I Books

Mr. Templeman's ability to evoke real emotion in the plight of his characters makes this a book you cannot put down. The book is written from the perspective of Crilen, or Lenny as he is affectionately called, and the love that changed him forever. I found myself completely absorbed in the intriguing dilemmas facing Crilen and their relevance to the moral and cultural issues we face every day. You will continue to recount Crilen's life on this planet in turmoil long after reading the book. I would strongly support a sequel to this fascinating read.

The Planet of Mortal Worship is epic in scope and the plot is intricate and original. The hell-like imagery is both frightening and fascinating.

Although Christian apocalyptic fantasy is a popular genre, this novel has a unique and unusual protagonist. The author uses a great deal of creative license, fashioning characters not found in the Bible, but possessing spiritual abilities. The protagonist is likely the most atypical to be found in an adult novel, even of the fantasy genre. The imagery used to describe Crilen, an angelic sort of fire warrior, is vivid and captivating. Using fire as a tool of a heavenly being is an interesting choice, as is putting Crilen under the temporary charge of a demon. This protagonist is ingenious

I have wrestled long and hard with how best to convey all that should be conveyed about Templeman's book.
If you're on the fence about it, if the admittedly steep cover price is putting you off, then plunge ahead and go for it. You won't regret it. Every person I have turned onto it has been glad they found out about it.
The writing itself is top notch, lovely without any hint of pretension. It's visceral too; reading the first fifty pages or so (and the tragedy contained therein) will reveal that.
But the thing that makes the book so worthwhile is that Templeman has an unabashed agenda in his work. Questions of morality and the consequences of decadence abound. Templeman has his own viewpoint which he takes pains to put forward. But even if you don't agree with what he is saying you will still find yourself pondering his book and the relevance it has to our own confused world long after you've finshed it. That's the hallmark of the best writing: the question it asks stay with you long after the story has been told. That is precisely the case with _Planet of Mortal Worship_.

Don Templeman has created a fabulous world surprising, shocking, thought provocating, and challenging for the reader. Outstanding prose throughout - a very skilled story weaver! Full of surprises and twists. Love that taste of the darkside of humanity. The relationships between Crilen and Panla Jen are complex yet beg to ask what if...Truly a MUST READ.

Also, loved the mix of wit and commentary on society and the media. I finished Planet of Mortal Worship - ready for more!

Great Work - Should be a Best Seller!

The skill at which Mr. Templeman brings forth this story is truly amazing. He begins with his introduction of Crilen and quickly sets the stage for the story he has developed for us. His writing skills are are exceptional and his discriptive writing ranks with some of the best.

Right from the start he locks us into the world he has created, which very much mirrors ours and immediately we find ourselves attached to the main characters. We feel their joys as well as their pain.

What intriqued me most was as the plot thickened, it just seemed to thicken more. Mr Templeman brings to conclusion this turmoil in a most satisfying way. He honestly had me right until the end. It was excellent!

I strongly recommend (and I do) this as a must read for everyone.

As a meditator and Urantia Book reader who has been interested since some time ago in the development of 12 senses as suggested in:

"The average special physical-sense endowment of human beings is twelve, though the special senses of the three-brained mortals are extended slightly beyond those of the one- and two-brained types; they can see and hear considerably more than the Urantia races." The Urantia Book[49:4.3]

It was a real surprise for me to find in this most profound book by Bruce Frantzis that:

"In Eastern thought, humans have two different kinds of senses -external and internal...However, most people are unware of the more subtle capacities of their correspondent internal or psychic sense, those that enable them to access and use chi's most subtle qualities"pag319

In fact before reading this excellent book I already had envisioned these 10 senses, I had called the Cosmic sense, and additionally I had already envisioned the "spiritual essence of the Who I Am", as a sense, the sense of the Being... and that sense that permitted Ancient Taoists envisioned unity in duality, represented in their yin-yang symbol as a sense, the dialogic sense, making them the 12 senses described in UB.

Another thing that has liked me the most in this book is the use of synergy instead of entropy in manipulating the inner energy, something that explains why in the West there is a great need of a paradigm schift that include not only the outer senses, but also the inner senses to make a better approach to Eastern Inner science.

I highly recommend this book!!!

A well presented book that outlines a breathing technique that is simple but extremely effective. I purchased this book after having purchased and read Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body. I have practiced TM meditation for 33 years and Tai Chi for 15 years. Bruce offers a new and freshing approach to these valuable techniques for self development.

