Diamond Mind

Diamond Mind

Author: Rob Nairn

Publisher: Shambhala Publications

Published: 2001-03-27

Total Pages: 144

ISBN-13: 0834830426

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Buddhism teaches that the mind is the source of 100 percent of all unhappiness: anxiety, agitation, desire, anger, grief. Through understanding how our mind works, it is possible to tame it—and to discover that happiness, wisdom, compassion, and clarity are actually inherent qualities in all of us. Much has been written of this subject, but Rob Nairn's book is the first to express the principles of Buddhist psychology in a way that is so easy to understand and enjoyable to read—while remaining remarkably accurate and complete. Each chapter includes exercises that bring the truth of the teaching home.


Book Synopsis Diamond Mind by : Rob Nairn

Download or read book Diamond Mind written by Rob Nairn and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2001-03-27 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Buddhism teaches that the mind is the source of 100 percent of all unhappiness: anxiety, agitation, desire, anger, grief. Through understanding how our mind works, it is possible to tame it—and to discover that happiness, wisdom, compassion, and clarity are actually inherent qualities in all of us. Much has been written of this subject, but Rob Nairn's book is the first to express the principles of Buddhist psychology in a way that is so easy to understand and enjoyable to read—while remaining remarkably accurate and complete. Each chapter includes exercises that bring the truth of the teaching home.


The Diamond Mind

The Diamond Mind

Author: Charles Lewis

Publisher:

Published: 2017-07-26

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 9781973724773

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Be of good cheer because this is day chosen specifically for you to take the first step on the road to total freedom. Freedom from disease. Freedom from poverty. Freedom from self-sabotage. Freedom from hate. Freedom from fear. Freedom from mediocrity and all unfavorable circumstances. Today is your day to move your life forward. So, claim it, visualize it, feel it and receive it. Over the last ten years, The Law of Attraction has been the new crave. Success Consciousness defines the Law of Attraction as the attractive magnetic power that draws similar energies together. It manifests through the power of creation everywhere and in many ways. This law attracts thoughts, ideas, people, circumstances, and situations. It basically states that whatever you think about and focus on most, is what you attract into your experience thus giving you direct control over the circumstances of your life. It offers you some practical ways of harnessing this power using scientific prayer (Affirmations, Creative Visualization and Emotions)Although these principles have been used for centuries in Eastern Culture, most Americans treated this as if were a new concept when Rhonda Byrne released The Secret in 2006. Authors like Napoleon Hill and Dr. Joseph Murphy taught on this subject years ago and had some early success but it never caught fire. So, what we see today is a resurgence of old concepts with modern day applications. For traditional Christians, reading this book will be a bit uncomfortable at first. But I implore you to keep reading irrespective of your comfort level. You may also find my critique of the Bible a bit scathing, and overtly aggressive at times. Just trust that my only objective is to remove the clouds of religious tradition so that the sun may shine brighter on the Bibles truths and hidden wisdom. I show you the most effective and non-limiting approaches to scripture, while at the same time uncovering there hidden meaning.This book will give you practical ways to use the spiritual exercises effectively, boost your creative confidence, and attract abundance in all areas of your life. We will discuss some key habits of highly effective people and explore the power of your subconscious mind. For the people that are already on this path, this book will be one of many experiences that will be attracted into your life on your journey towards complete enlightenment.Ancient teachers and philosophers have long understood that the power to move mountains comes from inside of us. The physical world that we see is only a reflection of what's been created internally. Since the beginning of time attempts to understand, define, and label this power that creates worlds has been the source of passionate debate and major conflict. This power has been called God, The Source, Allah, Love, The Heavenly Father, The Matrix, Yahweh, The Universe, The Creative Mind, The Creator, and Jehovah. Stephen Hawking calls it The Mind of God, Dr. Joseph Murphy calls it the Subconscious Mind, and Neville Goddard calls it "your own wonderful imagination." In this book, I use almost these labels interchangeably. And even though I realize that gender is an altogether human characteristic as opposed to a spiritual one, I also refer to this power as Him.


