P Books

This is simply one of the most beautiful, and most beautifully written, novels in English. Every sentence is a jewel of construction, filled with humor. I re-read it regularly to remind me of why I love to read. Every page delights me, and the chapter of the Christmas candle-walking makes me cry. The ending is so beautifully handled that it never fails to make me sob happily. If you have an appreciation for our language, and a human heart in you, you'll love this book.

This is my favorite book in the world. It is the perfect book. I read my old beat-up-but-well-loved copy of it once a year, to maintain my equilibrium. It is simple, funny, and beautiful. Once you read it you will never forget it.

This was a great book. At times I would picture myself in their lives and I know that I would have been happy. I especially liked the grandmother, she was funny, witty, sarcastic and above all smart. I highly recommend this book.

This is a charming little idyll about a small village, pretty well isolated from the outside world, which has two preachers, one a fire and brimstone fundamentalist, the other a gentle man of uncertain creed, but great heart. The main plot is a love story. Much of the charm of the book lies in the imaginative poetry of Chute's prose. When he describes a meadow, you can hear the bees on their rounds.

One of the best books I have ever read -- BJ Chute has woven a tale of loyalty, love and humor into a timeless classic. The whimsical town of Greenwillow will draw you in and keep you hooked until the very last page. Chute's characters are eccentric and irresistible -- you'll read of sweet Dorie who bakes bilberry tarts and dreams of a happy ending; the cow that kneels down at Christmas; two Reverends battling over good and evil -- and Gideon, who loves the land with a passion we can only envy. I've read this book at least 15 times, and have never gotten tired of it -- in fact, its appeal grows with each passing year.

"The Growing" starts by an uprising of robots killing most of the people around them. The year is 2012 and robots have been used for quite some time as helpers in society, including recently in the armed forces. The main characters of the story are Koda Rivers a Lakota veterinarian and Dr. Kirsten King a computer genius and apparently the sole survivor of President Hillary Clinton's cabinet. They meet in North Dakota while Kirsten is trying to destroy the main robot factory. The plot is centered on the remaining survivors and their fight against the robots while trying to find why there was an uprising of the robots and why some women are taken prisoners by them.
The sci-fi background theme of "The Growing" is not new, and deals once again with the "dangers" of artificial intelligence. The authors are aware of what has been written on the theme before them, and pay homage to the classic "I Robot" stories by naming Kirsten King's dog Asimov. The main themes of the book are what are you willing to do to survive, how do you survive in a world that has become dependent on technology and is there a possibility to create an alternative world where technology mingles with nature? These themes intertwine with the love story between Kirsten, the rational scientist who has centered all her life around technology and Koda who merges technology and Lakota mysticism.
My main problem with this book is that I'm not a very mystical person. However, I found it interesting learning about the Lakota culture, the characters are well drawn and the plot will probably keep you interested.

I have read several of Susanne's books in the past, and enjoyed them, but not necessarialy enough to long for the next book to come out. Susanne's and Okkasha's writing of this book has changed my mind. The book starts out with just enough information about the story to tease you on to the next page and then the next chapter. Very soon you find your mind in a world of androids and you start to wonder where we have gone wrong. This book is a wonder in combining technology and the spirit world of the past and does it in a way that is believable. Value for money was an extra plus for this book. I am very glad they published this as one book and not broken down into several smaller books. Thanks for sticking to your beliefs, because for me it made the reading experience fulfilling. The book has an ending that suffices, But.... I hope there is a sequel!!

One of the best ubers as well as one of the best SF novels I've read in awhile.

(This review refers to the online version of this novel) The Growing pre-dates the current BSG series on TV. There are similarities: an apocolypse created by the androids who have rebelled against their masters. Couragous, thoroughly drawn characters fighting against overwhelming odds. and there are differences: deep connections to Lakota spirituality/the land, a compelling friendship/romance between our two heroines, and hope (I stopped watching BSG because it was depressing me.)
The plot moves right along, you turn each page with eagerness mixed with dread. The realities, as they unfold, are grim and disturbing, and the heroism is inspiring and hope-filled. The science is solid and the writing is well done and well edited. No extra scenes, typos or missed opportunities. I can still bring scenes vividly to life in my mind's eye, 2 years after reading it.
If you like Asimov. Get this. If you like BSG. Get this. If you like action/adventure. Get this. If you like romance. Get this.
Then join the rest of us waiting eagerly for a sequel!

Veterinarian and Xena look-alike, Dakota Rivers finds herself teamed with robotics expert and Gabby look-alike, Kirsten King in this futuristic tale that delves into our native past.

