Best Selling Books by Paul Murray

Nowhere in the Bible does God promise an instant fix. Our culture is so insistent on immediate results. We want fast food, quick service, and instant pudding. We hate waiting in line for anything. If our smartphone is 4G, we must have 5G. Everything must be quicker and faster. It''s not that God can''t, won''t, or never does an instant fix. "Lazarus, come forth" was an instant fix. Lazarus got up and walked out of the tomb. "Tabatha, arise," and the little girl got up off her deathbed. That was an instant fix. "Be still," and the winds and the waves instantly became calm. That''s 5G speed! But instant fix is not the norm in the Christian life. Instant healings are not typical, and it has nothing to do with a lack of faith. A jackpot lotto winning is seldom an excellent financial solution to your problems, and justice is rarely immediate nor swift. That is just the way things are in a broken world. The same was true for Israel. It took seven long, grueling years to conquer Canaan. Later in the book, we will see why it took so long. The norm for gaining victory over sin and becoming mature in our faith usually takes a lifetime. As someone once said, "We are all men under construction." As long as we are still above ground, God is still working on us. Israel has now conquered the promised land. There are no more threats from the various Canaanite tribes, and there is peace across the land. Finally, after generations of waiting upon God to receive the promised inheritance, the spoils of the land are about to be divided among the tribes of Judah. But with each inheritance there comes some serious responsibility. Each individual tribe was to finish the job of removing the enemy for the land they inherited. The mandate was not "live and let live" or "indenture the indigenous" or "settle for coexistence." The remnant of enemy left in the land was to be completely driven out. To fail to do that would threaten Israel''s very existence in the promised land. Were they willing to finish the job? The obstacles loomed large, but God had proven His ability to move mountains. Starting strong does not win any race. The race is won when you cross the finish line. Read on and learn how to finish the race. The Fruit of Righteousness (Joshua 12-14) is the third and final part of the three-part series Pagans, Prostitutes and Other Problems: A Simple Man''s Commentary on Joshua.

In The Failure of Death, John records the greatest conflict planet earth has ever experienced. It is not a conflict between nations or peoples, nor a conflict involving military weapons. It is a conflict for the hearts and souls of all men everywhere. It is a conflict in the spiritual dimension of reality that has raged on since the beginning of time, a conflict between good and evil, right and wrong. The Jewish leadership had grown to hate Jesus. Several times they had tried, unsuccessfully, to put a stop to His influence over men. The prophetic words of Caiaphas the high priest had finally come to fruition, "It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish." Jesus had finally been arrested, "tried" and crucified to appease the will of the Jewish leadership. Victory had finally been achieved in stopping the madness of The Way. The head of the snake had been cut off. John focuses our attention around two major players as the events of Jesus'' crucifixion unfold, Peter and Pilate. With Peter a clear contrast is drawn between One suffering and dying and the other lying and denying. Pilate''s struggle, who is caught up in the tangled web of the Jews, is expressed in the profound question, "What is truth?" Yet Pilate turns and walks away before the One who is "the truth" has a chance to respond. Neither Peter or Pilate, nor anyone expected that the One who had been crucified and buried would raise from the dead. The failure of death rocked the world in the first century and it continues to rock our world today. John concludes his gospel with the redemption of the lying denier. Pilate, on the other hand, is left on the trash pile of history. As you read, you will be caught up in the trauma and emotions of the events that unfold. Will the failure of death be your final reward? Like Peter and Pilate, you also have a choice!

John''s gospel is unique. What makes it unique is the author, John, and the perspective he brings to the person and character of Jesus. John was Jesus''s closest friend. You might say his best friend! Peter, James, and John were part of an inner circle that Jesus included exclusively. Only these three were allowed into the room when Jesus raised the synagogue official''s daughter from the dead. Only these three were invited onto the mountain to witness his transfiguration experience. It was John that leaned on Jesus''s breast at the Last Supper and was told who the betrayer was. And in Jesus''s moment of deepest distress in the garden before his death, only these three were invited deep into the garden to pray with Jesus. But more than all that, John was the first disciple to be chosen and the only one at the very end. Only John was at the foot of the cross comforting Jesus''s mother while the rest hid in fear. And it was because of John''s unique relationship with Jesus that Jesus committed the care of his mother to him. John writes long after the other gospel letters had been distributed among the churches. John describes seven miracles, five unique to his gospel. John includes seven "I am" statements and is the only writer that uses the phrase "Truly, truly..." to underscore the extreme importance of these statements. John writes not as a follower, and not just as an eyewitness but as Jesus''s best friend. And John writes for one single, specific purpose: "That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31). To miss this is to miss the very reason for your existence on this planet!

