Journals Books

"Mere Christianity" happens to be one of my favorite books, and I've been looking for something to use in my "quiet time," so I was thrilled to find this journal. For what it is (writing prompts, quotes, and blank pages), it does seem a bit pricey, BUT the binding on the one I bought (leather) is gorgeous.

I plan to use this personally for my devotional time, and may also use the discussion guides for a future study group. If you'd like to interact with "Mere Christianity" on a level that personalizes and applies its message to your life, this is a good place to start.

C.S. Lewis was a rare individual. One of the few non-clerics to be recognised as a theologian by the Anglican church, he put forth the case for Christianity in general in ways that many Christians beyond the Anglican world can accept, and a clear description for non-Christians of what Christian faith and practice should be. Indeed, Lewis says in his introduction that this text (or indeed, hardly any other he produced) will help in deciding between Christian denominations. While he describes himself as a 'very ordinary layman' in the Church of England, he looks to the broader picture of Christianity, particularly for those who have little or no background. The discussion of division points rarely wins a convert, Lewis observed, and so he leaves the issues of ecclesiology and high theology differences to 'experts'. Lewis is of course selling himself short in this regard, but it helps to reinforce his point.

The book at the heart of this journal, 'Mere Christianity', looks at beliefs, both from a 'natural' standpoint as well as a scripture/tradition/reason standpoint. Lewis looks both at belief and unbelief - for example, he states that Christians do not have to see other religions of the world as thoroughly wrong; on the other hand, to be an atheist requires (in Lewis' estimation) that one view religions, all religions, as founded on a mistake. Lewis probably surprised his listeners by starting a statement, 'When I was an atheist...' Lewis is a late-comer to Christianity (most Anglicans in England were cradle-Anglicans). Thus Lewis can speak with the authority of one having deliberately chosen and found Christianity, rather than one who by accident of birth never knew any other (although the case can be made that Lewis was certainly raised in a culture dominated by Christendom).

Lewis also looks at practice - here we are not talking about liturgical niceties or even general church-y practices, but rather the broad strokes of Christian practice - issues of morality, forgiveness, charity, hope and faith. Faith actually has two chapters - one in the more common use of system of belief, but the other in a more subtle, spiritual way. Lewis states in the second chapter that should readers get lost, they should just skip the chapter - while many parts of Christianity will be accessible and intelligible to non-Christians, some things cannot be understood from the outside. This is the 'leave it to God' sense of faith, that is in many ways more of a gift or grace from God than a skill to be developed.

Finally, Lewis looks at personality, not just in the sense of our individual personality, but our status as persons and of God's own personality. Lewis' conclusion that there is no true personality apart from God's is somewhat disquieting; Lewis contrasts Christianity with itself in saying that it is both easy and hard at the same time. Lewis looks for the `new man' to be a creature in complete submission and abandonment to God. This is a turn both easy and difficult.

'Mere Christianity' was originally a series of radio talks, published as three separate books - 'The Case for Christianity', 'Christian Behaviour', and 'Beyond Personality'. This book brings together all three texts. Lewis' style is witty and engaging, the kind of writing that indeed lives to be read aloud. Lewis debates whether or not it was a good idea to leave the oral-language aspects in the written text (given that the tools for emphasis in written language are different); I think the correct choice was made.

This journal draws quotations and passages from each of the sections of 'Mere Christianity', and poses them as matter for reflection and questioning. This is a guide for conversation with oneself, with God, and with others about the deeper meanings in life.

Any "directed" journal can be a useful tool. In this case anyone exploring Christianity - whether ot not a Christian personally - will find a means to think through and express their own ideas, particularly when confronted by the views of C.S. Lewis. A stimulating exercise.

It feels almost embarrassing to jot your thoughts down alongside those of this great author. But Lewis' writing is nothing if not "inspirational," in the very best sense of the word.

Harrianne Mills' book, A Mind of My Own, is a gem. It is a moving, enlightening account of a Classics Professor's recovery from aphasia. Ms. Mills is, indeed, a gifted and engaging writer.

An excellent book to understand Aphasia, one that an individual might not think is interesting, yet is fascinating. Aphasia was a word I did not know. Strokes and brain injuries occur too often for us not to understand them, both from the point of view of the caretaker and the caregiver.

