Audio Books

This book may perhaps not meet your expectations regarding content: I expected to see the uncles in their own habitat, surrounded by the debris of compulsive hoarding, at one with the world they had created. Lidz does not show this world: instead, he shows mainly the two uncles who live outside asylums at odds with the outside world, fumbling their beyond-quirky way through the landscape of New York.

That difference could make or break your interest in the book. Which do you want to read about, two curmudgeons at home in the nest they have created or two outcasts in society? I'm not saying that either narrative pathway makes for a bad or good book; I merely suggest that, before you read, you be prepared for what you will be reading. You might also consider that the four uncles of the title really refers mainly to two uncles; one of the others makes a single cameo appearance, and the other uncle gets a bit of space toward the end.

Lidz takes slow steps in childhood, telling ancedotes about his times with the two main uncles. These humerous takes are made forceful because they are told against the backdrop of his mother's long, ultimately fatal bout with cancer, a narrative that underpins the first half of the book. You thus have two strong narrative themes in the first half: the bumbling uncles (and the question of how on earth they function) and the sick mother (and the question of how on earth she manages to hang on to life).

The book becomes rockier in the second half, beginning when Lidz is an adolescent and his father remarries. Time speeds up considerably and without warning: you go from the slow ascent of the roller coaster to the rapid descent, and, narratively speaking, it's a rocky ride. It does make some narrative sense to speed up this second half, but it's too much too quickly and thus disconcerting for the reader. The second two uncles are introduced rapidly and don't receive as much analysis as the other two.

The book goes on to wrap up (incompletely) too quickly as well. It's as if when one uncle dies, another uncle is plugged in to take his place, and, what with the uniqueness of the uncles being emphasized, it doesn't work in the narrative. Lidz's attempt to introduce his recording techniques is also akwardly introduced, though I don't know how he could have done it more smoothly.

All in all, though, it's a good book. The strong first half does much to make up for the weaker second half, and the character's personalities make for excellent dialogue throughout. Lidz is an excellent prose writer who simply needs to pace himself a bit better; the writing itself is commendable. Recommended.

Heard the taped version of UUNSTRUNG HEROES by Franz
Lidz, the author's tale of growing up in what might charitably
be called a dysfunctional family . . . it consisted of him and
his sister, their parents, and their father's four brothers who
played an even more significant role in his upbringing when
his mother died.

If you ever thought your family was strange, wait until you meet
this group of eccentrics . . . for example, one brother thought
Mickey Mantle was out to get him . . . another collected
shoelaces . . . how Lidz, who became a writer for SPORTS
ILLUSTRATED, managed to escape the lunacy is beyond
me.

The fact that he grew up on Long Island, not far from where
I was raised, made the book even more interesting to me . . . that
and the narration by John Turturro . . . the actor's work greatly
aided in my enjoyment of UNSTRUNG HEROES.

This story although sadding at times kept me giggling and laughing at the antics of these uncles based on the real-life uncles of the author. I can see why it was made into a movie--it is a ball of fun and yet heartbreaking in others and down-right silly at times--in the end you come to feel as if you KNOW these men and the rest of the family and you feel slightly sad that more people don't look at the world through their eyes, but instead are so quick to judge those considered "different". I hated to see it end---a great, great story!!!

The author possesses fierce intellectual honesty, and his prose has a bare, involuted rhythm that is almost hypnotic. Very, very funny.

I could show you a sentence in Unstrung Heroes as elegant in its implications as the binomial theorem, and another as economically sphinx-like as the square root of minus one. The declarative sentence, Franz Lidz makes you suppose, is perhaps a writer's highest achievement.

I am a beginner golfer and this book is helpful for the mental part of golf! I would suggest it to anyone that plays golf. I gave to a friend that throws clubs in frustration and she played a round for the first time with no broken clubs and was relaxed, she says the book is helping her too

I loved this book! I learned more about the art of the mental game of golf in this thin volume than in a half dozen longer times (.e.: The Mental Games of Golf). I would put this up there with "See It Sink It" or "Every Shot Must Have a Purpose".

A must have for any serious golfer. I dare you to read the story about the golden statue and tell me that it didn't affect you!