Bruce Kumar Frantzis is awesome, both as a teacher, and as a lucid writer. The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi is a well written tome that interlaces Frantzis' personal history with the history of a wide variety of the martial arts, from karate to bagua, and is an excellent introduction into the martial and healing arts. I highly recommend it for the novice as well as the seasoned martial artist. It is definitely a book that inspires and motivates.

This is an amazing book in my opinion and it goes into great detail about every aspect of the 3 main Internal Martial Arts of China.
Everyone with an interest in studying Tai Chi should read this book!
My review is based on an earlier version of the book which I purchased a few years ago.

I have been studying Yang Style Tai Chi for 6 years now in Northern Ireland and more recently, Wu Style Broadsword and I have found that good teachers are few and far between.
I have very been lucky to find 2 good teachers!

I have 5 of Bruce's books now, a video and some DVD's ~ I refer to them on a regular basis for tips, but mainly for inspiration, when the circumstances of life prevent me from practicing as regularly as I would like.
The book that this review is concerning is excellent in that respect ~ it demonstrates the immense possibilities of what one can achieve by training their own body and mind & this process ultimately gives one access to their spirit and to their higher spiritual qualities.

All of Bruce's work is so multi-faceted ~ you will get what you need depending on your level of experience and understanding ~ this is something that you feel after a lot of practice, rather than a mere intellectual understanding ~ next time you read, you will pick up something new and so on and so forth.

Just like regular practice of a form ~ if you are really focusing on what you are doing, you pick up on very subtle qualities each time you practice and that information can be used to improve your form & help you reach higher levels of perfection.

This book has developed in me, an interest in studying Ba Gua Chang, which I hope to get into in a few years time, after I perfect my current Tai Chi and Broadsword forms.

When I read Bruce's books, I feel myself "like a small baby" (in the words of the immortal T.T.Laing)
The amount of knowledge contained in this and his other books is phenomenal!!!

My advice? ... BUY IT ... it will become one of your best friends on your life-long journey of discovering your true potential.

This is a good book for overview and good for beginners to martial arts. But you will not find any practical hints. On the other hand although I found only one sentence useful in the book, it is worth to buy and read this book for this only sentence.

I should have been here years ago writing this review. If there was _one_ book that I could attribute to changing my life in a real and significant way, this would be it. IE Irodov's 'Problems in General Physics' is a Sistine-Chapel, an Illiad or a Mona Lisa - if you will - of Physics. I am disappointed by the fact that it's probably no longer available. More so, there are just under 10-12 reviews on a book that touched millions and millions of high-school/college students every single year (atleast in the Indian Subcontinent and ofcourse, Russia).

The book is a collection of problems. Period. Few of them are easy, most of them are tough and all of them are a joy to tackle. Sometimes it may take you even days to figure out a single problem. I remember going to bed with a problem and waking up in the middle of the night just because I dreamed of a solution that might work. This book (along with Ressnick and Halliday) inculcated in me a deep understanding of the nature of Physics, the beauty in problem solving through rigorous mathematical and analytical techniques. Many problems in Irodov involved not only a good understanding of physics, but also mental alertness. A question in the "Optics" section could just as easily involve an understanding of gravity, electricity and even mechanics.

I hope this book is not forgotten anytime soon. It's a work of art.

-

I used this book in my preparation for the Engineering Entrance examination. I loved and enjoyed the compilation of the difficult problems it presented. I was about 16 years old when I used this book. I had it till I finish the high school. I am sure there might be a solution book already out there by now. I would recommend this book for all the physics enthusiasts, young physics minds who want some challenges, I am sure I would use this book when my son grows old. Fundamentals would never change. Great book, and I still carry this in my collection.

The problems in this book challenges even the best brains in the world. It mostly tests the fundamentals of your knowledge in basic Physics. Some problems may be very tricky and may require the use of principles across two or more topics in Physics (example: electromagnetism and heat). Don't be surprised if I told you that some problems may take a day or more to solve. In the end, this book will prepare you well to take any and toughest examination in the world, in basic Physics. A 'must have' for any Physics lover !!

I really feel proud to give a review on I. E. Irodov's renowned book tilted Problems in General Physics. I still remember those exciting days back in 95,96 when I used to remain engrossed with some of the mathematically challenging problems in the book while preparing for IIT-JEE .I enjoyed solving each one of the problems I've been able to solve.

But , as some one has rightly commented, it's targetted to a mathematically inclined audience,capable of appreciating the need to quantify physics.

