The One Who Lives Forever: Origins “When Abel’s life work was suddenly made illegal by the ban of unethical research, he was ready to enter a life of solitude and isolation to continue his research on immortality. Meanwhile, the People’s Leader was celebrating this ban; it only strengthened his determination to replace scientific research with his holistic healing techniques. Come along on this journey that explores some of life’s greatest conflicts: love vs. hate, life vs. death, law vs. religion. A story of immortality and conflicting religious and political views – this book will have you questioning every moral decision you’ve ever made. You may be surprised by which side you’re standing on when you’ve read the final pages of the series.”
A chemistry student falls for his teacher and uncovers a centuries-old quest for the elixir of life The morning after the death of his first love, Conrad Aybinder receives a bequest. Sammy Tampari was Conrad’s lover. He was his teacher. And, it turns out, he was not just a chemist, but an alchemist, searching for a mythic elixir of life. Sammy’s death was sudden, yet he somehow managed to leave twenty years’ worth of his notebooks and a storage locker full of expensive, sometimes baffling equipment in the hands of his star student. The notebooks contain cryptic “recipes,” but no instructions; they tell his life story, but only hint at what might have caused his death. And Sammy’s research is littered with his favorite teaching question: What’s missing? As Conrad pieces together the solution, he finds he is not the only one to suspect that Sammy succeeded in his quest. And if he wants to save his father from a mysterious illness, Conrad will have to make some very difficult choices. A globe-trotting, century-spanning adventure story, Jake Wolff’s The History of Living Forever takes us from Maine to Romania to Easter Island and introduces a cast of unforgettable characters—drug kingpins, Big Pharma flunkies, centenarians, boy geniuses, and even a group of immortalists masquerading as coin collectors. It takes us deep into the mysteries of life—from first love to first heartbreak, from the long pall of grief to the irreconcilable loneliness of depression to the possibility of medical miracles, from coming of age to coming out. Hilarious, haunting, heart-busting, life-affirming, it asks each of us one of life’s essential questions: How far would you go for someone you love?
In this “ingenious, funny, and chilling” novel (Publishers Weekly, starred review) from the author of Spaceman of Bohemia, two long-lost siblings risk everything to save their mother from oblivion in an authoritarian near-future America obsessed with digital consciousness and eternal life—a story that “packs a walloping punch” (Esquire). When Adéla discovers she has a terminal illness, she leaves behind her native Czech village for a chance at reuniting in America with Tereza, the daughter she gave up at birth, decades earlier. But the country Adéla experienced as a young woman, when she eloped with a filmmaker and starred in his cult sci-fi movie, has changed entirely. In 2030, America is ruled by an authoritarian government increasingly closed off to the rest of the world. Tereza, the star researcher for VITA, a biotech company hellbent on discovering the key to immortality, is overjoyed to meet her mother, with whom she forms an instant, profound connection. But when their time together is cut short by shocking events, Tereza must uncover VITA’s alarming activity in the wastelands of what was once Florida, and persuade the Czech brother she’s never met to join her in this odds-defying adventure. Narrated from the beyond by Adéla’s restless spirit, A Brief History of Living Forever is a high-wire act of storytelling from a writer “booming with vitality and originality,” whose “voice is distinct enough to leave tread marks” (New York Times). By turns insightful, moving, and funny, the novel not only confirms Jaroslav Kalfař’s boundless powers of invention but also exults in the love between a mother and her daughter, which neither space nor time can sever. “Kalfař is a wise, rapturous, and original writer . . . Eloquent, heart-stunning, and rich in awe-inspiring prose.” —San Francisco Chronicle “Relentlessly inventive . . . His writing has the same hyperactivity and fidgety contempt for generic boundaries as that of the young Safran Foer.” —The Guardian