It is a time when people all over the world use humanoid androids for handling menial tasks and heavy labor. Suddenly, the androids take over the world, killing most of the men and imprisoning the women. The few men left alive are forced to rape the women, from young teens to older women - as long as they're fertile, to ensure babies are born for the androids' long-term plans. Many people have escaped, including Dakota and Kirsten, and have massed together in a formidable military base. Their singular mission is to fight and win back their planet.

Using both futuristic technology and Lakota Indian customs, the authors have delivered a fantastic blend of time periods and have thoroughly impressed this reader. I've always enjoyed Suzanne Beck, but this is by far one of her best. This book includes:

- A budding, undeniable romance between the main protagonists
- Fantastic imagery surrounding androids and possibilities for the future
- Wonderful examples of American Indian customs and religious beliefs
- A great cast of characters, including Dakota's brother, cousin, and father - who make the book extremely dimensional

This is most certainly a "don't miss" and will be a permanent addition to my personal bookshelf.

This product was exactly what I ordered and of even better quality than I expected.

This book is in GREAT condition. This is the first time I have ever bought a book for college from online, but if all of Amazon's books are in this great of a condition while I'm saving money, then I will definitely continue buying books via Amazon.

the book that i received was in better condition than i thought would be and it seems almost unused besides a few pencil marks

This text is an incredible human anatomy book. The author is very engaging, making human anatomy very fun to learn. The clinical views are strategically inserted throughout specific sections of the book, as to enhance your human anatomy learning experience. This textbook is very easy to read. It makes human anatomy FUN!!!

I am a 17-year-old pianist and high school student residing in New Jersey. I am studying human anatomy and physiology to improve my piano technique. I am not going to be a professional anatomist later in my life. I am going to be a professional pianist.
I bought this textbook to study the basic detail of the human body. Although this is a college level textbook, I recommend this book for everyone who wishes to study basic human anatomy. Weather you are a professional medical student or not, you can learn a lot of detail things through this book. Whether you are an athlete, a musician, or just a person who wishes to know about the human body, this book will help you greatly. I guarantee that you will enjoy reading this book.
The author of the book regards readers as people who have no knowledge at all about the human body. So why don't you go ahead and start reading? How exciting!

Olivia Bean is an odd duck. She is ten years old, wears mismatched clothes sometimes inside out, never brushes her hair, and always talks about rats. She has NLV, which is Nonverbal Learning Disorder. It is a neurological condition that can prevent a person from understanding anything that is not verbal. They will comprehend your words but will not get subtext and can never understand sarcasm.

Len, her father, has been raising Olivia on his own ever since his wife died. It is a very hard life. Then in walks Rachel Berman and her two children, Jamie and Dustin. Jamie and Dustin go to the same school as Olivia and they don't openly tease her - but they wouldn't be caught dead in the same room with her.

As Rachel and Len's relationship becomes deeper, secrets held by all come apparent and empathy comes alive.

I really enjoyed this book. I am a teacher and I like trying to understand many types of learning disorders. My school is dealing with autistic children now more than ever, and since this is one form of autism it is good to understand it.

I feel that young people should read books like this to understand about those "weird" children that attend their schools and realize that they have feelings and can't help what they do. This story also spoke about bullies. Olivia is bullied and doesn't understand why. She isn't mean and wants friends but the other girls are cruel.

INSIDE OUT GIRL is a wonderful story that sends a good message about how we treat others.

Reviewed by: Marta Morrison

Rachel is an uptight single mother of Janie and Dustin, who is trying to save her family's parenting magazine from going under. Len is a widowed father, who is trying his best to raise his daughter in spite of her non-verbal learning disorder, which prevents her from finding meaning in people's body language. Due to Olivia's inability to understand social cues, she always wears her mismatched clothes inside out and is consequently deemed `inside out girl' by her schoolmates.

Throughout the novel, readers get an intimate glimpse into the thoughts and lives of Rachel, Janie, Len and Olivia. My only criticism is that Rachel's son, Dustin, and her mother, Piper, were always involved in the plot and yet never get the proper attention by the narrative that I would have liked to see. The reader does not get the chance to hear their perspectives on the events that transpire, which could have made for a more complete story.

What I really enjoyed about the book was its fresh approach to childhood disorders. Cohen was always sensitive with her description of non-verbal learning disorder and took care to inform readers, while also showing the difficulties and worries that often arise for affected children and their parents. I was incredibly moved by Cohen's portrayal of Olivia, which I believe effectively conveys her true talents as a writer and a storyteller.

While there were instances when the fine line between heartwarming and cliché was blurred, the characters were still able to evoke genuine emotion out of me. I felt most connected to Olivia and I found myself wishing she was real just so I could give her a big hug! The bullying that she endured really angered me and the touching things she said never failed to elicit a smile or a tear. It is Olivia that truly carries the storyline and it is evident that she has a profound effect on the book's characters and I'm sure an equally profound effect upon the book's readers.

