Stephen Root Books

This book has changed my life more than any other non-scriptural book. Covey's views and suggestions are so right and so clear. I wish I had followed his discipline suggestions sooner, now that I know my teenage son has ADHD and OCD. I just thought he wasn't talking to me, with my kind of child. His principles apply to everyone. Kindness, patience and PRACTICE are the key. This is only a drop in the well of knowledge in this book. Everything from communication with God in prayer to teasing is addressed.

I read this book for the first time back in 1980 when Steven R Covey was not a household name. It helped me to ACT where I had previously only THOUGHT about making changes in my life. I found that for me, it was a life changing event. I read it again in 2001 and it had the same effect. It amazes me that the council and advice offered within would be as applicable today as in 1980. That's the power of this book. It was deeper and wider than imagined and I believe it to be one of the best self-help books of all time when dealing with life in a spiritual realm.

I found this was very applicable Covey-ese in a spiritual setting. It made religious principles that I feel strongly about, more realistic for day-to-day situations. Although sometimes the advice was a little simplistic, it was generally very well thought out, and realistic.

This is the original from which Covey based all his later 7 Habits books, writings, seminars, etc. Much more powerful than expected, this is not a book for the squeamish. If you're afraid to improve, if you're afraid to make your life enormously successful, then stay away from this book. If you want to know what First Things First means, here's a great place to start.

Take a vicarious trip to Jamaica with this book! Stephen Foehr travels to the heart of Jamaican culture, and meets with the people who helped form it. He leaves the safe tourist areas far behind and goes behind the scenes into the deep countryside and interacts with the denizens of some pretty dangerous places. Good book. Well researched historical perspective, but not so much that it is dry or reads like a textbook. Still this book would be a great for modern music history classes.

JAMAICAN WARRIORS is fascinating and though about music, the social/political tones are revolutionizing and nurturing my understanding of reggae. I feel as though I'm with the author and the warriors as the textual conversations and images are so inclusive. Such makes for rewarding reading and fast page turning. A multifaceted book whether music, Jamaica travel, or history be your love.

Stephen Foehr has an unequalled understanding of the spiritual and intellectual qualities of the people who have created the musical culture of Jamaica, and anyone who professes to have a complete library of the best books on this topic cannot afford to be without his book. From my perspective, it is the best book on the market today for people looking for an understanding of how Caribbean culture created one of the most distinctive musical genres of the twentieth century. What makes it superior is Foehr's ability to draw from decades of first-hand knowledge of his topic. He is not an anthropological field worker but a deep insider who works with the care and sophistication of the best anthropologists and musicologists. Add to this, however, that he is not an academic who is distanced from his subject by abstractions or a journalist on an assignment. He is close to the soul, and if you admire Jamaica and its culture, you will feel at home in the world depicted in this book.

As a student of Stephen K. Hayes, I have always eagerly devoured anything he has written, and this one did not disappoint. This particular book is more about the historical roots and philosophical underpinnings of the higher life-path or life-way of 'Ninpo.' 'Ninjutsu' could be said to refer only to the physical techniques, the punches, kicks, throws, and use of weapons that instantly spring to mind when we hear the word 'martial art.' Then we can also work on our intellectual development through the study of history, languages, chemistry, physics, music; all the arts and sciences. Then we can also work on our spiritual development (see Abe Maslow's "Further Reaches of Human Nature"). This triple approach to our human development, body & mind & spirit, is Ninpo. Shidoshi Hayes, a Grandmaster in his own right, listed in "Who's Who in the World", and an ordained Buddhist priest, explores in this book all of the spiritual traditions that have left their mark on Ninpo, the higher life-path. Shinto, Buddhism, shugendo, and Daoism are the major focus.

Ninja Realms of Power is an overview of Stephen Hayes' explorations into the Japanese spiritual traditions of `Shugendo ~ seeking power in the mountains', `Mikkyo ~ secret doctrines of the Himalayan kingdoms', and `Sennin ~ Taoist practices for the goal of immortality. Stephen Hayes, one of the West's most well-known and respected authorities on Ninjutsu, also includes a chapter on `Ninpo Taijutsu'.

Looking at Sennin we see that the practitioner works physically and mentally at consciously experiencing the bridging of the gap between the in and yo (the yin and the yang) elements around him. The Sennin learns to transcend illusion and gain a vision of the universe as a single unified process as opposed to an overwhelming collection of seemingly conflicting and unrelated parts.

