Customer Reviews (1)

Very easy read, concise handbook.
This book came in great condition and was a very simple handbook with pertinent information. ... Read more

Product Description
The "twenty-something" years of young adulthood are increasingly recognized as critical but puzzling. Building on the foundation she established in her classic work, The Critical Years, Sharon Parks urges thoughtful adults to assume responsibility for providing strategic mentorship during this important decade in life.She reveals also, however, the ways young adults are influenced not only by individual mentors but also by mentoring environments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Mentoring to Make a Difference
As the father of three teens, I have frequently been torn between repressed anger, guilt, and a feeling of total inadequacy as a parent.Thanks to the influence of Sharon D. Parks, Big Questions; Worthy Dreams, I have found mentoring to be a reasonable response to my parenting situation.

Parks makes two points that clarify the mentoring task at hand.

The first point is her definition of a young adult.She asks:"When does one cross the threshold into adulthood?The response of North American culture is ambiguous" (p. 4).Finding work and a spouse are still important, but the time required to become educated and increasing problem of downward mobility make it harder to become settled.The ambiguity and instability of the young adult situation in society are reflected in the greater challenge facing mentors, including parents.

The second point is reflected in her title.Young adulthood is a life-stage where the formation of meaning is particularly important.Parks writes:"in the years from seventeen to thirty a distinctive mode of meaning-making can emerge, one that has certain adult characteristics but understandably lacks others" (p. 6).

The importance of challenging the young adult to take new faith steps is captured in her prescription--develop and expand a worthy, young adult dream. Parks writes:"If the young adult Dream is to have mature power and serve the full potential of self and world, then it must be critically reexamined from time to time throughout adulthood" (p. 219).The role of mentors is to help the young adult craft, refine, and be true to this dream.

The scope and depth of Park's scholarship suggests that this book targets graduate students and professionals focused on counseling young adults.Most readers looking for advice on parenting are likely to find this book a challenging read.The gap between these two ready audiences suggests an opportunity for a follow up text focused on aid and comfort for the typical parents of young adults.

Dr. Stephen W. Hiemstra
Centreville, VA

Powerfully Motivating
If it seems vague or overly theoretical, you may not be paying attention; and that's fine, if it's not what you need to be reading.

But to me it is always inspirational and powerfully motivating.It literally moves me to tears with some regularity - I see so many real people in these pages.After a little focused time with this book I consistently feel she is one of the few writers for whom every sentence and every paragraph are seriously written and contentful.Highly recommended.

Doesn't deliver on the expectations
I read this book because it was highly recommended to those who work in Campus Ministry at an Institute I attended.I snatched up the book in anticipation of being able to help those young adults that I work with.But instead of finding helpful and meaninful nuggets of psychology and analysis of the mentoring relationship, I found the book very unhelpful.

Parks uses developmental psychological analysis to try and examine what role a mentor should play while interacting with young adults.She fails to adequately address how to build relationship and how to mentor but rather stays in the "ivory tower" and doesn't come down to the ground to help mentors in the trenches.I highly disagree with another reviewer that she doesn't get caught up in the academic over-psychologizing and prose.It seems that the author was trying to please those in her field rather than those that might need a work of this kind even more.There is little "hands-on" practical advice, but rather developmental theory takes over.

She also likes to only talk about "spirituality" in vague terms and in a way the cements a relativistic approach to God and a world-view.If this sounds like your cup-o-tea, then jump in like I did.If not, don't make the same mistake I did.

A Captivating Read for Mentors
In Big Questions Worthy Dreams, Sharon Parks affirms the purpose, promise and possibility of mentoring for mentor and mentee. She recognizes the critical role of "meaning making" in the mentoring journey. The reader is at once (and always) aware of the awesome responsibility of the mentor in supporting "meaning making"at each stage of the mentee's developmental journey. Parks solidly anchors mentoring in the rich dynamic of developmental theory. At the same time, she challenges the reader to heightened levels of accountability. The examples she offers, documented from her own experience, and those of others, inspire the reader to create stimulating mentoring environments that foster growth and development.This thoughtful and well-crafted book hooks the reader from the very start raising big questions and worthy dreams for mentor and mentee alike. A mentoring must-read!

