P Books

Finally -- a book has arrived that scientifically demystifies the "sensitive"! For years, the general public has looked askance at individuals with anomalous sensitivities, often labeling them "crazy," since normal people don't see ghosts or spirits, talk to trees, recall past lives, or claim to influence the world with psychokinesis. Psychologists examining such sensitives using traditional diagnostic guidebooks, such as the DSM, have often been confused when they've found these individuals are often diagnosable with eight or more simultaneous valid psychological and medical conditions! Clearly there is something more going on than traditional psychology has understood.

David Ritchey's THE HISS OF THE ASP covers ten years of scientific research and fifteen years of clinical psychological insights, as it describes how many of the sensitivities of the Anomalously Sensitive Person (ASP) can be objectively measured on a Holistic Inventory of Stimulus Sensitivities (HISS). The HISS test can be administered to determine what kind of sensitivity a person has, and is included along with detailed analyses of the variables being studied. While THE HISS OF THE ASP is packed with details about interpreting test scores, it keeps the reader awake with amusing anecdotes and entertaining cartoons and quotes throughout.

THE HISS OF THE ASP will clearly be required reading for all serious students of psychology, as it clarifies centuries of confusion on the subject of how best to understand and support anomalously sensitive individuals.

-- Cynthia Sue Larson
author of AURA ADVANTAGE: How the Colors in Your Aura Can Help You Attain What You Desire and Attract Success

H.I.S.S. of the A.S.P. is an interactive read that suits our "multi-tasky" computer functions whirl world...definitely a new take on what a lot of people already "know!" so says the Letter Writing Soccer Moms.

I SO related to the case-study individuals in The HISS of the ASP! What a releif to know that there is somebody who not only understands, but is making an effort to communicate this information to the "ASPs" themselves, as well as to proffessionals. The subject matter is both deep and complex,so it is not an "easy read" ( i.e. a "beach book"),but the ideas presented are so valuable as to warrent one's undivided attention. I highly recommend that anyone who considers themselves "sensitive" read this book from cover to cover. You'll be glad you did!

Ritchey's book left me in thought that life as I think I know it is not as solid as the ground I walk on. What is of even more interest is that there is now data being developed in support of this, and David Ritchey is but one of the instigators for this ground breaking research.

David Ritchey's work and cooperation with our project as he was preparing his book, and especially the questionnaire, have been invaluable to our research here at the New Being Project where we're researching the possibility of an imminent human evolutionary jump. Are ASPs "the budding limbs and organs of our future nature"? (Michael Murphy) The situation may be even more extreme than Bob Girard from Arcturus Books states in his review when he says that Ritchey's book may be "suggesting that there is a vast underdeveloped resource of genius in the 5 million ASPs in America alone." Oh yes. . .and maybe much more than just "genius".

As other reviewers have stated, the book is enormous in scope and superior in execution. If you want strong intimations not only of what's in our species' current tool kit, but of who we are quite likely *becoming*, this book will get you wide-eyed in many places.

I also want to second the apt counsel of another reviewer: "I highly recommend that anyone who considers themselves a "sensitive" read this book from cover to cover. You'll be glad you did!"

No one does medieval mysteries better than P.C. Doherty! In HANGMAN'S TALE, part of his "Canterbury Tales" series, Doherty relates the hair-raising tale told by Simon Cotterill, the 'Carpenter' character from Chaucer's classic, to his fellow pilgrims enroute to Canterbury. It's one great read!

Though a big fan of Doherty's work, I was blissfully unaware of the Canterbury Tales series, which began in 1995, until I purchased a remaindered copy of HANGMAN'S TALE from Edmund Hamilton. My loss!

A would-be carpenter, Cotterill's life changes dramatically after he joins the band of Gloucestermen responsible for public hangings. When the crew hangs three witches who are part of a vicious coven preying on Gloucester residents, things go really, REALLY wrong and the hangmen find themselves facing the wrath of three not-so-dead witches. It then becomes a race against time as Cotterill & Co. struggle to break the coven and unmask its leader before they perish at the hands of that unholy group. The end result is a scary, spooky, page-turner of a tale. Great stuff!

If HANGMAN'S TALE is representative of the series, I need to read the other volumes asap! And so do you!

Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough and is the consummate professional when it comes to writing historical mystery novels. I for one do not know how he can be so prolific with his offering of books and yet make sure that each of them is well researched. Whether they be 13th, 14th, or fifteenth century they are always true to the period. He also writes about Ancient Egypt and Alexander the Great.

A group of pilgrims have joined together, both for company and also for protection, as the roads and forests are littered with thieves and rogues, only too willing to relieve a traveller of their purse and most probably their lives as well. What adds even more spice to the journey is that several of the pilgrims know their fellow travellers but are not letting the fact become public knowledge.