Book Synopsis The Diamond Mind by : Charles Lewis

Download or read book The Diamond Mind written by Charles Lewis and published by . This book was released on 2017-07-26 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Be of good cheer because this is day chosen specifically for you to take the first step on the road to total freedom. Freedom from disease. Freedom from poverty. Freedom from self-sabotage. Freedom from hate. Freedom from fear. Freedom from mediocrity and all unfavorable circumstances. Today is your day to move your life forward. So, claim it, visualize it, feel it and receive it. Over the last ten years, The Law of Attraction has been the new crave. Success Consciousness defines the Law of Attraction as the attractive magnetic power that draws similar energies together. It manifests through the power of creation everywhere and in many ways. This law attracts thoughts, ideas, people, circumstances, and situations. It basically states that whatever you think about and focus on most, is what you attract into your experience thus giving you direct control over the circumstances of your life. It offers you some practical ways of harnessing this power using scientific prayer (Affirmations, Creative Visualization and Emotions)Although these principles have been used for centuries in Eastern Culture, most Americans treated this as if were a new concept when Rhonda Byrne released The Secret in 2006. Authors like Napoleon Hill and Dr. Joseph Murphy taught on this subject years ago and had some early success but it never caught fire. So, what we see today is a resurgence of old concepts with modern day applications. For traditional Christians, reading this book will be a bit uncomfortable at first. But I implore you to keep reading irrespective of your comfort level. You may also find my critique of the Bible a bit scathing, and overtly aggressive at times. Just trust that my only objective is to remove the clouds of religious tradition so that the sun may shine brighter on the Bibles truths and hidden wisdom. I show you the most effective and non-limiting approaches to scripture, while at the same time uncovering there hidden meaning.This book will give you practical ways to use the spiritual exercises effectively, boost your creative confidence, and attract abundance in all areas of your life. We will discuss some key habits of highly effective people and explore the power of your subconscious mind. For the people that are already on this path, this book will be one of many experiences that will be attracted into your life on your journey towards complete enlightenment.Ancient teachers and philosophers have long understood that the power to move mountains comes from inside of us. The physical world that we see is only a reflection of what's been created internally. Since the beginning of time attempts to understand, define, and label this power that creates worlds has been the source of passionate debate and major conflict. This power has been called God, The Source, Allah, Love, The Heavenly Father, The Matrix, Yahweh, The Universe, The Creative Mind, The Creator, and Jehovah. Stephen Hawking calls it The Mind of God, Dr. Joseph Murphy calls it the Subconscious Mind, and Neville Goddard calls it "your own wonderful imagination." In this book, I use almost these labels interchangeably. And even though I realize that gender is an altogether human characteristic as opposed to a spiritual one, I also refer to this power as Him.


Diamond Mind

Diamond Mind

Author: Nightingale L. Florence Ph. D M. ED.

Publisher: iUniverse

Published: 2012-11

Total Pages: 347

ISBN-13: 1475954115

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The author combines her wisdom and understanding of quantum mechanics and spiritual science, as they apply to educational programming, personal well-beingness, consciousness, and the creation of preferred realities.--From back cover.


Book Synopsis Diamond Mind by : Nightingale L. Florence Ph. D M. ED.

Download or read book Diamond Mind written by Nightingale L. Florence Ph. D M. ED. and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2012-11 with total page 347 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The author combines her wisdom and understanding of quantum mechanics and spiritual science, as they apply to educational programming, personal well-beingness, consciousness, and the creation of preferred realities.--From back cover.


Polishing the Diamond, Enlightening the Mind

Polishing the Diamond, Enlightening the Mind

Author: Chae-ung Kim

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 274

ISBN-13: 0861711459

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"Polishing the Diamond, Enlightening the Mind" is an offering of concise teachings, stories, and meditations from one of Korea's most revered living Buddhist masters. It is at once a testament to the vitality of Korean Buddhism today and a timeless expression of the transformative role the Buddha's teachings can play in a person's life.


Book Synopsis Polishing the Diamond, Enlightening the Mind by : Chae-ung Kim

Download or read book Polishing the Diamond, Enlightening the Mind written by Chae-ung Kim and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 1999 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Polishing the Diamond, Enlightening the Mind" is an offering of concise teachings, stories, and meditations from one of Korea's most revered living Buddhist masters. It is at once a testament to the vitality of Korean Buddhism today and a timeless expression of the transformative role the Buddha's teachings can play in a person's life.


Acres of Diamonds

Acres of Diamonds

Author: Russell H. Conwell

Publisher:

Published: 1915

Total Pages: 212

ISBN-13:

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Russell H. Conwell Founder Of Temple University Philadelphia.