Ms. Mills provides insights into how her mind functioned (and failed to function) during her long recovery from a severe brain injury. As the reader follows the author's mental re-"connections" to her bodily functions, her family, her friends, her work, her social interactions, her emotions, and her views on life itself, the reader can assess and reassess his or her own "connections."

I'm posting this review of my daughter's book for my friend Elmer West, who has no email: This book is the detailed, personal account of Harrianne Mills' recovery from serious physical injuries and devastating brain damage following a motorcycle accident in Greece in May 1985. She was rushed to the hospital, quickly examined, declared to be dead and sent to the morgue. Only then was it discovered that she was in a coma. The coma lasted only 12 hours but her recovery took an agonizing year as she slowly began to recognize family members, remember her own identity and learn again how to walk, talk, think and read. Harrianne's recovery was the result of good medical help, much of it related to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, and the loving care of her mother through most of that staggering journey toward normalcy. Beyond everything else, it was due to her indomitable will to get well. She tells her own story in stark detail, buttressed by medical records and input from family and friends. For twelve years before the accident she was a college professor of classical languages. Now she is on the staff of the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology. This story has the thrust of a beyond belief novel; except that it is the true story of an amazingly bright, free spirited woman who never gave up!

This book is a must for all "inquiring minds." That is, while the authors announce it as a book for researchers, it is really for anyone whose work entails creating understanding or knowledge. Leaders and organizational consultants must be constantly building on and changing their mental models of the organizational world and its inhabitants. Psychotherapists must do the same for their clients' worlds. Looking at this challenge through the combination of phenomenology, hermeneutics, critical theory, and Buddhism will deepen and enrich one's sense of meaning in the work of leading, consulting, and therapy. I will never look at a client's situation quite the same way again! So, while this is an excellent text for researchers, I would highly recommend it to all those who must understand human systems deeply.

I can only congradulate Dr. Valerie Malhotra and her co-author for this original work which brings back the role of the researcher as a theory builder rather then just a data collector. Most importantly, the reference includes other world-views which extends beyond the Western civilization. It may be another contribution if the book inludes other civilizations as well.

This book puts the "so what" back into research texts! It is a wonderful, thoughtful, realistic and provocative description of how research is not only a technique but an approach to life. I used many of the excellent suggestions to explore my own thoughts and to develop new insights into research methodologies and philosophies. I can't remember the last scholarly book I sat down and read for an entire weekend cover to cover!

Ph.D. candidate, Human Development, Fielding Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, March 18, 1999.

Mindful Inquiry in Social Research is a scholarly and poetic volume on how to bring mindfulness into one's work and life. Even though I have read other research texts, "I didn't know what I didn't know." However, with Valerie Bentz and Jeremy Shapiro's extraordinary and unique approach, I am for the first time, on my way to developing the research capability that I sought from my doctoral studies. Like reading a suspense novel where time seems to melt away, I lost my sense of time while immersed in the beauty and clarity of Mindful Inquiry. Bentz and Shapiro, literally come alive through their personal writing styles. The text is all at once philosophical, personal, and theoretical. It is not a minor accomplishment for a research text to read poetically. If you have scholarly interests that are directed at the discovery of the cause and the meaning of things, this book may well be the only guide (certainly a necessary one) you will need for your quest. And should you really want to kick start your own research, begin by reading the inspirational magic formulae in their concluding chapter.

Chock-full of interesting and valuable insights, Minority Report encapsulates much of the Mencken oeuvre. The author never leaves room for doubt about his meaning. Not a few of the notebook entries reveal that Mencken had an inclination towards the visionary, as when he treats of scientific subjects. Mencken means everything he says; and although his writing has a very sharp flavor, his implicit message to the reader is that he is being as honest as possible within the confines of his own talents of reasoning and understanding. Mencken offends only insofar as the reader is guilty of taking himself too seriously. As the average entry is relatively brief, Minority Report accommodates all those who love to read deep but fun literature yet who find themselves always in a hurry with little time to devote to prolonged readings. Enthusiasts of H.L. Mencken will be pleased to find his hallmark of iconoclasm stamped on every page of Minority Report. For those new to Mencken, this is a good place to start. Those who have smarted aplenty from his other writings, either from too much laughter or from having watched their cherished preconceived notions herded to the slaughterhouse, should be pleasantly surprised by the depth, range and poignancy of H.L. Mencken's notebooks.