The pilgrims have agreed that at the end of each day's journey when they stop at an inn or other resting place one of them will entertain the others with a tale. Whether the story is true or not only the storyteller will know.

During their journey to Canterbury the Pilgrims stumble upon an execution. Hangings are a common occurrence in these times, but this one affects the carpenter very badly and leaves him in a dead faint.
That evening, he narrates the tale of a Gloucester hangman whose involvement in the secretive punishment of three witches unleashes a vicious spate of revenge killings. Is this just a tale drawn from the carpenter's fertile mind or is the tale true and he was in some way involved in the punishment of the so called witches?

I don't usually like period mysteries, because they often seem to have a certain self-consciousness about them in how they work to include period details, speech patterns, etc. Plus, I always wonder if the manners and habits of thought of whatever the era is would have allowed the characters to act as they do - it seems that often these book feature characters with quite modern ways of thinking that can seem out of place. So I'm glad I overlooked my prejudice and read this book. I find that the time period adds color and meaning to the tale, but it's the human interest that seems timeless, and caught my interest. The author's knowledge of the period allows him to integrate the characters' different habits and customs into the story in a way that reveals medieval thinking and ideas while pointing out the fact that human nature doesn't change. The mystery itself is fascinating - I couldn't put the book down - and I learned quite a bit about the society of the time without even noticing it! Very enjoyable, and it prompted me to look for the earlier titles in the series, all which are well worth reading.

Paul Doherty's Canterbury Tales of Mystery and Murder series is probably my favourite historical mystery series. I look forward to each and every installment and am usually very disappointed that, because he is a very prolific writer with so many different mystery series in the works, new installments in this particular series take a while to be published. For those readers who are not familiar with the series, I will attempt to paint in some background details about the series. The series is based on Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales;" the pilgrims are all bound for Canterbury and in order to make the journey more agreeable, everyone has agreed to take turns at telling two kinds of tales each day -- a merry tale or fable during the day, and an eerie tale of darkness at night. Doherty's series revolves around the mysterious tales of murder and evil that are told each night. Another gimmick involved that makes this series all the more interesting and intriguing is that the pilgrims are connected to each other in some way or the other. So far, there have been four books in the series. Each has been a truly absorbing and chilling read, and a real page turner. And "The Hangman's Hymn" (the fifth intallment) was no exception to this rule!

The pilgrims are now deep in the Kent country, when they stumble across the chief tipstaff to the lords of assize about to dispense justice by having a few felons hanged at the place of their crime. The law of the times demand that because the pilgrims have chanced across this, they stand witness to the deed. One of the pilgrims however, the cheerful dark haired carpenter is so affected by the sight, that he faints from the horror. That night, as the pilgrims take their rest at St. Bardolph's Priory, the others quiz the carpenter about his faint-heartedness; he in turn tells a hair raising tale of horror and pure evil -- about a poor carpenter, Simon Cotterill who comes to Glouchester for love's sake, who ends up joining the local hangman's crew, and who becomes involved in hunting down and killing a coven of murderous witches who are terrorizing the Glouchester country side. A tale of such darkness and evil, that the pilgrims are held completely spellbound, even as they wonder to themselves if the tale is a true one and if the carpenter is the unfortunate Simon Cotterill...

From the very first page, I was hooked. Yes, some of the plot twists were fairly obvious; but the charm of this series (and much of Doherty's writing style) is the manner in which he tells the tale. Paul Doherty has a fairly compelling and engaging prose style, one that keeps your interest and makes you read on in order to see how things pan out and what will happen next. I really love this series. Each and every installment has chilled; and I've looked forward to discovering which pilgrim is tied to the other and how. I have yet to be disappointed by this series, and cannot recommend it highly enough. (And if you have not had the good fortune to read any of the previous installments, the paperbacks can be easily purchased through amazon.co.uk. Unfortunately they are hard to come by in the US). My advice is to wait until it's dark, and then settle down to enjoy this creepy and superbly entertaining mystery novel, hopefullt without too many distractions!

Paul Doherty's Canterbury Tales series continues marching on to its path of medieval mystery success! In his latest episode, "The Hangman's Hymn," Doherty singles out the Carpenter to be the teller of these "tall tales"! In fact, so far in this series, this one, the fifth, seems to be the best written, although perhaps not the most suspenseful.

The merry group of pilgrims, numbering 29 in all if we recall our English lit days and according to Geoffrey Chaucer, are on their way to Canterbury to pay homage to their beloved Saint Thomas a Becket. These pilgrims have accepted the challenge by the host of the Tabard Inn, one Harry Bailey, to help pass the time by telling four stories each, two on the way and the others in return. All of this is to be narrated by Chaucer himself.

Doherty steps in to help "the father of English literature," some seven centuries later, by relating more of these tales and in so doing deserves much praise, not only for his abilities to capture the "spirit" of Chaucerian England but in presenting a modern version that easily holds the readers' attention.

