Customer Reviews

Just Peace: A Message of Hope

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I was poking around a bookstore & saw this book. Recently, I saw Jimmy Carter running around SF, and I saw his face on the book. Then I opened it, and was blown away. Jimmy Carter loved this boy bc his innocence and sincerity were so huge in the face of his own personal traumas.

This young kid, Mattie, had both vision and enough writing skill to deliver accessible, powerful poetic visions. He died in '04, but his vision will linger.

I'm not your typical reader of this kind of stuff. I prefer scifi/fantasy, and how-to books. I write poetry for pleasure, and have been published, but that's also not a common book genre for me either. Generally I prefer more radical, powerful, left-wing writing.

I strongly suggest people consider this book, or at least look at his website and read some of the poetry: http://www.mattieonline.com/

There are poets who are elaborate, who paint lengthy pictures. And there are poets like Mattie, who write poems that hit so hard with using a simple structure. I haven't finished the book yet (bought it yesterday), so I can't give it 5 stars yet, but I find it very inspiring.

Having served 38 months in Europe in World War II, peace has always meant a great deal to me. While I had sympathy for conscientious objectors and admiration for peace organizations, none of their positions seemed to really `fit'. There was a missing link which I never identified until I heard and understood Mattie Stepanek's message. Its simplicity defines its great strength:

"Peace starts with me. Make Peace an attitude. Make Peace a Habit. Make peace a reality."

Furthermore, he makes a very convincing case for the practicality of living this way and of ultimately having an effect on others. President Carter's many contributions to peace, meriting the Nobel Peace Prize, are widely known and appreciated. His collaboration with Mattie adds real substance to the book and validates Mattie's thesis that "Peace is possible".

A very fitting bonus is the collection of e-mails exchanged between Mattie and "Jimmy" which reveal a closeness that one might never guess would exist between two separated by generations, backgrounds and experience. Jeni Stepanek, Mattie's mom, as Editor, melds the whole package together with amplifying comments in all the appropriate places

It is difficult to imagine a more compelling presentation. It is so compelling that my conviction is that a person who had never before heard of Mattie, or read any of his previous works, could be just as convinced as I am. If you think the world is presently in a serious and troubled state, try reading "Just Peace" in order to discover a possible and even better way.

Im fourteen years old, and Mattie Stepaneks words have showed me that it make look like you have everything, but you're really in dire need of help.
Mattie Stepanek went through an amazing amount of emotional pain, physical pain, and yes, it all cost his mother a large sum of money.
Not only was the boy sick -- but they would have to live in peoples basements, and get food from churches in order to survive the "storm".
But Mattie held his head high and believed that you really can "Play after every storm".

This book is one of the /best/ books Ive ever read. Mattie is a TRUE poet, and a REAL peacemaker!

And its true -- all we need is PEACE!

Mattie J. T. Stepanek's book is one of the most profound and inspirational books I have ever read. I don't know if any of you had the privilege of encountering young Mattie on his numerous television appearances on Oprah, Good Morning America, Larry King, or the Jerry Lewis M.D. telethon, but if you did, or did not, I invite you to read this book by this best-selling young poet, peacemaker and philosopher. Mattie J.T. Stepanek died in June, 2004, weeks before his 14th birthday. I have all his previous poetry books, but this book goes far beyond his poetry, with brilliant essays, and email correspondence with his hero, President Jimmy Carter. His essays are incredible, filled with wisdom and insights that hardly seem possible coming from such a young mind.

Mattie wrote these words: "I believe that I am here to reach out and touch the world gently with my thoughts and my experiences, and with my observations and my reactions, to help people more fully appreciate and respect all aspects of life. I believe that I am here, even if only for a few handful of years, to help people consider the important matter of future, during our lifetime, and for eternity."

His essays are profound and I find I cannot even put into words the value of his work, except to say it has to be shared. You may think, oh, this is a kid, what can he know. Trust me, his writing is beautiful, his philosophy profound, insightful, and filled with a wisdom far, far, beyond his age. His legacy is a gift for humanity, and those of us who did encounter Mattie will never forget this special angel, a messenger of peace, and those who now read his book, will also remember

Mattie J. T. Stepanek lived and died a child, but he had the spirit and wisdom of an old soul. In his short thirteen years, he became a poet, best-selling author, and peace activist, and his words touched millions of our hearts. Before his death in June 2004, his six volumes of "Heartsongs" poetry have sold more than a million copies. It is my hope that "Just Peace, A Message of Hope," will also reach millions of hearts and minds throughout the world.