Finally, a book that puts the mental game into sections that make sense. Told in a down-to-earth way, the examples and insights provided by "Zen Golf" really do pertain to the game we love. Understanding that the results of a swing are not necessarily the be-all and end-all is very powerful knowledge. Learning to breathe will apply to a myriad of endeavor, both athletic and personal. Ostensibly, it is a book about golf, but one that fills many gaps in all kinds of life situations. Dr. Parent is a born teacher.

Bottom Line . It took five strokes off my handicap.
Michael A. Epstein
Member KCC

By far one of the best books on the mental side of sports that I have ever read, and I have never even swung a club!

I absolutely adored this book when I was little, so of course I was pleased when one of my first graders picked it up at the school library and beged me to read it for our class read-aloud this afternoon. Since we have recently discussed thinking about characters' emotions as we read, this was a perfect exercise--the text never actually says just what the cute little dog Harry is feeling during his adventure of getting dirty. And if you think about it, his tale is quite poignant. Anway, comprehension lessons aside, my kids were glued to the story and we had a great discussion afterwards. The writing is brisk and fun and subtle, leaving plenty to the readers' assumptions. The black and white pictures are adorable, detailed, and full of expression. Really, not many people write like this anymore.

Harry the Dirty Dog was undoubtedly a favorite of my children 25 years ago. I read it over and over. Despite the repitition, I also love this book. There is a rhythmn to the prose that makes it as fun to read as it is to listen to. I'm thrilled to see it again so that I may purchase it for my grandchild.

Our household has the whole series of the Harry books and I wouldn't have it any other way! I found an old copy at the local library and the first night I read it my daughter didn't make a PEEP she was utterly captivated and shes 2 and a half for 3 months she'd call "Harry Harry Harry" just like in "Harry by the Sea". If you love dogs, you'll love Harry!

This was one of my favorite books as a child in Australia. Now as a father in America, it has become on of my childrens' favorite books too. Give your children (and yourself) a lifetime of smiles and warm fuzzies with this one.

Poor Harry, he likes everything but taking a bath. He's got white hair with black spots. One day, he meanders around town and finds nothing but dirt. By the time he winds up home, he is filthy and no one recognizes him -- he's now got "black" hair and white spots. Harry can't believe they don't recognize his tricks and then he decides to get the dog brush and race up to the tub. Lo and behold, a little soap and water, and suddenly the family realizes its Harry. Boy, are they happy he's home. This is a fun book with wonderful illustrations. We have an original first edition of the book and my three children and I love reading about Harry. The little one, 2 1/2, loves pointing at a dirty Harry and asking "is that Harry?". When I answer yes, he is always quite relieved.

This is one of two books I highly recommend for anyone interested in basic Buddhist principles communicated in a Western way. His kindness and sense of humor come through the pages. I don't know of a single person who has not found this book an pleasant reminder of why we are here in the first place.

I listened to The Joy of Living as an audiobook, and have re-listened to it several times. The links that the authors made with neuroscience and to everyday life put the ancient Buddhist wisdom of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche in the context our modern world in a way that I found immensely understandable, profound, and, yes, joyful! I am deeply grateful to Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Eric Swanson for providing these great teachings, and sharing their insights as they relate to current science and life. The skillful narration also contributes to the integrity of the work. - It felt as though the authors were speaking directly through Jason Scott Campbell. I know I will listen to it many more times.

A great tour through mindfulness meditation's efficacy on living well, the power of neuroplasticity, and a monk's personal struggle with anxiety.

Your thoughts are not you. That simple, that profound. Enjoy this book and enjoy your life.

Having come from much personal trauma, anxiety, panic, depression, and physical ailments, but also being of a skeptical scientific mind, I began searching philosophy for something that would answer pressing issues in my life. Being depressed about that state of my health, my past and my life in general, I picked up the book without much expectation, almost sure that I would be disappointed. I was very wrong. Instead, this book, in a brilliantly simple way, changed my life profoundly, by giving me the root answers to my problems and the tools to manage these issues. Learning about the author's own anxiety was uplifting to me as I identified. I'm not fully recovered, but I am much more advanced than I have ever been. This book put me on that path.