The carpenter's tale is a tale of gruesome, frightening murders, of hangings, of poisons, of evil incarnate, of witchcraft, and even a little romance! On their way to Canterbury the group comes upon a legal hanging, which causes a quick reaction of Simon Cotterill, the carpenter.

As the pilgrims pause for the night, the carpenter begins to tell his story. This is no tale told by an idiot, but it is full of sound and fury, of deceit, of bravery-indeed, it's a story not easily put aside. In the story, three witches are hanged and, before their hanging, vow to extract vengeance on all who were involved in their execution. Murder and mayhem, as they say, follow. Doherty's story, of course, is a mystery and with his usual cleverness he's able to bring the culprits-the real ones-to justice.

The other pilgrims are uneasy over this story and even begin to wonder if it's true, adding to the mystique of this series! Doherty seems to work simultaneously with a number of historical mystery series, from Alexander the Great to Chaucer, and each is well worth the read!

Everyone wants to be happy and see pleasure around. But how many have really achieved it? Here is the code to enter into the world of joy and delight. It is all about simple ways towards happiness. This book will give you positive ways to look at life. Short and sweet stories, simple language and excellent thoughts will immediately make you a fan of the book. Everyone can enjoy it, as the Author has made a successful effort in making a book which will address to one and all. This book is really great asset, that you can treasure forever.

Happiness is a state of mind. It is something that is felt from within one's heart. The author has perfectly captured the nuances of this beautiful state of mind. Through his personal experiences, he has tried to illustrate the path of achieving happiness. The language used by the author is simple but riveting. Since the book is sub-divided into short chapters, it makes it real easy to go through the chapters quickly. This is a book for people of all generations. Its language, its content and its smooth flow of ideas makes it a must buy book. I strongly recommend this book to all people. Overall, I will rate it as 10/10.

As the name implies, this book is all about happiness and the path to achieve it. The author has accessed his vast experience in life and come up with a jewel of a reading, only for the sake of helping other people achieve happiness. This act very well reflects the authors own happiness. This book teaches you how to stay happy even while enduring testing times. In here, you will find the true meaning of happiness. You will learn how to stay content without giving up your ambitions. You will learn to be rich, by staying modest. It has been pointed out in the most succint of words that there is a happy person within each and everyone of us. It's only a matter of getting that person out. For the subject, the author has chosen the right amount of content. It's not too long to tire you, and not too short to miss out important details. The chapters are short and precise. The content is rich. There are several famous anecdotes, short stories and wise sayings quoted to explain the point. This is not a one time reading book. You should read the book again and again, at your own pleasure and at your own pace. It will keep reminding you not to stray away from the goal of happiness. In short this book is your code to unlock the safe of happiness within you.

This is a very well structured book, in small chapters that are easy to digest. The author has done a good job incorporating his experiences in giving the take home message.
An absolute page turner, you cannot wait to see what comes next.

Overall A winner!!

A truly thought provoking book which could change the way you evaluate your life.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a easy primer on how to stop worrying about the trivialities in life and start thinking about what really matters.

I also found it a thoughtful gift to give close friends and family. It's an easy read and explains what can be a difficult topic to most people in simple and easy language.

The author brings his analytical mind and Engineering background to focus on a non-technical conundrum and in my view does an admirable job.

An absolutly great book! The text is lyrical making it easy to read over and over again. The illustrations are colorful and fun. With each reading, your child (and you) will notice more fantastic details. The antics are zany, but Harriet's feelings are real and ones we can all relate to. This book will quickly become a family favorite!

Harriet's Horrible Hair Day is not only for the young girl whose hair won't behave, it's for the young boy who can't get that unruly cowlick to stay down. When Harriet's cinnamon-colored curl pops out of her braid, her brother is quick to tell her she looks weird. This single remark sets into motion a series of remedies that her siblings apply. Their antics are somewhat reminiscent of Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat". Creative, wild, and crazy, the cure is worse than the curl. As illustrated in the following text, Harriet's siblings are determined: "Harriet's sister plopped a colandar on Harriet's head, and her brother pulled the curls through the holes." Ms. Stewart's amusingly phonetic text will please all children, and Michael P. White's appropiate illustrations will catch their eyes. Without a doubt, this is a book a child will clutch close to his or her chest. No wonder it has sold out at our local bookstore.

A delightful story, complete with detail-rich, amazingly fun illustrations, makes this book a sure hit with children, and their parents. I can't wait for more releases from Ms. Stewart!

Every child with hair that won't behave or who has siblings that are too helpful, will delight in reading the trials put upon Harriet by her brother and sister all because of a wayward curl! The vocabulary is age appropriate and the illustrations are delightful.

Kindergarten to fifth graders enjoyed this wild tale. I am an elementary school librarian and my students loved this story and its zany illustrations. They couldn't wait to see what Harriet's creative siblings had in store for her on every page. They also loved watching the dog's and cat's antics throughout the book. As we say in Texas..."This book is a hoot!"