Book Synopsis Acres of Diamonds by : Russell H. Conwell

Download or read book Acres of Diamonds written by Russell H. Conwell and published by . This book was released on 1915 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Russell H. Conwell Founder Of Temple University Philadelphia.


The Diamond Mine

The Diamond Mine

Author: Willa Cather

Publisher:

Published: 2008-04

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13: 9781409908890

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Willa Sibert Cather (1873-1947) was an eminent American author. She spent her childhood in Red Cloud, Nebraska, the same town that has been made famous by her writing. She insisted on attending college, so her family borrowed money so she could enroll at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While there, she became a regular contributor to the Nebraska State Journal. She then moved to Pittsburgh, where she taught high school English and worked for Home Monthly, and eventually got a job offer from McClure's Magazine in New York City. Later, she became the managing editor in 1908. The latter publication serialized her first novel, Alexander's Bridge (1912), which was heavily influenced by Henry James. For her novels she returned to the prairie for inspiration, and these works became popular and critical successes. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1923 for One of Ours (1922). Her other works include: O Pioneers! (1913), The Song of the Lark (1915), My Antonia (1918) and A Lost Lady (1923).


Book Synopsis The Diamond Mine by : Willa Cather

Download or read book The Diamond Mine written by Willa Cather and published by . This book was released on 2008-04 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Willa Sibert Cather (1873-1947) was an eminent American author. She spent her childhood in Red Cloud, Nebraska, the same town that has been made famous by her writing. She insisted on attending college, so her family borrowed money so she could enroll at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While there, she became a regular contributor to the Nebraska State Journal. She then moved to Pittsburgh, where she taught high school English and worked for Home Monthly, and eventually got a job offer from McClure's Magazine in New York City. Later, she became the managing editor in 1908. The latter publication serialized her first novel, Alexander's Bridge (1912), which was heavily influenced by Henry James. For her novels she returned to the prairie for inspiration, and these works became popular and critical successes. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1923 for One of Ours (1922). Her other works include: O Pioneers! (1913), The Song of the Lark (1915), My Antonia (1918) and A Lost Lady (1923).


Dance with Your Diamond Mind

Dance with Your Diamond Mind

Author: Gabrielle Noble

Publisher:

Published: 2018-07-20

Total Pages: 268

ISBN-13: 9781723316265

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You there! Muck worm! Wake up!According to Buddha, the problem of life is suffering, the cause of suffering is ignorance, the solution is waking up, and the path is the Middle Way, and all of this takes place in the subjective theater of the wild mind. Things, phenomena, do not exist the way they appear to exist. Even other people, even we ourselves, do not exist the way we appear to exist. Everything that exists, exists like a dream."To one who is awakened," the Tathagata said, "to the one who knows the nature of reality, everything is possible. But for the unawakened, only bits and pieces of the possible exist. For the unawakened, very little is possible." Here are eight potently philosophical stories that will play with your wild mind and its phantasms, and maybe disturb your sleep: Milking the ATM, Goat Face, Cold Hell, To Watch a Buddha Die, Anne, The Death of Darlene, Bodhicitta, and May the Sacred Heart of Jesus Feed Your Head.May all beings be happy!


Book Synopsis Dance with Your Diamond Mind by : Gabrielle Noble

Download or read book Dance with Your Diamond Mind written by Gabrielle Noble and published by . This book was released on 2018-07-20 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You there! Muck worm! Wake up!According to Buddha, the problem of life is suffering, the cause of suffering is ignorance, the solution is waking up, and the path is the Middle Way, and all of this takes place in the subjective theater of the wild mind. Things, phenomena, do not exist the way they appear to exist. Even other people, even we ourselves, do not exist the way we appear to exist. Everything that exists, exists like a dream."To one who is awakened," the Tathagata said, "to the one who knows the nature of reality, everything is possible. But for the unawakened, only bits and pieces of the possible exist. For the unawakened, very little is possible." Here are eight potently philosophical stories that will play with your wild mind and its phantasms, and maybe disturb your sleep: Milking the ATM, Goat Face, Cold Hell, To Watch a Buddha Die, Anne, The Death of Darlene, Bodhicitta, and May the Sacred Heart of Jesus Feed Your Head.May all beings be happy!