"Inside Out Girl" tells the story of two families who endure hardship and tragedy, but also gain important insight and self-discovery along the way. It is a story that contains romance, love and family but can by no means be described only as such. It is a much deeper look into life and what really matters once the trappings of daily life are shaved away.

http://bookopolis.blogspot.com

Rachel Berman has inherited her parents' magazine, Perfect Parent, and tries to live up to its ideal. But even as she struggles with the idea of publishing articles about special-needs children, Olivia Bean shows up in her life. Olivia's father, Len, has done the best he could in raising his daughter alone, and still struggles with her Non-Verbal Learning Disorder.

Rachel's kids can't believe their mother is dating the father of the weirdest kid in school, the one they call Inside Out Girl. But as this makeshift family gets to know each other, everyone finally comes to realize how special Olivia really is.

When Len faces a personal crisis, he turns to Rachel to be there for his daughter, and Rachel doesn't disappoint him. And in the process she finally faces a skeleton that's been haunting her from her own past

Tish Cohen has created a real and believable cast of characters. Heartbreakingly pathetic at times, Olivia is stubborn, funny, and hard not to love. Rachel's kids, and especially Janie, show tremendous growth and maturity in accepting Olivia into the family. And Rachel learns it's okay to not always be a perfect parent.

But in the end, it's Len who will steal your heart as he does everything he can to take care of his daughter, and I couldn't stop myself from crying as the story came to a close. Tish Cohen handles this sensitive subject masterfully, and I highly recommend this powerfully moving book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger, Bergers Book Reviews

Rachel Berman meets Len Bean quite by accident. He is a widowed lawyer with a daughter, Olivia, who has a learning disorder. She, on the other hand, is a divorced publisher of a parenting magazine. She has two rebellious children, 12-year-old Dustin and his older sister, Janie. All three kids have issues of their own. Some their parents know about, other issues will be revealed later on in the book.

This endearing story is about them. How love developed between Rachel and Len and how each of their offspring found their own place in a world that can be cruel at time. At times, it was laugh out loud funny. Other times, I was grabbing the box of tissue.

I can't see how anyone wouldn't fall deeply in love with this story as well as the characters. This author is extremely gifted and I will be looking for her first book, TOWN HOUSE. After reading INSIDE OUT GIRL, I bet you will too.

Olivia refuses to allow Georgia Boy to be buried. The gerbil is stiff, dead that long, but little Olivia Bean can't quite register the idea of death. She has a learning disorder known as NLD (nonverbal learning disability, causing her to operate on a very literal level), but come to think of it ... most of us have trouble understanding death.

And so we are introduced, beginning with Olivia, to the cast of characters in Tish Cohen's "Inside Out Girl." They are not so very unlike the characters in our own lives, our own families or the families of our friends. The circumstances that tangle and untangle around them are a variation on many of today's typical families. Yes, there is the divorce. And the second chance. Two families patched together with two single parents at the helm, Rachel and Len, each with their own children, trying to make things work again.

Olivia, with a disability that translates into wearing her emotional "insides" on her outside - thus the title - is really the part of the iceberg that presses its tip above water level into bright exposure. She is the inside of all of us. Only Olivia isn't any good at wearing masks ... like most of us do. She is who she is, and so she is all of us in our most tender, tucked-away insides: vulnerable, open-hearted, eager to love and be loved, eager to belong. There is a wonderful innocence and naivete about this child that makes us ache to be more real. More like her. Hearts open to life again. Even as we can also identify (and wish we didn't) with the other children in this blended family who resist being associated with "the least popular girl in school," who hasn't a clue about how to be "cool."

"Inside Out Girl" is a story about two broken families taking a chance at being one family. Who says it has to be less than the original? The relationship that we see develop between the parents, Rachel and Len, is built on a learning from the past. Len, Rachel observes, is all that ex David was not. David was a bit obsessive-compulsive, too neat for comfort, a bit of a dandy. He "diddled" female colleagues while keeping the creases in his trousers straight. Len, perhaps by some influence from his daughter, Olivia, is more "inside out." He has compassion, he has heart, he is and understands imperfection. And Rachel, to him, is a new hope at making the broken places in him whole again.

The rest of the cast, a crew of lively teens and their school pals, with explorations of contemporary parenting issues (Rachel is an editor for Perfect Parenting magazine, which adds a note of irony and humor to her less than perfect parenting skills), brings the story neatly into our familiar living rooms. Those of us who are parents will have dealt with at least a handful of the issues Cohen explores in this family. Quite like home.

