Second Edition.This extraordinary tale, the journey of Jose Gonzales, a simple Bakersfield gardener, starts by questioning our lives¿ best achievements and ends by offering great hope as it probes our metaphysical underpinnings. This brief, finely detailed allegory reminds us of our need to live simply and harmoniously. It is a spiritual guide for our time, providing food for the contemporary soul. Every letter of it soaks with love for the human race, sometimes deeply earnest, at other times light and sparkling, in the way the heart finds joy. In all, The Gardener¿s intriguing plot and magical-realist approach show the reader the way to the beauty of the real world with its perpetual driving forces: love, compassion and fortitude. Expect humor and suspense ¿ a story that touches your heart, warms it and lingers there for a long while.

Carefully curated stories from our monthly magazine to create a themed short story book about the philosophy and ethics of food. Perfect for classrooms and book clubs, each story is 1,500-7,000 words and comes with five suggested discussion questions.

Delight in intriguing, thought-provoking conversations about ethics, philosophy, and social issues! After Dinner Conversation is a monthly literary magazine publishing short fiction. Each issue features both established writers and up-and-coming authors who contribute fascinating philosophical insights on controversial topics like marriage equality, assisted suicide, the meaning of death, animal rights and defining your "purpose." It's time to go deep in search of truth! If you love reading imaginative short stories on hot topics that make your brain think deeply but also have you laughing out loud... then this magazine is for you! "After Dinner Conversation" Magazine - November 2023 Last Rights: Death comes for a disbelieving philosopher. Drag Brunch: Hannah's gay friend is excluded from her bachelorette party. The Walnut Tree: A travel tour in Uzbekistan gets sidetracked to wonderful effect. Heros: Religious fundamentalists take over Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. The Competitive Edge: An insurance company's race-based underwriting is called into question. Starstuck: The first child in 1,000 years is born to the "Great Purveyors of Reason" and confuses them with his love of emotions. Now The Leaves Are Falling Fast: A quaint suburban couple rob their dying neighbor to settle an old score. After Dinner Conversation believes humanity is improved by ethics and morals grounded in philosophical truth. Philosophical truth is discovered through intentional reflection and respectful debate. In order to facilitate that process, we have created a growing series of short stories across genres, a monthly magazine, and two podcasts. These accessible examples of abstract ethical and philosophical ideas are intended to draw out deeper discussions with friends, family, and students. ★★★ If you enjoy this story, subscribe via our website to "After Dinner Conversation Magazine" and get this, and other, similar ethical and philosophical short stories delivered straight to your inbox every month. (Just search "After Dinner Conversation Magazine")★★★