This book takes the simple and sheds light. It takes religion to complicate things - This is a good reminder that we are here for relationship not religion, and of the beauty and simplicity of the gospel! Great book, Thanks Dr. Munroe!

For the first time in my life as a believer I am understanding what God intended for us. The Scriptures have been clear but my thinking was incorrect, off -track, muddled by cultural circumstances. Dr. Munroe takes you step by step into the Word of God and emphasizes what JESUS said, did and wants for us. My thinking is changed, my perspective is different. I am applying the Word of God to my life and it works. Every believer needs to read this book... with the Word. Wish I had learned about kingdom principles as a chld as my entire life would have taken a different path. From this point onward I am thinking and living Kingdom of God!!

There are times as a Christian that we need a little more insight. This book by Myles Munroe helps you to understand more clearly some of Gods Word and plans for our life as Christians. This book will help you put some Godly plans into action.

This is a perfect book for a Christian Library. The concept is based on God Kingdom. This book is perfect to use in Sunday School classes or just for personal study. I enjoy reading it and I'm still using it as a reference.

This book is a must read for everyone who wants to know the true and the ministry and purpose of Jesus Christ mission on earth. This teaching on the Kingdom needs to be taught in the churches around the world. I'm including schools, governments, and companies big and small to get the understanding. I will be buying this and the other teaching books and CD's on the Kingdom to invest in my bishop pastor friends and family.
Really understand what Matt6:33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness get the book...

This book is a must read for Christians who are not satisfied with their spiritual life and a MUST READ for those in churches considering major capital expenditures that will serve only the members. It will change the way you think about how you and your church can best serve Jesus.

For many years I have felt disenfrancised from the church, even though I have spent my entire life in it and even raised my family in it. Now that I am nearing fifty, I have found myself seeking ways to spread my faith that are real and substantive. This Present Future has given verbal affirmation to what I've felt all along, and to what I've always known to be true. But in Churchian circles, the only truth is the one they tell you, and to think outside the box is frowned upon. But now I understand why, and I understand what I must do to change and effect my world for Christ.

Thank you Reggie McNeal.
Lonnie Friesen
The Homeless Heart

Reggie McNeal writes a thought provoking book that will either excite and challenge you or anger you. Not everyone is ready for the truth that is laid out in his book. But it is the truth none the less. The American Church has lost the right to be heard and this book gives us some tough questions we need to ask ourselves in doing a self-evlaution and earning the right to share the important message of Jesus Christ and be heard by those who need to hear it. This book was a great confirmation for our church in who we are and why we don't seem to fit in with the other churches in our community. God is doing a new thing and this book has shown our church we are part of it. I am now taking our entire church leadershipo through the book. I highly recommend every Christian who is tired of "doing church" and maintaining the status qou read this book.

Fantastic book. Really makes you reflect on your ministry and the questions the book asks gives a structure for evaluating the overall focus of your church. I would highly recommened this book for someone seeking to bring about revitalization within their congregation and personal ministry.

Excellent book which speaks to the problems the modern church faces. Gives specific information and direction to deal with current issues. I have found this work tremendously useful in advocating change for the church I serve as pastor.

Oh man! Let me just start by saying Jilly Cooper NAILED it with this one! Sure, it's kind of trashy. And yes, some of the characters will make you cringe and seethe and want to strangle them. But this book has EVERYTHING it takes to be a real page-turner! Between scandalous moments, raunchy scenes, totally heartless characters and incredibly well-written equestrian scenes, this book is worth every star it can get.
Sure, Cooper's writing is not necessarily for your granny, and yes, some pages will make you blush...but if you have the sense of humor required to read this book you will love every page!

I read Jilly Cooper's books backwards. I started with Wicked, then The man who made husbands jealous (not that great btw!), then score, then rivals, then riders, and now am reading polo.

I was in love with Rubert from the first time i read Wicked, but when i read about him in Riders I just couldn't believe his character, it was so inconsistent!! One moment he's so tender, and the next he's involved in a rape-like group sex with a very reluctant female!! eew!!! That scene was VERY disturbing!!

but what disturbed me even more was a the stereotypical way in which Mrs Cooper addresses animal treatment in the middle east!! I've been raised in a horse-loving family and we treat our horses right!! we love them as much as we love our family, if not more and Sheikhs don't sell their horses or beat them just because one of their kids can't cope with them.