So dear readers,a prerequisite for a successful venture into solving Irodov problems is a good grasp of Vector Analysis and Calculus.

Thanks
Santosh Banerjee
--I still miss those problems :-)

The classic Irodov problems are daunting in the sense that they are informal and need a thorough understanding of not only a single chapter but a good understanding of all the fundamentals.Some of the problems may take several hours long but don't get bogged down.If you can solve at least 80% of the problems in a single exercise you can rest assure that you have clear fundamentals and also do have the ability to apply them.They are a must for every IIT(Indian Istitute of Technology) aspirant and also comes helps in the olympiads.There are a lot of solution manual in the market(atleast in India) but one should try to stay away from them and have confidence in himself or herself.All in all a class act!

Summary: A comical story of what first appears to be a threatening dragon who the setting's people want to slay. The dragon, however, is of no threat. When St. George is sent to "take care of it" the dragon cowers. When faced with this threat he sullenly, but humorously, replies ". . . Say he can write if he likes, but I can't give him an interview. I am not seeing anybody at present" (page not numbered). The three end fast friends and an uncertain threat is no longer a bother.
The author creates a believable character of a harmless dragon. What usually is portrayed as evil and dangerous, the persona of the dragon generates into a believable story. The twist of the dragon being afraid of St. George adds to the imaginable meaning the writer wants to evolve. Carefully setting the story, the author helps establish the voice of the characters. It evolves into a theme that proves that "things aren't always as they appear."

this is a great kids book. and even i love anything that rhymes. thank you so much.

The original "St. George and the Dragon" story is a frightening tale. Depending on which version you read, the townspeople give the scaly, stinking, vicious, dragon tribute of two sheep per day, and, when they invariably run out of sheep, they begin feeding it their own children. The King is obviously horrified, but what can he do? However, when the lottery selects his own daughter, who should appear but Sir George, (later the patron Saint of England) just in time for the king, if not for the subjects. The daughter worries for his safety, but the knight spears the dragon in its one vulnerable spot, then in a gallant display, borrows the daughter's girdle to drag the wounded dragon down to the town. For his own tribute, George asks only that the citizens become baptized; after this, he cuts off the dragon's head. Not a good ending for the dragon, but then, he wasn't a very nice dragon.

Like others before him, Kenneth Grahame modified this bloody tale for the consumption of the very young, and turned it completely on its head. This dragon would rather sleep than slay, purr than prey, and his true nature is discovered by a tow-headed young boy who gradually becomes friends with the pacifist, poetry-loving beast ("why I wouldn't hurt a fly."). Lay low, he advises him. Naturally, though, St. George arrives, and everyone acts as expected--except for the dragon. He simply refuses to attend his own demise:

"Well, tell him [St. George] to go away," said the dragon. "I'm sure he's not nice. Say he can write if he likes. But I won't see him." The boy, however, understands the underlying social pressures (which echo those of the British class system during Grahame's time) and replies: "But you've got to," said the boy. "You've got to fight him, you know, because he's St. George and you're the dragon."

The dragon, the knight, and the young boy, a person with neither power nor social distinction, make a plan. The plan is simple: Fake it. And so, like one of Vince McMahon's TV "wrestling" matches, St. George and the Dragon have it out, with flames and fury, and, as St. George just barely pierces the dragon in a pre-arranged safe spot. The townspeople, who have brought picnics for the presumed slaughter, were satisfied with the spectacle: "And all the others were happy because there had been a fight, and-well, they didn't need any other reason."

The original story, one of several short studies published in Grahame's "Dream Days" (1898, ten years before Grahame's most famous and beloved work, "The Wind in the Willows") may be found at http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=GraDrea.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=7&division=div1. Grahame wrote "The Reluctant Dragon" long at times, and one sees his concerns with religion and nature so evident in the river adventure scene of Wind in the Willows. Inga Moore takes out most of the slower, descriptive narrative (which might be enjoyed by older readers), and focuses instead on the dragon/boy/St. George relationships and the exciting battle. Compare the following excerpts (the first is Grahame's); this is great abridgement except for the inexplicable deletion of the last sentence, a very funny, modernist touch by Graham:

1. Then a cloud of smoke obscured the mouth of the cave, and out of the midst of it the dragon himself, shining, sea-blue, magnificent, pranced splendidly forth; and everybody said, "Oo-oo-oo!" as if he had been a mighty rocket! His scales were glittering, his long spiky tail lashed his sides, his claws tore up the turf and sent it flying high over his back, and smoke and fire incessantly jetted from his angry nostrils. "Oh, well done, dragon!" cried the Boy, excitedly. "Didn't think he had it in him!" he added to himself.
2. Then a cloud of smoke billowed from the mouth of the cave, and out of the midst of it the dragon himself, shining, sea-blue, magnificent, pranced splendidly forth; and everybody said, "Oo-oo-oo!" His scales were glittering, his long spiky tail lashed his sides, his claws tore up the turf and sent it flying high over his back, and smoke and fire jetted from his nostrils. "Oh, well done, dragon!" cried the Boy, excitedly. "Didn't think he had it in him!" he added to himself.

