Giveaway is now closed.
Thank you to all who participated!
The benefits of reading are boundless. Reading opens our imaginations, teaches us about new places, and provides hours of entertainment. Of all the books I’ve ever read, my favorite books are the ones that have made me look at the world in a different way and opened my eyes to faces that I’ve never seen before. Two of the books that have left a lasting impression on me is Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns are both set in Afghanistan. The Kite Runner is about a young boy, Amir, who grows up in Afghanistan but eventually flees to America after the Taliban have taken over. A Thousand Splendid Suns is about two women who form an unlikely friendship during the Taliban’s reign. Both books are touching, heartfelt and beautifully written.
Read my review on The Kite Runner here.
Read my review on A Thousand Splendid Suns here
Khaled Hosseini’s books made me think about the war in Afghanistan more than I ever had before. Although the characters in his novels are fictional, the likelihood of their stories being true is all too probable. Now, when there is news on the Afghan war, I don’t turn away. I watch. I want to learn more. These books and Hosseini’s own dedication to Afghanistan has made me want to help in any way that I can.
To help educate and earn money for Afghan refugees, I will be sponsoring a giveaway to help earn money for the UNHCR (The UN Refugee Center). The UNHCR is an organization that helps refugees in a variety of war-torn countries, such as Darfur, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. This particular giveaway will be for the Afghan Refugee Fund.
What’s the giveaway?
$15 iTunes Gift Card + $15 Amazon Gift Card + Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival by Halima Bashir
To be entered into the giveaway, you must do at least one of the below actions. If you decide to do all three, then that is more times that you are entered into the giveaway. The number of times you are entered is up to you!
Here are the three ways to be entered:
1. Donate to the Afghan Refugee Fund at www.unrefugees.org. A donation of $25 or less will enter you into the giveaway once. If you donate more than $25, then you will be allowed one entry for every $25 you donate. For example, if you donate $100, then that will count as four entries. Once you have donated forward the confirmation to me (yuletimegiving[at]gmail[dot]com) and I will enter you into the giveaway.
2. Buy The Kite Runner and/or A Thousand Splendid Suns through my bookstore (the completion of the purchase will be through Amazon). I earn a commission on sales that I bring to Amazon through my links. All money that I earn from these sales will be donated to the Afghan Refugee Fund. Each book purchase will enter you into the contest. If you buy both books, then you will have two entries.
Forward the confirmation of the sale to me or send me an email with the date of purchase (I will be able to verify the date). The date of purchase must be between September 1, 2009 and September 30, 2009. The email for this giveaway is yuletimegiving[at]gmail[dot]com.
3. Tweet and/or blog about this giveaway. If you tweet about the contest, you must follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway.
4. Leave a comment below and answer the question: “What book have you read that changed your opinion on a political or social issue?”
Must be a US or Canadian resident to enter. Giveaway ends at 12:00 am CST on October 1, 2009. All entries are subject to my discretion.
No one has ever become poor by giving.
~ Anne Frank ~
73 Comments
I follow and tweeted http://twitter.com/eyzofblu63/status/3982843316
I recently read From Class to Caste in American Drama: Political and Social Themes Since the 1930s. A very good book that shows the changes in the political and social ideas over the years.
tweeted http://twitter.com/cdziuba/status/3983387791
Leave a comment below and answer the question: “What book have you read that changed your opinion on a political or social issue?”
I read Lift Every Voice: The NAACP and the Making of the Civil Rights Movement and it made me politically active about equal opportunities for minorities.
Oh, and I do follow you on twitter cdziuba
Barack Obama’s books are very compelling..he has a great understanding about people and politics..
Follow you on Twitter; tweet here
http://twitter.com/Grandma3710/status/3989775131
The Red Zone did it for me.
Twitter follow and tweeted!!
I Am America (And So Can You) by Colbert is a recent book that changed my thoughts on some things.
The Politics of Freedom: Taking on The Left, The Right and Threats to Our Liberties
by David Boaz has some good points and makes you think
Two books I read that made me question my world view: Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser and The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne. Both very enjoyable reads that are also challenging.
I am america and so are you and Under the banner of Heaven. Thanks for the chance. mogrill@comcast.net
Ghandhi: An Autobiography. I wouldn’t say it changed my view, but it helped me to embrace peace and ultimate truth and love, which was something Ghandhi was rich with.
I follow and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/lipstickncandy/status/4012830311
The Silent Spring
Erin Brocovitch
sign me up
I’ve never read a book that changed my opinion on a political or social issue.
My Sisters Keeper.
I follow on twitter and tweeted: http://twitter.com/Elkaye/status/4028614795
The last book I read that opened my mind was Confessions of an Economic Hitman.
