Best Selling Books by Scott Smith

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Trapped in the Mexican jungle, a group of friends stumble upon a creeping horror unlike anything they could ever imagine in "the best horror novel of the new century" (Stephen King). Also a major motion picture! Two young couples are on a lazy Mexican vacation—sun-drenched days, drunken nights, making friends with fellow tourists. When the brother of one of those friends disappears, they decide to venture into the jungle to look for him. What started out as a fun day-trip slowly spirals into a nightmare when they find an ancient ruins site ... and the terrifying presence that lurks there. "The Ruins does for Mexican vacations what Jaws did for New England beaches.” —Entertainment Weekly “Smith’s nail-biting tension is a pleasure all its own.... This stuff isn’t for the faint of heart.” —New York Post “A story so scary you may never want to go on vacation, or dig around in your garden, again.” —USA Today

In his highly praised book Faith and the Presidency, Gary Scott Smith cast a revealing light on the role religion has played in presidential politics throughout our nation''s history, offering comprehensive, even-handed examinations of the role of religion in the lives, politics, and policies of eleven presidents. Now, in Religion in the Oval Office, Smith takes on eleven more of our nation''s most interesting and influential chief executives: John Adams, James Madison, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William McKinley, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Drawing on a wide range of sources and paying close attention to historical context and America''s shifting social and moral values, he examines their religious beliefs, commitments, affiliations, and practices and scrutinizes their relationships with religious leaders and communities. The result is a fascinating account of the ways in which religion has helped shape the course of our history. From John Quincy Adams'' treatment of Native Americans, to Harry Truman''s decision to recognize Israel, to Bill Clinton''s promotion of religious liberty and welfare reform, to Barack Obama''s policies on poverty and gay rights, Smith shows how strongly our presidents'' religious commitments have affected policy from the earliest days of our nation to the present. Together with Faith and the Presidency, Religion in the Oval Office provides the most comprehensive examination of the inseparable and intriguing relationship between faith and the American presidency. This book will be invaluable to anyone interested in the presidency and the role of religion in politics.

Publisher description

Two brothers and their friend stumble upon the wreakage of a plane--the pilot is dead and his duffle bag contains four million dollars in cash.

"Intimate and elemental, rooted in earth, sky and a mystic wisdom, the poems in James Scott Smith''s Water, Rocks and Trees are ''hymns of / becoming.'' Each is the ''old soul'' of the book''s first poem, the work of a gracious and trusty guide, observant, nimble, never didactic, ever an acolyte of the infinite." -Catherine Abbey Hodges, author of Instead of Sadness

For 150 years, Grove City College has powerfully promoted faith, freedom, and the pursuit of excellence. Grove City College is perhaps best known for its 1984 Supreme Court battle with the federal government over financial aid—a case that led the college to reject all federal funding. But the history of Grove City College goes much deeper and has cut against the grain in many other ways. From its Reformed theological foundation, focus on Western civilization and the humanities, teaching of Austrian economics, low tuition cost, refusal to provide tuition discounts, and commitment to biblical orthodoxy and traditional moral values, Grove City College is one of the few schools in history to start down the road toward secularization and reverse course and reclaim its historic Christian mission. This heritage makes Grove City College unique in the annals of American higher education. For 150 years, Grove City has stayed true to its mission: providing a Christ-centered education that shapes men and women of sterling character and strong conviction who strive to serve God and people. Along the way, the college has confronted and overcome many significant challenges—two world wars, a major economic depression, the pressures of anti-Christian philosophies, a clash with the federal government, the declining number of college-aged students in the Northeast, and a global pandemic—emerging each time stronger, more vibrant, and more committed to its founding principles.