Moore also displays great taste and talent in her beautiful colored pencil and ink drawings. She draws landscapes and houses in a traditional style with meticulous shading and detail, trees show the undertones of illustration from a 1912 publication. The friendly, easygoing dragon is drawn showing an easy confidence and an engaging smile, but he's actor enough to look ferocious when required. He's drawn in one of the most striking shades of blue since the ceramic in the movie "Diva." Overall, Inga Moore honors the original Grahame story while making the story and pictures maximally entertaining for young children. Publisher Candlewick has done it again; this is an extraordinary book.

Fanciful and charming. I enjoyed reading it to my nephew and he loved it too. The artwork is lovely also. I'm looking forward to reading it again, with or without my nephew.

I bought this book for my future child (due Feb 2006) as part of my growing library. I read it through and thought it was cute, if a bit antiquated (what do you expect for a book that was written over 100 years ago?) Basically, a young boy befriends a dragon. When the townsfolk realize the dragon exists, they call upon a champion to vanquish him, blaming the dragon for crimes that he didn't commit. The boy talks to the champion about his friend and they all agree to stage a fight, rather than fight to the death. Once the play fight is over (the champion only gives the dragon a small flesh wound), it is agreed by all that the dragon will not harm anyone and the townsfolk will stop telling lies about the dragon. Nice moral story.

My only problem with the book is that it has been "sensitively abridged". I'm not sure what that means for "The Reluctant Dragon", but my "sensitively abridged" copy of "The Wind in the Willows" (also by Kenneth Graham) edits out silly things like "splashes of whitewash all over his black fur". If the book has to be so politically correct that it can't even refer to the color of an animal's fur, I'm not sure that I really want to associate with the edition. I'd be curious to compare this edition of "The Reluctant Dragon" with the original text now.

Awesome context, learned alot from it. Recommend it for those who are interested in digging into the book of Romans

I have enjoyed the MacArthur commentaries I have purchased in the past. I find them accurately in touch with the Word and easy to comprehend. Purchase was good and delivery on time.

a good commentary, however I think it could easily be condensed.

As a Bible study leader, Dr. MacArthur's commentaries have been ~invaluable~ in preparing me for study. I have never failed to find the answers to deep and vexing issues within his commentaries. I frequently read from them during our study time. The commentaries are extremely thorough and comprehensive, yet very easy to read. I found I can pick it up and read it like a novel. (Yea, it's that good.)

Dr. MacArthur's exegesis skills are extraordinary. This commentary - Romans - is exceptional. Just about every other page I find myself exclaiming 'Wow, I never knew that' or 'Wow, I never thought of it that way'.

These commentaries are a wonderful value, I am looking forward to collecting and studying the entire set.

John MacArthur is an evangelical Bible scholar who holds to inerrancy and infallibility, and he has spent much of the last twenty years working on a commentary of the entire New Testament. At present, he has completed and published 25 volumes comprising 21.5 of the 27 New Testament books (he's finished and recently released the first eleven chapters of the gospel of John).

Romans is my favorite New Testament book. And this commentary is excellent at taking a position of conservative evangelicalism and defending it. I do not concur with all of MacArthur's views, and one must remember that a commentary is basically one man's opinion of what the Bible says. But MacArthur gives reasons for the faith that it is in him (and we who know Jesus), and his writing is very edifying on the issue.

If you don't have any of his commentaries, this is the one with which to start. If you do and you do not have this particular one, I think you are missing a blessing. He gets right to the point without droning, yet he also addresses controversial issues.

The one problem with the book is nobody's fault: it would be nice for him to take on some of the modern interpretations in movements that have wreaked havoc; for example, the outlandish Word of Faith interpretation of Romans 4:17. Otherwise, it is a very good book.

Howard and Ali were pals...you can feel their love for each other in this book. We miss both of these players...

