like many with such experiences, his writing was not for any notion of reward, but to formalise his own lasting experience of the Second World War. Now, almost eighty years later, that story is shared.
Defending A Serial Killer: The Right To Counsel
by Jim PottsThe Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States guarantee the right against self-incrimination, the right to remain silent, and the right to counsel.A crime wave swept California in the late 1970s. Several young girls were abducted, raped, and murdered. Michael Dee Mattson was convicted of these crimes and sentenced to death.Law clerk by day, family man by night.In 1982, Jim Potts—a brilliant, idealistic, African American law student—is honored when one of his professors recruits him to assist in writing a death penalty appeal on behalf of a serial killer.Potts discovers a loophole in the case that had somehow been overlooked. One that could not only get Mattson off death row, but once presented to the Supreme Court of California, could release him to rape and murder again. When Potts confides in his pregnant wife, she says if Mattson goes free, their marriage is over. But if Potts quits the case, or withholds information, he violates his duty to client and Constitution and risks his career before it even begins.A moral dilemma with no good way out.To avoid losing his family and releasing pure evil back into the world, Potts must be smarter than his options. He must find a way to keep his family together, fulfill his duties, and keep Mattson behind bars.But can he?
Defending the Line: The David Luiz Story (ZonderKidz Biography)
by Alex Carpenter<P>"Everything in life belongs to God. Our purpose has already been mapped out." <br>—David Luiz <P>One of the rising stars in international soccer, David Luiz has been impressing crowds since he was a boy. But it is his faith, not his fame, that drives him to greater success and keeps him “defending the goal.” <P>David made his debut in professional soccer as a left fullback when he was just 19. He was then picked up by Portugal’s Benfica team and named player of the year for the 2009-2010 season. As a star defender and vice-captain for the Brazilian National team, David shines both on and off the field, inspiring athletes around the world with his incredible soccer skills and his unwavering faith. <P>David currently plays for England’s Chelsea Football Club, one of the premier club teams in the world, and he is expected to play for Brazil in the 2014 World Cup.
Defending the Public's Enemy: The Life and Legacy of Ramsey Clark
by Lonnie T. BrownWhat led a former United States Attorney General to become one of the world's most notorious defenders of the despised? Defending the Public's Enemy examines Clark's enigmatic life and career in a quest to answer this perplexing question. The culmination of ten years of research and interviews, Lonnie T. Brown, Jr. explores how Clark evolved from our government's chief lawyer to a strident advocate for some of America's most vilified enemies. Clark's early career was enmeshed with seminally important people and events of the 1960s: Martin Luther King, Jr., Watts Riots, Selma-to-Montgomery March, Black Panthers, Vietnam. As a government insider, he worked to secure the civil rights of black Americans, resisting persistent, racist calls for more law and order. However, upon entering the private sector, Clark seemingly changed, morphing into the government's adversary by aligning with a mystifying array of demonized clients—among them, alleged terrorists, reputed Nazi war criminals, and brutal dictators, including Saddam Hussein. Is Clark a man of character and integrity, committed to ensuring his government's adherence to the ideals of justice and fairness, or is he a professional antagonist, anti-American and reflexively contrarian to the core? The provocative life chronicled in Defending the Public's Enemy is emblematic of the contradictions at the heart of American political history, and society's ambivalent relationship with dissenters and outliers, as well as those who defend them.
Defending the Spirit: A Black Life in America
by Randall RobinsonRandall Robinson's Defending The Spirit is a personal account of his rise from poverty in the segregated south to a position as one of the most distinguished and outspoken political activists of our time. In 1977, Robinson founded TransAfrica, the first organization to lobby for the interests of African and Caribbean peoples. TransAfrica was instrumental in the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in South Africa and the reinstatement of President Aristide in Haiti. Robinson's thoughtful and provocative memoir paints a vivid picture of racism in the hallowed halls of Harvard, where he went to law school, as well as the corridors of power in Washington, D. C. He also recounts in fascinating detail his trips to troubled African and Caribbean nations; more than anyone else, he has raised awareness of the problems in those countries. Defending The Spirit also gives a devastating commentary on America's foreign policy endeavors in African and Caribbean nations, and an impassioned call to African-Americans for new leadership and activism to fight racism all over the world. .