How faith sustained Jackie Robinson—both as an athlete and as an activist. The integration of Major League Baseball in 1947 was a triumph. But it was also a fight. As the first Black major leaguer since the 1880s, Jackie Robinson knew he was not going to be welcomed into America''s pastime with open arms. Anticipating hostility, he promised Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey that he would "turn the other cheek" during his first years in the league, despite his fiercely competitive disposition. Robinson later said that his faith in God had sustained him—giving him the strength he needed to play the game he loved at the highest level without retaliating against the abuse inflicted upon him by opposing players and fans. Faith was a key component of Robinson''s life, but not in the way we see it with many prominent Christian athletes today. Whereas the Tim Tebows and Clayton Kershaws of the sports world emphasize personal spirituality, Robinson found inspiration in the Bible''s teachings on human dignity and social justice. He grew up a devout Methodist (a heritage he shared with Branch Rickey) and identified with the theological convictions and social concerns of many of his fellow mainline Protestants—especially those of the Black church. While he humbly stated that he could not claim to be a deeply religious man, he spoke frequently in African American congregations and described a special affinity he and other Black Christians felt for the biblical character Job, who had also kept faith despite suffering and injustice. In his eulogy for Robinson, Jesse Jackson described Robinson as a "co-partner of God," who lived out his faith in his civil rights activism, both during and after his baseball career. Robinson''s faith will resonate with many Christians who believe, as he did, that "a person can be quite religious and at the same time militant in the defense of his ideals." This religious biography of Robinson chronicles the important role of faith in his life, from his childhood to his groundbreaking baseball career through his transformative civil rights work, and, in the process, helps to humanize the man who has become a mythic figure in both sports history and American culture.

More than 250 species of freshwater fishes live in North Carolina waters, making identification a challenge. Thanks to this comprehensive guide, anyone will be able to accurately identify any fish found in North Carolina—and better appreciate the diversity and beauty of fishes within the state. Inside the book: * Detailed identification keys based on essential species markers * 546 full-color images for clear identification of species markers * 260 maps showing species distribution throughout the state * Information on the freshwater fish families and ichthyological history of North Carolina * An appendix that explains the meanings behind the scientific names This is the must-have reference for nature lovers and anglers in North Carolina and beyond.

LIKE DIZZY GILLESPIE''S CHEEKS, is a humorous glimpse into the life of an unmotivated, Chicago Jazz Pianist who is stuck playing dingy bars, museum benefits and Nordstrom''s half-yearly sales. As a matter of fact, he''ll play at just about any establishment that will hire him. Typically, he can count on his longtime mentor, jazz great Ben Webster, to join him for a late night set on the piano. Irritable and not just because he''s in his seventies, Ben leaves the club before playing a single note. The next day, Sam is devastated to learn that his best friend is dead. As a result, Sam''s perspective on life takes an abrupt change. He notices how pathetically insignificant ones life can truly be. Stumbling through some interesting yet awkward situations, both funny and sad, including being conflicted about whether he should allow himself to fall in love with Kate Buckley, the reporter trying to get a story about his friend Ben for ESQUIRE, or continue his unhealthy relationship with Liz Brightwater of the Brightwater Marble fortune,Sam realizes that life is happening now. It''s admirable to respect the past, but he must also learn to trust his future.

Providing the first historical study of New Deal public works programs and their role in transforming the American economy, landscape, and political system during the twentieth century. Reconstructing the story of how reformers used public authority to reshape the nation, Jason Scott Smith argues that the New Deal produced a revolution in state-sponsored economic development. The scale and scope of this dramatic federal investment in infrastructure laid crucial foundations - sometimes literally - for postwar growth, presaging the national highways and the military-industrial complex. This impressive and exhaustively researched analysis underscores the importance of the New Deal in comprehending political and economic change in modern America by placing political economy at the center of the ''new political history''. Drawing on a remarkable range of sources, Smith provides a groundbreaking reinterpretation of the relationship between the New Deal''s welfare state and American liberalism.