This is a wonderful collection of pithy Mencken writings which you may often see quoted. If you have no intention of reading his full essays, read this. This was one of the best bathroom books I have ever had. It is funny, amusing, nihilistic, and condescendingly brutal (or is it brutally condescending?). Mencken writes with the authority of a god, but one with a strong sense of humor and an honest reverence for honesty. This is one of the most original, interesting, and inspirational American writers period. So pick up a copy and see your illusions melt away.

This outstanding collection of pithy, sage, irreverent and frequently hilarious snippets by the master wordsmith Henry Louis Mencken were prefaced by a statement of his disappointment that he wouldn't enjoy another lifetime in which he could develop his notes into articles or books. I too share his regret. As one who was captivated by the clarity and accuracy of his writings at a tender age, it gives me great pleasure to reread a replacement copy of Minority Report. If you only read two books by the Supreme American Iconoclast, make this one of them (by the way, the other should be 'A Mencken Chrestomathy'). You'll not be sorry!

This selection of HLM aphorisms appeared in his later years at the age of 68, just before his health seriously deteriorated. Basically a book of about 432 short witticisms, much like A. Bierce's DEVIL'S DICTIONARY, but with a bit too much bile a times. Obviously, he enjoys jabbing at the powerful ("Roosevelt II", among others), the New Deal, Lawyers, Politicians, Professors, just about everyone, or, all the hippocrites, idiots,morons,(standard words in the HLM lexicon) out there. Politically he seems to subscribe to the hard Victorian "Sink or Swim" philosophy, and constantly cracks those who cannot pull their own weight. Democracy? A sham for losers and loafers. Elections? Only those who have supported themselves for 5 years need apply. Mississippians and Tenneseeans? Mainly dim wits and holy rollers of inferior stock. Some of these comments get repetitive, and more than a little tasteless. But,still, at his best, he is incomparable, especially in critiqueing organized (mainly Christian) religion. In his view a total sham, completely irrational and unscientific. In fact, the world would be vastly improved if everyone took a few moments to consider his irreverent, but totally honest, religion comments.Wars? Completely without morals and really a suckers game run by incompetents with no knowledge of the horrors being unleached. So today HLM would be a far right libertarian, but would shoot his poisonous darts to all the war mongerers and phoney flag wavers. So where is today's HLM? There are a few who try, but none who can come close!

A great collection of articles, most good, some brilliant, though maybe one or two parts not quite up to the standard of the rest of the book (eg, that picture of Plymouths continous still, is a pot still, which makes you wonder about the rest of the content of that article), though on the whole it's a good, thought provoking and many bothersome question answering journal, and a worthwhile read for any professional bartender.

Buy it and sip of all the articles full of background stories and cool informations. It's bar geeky but super well written.

The book is full of usefull information for any bar geek. Well it is actually nothing else... And contributers are The A-Team!

Good stuff, fascinating compilation of articles for tipplers with a need to know. Especially Greene's article, top notch.

This was a gift for a friend and he loves it. He will use it in Dublin starting this Thursday.

This book you create from you own experiences or the ones you want to have. It has maps and areas to keep notes. So you can have your personal guide to whatever city you want to visit.

Fast shipping. I was given the wrong product due to the original packing from Moleskine was labled Dublin but really London. Contacted seller who not only overnighted the correct copy but let me keep the London version for the trouble. I look forward to doing buisness with Mind and Body in the future.

This is a very unusual product and I would strongly encourage anyone considering getting one to be completely aware of what it is before they purchase it. First, if you are looking for a single travel guide to prepare you for your trip to New York (or anywhere else there is a guide for), this is very close to worthless, if not entirely worthless. I would call one's attention to the title of the product. It is a "Notebook." That means that most of the pages are blank. This literally is a book for taking notes in.