Flight of the Diamond Smugglers: A Tale of Pigeons, Obsession, and Greed Along Coastal South Africa

Flight of the Diamond Smugglers: A Tale of Pigeons, Obsession, and Greed Along Coastal South Africa

Author: Matthew Gavin Frank

Publisher: Liveright Publishing

Published: 2021-02-23

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 1631496034

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“Unforgettable. . . . An outstanding adventure in its lyrical, utterly compelling, and heartbreaking investigations of the world of diamond smuggling.” —Aimee Nezhukumatathil For nearly eighty years, a huge portion of coastal South Africa was closed off to the public. With many of its pits now deemed “overmined” and abandoned, American journalist Matthew Gavin Frank sets out across the infamous Diamond Coast to investigate an illicit trade that supplies a global market. Immediately, he became intrigued by the ingenious methods used in facilitating smuggling particularly, the illegal act of sneaking carrier pigeons onto mine property, affixing diamonds to their feet, and sending them into the air. Entering Die Sperrgebiet (“The Forbidden Zone”) is like entering an eerie ghost town, but Frank is surprised by the number of people willing—even eager—to talk with him. Soon he meets Msizi, a young diamond digger, and his pigeon, Bartholomew, who helps him steal diamonds. It’s a deadly game: pigeons are shot on sight by mine security, and Msizi knows of smugglers who have disappeared because of their crimes. For this, Msizi blames “Mr. Lester,” an evil tall-tale figure of mythic proportions. From the mining towns of Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth, through the “halfway” desert, to Kleinzee’s shores littered with shipwrecks, Frank investigates a long overlooked story. Weaving interviews with local diamond miners who raise pigeons in secret with harrowing anecdotes from former heads of security, environmental managers, and vigilante pigeon hunters, Frank reveals how these feathered bandits became outlaws in every mining town. Interwoven throughout this obsessive quest are epic legends in which pigeons and diamonds intersect, such as that of Krishna’s famed diamond Koh-i-Noor, the Mountain of Light, and that of the Cherokee serpent Uktena. In these strange connections, where truth forever tangles with the lore of centuries past, Frank is able to contextualize the personal grief that sent him, with his wife Louisa in the passenger seat, on this enlightening journey across parched lands. Blending elements of reportage, memoir, and incantation, Flight of the Diamond Smugglers is a rare and remarkable portrait of exploitation and greed in one of the most dangerous areas of coastal South Africa. With his sovereign prose and insatiable curiosity, Matthew Gavin Frank “reminds us that the world is a place of wonder if only we look” (Toby Muse).


Book Synopsis Flight of the Diamond Smugglers: A Tale of Pigeons, Obsession, and Greed Along Coastal South Africa by : Matthew Gavin Frank

Download or read book Flight of the Diamond Smugglers: A Tale of Pigeons, Obsession, and Greed Along Coastal South Africa written by Matthew Gavin Frank and published by Liveright Publishing. This book was released on 2021-02-23 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Unforgettable. . . . An outstanding adventure in its lyrical, utterly compelling, and heartbreaking investigations of the world of diamond smuggling.” —Aimee Nezhukumatathil For nearly eighty years, a huge portion of coastal South Africa was closed off to the public. With many of its pits now deemed “overmined” and abandoned, American journalist Matthew Gavin Frank sets out across the infamous Diamond Coast to investigate an illicit trade that supplies a global market. Immediately, he became intrigued by the ingenious methods used in facilitating smuggling particularly, the illegal act of sneaking carrier pigeons onto mine property, affixing diamonds to their feet, and sending them into the air. Entering Die Sperrgebiet (“The Forbidden Zone”) is like entering an eerie ghost town, but Frank is surprised by the number of people willing—even eager—to talk with him. Soon he meets Msizi, a young diamond digger, and his pigeon, Bartholomew, who helps him steal diamonds. It’s a deadly game: pigeons are shot on sight by mine security, and Msizi knows of smugglers who have disappeared because of their crimes. For this, Msizi blames “Mr. Lester,” an evil tall-tale figure of mythic proportions. From the mining towns of Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth, through the “halfway” desert, to Kleinzee’s shores littered with shipwrecks, Frank investigates a long overlooked story. Weaving interviews with local diamond miners who raise pigeons in secret with harrowing anecdotes from former heads of security, environmental managers, and vigilante pigeon hunters, Frank reveals how these feathered bandits became outlaws in every mining town. Interwoven throughout this obsessive quest are epic legends in which pigeons and diamonds intersect, such as that of Krishna’s famed diamond Koh-i-Noor, the Mountain of Light, and that of the Cherokee serpent Uktena. In these strange connections, where truth forever tangles with the lore of centuries past, Frank is able to contextualize the personal grief that sent him, with his wife Louisa in the passenger seat, on this enlightening journey across parched lands. Blending elements of reportage, memoir, and incantation, Flight of the Diamond Smugglers is a rare and remarkable portrait of exploitation and greed in one of the most dangerous areas of coastal South Africa. With his sovereign prose and insatiable curiosity, Matthew Gavin Frank “reminds us that the world is a place of wonder if only we look” (Toby Muse).