Which isn't to say this is an easy ride. Here we see the pain of social isolation (and not just among the children), of bullying (and not just between children), of giving in to peer pressure (and not just between children). Cohen deftly balances the common with the uncommon, plays on heartstrings without sounding a violin of melodrama. If the disability discussed here is less known, although not so very different from, autism, it serves to make the reader aware of how buried we can become in social norms, the pressures to not stand out from the crowd, or to stop taking the risks required to find a more lasting happiness. While this may not be a literary classic to withstand time, it does capture this moment in time, our contemporary everyday, and perhaps in that accomplishes a moment of warming sunlight. Yes, Olivia, we do all have hearts. Even if we tuck them safely away so much of the time. This little girl helps us see that we all struggle with some bit of disability in our life-worn hearts.

Tish Cohen was interviewed in the literary ezine, The Smoking Poet, fall issue 2008, in which she talks about this novel as well as her other work, wearing a little of her own inside out. The interview gives further insight into both author and novel.

~Zinta Aistars for The Smoking Poet

Francis Turretin's Institutes of Elenctic Theology

This large 3 volume work is a gold mine of precise and careful thought. Turretin has been the object of odium in some (even Reformed) theological circles, but the one who takes time to read Turretin will find such sentiment to be unwarranted. Turretin was not a rationalist, merely rational. He was a seventeenth century Reformed pastor and theologian who clearly articulated Reformed doctrine in the midst of those who were opposing such doctrine. I have found Turretin to be biblical in his doctrine, delicate and precise in his thought, clear in his articulation, and powerful in his argumentation.

Turretin organized his Institutes into 20 topics (loci) that range from "Prolegomena" (that is, very necessary introductory considerations) to "The Last Things." Each topic (locus) is organized by specific questions. For example, locus 20 is divided into 13 questions. Question 2 reads, "Are the same bodies numerically which have died to be raised again? We affirm against the Socinians." Turretin raised this particual question because he wanted to defend the biblical doctrine of the bodily resurrection from an error that was being taught in his day. Turretin's theology is indeed elenctic (that is, polemic or argumentitive), for a great portion of his Institutes is written against the Roman Catholics, Arminians, Socinians, Anabaptists, and others. Turretin's Institutes is not merely a negative work (exposing the errors of unbiblical doctrine), but is positive. He builds up and defends biblical doctrine in every locus.

As for the edition, Dr. Dennison has blessed us all in editing and indexing the whole work. He has also provided a 19 page biography of Turretin, the message given at Turretin's funeral, and a short biography of George Giger (the translator). These volumes are sturdy and will last for decades.

As for the translation, this edition is a publication of George M. Giger's translation of the Institutes. Giger died in 1865 having produced this translation at the behest of Charles Hodge. The translation strikes me as unduly bulky and difficult at times, yet clear and quite understandable at others. There are other translations of particular loci, but one cannot find the entire work in English except in this translation.

Francois Turtetin's _Institutes of Elenctic Theology_ is arguably the most systematic and nuanced works of High Calvinist Scholasticism. A copy should grace every serious historical (and systematic) theologian's bookshelf no matter what the theological tradition. (Personal disclosure: I am an "orthodox" Thomist and a Catholic priest.) Easy 5 stars.
That said, this translation needs revision and a new edition. G. M. Giger (Prof. of Classics at Princeton Univ.) whipped off this translation at the request of Charles Hodge in the 1850s. It was kept hidden behind the charge desk at Princeton Seminary so that Hodge's Latin-defective students could consult it when they tried to puzzle through the Latin original. Although some corrections and enendations have been made, this translation bears the marks of its hasty origins and is mostly a typescript of Giger's hand-written manuscript.
While the editors are to be commended for tracking down the citations to Church Fathers and a handful of famous writers, for whom they usually also include indication of modern translations, little has been done to identify Turretin's citations the the hundreds of contemporary authors (Catholic and protestant). These authors' names are left in their Latin dress: "Toletanus" "Bannes" "Sixtus Sennensis" etc. The editors needed a copy of Huerter's _Nomenclator_ and so does the user. A shame because Turretin's wide and ecumenical reading is one of the strong points of his work.
One would hope that a future edition will track down who the all the authors cited and add indication of their books and the pages in point. Knock off two stars (sorry).

You can't go wrong with Turretin. This is one of the best Systematic theologies you could ever buy. Makes much of the current stuff seem quite fluffy!

I really loved it! Wasn't by grace that Turretin was called "the best systematizer of the reformed doctrine in the world! This is a wonderful set, with a good translation, well arranged, theologically sound and deep but devotional/experimental as well. A great addition to the library of the serious students of the God's Word! If you are an overseas customer, Amazon.com has the best price (already including shipping costs)on this set on anywhere of the Internet!May God raise up more theologians as Turretin in our age!

