Books with author Scott Nelson

Mulch the Lawnmower, written and illustrated by Scott Nelson, is a story about a trusty push mower named Mulch. Dependable and diligent, Mulch did his job with pride. But one day, Mulch was presented with an assignment larger than life, mowing an entire baseball field by himself. Was he confident that he could do it? Or would he let his owner and himself down? Read this enjoyable story about how Mulch uses his determination and positive attitude to complete his task and be part of a winning team! Vibrant and cheerful illustrations.

It’s right there in the Book of Job: “Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.” Suffering is an inescapable part of the human condition—which leads to a question that has proved just as inescapable throughout the centuries: Why? Why do we suffer? Why do people die young? Is there any point to our pain, physical or emotional? Do horrors like hurricanes have meaning? In Seven Ways of Looking at Pointless Suffering, Scott Samuelson tackles that hardest question of all. To do so, he travels through the history of philosophy and religion, but he also attends closely to the real world we live in. While always taking the question of suffering seriously, Samuelson is just as likely to draw lessons from Bugs Bunny as from Confucius, from his time teaching philosophy to prisoners as from Hannah Arendt’s attempts to come to terms with the Holocaust. He guides us through the arguments people have offered to answer this fundamental question, explores the many ways that we have tried to minimize or eliminate suffering, and examines people’s attempts to find ways to live with pointless suffering. Ultimately, Samuelson shows, to be fully human means to acknowledge a mysterious paradox: we must simultaneously accept suffering and oppose it. And understanding that is itself a step towards acceptance. Wholly accessible, and thoroughly thought-provoking, Seven Ways of Looking at Pointless Suffering is a masterpiece of philosophy, returning the field to its roots—helping us see new ways to understand, explain, and live in our world, fully alive to both its light and its darkness.

It’s right there in the Book of Job: “Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.” Suffering is an inescapable part of the human condition—which leads to a question that has proved just as inescapable throughout the centuries: Why? Why do we suffer? Why do people die young? Is there any point to our pain, physical or emotional? Do horrors like hurricanes have meaning? In Seven Ways of Looking at Pointless Suffering, Scott Samuelson tackles that hardest question of all. To do so, he travels through the history of philosophy and religion, but he also attends closely to the real world we live in. While always taking the question of suffering seriously, Samuelson is just as likely to draw lessons from Bugs Bunny as from Confucius, from his time teaching philosophy to prisoners as from Hannah Arendt’s attempts to come to terms with the Holocaust. He guides us through the arguments people have offered to answer this fundamental question, explores the many ways that we have tried to minimize or eliminate suffering, and examines people’s attempts to find ways to live with pointless suffering. Ultimately, Samuelson shows, to be fully human means to acknowledge a mysterious paradox: we must simultaneously accept suffering and oppose it. And understanding that is itself a step towards acceptance. Wholly accessible, and thoroughly thought-provoking, Seven Ways of Looking at Pointless Suffering is a masterpiece of philosophy, returning the field to its roots—helping us see new ways to understand, explain, and live in our world, fully alive to both its light and its darkness.

As the class chorus sings “My Country Tis of Thee,” our main hero loses his breakfast. Will concealing the mess with a Tuba be enough or will the “Crazy Barfing Kid” now need to skip school forever? The readers will be surprised when they see who the class actually wants to thank. This book, the first of a multi-volume series, uses humor to show kids how to avoid feeling shame and humiliation for natural acts that happen to all of us some time or another. The self-confidence gained is a natural defense against verbal bullying.

Patch the Porcupine is a beautifully illustrated children's picture book that shows how you can accomplish anything with a Can-Do Attitude. The illustrations are bright and cheery, and capture the young reader's attention. Patch the Porcupine is a memorable and adorable character that your children will ask for again and again. The story finds Patch needing to overcome his problem of popping bicyle tires with his paws. See how with the help of his family and friends Patch solves his problem and demonstrates his perseverance! A great moral with lively illustrations, Patch will be a family favorite!

Granddad tells 18 of his adventures with animals, and a few insects, from his childhood, as well as an adult. His stories are both funny, educational, inspiring, and sometimes bizarre! Children of all ages will learn about God, as the author did, through the creation. This book is much more than adventures with animals, but a way to encounter a loving God and begin a personal relationship with Him. It is far from being religious or boring, but exciting and life-transforming.