A wonderfully refreshing book. In our modern world, where the doctor- patient relationship has deviated from the traditional relationship of trust and compassion, where gratitude has been replaced by unrealistic expactations and demands, Dr Sumasy manages to address these issues that haunt every physician and indicate the way of maintaining the original vocation in spite of all the sad developments in this profession. This is a dynamic and full of positivity inspirational read, that can revive and show the way to healing for the wounded physician of today's world.

This book was very interesting and informative to me because my husband and I are Chaplaincy volunteers and Hospice volunteers. So, this book
gave me some good information to help recognize how some doctors and/or
medical people can either help a person spiritually or simply ignore the
case and just deal with the physical part of the person.

This book was wonderful! A must for medical students, law students and both lawyers/doctors. Puts the reality of the true duty of a "professional" into perspective. Truly a delight. Unquestionably a five star book. Dr. Sulmasy catches the essence of what is missing in the current debate on the role of the health care professional.

This is a wonderful book -- written with compassion, insight, and grace. Every physician and other health care professional could benefit from reading this -- and their patients, in turn, will benefit as well.

I think all three of the previous reviews for this book have merit. However, I read this book in 1997 when it came out and have been giving it to every nurse, minister, psychologist, psychiatrist, and physician with whom I come into contact professionally. The aspect of the patients/parishioners not knowing the results of medical tests or what will God think of the outcome of his/her health results and how those will bring reexaminging of his own life is revealed in this book. EXCELLENT!! I loved this book as an avid patient, client, friend, and author.

Paul Tillich - one of the greats in Theology - systematic, thorough, enlightening. I had read excerpts of Tillich when in High School in Switzerland as a highlight of a philosophy class - in the late 50's when he was at his most popular.
This book is for anyone who wants an in-depth panorama of the historical evolution of the Christian Church....

These lectures clearly reveal Paul Tillich as one of the greatest, most brilliant, theologians of the 20th century. The book summarizes and critiques the entire history of Christian thought (with special emphasis on German theologians). Tillich's appraisals of others are completely fair. His own insights that he shares along the way are those of a devout and brilliant liberal Christian. He summarizes his approach as follows: "Theology must see both sides, man's essential nature, wonderfully and symbolically expressed in the paradise story, and man's existential condition, under sin, guilt, and death."

I have only one reservation. This may well be Tillich's most accessible work, as one reviewer states. But that speaks more to the difficulty of Tillich's other works than to the ease of working through this treatise. It is brilliant, it is beautiful, but it is tough going. I had to reread many passages two or three times to understand them (and a few I simply had to give up on). The book is absolutely worth the effort, but for anyone looking for a somewhat simpler (but excellent) introduction to Christian thought, I would recommend Alister McCrath's "Christian Theology, an Introduction."

Paul Tillich was perhaps the most important and influential 20th Century theologian writing in English. His books, however, are tough slogging--especially for those who haven't read all the many continental philosophers and theologians with whom Tillich was arguing. This book, which consists of transcriptions of lectures Tillich gave on the history of Christian thought, is, besides being a wonderful introduction to the subject matter, the best possible introduction to Tillich's own thinking. Wonderfully accessible, engaging and lively, this book is thoroughly readable. If only more of his lectures on other topics were available!

This is an extraordinary set of lectures by the great theologian and cultural analyst. While hewing to the main intention of presenting a history of Christian thought, the lectures necessarily encompass a history of Western thought in general from Greco-Roman times to the present, given that specifically church-sponsored Christian thought developed and must necessarily develop in close, thoughtful, and fervent dialogue with significant trends of thought, feeling, imagination, and morality in the larger cultural environment. Each section of this book is stimulating and rich in insight. Your future reading (or past reading, for that matter) on any topic he covers in these lectures will surely profit from attending to what he writes. Tillich has a knack for getting simply to the root of any matter.

One important implication of the lectures given by Tillich on ancient and medieval Christian thought and policy is this: though they may differ as to what they draw from that tradition, that tradition belongs to all Christians.

Whether or not one agrees with Tillich's theological-philosophical position or his liberal-Lutheran tendencies, his overview and analysis of Christian theology here offered is an excellent introduction or refresher. With precision and clarity he connects various movements and strains of thought which one might otherwise consider unrelated, or, more importantly, unimportant to oneself. Ultimately, the book (consistent with Tillich's existentialist leanings) attempts to point to theology's inherent purpose--personal application. He does so in this book with impeccable scholarly and intellectual skill.

This is the best book on Biblical dating out there. It's also an excellent resource for married couples.

Well, I just finished Holding Hands, Holding Hearts and I'm still convinced it's by far the best book on Christian dating for adults that I've read so far. In fact, after I finished it I gathered up some of my other books on Christian dating and singleness along with their receipts to return them to the book store. This book offers sound advice based on Biblical principles with the much needed Christian love and wisdom.