Turretin has, arguably, the best systematic understanding of scripture ever. He draws on the foundations that Calvin built and makes irrefutable arguments. Baptists should take note of his arguments for baptizing infants. He makes an argument unlike any other I have seen. If you read Turretin honestly, you will see the genius of this man's mind in his 3 volumes.

His elenctic approach means that he sets out to refute his opponents in order to prove his own position. I think the modern reader may find some of his wording cumbersome, but, like Owen, he is worth plowing through.

He unifies his systematic theology by the use of theology proper. Inman (Westminster PhD) has done a good service of bringing out the rich covenantal strain in Turretin's works.

Picture a story involving a snarl of relatives and lovers tangled in a web of misunderstandings. If tragedy ensues, you have your standard soap opera. If, on the other end, the results are more comic, you have a P.G. Wodehouse novel. I can't really judge soaps, but it's probably safe to say that they range from good to bad. With Wodehouse, however, the quality is almost always dead-on-great, and never more so than with his Jeeves and Wooster stories, as Joy in the Morning once again demonstrates.

As the novel opens, Bertie Wooster has just emerged from being in the soup once again. What this soup was and how he escaped it is the story that follows. In this case, Bertie is coerced into going to one of his least favorite places, Steeple Bumpleigh, home to his dread Aunt Agatha. (Is there a more terrifying figure in comic fiction than Agatha?) Her husband, Bertie's Uncle Percival, needs Bertie to participate in a ruse that will help cinch a business deal. It is not a job that Bertie relishes, and the only the assurance of Aunt Agatha's absence allows him to screw up the courage to make the trip.

Of course, there are complications. For one thing, Percival's ward Nobby has fallen for Boko Fittleworth, and while the love is mutual, Percival - whose consent is needed for their marriage - has nothing but loathing for Boko. A scheme is needed to win over Percival, and Bertie will be recruited to play a part. Also at Steeple Bumpleigh is Florence Craye, an ex-fiancee of Bertie's who is now engaged to the easily jealous policeman, Stilton Cartwright. An argument and a misunderstanding will find her re-betrothed to Bertie and him a target of Stilton's wrath.

Bertie is a well-meaning but not-so-bright fellow who tends to get into trouble through accident and the manipulation of others. Left alone, life would be easy, but there are too many who force Bertie's involvement. Fortunately, there is his valet, Jeeves, who is able to solve nearly any problem.

The joy of reading a Jeeves and Wooster novel is Bertie's delightful narration with its unique enhancements to the English language. This is a book that is pure fun with no great insights or deep characters. It may be fluff, but it is five-star fluff and a great diversion.

This is a great, funny book. It may be my favorite Jeeves & Wooster story.

It's a given that Wodehouse's plots are completely outlandish or, in the words of another reviewer, like musical comedies. And yet somehow I have found a certain plausibility or coherence within the outlandishness of other of his books, such that I was more than willing to suspend my disbelief. In this case, I felt that the plot devices were weaker than usual, however, and in fact it took me a while to get through this one as a result.

The basic plot elements have been summarized elsewhere, but I will give one example of what I mean, to wit: Bertie's uncle by marriage, Uncle Percy, stands opposed to the marriage of his ward, Nobby, to one Boko Fittleworth. The plan to get Uncle to change his mind involves Bertie verbally assaulting him, to the point where the uncle must be "rescued" by Boko, who just happens to be in the vicinity (outside the uncle's study, for example). Uncle P. will then realize what an upstanding chap our Boko is.

Even within Bertie's cocooned world, this is weak, nor is it the lone instance of evidence that Wodehouse was not at his peak with this one. Still, he does charm readers as usual with Bertie's commentaries, a brilliant mix of goofy slang and highbrow poetic references, often in the same sentence. For better stories, I would recommend "Leave It To PSmith" (5 stars) or "Pigs Have Wings" (4 stars).

Joy in the Morning, also published under the name of Jeeves in the Morning, is perhaps the best of the Bertie and Jeeves novels. I can think of no higher praise for any book.

All the elements for a successful Bertie and Jeeves novel are here: love affairs go off the rails, imperiling Bertie's status as a bachelor; Bertie's actions to right things fail; and Jeeves comes to the rescue. In addition, there are some special features: Bertie's Uncle Percival, Lord Worplesdon, the second husband of Bertie's Aunt Agatha (the one who, as I recall, "chews ground glass and conducts human sacrifices at the full moon") makes his only appearance in the Wodehouse oeuvre, as I believe is also the case for Boko Fittleworth, whose actions go awry just as often as Bertie's.

It's all held together, of course, by Bertie's extraordinary narration.

I have read this book perhaps a dozen times, and I still laugh aloud at least once on nearly every page.