Boat owners, perhaps more so than other motoring enthusiasts, want to spend their time playing, not maintaining, their toys. Unfortunately, due to their higher exposure to damaging elements, their longer periods of non-use, and the remote locations to which they transport their users, it could be argued that boats also require more care than cars or motorcycles. This guide breaks down by system the routine maintenance procedures every boat owner should know, presenting in more digestible chunks the upkeep of any modern boat, whether it''s 16 or 60 feet, inboard or outboard, open-hulled or cabin-equipped. Much of the information included is even applicable to sailboats, as well as runabouts and cabin cruisers.

We all have a story to tell. Three years after losing his first wife to breast cancer in 2001, Scott met Rhonda through an Internet dating service, and, after a whirlwind romance, they married in 2005. The next few years were filled with both bliss and the challenges of blending two families and five children. In 2009, Rhonda was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This book chronicles their seven-year journey through the raw emotions of e-mails exchanged with their amazing support group of church, friends, coworkers, and family. With a skilled and dedicated team of doctors and caregivers on their side, they were carried through it all by the Grace and Strength of their Lord. This is their story.

Gary Scott Smith examines how Americans from the Puritans to the present have imagined heaven -- Publisher description.

We live in a time of moral confusion: many believe there are no overarching moral norms, and we have lost an accepted body of moral knowledge. Alasdair MacIntyre addresses this problem in his much-heralded restatement of Aristotelian and Thomistic virtue ethics; Stanley Hauerwas does so through his highly influential work in Christian ethics. Both recast virtue ethics in light of their interpretations of the later Wittgenstein''s views of language. This book systematically assesses the underlying presuppositions of MacIntyre and Hauerwas, finding that their attempts to secure moral knowledge and restate virtue ethics, both philosophical and theological, fail. Scott Smith proposes alternative indications as to how we can secure moral knowledge, and how we should proceed in virtue ethics.

Whether you''re an adventure junkie, road-tripper, or card shark, Nevada has something for you. Pull off the perfect trip to the Silver State with Moon Nevada. Inside you''ll find: Strategic itineraries for road-trippers, campers, skiers, and more The best road trips through Nevada, from three days on "the loneliest road in America" to a week covering Death Valley and the Extraterrestrial Highway, plus detailed information on travel times, distances, and directions The top sights and unique experiences: Explore caves and glaciers at Great Basin National Park, or go fishing, swimming, or boating on Lake Tahoe or Lake Mead. Marvel at the Hoover Dam, camp at a secluded alpine lake, and experience the authentic Wild West in a ghost town saloon. Try your hand at a slot machine and eat your way through an epic Las Vegas buffet, or visit one of Nevada''s major festivals and shop for local turquoise jewelry in a Gold Rush town Local tips from longtime Nevadan Scott Smith on where to stay, when to go, and how to get around, plus advice for families with children and travelers with disabilities Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Thorough background information on the landscape, climate, wildlife, and local culture Focused coverage of Reno, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Tahoe, Central Nevada, Elko, the Ruby Mountains, and more With Moon Nevada''s practical tips and local insight, you can plan your trip your way. Spending more time at the lake? Try Moon Tahoe. Headed to the parks? Try Moon Yosemite National Park or Moon Death Valley National Park.

During the 1930s, Franklin D. Roosevelt''s New Deal carried out a program of dramatic reform to counter the unprecedented failures of the market economy exposed by the Great Depression. Contrary to the views of today''s conservative critics, this book argues that New Dealers were not ''anticapitalist'' in the ways in which they approached the problems confronting society. Rather, they were reformers who were deeply interested in fixing the problems of capitalism, if at times unsure of the best tools to use for the job. In undertaking their reforms, the New Dealers profoundly changed the United States in ways that still resonate today. Lively and engaging, this narrative history focuses on the impact of political and economic change on social and cultural relations.

This work contains the results of an investigation of naming practices in early modern England. It sets out to show which names were most commonly used, how children came to be given these names, why they were named after parents, siblings, or saints, and how social status affected naming patterns.