On Monday, Michael Novak, author of upcoming book, No One Sees God (on sale August 5th) shared his perspective on USA Today online, where he stated “Judaism and Christianity seem very good religions for those who suffer because they bestow on them justice and dignity. The realistic point of Judaism and Christianity is that suffering is a normal part of every human life. Lamentations are a native language. But evil does not mean that God loves us less, or that all is lost, or that good does not win out in the end.”

And, today, a wonderful commentary and interview are featured on David Crumm’s website, Read the Spirit. Here, David claims “Novak’s new book is an important contribution to building bridges between believers and unbelievers. It’s also a great book for small-group study, especially for religious groups trying to grapple with the acidic waves of neo-atheist writing over the past year.”

In The Dark Side, Jane Mayer chronicles the terrible and destructive decisions the Bush administration made in the name of fighting terrorism. It has received natioanl attention by both periodicals and politicians alike. Below are some highlights:

• In “Answering Terror with Terror,” Salon.com states: The Dark Side is about how the war on terror became ‘a war on American ideals,’ and Mayer gives this story all the weight and sorrow it deserves. Many books get tagged with the word ‘essential’; hers actually is.”
• “Mayer’s singular accomplishment is to fuse the years of events that have brought us to this pass into a single compelling narrative and to use her own considerable reportorial powers to fill in important connective and contextual events.” — Los Angeles Times
• Readers can find similar praise at Bloomberg.com and The New York Observer

In the nation’s capital? Meet Jane Mayer at Politics and Prose on July 24 at 7pm. View a complete tour schedule, here.

A fascinating journey into the hidden psychological influences that derail our decision-making, Sway will change the way you think about the way you think.

Below are some of our favorite articles and reviews:

• Read “Small Is the New Big in Progressive Politics” co-authored by Ori Brafman at HuffingtonPost.com
• “Sway includes the most thorough and detailed list of sources to come along in a while.” —Inc.com’s “Skimmer’s Guide To the Latest Business Books”
• An Author Q&A at TheStar.com

Visit swaybook.com to watch videos and read the authors’ blog.

For generations in Jerusalem, a fabled mansion has been the retreat for foreign correspondents, diplomats, pilgrims and spies–but until now, few have known the true story of the house that became the American Colony Hotel or its bizarre history of tragedy, religious extremism, emotional blackmail, and peculiar sexual practices.

1. The “Overcomers” are described as “educated, attractive, mostly well-to-do, and some socially prominent.” Did this affect the way they were viewed by others? Have you ever felt more or less judgmental of particular religious adherents based on superficial characteristics (i.e. mainstream Mormons and Jews versus the less-assimilated Fundamentalist Mormons or Hassidic Jews)?
2. The author quotes Alexis de Tocqueville’s observation that Americans of his day were prone to extreme religious practices and beliefs: “Religious insanity is very common in the United States.” Even today, many Europeans look at Americans as beholden to an outdated puritanical ethic. Does de Tocqueville’s statement still apply to Americans today?

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Click here to learn more about The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash.

A no-holds-barred memoir from the primary architect of hip hop and one of the culture’s most revered music icons — both the tale of his life and legacy and a testament to dogged determination. More on the book here. Be sure to also visit grandmasterflash.com.

The Strong Man is the first full-scale biography of John N. Mitchell, the central figure in the rise and ruin of Richard Nixon and the highest-ranking American official ever convicted on criminal charges.

• Read James Rosen’s column in the New York Post, which The Power Line blog picked up.
• The Washington Post reports John Dean’s responsibility in the Watergate scandal.
• Read “Big Bad John” in the Weekly Standard.