A Sampling of Books by Edenridge Press

Charisma: Why Obama Will Beat Romney

Mark Edward Taylor

In this short, fascinating book, published exclusively for the Amazon Kindle, communications expert Mark Edward Taylor (Ph.D. Northwestern) compares Barack Obama and Mitt Romney as political brands. He contrasts the Democrats’ “compassionate community organizer” with the Republicans’ “missionary CEO.” Taylor concludes that unless something completely unexpected happens between now and the election, Obama will be able to revive his 2008 “devotional” movement to gain enough swing voters to retain the White House. In spite of his political failures, Obama has the charisma that Romney desperately needs. Taylor is also author of Branding Obamessiah: The Rise of an American Idol, and blogs at www.brandingobamessiah.com. {Read more on Amazon)

Foreign Languages for Everyone: How I Learned to Teach Second Languages to Students with Learning Disabilities

Irene Brouwer Konyndyk, with forewords by Lynn E. Snyder and Marjorie Hall Haley

This groundbreaking book is based on Irene Brouwer Konyndyk’s years of teaching foreign languages effectively to students with learning disabilities. The goal of serving at-risk students became highly personal for Irene when she realized that her own daughter had a learning disability but could succeed academically with the right combination of multisensory learning experiences.

“This book is about how I learned to teach a second language to those who either have failed before or were not really given a chance to succeed. I wrote it to help others to be smart, productive teachers of foreign languages to students with learning disabilities. The book called me. My life journey prepared and inspired me to write it.” — Irene Brouwer Konyndyk, from her preface

“This book is a conduit for students, teachers, and teacher educators—a carefully guided path to making language learning not only possible, but meaningful and fun!” — Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD, Board of Directors of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), Director of Foreign Language Teacher Licensure, George Mason University, from her foreword

Branding Obamessiah: The Rise of an American Idol

Mark Edward Taylor, with a foreword by Cal Thomas

In 2004 a cadre of Democratic advisers and communications experts hatched a plan to elect a largely unknown, biracial American to the highest office in the land in only four years. Knowing that its chosen one would have to rise above Hillary Clinton and then the Republican candidate, “Team Obama” created a new style of American political leader defined by “Sacred Six” characteristics: a creation story, sacred words, sacred images, sacred rituals, true believers, and a messianic leader. The Sacred Six became Barack Obama’s “Devotional Code,” eliciting enthused voter chants of Hope, Change, and Belief (“Yes we can!”) and consummating a special relationship between faithful voters and the saintly candidate whom Oprah Winfrey baptized as “The One.” Branding Obamessiah includes nearly 1,000 endnotes with links to online audio, video, and text sources so readers can follow the fascinating tale of a multimedia campaign that generated more online news coverage and inspired more pro and con bloggers and YouTube videos than all previous presidential campaigns combined. Hardly anything Obama said or did escaped cameras, microphones, and online scrutiny. Branding Obamessiah is an engaging and illuminating trip through the most quasi-religious campaign of any modern US presidential candidate. The book cautions Americans about the increasingly potent combination of entertainment, celebrity, social media, and religion in American politics. Visit the Branding Obamessiah book and blog website to read excerpts and track the latest developments in the rebranding of Obamessiah for 2012.

“Mark Edward Taylor gets to the heart of Obama’s appeal.” — Cal Thomas, from his foreword

Woman Meets Jesus: How Jesus Encourages, Empowers, and Equips Women on Their Personal Journey of Faith

Ruth Vander Zee, with a preface by Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira and a foreword by Mary Albert Darling

Rarely does a new book address an age-old topic in such a fresh, dynamic, and unexpected way. Woman Meets Jesus retells biblical stories of Jesus’ encounters with women such as the woman with a bottle of perfume, the woman who hemorrhaged for twelve years, and the woman at the well. Author Ruth Vander Zee describes how these life-changing encounters deepened her personal walk with Jesus—and how women today can experience spiritual renewal as they personally meet the Jesus who demonstrated astonishing compassion for women who were lonely, beaten down, discouraged, marginalized, and perfectionistic. Includes sidebar notes and illustrations along with group or personal discussion questions. Visit Ruth’s website to learn more about the book and to invite her to speak to your group. Read excerpts and reviews on Amazon. View video of Ruth talking about her book and journey.

A Free Press in Freehand: The Spirit of American Blogging in the Handwritten Newspapers of John McClean Harrington 1858-1869

Michael Ray Smith, with an introduction by Roy Atwood, President and Senior Fellow of Humanities, New Saint Andrews College, and a preface by Quentin J. Schultze, Professor of Communication at Calvin College