Inspiring and Thoughtful Advice for Helping Today's Youth
"Big Questions, Worthy Dreams" is a stunning book that delivers even more than it promises. I was expecting another philosophical/psychological tome on the intellectual and emotional development of young adults. I was also expecting yet another alarmist treatise on the lack of morality in today's youth--"and here's what we adults should do about it." Instead, I stumbled upon a wonderfully insightful book that weaves together developmental theory and inspirational stories, but--thankfully!--without the academic gobbledegook jargon that clogs up the prose of so many other books. But what I like best about this book is the hopeful, even inspiring, message of the book. Parks offers a clear picture of the challenges facing those of us who wish to be mentors to young people, and shows us why it's necessary--and rewarding--to take an active interest in the lives of others. This is truly an excellent book! I'm recommending it to all my colleagues. ... Read more

Product Description
"A marvelous book, a great gift for young people of your acquaintance.But be sure to get a copy for yourself as well." -- First Things

Written for young Catholics, not-so-young Catholics, and curious souls of any religious persuasion or none, Letters to a Young Catholic conveys the power of a faith that is at once personal and universal, timely, and eternal. George Weigel invites readers on an extraordinary journey to the building blocks of Catholic faith, taking us to landmarks as diverse as Chartres Cathedral and St. Mary's Church in Greenville, South Carolina; from the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem to G. K. Chesterton's favorite pub; from the grave of a modern martyr in Warsaw to the Sistine Chapel. Weigel also examines the intangible, though not less concrete, foundations of the faith, such as grace, prayer, sin and forgiveness, suffering, and-most important-love. Letters to a Young Catholic will inspire not only the emerging generation of Catholics whose World Youth Day celebrations have launched an era of renewal for the Church, but also the faithful, the doubtful, and the searchers of every age. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Letters to a Young Catholic
I am a grandfather, who enjoyed this book immensely.I have given it to two of my grandchildren upon their reaching their 16th birthday, and plan to do that for the remaining grandchildren.It is a terrific book!

good gift
This is a great book on Catholic culture; very interesting and easy to read.We bought several copies for gifts.

Our St. Bernard book club selection
Our book club met last week to review this book.We all agreed it is one of the best of our yearly readings.George Weigel is writing for all ages, although his title reflects otherwise.Our club had recently reviewed 'Brideshead Revisited', a Evelyn Waugh book.Mr. Weigel gave us another view of this work.We all want to go to Krakowafter the chapter on Poland.Altogether, the book was a hit with a good message.

Favorite book of the year
I want all the young people in our parish to read this. The faith is a great adventure, and the geography was beautiful.What a wonderful tour of the Catholic world!

The Catholic Imagination
This book is a good introduction for those who are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. It covers a wide variety of topics, some contemporary, some older, and jumps all over the world from chapter to chapter. Weigel drops so many names, and you'll quickly gain a wider knowledge of differing Catholic thinkers. All well and good! We were given this book in senior year of high school. After reading it for a second time, I feel that there may have been some discrepencies I had not noticed before. But first, my thesis is: The many differing defenses for Catholicism in this book are only half-arguments. If we are looking for meaning, for wonder, mystery and depth - there is more than one choice! One need only explore the great variety of religious practice, traditional practice of both east and west, to begin to see a bigger picture. Weigel's critique of "liberal" religion is one of these half-true arguments. We can't necessarily go window-shopping. Of course! There requires some sort of maturity when exploring the world's religions. Yet, if we are not open we will not learn, and we will not be capable of any depth at all. So I say: True liberal religion is free to practice deeply a particular faith, but begins to see that practice in all things, and all faiths. For instance, the great sword fighter Musashi of Japan, said that once must be faithful and determined in his "way." When the true meaning of his "way" was understood, he would see his "way" in all "ways." This, he said, was true mastery.