The dating versus courtship arguments in my opinion, have largely fallen into two inadequate camps. Courtship (often) is defended as the preferable option because it was the norm in Biblical culture. Our modern context is usually written off while the cultural practice of the past becomes the normative Biblcal command for us now. I had trouble making that leap. And I found that many who "kissed dating good-bye" made it into a Biblical command, rather than what it is, a wise application of Biblical principles. The other side, who "gave dating a chance", often failed to wrestle significantly with the Biblical material and empahsized following Biblical principles within the flawed system of dating.

Thankfully, into this debate comes a third and welcome approach. Richard Phillips and Sharon Phillips are both aware of the modern context that singles live in, but also have attempted to create a thoroughly Biblical rationale for single males and females to follow as they "date". Holding Hands, Holding Hearts is all that a book on practical theology should be. It is grace-based, well thought out, Scripturally supported and developed, and it gives practical applications for its readers. (While I believe all theology is practical, many books fail to thoroughly examine the practical outworkings of theology in day-to-day life).

The book is divided into two parts. Part I is called A Biblical View of Dating and Relationships. In this half, the Phillips spend a significant time explaining why we are what we are and how that affects our relationships. It uses the classical set up of categories for mankind - Creation, Fall, and Redemption. All three need to be understood BEFORE a model of relationships is developed, and the Phillips do this in a clear, Biblical and understandable way. The second half is titled Biblical Wisdom for Dating and Relationships. It takes the Bibles teachings on marriage and works backwards from them. The patterns that God desires in marriage do not magically appear once one is married, and this book describes how a couple can and should learn, grow and prepare for the roles they are called to if the Lord calls them to marriage.

One highlight that I have not seen in any dating/courtship book before is the section on idolatry in our hearts. Here's a sample: "Different people have different idols as we saw in Genesis 3, the woman's idols will often be relationship-oriented; she desires to possess him as the key to her happiness....Similarly, Genesis 3 tells us that men will often be motivated by idols eternal to the relationship: money, power, excitement. Whatever they are, the point is that idols must be served, and the dating or marriage partner must be coerced into contributing to that service. This, by the way, is often what the world means by 'compatibility'. The key to a happy relationship, the experts tell us, is to find a companion who worships the same idols as you do, or whose idols are at least not in conflict with your own. This is a fool's paradise, for sin and idolatry never truly produce harmony but always strife." (pp. 61-62). This section, in addition to many others, has what many other Christian books on the subject lack, a proper understanding and focus on the heart, as well as practical guidlines for conduct based on that understanding. Pastor Phillips is definitely a shepherd, and a man who "has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15 ESV).

If you are a single adult, and want to have the best theological and practical undestanding of how to keep Christ at the center of your dating relationships (or your courtship relationships) - this is the book for you! It is easy to read, Christ-honoring, and very practical. It also is very pastoral, and has the benefit of both male and female input, and all this from two people who worked with hundreds of singles over the years.

As one final note, my girlfriend(now wife) and I read this together, and it was a great resource and catalyst for our thinking as we sought the Lord's will for our relationship. Check it out and buy a copy for a single friend!

A Biblically based/sound, well balanced book, full of Scripture references and applications, very enjoyable and funny, for anyone to read. It takes Biblical principles of a healthy marriage and work backwards to a healthy Biblical dating relationship. The foundations for a healthy, godly marriage begin while dating.

There's a final chapter, especially written for those who are not currently in a dating relationship. Some books or people describe singleness as a gift, just as marriage as a gift. Some people do have the gift of singleness: they don't think romantically about others of the opposite sex, and there is nothing wrong or perverse about them. They do not struggle with lust either. People with this gift, in the authors' experience, is usually someone called to a particular and intense ministry. But the authors describe singleness, which can last a long time, can be considered as being a trial, just as marriage as being a trial. We need to seek God's grace for this trial as with any other.

"Singleness involves loneliness, sexual frustration, and unfulfilled dreams. It is a difficult ordeal. But let's understand something about trials: everybody has them. Singleness may be a trial, but it is not the only trial. Married people have trials -- lots of them, in fact. Parents have lots of trials. When Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33) He was talking to us all."

It dwells on the Rare Jewel of Contentment (Phil. 4:11-13)...the product of a heart resting in God. They provided an unchanging rule for singles to remember, namely:

"if you cannot be contented in singleness, you will not be contented in marriage" .

"Singleness is not something that keeps us from contentment and joy. Rather, it is a trying circumstance in which we are to look in faith to God, submitting in His good and Sovereign will, and looking to Him for every blessing. But singleness is not the only such trying circumstance. Another is called marriage, as two sinners seek to live in harmony without killing each other. Yet another trying circumstance is called parenthood, in which two exhausted sinners who seldom speak to each other seek to live in harmony with each other and a whole pack of other little sinners. In all circumstances, the challenge is not to change the circumstances but to learn what Paul learned: "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can so all things through Him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:12-13)."