If you could live forever, would you want to? Both a fascinating look at the history of our strive for immortality and an investigation into whether living forever is really all it’s cracked up to be. A fascinating work of popular philosophy and history that both enlightens and entertains, Stephen Cave investigates whether it just might be possible to live forever and whether we should want to. He also makes a powerful argument that it’s our very preoccupation with defying mortality that drives civilization. Central to this book is the metaphor of a mountaintop where one can find the Immortals. Since the dawn of humanity, everyone – whether they know it or not—has been trying to climb that mountain. But there are only four paths up its treacherous slope, and there have only ever been four paths. Throughout history, people have wagered everything on their choice of the correct path, and fought wars against those who’ve chosen differently. In drawing back the curtain on what compels humans to “keep on keeping on,” Cave engages the reader in a number of mind-bending thought experiments. He teases out the implications of each immortality gambit, asking, for example, how long a person would live if they did manage to acquire a perfectly disease-free body. Or what would happen if a super-being tried to round up the atomic constituents of all who’ve died in order to resurrect them. Or what our loved ones would really be doing in heaven if it does exist. We’re confronted with a series of brain-rattling questions: What would happen if tomorrow humanity discovered that there is no life but this one? Would people continue to please their boss, vie for the title of Year’s Best Salesman? Would three-hundred-year projects still get started? If the four paths up the Mount of the Immortals lead nowhere—if there is no getting up to the summit—is there still reason to live? And can civilization survive? Immortality is a deeply satisfying book, as optimistic about the human condition as it is insightful about the true arc of history.
How Adoption Changed My Life Forever is a heartfelt and inspiring short read that explores the transformative power of adoption. This book takes readers on a journey through the author's personal experiences, offering a unique perspective on the profound impact adoption can have on an individual's life. In the first chapter, "Discovering My True Identity," the author delves into their own journey of self-discovery and how adoption played a pivotal role in shaping their sense of identity. They share the challenges and triumphs they faced in uncovering their true self and finding their place in the world. "The Power of Unconditional Love" explores the profound bond that forms between adoptive parents and their children. The author shares heartwarming stories of love, acceptance, and the unbreakable connection that adoption brings. "Building Trust and Attachment" delves into the process of building trust and forming secure attachments in adoptive families. The author provides valuable insights and practical advice for both adoptive parents and adoptees on how to navigate this crucial aspect of the adoption journey. "Embracing a Multicultural Identity" explores the unique experiences of adoptees who grow up in multicultural families. The author shares their own experiences of embracing their diverse heritage and the richness it brings to their life. "Breaking the Cycle" delves into the transformative power of adoption in breaking the cycle of generational trauma and providing a fresh start for both adoptive parents and children. The author shares their own journey of overcoming adversity and creating a new legacy of love and stability. "Providing Stability and Security" explores the importance of providing a stable and secure home environment for adoptive children. The author offers practical tips and advice for creating a nurturing and loving home that supports the emotional well-being of the entire family. "Creating Forever Families" celebrates the joy and fulfillment that comes from creating a forever family through adoption. The author shares heartwarming stories of families coming together and the profound impact it has on everyone involved. "Overcoming Challenges" addresses the unique challenges that adoptive families may face and offers practical strategies for navigating them. The author provides guidance on how to overcome obstacles and build resilience as a family. "Dealing with Identity and Belonging" explores the complex issue of identity and belonging that many adoptees face. The author shares their own experiences and offers guidance on how to navigate this journey of self-discovery. "Managing Loss and Grief" delves into the emotional aspects of adoption, including the loss and grief that may be experienced This title is a short read. A Short Read is a type of book that is designed to be read in one quick sitting. These no fluff books are perfect for people who want an overview about a subject in a short period of time. Table of Contents How Adoption Changed My Life Forever Discovering My True Identity The Power of Unconditional Love Building Trust and Attachment Embracing a Multicultural Identity Breaking the Cycle Providing Stability and Security Creating Forever Families Overcoming Challenges Dealing with Identity and Belonging Managing Loss and Grief Empowering Others Through My Story Advocating for Adoption Supporting Adoptive Families Embracing the Journey of Reunion Discovering Biological Roots Reconciling Dual Identities Creating a Loving Home Providing Stability and Support Understanding and Addressing Trauma Love Knows No Boundaries International Adoption: Cross-Cultural Connections Same-Sex Adoption: Love Makes a Family Single-Parent Adoption: One is Enough Continuing the Legacy of Love Passing on the Gift of Adoption Advocacy and Support for Adoptees Frequently Asked Questions Have Questions / Comments?