Defending the Spirit
by Randall RobinsonRandall Robinson's Defending The Spirit is a personal account of his rise from poverty in the segregated south to a position as one of the most distinguished and outspoken political activists of our time. In 1977, Robinson founded TransAfrica, the first organization to lobby for the interests of African and Caribbean peoples. TransAfrica was instrumental in the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in South Africa and the reinstatement of President Aristide in Haiti. Robinson's thoughtful and provocative memoir paints a vivid picture of racism in the hallowed halls of Harvard, where he went to law school, as well as the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. He also recounts in fascinating detail his trips to troubled African and Caribbean nations; more than anyone else, he has raised awareness of the problems in those countries. Defending The Spirit also gives a devastating commentary on America's foreign policy endeavors in African and Caribbean nations, and an impassioned call to African-Americans for new leadership and activism to fight racism all over the world.
The Defense Lawyer: The Barry Slotnick Story
by James Patterson Benjamin WallaceFor more than a decade, Barry Slotnick never lost a case—no matter how notorious or dangerous his clients. Everyone deserves the best defense. Known for his sharp mind, sharp suits, and bold courtroom strategies, Bronx-native Barry Slotnick is known as the best criminal lawyer in the US. He calls himself &“Liberty&’s Last Champion.&” Slotnick mediates Bette Midler&’s bathhouse contract and represents John Gotti, &“The Dapper Don.&” He defends &“Subway Shooter&” Bernie Goetz and negotiates future First Lady Melania Trump&’s pre-nup. His unparalleled legal brilliance defines a profession, a city—and an era.
Defiance: Rescuing the Self After Soul Murder
by Janet AbramsonIn Defiance, delve into the profound journey of overcoming generationally transmitted trauma. Witness how, with the right blend of therapy and education, a child subjected to profound distress can evolve and rise as a Woman of Valor. This book underscores the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of healing.
Defiance: Racial Injustice, Police Brutality, A Sister's Fight for the Truth
by Janet Alder Dan Glazebrook'This is a story - among many others - of justice denied. Fighting this battle over the past quarter of a century has been a lesson in collusion, cover-up and all the sophisticated - as well as the crude - methods employed by different parts of the British state to maintain the status quo, protect itself and those in its employ and evade justice . . . This book is my attempt to bring some kind of accountability, simply by telling the truth.'The police killing of Christopher Alder was one of the most notorious deaths in custody in the UK, involving the destruction of evidence, a whitewash of an investigation and illegal surveillance. Christopher's sister Janet has been relentlessly fighting for justice for decades, and fearlessly holds the UK's state institutions to account in this extraordinary book.This book is a probing expose of what went on, based on exhaustive documentary evidence, as well as the personal story of Janet's fight to uncover the truth.
Defiance: Racial Injustice, Police Brutality, A Sister's Fight for the Truth
by Janet Alder Dan Glazebrook'This is a story - among many others - of justice denied. Fighting this battle over the past quarter of a century has been a lesson in collusion, cover-up and all the sophisticated - as well as the crude - methods employed by different parts of the British state to maintain the status quo, protect itself and those in its employ and evade justice . . . This book is my attempt to bring some kind of accountability, simply by telling the truth.'The police killing of Christopher Alder was one of the most notorious deaths in custody in the UK, involving the destruction of evidence, a whitewash of an investigation and illegal surveillance. Christopher's sister Janet has been relentlessly fighting for justice for decades, and fearlessly holds the UK's state institutions to account in this extraordinary book.This book is a probing expose of what went on, based on exhaustive documentary evidence, as well as the personal story of Janet's fight to uncover the truth.
Defiance!: Withstanding the Kaiserschlacht (Eyewitnesses from The Great War)
by G.H.F. NicholsGeorge Nichols was an artillery officer serving with the 82nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He was wounded in 1917, and returned to the guns in March 1918, just in time to experience the fury of the Kaiserschlacht, the great German offensive designed to knock the British army out of the war.Nichols wrote a powerful account of the Kaiser's last great offensive battle from inside the eye of the storm, and it is one of the few primary source accounts which are told from the often overlooked perspective of the British artillerymen. Nichols, with wonderful British reserve, records how the men of the Royal Field Artillery steadfastly manned their guns. Nichols survived the onslaught and in 1919, was able to produce a full account of both the retreat and the British counter-attack which won back the lost ground.First published in 1919, while censorship was still in force, this wonderful primary source has long been out of print and it's welcome return makes for essential reading for anyone with an interest in the Great War.
