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I was on a spiritual quest for a little over four years and this book as well as meeting John Wheeler were the last two milestones on that road. Ever since I started my "spiritual quest" I read spiritual books addicitively. Over the course of those years I read over a hundred books mostly on zen and buddhism, but also lots or random new age books ranging from Eckhart Tolle, to Louise Hays, to Shakti Gawaiin. When I discovered John Wheeler I was rereading every spiritual book I owned over and over again determined to end this journey. And this delightful book appeared in my vision.

I remember first reading this and I could feel that this was the beginning of the end, and surely enough it was. During this period I was packing up to move to the Northwest and decided I needed to meet this Mr. John Wheeler on my way. Meeting him was like meeting god himself. This guy was completely sure of himself, clear and is a true living example of every reading I've studied over the years. It was obvious that something much deeper was going on under the surface of this man's voice.

After meeting John Wheeler and going over his teaching for a few months I went back and forth between having it and not having it, which is really impossible because there is neither. But following the advice in this book and questioning everything that came up, it finally is clear. No self. Very simple really.

If you are ready for the end of your journey the teachings in this book are sure to help you on your path, or lack there of. He is clear and direct, and this is the next best thing to actually meeting a "person" who has "it". What seperates his book from others really is his adamance on the fact that "you" don't exist, there is no you and there never was. He pounds this into your head page after page after page. I remember talking to John about this, saying I never finished his book because he just kept repeating himself page after page, which he agreed. But this is what the "person" needs. So many many other books are all over the place and really make up a whole philosophy and idealogy about an enlightened person and the spiritual life. For years I rememeber trying to mimic the way "i" thought an enlightened person should act. But enoug of that. Wheeler goes straight to the source of the problem, the "I", the self. Eliminate this and you're done. In the words of many others before me, "no self no problem". Wheeler shows you how to see this which is already here.

I found John Wheeler quite by accident as I searched for the astrophysicist of the same name. I was struck by the synopsis on his homepage and felt an immediate connection with his message. I was no more than half way through his book when I realized it to be a complete confirmation of the sum of my 25 years of searching. John Wheeler and his teacher, Sailor Bob Adamson, both point directly to our essential nature and, for me, the last question fell away in a moment of simple clarity.

John Wheeler is simply a master at gently but ruthlessly throwing you back on that which you already are - presence awareness.

This book is mostly a series of question and answers - John has a very simple and loving way - he's very patient but also unfailingly catches the questioner as they fall back into the mind, into the sense of "I" - John gently directs them back and continuously reminds them of what they are.

John is one of the most "respected" authors writing about Advaita or NonDuality today - a student of Bob Adamson - he has gone beyond the mind and resides in the clear presence awareness of which he speaks and points to. To be more clear - he shows that there is no one to go anywhere, no one to achieve or attain, nothing to do but BE WHAT YOU ALREADY ARE.

All of his books are very highly recommended.

if you've earnestly read everything, joined everything, tried everything to get "it" and none of it has worked; if you're about ready to give up on the whole thing for once and for all, you just could be ripe for this. i was. between wheeler and nisargadatta you'll be cooked, trust me. it's over. thank goodness! don't have to buy any more spiritual books, no more questions, no more angst. Get this and I AM THAT by N maharaj and you're done. really done!

I have read hundreds of spiritual books and followed several traditional practices including vipassana and zen. Nothing has ever 'hit home" as the writings of John Wheeler, which combine a truly extraordinary talent for simple expression, a rock-solid foundation in non-dual principles, and an astonishing talent for connecting with people.

The photographs alone in this book justify the purchase price. Heck, the cover photo of Clara Bow justifies the price! The text was interesting but not overly enlightening; however, every photo was one I'd not seen before. I found the author's choice of biographic subjects to be intriguing since it included actors I might have overlooked. If you love the silent movie era, this is a good addition to your library.

This is the first modern book I have seen in a long time that covers the silent era of film with the right combination of good textbook information and photographs to illustrate the era. There are many production stills, behind the scenes photos and poster and other advertising art work for illustration. A history of the development of Hollywood as the center of the film industry is given as well as coverage of different genres and the key players of the era. Overall, a handsome coffeetable edition with good general information about the best of Silent Film.