LSD and the Mind of the Universe

LSD and the Mind of the Universe

Author: Christopher M. Bache

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2019-11-26

Total Pages: 352

ISBN-13: 1620559714

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A professor of religious studies meticulously documents his insights from 73 high-dose LSD sessions conducted over the course of 20 years • Chronicles, with unprecedented rigor, the author’s systematic journey into a unified field of consciousness that underlies all physical existence • Makes a powerful case for the value of psychedelically induced spiritual experience and discusses the challenge of integrating these experiences into everyday life • Shows how psychedelic experience can take you beyond self-transformation into collective transformation and help birth the future of humanity On November 24, 1979, Christopher M. Bache took the first step on what would become a life-changing journey. Drawing from his training as a philosopher of religion, Bache set out to explore his mind and the mind of the universe as deeply and systematically as possible--with the help of the psychedelic drug LSD. Following protocols established by Stanislav Grof, Bache’s 73 high-dose LSD sessions over the course of 20 years drew him into a deepening communion with cosmic consciousness. Journey alongside professor Bache as he touches the living intelligence of our universe--an intelligence that both embraced and crushed him--and demonstrates how direct experience of the divine can change your perspective on core issues in philosophy and religion. Chronicling his 73 sessions, the author reveals the spiral of death and rebirth that took him through the collective unconscious into the creative intelligence of the universe. Making a powerful case for the value of psychedelically induced spiritual experience, Bache shares his immersion in the fierce love and creative intent of the unified field of consciousness that underlies all physical existence. He describes the incalculable value of embracing the pain and suffering he encountered in his sessions and the challenges he faced integrating his experiences into his everyday life. His journey documents a shift from individual consciousness to collective consciousness, from archetypal reality to Divine Oneness and the Diamond Luminosity that lies outside cyclic existence. Pushing the boundaries of theory and practice, the author shows how psychedelic experience can take you beyond self-transformation into collective transformation, beyond the present into the future, revealing spirit and matter in perfect balance.


Book Synopsis LSD and the Mind of the Universe by : Christopher M. Bache

Download or read book LSD and the Mind of the Universe written by Christopher M. Bache and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2019-11-26 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A professor of religious studies meticulously documents his insights from 73 high-dose LSD sessions conducted over the course of 20 years • Chronicles, with unprecedented rigor, the author’s systematic journey into a unified field of consciousness that underlies all physical existence • Makes a powerful case for the value of psychedelically induced spiritual experience and discusses the challenge of integrating these experiences into everyday life • Shows how psychedelic experience can take you beyond self-transformation into collective transformation and help birth the future of humanity On November 24, 1979, Christopher M. Bache took the first step on what would become a life-changing journey. Drawing from his training as a philosopher of religion, Bache set out to explore his mind and the mind of the universe as deeply and systematically as possible--with the help of the psychedelic drug LSD. Following protocols established by Stanislav Grof, Bache’s 73 high-dose LSD sessions over the course of 20 years drew him into a deepening communion with cosmic consciousness. Journey alongside professor Bache as he touches the living intelligence of our universe--an intelligence that both embraced and crushed him--and demonstrates how direct experience of the divine can change your perspective on core issues in philosophy and religion. Chronicling his 73 sessions, the author reveals the spiral of death and rebirth that took him through the collective unconscious into the creative intelligence of the universe. Making a powerful case for the value of psychedelically induced spiritual experience, Bache shares his immersion in the fierce love and creative intent of the unified field of consciousness that underlies all physical existence. He describes the incalculable value of embracing the pain and suffering he encountered in his sessions and the challenges he faced integrating his experiences into his everyday life. His journey documents a shift from individual consciousness to collective consciousness, from archetypal reality to Divine Oneness and the Diamond Luminosity that lies outside cyclic existence. Pushing the boundaries of theory and practice, the author shows how psychedelic experience can take you beyond self-transformation into collective transformation, beyond the present into the future, revealing spirit and matter in perfect balance.