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God’s Word challenges us to “train up a child in the way he should go.” Today’s parents, pastors, youth workers and teachers are training tomorrow’s generation. Secular society is clearly showing the result of a lack of emphasis on training.

Mentoring and Modeling is a primer that can help those who are working with young people to do so in an effective way. Former President Ronald Reagan said, “We don’t expect children to discover the principles of calculus on their own, but some would give them no guidance when it comes to ethics, morality, and values.”

This book will show a number of ways that children can be mentored. Bob Jones Sr. said, “You will be someday what you are now becoming.” Pastors, parents, youth workers and teachers have a duty to mold the young people God entrusts to them in a way that pleases and glorifies our Lord and Savior.

Includes a study guide for class setting or personal application. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Mentoring And Modeling
As with all the other books put out by Striving Together Publications, this book is written in very conversational style, and the reader will at times feel more like he is listening to a sermon than reading a book. This does help keep the book very easy to understand. Having said that, the book tackles its purpose very well. It is especially applicable to those involved in Christian education and Sunday School programs, although it has some applicability to anyone who has a desire to impact the next generation. It has two sections, each one written by the respective coauthor. It is filled with powerful personal illustrations, both from the lives of the authors, and from various quoted sources. It leaves the reader feeling the passion of the authors to help shape the next generation for Christ. Great read! ... Read more

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Product Description
This book offers a radically new theoretical analysis of mentoring, based on award winning research, arguing that mentoring cannot be separated from the wider power relations that surround those involved. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Journal of School Health, published by American School Health Association on March 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1224 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Enhancing Youth Achievement Through Telementoring.
Author: Shannon Perez
Publication: Journal of School Health (Refereed)
Date: March 1, 2001
Publisher: American School Health Association
Volume: 71Issue: 3Page: 122

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This digital document is an article from Journal of Mental Health Counseling, published by American Mental Health Counselors Association on April 1, 2003. The length of the article is 5972 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Therapeutic group mentoring with African American male adolescents. (Practice).
Author: Shawn O. Utsey
Publication: Journal of Mental Health Counseling (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2003
Publisher: American Mental Health Counselors Association
Volume: 25Issue: 2Page: 126(14)

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This digital document is an article from Reclaiming Children and Youth, published by Pro-Ed on January 1, 2002. The length of the article is 3491 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: "It ain't like she's my mother:" Tyanna's red flag intervention. (life space crisis intervention).
Author: Steve B. Parese
Publication: Reclaiming Children and Youth (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2002
Publisher: Pro-Ed
Volume: 10Issue: 4Page: 246(5)

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"Lil' Man, All Boy: Christian MENtoring" is a primer for little boys as they grow to become great men of character and strength. Through poems of encouragement Dr. Eurydice Stanley shares life-lessons which stress the importance of attitude, personal excellence, self-motivation, resilience and persistence for today's youth. This book has something for every member of the family! Children will enjoy the graphic artwork on each page and caregivers will find encouragement in the accompanying poems as they plant seeds of knowledge in young readers persuading them to dare to be their own person, persevere despite potential failure and to never limit dreams of ascending to great heights while being happy exactly where you are on life's journey. Enjoy the ride! ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Reclaiming Children and Youth, published by Pro-Ed on January 1, 2002. The length of the article is 2904 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Friends of the Children. (spotlight on excellence).
Author: Gail Dana
Publication: Reclaiming Children and Youth (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2002
Publisher: Pro-Ed
Volume: 10Issue: 4Page: 209(4)

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This digital document is an article from School Administrator, published by Thomson Gale on March 1, 2006. The length of the article is 552 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Mentoring initiative makes a difference; Texas: Spring Branch Independent School District.(STATE WINNERS)
Publication: School Administrator (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 63Issue: 3Page: S17(2)

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A book to equip ordinary Christians to become involved in mentoring young people and nurturing them in their faith. This book is full of encouragement and practical advice drawn from Biblical principles and the author's experience. ... Read more