It was so tiring reading about that in this novel and i kept telling myself that this was in the 80's and people didn't know much at that time, but in the end it really did ruin the novel for me. I just kept skipping pages to get done with it.

a fun read..the author researched her story well. The characters are well developed, as is the story. I've read this boook many times, enjoying it every time.

For years I began the summer by re-reading this book. It's a beach read, and a fun read. It comes the closest to any book to capturing the effort involved in showing horses on the international circuit. It's not all fun and glamour, but hard work and effort, with a few rich people thrown in for good measure. The characters are multi-dimensional and engaging. And it's more than just a little bit naughty. Hang on for a wild ride!

Wow. This book took me all over the place. To begin with, I am a horse lover. If you're not, you wouldn't like this story. The story was very long but I stayed wrapped up in it. There's a lot of relationships, hardships, sex-ships, etc. I have a feeling, I'll read the sequel to this one and soon.

This is an excellent book for all followers of Jesus Christ or someone who wants to know what a true follower should be doing as a disciple of Jesus. If you want to grow and strengthen yourself in your walk with Christ, this book is an excellent guide. Just like a high caliber athlete practices and trains daily, we also need to follow certain practices to strengthen ourselves and develop good habits of prayer, worship, celebration, solitude with God, and many others. Without following these disciplines that Jesus Christ Himself practiced, the Christian can only expect to get so far before getting stalled in their faith. These spiritual disciplines are truly essential in furthuring our walk with Jesus. Dallas Willard's book is an excellent resource for that growth. Tom W.

"The Spirit of the Disciplines" focuses on the various disciplines that God uses to change people's lives. The book contains 11 chapters and 2 appendix for a total of around 265 pages.

Each of the 11 chapters addresses a particular theme. Chapter 9, addressing the specific disciplines, is my personal favorite. According to Willard in Chapter 9, the disciplines are separated into 2 groups:

1. Abstinence - This group consists of actions that helps us from becoming too involved in the world so we may better focus on God instead of the things of this world. The disciplines included here are: solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy, and sacrifice. Willard's comments on solitude and silence were particularly insightful (solitude can help us in resisting conformity to this world).
2. Engagement - This group consists of actions we can do to serve others in this world so as to not become so isolated that we render ourselves useless to be used by God for His glory. Disciplines included here are: study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, and submission.

Other chapters (such as 11) address issues such as: can a Christian be financially and spiritually successful at the same time?

Willard will definitely challenge you to think and pay attention as you read, so be forewarned - this is not a light read!

Read, enjoy, and be challenged and encouraged! Highly recommended.

a great source of spiritural disclipines, easy to understand and use in your daily life. great writing as ususal by Dallas Willard

In this book, Dallas Willard describes Christ's "easy yoke" of discipleship and corrects some erroneous beliefs as to what a life of discipleship entails. This does not replace the Gospel but is rather a fuller understanding of how to access the benefits available to us in our salvation.

Just as an athlete's entire life is devoted to the discipline of exercise, practice, diet, rest, etc. to result in the attainment of excellence that we see briefly during a sporting event, so a Christian's spiritual maturity and Christlikeness is not an accident but must be an ongoing intentional activity. Willard describes a series of "disciplines" which can be of value as we apply them to our lives:

The disciplines of abstinence:
solitude
silence
fasting
frugality
chastity
secrecy
sacrifice

These make way for the disciplines of engagement:
study
worship
celebration
service
prayer
fellowship
confession
submission

As we follow the Spirit's leading, we can utilize these disciplines to cultivate a deeper experience and awareness of Christ in our lives.

Willard also reviews how these disciplines have been abused and perverted over past centuries, resulting in the Protestant rejection of asceticism that has led to superficial contemporary churches that are devoid of spiritual depth and fruits of the Spirit.

There are also two very important chapters regarding poverty and wealth, and engagement with worldly power structures. Willard suggests that rather than "disengagement" with the world whereby we divest ourselves of our assets and worldly positions to become more "spiritual," instead we should steward these God-given responsibilities to work within our sphere of influence to advance the priorities of the Kingdom of Heaven.

