Book excerpt: Everyone loves a good story. Nothing captures your interest or lingers in your mind as much as a good, skillfully told tale. In this volume, you will find many such stories. They were chosen by Rabbi Yechiel Spero for their ability to brighten a dreary day and transform it into one of uplift and inspiration. These are stories -- some classics, others sparkling new -- that give us something to think about, cry about and chuckle over. Because they tell of personal events, they reach out to the human experience in all of us, sharing moments of intense joy and personal striving. The message of each narrative is there for us to grasp. They are a flash of inspiration, a chance to be moved by meaningful events in peoples' lives -- now and forever. Read this book. Linger over the stories. Share their insights -- and their effect on you -- with someone you love. They'll be grateful you shared, and you'll be glad you did. You couldn't possibly give a greater gift. Book jacket.