So what do you get when you buy this? Every book in the series follows the same format. First there is a personal information page with address, phone, allergies, family doctor, passport number, then map information with public transportation maps. Then follows information on the various forms of transportation with phone numbers and websites, including cabs, buses, other forms of public transportation, and airports. There are some blank itinerary pages, measurement and speed conversion charts, size conversion charts (for shoppers), then a long series of neighborhood maps, including an index. And that's it. The final two-thirds of the notebook are blank. The next 20 or so pages are completely blank and unlined for whatever use you want to put them to. Next come several pages intended for writing down names of restaurants, bars, museums, historical sites, hotels, or whatever. The book also comes with unlabeled tabs with stickers to use as desired (for theaters, concert halls, or whatever you desire) as well as tracing paper for, as the label says, "Itineraries or Whatever." Finally, there is the usual pocket at the back that is found in all Moleskine products.

For some people this is going to be an absolutely useless product. But for many this will be remarkably useful. In fact, I can envision two uses for this notebook. First, those who are planning a trip to one of the places for which Moleskine has produced a book. Let's say one has consulted the Blue guide, the Eyewitness Guide (by DK), a Rough Guide, the Michelin guide, and the Let's Go guide. Maybe you've bought all of these, making for five guides. No way do you want to drag all of these on your trip or more than one on your flight. So what might you do? You might take the Moleskin Notebook, record into it all the places you want to see, restaurants you want to dine at, museums you want to stroll through, and anything else you want to do while in your destination of choice, and record it there. So the Moleskine City Notebook can serve as a distillation of all the various travel guides, web sites, and other resources you have consulted. And instead of hauling about a large Fodor's guide, you can carry about this small Notebook that can easily fit into a backpack, purse, should bag, or even pocket.

The only downside is that the Moleskine City Notebook is only as good as you make it. If you do a good job of planning your trip, it will be filled to the brim with useful and helpful information. If not, it will be as unhelpful as you have made it.

There is a second use to which the City Notebook can be put to use, though it is not one for which it was primarily designed. You could use it for the city in which you live, should you live in one of the cities for which one is made. I live, for instance, in Chicago. I have bought one of these so that I can over time use it to record every bit of helpful information that I might find useful or helpful. I can record what hours the Seminary Co-Op Bookstore (the real one, not the trade version on 57th Street) is open. The hours for the Chicago Public Library and the Newberry Library. Phone numbers of restaurants and addresses of bars. And so on and so forth. Granted, these books will only benefit those who live in one of those cities, but for the U.S. New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles are pretty populated areas.

So this is a very well conceived product though it absolutely has to be stressed that it is a specialized one. Please note: THIS ISN'T FOR EVERYONE. If you don't want to use the Notebook to plan your trip it is going to be very close to worthless. I'll emphasize again: this is only as good a product as you make it. But if you use it to help you plan your trip, it could be the single item you would most loathe to be without after your notebook.

Practical, well thopught out, compact, yet it has EVERYTHING you need for business and leasure. Perrrfect !

This little book came in very handy during my first visit to New York. The best feature was being able to sneak a peek at the subway and street maps without looking clearly looking lost. It also has lots of places to list your places of interest, as well as a back pocket to keep cards, etc. of places you want to remember for next time.

Great maps make it easy to get around the city. Used the subways during my trip. Subway map was a big help.

Get it and have fun in NYC!

I love these books. I wish they would add more cities. They're small enough to fit into a purse or backpack without it being too cumbersome.

An excellent little source of information and its handy size only improves it. The maps are essential and they give you the opportunity of looking less-tourist-like than carrying huge maps all over the place. Highly recommended!

Got this right before my trip... the subway maps came in handy; plus, the Moleskine is just a great all around book for jotting down quick notes and ideas.

This is a very unusual product and I would strongly encourage anyone considering getting one to be completely aware of what it is before they purchase it. First, if you are looking for a single travel guide to prepare you for your trip to New York (or anywhere else there is a guide for), this is very close to worthless, if not entirely worthless. I would call one's attention to the title of the product. It is a "Notebook." That means that most of the pages are blank. This literally is a book for taking notes in.

