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| A Purpose Under Heaven: A Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: Derek V. Smith
Publisher: August House
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $2.20
You Save: $12.75 (85%)
New (31) Used (19) from $1.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 537895
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 196
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.7 x 1
ISBN: 0874838533
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780874838534
ASIN: 0874838533
Publication Date: August 25, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
In his new book, A Purpose Under Heaven, Derek V. Smith uses allegory to demonstrate the pivotal role church and family must play in anchoring a society in a risky world-a world in which technology is outpacing our ability to cope with the changes it engenders.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Absorbing and thought provoking: A real jewel. June 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
There are very few books that may well grant you a sharper perspective of the world in which you live, but there are even fewer that do it in an entertaining and soulful way. A Purpose Under Heaven is such a rare gem. The author's vision of New Hope and its inhabitants is so vivid you are allowed to not simply understand the issues the characters confront but feel the powerful emotions these confrontations elicit.
On its face,A Purpose Under Heaven depicts the damaging effects of technological adoption into our lives without thoughtful consideration of its effects on our social structure. On a deeper level the well-developed interplay of the town inhabitants reveals this fraying of our social construct to be a tool for the ever-lurking evil elements (the Devil)to advance their (his)destructive ambitions. How the players in this novel ultimately deal with this threat reflects the necessity for each generation to understand the problem, create social and tecnological counterbalances, and pass the torch of hope to the next generation. Expressed in the form of an allegory, this penetrating tale allows us to put a face on the enemy in a way a preachy non-fiction work could never achieve. All of us struggle with life-changing issues as do these characters. A Purpose Under Heaven clarifies how the social support mechanism that has sustained us for hundreds of generations can silently erode if we do not make its survival one of our priorities. I recommend this book as one that while entertaining will cause you to reflect upon your Purpose Under Heaven.
 A Purpose Under Heaven A Novel April 5, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Are you looking for a quick, easy, thought-provocative book written from the perspective of a successful CEO of a publically-traded high tech company?
It is not at all what I expected--I thought it would be very technical, cutting edge on future technology concerns. Instead, pleasant surprise, it was written as a simple vignette of an extended family in an American small-town community and their current experiences with societal changes hastened by technology tools we all take for granted: computers, cellphones, internet, etc. The characters are very real and compelling in that it could be someone you know. The story champions the human spirit and faith with our moral dilemmas regarding technology. It covers many of our current societal issues like identity theft, chat room predators, email and cellphone communications, and the gap between grandparents and grandchildren with some technologies. It is not preachy--but quietly demonstrates and focuses our attention on some very real concerns. You can read this in an afternoon. Great gift for parents. Enjoy the story!
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