This gorgeous, glossy coffee-table-style book is a must-have for serious silent movie fans. Fascinating information on the golden age of silent movies and full of wonderful photographs.

This book is crammed with lush photos and fantastic ad materials from the silent era. The text is thorough, informative, and presented in an organized and entertaining manner, but the book is worth the price for the illustration alone.

I received this book as a Christmas gift and while not a definitive volume on the Silent Era, it is truly beautiful. They have various chapters from the stars, the directors, genres and etc. This book is loaded with photos of stars and posters and is a large coffee table book. I have read bits and pieces but not cover to cover, yet. Still, I can highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this forgotten time in cinema history.

My 22 month old daughter wants me to read this book to her every night! If your child is a Sesame Street fan then this little book will be a big hit.

My 17 month old usually has a hard time settling down at bedtime. She adores the Sesame Street characters, especially Elmo, and we read this book just before tucking her in and turning out the light. Elmo and Big Bird and their friends are getting ready for bed, and showing them all sleeping helps my little girl to accept bedtime a little more readily, since anything Elmo does is automatically cool!

My daughter and I have read this book over 100 times, at naptime and bedtime. She seems to never get tired of it, and is now reading it to me! It's a great book that seems to be perfect for a 2 to 2-1/2 year old attention span.

My 22 month old son loves this book. It very sweetly winds him down by saying good night all of his favorite friends as they go to sleep. It starts with Elmo at the park playing and ends with him being tucked in for bed. Therefore the child is able to relate to being awake and playing and is then brought down to falling asleep with all his Sesame Street friends. This is a wonderful book to lull your child to sleep with.

Our 21 month old son loves reading this book, both at bedtime and anytime we are reading together. It starts with Elmo at the park with his Dad, and they head home to get ready for bed. Along the way, Elmo sees different Sesame Street Monsters getting ready for bed by brushing their teeth, jumping on the bed, reading to their teddy bears, etc. Everyone is getting ready for bed, and at the end, it's Elmo who is fast asleep in his bed. This is a wonderful bed time storybook, but note it's paper pages not a boardbook so be careful with toddlers who like to grab pages.

In this boxed set, you get 6 of the SpongeBob 8 x 8 softcover books...

Hands Off!

And the Winner Is...

SpongeBob and the Princess

Ice-Cream Dreams

Bubble Blowers, Beware!

The Great Snail Race

These retail individually for $3.99 or $4.99 each, so this set is an awesome deal.

We bought a set for our house & a set for a birthday party gift. SpongeBob lovers will all be glad to have these. Great for ages 4-7. My boys are 6 and they just love them. They like having them all in one box. They are great for the boys to practice their reading skills.

I bought this for my 2 year old son. He loves spongebob and he loves books, so this was perfect for him. I like the carrying case for all his books, that way he can take them all along with him for trips in the van.

Great set of books at a great price. I purchased 4 boxes since it was part of the 4 for 3 promo and included it in the goody bags for my son's birthday party. It ended up coming out to $1.25 per book - much better than a bag full of candy!

They were well worth the money and I have already read them several times to the kids. They have been one of their favorite Christmas gifts.

A nice set of books to have on hand.

We purchased this boxed set for our nearly 2 year old son that fanatically loves Spongebob. They are paperbacks, but seem to be pretty durable. He has not torn out a page yet.... when he usually does tear pages. They were even in a cup of water accident and dried rather nicely.

For the price... it is a must-have for every Spongebob lover out there.

It's been a few years since we last bought one of the Star Trek wall calendars. It's good to have one again. We prefer the original series calendars to the more recent sequels and to the "Ships of the Line." Overall size of the calendar is more than adequate and color photos are great. This year's (2008) version has shots from the original TV series, starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and the late DeForest Kelley. We believe each of the first three years of the series are represented. The calendar also has two months with photos from the Star Trek movies, "Wrath of Khan" and "Search for Spock." Key dates related to the series, stars, and international holidays are included. Finally, there's a centerfold of the original starship Enterprise, with a space station floating in the distance. Quite well done.