Looking at Mikkyo we see a priest with a collection of swords. The Mikkyo priest points out that the blade of the sword is forged for the purpose of protecting the sanctity of life. The cutting edge affords the bearer that reserve of confidence and power that permits gentle and courteous behavior.

The Shugendo is a blending of many related spiritual practices, including `Zudagyo ~ Buddhist teachings', `Dokyo and Omyodo ~ Taoist philosophies', the `Zomitsu ~ the nonreligious forerunner of the Mikkyo', `Shinto', `Jukkyo ~ Confucian teachings', and a wide assortment of Japanese folk beliefs.

Stephen Hayes also gives a detailed description of the `Goma fire ritual' and his participation, walking across the hot coals and burning embers of the fire. (This section also includes a number of great photographs of the ritual.)

In the chapter on `Ninpo Taijutsu' various martial arts techniques are demonstrated, but more importantly we see that only by progressing to realms of harmonized energy does the warrior begin to glimpse the potential for invincibility.

Ninja Realms of Power is a "must have" book for anyone studying shinobi-no-jutsu (ninjutsu), but also for anyone interested in the warrior philosophies and religions of Japan. A well written text, with several photographs and drawings throughout. I highly recommend this book to both the casual reader and dedicated student.

You never read this book once, at least 3 times in one sitting. I have a 3-year-old boy and he loves this simple story about the "Boot Family". The family helps the Old Steam Train and the Station to work again.

The pictures are on a white background, which make them easy to look at. They are wonderful, bright and very descriptive drawings. This all assists the child to start reading books and they don't want to stop. They learn to read the short simple text located on top of the page (about 5 easy words). Then the book has longer text on the bottom of the page, which you read to the child. You build up the child's confidence and then they start to read the whole book with you. It's great when my child joins in and gets all excited. I couldn't ask for more from a book.

The book also has maps of Apple Tree Farm. In which you can do your own stories and see where the story you have just read. Also a little yellow duck is on every page for the child to find.

My 2-year-old son loves this book! There are adult and early-reader versions of the same text on each page, so you can read aloud in brief or detailed fashion depending on how much time you have. The pictures are clear, and the storyline is short and simple. There is also a little yellow ducky hiding somewhere in each picture so you can play a game when you've had enough reading.

All the Shah's Men attempts something seen but rarely accomplished in such an insightfully brilliant composition. Covering the events of the Anglo-Iranian oil embroilment, Stephen Kinzer attempts to take a neutral position on the ordeal but careful juxtaposition of events and seemingly minor inadvertent details hints otherwise. It must be realized that there is nothing in this text that is thrown casually together or without cause; the subject material is intrinsically complex: the very thought of organizing a tale as historically convoluted as this one seems a near incomprehensible act. It leaves only the conclusion, then, that every clause is carefully chosen and every concept lent an overarching purpose. Stephen Kinzer has taken to the high hills of neutrality while also subtly imparting his own thoughts from its grounds.

However that is not to say that he implants a wholly biased view. No, in fact there is a masterful genius in the way that he presents both sides of the issue without asking the audience outright to make judgement on either side. It should be noted that this is hard not to: one would find it difficult to read on the roots of what has amounted to a country's centuries old struggle for stable government and national unity. But, fortunately, it is not required of the reader to take any such stance. Indeed, it is not until the very end that any sort of analysis is even attempted. Then, too, Kinzer remains aloof behind the analysis of other historians of which he quotes extensively and interjects only to raise possible quandaries that they - not he - expose.

It is difficult to describe just who Kinzer is trying to reach here but it stands apparent that the man is passionate about his subject and wishes to get word out. At its core, All the Shah's Men is a tale of misunderstandings, stubborn actions, and lost opportunities. The novel details the U.S.'s involvement in a coup overthrowing Iran's revolutionary, progressive leader at the time Mohammad Mossadegh. While popular in his home country for nationalizing the oil industry, he ran afoul British (and consequently American) interests with his actions. Replacing him was Reza Shah who was seen mostly as the U.S.'s puppet government. Needless to say, this has caused what can only be understated as constant strife in the region and involved countries' relations. Kinzer ties this tale into coherency with an air of moralistic impassivity. What passes in his book is intriguing, disheartening, and as he is quick to remind - above all historically accurate. One feels that, upon closing the final chapters they have uncovered a great virtuosity and reached a profound understanding of often muddy governmental policies. If anything, one knows that they have definitely been handed a guide on how not to run foreign policy.