Coal to Diamonds: A Memoir

Coal to Diamonds: A Memoir

Author: Beth Ditto

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2012-10-09

Total Pages: 143

ISBN-13: 0385529740

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A raw and surprisingly beautiful coming-of-age memoir, Coal to Diamonds tells the story of Mary Beth Ditto, a girl from rural Arkansas who found her voice. Born and raised in Judsonia, Arkansas—a place where indoor plumbing was a luxury, squirrel was a meal, and sex ed was taught during senior year in high school (long after many girls had gotten pregnant and dropped out) Beth Ditto stood out. Beth was a fat, pro-choice, sexually confused choir nerd with a great voice, an eighties perm, and a Kool Aid dye job. Her single mother worked overtime, which meant Beth and her five siblings were often left to fend for themselves. Beth spent much of her childhood as a transient, shuttling between relatives, caring for a sickly, volatile aunt she nonetheless loved, looking after sisters, brothers, and cousins, and trying to steer clear of her mother’s bad boyfriends. Her punk education began in high school under the tutelage of a group of teens—her second family—who embraced their outsider status and introduced her to safety-pinned clothing, mail-order tapes, queer and fat-positive zines, and any shred of counterculture they could smuggle into Arkansas. With their help, Beth survived high school, a tragic family scandal, and a mental breakdown, and then she got the hell out of Judsonia. She decamped to Olympia, Washington, a late-1990s paradise for Riot Grrrls and punks, and began to cultivate her glamorous, queer, fat, femme image. On a whim—with longtime friends Nathan, a guitarist and musical savant in a polyester suit, and Kathy, a quiet intellectual turned drummer—she formed the band Gossip. She gave up trying to remake her singing voice into the ethereal wisp she thought it should be and instead embraced its full, soulful potential. Gossip gave her that chance, and the raw power of her voice won her and Gossip the attention they deserved. Marked with the frankness, humor, and defiance that have made her an international icon, Beth Ditto’s unapologetic, startlingly direct, and poetic memoir is a hypnotic and inspiring account of a woman coming into her own.


Book Synopsis Coal to Diamonds: A Memoir by : Beth Ditto

Download or read book Coal to Diamonds: A Memoir written by Beth Ditto and published by Random House. This book was released on 2012-10-09 with total page 143 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A raw and surprisingly beautiful coming-of-age memoir, Coal to Diamonds tells the story of Mary Beth Ditto, a girl from rural Arkansas who found her voice. Born and raised in Judsonia, Arkansas—a place where indoor plumbing was a luxury, squirrel was a meal, and sex ed was taught during senior year in high school (long after many girls had gotten pregnant and dropped out) Beth Ditto stood out. Beth was a fat, pro-choice, sexually confused choir nerd with a great voice, an eighties perm, and a Kool Aid dye job. Her single mother worked overtime, which meant Beth and her five siblings were often left to fend for themselves. Beth spent much of her childhood as a transient, shuttling between relatives, caring for a sickly, volatile aunt she nonetheless loved, looking after sisters, brothers, and cousins, and trying to steer clear of her mother’s bad boyfriends. Her punk education began in high school under the tutelage of a group of teens—her second family—who embraced their outsider status and introduced her to safety-pinned clothing, mail-order tapes, queer and fat-positive zines, and any shred of counterculture they could smuggle into Arkansas. With their help, Beth survived high school, a tragic family scandal, and a mental breakdown, and then she got the hell out of Judsonia. She decamped to Olympia, Washington, a late-1990s paradise for Riot Grrrls and punks, and began to cultivate her glamorous, queer, fat, femme image. On a whim—with longtime friends Nathan, a guitarist and musical savant in a polyester suit, and Kathy, a quiet intellectual turned drummer—she formed the band Gossip. She gave up trying to remake her singing voice into the ethereal wisp she thought it should be and instead embraced its full, soulful potential. Gossip gave her that chance, and the raw power of her voice won her and Gossip the attention they deserved. Marked with the frankness, humor, and defiance that have made her an international icon, Beth Ditto’s unapologetic, startlingly direct, and poetic memoir is a hypnotic and inspiring account of a woman coming into her own.