Reviewer's additional comments:
One Scripture reminder by one friend also rings true:

"I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord." - 1Cor 7:32 (NIV)

About the advantage of singles, being "free from concern", relative to the married.

As well as:

"But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this." - 1 Cor 7:28 (NIV)

About "those who marry will face many troubles in this life". And Paul's advice was to spare the singles of the troubles faced by those who are married. Since singles will already have their fair share of trouble in this life to face and deal with (whereas married people will have "double the trouble in this life" - their own and those of their spouse). There are advantages of course...having two people to face the many troubles in this life, rather than on your own.

In any case, concerning the book, it's Highly recommended!
Check it out and pass it on to others!

The title says it all. This book is Biblical, practical, and balanced.

As for being Biblical, the whole first half of the book is devoted to clearly and succinctly outlining and explaining the three Biblical perspectives for viewing everything, (including dating): Creation, the Fall, and Redemption. They discuss not only what these things mean, but what they mean for dating and/or marriage.

It offers solid advice from a couple who actually remembers what it was like to be single and has been working with young adults in the transition from dating to marriage for many years. As a result, this book is balanced. On the one hand, it avoids the extreme of simply slapping a Christian label on an otherwise worldly practice of just going with the flow without discipline, without any sense of commitment or purpose. And on the other hand, it avoids the extreme of telling Christians that the only way they can be godly is by adopting the cultural practices of the 18th century. (Some of the books out there make one seriously question whether the author is more concerned with Biblical principle or the cultural standards of an arbitrarily chosen time and place.)

Without reservation, I would recommend this book to any young person with dating/marriage on their mind.

I didn't want to read this book. It was attached to a copy of "A Clockwork Orange" and I figured I might as well. The whole time, I felt both compelled and repelled to go on. However, I loved it more than "A clockwork Orange," and am currently trying to find out more about it. Burgess uses an interesting plot that puts full emphasis on causality and contains many twists and turns that were comical and intriguing. I found myself alternately loving and hating Paul, the main character. The thing that I love about it the most is that what appears is a simple plot is really a statement of burgess's personal resentment for the state. If you're a political kind of person, or you want to learn, this is a great, insightful book.

It is true that this book is underappreciated compared to the other great books of the author like Enderby and A ClockWork Orange nonetheless it's a great piece of fiction.No other book has given us a better description about the Soviet union or it's people.Our hero paul is a guy to be admired and pitied all through the novel.The book is funny,touching and fun to read and remember that the winter has come with it's long dark nights if u dont know what I mean read the story and u will find out.

This is by far the best book I've read by Mr. Burgess. It's excellent all the way through--it just doesn't stop. You can tell he thought it out well. Everything he says, he says in a way that is very, very entertaining and funny. It also has a hilarious plot and some great characters. I told my friends about this book, but, being fifteen years old, none of them will read it. So now I'm recommending this to everyone who reads this. This is a great work of fiction and it will please anyone willing to open up their minds for a novel.

Anthony Burgess' "Honey for the Bears," is a fast paced farcical satire set in Cold War period Soviet Russia. Following an antiques dealer and his wife as the two attempt to sell cheep dresses on the black market as a favor to a friend.

Sexual morays and British stereo type stuffiness are thrown out the window as the two find themselves trapped in the Soviet Union with the police on Paul Hussey's trail. On the boat ride over his American wife, Belinda, becomes sick and finds herself hospitalized for a terrible rash.

"Honey for the Bears" satirizes the secret capitalist desires of the Soviet people with a schizophrenic jump between their urges for Western pleasures and at the same time a contempt for the capitalist pigs that cannot even take care of their own people.

Sharp, witty and insightful, Burgess again succeeds in bringing together a dark twisted world that strongly resembles our own. As always, Burgess' mastery of linguistics shines through as he plays games with language and dialects: thus giving his characters a sense of reality.

It is by chance that I read this book. And I don't regret it. I loved Burgess's A Clockwork Orange, and, naturally, I wanted to read more. After looking over the reviews of The Doctor is Sick ,The Complete Mr. Enderby, and The Wanting Seed, I decided I'd look for one of those. I went to the local bookstore, and sadly (or so I thought at the time) they only had one copy of Honey for the Bears, about 7 copies of A Clockwork Orange and a couple of works he did on Shakespeare. I read the summary for Honey for the Bears, and I was uninterested. However, for lack of reading material, I bought it.

It was excellent. Burgess is really talented. Unlike so many other books, this one never gets boring, not even for a second. Taking a journey of self exploration with Paul could not possibly be more entertaining, funny, exciting or meaningful than Burgess makes it. You'll enjoy this book if you like a well constructed plot and interesting story line. This was not in any way Russian babble not worth reading unless Russian yourself. (I'm not Russian, never have been to Russia, and don't know any of the Russian language. I will go even furthur to say that you most certainly don't have to have a great interest in Russia to enjoy this book!) At the risk of sounding cliche, this is just one of those books that entertains you the whole way through.