The author finds that these committees are predominantly influenced by members of research institutions and by the researchers themselves. Yet researchers, and their institutions, stand to gain considerable benefits from the experiments they conduct. Dr McNeill argues that committees of review, as they are presently constituted, cannot be relied on to ensure an equitable balance between the interests of researchers and the interests of the human subjects experimented on. He proposes a radically different rationale and model for committee review.

There is little general agreement about the battles which have most decisively changed the course of history. Those given the fullest description in this book have been chosen on two considerations: each has played a marked part in the making of history and each illustrates an important change in the making of war.

Zimbabwe Travel Guide - Travel tips and holiday advice including Harare hotels and restaurants, Victoria Falls highlights, national parks, safaris and reserves. Also features suggested itineraries and routes, wildlife tracking, Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba, Mana Pools, Gonarezhou National Park, ancient history in Great Zimbabwe and Khami.

"Written with both passion and precision, God''s Spies is a work that will be welcomed by anyone interested in the vital interplay between poetry and religion. The authors represented, including poets such as Michelangelo, St Francis of Assisi, Charles Péguy, Dante and Shakespeare, all possess one great and surprising quality in common: audacity. All of them in their work offer fresh and unforeseen perspectives on life and literature. Some of these authors are religious in the strict meaning of the word, their work indicating a devout turning away from the distractions of the world to focus on God. Others, in contrast, are poets whose work is distinguished by a remarkable visionary focus on the many small and great dramas of life, attending with bright, imaginative genius to what Shakespeare calls ''the mystery of things''."--Bloomsbury publishing.

A look at the meaning, and the humor, of the Book of Jonah.

Familie Barnes steckt in Schwierigkeiten. Dickie Barnes'' lukratives Autogeschäft läuft nicht mehr. Aber anstatt sich dem Problem zu stellen, beginnt er in den Wäldern einen Bunker zu bauen. Seiner Frau Imelda, die ihren Schmuck auf eBay verkauft, erscheinen die Avancen von Big Mike, dem reichen Rinderzüchter, immer attraktiver. Die achtzehnjährige Cass, die immer die Klassenbeste war, reagiert auf den Niedergang, indem sie beschließt sich bis zu ihrem Abschluss jeden Tag zu betrinken, während der zwölfjährige PJ einen Plan schmiedet, um von zu Hause abzuhauen. Wenn das Leben und die Welt auseinanderfallen, stellen sich die großen Fragen: Wann und warum begann der Untergang? Was hätte man tun können und wie weit müsste man zurückgehen, wenn man die Geschichte ändern könnte? Bis zu dem Tag als Dickie Barnes zehnjährig zitternd vor seinem Vater stand und lernte, wie man ein richtiger Mann wird? Bis zu dem Autounfall zwölf Monate vor Cass'' Geburt? Oder bis zu dem verheerenden Stich der Biene, der Imeldas Hochzeitstag ruinierte?

Una tragicomedia irlandesa tan hilarante como desgarradora. Les presentamos a los Barnes, una familia irlandesa infeliz de cuatro maneras diferentes. El padre, Dickie, regenta un concesionario de coches heredado de su progenitor. Las cosas le iban razonablemente bien hasta que la crisis económica (y quizá también su heterodoxa labia de vendedor) empezó a afectar a las ventas. La madre, Imelda, viene de una familia humilde y es conocida por ser la mujer más hermosa del pueblo. En realidad, ella estaba enamorada de Frank, el hermano carismático —y fallecido— de Dickie, y ahora ambos arrastran un pasado con zonas oscuras. En cuanto a los hijos: Cass es una adolescente en pleno descubrimiento del sexo y el alcohol que sueña con dejar esa maldita ciudad provinciana y marcharse a estudiar a Dublín. Mientras, mantiene una relación ambivalente, de devoción rabiosa, con su amiga del alma Elaine. Y el benjamín, PJ, sufre acoso en el colegio y teme que sus padres se divorcien, por lo que se refugia en los videojuegos. Allí conecta con un amigo virtual que puede no ser lo que parece... Y entonces Dickie Barnes se obsesiona con el colapso ecológico y se empeña en construir un refugio en los bosques cercanos, aunque acaso lo que está a punto de colapsar no sea el planeta, sino su familia. Paul Murray, que con esta espléndida obra resultó finalista del Premio Booker 2023, sale triunfante del siempre difícil reto literario de la tragicomedia: lleva al lector de la carcajada a la congoja y ofrece una de las miradas más demoledoras, divertidas y memorables sobre la familia. Una novela brillante y profundamente humana, de lectura absorbente, llamada a convertirse en un clásico instantáneo.

