|#REDIRECT name[[Thomas =Fellows (author)#Forget Self-Help: Re- examiningExamining the Golden Rule ]]▼{{AFC submission|d|v|u=Billywhite86|ns=118|decliner=AngusWOOF|declinets=20200104203113|ts=20200104193224}} <!-- Do not remove this line! -->
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{{AFC comment|1=Needs to expand upon the well known in the South references into critical reception. [[User:AngusWOOF|<strong><span style="color: #606060;">AngusWOOF</span></strong>]] ([[User talk:AngusWOOF#top|<span style=" color: #663300;">bark</span>]] • [[Special:Contributions/AngusWOOF|<span style="color: #006600;">sniff</span>]]) 20:31, 4 January 2020 (UTC)}}
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[[Category:2017 non-fiction books]]
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[[Category:Self-help books]]
{{infobox book
▲| name = Forget Self-Help: Re-examining the Golden Rule
| image = [[File:Self- Help front cover (1).jpg|thumb|Forget Self-Help cover]]
| caption = 1st edition
| author = [[Thomas Fellows]]
| country = United States
| language = English
| genre = [[Christian]]
| publisher = [[Borgo Publishing]]
| pub_date = [[2017 in literature|2017]]
| english_pub_date =
| media_type = Print (paperback)
| pages = 146
| isbn = 978-0998460673 <!-- 1st edition printed before ISBN system -->
| followed_by = He Spoke With Authority: Get, then Give the Advantage of Confidence
}}
'''''Forget Self-Help: Re-examining the Golden Rule''''' is a Christian non-fictional book written by [[Thomas Fellows (author)]] that examines the [[Golden Rule]] that can be found in Matthew 7:12. Through weaving the characters of ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' and ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'', the personages of Robert E. Lee and Martin Luther King Jr., as well adding his own personal anecdotes, Fellows not only encourages the reader to follow the Golden Rule, but makes the claim that the Golden Rule is lost in modern-day Christianity.<ref>Price, Donna. [https://www.americanpress.com/scene/book-s-message-help-yourself-by-helping-others/article_8826866a-ce21-11e7-9048-4f694661448e.html "Books message: Help yourself by helping others"], "[[American Press]]", 20 November 2017. Retrieved September 9 2016.</ref><ref> Garrison, Greg. [https://www.al.com/living/2018/02/golden_rule_needs_a_revival_sa.html "Golden rule needs a revival, Samford grad says"], "[[al.com]]", 5 March 2019. Retrieved September 9 2016.</ref> Some of the chapter titles include "Mercy is Power," "Becoming Christlike," "Loving our Enemies," and "Crying for Someone Other Than Yourself." <ref> Grossman, Mary Ann. [https://www.twincities.com/2018/07/01/thomas-fellows-looks-to-literature-in-his-examination-of-the-golden-rule "Thomas Fellows looks to literature in his examination of the golden rule"], "[[Pioneer Press]]", 1 July 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2019.</ref>
While the book is grounded in scripture, Fellows did not intend for the book to be solely meant for Christians, making the comment in the ''Newnan Times Herald'' that he "didn't just write it for Christians."<ref> Skinner, Winston. [http://times-herald.com/news/2018/02/fellows-re-examines-golden-rule "Fellows re-examines Golden Rule"], "[[The Newnan Times-Herald]]", 16 February 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2109.</ref> Additionally, in a review by Faye Daysen of the ''The Pilot'', she writes that "Fellows uses scripture, but doesn't hit readers over the head with it."<ref> Dasen, Faye. [https://www.thepilot.com/news/features/informative-fun-spring-reading-recomendations/article_c29dd1a4-22f4-11e8-87cc-7798b94ba885.html "Informative, Fun Spring Reading Recommendations"], "ThePilot.com", 10 March 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2019.</ref> In an ''al.com'' article, Fellows claims that reaching out to others with love is lost, quipping that "In the South, People are more focused on staying away from sin rather than doing God's will. The three biggies were save sex for marriage, don't drink, don't cuss. If you did those three things you were a good Christian."<ref> Garrison, Greg. [https://www.al.com/living/2018/02/golden_rule_needs_a_revival_sa.html "Golden rule needs a revival, Samford grad says"], "[[al.com]]", 5 March 2019. Retrieved September 9 2016.</ref>
== Reception ==
