An Unexpected Journey

A special teaser for Peter Jackson's film "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"Nopening in theaters on December 14Nin the form of a children's activity book, featuring photos and puzzles throughout. Full color. Consumable.

W. Robert Godfrey has written this personal story of how he came to Reformed Christianity to show the "value and vitality" of Calvinism in an individual's life. Godfrey's journey started when as a teenager he first heard of Calvinism. Sharing his heart and his sense of humor, he describes his first experience with a Reformed congregation, his introduction to God's inspired Word, and his discovery of biblical worship. Along his journey, Godfrey learned that "God is always present with me. Whether I go to the highest heavens or the deepest sea or travel to a distant point on the earth, God is as fully present there as anywhere else." "For too many, Calvinism has seemed either an intellectual exercise in theology or an inherited religious commitment," Godfrey writes. "I believe that Reformed Christianity is the best, fullest form of biblical religion. And with that provocative claim, I hope that you will read and reflect on what follows." Book jacket.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Chronicles: Art & Design is a sumptuous celebration of the creative vision of Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The book is packed with more than 1,000 images of concept artwork, photographs and development paintings by the artists working behind the scenes to bring Middle-earth to life, who each provide detailed and entertaining commentary that reveals the story behind the vision. As a bonus feature unique to this book, there is a special fold-out map printed in glow-in-the-dark ink and a giant four-page fold-out of Bilbo's contract. Complied by Weta Workshop senior concept designer Daniel Falconer, this is the first in a series of lavish hardcover books written and designed by the award-winning team at Weta, who are working closely with the production team to guarantee that these books will be bursting with insider information and stunning visual imagery.

A stunning look at the creative process behind The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies—the third and final installment of one of the world's biggest motion picture franchises from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson. Working closely with the film's production staff, the award-winning team at WETA brings together more than 240 pages of spectacular four-color visuals, including hundreds of images of concept artwork, photographs, development paintings, and more created by the artists and designers working behind the scenes. Movie photography and finished imagery accompany the sketches and drawings, showing how the artists' vision was realized from design to final product. Chock full of insider stories, details, and insights, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Chronicles: Art & Design also includes a special bonus feature—a three-page fold-out sure to delight fans and become a treasured collectible.

This engrossing and engaging book tells the story of Singapore¿s President S.R. Nathan in his own words. It takes readers on a journey from Nathan¿s modest beginnings and his life as a runaway in Singapore and Malaya, through his experiences of the Japanese occupation, the birth of Singapore¿s modern trade union movement, and his time as Permanent Secretary, Executive Chairman of the Straits Times newspaper for a number of years, Singapore¿s High Commissioner in Malaysia, and as Ambassador to the United States, to the Presidential elections in 1999 and his tenure as Singapore¿s longest-serving President.

Discover the amazing world of Hobbits in this photo-packed, information-filled companion to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, directed by Peter Jackson.

Katie Langston is an unlikely convert to Christianity. She grew up in a devout, conservative Mormon family in Utah, served a proselytizing mission to Bulgaria when she was 21, married for "time and all eternity" in the Mormon temple when she was 23. From the outside, she had a typical Mormon life. Inside, she was coming apart at the seams. From childhood, she battled "The Questions"—obsessive-compulsive disorder, though she didn't have a diagnosis for it until much later—and lived inside a complex maze of anxiety and fear. This was compounded by Mormonism's emphasis on "worthiness," a designation of acceptability in Mormon practice, that brought her to the edge of despair as a young mother. Then, almost by accident, she had an encounter with the grace of Jesus Christ—and her world changed. In candid but not sensationalized ways, Langston explores little-understood Mormon practices and teachings while grappling with universal human questions such as the nature of faith, the complexity of family, the process of healing, and what it means to truly belong. This book is intended to be a bridge-builder, a way to help non-Mormons understand Mormonism and Mormons orthodox Christianity through the power of personal narrative. Most of all, it is a testimony of Jesus Christ, in the hopes that those who read it—Mormon, Christian, or neither—will catch a glimpse of the spectacular, life-changing grace of God.

DescriptionAn extremely honest and open account of a man who had been successful academically, and in his career, who has suffered with depression and Bi-Polar disorder. The book describes how he suffered from depression as a result of a number of things happening to him, including partial loss of sight in one eye. The book then covers the events leading up to being admitted to 3 different psychiatric hospitals during which time he was diagnosed as having Bi-Polar disorder. This started with him needing to be driven home from work, then getting assaulted in a hotel and getting treatment in the accident and emergency department of the local hospital, being detained by the police under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act, undergoing a crisis team assessment, before finally being admitted to the 1st of the 3 psychiatric hospitals. The book is a vivid record of the journey undertaken, as a result of the various verbal and graphical material produced along the way, prior to being an in-patient, whilst an in-patient and after being discharged from hospital. About the AuthorStan James is 40 and lives in Wiltshire with this wife and 3 children. Stan was diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder (manic depression) in January 2010. Stan has a Ph.D. in engineering, is a Chartered Engineer and is a private pilot. At this point in his career, he has worked for 3 different organizations, 1 academic and 2 industrial. Stan has written this book to help him reflect on the difficult journey that he has undertaken and to help him come to terms with the diagnosis of Bi-Polar disorder and the implications it will have on the rest of his life. Also to hopefully help other people affected by Bi-Polar disorder by recognition of a possible journey of a sufferer.

The ultimate celebration of the second Hobbit movie reveals the full creative vision of the art and design teams with more than 1,000 exclusive images and photos, including designs and concepts that never made it to the big screen. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Chronicles - Art & Design explores and celebrates the creative vision of the second film in Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson's trilogy adaptation of The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien. This lavish volume follows Bilbo, Gandalf and Thorin's Company of Dwarves eastward, through hitherto unseen regions of Middle-earth, on their quest to reclaim the lost realm of Erebor from the Dragon Smaug. Exploring the design and development of the environments, cultures, creatures and artefacts encountered by the characters, it is filled with more than 1,000 stunning images of conceptual art, supplementary photographs and detailed commentary provided by the film's cast and crew. As a bonus feature, unique to this book, there is a special fold-out replica of the portrait of the Master of Lake-town, played by Stephen Fry, exactly as it appears in the film. Compiled by Weta Workshop senior concept designer Daniel Falconer, this is the third book in The Hobbit: Chronicles series and it has been created in full collaboration with key members of the production's creative team to ensure the most comprehensive and authentic film companion possible.

"My life shows that we as humans cannot always change or control our circumstances. We cannot anticipate all the obstacles in our path. We can, however, choose our attitude, our actions, and how to overcome the obstacles we face. This will define our character, values, and faith." It is only through the discovery of another's life story that we gain perspective on our own. As a man looks to his past, he finds a wealth of wisdom. John H. Livens was born in Latvia in 1933 and has lived a life across continents, through wars, and with an unwavering optimism for a better future. In his autobiography, An Unexpected Journey, we travel through time as he revisits his upbringing and how it shaped the man, the friend, and the husband he became. With a strong voice and ethical code, John walks through his early years of privileged life in Latvia, the loss of everything during World War II, and resettlement in the United States. Overcoming obstacles with two Harvard degrees and business success, he began a new life. John epitomizes the unfettered freedom that the United States offers to all, regardless of background. He pursues life's opportunities with tenancy and integrity. John shares his memories-from his luck of escaping Soviet capture to his enriched life in the United States. Through each one, family is an ever-present element, and he pursues the ultimate goal of a personal relationship to fulfill his life and remind him of the wholeness from his early, carefree childhood. Join John on his journey and uncover the unique experiences of a well-lived life.