What happens when idealism and reality crash into each other (and you)? If you have ever passionately invested yourself in living your faith, championing a cause, or representing some noble ideal, you’ve probably experienced a faceoff between idealism and reality. Society often recognizes its deficits—poverty, crime, divisiveness, anxiety, excess—yet it rarely celebrates the rise of people who want to change those shortcomings. Still, many of us chip away at the world as it is, believing that a better world is possible. While in that place where we work to see good come about, we meet resistance almost daily: between dreams and disappointment, between wholeness and dysfunction, between past and future. This can lead to frustration, bitterness, disillusionment, loneliness, and exhaustion. It can lead to people abandoning the church, faith, and God. . . or just becoming more passive, less passionate versions of their former faith-charged selves. Don’t give in! This book is your survival guide. You can champion your cause and your faith, even in a broken and dysfunctional world. Stay in the race and take this guide along as source of fuel, rest, and encouragement along the way.

"An accessible biography of Muhammad, Islam’s founding prophet, tracing his development from orphan to political leader and providing insights into his personal life and tastes." —New York Times Book Review "A joyous read, presenting the Prophet Muhammad both as human and humane. Insightful, thoughtful and thought provoking! " —Azar Nafisi, New York Times bestselling author of Reading Lolita in Tehran “A beautifully written, immaculately researched meditation on the impact of the Prophet Muhammad on the modern world. I loved this book!” —Reza Aslan, author of No God but God and Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth A six-year-old cries in his mother’s arms as she draws her last breaths to urge him: “Muhammad, be a world-changer!” The boy, suddenly orphaned in a tribal society that fears any change, must overcome enormous obstacles to unleash his own potential and inspire others to do the same. Fusing details long known to Muslim scholars but inaccessible to popular audiences, Mohamad Jebara brings to life the gripping personal story of Islam’s founding prophet. From his dramatic birth to nearly being abducted into slavery to escaping assassination, Muhammad emerges as an unrelenting man on a mission. Surrounding the protagonist are dynamic women who nurture Muhammad; Jewish and Christian mentors who inspire him; and the enslaved individuals he helps liberate who propel his movement. Jebara places Muhammad’s life in a broader historical context, vividly evoking the Meccan society he was born into and arguing that his innovative vision helped shape our modern world.

What if you could sit down with some of the world's most influential entrepreneurs and gain their knowledge and insights on how to create a game changing business? Imagine having the chance to listen to a John Mackey (Whole Foods) or a Fred Smith (FedEx) on the most important things they've learned from their experiences. Or having the benefit of the self-reflection of Howard Schultz of Starbucks, who had to come back to the company he originally built to reinvent it and himself? Of course it's not possible to deliver these rock star entrepreneurs to your dinner table. But John A. Byrne offers the next best thing: he spoke with many who have changed the face of business. In World Changers he captures the most important lessons they've learned, the biggest challenges they've tackled, and the most valuable advice they can offer others who have an entrepreneurial dream. You'll learn the inspiring stories of how these world changers discovered their disruptive ideas, then made them a reality; overcame a variety of obstacles; and created sustainable enterprises. You'll get the firsthand accounts of how: Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank got the confidence to start The Home Depot after being fired from their jobs. Reed Hastings turned a forty-dollar video late fee into a disruptive upstart called Netflix. Herb Kohler, the "reluctant prince of porcelain," came back to the family business and made it number one in its industry again. Narayana Murthy, after one fateful train ride and wrongful incarceration, converted from communist to capitalist and cofounded one of the most successful entrepreneurial ventures in India. World Changers is an inspiration for those who want to create something meaningful on their own. It serves as both a celebration of entrepreneurial achievement as well as a practical handbook for everyone who dreams of starting his or her own world-changing business.

Encouraging, accessible, and easily digestible, this comprehensive, illustrated nonfiction guide introduces children ages eight to twelve to the important topic of climate change--with tips on "How You Can Help" and citizen scientist activities. "Our World Out of Balance is a wonderful introduction to climate change and other global environmental challenges for children. Unlike so many other books about climate change, it does not traffic in fear. Instead, it presents the facts and shows what young people can do to help build a cleaner, safer and more equitable future for the planet." --Simon Donner, Professor, Climate Scientist, University of British Columbia Filled with engaging big ideas that will inspire children to think about their role in keeping our world healthy, Our World Out of Balance details how humans have thrown the planet off-balance and ways we can work together to be part of the solution and create a healthier world. While the book covers some complex subjects, it also shares a sense of hope and many of the positive developments that have come from environmental initiatives, like reforestation and innovative recycling programs. Featuring brave scientists, young activists, and many groups working collectively to protect our future, Our World Out of Balance will leave readers feeling empowered and inspired. Each chapter pairs brightly colored illustrations with easily graspable scientific facts and statistics and ends with tips on "How You Can Help" as an individual―even at a young age! The book shares simple and well-organized descriptions of a variety of phenomena―like hurricanes and wildfires―that are becoming more extreme and negatively affecting plants, animals, humans, and ecosystems around the world. From there, children learn about the causes behind each phenomenon and what we all can do to intervene and bring balance back to our home planet. The easy-to-follow "Before" and "After" segments help children understand complex topics like: -Air pollution -Rising seas -Plastics and increased waste -Wildfires The backmatter lists various citizen science initiatives that kids can take part in to help make a difference. Informational text includes a table of contents, diagrams, index, glossary, and select bibliography. Printed on FSC-certified paper with vegetable inks.

Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our companies, in our communities, and in our own lives? The primary obstacle is a conflict that's built into our brains, say Chip and Dan Heath, authors of the critically acclaimed bestseller Made to Stick. Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems - the rational mind and the emotional mind—that compete for control. The rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie. The rational mind wants to change something at work; the emotional mind loves the comfort of the existing routine. This tension can doom a change effort - but if it is overcome, change can come quickly. In Switch, the Heaths show how everyday people - employees and managers, parents and nurses - have united both minds and, as a result, achieved dramatic results: • The lowly medical interns who managed to defeat an entrenched, decades-old medical practice that was endangering patients • The home-organizing guru who developed a simple technique for overcoming the dread of housekeeping • The manager who transformed a lackadaisical customer-support team into service zealots by removing a standard tool of customer service In a compelling, story-driven narrative, the Heaths bring together decades of counterintuitive research in psychology, sociology, and other fields to shed new light on how we can effect transformative change. Switch shows that successful changes follow a pattern, a pattern you can use to make the changes that matter to you, whether your interest is in changing the world or changing your waistline.

Building a better future locally and globally is the topic of this user's guide written by a diverse collaborative of innovators. "Worldchanging" demonstrates that the means for making a difference lie all around.

Chaplain Robert Hicks asks why men feel so uneasy as friends, fathers, and husbands--and finds the answer in our changing and confusing culture. He points the way to a strong, balanced manhood in relationship with God.