Defiance: The Extraordinary Life Of Lady Anne Barnard
by Stephen TaylorThe first major biography of eighteenth-century writer and socialite Lady Anne Barnard. Born in Scotland in 1750, Lady Anne Barnard lived at the heart of Georgian society. She wrote one of the most popular ballads of her day, captivated Sir Walter Scott with her poetry, rubbed shoulders with the Prince of Wales, and dazzled Samuel Johnson with her repartee. Lady Anne’s charisma and talent were undeniable; she was well known as both a beauty and a wit. However, she was also seen as an eccentric—an artist defined by her defiance of convention. Lady Anne had romantic affairs with several prominent men, but she married none of them. She preferred to live independently—even traveling alone to Paris during the upheaval of the French Revolution. When she did marry, it was to an impoverished army officer many years her junior. The pairing scandalized polite society. Hounded by gossip, the couple escaped to the Cape Colony—England’s first African possession—where Lady Anne painted the vibrant landscapes and penned her memoirs. An indefatigable diarist, she proved herself one of the extraordinary chroniclers of the era. Stephen Taylor draws on Lady Anne’s private papers, including six volumes of her never-before-published memoirs, to construct a vivid biography of her remarkable life. Illustrated with Lady Anne’s own drawings as well as portraits by her contemporaries, Defiance offers a lively and wholly absorbing portrayal of a woman far ahead of her time.
Defiant: Growing Up in the Jim Crow South
by Wade HudsonAs the fight for equal rights continues, Defiant takes a critical look at the strides and struggles of the past in this revelatory and moving memoir about a young Black man growing up in the South during the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. For fans of It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime, Stamped, and Brown Girl Dreaming. <p><p> Born in 1946 in Mansfield, Louisiana, Wade Hudson came of age against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement. From their home on Mary Street, his close-knit family watched as the country grappled with desegregation, as the Klan targeted the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and as systemic racism struck across the nation and in their hometown. <p><p> Amidst it all, Wade was growing up. Getting into scuffles, playing baseball, immersing himself in his church community, and starting to write. Most important, Wade learned how to find his voice and use it. From his family, his community, and his college classmates, Wade learned the importance of fighting for change by confronting the laws and customs that marginalized and demeaned people. <p><p> This powerful memoir reveals the struggles, joys, love, and ongoing resilience that it took to grow up Black in segregated America, and the lessons that carry over to our fight for a better future.
Defiant: The POWs Who Endured Vietnam's Most Infamous Prison, The Women Who Fought for Them, and The One Who Never Returned
by Alvin Townley50 years ago, the POWs who endured Vietnam's most famous prison came home. A powerful story of survival and triumph. Alvin Townley's Defiant will inspire anyone wondering how courage, faith, and brotherhood can endure even in the darkest of situations. “A riveting tribute to true American heroes.”—Senator John McCain, POW (1967-73)"Defiant is Unbroken meets Band of Brothers—and then some." —Congressman Pete SessionsDuring the Vietnam War, hundreds of American prisoners-of-war faced years of brutal conditions and horrific torture at the hands of North Vietnamese guards and interrogators who ruthlessly plied them for military intelligence and propaganda. Determined to maintain their Code of Conduct, the POWs developed a powerful underground resistance. To quash it, their captors singled out its eleven leaders, Vietnam's own "dirty dozen," and banished them to an isolated jail that would become known as Alcatraz. None would leave its solitary cells and interrogation rooms unscathed; one would never return.As these eleven men suffered in Hanoi, their wives at home launched an extraordinary campaign that would ultimately spark the nationwide POW/MIA movement. The members of these military families banded together and showed the courage not only to endure years of doubt about the fate of their husbands and fathers, but to bravely fight for their safe return. When the survivors of Alcatraz finally came home in 1973, one veteran would go on to receive the Medal of Honor, another would become a U.S. Senator, and a third served in the U.S. Congress.
Defiant and Dismasted at Trafalgar: The Life & Times of Admiral Sir William Hargood
by Mary McGrigorBorn in 1762, William Hargood's naval career spanned over 30 years, as he rose from humble midshipman to the captain of one of the most powerful warships of the day at Trafalgar. He campaigned all over the known world: the Americas, West Indies, throughout the Mediterranean. Britain was hardly ever at peace during those troubled times and men like Hargood sought out her enemies wherever they could find them. This is the age of gold bullion, pirates, plunder and grapeshot.During his career Hargood became a close friend of Admiral Lord Nelson and shared many an experience and triumph with him.Hargood's Belleisle was dismasted in the thick of action at Trafalgar but never sunk.