Calendar was in stellar condition, exactly as described. I highly recommend it to any fan of the oridional series.

This calendar is really fantastic. The pictures are great! Also, it features important dates/birthdays pertaining to the Original Series cast! The font of the calendar is in line with the Star Trek font. This is a great gift for that serious Star Trek Fan! Highly recommend it!

I look forward to the annual classic Star Trek wall calendar. This year was no exception. The pictures are full of color with clean, crisp images. The vibrant colors that classic Trek was famous for come shining through. Nice to liven up any room or to keep as a collectible.

it was a bit banged up when it arrived, but I feel it was no fault of the company that sent it, just the post office which mangles everything. So, over all, the company was prompt in shipping, and made every effort to send it so it wouldn't get bent.

This is a great sg1 novel and I would recommend this book and the author to anyone. She captures the series perfectly. The plot is so well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat. When I found out that Cost of Honor was the sequel I instantly set out to by it. It was worth all the effort!!!! No matter what you have to do to get these books get them you will not be disappointed.

I found this book extremely difficult to put down. The story line is fantastic, the characters are almost perfectly captured in mannerisms and speech patterns. The author describes scenes vividly so that you can 'see' everything clearly. This is the second book in the Fandemonium SG-1 series that really focuses on the psychological aftermath of Jack O'Neill's torture by Baal. The TV show didn't make that big of a deal of this, but these wonderful tie-in novels use it as grist for a lot of internal angst. In this book we also again see Daniel's guiltly feelings for not helping Jack die when he was being tortured. More grist for internal angst. And then Sam is captured by Baal's Jaffa and receives her own package of angst. So far we don't really see Teal'c with baggage... perhaps in another book. Since this is just part one of the story, I recommend that you acquire SG-1 "The Cost of Honor" at the same time as this book so that you're not left hanging with the "To be continued" effect.

"A Matter of Honor" by Sally Malcolm is exactly what SG1 is about. I could not put the book down it was such a page turner! The characters were to a 'T', the humor, sensitivity, and loyalty. You can picture everything in your mind. It is written so well that there is enough description for you to picture what is going on, however, not too much to bore you. I can't wait to read part 2. I was captured from the very beginning. Also I didn't have to wait for action. It is loaded with it as well as suspense. It takes place in the 7th season after Daniel returns, which plays a part in the book. A must read for Stargate fans!

If you are a true fan of the show - then you will love this book. This reads just like and episode and the dialog is perfect and true to the TV characters. It will keep you turning the page.

The author did a fantastic job and would love to see more from them.

The story continues with the book "Cost of Honor" and picks up right where this one leaves off - it was just like watching a two part episode.

Fun read.