Fast Food nation changed my views on a social issue.
Leave a comment below and answer the question: “What book have you read that changed your opinion on a political or social issue?”
“Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne is an incredible and inspiring book about returning to the Christian roots of serving the poor. “God’s Politics” by Jim Wallis encourages Christians to think beyond “Republican” or “Democrat” when it comes to politics and justice and freedom.
Shake Hands With The Devil the story of Canada’s role in Rwanda
The Healing of America changed my views on the health care issue.
I read Infidel with my book club earlier this year. I found the Dutch political system really interesting! I thought that their attitude toward private schools was really interesting. Basically, the government will pay to start and maintain private schools. A lot of Muslims use the Netherlands as a training ground for young fanatics.
I also read Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich. It didn’t change my mind, but confirmed what I already felt about minimum wage jobs.
I have read Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery and that really changed my views on the world!
I follow on Twitter – Janetfaye
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/4148353595
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I read Nineteen Eighty-Four
by George Orwell.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I followed and tweeted! http://twitter.com/PlutosGiftShop
“Fahrenheit 451″ by Ray Bradbury made me appreciate the freedom of literature even more, and how vital it is.
I also tweeted about the giveaway.
http://twitter.com/WagTheFox/status/4347188421
e-mail: rabidfox(at)ymail.com
twitter follower and tweet – https://twitter.com/oheeyore/status/4352566561
oheeyore at hotmail dot com
I found A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner to be thought provoking and changing.
oheeyore at hotmail dot com
@tcarolinep Twitter follower and tweet http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/4362865063
Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide by Kay Redfield Jamison
The Girls Who Went Away opened my eyes to how society tends to think of mothers that give their children up for adoption and how in the past (and probably even now) it’s not always the choice they wanted to make.
the The Kite Runner, Thanks!
Tweeted about it here: http://twitter.com/KristinKHarris/statuses/4426661091
The Chrysalids. It was one of the first books that I read when I was very young that made me open my eyes to the larger world around me and began my interest in politics and cultural anthropology and history.
Tweeted.
http://twitter.com/TX_Jen1634/status/4435839348
I follow you as mom2anutball, and I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/mom2anutball/status/4442217748
“Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenrich was life-changing for me.
I read To Kill a Mockingbird as a young girl, and it really hit home to me about issues of racism.
when i first read ‘the moon is a harsh mistress’ by robert heinlein, it changed what i thought of government in general
Reading “The Road” made me afraid of the world ahead for my child and committed to embracing a positive outlook! Also, “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan made me think twice about eating locally sourced foods.
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
In Search of the Miraculous’ by PD Ouspensky
I read “Dominion” a while back–made me think twice about our responsibility towards our animal neighbors.
I read The Red Zone.
“Misquoting Jesus”
I’ve never read a book that changed my views.
FOLLOWING YOU win $15 iTunes Card + $15 Amazon Card + Tears of the Desert: http://bit.ly/I3o32 and tweeted
There have been so many thought-provoking books. If your mind and heart are open to listen to another’s words and consider the possibilities… The Kite Runner, You Remind Me of Me, The Handmaid’s Tale, The House of Sand and Fog, Dreams from My Father, just to list a few.
I have never read a book that changed my political views.
“American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century” by Kevin Phillips
I tweeted your giveaway and I also follow you on twitter.
I’ve never yet read a book on political or social issues but I would be interested on reading one about social issues because it applies to all of us.
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted: http://twitter.com/bsw529/status/4524301249
John Grisham’s The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town totally changed my opinion about the death penalty. Before I read that, I was convinced that you couldn’t possibly get to death row unless you were guilty. Now I see that it could really happen.
tweet http://twitter.com/Jessilyn82/status/4525033628
A book I’ve read that has changed my opinion on social issues has been Nickel and Dimed, it really opened my eyes to the issue of poverty in our own country.
“garden of emuna” changed my life
Following you on Twitter (id- litehouse27) & I Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/litehouse27/status/4534098042
Erin Brockovich. Also The Corporation.
“Things Men Die For” by Merian Cooper changed my views profoundly and made me re-examine how important it is to protect freedom at all costs.
The Healing of America changed my views
I follow you on twitter
username is iamcherdon
tweeted
http://twitter.com/iamcherdon/status/4539328347
I, Robot is one book that did it for me.
Please enter me for this great giveaway. Thank you.
I’ve never had a book change my mind politically.
“The Geography of Bliss” by Weiner.
I follow on twitter @speech_hero and tweeted: http://twitter.com/speech_hero/status/4544217427
“Fast Food Nation” changed a lot of how I feel about govt subsidies and ways that incentives are distributed.
Thank you to all who participated! The winner will be announced shortly.
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