It's not complete candy though: Burgess used Russian throughout this book, making it a little diffult to understand at times. I had to reread a few parts, but it wasn't a chore at all, and surprisingly, did not bother me. Everything comes together at the end, although is not always what you expect. Delightful. I'm surprised this wasn't made into a movie.

Neil Perkins, a fifteen-year-old prankster from northern England, has few greater pleasures than harassing his eccentric Latin teacher, Miss Klitsa. But when an accident on his four-wheeler uncovers some ancient Latin tablets near the ruins of Hadrian's Wall, Neil is forced to cooperate with her in order to translate the tablets, which were written by a Roman centurion named Rusticus. Due to the mysterious illness of Legate Julus, Rusticus's commanding officer, the scheming Tribune Festus has taken charge of the Roman soldiers stationed at Hadrian's Wall. Festus orders Rusticus to lead his men on a so-called training march into Celt-held territory, and as a result, the entire group, save Rusticus and his staff officer Linus, are wiped out. Rusticus's survival is due to the quick thinking of Calum, an auxiliary officer of Celtic blood. Unofrtunately for Rusticus and Calum, Festus is unhappy with Rusticus's survival and sends them on a mission to gather intelligence about the warring Celtic tribes, taking Calum's close friend Iona as a hostage to see that the job gets done. However, they realize that even if they give Festus the information he desires, Festus will probably kill them because they are both too aware of his underhanded plottings. Rusticus must eventually find a way to save Iona as well as Calum, who puts himself in harm's way to look after her.

The frame story works well with the main one, and, although the transition between the two is a bit awkward, Rusticus's action-packed story more than makes up for it. Ancient times are a rare subject for historical fiction among American writers, but Douglas Bond brings out the humanity of his subjects while keeping true to their historical background. Parents should be aware that "Hostage Lands" is best suited for teenage readers due to limited harsh violence and several extremely vague references to women being abused in a particular way that most children would not catch on to. Bond's writing, while not inappropriate for teenagers, is too deep for most ten-year-olds.

Perhaps most interesting to parents who want to use "Hostage Lands" as a teaching tool is Rusticus's inward struggle. He has been taught to believe firmly in "eternal Rome" as the bastion of civilization and order. However, his misguided patriotism begins to flag due to both Festus's scheming and the influence of Calum, who began following "Christus" after seeing Christians cruely martyred in the Roman Colloseum. About his experience there, Calum says, "For me, the glory of Rome faded that day." And so Rome's glory fades for Rusticus as Calum's questions about true endurance and higher loyalties seem more and more logical in light of Festus's unbridled ambition. Without sounding moralistic, "Hostage Lands" serves as a sound lesson about the dangers of state worship. To his credit, however, Bond never loses sight of his story, which is one of his most engrossing so far.

Hostage Lands is a great read! Its one of those books that once started, you don't want to put down. Full of intrigue and suspense, this is a book that young and young at heart will enjoy. I appreciated Douglas Bond's ability to weave so much history of post Roman Britain into the book. I've read other books that speak to Rome's conquering Brittania, but this was a new era for me and filled in gaps that I wondered about. A definite must for students of world history, the Roman empire, or just "ancient" civilizations.

Officially listed as teen fiction, Hostage Lands has an appeal which reaches a larger audience, from approximately 10 years old through adult. Set in English farmlands near the remains of Hadrian's Wall, this historical adventure can be read for its entertainment value alone; but, the reader will also find out what it can cost to be a follower of our Lord, as well as gaining some fine Christian perspectives for living.

In contemporary England, eccentric, extremely laughable Miss Klitsa's Latin class alternates between soporific trance and wild hilarity at the teacher's expense. The protagonist of this story, Neil Perkins, gets to drive his ATV to school everyday, and it isn't only teenage readers who grow green with envy. He often leads in the hilarity aimed at the redoubtable Miss Klitsa. Then one fateful day, Neil and his ATV hair-raisingly gouge a ditch near Hadrian's Wall and he finds an ancient manuscript. The only one who can help him is Miss Klitsa.

As Neil translates the manuscript, the reader falls headlong into a spine-tingling Roman/Celtic adventure of sword-play, treachery, fearful undertakings, wild men vs. civilized people, undying friendship, and impossible decisions. It's hard to put this book down and just as hard not to assimilate the lessons: true friendship; patriotism gone awry; willingness to die for another; various battle styles and the war equipment for each; uncivilized Christians vs. civilized pagans; some intriguing English archaeological lessons; accepting people as worthwhile even when you think them ridiculous; and a great deal more.