So what do you get when you buy this? Every book in the series follows the same format. First there is a personal information page with address, phone, allergies, family doctor, passport number, then map information with public transportation maps. Then follows information on the various forms of transportation with phone numbers and websites, including cabs, buses, other forms of public transportation, and airports. There are some blank itinerary pages, measurement and speed conversion charts, size conversion charts (for shoppers), then a long series of neighborhood maps, including an index. And that's it. The final two-thirds of the notebook are blank. The next 20 or so pages are completely blank and unlined for whatever use you want to put them to. Next come several pages intended for writing down names of restaurants, bars, museums, historical sites, hotels, or whatever. The book also comes with unlabeled tabs with stickers to use as desired (for theaters, concert halls, or whatever you desire) as well as tracing paper for, as the label says, "Itineraries or Whatever." Finally, there is the usual pocket at the back that is found in all Moleskine products.

For some people this is going to be an absolutely useless product. But for many this will be remarkably useful. In fact, I can envision two uses for this notebook. First, those who are planning a trip to one of the places for which Moleskine has produced a book. Let's say one has consulted the Blue guide, the Eyewitness Guide (by DK), a Rough Guide, the Michelin guide, and the Let's Go guide. Maybe you've bought all of these, making for five guides. No way do you want to drag all of these on your trip or more than one on your flight. So what might you do? You might take the Moleskin Notebook, record into it all the places you want to see, restaurants you want to dine at, museums you want to stroll through, and anything else you want to do while in your destination of choice, and record it there. So the Moleskine City Notebook can serve as a distillation of all the various travel guides, web sites, and other resources you have consulted. And instead of hauling about a large Fodor's guide, you can carry about this small Notebook that can easily fit into a backpack, purse, should bag, or even pocket.

The only downside is that the Moleskine City Notebook is only as good as you make it. If you do a good job of planning your trip, it will be filled to the brim with useful and helpful information. If not, it will be as unhelpful as you have made it.

There is a second use to which the City Notebook can be put to use, though it is not one for which it was primarily designed. You could use it for the city in which you live, should you live in one of the cities for which one is made. I live, for instance, in Chicago. I have bought one of these so that I can over time use it to record every bit of helpful information that I might find useful or helpful. I can record what hours the Seminary Co-Op Bookstore (the real one, not the trade version on 57th Street) is open. The hours for the Chicago Public Library and the Newberry Library. Phone numbers of restaurants and addresses of bars. And so on and so forth. Granted, these books will only benefit those who live in one of those cities, but for the U.S. New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles are pretty populated areas.

So this is a very well conceived product though it absolutely has to be stressed that it is a specialized one. Please note: THIS ISN'T FOR EVERYONE. If you don't want to use the Notebook to plan your trip it is going to be very close to worthless. I'll emphasize again: this is only as good a product as you make it. But if you use it to help you plan your trip, it could be the single item you would most loathe to be without after your notebook.

As a former KGB agent formerly stationed in former Czechoslovakia, I can't tell you how useful the Moleskine City Notebook: Prague would have been to me back when I was a junior agent just beginning my career at the former Prague bureau.

I remember one time I was supposed to tail a dissident on his way to meet his CIA contact. I followed the guy over the Charles Bridge towards Old Town, but then lost him in a crowd near the town square. I went back to the bureau shame-faced, but my understanding superior told me to write up a detailed report about what I saw and where. As I sat down to write that report, I realized that without an accurate map or detailed notes, I could not reconstruct what I had witnessed, so I made something up.

I ended up making up many of my reports, mostly due to my poor organizational skills. If I had had my maps and notes in one, compact and convenient notebook, I might have saved myself a lot of trouble. My understanding superior became much less understanding when he found out that I was writing fiction, and soon I found myself in Noril'sk, Siberia, north of the Arctic Circle, where I have seen people's eyeballs freeze in their heads.

After the Soviet Union collapsed, I packed my things and left the KGB, but the idea of revisiting Prague has never left my thoughts. This time, however, I plan to have my Moleskine City Notebook: Prague with me, and you can be sure whatever notes I write will have nothing to do with dissidents or defectors, and everything to do with the best restaurants, oldest architecture, and warmest hotels that Prague has to offer.

