Product Description

As pastors of one of New York City's largest churches, Reverend Floyd Flake and his wife, Reverend M. Elaine McCollins Flake, are frequently sought after by those in need of guidance. Throughout their ministry, the Flakes have drawn from a distinguished array of stories, letters, hymns, narratives, and poems -- from James Baldwin and Maya Angelou to Arthur Ashe and Colin Powell -- to inspire families to live ethically in an often unethical world. Now, with Practical Virtues, they've gathered their favorites into a single, indispensable collection, paired with spiritual exercises for the soul.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #974003 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-01
• Released on: 2004-11-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Review
"An inspiring collection." (Essence )

Thoughtful....This collection...will inspire. (Library Journal )

"Practical Virtues will inspire, inform, and ignite those who read it." (Bishop T.D. Jakes, Sr., bestselling author of The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord )

"I was certainly inspired." (USA Today on The Way of the Bootstrapper )

"Tremendously written." (Chicago Defender on The Way of the Bootstrapper )

"A powerful collection." (Dallas Morning News )

"An expansive anthology of words to guide souls to a place of inner strength." (Daily News )

"Well written...rings with sincerity....Families will find this book helpful." (Cleveland Plain Dealer )

"Motivational and spiritual." (Black Issues Book Review on The Way of the Bootstrapper )

"[An] enlightening and spiritual experience." (Congresswoman Maxine Waters on The Way of the Bootstrapper )

"Read his words and lessons. Study them carefully...[and] take the next step by incorporating them into your everyday life." (William J. Bennett, author of The Book of Virtues )

About the Author

Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake is the senior pastor of the more than 15,000-member Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York in Jamaica, Queens, and is also the president of Wilberforce Univeristy in Ohio. Flake is also the founder of the Allen Christian School, which he established with his wife, Rev. Elaine Flake. From 1986-1997, Flake served in the U.S. Congress, and is currently a commissioner on the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education and a member of the NYC 2012 Olympic Committee. A native of Houston, Texas, Dr. Flake holds a B.A. from Wilberforce University and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. Author of the best-selling The Way of the Bootstrapper: Nine Action Steps for Achieving Your Dreams (HarperSanFrancisco), Rev. Flake lives in Old Westbury, NY with his wife and four children.

Customer Reviews

Inspirational!
Practical Virtues is a wonderful collection of biblical parables, classic excerpts and quotations from slaves and prominent political, social, and literary giants. It addresses the age old question, "How Are We To Live?" by offering practical "living virtues with soul," i.e., those that reflect core values that can be acted upon in daily life and are centered on God and biblical teachings.

The book centers on twelve basic virtues: Courage, Diligence, Faith, Forbearance, Forgiveness, Honesty, Love, Loyalty, Prudence, Responsibility, Service, Trustworthiness. Each section defines the virtue in layman's terms, synopsizes its importance and relevance in our lives, and provides 5-10 excerpts with constructive tips on how to exercise the virtue following the examples outlined in the passages. The book cites works of Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Anita Hill, Nella Larson, Asha Bandele, Gwendolyn Brooks, Colin Powell, Chester Himes, Rosa Parks, Arthur Ashe, Ann Petry, J. California Cooper, and countless others.

I enjoyed and benefited from both the spiritual/moralistic vibe and the historical facets of the book. I learned a lot regarding African American history, social movement, and challenges - this book encouraged me to research specific topics further. This is an impressive anthology (even though that was not the intent of the authors) that demonstrates that the faith of our ancestors moved mountains, love sustained them, and biblical and yesteryear wisdom and observations are still relevant and applicable in modern times.

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub
The Nubian Circle Book Club