In addition to the book being named one of twelve self-help books to read in 2018 by the ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'',<ref>Rhone, Nedra. [https://www.ajc.com/blog/talk-town/self-help-books-help-you-live-your-best-life-2018/Nt55bhCTX3hgxGIhkt2QUI/ "Self-help books to help you love your best life in 2018"] , "[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]" , 10 January 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2019.</ref> it also was selected by the Georgia Radio Reading Service as a book to be recorded by audio so that visually impaired Georgians could hear the book.<ref>Ford, Clark Renee. [https://garrs.org/program-library/all-programs/?keyword=forget+self-help&selected-items=Title%2CAuthor%2CReader&sort-order=dateadded&posts-per-page=10&book-category-parent=&magazine-category-parent=&newspaper-category-parent=&programming-category-parent= "All Programs"], "[[GaRRS]]" , 11 September 2019. Retrieved on 11 September 2019.</ref> The book received widespread media attention in the South, being featured by three newspapers in Alabama, <ref> McCrary, Matthew. “Author Pens Focusing on Depression and Reassessing the Way You View and Experience Life.” ''The Western Star.'' November 22nd, 2017. Page 1.</ref> <ref> Vaughn, Jessica. "Between the pages: Forget Self-Help." ''The Baldwin Times.'' October 6th, 2017. Page 13. </ref> <ref>Estes-Velez, Lauren [https://hartselleenquirer.com/2017/11/22/forget-self-help/ "Forget Self-Help"], "[[Hartselle Enquirer]]" 22 November 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2019.Page 2.</ref> seven newspapers in Georgia, <ref> Skinner, Winston. [http://times-herald.com/news/2018/02/fellows-re-examines-golden-rule "Fellows re-examines Golden Rule"], "[[The Newnan Times-Herald]]", 16 February 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2109.</ref> <ref> Hurd, Hatcher. [https://www.northfulton.com/finding-happiness-helping-others/article_2655650b-9957-5663-801a-92afbcecf4e3.html "Finding Happiness Helping Others"], "[[Alpharetta Roswell Herald]]" 8 November 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2019.</ref> <ref> Gillespie, Karen. [http://chronicle.augusta.com/columnists/life/2017-11-25/book-deriso-s-latest-novel-captures-words-and-music "By the book: Deriso's latest novel catches words and music"], "[[Augusta Chronicle]]" 25 November 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2019.</ref> <ref>Rhone, Nedra. [https://www.ajc.com/blog/talk-town/self-help-books-help-you-live-your-best-life-2018/Nt55bhCTX3hgxGIhkt2QUI/ "Self-help books to help you love your best life in 2018"] , "[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]" , 10 January 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2019.</ref> <ref>McKinnon, John [https://www.douglasenterprise.net/news/forget-self-help-thomas-fellows "Forget Self-Help by Thomas Fellows"], "[[Douglas Enterprise]]", 22 December 2017. Retrieved on September 9 2019.</ref> <ref>Polling, Dean [https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/local_news/books-he-spoke-with-authority-thomas-fellows/article_f229ea05-e714-54c7-8682-b7f45de33759.html "Books: He Spoke with Authority: Thomas Fellows"], "[[Valdosta Daily Times]]", 28 September 2019. Retrieved on November 10 2019. </ref> <ref>Catts, Everett [https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/northside_sandy_springs/morehouse-coached-by-westminster-alum-places-high-at-national-event/article_b2bd1cf8-a5f6-11e6-9473-13bbf8c8832f.html "Buckhead resident pens book on the golden rule."], "[[The Northside Neighbor]]" , 9 November 2017. Retrieved on 9 September 2019.</ref> one newspaper in North Carolina, <ref> Dasen, Faye. [https://www.thepilot.com/news/features/informative-fun-spring-reading-recomendations/article_c29dd1a4-22f4-11e8-87cc-7798b94ba885.html "Informative, Fun Spring Reading Recommendations"], "ThePilot.com", 10 March 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2019.</ref> one newspaper in Mississippi, <ref>Long, Robert Lee. [http://www.desototimes.com/news/georgia-author-examines-golden-rule/article_61e0a0c0-dae8-11e7-b3e7-df8f3ecd2fe5.html "Georgia Author Examines the Golden Rule"], "[[DeSoto Times-Tribune]]" 6 December 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2019.</ref> one newspaper in Tennessee, <ref>Bradford, Kali. [https://www.tullahomanews.com/living/fellows-lives-by-golden-rule-in-latest-work/article_851beaea-653b-5bbc-a201-ea4689b0c2c9.html "Fellows Lives by Golden Rule in Latest Work"], "[[Tullahoma News]]" 23 February 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2019.</ref>, one newspaper in Virginia, <ref>Tennis, Joe. [https://www.swvatoday.com/news/article_2a445414-9956-5467-a9d5-ae7db95a1f94.html "Author tackles depression through "Forget Self-Help"], "[[SWVA Today]]" 27 December 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2019.</ref> two newspapers in Louisiana, <ref>Fletcher, Julie. "Book Review." ''The Dequincy News.'' December 27, 2017. </ref> <ref> Price, Donna. [https://www.americanpress.com/scene/book-s-message-help-yourself-by-helping-others/article_8826866a-ce21-11e7-9048-4f694661448e.html "Books message: Help yourself by helping others"], "[[American Press]]", 20 November 2017. Retrieved September 9 2016.</ref>, and one newspaper in Arkansas. <ref> Teer, Dawn. "Book Review: Forget Self-Help." ''The Sun Times.'' December 29th, 2017. 6A. </ref> It was featured by the national press in St. Paul, Minnesota's ''Pioneer Press'',<ref> Grossman, Mary Ann. [https://www.twincities.com/2018/07/01/thomas-fellows-looks-to-literature-in-his-examination-of-the-golden-rule "Thomas Fellows looks to literature in his examination of the golden rule"], "[[Pioneer Press]]", 1 July 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2019.