Where else but in American sports can an old, white, Jewish veteran befriend a young Black Muslim draft dodger? They may not have been friends who loved each other, but it was convenient for both of them. If you can't take advantage of a friend, then he's not. They had things in common. Both were driven. Both had over inflated egos. They were the greatest. If you don't believe it just ask them. Well, Howard Cosell is dead & Ali doesn't talk any more. Their early life & struggles are covered well so that you understand where they came from. Cosell was a World War II vet. He earned a law degree then decided he wanted to do sports on television. He was brash, obnoxious & smart. His relationship with Ali & Monday Night Football made him a nationally recognized sports journalist. Ali, originally Cassuius Clay had a fairly normal upbringing. Then he won Golden Gloves Championship & Olympic gold metal in 1960, that propelled him into his pro career. Before he was finished he had became & is the most recognizable man on earth. He was the world Heavyweight Champion, that most singular of all championships, three times.
Ali was despised for his faith, his refusal to serve in the military & of course his race. Eventually, he overcame all these obstacles. The U.S. government pursued him, denying his draft deferment status. As a result he was also denied the right to box for several of what would have been his most productive years. He lost millions of $$$ & was stripped of his championship. Eventually, he was aquitted. Cosell covered him all along his journey. The author, Dave Kindred spends quite a bit of time on Ali's three fights with Joe Fraizer & rightly so. Ali's life has become an inspiration to kids on all continents but especially the impoverished millions in Africa. He was persecuted by his own government & cheated by the leaders of the Black Muslim faith that managed him. He apparently is now a quiet soul bearing no malice to anyone. Cosell on the other hand became embittered after his MNF gig. He wanted to be taken seriously as more than a sports announcer. When he wasn't he didn't take it well. Poor health eventually claimed him. A good sports book for all us fans of a certain age that remember Cosell & Ali in their prime.

David Kindred has written what amounts to a duel biography of the controversial odd couple that is Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell. The author tells us that Ali elected to not join the military because the Muslim Nation told him not to. To cross them was to literary toy with his life. The assassination of Malcolm X being used as an example. While not necessarily agreeing with Ali's decision Cosell supported Ali stating that taking his heavyweight championship away from him without any semblance of due process was completely wrong. There appears to be evidence that Cosell may have already been experiencing dementia when he came out with his second book entitled I Never Played the Game. Aware of the criticism in his book of his cronies in the TV booth for Monday Night Football Cosell was asked before publication whether he wanted to include these strong opinions. Since he always prided himself on telling it "like it is" he felt it would be hypocrisy of him not to do so now. Cosell was a devoted family man while Ali ventured into nocturnal delights. It was hard for sports fans to be neutral in regard to either of these men, but boxing was the ingredient that brought these two men together first in mutural respect and then in friendship. Incidentally, page 247 has a hilarious anecdote of Howard using his colorful vocabulary in breaking up fisticuffs involving teens in Kansas City. Whether you are a fan of either man or the part they played in sports you will find this to be an extremely enjoyable book to read.

Dave Kindred has done lovers of sports and history a favor with Sound and Fury.

Using two cultural giants - Mohammad Ali and Howard Cosell - he has produced a fresh and readable social history of the latter half of the Twentieth Century. Let me be clear. I love Ali. Kindred refers to him as the most influential sports figure of the last century. In my mind, he understates the case; Ali is the most influential person of the last century.

Cosell, on the other hand, may have hesitated to tell you he was. He was not. Trained as a lawyer and gifted with the ability to articulate complexity, he brought a thinking man's view to radio and television sports journalism.

Individually, they were interesting. Together, they were hypnotizing. They produced controversy, drama and comedy almost every time they appeared together.

Dave Kindred tells the story of this alliance from a unique perspective. As a newspaper and magazine sports columnist with nearly 40 years experience, he covered Ali's early fight days as a reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal before moving on to the The Atlanta Journal- Courier and The Washington Post. He draws upon his experiences to re-create the Ali-Cosell story in ways I have never seen attempted.

The result is a fascinating portrait of two outsized figures - their heroics and their demons. Drawing on personal observations, fresh reporting and interviews, Kindred writes a page-turning treatment of two lives that together changed sports, television and I would argue, the world, forever.

Sound and Fury (14 hours, 11 cds, unabridged, Blackstone Audio) is a duel biography of Howard Cosell and Mohammed Ali.

Sport writer Dave Kindred knew both men, he has written a bio that transcends his knowledge of both men. His text is an honest, no hold barred , warts and all biography. When a third person (like Kindred) writes a biography, he tends to put his personal touches with his own bias, this book is NOT that.The book showed an unlikely partnership created by media hype.