There is the implied concession on the advantages of hindsight, but then again, there is too that implied (however not always limited to such subtlety) concept that pigheadedness - easily identifiable during the run of its course - was, too, a large contributing factor.

All the Shah's Men succeeds not only because of its well accomplished attempts to organize often baffling quandries of political events, but also because of its effective use of what can best be described as stratification. While it would have been easy to cop to dividing the social castes inherent in the Anglo-Iranian crisis (and a major fuel to the lasting bitterness) Kinzer instead identifies the many overlaying sociological strata of the issue. We are given an overview of the issues highly charged history rife with symbols of religious martyrdom and political tension. The apparent psychological epidermis of the crisis is tilled handily before delving more into the heart of the issue in an effort of attaining an all-encompassing understanding. Without pandering to superficial conclusions or extraneous events, he gives us the breadth of the situation with a vision of multi-layered depth often gone unseen with such wells of temperance.

The ball is missed in a few spots, though. His straight-line recount of events feels empty at times as the mechanical linkage of occurrences leads to a concise - however dry - tale. As aforementioned, the balance of fact and opinion however much implied by Kinzer or falsely placed by the reader, is an unbalanced mix that somewhat detracts from the ruminative insights that he is oft to make.

However these moments stand of a minor importance in the larger, venturous message of Shah's Men. Nor do they slow down the rather fast-paced events of international spy intrigue permeating the Anglo-Iranian crisis. To this effect, Kinzer has drafted a book that will appeal not only to history buffs and political enthusiasts, but to those who would most usually find such subjects to be rather a boring and stuffy read. Kinzer is sure to make the matter of the past an engrossing issue of the now and foreign policy not only a matter of moralistic integrity of government but also one of personal responsibility. As indicated by All the Shah's Men's bestseller status, the people - people of the government - are clearly willing to listen. And, perhaps, that is all Kinzer really wants.

As an American who spent two years in Tehran during the 1950's, I was much aware of the impact of the coup and its immediate aftermath that is described Kinzer's book. It puts my memories of the time and the people into a excellent history and adds information about the coup that was not known to me. Working at the university I was aware of the bitterness of the people that I knew--students, faculty, business people and ministry employees. They were skeptical that any good could come from relations with the U.S., though they were always friendly to me and my family. Through Kinzer's book I have a better understanding of the events that followed the overthrow of Mossadegh, even unto today.

I have to say I am troubled by the many reviewers who say they loved this book, except for the idea that America's actions could have possibly contributed to the hatred anyone feels toward us. To say there is a connection is not the same as saying we deserved it, and the author by no means makes any suggestion that 9/11 was something reasonable or deserved. To deny the connection is to go blind into today's events.

Growing up in America, I was never told that the Iran hostage crisis was related to Jimmy Carter's willingness to shelter the deposed Shah after the 1979 revolution. I think it's pretty clear that the same hatred toward America that was behind that crisis played a significant part in leading up to 9/11 as well. This book helps explain how America's role in proping up the Shah contributed, however unintentionally, to the rise to power of radicalism in that region.

The book focuses on a few characters who played significant roles in the events in order to make the story more personal and interesting. To bring in all the issues of the times, or try to cover all the significant players in detail, even on the American side, would have probably made the story unreadable. The result is a highly readable and generally fascinating history.

The book also spends time explaining, briefly, the larger history of Iran and the reasons why Iran's branch of Islam is different from other branches. This serves to bring the events of 1953 into much clearer perspective. This section is inserted into the middle of the main narrative, and I was impressed by how much richness and depth the remainder seemed to acquire with the new knowledge gained.

You might also want to read "Legacy of Ashes", for a broader history of the CIA's questionable attempts to influence world events. I would also recommend "Overthrow", which has a section devoted to the events in Iran, but with more of an emphasis on the role of the Dulles brothers in guiding the CIA's decisions and policy.

fascinating read. great intro to Iranian history from ancient times to modern. Very in-depth and enlightening as well. British colonial arrogance and American tunnel vision lead to overthrow of the first democratic government in the Middle East. No analysis of today's Iran-American clash is complete without understanding the root of the friction.