</ref> Oklahoma's City's ''Daily Oklahoman'',<ref> Hinton, Carla. [https://oklahoman.com/article/5600361/religion-briefs-for-july-7 "Religion briefs for July 7"], "[[Daily Oklahoman]]" , 7 July 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2019.</ref> and Hartford Connecticut's ''Hartford Courant''. <ref> Goldberg, Carole. [https://www.courant.com/ctnow/arts-theater/hc-fea-ct-author-events-book-talks-606-story.html "Write stuff - Local Authors Festival to Host Authors, Panel Discussions."], "[[Hartford Courant]]", 30 May 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2019.</ref> In the South, papers received it well. Some reviews include the Louisiana's ''American Press'' calling it, "Thought-provoking … firing on all cylinders." <ref> Price, Donna. [https://www.americanpress.com/scene/book-s-message-help-yourself-by-helping-others/article_8826866a-ce21-11e7-9048-4f694661448e.html "Books message: Help yourself by helping others"], "[[American Press]]", 20 November 2017. Retrieved September 9 2016.</ref> South Georgia's ''Valdosta Daily Times'' called it "An unforgettable volume." <ref>Polling, Dean [https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/local_news/books-he-spoke-with-authority-thomas-fellows/article_f229ea05-e714-54c7-8682-b7f45de33759.html "Books: He Spoke with Authority: Thomas Fellows"], "[[Valdosta Daily Times]]", 28 September 2019. Retrieved on November 10 2019. </ref> Georgia's ''Douglas Enterprise'' commented that, "This is a book you will not forget, you will pick up this book over and over." Arkansas's ''Sun Times'' said "This book will make you think twice about the status quo." Teer, Dawn. "Book Review: Forget Self-Help." ''The Sun Times.'' December 29th, 2017. 6A. </ref> From national perspective, the book was reviewed favorably by St. Paul Minnesota's ''Pioneer Press'' with the paper saying that, "The author's insights and suggestions on how we can try to live the Golden Rule when our nation is so divided should provide lots of conversation openers at book clubs at church study groups." <ref> Grossman, Mary Ann. [https://www.twincities.com/2018/07/01/thomas-fellows-looks-to-literature-in-his-examination-of-the-golden-rule "Thomas Fellows looks to literature in his examination of the golden rule"], "[[Pioneer Press]]", 1 July 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2019.</ref>
== Inclusion of Robert E. Lee ==
In an interview with Donna Price of the ''American Press'', when asked why he included both [[Robert E. Lee]] and [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] in the same book, Fellows remarked, “The reason I have both in my book is that I can see people of all races benefitting from both men. I believe that if they were both living today, they would have been fast friends. I have framed pictures of both Lee and King in my condo in Atlanta.” In the same interview, Fellows would go onto explain that reading Lee's quotes during his first depression benefitted him greatly. He also told Price that "he was convinced that (King) the most intelligent human being ever to live."<ref>Price, Donna. [https://www.americanpress.com/scene/book-s-message-help-yourself-by-helping-others/article_8826866a-ce21-11e7-9048-4f694661448e.html "Books message: Help yourself by helping others"], "[[American Press]]", 20 November 2017. Retrieved September 9 2016.</ref>
Approximately one month after the [[Charlottesville car attack]], in an op-ed in ''The Westside Journal'', Fellows revealed Robert E. Lee's little-known stance on the confederate statues where, when declining an invitation to erect statues from the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association, Lee said “I think it wiser not to keep open the sores of war, but to follow the examples of those nations who endeavoured to obliterate the marks of civil strife and to commit to oblivion the feelings it has engendered.” <ref>Williams, Cole. [https://www.thewestsidejournal.com/columns/living-out-the-golden-rule/article_3d41bd83-da84-51bf-bfa9-5c51130a40e3.html "By Thomas Fellows Author"], "[[The West Side Journal]]", 14 September 2017. Retrieved 4 2020.</ref> <ref>Thomas, Emory. ''Robert E. Lee: A Biography.'' W.W. Norton & Company. 1995. page 392. </ref> <ref> Boyette, Chris Actually, Robert E. Lee was against erecting Confederate memorials [https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/16/us/robert-e-lee-statues-letters-trnd/index.html Actually, Robert E. Lee was against erecting Confederate memorials], "[[cnn.com]]", August 17, 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2020.</ref> In the op-ed, Fellows later on would go on to say that, "I do agree with Lee in that we should take down all Confederate statues. I ultimately believe this because as white people, and as Atticus Finch would encourage us, we need to step into the skin of black people and realize why they might be offended by the statues still being there. We need to live out the [[Golden Rule]]."
== References ==
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== Expanded upon the South; added in new CNN.com article on Lee's stance; let me know what you think ==
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