P.G. Wodehouse could write a phonebook and make it brilliant. But this story is so incredibly good that words fail me. He weaves farce upon satire upon mystery upon suspense upon hilarious premise and delightful payoff until the reader is dizzy with laughter and awe. The usual suspects are here: Bertie Wooster and his butler, Jeeves, plus frightening debutants, pompous authority figures, shrill relatives, troublesome children, and yet another pleasant English country village...pleasant, that is, until Bertie & Co. come along. Wodehouse was the absolute master of the English language, of humor, and plot construction. This book is as good an example of his mastery as there is. My only regret is that the reading experience passes by too quickly.

We bought this book for our 6-yr old son. Not only does he read it, but so do our 11 and 14-yr old children. It is an outstanding book with a superb message for children and adults. It is well written and the author does a good job keeping the readers captivated. The illustrations are fantastic. We hope there will be future books about Jules' adventures in the Coast Guard.

Based on a real-life lighthouse dog (whose photograph is shown on the last page), Jules the Lighthouse Dog is a children's picturebook by award-winning children's book author P.T. Custard. Simple, exuberant illustrations follow Jules' daydreams of undertaking different canine careers. But one foggy day at the lighthouse, Jules howling warns ships in peril of coming too close to shore and capsizing. Jules learns that he's needed right at home, in this gentle story perfect for young dog lovers.

Jules the Lighthouse Dog is an excellent book. Filled with many colorful and artistic illustrations, the book follows Jules, a Bernese Mountain Dog, as he seeks out what his talent in life is. In the end, Jules finds his talent and uses it to benefit others and for good.
This book would make an excellent teaching tool for children who are learning about good deeds, talents, patience, and giving. Adults will appreciate the powerful message within the book - everyone has a talent, they just need to reach inside of themselves and find it!
-Daniel Sernicola

I bought this book months before it became available on Amazon, on the recommendation of a good friend. My children are now a little too old to appreciate it, but I hope will read it to their own children. I mostly bought it for myself, and Jules has not disappointed. It's written in a light hearted but poignant way, is beautifully illustrated, and filled with love and wisdom. For toddlers through the elementary grades, and for dog lovers of any age.

We recently added Jules the Lighthouse Dog to our library's collection, and it is a very popular book! The illustrations are great, and the story is engaging. Since we are located in Michigan near a lighthouse, and since dogs are popular with nearly everyone, this book has been a hit. We hope there will be more books from this author to follow.

Excellant book. I borrowed it from the library a couple of years back and thought so much of it that I wanted to purchase a copy for my personnal library. A very insightful look into the lifes of Robert E. Lee's daughters and their lifes.

Anyone interested in Robert E. Lee the man, will be delighted with the insights into his family provided by author Coulling. Lee was an exceptional leader, but his role as a father was even more revealing of his loving nature and the nuances of his personality. In my opinion, this book does a lot to demystify Lee. I do not see him as such a complex and mysterious individual as some historians have labeled him. His consistency is especially evident in this chronicle of family life.

Apart from Lee, the book focuses extensively on the lives of the daughters. Each daughter is portrayed as a complete person, and their individuality is celebrated. One can learn quite a bit about Mary Lee the mother, too, and even the grandparents who were so deeply loved by the girls. The sons are not ignored, either.

There is an overcast of sadness about the story, at least I felt a little sad, because they did have a difficult life. It's true that the Lee family was prominent in society and certainly they can be seen as privileged, but these privileges carry their own burden.

I highly recommend The Lee Girls to all those who want to escape to the past for awhile and enter into the Lee household.

The book was a wonderful view into the life of Robert E. Lee's family as well as perfect picture of what the social, educational and family scene was in the mid 1800's. The dairies of family members allow us to picture their journey through life with intimate detail. The book points out the closeness of family, as well as the lost art of letter writing, as our society has progressed from pen and paper to e:mail and instant messages.

This book is a well written and very well documented account of the four Lee daughters. Most of us are aware of the generals and battles of the Civil War. This book gives an insightful look into the lives of women during this time period. The author gives us an accurate account of the attitudes and behaviors of the time even when they are not currently acceptable. She also portrays the individuals in a very balanced manner. You realize that aside from being a prominent military family they are also a loving family with the struggles and triumphs all families share.

The Lee Girls by biographer Mary P. Coulling is the informed and informative story of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's four daughters: Mary Custis Lee; Eleanor Agnes Lee; Mildred Childe Lee; and Anne Carter Lee. Diaries, letters, paintings, and other contemporary records were utilized as primary source materials upon which to base an bibliographically historically accurate narrative of these women's lives through girlhood, the horror of war, and the era of reconciliation and rebuilding. A truly excellent and well balanced chronicle, The Lee Girls is a welcome and highly recommended addition to American Regional History, Civil War Studies, and Reconstruction Era Studies collections and supplemental reading lists.