This book is sooooo good!!! This is the type of book that makes me love reading and never want to stop! This book has tons of excitement on every page! It never gets dull! I couldn't wait to pick up my book the next morning. And I couldn't put it down even at 10:00pm! I couldn't stop till I'd read a paragraph and not understand a single word! That's when I figured I should get some sleep. This book has everything Stargate fans have been waiting for! YOU SHOULD TOTALLY READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In his sequel of The Raj Quartet Paul Scott depicts the life of two of the minor characters Tusker and Lucy Smalley. This is the appealing story of the last surviving members of the old school of British in Pankot, a town in India, 24 years after the Independence. Covering only a few months, it makes us witnesses of a whole lifetime. Frankly told, often causing us to feel a lump in our throats, Scott's novel skillfully pictures the emotional impact the débãcle of the British imperialism in India has on a family who chose to stay on.
It took me a while to become fully immersed in the book due to its unusual beginning. The very first page tells of the death of Tusker Smalley, which, in fact, is also the end of that elegiac psychological novel. As I read pretty much the same description of the very same episode at the end of the book, I felt something totally different. Since Tusker was already a friend of mine, his ways not just a weird old man's habitudes, his life not merely a consecution of events, but the result of unfavourable circumstances and crucial decisions, his death grieved me deeply.
The divergence between the story and the plot draws us into a mazy time puzzle, which we have to arrange for ourselves. We are shown into the all-embracing socio-historical setting both before and after the Independence in 1947 through the eyes of Mr and Mrs Smalley, their servant Ibrahim, and the manager of the hotel where they live, Mr Bhoolobhoy. The various perspectives contribute to the comprehension and comprehensiveness of this fading Anglo-Indian portrait of a whole civilization in miniature.
The character of Lucy Smalley is similarly developed through a number of retrospections. In her imaginary conversations with the young Englishman Mr Turner she looks back with bitterness on the days of the raj, most of which pass under the sign of the imposed British hierarchy. Just when she achieves the aspired position of Colonel's Lady "the old hierarchy collapsed and a new one, the Indian one, took its place". Thus, nothing changes for them because the new race of sahibs and memashibs places them as far down in the social scale as the Eurasians in the days of the raj.
The changes brought about by the Independence estrange Lucy and Tusker even more than before. The lack of communication cuts them off from one another and makes them live separate lives under the same roof. He has a rude awakening when he realizes that the huge rise in the cost of living in England prices them out of the home market and they must stay on in India. This leads to his "personality change", as Lucy calls it. She, for her part, is terribly lonely because in this new world she has become "a black sheep in reverse exposure". She fears the moment when her ill husband will pass away and she will be destitute because, `She would be alone in a foreign country. There would be no one of her own kind, her own colour, no close friend by whom to be comforted or on whom she could rely for help and guidance."
Staying on is not a novel of action, but one of contemplation and speculation. Its very title implies passivity. It however, turns out to be misleading for in Tusker and Lucy's case staying on in India requires strong will and endurance. In fact, this paradox makes Tusker and Lucy analyze and reconsider their lives; makes them realize that their happiness was sacrificed part because of circumstances, part for habits' sake. The profundity of their psychological portraits, the moving episodes, even the purifying humour turn this novel into a quest for our own inner selves. Thus, even though the end of Staying On is well-known from the very first line, it still strikes us with its poignancy for we have changed our perception and have turned into Tusker and Lucy's best friend who knows all they've been through,
So when Lucy sits on her "throne" in the bathroom, appealing to Tusker:
...Tusker, I hold out my hand, and beg you, Tusker, beg, beg you to take it and take me with you. How can you not, Tusker? Oh, Tusker, Tusker, Tusker, how can you make me stay here by myself while you yourself go home?
what I hear is the echo of the record Lucy loves best, Chloë:
Oh through the black of night, I gotta be where you are. If it's wrong or right, I gotta go where you are. I'll roam through the dismal swamplands, searching for you. If you are lost there let me be there too...

Paul Scott at his best. If you appreciated and was moved by The Raj Quartet, you'll find this book no less inspiring.

I didn't notice this until it was too late to return it to Amazon, but my new copy of this book was defective. A large section of the book appeared twice, and another section was not included at all. If you buy this book, I'd recommend checking your copy promptly to see if it has the same problem while there is still time to return it.

This is a coda to the wonderful RAJ QUARTET. It is nearly as good as the other four novels. Tusker Smalley dies of a heart attack. At the the time of his death Mrs. Bhoolabhoy owns Smith's Hotel. Tusker and Lucy stay in a lodge on the property. The hotel is no longer the grand place it used to be. Now the Shiraz, a newer enterprise, is the really stylish establishment.

Paul Scott portrays Mr. Bhoolabhoy in hilarious terms. Mr. Bhoolabhoy functions as management at his wife's place of business and also considers himself Tusker's best friend. Just before his death Tusker Smalley fired his servant Ibrahim. Ibrahim had been fired on other occasions by either Tusker or his wife, Lucy, but of course in this instance the action is final.