Defiant Brides
by Nancy Rubin StuartThe story of two Revolutionary-era teenagers who defy their Loyalist families to marry radical patriots, Henry Knox and Benedict Arnold, and are forever changed When Peggy Shippen, the celebrated blonde belle of Philadelphia, married American military hero Benedict Arnold in 1779, she anticipated a life of fame and fortune, but financial debts and political intrigues prompted her to conspire with her treasonous husband against George Washington and the American Revolution. In spite of her commendable efforts to rehabilitate her husband's name, Peggy Shippen continues to be remembered as a traitor bride. Peggy's patriotic counterpart was Lucy Flucker, the spirited and voluptuous brunette, who in 1774 defied her wealthy Tory parents by marrying a poor Boston bookbinder simply for love. When her husband, Henry Knox, later became a famous general in the American Revolutionary War, Lucy faithfully followed him through Washington's army camps where she birthed and lost babies, befriended Martha Washington, was praised for her social skills, and secured her legacy as an admired patriot wife. And yet, as esteemed biographer Nancy Rubin Stuart reveals, a closer look at the lives of both spirited women reveals that neither was simply a "traitor" or "patriot." In Defiant Brides, the first dual biography of both Peggy Shippen Arnold and Lucy Flucker Knox, Stuart has crafted a rich portrait of two rebellious women who defied expectations and struggled--publicly and privately--in a volatile political moment in early America. Drawing from never-before-published correspondence, Stuart traces the evolution of these women from passionate teenage brides to mature matrons, bringing both women from the sidelines of history to its vital center. Readers will be enthralled by Stuart's dramatic account of the epic lives of these defiant brides, which begin with romance, are complicated by politics, and involve spies, disappointments, heroic deeds, tragedies, and personal triumphs.
Defiant Dreams: The Journey of an Afghan Girl Who Risked Everything for Education
by Sola Mahfouz Malaina KapoorA searing, deeply personal memoir of a tenacious Afghan girl who educated herself behind closed doors and fought her way to a new life. &“Stories like this inspire me. Seeing the way people like Sola Mahfouz think about the world reinforces my optimism about the future.&”―BILL GATES Sola Mahfouz was born in Afghanistan in 1996. That same year, the Taliban took over her country for the first time. They banned television and photographs, presided over brutal public executions, and turned the clock backwards on women&’s rights, practically imprisoning women within their own homes and forcing them to wear all-concealing burqas. At age eleven, Sola was forced to stop attending school after a group of men threatened to throw acid in her face if she continued. After that she was confined to her home, required to cook and clean and prepare for an arranged marriage. She saw the outside world only a handful of times each year. As time passed, Sola began to understand that she was condemned to the same existence as millions of women in Afghanistan. Her future was empty. The rest of her life would be controlled entirely by men, fathers and husbands and sons who would never allow her to study, to earn money, or even to dream. Driven by this devastating realization, Sola began a years-long fight to change the trajectory of her life. She decided that education would be her way out. At age sixteen, without even a basic ability to add or subtract, she began secretly to teach herself math and English. She progressed rapidly, and within just two years she was already studying topics such as philosophy and physics. Faced with obstacles at every turn, Sola still managed to sneak into Pakistan to take the SAT. In 2016, she escaped to the United States, where she is now a quantum computing researcher at Tufts University. An engrossing, dramatic memoir, co-written with young Indian American human rights activist Malaina Kapoor, Defiant Dreams is the story of one girl, but it&’s also the untold story of a generation of women brimming with potential and longing for freedom.
Defiant Hope: Essays on Life, Faith, and Freedom
by Michael GersonThe best writings from George W. Bush&’s speechwriter Michael Gerson, a pioneer of the compassionate conservative movement, a champion of Christian engagement, and an eloquent defender of the poor and the marginalized.It is not an exaggeration to say that Michael Gerson possessed one of the most important consciences of his generation. As the chief speech writer for George W. Bush, he wrote the words that rallied and ennobled the nation after September 11th. He helped design and champion Bush&’s PEPFAR program, which saved upwards of 20 million lives as HIV ravaged Africa. His famous line defending public education was to say that failure would amount to &“a soft bigotry of low expectations.&” He became one of the nation&’s most eloquent columnists, who was never content to do political horse race punditry but devoted himself to the most essential causes of the time, pushing back on the authoritarianism of Donald Trump and pushing for the kind of compassionate conservatism that he dedicated his life to designing. Defiant Hope is his writings about the things he loved—humanity, God, his dog, and his boys. Essays feature the immensely complicated sadness when you drop your children off at college for the first time. Another is about his public battle of depression. He also includes chapters about men and women who formed this great procession of Christian Reformers—John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, William Wilberforce, and Olaudah Equiano—and the great causes to which they were devoted, from abolitionism to civil rights.What lingers is his gracious voice across all the roles that he played, as David Brooks writes in the introduction. What you hear is &“a prophet lamenting iniquity, a father and a friend capable of great bursts of gratitude and appreciation, a Christian who is sometimes buried under sadness and close to despair, but who never loses sight of that distant illuminating beacon of hope.&”