In the audio narrative hands of Dick Hill, this audio project seems more like a docudrama in its scope. Hill's narrative voice takes on verbal personas of Cosell and Ali, without mocking them. His talent has grown from the days at Brilliance Audio.

Sound and Fury is an amazing production . . . you won't forget it audio, long after you heard it

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

So far I've only read the first two of the three stories. (Based on the reviews that I've seen here, I'm looking forward to reading the last one.) It's easy to say that I really liked them, but a bit harder to say why I liked them - but I'll try. With respect to Eric Albert's "Charmed, I'm Sure", it's the combination of real eroticism, a natural cleverness, and a subtle sense of humor that doesn't get in the way of the eroticism. With respect to Greta Christina's "Bending", it's an intriguingly erotic idea taken to a pretty extreme level, but in a way that, although erotic, is also gentle and touching. With respect to Jill Soloway's "Jodi K", I'll have to wait until I read it - but based on the company that it is keeping, I strongly suspect that I'll it too.

"Avrat taldor"could become some household phrase you say to your wingman when you're at the bar and you spot your next victim. They're the words that the protagonist must use so his newly acquired sexual powers over others--and by others I mean everyone and anyone--can take root. Of course musing on how pleasant it would be to have that kind of sexual control, access, and opportunity would suffice as erotic adventure, but it's by far the only hypothesis that unravels. In all the slick sensuality, raw physicality, and relentless humor, there remain newer, deeper philosophical territories that make the narrative richer for the digging. I trusted the author's craft from the start, so I knew the plot wouldn't fizzle out into 'the evil temptress- poor exploited hero' dynamic or become an archaic warning about what you get when you trust a female. The story does beckon to some fairytale genre conventions including a witch and a stone, but uses these conventions in a fresh, upbeat way. In effect, Albert becomes the sorcerer, you, the protagonist, the book, your stone, the words, your presented spell, your unleashed sexual thirst, the ensuing outcome, a formula that will leave you, as it did me, "Charmed, I'm Sure".

I love Jodi K, Jill Soloway's perfect little novella -- it's a slice of Judy Blume, but for adults. Jodi K is funny and completely believable; she somehow manages to be sympathetic even when she complains about her father's obsession with the Holocaust. This book is surprisingly sexy, too, that confusing, vague kind of sexy that hovers over you during puberty, when everything is charged with meaning and longing and esprit sweatshirts. I could listen to Jodi K's voice forever, and secretly wish that Soloway would expand Jodi K into a full length novel or (dare I dream?) a book series.

With Three Kinds Of Asking for It, Susie Bright once again presents us with a collection of erotic novellas that we will want to read over and over.There is a certain indelible thread of earthly spirituality that unites these three superb novellas novellas.All are about transformation and change. For me, the hottest, most memorable and interesting stories about doing IT always include this element and I certainly was not disappointed here.
In Eric Albert's supremely witty,Charmed,I'm Sure, our hero discovers what is under the fine print when he enters into a contract with a very modern witch who accepts credit card payment for her spells. In Bending, beautifully written by Greta Christina, a woman who prefers one sexual position over all others, pushes her sexual envelope so far out she finds a whole new world inside. In Jill Soloway's very wise and very funny Jodi K. we find out what happens when a smart and lovely fourteen year old gets a crush on her best friend's father. All three of these novellas end with a surprise that left me breathless and delighted.
Three Kinds Of Asking For It is a book I want to give to all my friends.
Tsaurah Litzky, author of The Motion Of The Ocean

I'm the author of several books on NeoPaganism. I've also been writing and selling porn stories for about a decade.

In "Charmed, I'm Sure," a dash of magic helps fantasy meet reality, but our hero gets much more than he bargained for. The story is a wild ride, intensely erotic and playful. I couldn't wait to see what happened next. "Bending" is a fascinating journey deep into one woman's very particular kink -- and out the other side. It got me off and made me think. That's all we can ever ask of sex writing.

I wasn't as enamored of "Jodi K," hence the missing star. But the book is worth buying for the first two stories.

This is a wonderful book but it is most suited for serious practitioners who already know the CORRECT Yang 103 empty hand form. This book will truly motivate you to become a better Tai Chi Player.

