This I Believe II: More Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women [Paperback]

Jay Allison (Author), Dan Gediman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 21, 2009

The new paperback in the bestselling series of inspiring personal philosophies

This collection of This I Believe essays gathers seventy-five essayists—ranging from famous to previously unknown—completing the thought that begins the book’s title. With contributors who run the gamut from cellist Yo-Yo Ma, to professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to ordinary folks like a diner waitress, an Iraq War veteran, a farmer, a new husband, and many others, This I Believe II, like the first New York Times bestselling collection, showcases moving and irresistible essays.

Included are Sister Helen Prejean writing about learning what she truly believes through watching her own actions, singer Jimmie Dale Gilmore writing about a hard-won wisdom based on being generous to others, and Robert Fulghum writing about dancing all the dances for as long as he can. Readers will also find wonderful and surprising essays about forgiveness, personal integrity, and honoring life and change.

Here is a welcome, stirring, and provocative communion with the minds and hearts of a diverse, new group of people—whose beliefs and the remarkably varied ways in which they choose to express them reveal the American spirit at its best.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Allison and Gediman's newest omnibus highlights 75 more essays from the archives of the successful NPR program, a contemporary version of Edward Murrow's classic radio show. Culled from writers both legendary and previously unfamiliar, each essayist presents what he or she believes in 500 words. From Robin Baudier's tract on Strange Blessings, detailing her experience living in her parents' FEMA trailer after the devastation of Katrina, to Michelle Gardner-Quinn's credo for upholding reverence for all life (Quinn was tragically murdered after completing this essay) to Kim Phuc's essay on Forgiveness, borne of her experience as that girl in the picture running naked, napalm-burnt on a road near Saigon, each micro-essay stuns with its singular beauty, lucidity and humility. Icons like Helen Prejean, Studs Terkel and Elie Wiesel find estimable company in heretofore unknown writers who distill their individual truths with affecting sincerity and admirable aptitude. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

In the second collection derived from the extraordinarily popular and influential National Public Radio program This I Believe, pithy, personal, and stealthily affecting essays grapple with life’s big questions from myriad perspectives and with refreshingly positive energy. Professional skateboarder Tony Hawk tells us to do what we love. James Loney, a peace activist held hostage in Iraq, believes that “there are many ways we can hold one another captive.” Nature writer David Gessner believes in wildness. Readers will also discover what invaluable life lesson neurobiologist Jimmy Liao learned from studying fish in turbulent waters, why Susan Cooke Kittredge believes in mending, and what “strange blessings” a woman whose family lost their home to Katrina gleaned. Other voices include war veterans, a Muslim immigrant, and a poet who became addicted to crack. Beauty, duty, forgiveness, and remembrance—all are considered in 75 earnest and revealing credos, which, as astute series editor Allison observes, are not sermons but, rather, the results of soul-searching in the wake of anguished experiences. Infused with gratitude and hope, these declarations are at once grounding and uplifting. --Donna Seaman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks (July 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805090894
• ISBN-13: 978-0805090895
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reaffirms the power of the story, the spoken word...what's not to love?, October 21, 2008

By 

J. Marsano "Gerade aus Brooklyn" (Urban Gristle Mill) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This I Believe II: More Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

Once in a while an idea comes along that's so simple, so pure, as to demand: why hasn't anyone done this before?

Accomplished freelance producer Jay Allison, of Falmouth, Massachusetts, struck upon reviving an mouldy-but-goldy: assemble articulate people to speak plainly, from the heart, about their deepest convictions.

This is no mean feat speaking from an age of irony, where the best are cowed into silence by the masses of twitch-and-click "comments" that infect our public airwaves and media. To stand before the public in open and naked invocation of the tenets and values nearest and dearest to our hearts is to invite the slings and arrows of a public reared on blithe and thoughtless commentary.

These speakers--celebrities and no-bodies, the ordinary and the extraordinary--toss caution to the wind and speak plainly, clearly. You won't find yourself in agreement with every speaker's values, but you will admire their candor and their willingness to stand in the harsh light. Who's here? The list goes on: Alice of Alice's Restaurant on the value of making it up as you go along; Frank Miller on the value of patriotism; Yasir Billoo on being raised an American; Sgt. Ernesto Haibi on belief in one another and mankind. These voices bear witness to the best we can be. The back of the CD slipcase says this collection belongs to the "Inspiration" section. This is the first time I've ever been un-apologetic about owning such an earnest, inspirational collection in my library.

If you are a fan of the Story Corps project, you'll find a spiritual consonance here. Both projects seek to recover the art of the story and the spoken word.

Would you like to believe? These are the voices of your family. These are the voices of your neighbors. It doesn't get much better than this. I recommend this highly.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Positive Uplift, October 22, 2008

By 

Texas Rose "Roseanna" (ALBANY, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: This I Believe II: More Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women (Audio CD)

(What's this?)

Well, anything with NPR on it is usually good as far as I'm concerned, but this is just an amazing collection. I remember a few months back listening to some of these on the radio and being so impressed. I heard mostly the pieces that had been written by noted individuals, but I was impressed with NPR for opening the doors to the average person to share. I think this kind of nationa/world wide group involvement in co-creating something is a product of our current technological age - such as the My Space and You Tube sort of things.

But this collection of CDs is just so impressive. I was astounded to see that there are 5 CDs in the set, and there are many "just average folks" on here. I especially like the first piece on CD #3 about a young woman who is a waitress in a Texas diner. She selflessly helps out a customer and is later rewarded with the knowledge that her simple act may have radically changed someone's life. Her main idea is that you can create peace through one simple act of kindness.

I am on the road almost every weekend, so these have become a staple part of my listening while driving, and when my spouse or friends come along, these CD play an important part of our conversation. I have also started playing one selection a day for my students to discuss in class, and I love the fact that the pieces are short and lend themselves to great conversation. Many, if not all, of the items have topics simple enough to even upper elementary children to listen to and understand, so these could be great family conversation starters.

I just can't say enough good things about this positive and remarkable product, and I look forward to the next set.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection of essays, November 5, 2008

By 

Sheri Fogarty (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: This I Believe II: More Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women (Audio CD)

(What's this?)

This is a terrific collection (5 CD's worth!) of short essays previously played on the NPR series, This I Believe is based on a series that was originally on Edward R. Murrow's radio program. It let individuals explain some of their personal beliefs and philosophies.

It's a diverse collection of 75 essays from people you might know, students, workers, CEO's and waitresses to others who are famous, Robert Fulghum, Tony Hawk and Craig, who started Craig's list!

Most of them are read by the author, which really helps to personalize each essay. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry, but they will all give you something to think about. Wonderful and highly recommended!