The Smalleys are the last of Pankot's permanent retired British residents. Hearing of the death of Colonel Layton in England, Lucy commences to write to Sarah Layton. It is learned subsequently that Sarah married Guy Perron and a friend of theirs, David Tucker, is scheduled to visit Pankot and complicates the action by causing Lucy to make provision for his stay under the circumstances where she does not truly understand Tusker's careful stewardship of the couple's rather limited resources.

Through the memory of Lucy the book circles back to the earlier incidents of Mabel Layton's death at Rose Cottage, the fate of her house guest, Barbie, and the residency of Tusker and Lucy at that abode. Mr. Bhoolabhoy has always felt that Lucy's presence in Smith's dining room makes the place seem less seedy. In the end Mrs. Bhoolabhoy sells out to a consortium and Tusker dies clutching the notice to quit prepared by his dear friend, Frank Bhoolabhoy, the management of Smith's Hotel.

If, like me, you've been meaning to read The Raj Quartet, but have been daunted by it's gargantuan bulk, this shorter sequel offers an ideal entree to Paul Scott's Anglo-Indian world. Here he takes what I understand are two very minor characters from the quartet, Colonel Tusker Smalley and his long-suffering wife Lucy, and makes their story the centerpiece of a sweetly elegiac comic novel.

The year is 1972 and the Smalleys have stayed on in Pankot, India even after Independence in 1947, less out of love of the country or it's people, than out of financial need and sheer spite on Tusker's part. Where the upper class Brits were able to just scamper home, the Smalleys represent the folk of the middle class, who felt that they had invested something in the colony and now deserved to get something out of it. As he explains to Lucy:

I know for years you've thought I was a damn' fool to have stayed on, but I was forty-six when Independence came, which is bloody early in life for a man to retire but too old to start afresh somewhere you don't know. I didn't fancy my chances back home, at that age, and I knew the pension would go further in India than in England. I still think we were right to stay on, though I don't think of it any longer as staying on , but just as hanging on, which people of our age and upbringing and limited talents, people who have never been really poor but never had any real money, never inherited money, never made real money, have to do, wherever they happen to be, when they can't work anymore. I'm happier hanging on in India, not for India as India but because I just can't merely think of it as a place where I drew my pay for 25 years of my working life, which is a hell of a long time anyway, though by rights it should have been longer.

But now, with Tusker's health in decline, Lucy has increasing concerns about her own future. As is, they have led a pretty precarious existence for the past 15 years, having been reduced to living in a hotel, the new owner of which is a ghastly Indian woman, who married the manager, Mr. Bhoolabhoy, one of Tusker's few remaining friends. The author etches a finely detailed portrait of his characters and in particular of the difficult marriage of the Smalleys. Tusker is an irascible curmudgeon straight out of an old British barracks. Lucy has been disappointed that their relationship did not fulfill her romantic ideals. These strains are exacerbated by the daily indignities they must now suffer as the last seedy remnants of the departed British Empire, looked down upon by the very natives they once lorded it over. In the final scenes of the novel, two letters are written which will change these peoples' lives, for better and for worse.

This is a very funny and ultimately a deeply moving story. The Smalleys are a couple the reader won't soon forget. I liked it so much, I think I may finally heft that colossal Quartet off of the shelf and give it a go.

GRADE: A-

My daughter loves this book. If your kids like Starwberry Shortcake then they'll like this. Strawberry forgets her lunch at home and her friends share their lunches with her. Cute idea about friends sharing. The pictures are very fun too, colorful and interesting.

My daughter is starting to get into Strawberry Shortcake and she really likes this book. She is also starting pre-school soon so it has been a good book to prep her for that.
I do feel that there are too many words so I summarize and skip some parts.

My four year old daughter loves this book. She is a huge Strawberry Shortcake fan and this book is very cute.

You really can't go wrong with SS! All the books and movies are wholesome and entertaining. I love reading them to my daughter and watching the movies with her. Actually, my son loves them too but would never admit it to his friends (he's 9). Good thing he has a little sister ;)

I bought this for my daughter the summer before starting kindergarten and she loved it. I read many "going to school for the first time" books that summer and this was a favorite.