Hat Claude Martingale gehofft, er könne seinem Leben als Banker durch seinen Umzug von Paris nach Dublin die ersehnte Wende geben? Sein neuer Job in der aufstrebenden Bank von Torabundo raubt ihm jedenfalls schnell jegliche Illusion. Auch hier verbringt er, wie alle seine Kollegen, seine Tage und Nächte einzig im Dienste des Geldes. In diese lähmende Eintönigkeit platzt der Schriftsteller Paul, der, auf der Suche nach neuem Stoff, Claude zu seinem modernen Jedermann erkoren hat, zum Helden seines künftigen literarischen Meisterwerks. Unter Pauls höchst erfindungsreichem Einfluss wird Claudes Leben tatsächlich aufregender, besonders als die schöne griechische Kellnerin Ariadne ins Geschehen tritt. Doch Paul treibt ein doppeltes Spiel, und auch die Bank von Torabundo erweist sich als weniger ehrenwert als erhofft: zwielichtige Übernahmen, dubioser Derivatehandel und eine neue Unternehmensstrategie, die sich »kontraintuitives Handeln« nennt – kann das alles gut gehen?

''Het doel en de leegte'' is waarschijnlijk de grappigste roman over de financiële crisis. De Fransman Claude Martingale, aan zijn lot overgelaten in het verbijsterend vochtige, geïsoleerde Ierland, wordt benaderd door Paul, een schrijver die het allemaal niet mee zit. En Paul is op zoek naar zijn volgende onderwerp: Claude, bankier. Claude leeft op onder die externe, letterlijk romantiserende blik. Maar Pauls plan is niet wat het lijkt – noch is Claudes werkgever dat, de Torabundo Investeringsbank. Die zwelt op door derivatenhandel en troebele overnames en... Het laat zich raden wat dat allemaal teweegbrengt, maar Het doel en de leegte gaat uiteindelijk over veel meer dan het bankwezen alleen. Een waardige opvolger van publiekslieveling ''Skippy tussen de sterren''.

" La Marque et le Vide est une satire aussi hilarante qu''acérée sur le monde de la finance, portée par des personnages flamboyants. Mais ce roman est surtout, comme l''a été son glorieux aîné Skippy dans les étoiles, le livre le plus drôle de l''année. " The Independent À Dublin, en 2008 Claude a quitté sa morne banlieue parisienne pour gagner l''eldorado européen : l''Irlande. Et plus précisément Dublin. Et plus précisément encore, la Bank of Torabundo, un de ces établissements qui a pignon sur rue en cet âge d''or du Tigre celtique. Tous les matins, Claude et ses collègues papotent, les yeux rivés sur l''écran pour guetter les cours et les taux, boivent le café à dix heures, descendent déjeuner à midi au resto bio du coin, et le vendredi, c''est " casual day ". Pour Claude, le rêve. Et tout ceci aurait pu perdurer si deux facteurs n''avaient pas bouleversé sa vie : 1) la crise financière et 2) un écrivain raté prénommé Paul. La crise. Certes. 2008, la bulle immobilière qui éclate en Irlande, la Grèce qui commence à sombrer. Mais un écrivain ? Claude ne le connaît ni d''Eve ni d''Adam ! Oui mais voilà, Paul, longtemps en panne d''inspiration, a pour projet d''écrire un livre sur la vie d''un monsieur tout-le-monde, et Claude en est un parfait spécimen, insignifiant juste comme il faut, gentiment englué dans sa routine à la banque. Incroyable, se dit Claude en découvrant ce potentiel insoupçonné ! Devenir un héros de roman ! Le début de la gloire ! Ou le début des ennuis...