The UK-US overthrow of Mossadegh was clearly one of the worst foreign policy moves in our history. It parallels the simlar Eisenhower directed overthrow of Guatemala's democratic leader Arbenz, for which we still pay.But the conclusion that the Iran move is at the "root of Middle East terror" is not IMO correct. That root stems from Palestine which most of the world views as a kind of concentration camp run by Israel with the aggressive support of the United States. Until we resolve that issue, the so called War on Terror is futile.
Discl: Viking(member American Assoc of Petroleum Geologists)

ONe of the main ingredients for the root beers in this book is sassafras, which is illegal, and causes liver damage. The Ginger beer that I made did not really taste good, but there are many other recipes in the book, which may or may not be good.

This is an awesome book. It takes some work to get all the ingredients but that is what the internet is for isn't it? So far I have made six of the recipes with my 11 year old niece. They all have turned out very well.

Wow wow wow. If you have ever thought about making your own soda/pop, get this book!!!

It's usually sold out, so I'm glad I finally got a copy! I've read it three times and have made gingerale and rootbeer! Delicious!

Two Thumbs Up!

Of course that's not saying much. I have failed to grow up in a great many ways. I can tell you however that this book is short, but filled with well documented and basic recipies. If you are curious about making your own homemade soda, then you need this book. It is the "primer". You can digest the whole book in a sitting and proceed to customizing the recipie's with confidence. I keep it close at hand these days, because the fun activity with my boys and me, this summer, will be experimenting in the kitchen with this great, simple, and historicly signifigant project.

Buy this book, and have a "ball". We did.

I wasn't impressed with most of the recipes. I was looking for recipes that was more in-depth in the original soda-pop. It does have some good information on the origination of rootbeer.

i bought this blu-ray because i already own the dvd..i was amazed how much sharper the picture was ..and the sound is extremely clear and loud. a great movie to have on blu-ray!!!!

Black Rain at last a good quality transfer, Im sure it does not push the Blue Ray too its uppermost, but this is in my opinion a very underrated film. I think the film is just great and all the stars really make this film Douglas and Gracia really have a bound in this film, and Hans Zimmer
music is fantastic.. If you every come across the bootleg soundtrack of the film since the CD released does not come close to what was written for the film is really superb, what i really liked what's been missing from any other version I have of the film is the extras about the making of Black Rain.. A fantastic film A great buy and best of all god bless
the all region policy this film works on a UK player UNLESS Sony do a nasty with the firmware upgrade.

I will spare you the plot details - tons about what happens has already been written. I'll just tell you if what happens, works. In this case... it does, and very successfully.

Put a couple of NYC cops, who are far from being your text-book, right-out of the academy-pristine cops (which seems about right for a couple of NYC detectives), and send them to Japan to deliver and then recover a really bad gangster.

This movie was made at the end of the 80's, but the settings, story line and dialogue is perfect even for 2008. It is an action movie that really has you interested in what is going on and makes you want to get the bad guy, right along with our hero cops.

The pace of the movie is done quite well and Ridley Scott leaves very little on the screen that was unnecessary - even the karaoke bar scene had it's place and was worthwhile. The sense and feel of the movie is very realistic and believable. The thugs scare you and the cops are out to get their man - no matter what. That's what we want in our cops vs. robber movie.

The side plots in this movie work well and never stray from the main action. The whole - is Michael Douglas's character a bad cop on the take, worked for me and I was interested. Kate Capshaw's character was well done and her screen time was good, which was edited enough so that you didn't feel they went overboard with her. The movie does a sweet job by not giving us too much info about the gangsters, and that works quite well for the pacing in the film.

Give Black Rain a look and it will be worth your time. You'll also understand why movie cops put tv cops to shame, for the most part. The Blu-Ray was clean and perfect-o. Exactly what we want out of our hi-def movies.

Black Rain on blu-ray delivers! Michael Douglas is one driven street cop who boarders on the edge of acceptable society. Just as his character in Basic Instinct, his name is "Nick" and he is once again under investigation from Internal Affairs. (suits man!) But that's all background. Nick goes up against the Japanese Mob to track down the ruthless Killer "Sato" who is an up and coming renegade mob boss who wants his own territory. Things start off in New York City and the chase ensues to Japan. PQ is above average as well is SQ. This is a very entertaining film with our hero doing what ever it takes to get the job done. Highly entertaining and Highly Recommended!

