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News and trends worth watching
items of interest
The American Booksellers Association reports that the market for self-help books has been growing every year since 1991. In 1998, sales reached $581 million. While self-help books are not a new phenomenon by any means, more and more readers are looking for books that will tell them more about spirituality and how to be spiritual.
Some observers of American society indicate that the demand for these books reveals an emptiness in the hearts of these readers and a longing for it to be filled. Not everyone agrees that books alone will be able to meet these deep needs, however. Many feel that "self" help can take an individual only so far.
Other commentators are encouraged by the fact that so many people are searching for spiritual answers. Some see benefits in the books even if only one or two of the purchaser's needs are met. "For some readers, taking away one useful concept from a book easily justifies the time and expense involved," reports Marjorie Coeyman for The Christian Science Monitor.
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October 23, 2000 issue
View Issue-
To Our Readers
William G. Dawley
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YOUR LETTERS
with contributions from Reinhard Harrich, Hubert J. Steed, Wallace D. Pfaff
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items of interest
with contributions from A. J. Carr, Alan Wolfe
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Your role in improving government
By Rosalie E. Dunbar
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PRAY FOR YOUR COMMUNITY
Rosemary Fuller Thornton
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What is good enough?
By Kristen Lynch
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You were there all along
By Henry Louis Michel
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Beans, beets, and preservation
By Pamela Brumley
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Simple lessons
By Melissa Jane Hayden
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Trust God—as a little child
By Joan Christine Travis
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Everyone can be a knight in shining armor
By Heather Vogel Frederick
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Healing of fear and apparent heart attack
Sharon S. Jeffrey
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Injured arm healed spiritually
Elizabeth Jones Davis
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Warts eliminated through prayer
Margaret Lombard Heimer
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Quick healings of illness and pain
Donna S. Hunsberger
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Prayer heals injured shoulder
Suzanne D. Ruffin
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Finding home at work
By Jennell Lee Acha
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Anyone can pray
Heloísa Gelber Rivas