If it is your intention to figure out what Yang Luchan could put into practice, you know that all we have are hints. A written hint here. An oral hint there. A rediscovery from this person. An oral tradition from that person. In other words, you know how hard it is to stay on the path. Well, here is a book that is chock full of hints, a veritable roadmap of them. If taijiquan is for you a "martial" art, why don't you own this book?

Here's a statement issued by the Yang family (Yeung is Cantonese for
Yang

-----
Yeung Family's Tai Chi Chuan

The Yeung family's style of Tai Chi Chuan is unique to the Yeung
family.

It was started by Great Master, Yeung Lu Chan, who was born over two
hundred years ago, and has been passed down to family members,
generation after generation to the present day. The lineage under
discussion is that of Mr Yeung Sau Chung, the eldest son of Mr Yeung
Ching Po. Mr Yeung Sau Chung moved to Hong Kong with his family in
1949, and continued to dedicate his life to practicing and teaching Tai Chi Chuan until his death in 1985. Since then his family has devoted
themselves to practicing and teaching Tai Chi Chuan.

Mr Yeung had taught for over fifty years, and his daughter Ms Yeung Ma Lee, taught for over twenty years. Over these seventy years, they both have taught many students. Their method of teaching is personal and individualized. Through this methodology, they have employed various teaching approaches that take into consideration an individual's learning level, capabilities and physique.

It is important to clearly define the different categories of learning
more fully:

Category one is family. Yeung family members are taught the complete
body of knowledge. In the family, the methods and formulas are observed
most strictly, and the teaching methods employed are quite severe.
While all family members learn, not all like teaching and not all take
disciples.

Category two is disciple. Generally, a student is required to spend a
specific amount of time studying with the teacher before being
considered for discipleship. Students are accepted as disciples based
on several criteria. The disciples must have aptitude and possess virtues
such as honesty, kindness and loyalty to the Yeung's family. Once
accepted, they would acquire from the Master skills that lead to a
level of comprehension that far exceeds that of the students so that they can help the Master to spread the Yeung Family's Tai Chi Chuan.

A disciple is allowed to use the Yeung family's name when teaching.
Disciples can choose to take their own disciples. All disciples are
listed in the chart of School of Yeung's style of Tai Chi Chuan but not
in the Yeung's family lineage despite the fact that some people
shamefully promote themselves this way.

Category three is student. With permission from the Yeung's family
students could teach using the Yeung's family name.

The family itself has published books about Tai Chi Chuan. One must
understand that books only serve as a guide; you could only learn the
art well with instructions from the Yeung family. Recently a movie of
Mr Yeung Sau Chung surfaced on the internet (without family permission).
The same principle applies. It may be the best form one has ever seen,
but without the underlying formula, it is impossible to learn from it.

There are a lot of claims by some people saying they are practicing the
"real" Yeung style, or they possess the "forgotten secrets" etc. It is
absolutely important that the followers should exercise the utmost
caution to discern the authenticity of these claims and whether the
martial art is appropriate for their physique, otherwise it is not only
a waste of time and money but also it might cause serious injury. Yeung
style Tai Chi Chuan is both an extraordinary defensive art as well as
an unparalleled health maintenance exercise. The principles and
applications are only as valuable and effective as the source from
which they spring.

Know your source.
-----------------------

Not my words, but the words of the Yeung family. There are a lot of taichi chuan masters teaching terrible and innacurate form. Buyer Beware!

It is a very interesting approach to Tai Chi. It explains the philosophy and the basic. It is good for people that are starting with the study of Tai Chi.

Though "secret transmissions" is somewhat of a misnomer, what the author presents is a collection of early published taiji material--mostly by Yang Cheng Fu, though there is one work
indirectly attributed to Yang Ban Hou.

These early works are not a step-by-step manual, but guides to the practicing student to help gain insight into what they're practicing. What any reader should immediately pick-up, however, is that these guides were written for someone learning how to fight.

Though much of the material is by (and thus, oriented towards) a Yang-stylist, the fundamental principles of taiji remain the same in all styles, so there is enough material that all taiji practitioners can benefit by. In fact, this book was recommended to me by a Chen-style practitioner.

The other part of this book, the author's foreword, gives the colorful (and sometimes conflicting) historical background and accounts of the Yang family, which is in of itself a fascinating read.

This book is definitely recommended for any serious taiji student.

My first graders LOVE this book! Last year there were fights over the book so now I have three and I am not sure if it is enough. Mo Willems simple messages reach the heart of all and Piggie's positive attitude is infectious. The Piggie and Elephant books are excellent for text to text connections to Willems' Pigeon books.