Margaret Starbird’s theological beliefs were profoundly shaken when she read Holy Blood, Holy Grail, a book that dared to suggest that Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalen and that their descendants carried on his holy bloodline in Western Europe. Shocked by such heresy, this Roman Catholic scholar set out to refute it, but instead found new and compelling evidence for the existence of the bride of Jesus--the same enigmatic woman who anointed him with precious unguent from her “alabaster jar.” In this provocative book, Starbird draws her conclusions from an extensive study of history, heraldry, symbolism, medieval art, mythology, psychology, and the Bible itself. The Woman with the Alabaster Jar is a quest for the forgotten feminine--in the hope that its return will help restore a healthy balance to planet Earth.
An exploration of one of the most universal human obsessions charts the rise of longevity science from its alchemical beginnings to modern-day genetic interventions and enters the world of those whose lives are shaped by a belief in immortality.
The six reflections and conceptualizations of "Exilic Mediations" explore the relationship between exile and emigration, the (im-)possibility of return, accent and foreignness, multiculturalism and sovereignty, trauma and memory, and a life lived poetically in an unhomely world. Situated subtly between reflections on personal experiences and post-Heideggerian philosophy, these exilic meditations show how a life lived as an exile enables a journey into the very concepts that we hold so dear to our hearts: home, belonging, justice, and the future. Vahabzadeh wishes to find a place where the singular experiences of the exiles and emigrants can be heard. This requires, he argues, a poetic life-one of creative responses to the very conditions of injustice, a life of making and crafting a new world. "Exilic Meditations" calls for attending to the common wounds of the banished and marginalized, displaced and abandoned, exiles and refugees, in these inhospitable times of ours.
Have you ever wondered where the Universe came from? Did it come from a big bang billions of years ago or did an Intelligence far beyond our own create it? If the Universe was created then why was it created and what’s its purpose? What’s man’s purpose, where did we come from, did we evolve from primordial ooze, or were we created in the likeness of that same intelligence? Did this intelligence, this God, always exist? Where did he come from, how did he come into existence? Why would this God, this spirit, have the likeness of a man with arms, legs, and feet? Answers to these questions have eluded mankind since the dawn of time. Many theories have attempted to answer them but there are always flaws. Questions still remain. Questions such as, where did the matter and energy of this big bang come from, how could it just happen to be there? I believe that hidden deep in the pages of the Bible lay the answers to all of these questions, and for thousands of years no one has realized it nor been able to put it all together. However, after seven years of research I believe that this book can answer all of the above questions without leaving any loose ends. I believe that contained within the pages of this book lay the answers to all of mankind’s deepest questions. Answers to questions such as, where did God come from, why was the Universe created, what is mankind’s purpose, and the age-old question, which came first, the chicken or the egg? This little book can also tell you where we as a civilization are headed and what our ultimate fate will be, all from the Bible.
A vision, a desire to be healthy and a testimony of healing were the inspiration of this book. Two Trees and Twelve Fruits That Will Change Your Life Forever is a personal narrative of author Michelle-Lee Young as she details her experience of finding faith, as well as her hope of healing to others. Through poetic prose explaining how everyone has purpose and a choice to become part of God's tree of life. Young's book also serves as a source of medicinal information as a multitude of healthy ingredients from nature are given. Many will see themselves in Young's words as well as God's verses within her book. Life is a walk of faith and sometimes we hang on to hope with all our strength. Whether a person is at the crossroads or well on their way in their journey of life, this book will inspire, encourage, and heal.