High school history and English teacher as well as author, Douglas Bond knows how to portray people of all ages. He is a rising star in the historical fiction genre for both older and younger people. Not satisfied with his own history background, Bond draws on the research of other historians. With a wide but understandable vocabulary, a talent for keeping the plot under control, a penchant for characterization, and a wonderful imagination, Bond presents a tale sure to engross any reader. A glossary of terms and a Roman timeline help keep the audience on track. As well as being a good read for the individual, Hostage Lands makes a fine read-aloud book. - Donna Eggett, Christian Book Previews.com

I've been learning alot about Roman history, lately, and I must admit I was getting tired of hearing about it. But this book is amazing. When I finished Hostage Lands, I wished there was more of it to read. Great book, from cover to cover.

Fifteen-year-old Neil Perkins lived a reasonably good life. He lived on Hostage Heath, a farm near Hadrian's Wall in northern England, and his parents let him go where he please on his four-wheeler, as long as he accomplished his chores. Yes, he had a good life, except for his Latin classes with the ridiculous Miss Klitsa. Perhaps she would have been better off teaching a drama class.

After wrecking his four-wheeler near the wall, Neil finds a packet of tablets in the hole he made in landing. The tablets were all written upon, and in Latin, no less! He took them to Miss Klitsa and asked what they said, but she was too much of a teacher to tell him.

All of this merely serves as the introduction to the tale which Neil laboriously translated. The epic tale of Celts and Romans scheming, spying, fighting and dying around Hadrian's Wall is reminiscent of the tales spun by Rosemary Sutcliff. We follow the centurion Rusticus, who must decide where his loyalties lay. The story is well told, and readers will hold their breath, instead of easily guessing the way everything will resolve itself. To make this drama even better than Sutcliff's, one of these characters, Calum, is a Christian, although he does not proclaim it to everyone he meets. When the Celts sit around the fire at night, and call on him for a story, he tells them, "My tale is of a great King," and gives the whole gospel. Calum's service to the Prince of Peace does not however, make him any less valiant a soldier.

The book concludes with Rusticas telling a story of "a great King." Neil wonders if the whole story is true, and asks questions. Will Neil, will the reader believe the story? What about the tale of "a great King"?

I have always loved Sutcliff's books, but Hostage Lands ranks even higher on my list. I wish I could give it more stars, and highly recommend it to those 13 and up. Travel back to the misty, dangerous Britain of the Celts, when Romans built their wall, and flaunted their standards. You will learn to think like a Celt, and step quietly behind a tree when you hear footsteps. And maybe you finish this book, and read it again, and give it a place with your favorite Celtic books.

This textbook can serve as a wonderful entry into the realm of higher mathematics, and provides an unsurpassed foundation for in-depth study of the real number field. The first four chapters present a thorough yet accessible introduction to essential topics such as set theory, ordered fields, mathematical induction, and vector algebra. The concept of proof is given a surprisingly detailed treatment, requiring a great deal of thought and consideration by the reader. But the payoff is well worth the effort, as you will be light years ahead of most modern high school math programs by the time you finish working through all the proof related exercises. Following this theoretical introductory material, adequate attention is given to topics such as polynomial equations, probability, trigonometry, and analytic geometry, all viewed within an intuitive and heuristic vector-oriented framework. Functions, sequences, and series as they relate to the concept of limits are defined and explained as well, along with introductions to matrices and complex numbers. Although this work first appeared in 1964, even today there is still no better pre-calculus textbook than Mary Dolciani's "Modern Introductory Analysis".

I had this text (black and blue w/white trim) during my Senior Year in High School in 1967-68, and found it to be a great stepping stone and confidence builder into Calculus. It provides a clear and crisp view into college level material. I wish the book could be made available again.

Miracle! I finally got a copy of Dolciani's "MODERN INTRODUCTORY ANALYSIS", and it is everything I remembered it to be thirty three years ago in my 12th grade College Prep (CP-12) Math course. I still endorse this text as 5-stars! MN

I never had this book for a course in high school, but I found it to be a great reference for the serious high school math student. It is outstanding in its sweeping coverage of subject matter. First, the authors introduce symbolic logic as a foundation for what follows. This is then followed by a variety of topics from sequences and series to matrices. I found it very clear reading and interesting.

This text, along with all the Dolciani books by Houghton Mifflin were the corner stones of any high school math program in the 60's-70's and early 80's. This book particularly was the book that I learned pre-calculus from, and made me become a math major. The books were literate in their context, never watered down, but not so abstract that a high school student couldn't read and follow. The Teacher's Edition's were the best of any series (until Houghton Mifflin changed the format, and made them less teacher friendly). I still have 2 TE's of this book and the solutions key, and still refer to it when I need to...it beats any precalculus book out today. Once Ms. Dociani passed away, the entire Houghton Mifflin series went down the tubes, their current texts DO NOT hold muster to this old classic!!!