This is by far the best book we have read yet. My son cracks up laughing every time we read it. He will even flip through the book by himself and laugh hysterically. I love Mo Willems' books, he is great!

As parents of 4 years old girls, we are reading books constantly. Since we often read the same books over and over and over again, I try and find books that my husband and I enjoy reading as well as ones that our girls will enjoy. This series by Mo Willems is GREAT! Good starter books for our girls to start reading but hilarious as well. We all laugh. Mo Willem's other books are just as fantastic. You should check them all out. Clever, smart and the illustrations are perfect. All children books should be as good.

I am 27 years old, have 0 children, 1 Master's degree in Speech Communication, and love to read books by Mo Willems. I find his books to be inspiring, philosophical, witty, interesting and visually enthralling. This is my current favorite book, although it's hard to claim a favorite when you know that with Willems- the best is yet to come!

Today I Will Fly! (Elephant and Piggie)

The Elephant and Piggie books FLY out of my classroom for home reading and are in great demand at the reading table~~better than Seuss for high interest. Contains just the right amount of text for beginning readers and lots of high frequency word practice. I've been teaching K-2 for 32 years and haven't seen this kind of excitement over a book series from very young readers. Mo Willems is a teacher's dream come true!

An excellent grouping of poems. They each reflect real life circumstances in today's busy world. I am pleased to be an integral part of my grandchildren's lives. As such, this book is quite relevant to circumstances that they could face as they grow up and out into a more independent world. Thanks Vickie for having the heart to tell it like it is. Your sensitivity and talent certainly shines through your work. You help us face and address so many of the current social ills!

Vickie,I will start off by saying your words,language and poetry are simply clear,down to earth and truly has a message.The only reason that I gave you 5 STARS is because there was no 10 on the board! My review may be quite different from your other wnderful reviews and that is because the reason that I said Divinely Awesome is because I do not understand God's Ways or Timing.I now know that He says that all things work together for His Good and purpose.I pray that every child,teenager,parent and also anyone that would like to have hope and press on and accomplish their purpose,would get your book and read it often.I really wish that I had mentors or someone when I was a hurting and confused child and teenager,to guide and direct me.I became a very angry and violent young woman that every poem in your short but very powerful book described with such clarity and humor.My prayer is that many more doors are open for you to help young people,which are our future to know that they will submit to someone for the rest of their lives,that they must develope character and that their gifts can take them but their character must KEEP them.They also will always have choices,there will always be consequences,they can continue to play the BLAME GAME and that they can choose to be BITTER OR BETTER BUT THEY CAN'T BE BOTH.Your words in each poem touched my soul and gave me hope in a way that you will never know on this side.I was the destructive child that grew up in a very violent home;chose all the negatives that lead to many addictions.I am now 52 yrs old,and the author of 'All Cracked Up" and at this stage i began to feel like giving up on my purpose to continue my triology of my books to help the youth,battered men and women,unhealthy relationship addicts,sex addicts,rageaholics,sucidal tendencies and eventually crack addicts.Why? because I became all of the above and more; I didn't have someone like you who cared enough to talk,write or show me the WAY and some how THE DIVINELY AWESOME GOD THAT CREATED ME and knew me before I was in my mother's womb;through all the rain,storms,fire ,trials and tragedies, He directed and kept me to tell my story from experiences to help someone.Now with all the mentors He has provided for me I am proud He added Vickie as a road model and mentor in this 52 year old woman's life.When the road gets hard as it has, I can read "The Trouble I See" and know to hold on,some more Help is on the way.Keep up the Awesome call and purpose on your life Vickie Lynn Wright Wilson!!! Again thank you with all my heart!

I really enjoyed this book and feel it can make an impact on the yougth of today. It is easy to read and in a language they can understand. The book projects prospectives of parents/adults and those of teenagers. The poems demonstrate deep feelings of concern, desires for sucess, christian principles, and provide situations of caution. The book should be promoted for parents and their children. The author has found a tool to make an impact on our society!.

A wonderful book of poetry!!! Ms. Wilson's concern for the well being of all children and her experience as a parent and teacher shine through in each poem. Congratulations on your debut. I look forward to reading your next piece of work.

Reminds us that it is still possible, at a time when irony and
cynicism are so much the fashion, to pay tribute to our greatest
asset 'our young teens', in teaching them to recognize 'failings
and failures', while being properly appreciative of virtues and
victories. If you need to read a single book to help save our
teens, 'THE TROUBLE I SEE' is it.