As Willard says, "there truly is no division between sacred and secular except what we have created. And that is why the division of the legitimate roles and functions of human life into the sacred and the secular roles does incalculable damage to our individual life and to the cause of Christ. Holy people must stop going into 'church work' as their natural course of action and take up holy orders in farming, industry, law, education, banking and journalism with the same zeal previously given to evangelism or to pastoral and missionary work."

Willard says that the proper focus of the church is to cultivate disciples of Christ: "Ministers pay far too much attention to people who do NOT come to services. Those people should, generally, be given exactly that disregard by the pastor that they give to Christ. The Christian leader has something much more important to do than pursue the godless. The leader's task is to equip saints until they are like Christ, and history and the God of history waits for him to do this job."

As the church collectively and believers individually apply the "spirit of the disciplines" to cultivate Christ's nature within and among us, God's influence will be spread more effectively within the world. This book is a manual showing us how to go about it. As Willard says, we really have no other choice than to become disciples of Christ - or not. When we count the cost of each alternative, it is evident that the "easy yoke" is better than living according to the spirit of the world.

This book is an awakening. It is a call to return to the kinds of disciplines all but lost in history and lost to the modern world. It challenges us to take seriously the deepening that comes from spiritual practices that focus our lives on God.

If I can skip to the middle, the highlights of the book come after some preface and preparation. The strongest points begin in chapter seven, when Willard outlines a three-step approach to holiness that is founded in the teachings of Paul The process is:

1. Being "baptized into Christ." Willard offers the shocking description of a life in which sin has become something "still possible in the abstract...but we see it as the uninteresting or disgusting thing it is."
2. "Reckoning" ourselves dead to sin. This is the active pursuit of envisioning sinless life and striving for it.
3. "Submitting our members to righteousness." This is where virtue becomes habitual and irresistible.

Willard then treks into an explanation of how the most acetic trends of monastic Christianity have actually distracted the common Christian from taking this process seriously. Asceticism is a means to an end.

Chapter nine is then the meat of the book, walking us through a brief paragraph or two on fifteen disciplines that we (in most cases) should practice.

Chapter ten then departs a little bit to return to the subject of asceticism, only this time to emphasize that poverty itself is not spiritual, and that what counts is a nuanced use of money.

To return now to the beginning of the book, he says that his purpose is not so much practical as it is to elaborate on the idea that "Full participation in the life of God's Kingdom and in the vivid companionship of Christ comes to us only through the appropriate exercise in the disciplines for life in the spirit." He spends time explaining that life is not just doctrine but practice for perfection. He goes to great lengths to show that it is an affirmation rather than a rejection of the body. The first half of the book sets out to defend things that the eager reader has probably already agreed to. Nonetheless, the circumspection is important.

What I personally walk away with is still the surprise of the three steps he takes from Paul. They are so far removed from the content of most of the preaching I've heard and (I think) the mindset of most Christians that I know, that I almost walk away wondering if he's proposing the impossible. It makes me wish for something I don't even have a sense for how to attain.

My son has been reading this series. He loves the story line - he's 11, but reads on a college level. So, I would say this is appropriate for that age group, and interresting enough to hold the attention of an older reader. The sory line seems interesting enough for an adult reader wanting a quick read too.

This book is really awesome. This book starts when a runt silverwing bat named Shade wants to find his father. His father, Cassiel, disappeared after he wanted to see a human building. So, Shade, Chinnook, Ariel, Freida, and a lot of other bats go to find him. On their trip they get stuck in an indoor forest, where humans put exploding metal bands on bats and birds because they use the explosive bands to blow up building for war. Shade and Chinnook have to escape from exploding and then they run into Goths forest, and then they have to save the world from eternal night. Goth is a vampire bat. One of the coolest things about the bats is their echo-vision. Shade uses his echo-vision and makes himself look like a vulture to the vampire bats. The best part of this book is when Shade and his family and other silverwing bats and some rats enter the bone room. I like when they crawl into the bone room because it is really creepy and full of bones.
My favorite character was Throbb, but he dies in Silverwing. My favorite character in Sunwing is Cassiel because he says things that can be funny. The thing I don't like about this book is how there are too many things to do with forests. In the beginning they run into a human forest and it takes them 6 chapters to get out of that forest. Later in the book they run into Goths forest and it takes them 3 chapters to get out. But sometimes they do interesting stuff in the forests. My least favorite character is Goth because at the end all he does is roar. I want every body to buy this book! But, you must read Silverwing first to understand Sunwing.