Skippy tussen de sterren beschrijft één enkele catastrofale herfst op het internaat Seabrooks, gezien vanuit zon twintig verschillende uitgeschreven perspectieven: studenten, docenten, administratieve krachten, priesters, vriendinnetjes, en de manager van een donutwinkel. In het centrum van alles staat Daniel Juster, bijnaam Skippy, wiens dood in Eds Doughnut House, nadat hij nog net de naam van zijn vlam in frambozenvulling op de vloer heeft weten te schrijven de opening vormt van de roman. Skippy tussen de sterren gaat vervolgens met flashbacks terug naar de maanden die eraan voorafgaan, maanden waarin de zwaarmoedige veertienjarige verliefd wordt, een gevecht wint, een geheim bewaart en de aandacht trekt van faculteitsleden die niet perse het beste met hem voor hebben. Onderweg leren we Skippys vrienden en kwelgeesten kennen: Ruprecht, Skippys bolle, geniale kamergenoot die experimenten uitvoert om de snaartheorie te bewijzen; Dennis, een aarts-cynicus wiens dromen zelfs sarcastisch zijn; Carl, Skippys rivaal in de liefde en psychopaat-in-de-dop; Lori, het object van Skippys dromen, die geobsedeerd wordt door een Britney Spears-achtig muziekdelletje en haar dieetpillen verbergt in de buik van haar teddybeer; en Mario, lieve, domme Mario, wiens obsessie met seks vermoeiend zou worden als het niet de bron was van vele hilarische slaapkamergesprekken tussen de vrienden. Paul Murray neemt de tijd en de ruimte om een aantal onderwerpen op magistrale wijze uit te werken tot een energieke plot rondom Skippy''s dood, terwijl de roman tegelijkertijd een lofzang op de verloren jeugd is. De pers over Skippy tussen de sterren: ''Een (school)reünie waar iedereen naartoe moet! Grappig, ontroerend en soms pijnlijk herkenbaar.'' - Nu.nl ''Paul Murray heeft zeven jaar gewerkt aan Skippy tussen de sterren. Zijn op elke pagina voelbare toewijding heeft geleid tot een verraderlijk soepel weglezende, regelmatig hilarische, maar tegelijkertijd ongenaakbaar schurende en bijtende roman.'' - de Volkskrant ''Murray beheerst zijn taal meesterlijk. (...) Hij schrijft lichtvoetig, teder en prachtig terloops over de meest gruwelijke dingen die mensen elkaar aandoen.'' - NRC Handelsblad

Everyone experiences failure in some form or fashion through the span of his or her life; it''s just a natural part of living. Even though failure occurs across a broad spectrum of human dynamics, its result is often manifested in the private areas of one''s life or in the public sphere of society. Dr. Murray illustrates through personal experiences and Scripture how the potential for human success often lies within the kernel of our most extreme failings. Broken is the story of one man''s failure and how he chose to rise above the circumstances resulting from the disgrace that followed. Using the Bible as a foundation, Dr. Murray identifies Biblical leaders who failed and how they were able to gain wisdom through their personal failures. He infuses his own life experiences with constructive steps and Biblical insights for picking up the pieces after the fall. Although Broken incorporates very practical advice - outlining sequential steps in the process of turning failure into success - it is so much more than just a self-help book. Readers are offered a glimpse into eternity and are encouraged to choose the narrow pathway leading to heaven''s door. Aspects of our human frailty are sensitively exposed, helping both those who find themselves judging others, as well as those being judged, to discern a better method of dealing with failure. The path to restoration is clear and well defined in Scripture for those who choose true repentance and a contrite heart before God. Dr. Murray explains why failure does not have to be final. He also presents the fascinating insight that what we do in secret are seeds planted in our souls - using our private time to build personal integrity can prevent a mindset which encourages failure. The focus of Broken includes advice on how to move past your failure, with Biblical examples showing how God''s servants managed this. Replicating the wisdom of these ancients and distilling it into the fast pace of our modern lives, Dr. Murray sets his readers on a path to rebuilding their credibility after having experienced failure. Picking up the broken pieces of a life shattered by failure is not an overnight process. It needs time and a well-constructed plan of action. Broken presents this plan, incorporating a Biblical perspective for the individual who actively seeks restoration, but which also includes the role of leadership in restoration. Those in positions of leadership will benefit from the wise counsel presented. The journey of personal transformation offered in this book will reveal to you why God allows human beings to experience failure. Ultimate success is often achieved as a result of overcoming past failures. Those who are able to grasp this simple truth will also understand that using and sharing the wisdom gained through failure might actually be part of God''s plan for your life. Redolent with practical and Biblical themes of encouragement and success, Broken emphasizes the fact that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.

A biography of the medieval French king that strips away legend and reveals a complex human being and extraordinary monarch. Louis XI defied feudal conventions in an age that ruled by them, and possessed a sense of humor that marked him as a dangerous outsider.

This rigorous explanation of plasmas is relevant to diverse plasma applications. More thorough than previous texts, it exploits new powerful techniques to develop deeper insights into plasma behavior. Written for advanced students, it explores a host of essential and advanced topics while emphasizing the fundamentals that apply to all plasmas.