I spent the past couple of minutes watching this, thinking that I was going to see the very cute guy - Adam Garcia - from Coyote Ugly. Anything's better than Michael Douglas with a very dodgy haircut. (Very dodgy - it's practically a mullet.) Unfortunately, they share the same surname and the same first initial, but Andy & Adam are two very different people. Both very cute though.

I have to say I'm not Michael Douglas's biggest fan (that would be my mother), but I don't spend every second of his screen time wishing he would go away. I'm not that bad. I can watch him.

The film is mindless entertainment, with an interesting title - I have to say I like the idea of black rain. It's a familiar story - bad guy cop, teamed up with reasonably good guy cop, after a bad guy, thrown into the wrong situation and having to struggle out of it. The wrong situation here is in Japan, where the American cops have no say so in what happens. They have to escort Yasuka Matsuda, playing Sato, (who died not long afterwards), and hand him over to Japanese police. Simple right? Not so. Police officer uniforms no doubt hired from the local fancy dress shop are worn, and Sato is handed straight into the hands of his friendly bad guys. Cue much hysteria when the real cops turn up. Oooops!

The film escalates from here, with rigid cop rules, and an unfamiliar place to try and get the bad guy back in the right hands. Unfortunately, Michael Douglas pretty much plays the same character he played in Basic Instinct, so he's uninteresting in that sense. Andy Garcia was not only refreshing, but probably should have got the lead role. Let what happened to him happen to Michael.

Other reviewers have said this cop movie is very eighties, and very cliched. Yes, that may be so, but have these reviewers watched Lethal Weapon recently? That is the number one eighties movie. But Mel's hair is worse.

Black Rain is surprisingly enough an entertaining movie, not really what I was expecting, but still excellent all the same. Prepare to shed a little tear at Michael behind a wire fence thing.

Stephen Cook's latest work brings together several pieces of the Hebrew Bible in supporting his thesis that the Bible contains throughout two basic worldviews in competition with one another. The first, which Cook favors, he calls the "Sinai tradition," found (perhaps surprisingly)in the 8th century prophetic books of Micah and Hosea, the Deuteronomistic History (Deut-2 Kings) the "E" strand of the Pentateuch, and the "Psalms of Asaph" (Ps 50, 73-81). Cook weaves these seemingly desparate texts together in making a solid case for their comprising together over two centuries of consistent proclamation of a rural, agrarian-based, decentralized, tribal, covenant way of life under the rule of YHWH. Cook argues well that the tradition is carried by the rural Levites.

In opposition to this Sinai tradition is the Zion tradition, which supports the opposite social structure, that of the urban, centralized, hierarchical life of Jerusalem and Samaria. This tradition is carried by the urban priests and royal retainers of the capital cities.

Cook shows clearly how it is the Sinai tradition that the Bible truly favors as YHWH's way for YHWH's people. That this is the case is also clear beyond Cook's book in how the New Testament writers almost unanymously call on the Sinai traditions in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah, despite the Davidic and Zion components of popular messianic expectations in the first century.

Cook writes with zest and as the teacher he is, sometimes honoring his students by quoting their papers or other comments. I commend him for recognizing the wisdom of those who have come seeking his wisdom as a scholar, the sign of a truly good teacher.

My only criticisms are relatively minor (I'd like to give the book 4 1/2 stars). He has a penchant, which becomes irritating, for describing topics he likes but doesn't have space to cover as "fascinating." I counted over a dozen uses of the term before I quit counting. Similarly, he seeks too often to bolster his argument by claiming that evidence he has presented is "clear," "convincing," or otherwise unarguable. As a law professor and former judge once taught me, watch out when someone claims that their argument is "unarguable." Cook's evidence is solid and his rhetorical effort to make it seem stronger tends to undermine his case rather than strengthening it.

All in all, though, a fine contribution to the growing understanding of how the Bible contains multiple points of view which reflect the same kind of internal arguments that takes place in Judaism, Christianity and Islam today.

Written by the prolific author of books about human relationships and time management (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People), this book uses Biblical principles to formulate a program to build and strengthen human relationships. Although the text makes frequent reference to religious scripture (e.g. the Bible), those references only work as illustrations of the principles presented. The principles presented in this book can be useful to anyone, regardless of religious affiliation.