Do Fish Feel Pain? (Victoria Braithwaite)

Waldo Malan

Oxford University Press South Africa (www.oxford.co.za)

At first I thought the title was a metaphor for something else, or some philosophical slant, but no, Victoria Braithwaite deals literally with the subject of whether fish feel pain. So with my interest piqued I picked up the book and sat down to start paging through. Michael Agger, writer and fisherman comments, “Whenever one of these studies about fish pain appears, animal lovers start glaring at me and my fellow fishermen. If fish can experience pain, then angling must be a cruel sport, right up there with deer hunting, bear baiting, and eating hot dogs. Why can't we just leave fish alone and do something else?” The anti-fishing crowd is seemingly supported in this book by biologist Victoria Braithwaite; she explores the question of fish pain and fish suffering, explaining what science can now tell us about fish behaviour, examining the related ethical questions about how we should treat these animals. However, her well balanced approach stems from active involvement in the fishing industry as well as angling, and in this book she argues for the protection of all fish and to afford them the same protective privileges afforded birds and other animals. Even for a non-fisherman this will prove to be an interesting read.

Listen (Rene Gutteridge)

Review by Patricia Kruger

Tyndale (Christian Art Distributors)

Once I opened this novel I found it difficult to put down as Rene Gutteridge's talent for suspense keeps the pages turning from its captivating prologue to its powerful ending. It tells a story of a model town called Marlo where you would like to raise your family until someone posted private conversations onto a website for everyone to read. Everybody's lives are touched by words. Words are powerful and sometimes hurtful. Words can also encourage and lift you up. The author has written an engaging and memorable fascinating and tightly crafted story.

90 Minutes in Heaven (Don Piper)

SPECIAL EDITION FOR TEENAGERS

Review by Joshua Werner Dörfelt

Christian Art Publishers

90 Minutes in Heaven is a true story about a preacher, Don Piper. He tells how he was involved in a head-on collision with an eighteen-wheeler semi-truck. He died on impact and then went to heaven for an unforgettable ninety minutes, only to be brought back to life with serious injuries. His road to recovery was very slow and very painful. He could never walk properly again, but God showed him that he had to tell others about his experience that had changed his life and use it to touch countless other lives. If you don’t believe in heaven, or if your belief has grown dim, I would encourage you to read this book. I really enjoyed reading it and I got even more excited about God’s promise for them that love him.

Lifestyle Changes To Beat Addiction (Ray Eberlein)

Review by Sharon Malan

KnowRes Publishing (011 880 8540)

This is a book that together with a Facilitator Guide, Workbook, Visual Aids and Handouts (these are downloadable from the net) forms a teaching-learning package that will help the recovering dependant and co-dependants in the process of healing. It aims to identify and understand the extent of the substance abuse problem, and to influence the dependant to undergo treatment and a lifestyle change to bring about a long-term sobriety.

It is obvious that this work represents the passion of the author, and what he set out to accomplish is indeed done. A great resource for dependants, parents, teachers and counsellors, I can well see this as an essential tool in the hands of those who labour to help bring freedom to those who are under the influence of addictions. The book is laid out with tables, easy-to-follow diagrams and bullet lists, all there to bring across the aid in its essential form.

The Reason for God (Timothy Keller)

Review by Waldo Malan

This book has been listed on the New York Times Top10 bestseller list, and addresses the issue of having belief in an age of scepticism. The age-old questions that is always asked by people the world over, such as “Why does God allow suffering in the world?” and “Why isn’t Christianity more inclusive?” are dealt with in a straightforward way. Keller writes, “Respectful dialogue between entrenched traditional conservative and secular liberal people is a great good, and I hope this book will promote it.” And indeed he does! Never condescending, but always honest Keller looks at Christian beliefs, but in light of other points of view, and comes to the conclusion that the Truth will prevail. So whether you are a sceptic, or just friends with some who are, this is a great read to help you discern truth from fiction.