The great thing about all the Moleskine products is that they give you space to air your creativity, but they're small enough that they're not overwhelming like a bigger sketchbook can be. I've been using their watercolor book to study watercolor paints and it's completely perfect--high quality paper that is the perfect texture for watercolor and that doesn't warp much, even when you use tons of water (as I do). The landscape design gives you a lot of freedom to paint without the spine getting in the way, and the elastic band keeps everything flat and tidy.
The paper surface is even perfect for dry media, like graphite and charcoal, since it has a slight tooth to it but still lets you erase cleanly. Go ahead, buy it. You won't regret it.

Okay, I admit it, I've tried a million other notebooks and journals telling myself "why pay more for the name". I guess I have wasted more dollars looking for the right journal and should have paid more attention to the reviews that I thought were based solely on "Moleskine snobbery".

The paper is perfect and stands up to washes better than most notebook journal/sketchpad papers. The fact there is 75 wonderful pages is even better! The size is perfect, and the binding is flexible to keep the opposite page from folding over on you while you are working. The book lays flat without sacrificing the binding. I love the perforated sheets, they don't tear when you don't want them to, but if you want to remove a page (maybe a page you really messed up and want removed immediately without messing up your whole book) its a cinch!

Of course the bookmark is nifty to get you where you are going fast, and the elastic closure means you can stuff it in your bag without worrying you will end up with dog eared pages or rips, plus it keeps things from falling out. Who can live without the pocket?! Perfect for keeping ticket stubs or "souvenirs" or snapshots to add to your book or refer to while painting or sketching.

The paper is smooth enough to keep detail in your work but textured enough to give depth and contrast and stand up to your watercolor!

This is "THE ONE" to buy!

This notebook is the perfect size and the paper is great for quick sketches on the go. I stash it in my purse along with a waterproof uniball .5 mm pen and whenever I have a moment I sketch and then add the watercolor later. I love this book so much I've given them as gifts to other artists and I've ordered many for myself. Can't say enough good things about them

As a former art teacher I highly recommend this notebook to anyone who takes the tools seriously. I got this notebook recently as a gift and don't know why in the world I've not run across this til now. I gave the paper a good workout and scrubbing with watercolor pencils, and it held up very well and warpage from water was minimal (is not a problem though because the hard cover irons it out). I like that there is a lot of paper and the paper has just enough tooth to hold water and color well, but will also allow for detail. I think this notebook would also work great for those who are into charcoal, pastels, and ink wash techniques because it is a nice weighted slightly textured paper. Also very much appreciated is the portability: anyone who is serious about art will probably at some point want a handy book to record visions. This is important to practice in real life in real time, and this notebook seems one of the best tools to get better at art.
I have also done quite a bit of professional framing and can attest that the hard cover is essential if you may want at some point to frame your art as the cover keeps the papers flat and from creasing. One thing I want to request from Moleskine though: although I like the portable size, I would also like to see a few more even larger sizes; maybe 8 by 10 and 10 by 12. I am going to stick with this size or larger Moleskine notebook and large rolls of watercolor paper from now on. It's economical, good quality, time tested and I like it a lot.

I have given this as a gift several times and everyone loves it. It is a beautiful book that is so much better than all of the other "journal-type" books I have seen. Hands down the best journal on the market and a great, great gift idea.

This book is gorgeous - very high quality. It is filled with beautiful reproductions of classic prints of children. I bought it for a shower gift for a baby boy and liked it so much I bought it for myself to use for my daughter.

I've never seen a baby book like this one- every page is absolutely beautiful and the quality is so nice-highly recommended!

As you may already know, it is nearly impossible to find beautifully designed baby products--especially those that don't cost an arm and a leg. I was ecstatic when I received my first copy of this book through Amazon. The paper and printing quality are impeccable--printed in Italy. I was actually shocked at the quality of this book, considering the retail price. Even more important, the editors have excellent taste--the vintage illustrations are gorgeous and unique enough to please my most discriminating friends. Also, the text is simple and classic--not at all sappy or cheezy, like most baby journals.

I live in Hollywood and cannot tell you how many of these journals, and especially the Edelen Wille vintage poster books, I have given my picky hipster mommy friends, as well as my more conservative friends & family members, with WONDERFUL results across the board--very unusual. People go on and on over how much they love these journals and books! Needless to say, I have bought over a dozen of these journals already and I'm sure will buy many more.