Books

To Thine Own Self …
By Wendell J. Ashton
Bookcraft, Inc., 244 pp., $3.95

“Two unexpected guests came to our door last Saturday night. Actually it was early Sunday morning. The hands of our clock had passed midnight. These visitors were panting.

“They were young women, about twenty years old. One was a tall brunette; the other, a shorter blonde. They had been running along a winding dirt road which cuts through the oak near our home.

“‘May we use your phone?’ one of them asked. As they talked, the story unfolded. Against their wishes, their boy friends had driven them down a lonely lane. After the car had come to a halt, the girls had opened the doors and fled.

“It took courage to get out and run to the door of a strange home after midnight. They could have lingered longer and attempted to persuade their companions to abstain from further advances. But in everyone’s life there is a time to get out and run. And those girls ran, even though the hour was not a convenient one. …

“Who knows? Unborn generations could have cause to be thankful for the midnight run of two girls. Indeed, generations—even civilizations—have been blessed through a similar act of a young man in the house of Potiphar. Genesis says of Joseph that he ‘fled, and got him out.’ (Gen. 39:12.) There came a time for Joseph to get out and run. And he ran.”

This is one of seventy-two short character-building stories in Wendell J. Ashton’s latest collection. Each piece is less than three pages long, and all are gently inspiring and motivating, as well as entertaining. Stories of strong character and performance involve the example of folks like your next-door neighbors, as well as well-known men and women we all admire. Walt Disney, astronaut Don Lind, Olympic runner Zatopek, world-famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein, and many others are the subjects of homey stories that help to give us a brief acquaintance with greatness.

Attention-Getters & Forfeits
By Alma Heaton
Bookcraft, 1972, 58 pp., $1.25

In Attention-Getters & Forfeits, third in a series of Treasury of Classroom, Family and Party Fun, Alma Heaton suggests some terse remarks, quick actions, and clever means of getting attention in a classroom, party, or group situation.

For example: the situation is in the Scout room. The Scouts are engaged in tomfoolery, nonsense, teasing, and other boyhood disorder. What do you do to call them to attention? Here are some possibilities:

“Start clapping your hands … and get the group to do the same. Change the clapping rhythm and start another.”

“Tell the group to give the Boy Scout sign; then you do it wrong. The last one to do it right pays a forfeit.”

Or it is time for family home evening. The children are restless and noisy. To get everyone’s attention:

“Start making some odd noises, very quietly.”

“Start singing.”

“Talk in a foreign language.”

“Put bells on your feet and walk around the room.”

“Announce that the last one to ‘freeze’ in the position he is in pays a forfeit.”

Or use these suggested statements as attention-getters:

“Transplants have been around for a long time. They started with the rib.”

“Short naps prevent aging, especially if taken while driving.”

“Minds are like parachutes—they only function when open.”

Studies in Asian Genealogy
Spencer J. Palmer, editor
Brigham Young University Press, 269 pp., illustrated with Asian calligraphy, $12.50

Dr. Spencer Palmer and his colleagues on the Asian Studies faculty at Brigham Young University have edited and compiled the papers into this book. Its theme places in perspective the importance of Asian genealogy by presenting insights into Asian history, society, economics, politics, migrations, demography, literature, and religion.

Of particular interest to members of the Church are the problems and prospects of missionary work in Asia. This book provides background on that topic. It is a book written by scholars for scholars, but it is nonetheless of help to anyone interested in understanding the Asian environment into which the Church is projecting the restored gospel, as well as anyone interested in genealogical research in that part of the world.