I have bought a number of copies of "Just Peace: A Message of Hope" as gifts for my family and friends.

The reviewer providing the Onion link obviously has not even read this book. If so, said "reviewer" would know that this book moves well beyond Mattie's powerful and thought provoking Heartsongs and includes Mattie's prose writing, as well as personal emails between Mattie and President Carter that cover topics ranging from life and living to our impact on one another, to this child's overpowering knowledge of his own upcoming death and how he chooses to cope. Readers receive an intimate look at one of our Presidents through the lens of a friend, mentor, and confidant. Also special to this book, and again a strong sign that the Onion reviewer has not read it, is that Mattie lays out a plan for peace. If only President Bush (and mean-spirited people like the Onion reviewer) would read and take Mattie's steps to heart.

Mattie had insight into this dysfunctional world way beyond his years. His thoughts and prayers for America and the world are visions of a spiritual peace among nations of the earth that has never before existed and is such an easy task if only one hand from each nation would reach out and grab another and then another. Mattie envisioned heaven on earth. There was no reason for wars or hate or racism, we are all equal as created in God's eyes. I believe Mattie's cry for peace can be a reality. I hope he's watching and praying for each and every one of us and I know that he is embraced by God's light and he is well. Thank you Mattie for all that you were and continue to be.

My name is Carolyn Beedham and I have Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, in a wheel chair with only my left hand that isn't paralyzed. My internal organs including breathing have all been affected. I will never give up. Jerry Lewis is my idol too.

Never have I and never will I ever be so inspired by anyone in the same way I have been inspired by Mattie J. T. Stepanek. In reading this book, one has to believe in love, happiness and peace. This child and his mother have been through so much heartache and pain. It's just amazing to me how two people with so much pain can inspire the world. They truly are a gift from God. If you haven't read this book, or any of Mattie's other books, then you are really missing out!

When I first heard about Mattie, it was about five years ago and I guess I didn't really pay too much attention. But I had heard and read enough of his poetry that by the time he passed away my heart was broken. I wished I had payed more attention to what he was doing while he was alive. This book really helped me to fill in the gaps. It is full of his poetry and essays, as well as a history of his life as seen through his email correspondance with Jimmy Carter. I was in tears every time I picked up this book. So I have no problem in giving it the highest rating possable.

Mattie J.T. Stepanek is one of the most charmingly refreshing, wise souls I have encountered in recent years. In this book he captivates and motivates me to keep pressing on during times of difficulty, and to maintain a sense of peace in all that I do. There were times while reading I would forget that the knowledge and wisdom swept across each page belonged to a young child, one who - at the mercy of a terminal illness - is still able to convey a joy for living and loving each moment he is given.

Mattie possessed a passion-filled heart, his purpose and mission was always clear to him, and he used every opportunity of his time here on earth to share this purpose with us through his work. He chose not to focus on his illness, despite the physical limitations it produced, Mattie retained an air of conviction and gratitude for his life and for the people that surrounded him with love and encouragement.

Mattie's message did not go quiet with his departure from this earth. It continues to reach, and live within the hearts of those he touched with his life.

Thank you Mattie, my friend.

Now that I've discovered the story of Mattie J. T. Stepanek after first reading his mother's newly published biography "Messenger", I continue to find it a marvelous inspiration. I notice from the dates on most of the other reviews of "Just Peace" that I am again "lately come" to this wonderful experience, but it seems ever more timely as the seasons of our world approach ever greater crises.

Part of Mattie's message, of course, was that time IS of the essence! This is a part of the reason, I believe, that God sent us a messenger who was on a very tight terrestrial schedule -- Mattie had to do what he was asked to do in a time frame that reflects in an astonishing way the short years of Christ's ministry, and in addition he was held back by his own extremely fragile health. Yet thanks to the opportunities offered by modern technology -- the continued growth of the Noosphere that Pierre Teilhard de Chardin described and predicted so eloquently -- that message continues to reach out to our struggling world. I am profoundly moved by the collaboration of the two peacemakers, Jimmy and Mattie, and the unbelievably courageous efforts of Jeni who, despite her own struggles and challenges, continues to facilitate this incredible effort.