This tape isn't one of the best I've heard. The man's voice is soothing, and the imagery is good, but when he snakes technical terms in ( i.e. " endorphins " ) and talks about getting your bowels moving again after surgery, it kind of makes you lose track of the relaxation. It would be better if he didn't try to include so much INFORMATION and stuck to guiding the relaxation.

This tape helped me so much through my last surgery. I played it many times prior to the surgery and asked the doctors if I could have it played during my surgery and they agreed. My recovery time beat all others who have had the same type of surgery! While I was in the hospital recovering, I was able to play the tape and focus my pain literally "outside my body". I did not need to have as much pain medication as they thought I would need. I would truly recommend this tape for anyone going through major surgery.

As a result of listening to this tape, I recovered from 5 hours of surgery with virtually no pain. My doctor prescribed vicodin every four hours and I ended up taking only 4 tablets. This tape is such a wonderful healing tool, not only before, but after surgery as well. My incision healed so fast, I was taking my usual 3 mile walks in 10 days. This tape is a "must have" if you are anticipating any type of surgery!

I used Dr Neimarks tape prior to undergoing Gastric Bypass Surgery. I believe that it helped me immeasurably. Not only was my pain level very managable, but I left the hospital a day early. My recovery has been nothing short of remarkable! Thanks Dr Neimark!

I went in for major surgery and was fortunate to get Dr. Neimark's tape on Less Stress Surgery. There are a few points Dr. Neimark mentioned that was very helpful.

1. Think of your blood flow moving away from the area of the surgery. I did this and I had very little blood loss.
2. When you have discomfort (pain) make your mind think of good experiences. This worked great for me. I thought of my wife and kids.
3. When you wake up from surgery start thinking of you favorite foods. This will get your intestine's working faster. I dreamed about cheesecake! It sure helped.

I would recommend anyone going through surgery to listen to Dr. Neimark tape.

It is a difficult read, no doubt, but this is one book which each and every educated person must read; doesn't matter if it takes a lifetime. If one reads three pages a day, it'll take one year to finish the book; that is the kind of patience the book demands, but it's worth it and extremely rewarding. Logistics overcome, comes the barrier of prejudice; several of them: India, Hindu, Ashram, Philosophy, Spirituality, New-Age etc. But what is needed is an absolutely open mind and the book becomes a pure Life's User Manual.

The book itself is a Univeresity that breathes universality. During the course of reading, one gets attuned to many related areas and ideas by way of allusions and comparisions. It also solves progressively one's long-held doubts and discords. Besides, in whichever profession one is, it helps to improve on the practical aspects. Further, the poetic beauty of the text enhances the sheer pleasure of reading even while the insights gained expands one's sense of mundane existence. Two other booklets, "The Mother" and "The Mind of Light" or "The Supramental Manifestation upon Earth" are essential supplements, lest one's understanding of the author is prone to be lopsided.

Rating this book is like rating god for his creation-a joke of first order. This book is an eternal book, its language ancient, contemporary, futuristic and transcendant. the only way one can approach this book is in quiet contemplation and deep introspection. every thought, doubt and question that might have crossed the minds of humankind is addressed, explained. understanding this book is the puny first step. it needs to realised, acted, lived and revisited. that would be rare human who does not find this book has changed his/her life. one feels like annihilating oneself to greatness of this being.

This book is the greatest achievement of Mankind!It is the greatest philosophical book ever written and in the best English Language ever written too.It is the Ultimate culmination of a 3,000 year Indian Philosophic Thought.

Sri Aurobindo examines deeper than anybody ever did the Human Condition and treats with the utmost profundity,clarity,linguistic beauty,logical acuity,originality and imagination all the major questions of Life:Why is there something rather than nothing,what is the meaning of life,why are we here,where did we come from,what is our relationship to the ultimate ground of Being,what is the function of ignorance,suffering,pain,what is the Nature of the Ultimate Being.He surpasses Shankara,incorporating in his philosophy the Tantric idea of the meaningfulness and purposefulness of the Becoming,as well as all central elements of Buddhist Philosophy.In relating all these to modern man (Western and Eastern) and connecting everything together through the most plastic,expressive,exquisite language ever written,he achieves the Ultimate Synthesis of all philosophical and spiritual thought of Mankind.

Although one needs to become accustomed to his unique language and expression ,as well as to spend initially some time in understanding the way he uses certain terms (some of his own creation,so that the Inexpressible could at least be hinted at),this initial investment of time will more than reward the serious reader in the end.

Some,with whom I agree,suggest that one start reading the book from the chapter "The evolution of the spiritual man"(Book 2,chapter 24) and,after moving on to read the next two chapters too,to go back and start reading it from the beginning.These last chapters give an overview of his philosophy and are written in an easier language.