This book is as good as the first one, and is as enjoyable as the first as well. But, don't read Firewing, you'll hate it. I did.

Sunwing was one of the BEST books I've EVER read! It has lots of fiction in it but, it also has a large amount of true facts in it also. I truly reomend this book. And it has a bunch of action and adventure in it. And I think people who like animals such as, bats, mice, owls etc. will LOVE this book completley.

Jacob Milette

My daughter is 9 years old and not into traditional girl stuff. She enjoys stories that feature animals. She has firewing and one other in the series qnd has enjoyed them all.

This is a Phenomenal book! It's a great book for all women of color to read. Each chapter alerted all of my emotions and thoughts. I am learning everyday how to attack any negative energy surrounding me and follow the gift of intution. Learning to love yourself in the midst of everything.

Yes, I already gave it five stars, because I read one of her other books "Tapping The Power Within...." When I was about 14 or 15 years old, I was in a afterschool class, and the instructor gave us each a copy of "Acts of Faith." The title of the book was very powerful to me, and I tried to read it then, but I was not ready. See, thats the thing about most self help books like these, you must be READY to read them. I actually got "Tapping the Power Within..." last month from my counselor, thats when I realized I still had two of her other books. My aunt also bought me one of her books when I was of the age 14, because I was going through a tough time. The book was called "Don't Give it Away." Which I am now in my THIRD YEAR OF COLLEGE... YAYY ME, and I passed the book down to my sister. (Also, I wanted to leave this portion of my message for a poster on here named Tigress "JD": Do not feel stupid for buying a collection of her books. Actually, I had just did the same thing. I am about to buy more of her books).Its quite hard choosing which books to read. I am currently reading the "Acts fo Faith" day by day, and I have finished reading "Tapping The Power Within" Which is helping me a lot. The following books I already have purchased was already shipped to me is "Faith in the Valley," "Living Through the Meantime," (which I started to read, but I was not sure if I was ready, after reading a couple of pages through)"One Day My Soul Just Opened Up (which I am debating with "Living Through the Meantime"), and "Yesterday I Cried." So I have about seven of her books. I am going to purchase more right now. I hope you all remain strong, and I hope the books will help you all a lot. (sorry for all the typos its 3:12am in the morning in NYC and I could not help it, but to get back online and purchase some more books, plus I cannot fall asleep).

This book is great not only for black women, but for all women. It helps one to understand life better, and to love ones self better.

I am a big fan of motivational and self-help books. I have read many in my lifetime. Mostly good, some so-so. It is important to read a book relevant to what one is going through at that time to get the full scope of things from the book we read I believe. Iyanla's books are one of them and one of my favourite authors. The first book I got from Iyanla's collection was "Yesterday I Cried" and that had helped me through the ditch I was going through at that time. A friend of mine recommended a book of hers "One day My Soul Just Opened Up" which at that time I had already knew about her and went on to search on amazon her other publications and purchased the whole series of her books. Yeh - crazy me! But hey, she's good! I like her approach in the way she writes and conveys her message. It's real. I can relate to her. I have almost the whole collection of her books that she has published and reading them one by one as I go through my life's ups and downs. For the past few months I've been going through many valleys, I started reading "The Value In The Valley" which has given me many insights into my own valleys that I am going through and have gone through and approach life and my valleys in a different light. I have just purchased the Audio CD version of it to listen while I drive or at home. Can't wait to get it and the rest of the motivational goodies I just got from other authors. :) Thumbs up to this book as well as Iyanla's other books. Thank you Iyanla for all the insights your book has given me. :)

I saw a lot of me in reading this book. It really helped me to realize somethings about myself and why I do the things that I do. It was great. I would recommend it to anyone who needs clarity on themselves and their lives.