My little girl started Kindergarten this year and I bought this book to help encourage her to look past her shyness and fears of meeting new people. This book starts off with Strawberry being excited about meeting the kids in her class and also she has to decide what clothes she wants to wear. The pictures are colorful and very pretty.

The book also goes through lunchtime, naptime, and recess. At the end of the book she tells her friends that she will see them tomorrow, which really was great for my daughter. She loves the fact that she has a bunch of friends.

I have another book about Strawberry. "Sleep Over" is the title and its also a favorite of my daughters. Get them both- you won't regret it.

This is a great companion piece to the film. The screenplay differs slightly from what is spoken in the film, but this is what Favreau originally wrote and is why the movie came about. The introduction, rules, and glossary are all nice added features.

A great book! A must have for the die-hard fan. Vince's rules of dating and the enclosed glossary of terms are hilarious! John Favreau and Vince Vaughn are here to stay!

I was blown away when I saw the movie. I watched it three times right afterwards and I watch it almost 3x a week. The expression is magnificant and the way they actors portray the characters is unbelievable. Right away I fell in love w/ vince vaughn and after I read the book and I love him even more! Fantastic!

This book is so MONEY, and you don't even know it! Everyone should buy this book, whether your a dork, a nerd, heck, even a ROUNDER should buy this book. Not only is Jon Favreau the man, but he is also the greatest inspration in my life. "Swingers: A Screenplay and the Swinger Rules" teaches the average joe everything from getting the DIGITS to catching a BEAUTIFUL BABY for yourself. Without this book, life is just PUPPY DOGS AND ICE CREAM. This is the one step-self-help guide to getting the BEAUTIFUL BABIES, using your WINGMAN effectively, and learning how to feel the VIBE a PARTY GIRL could be sending you at a PARTY. Although some DIGITS come with BUISNESS CLASS PARTY GIRLS, BUSINESS CLASS always equals BUSINESS A$$. With Favreau's "Swingers: A Screenplay and the Swinger Rules," you will never, ever be SHAQED. I guarentee it. So after you go to AMAZON.COM, and buy the book, you'll be MONEY, and YOU WILL KNOW IT!

I remember when i first heard about swingers many years ago. I didnt even know what it was about, but something made me want to see it. When i did i was blown away. I have never seen a movie like this. I was so use to the big action packed movies and never realized there was a whole other field of films out there. Ever since i saw swingers i have been a huge fan. I was also very infactuated by the character Mikey. He has become a sort of a idle for me, or at least someone who i look up too. A while ago i saw this screenplay and bought it. I was even more suprised to see that Jon Favreau was the writer. Jon Favreau was also Mikey in the film. Jon has inspired me to change who i am, and i have. I am also very interested in the film industry and started writing screenplays myself, and i used the screenplay to swingers to start me out writing my own. I owe everything to Jon Favreau I used to be a adolescent punk, now i live in hollywood and have friends that can't be better. I am also trying to get into directing. I learned that maturity means your pleasure isn't worth someone elses pain. Might i say all my friends now are very mature. Thanks alot Jon if i ever get a big movie deal i'm looking you up. take care all. bye.

Wonderful fun for Barbie lovers everywhere. My child completed the book the first week!

My daughter just got this book and she keeps it next to her 24/7! Colorful,cute,magic! She loves it, and she's 13 years old! I mean this book has to be pretty good if a girl her age reads it. The pictures are just so pretty, and everyone I know loves it! Please get this book while you can!
YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT!

My mom wouldn't let me get the book,until she read the reviews. When she finally read them, all had 5 stars, and good comments. So, she got it for me... FINALLY. As soon as I read it, i just had to get on and review it too. If you don't get this fairytopia book, no other book is good enough.

It's a nice coloring book, but nothing really different from other coloring books. Unless you really like Fairytopia/fairies.

Is your daughter a fairy lover?
Does she looooove to read?
Well if she is those two things, than this is the book for her. I got this book as a gift and I just keep reading it and reading it. I can't put it down! Come on moms, you have to get this book for your special little girl! ENJOY!
Believe me,
Dina Rollander