"THE LIFE DIVINE" is itself one of the most pure EMBODIMENTS of the DIVINE

This is a difficult book to read. Let us be under no illusions about that. It is verbose, repetitive and massive in its scope: tackling virtually the entire gamut of issues that philosophy traditionally deals with. But by the time you have finished reading the book (it took me three months to finish)it would have transformed the way you live your life. You may not agree with Aurobindo, and in fact, he probably does not want you to blindly agree with him, he would much rather that you think things out for yourself; but one thing that he certainly does is to question the 'commonsense' view of the world: the view of the world that we build up using bits of unexamined,untested, received, 'truths'. Take just one such 'truth': We believe--or at least we have done so ever since Descartes--that Matter and Consciousness are two separate things. Aurobindo puts forward the suggestion that the two are actually one and the same entity, only they are in different states being: somewhat like Ice and Steam being different states of water. If we concede that matter may be a form of consciousness, only in an inert state, all sorts of consequences would follow: especially with regard to our attitudes towards the environment.
As I had said earlier, the scope of the book is massive. Its three parts can be roughly divided into Ontology (where he discusses the Nature of the Cosmos), Epistemology (where he discusses the nature of Knowledge (&Ignorance), and the problem of Evil--which he attributes to Ignorance: a consequence of Ahamkara or ego-centricism) and finally, in the last part, he provides a broad, general direction for living our lives in accordance with our revised view of the world (Ethics). However, the book is not tightly structured (If you are looking for a book like Wittgenstein's Tractatus you will find yourself truly frustrated) it is loose, repetitive, and disjointed. Possibly because it was originally written as a series of essays and published monthly in a magazine called the Arya (between 1914 to 1919). He must have had to repeat himself because his original audience would have forgotten a point that he would have made five years ago. But the cumulative effect of the repetitions is that his ideas have a tendency to gradually seep in and sink into your mind, rather than strike you as a sort of brilliant epiphany.
Aurobindo's philosphy is ultimately rooted in ancient Hindu Vedic thought. In the course of the book, Aurobindo tackles Marx, Darwin, Nietzche, Freud, Hegel, Feurbach, (plus a whole range of European philosophers) and his idea is to adapt their philosophy to the 'Truth' as expressed by the Seers of the ancient Vedas. Does he succeed in doing so? I don't know. That is for professional philosophers to decide. For me, the book has been a revelation, the scales have dropped from my eyes: I see things differently now. Hopefully, I will continue to do so for a while before the snares of living in a modern city finally engulf me once again. Haven't they said that we can't stand to face the truth for too long?

There are very few great spiritual classics that each century produces. The Life Divine is one of these great spiritual classics, one of the key spiritual studies of the twentieth center, perhaps of all time. There are few great mystics and enlightened masters who are able to express themselves in extensive philosophy and profound poetry. Sri Aurobindo was one of these, and the Life Divine is probably his magnum opus.
The Life Divine is no mere call to a life of piety, asceticism or outward religious fervor. It is a call to bring the Divine as a force of higher consciousness into all that we are and do, both individually and as a species. The Life Divine unfolds a panoramic exploration of consciousness from the Absolute (Brahman), to the Cosmic Creator (Ishvara), to the individual soul (Jivatman), and all the realms of existence, manifest and unmanifest, known and unknown. There are few books that cover such an expanse and with such depth, direct knowledge and clarity. For those who want to widen their horizons and extend their awareness into the realms of higher consciousness, there is perhaps no other book that is as complete, comprehensive and challenging. Reading it requires both concentration and meditation of a very high order, but brings great riches of inner insight in return.
As someone who has studied the main religious traditions of the world, and has written extensively on the traditions of India, this book has remained with me as life time companion. I recommend it to all those who are looking at the spiritual life as a quest for a higher consciousness and grace that can transform all that we do. One can continue to delve into the book for new wisdom and insight year after year. The Life Divine teaches us in depth about the great spiritual traditions of India, Veda, Vedanta, Samkhya, Yoga, Tantra and Buddhism, but from a view of practice and realization, and a seeking for the universal truth behind all these great teachings.
Most notably, the Life Divine outlines the spiritual purpose of the soul and of our human lives. It charts a way to a future in which we can go beyond our current mentality of ego and strife to a world of Divine peace, bliss and knowledge. It charts the transformation of our species from a confused adolescence to the maturity of wisdom and grace. Sri Aurobindo shows how the Divine Shakti can descend into our minds and lift us to a higher level of intelligence as our natural state of existence. The book is perhaps the best study of the spiritual evolution of humanity, the evolution of consciousness in man and nature, which is available.