Distributors Books

An invaluable source book for identifying ancient bronzes of the Himalayans, China, Nepal and India. Contains photographs with comments on virtually all pieces as well as on the evolvement of image making techniques over the centuries. Book is no longer in print and is a collector item as well.

This book is an absolute gift to humankind! It catalogues philosophies and techniques associated with the four thousand year old art of image-making in Tibet, Nepal and India. It is an expensive volume due to the scarcity of it. Ulrich von Schroeder deserves to be highly commended for meticulously researching the history of this craft, from Tibet to South India, and compiling the beautiful photographs contained within the pages of this impressive endeavor. Thanks Ulrich!

Although published in 1981, this book is still the only comprehensive publication on the stylistic evolution of the metal sculptures of Northern India, the Himalayas and Tibet, as well as those made in China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. This book, of which copies are very hard to get, represents an indispenable reference work for every scholar, collector and dealer in the field of Oriental art. See also[a website] for other outstanding publications in the field of Buddhist sculptures by Ulrich von Schroeder.

Donald Goines is an american treasure for tellin' it like it is. Forget H. Rap Brown - read Goines for a brutal slice of black, urban reality. Also recommended are "White Man's Justice, Black Man's Grief" and "Daddy Cool." Dig yourself, babeeeeey!

This is the last of the Kenyatta series, and it goes out with a bang. The book keeps Kenyatta, Betty, Ryan and Benson, and other familiar characters at the forefront, but brings many new ones to the scene as well and does a great job of giving us plenty of them. Like all of his stories, Goines has a way of detailing certain things that others wish they could possess, but don't. He also did something which is pretty tough to do when someone writes sequels or a series, and that is, this book, in my opinion, is the best of the four.

I loved this book by Donald Goines. If you like to read a good story with great characters, then this is the one for you. This book is the last in the series about Kenyatta and his crew who tries to take down da "man" - the dope pushers that push "junk". It is a good story that i loved and with the street knowledge that he pushes through his characters keep readers coming back for more.

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it's definitely worth owning. One such book is Masutatsu "Mas" Oyama's, "The Kyokushin Way."

Like all of the great martial artists past and present, Mas has a remarkable and relevant philosophy not only on the martial arts, but also on how to conduct yourself in your every day life. Some of these philosophies may seem a little rigid, but not when you look at it from the perspective of a true martial artist.

In this review, I am going to give you a couple of lines from each section and a brief synopsis of the rest of the section. It is my opinion that you will get the most from this book by actually owning it and reading it several times, while practicing it on a daily basis.

1. Aspirations:

This section starts out with the following statement from the author. "When I was a child, we were taught always to live in such a way as never to have to be ashamed in front of family, teachers, or friends." In other words, do nothing that you would be ashamed of. Simple yet brilliant!

One must continue to have high aspirations if they truly want to grow and achieve more than the average individual. If you set your goals low then you will only achieve little or no success. But if you have high goals, you will have to continually strive to reach those goals and when you do, success will be yours. A man who has everything he wants will wither and become stagnant and die. But the man, who continually wants more, will work harder and continue to thrive and grow.

2. Diligence:

"If someone asked me what a human being ought to devote the maximum amount of his time to, I would answer, training. Train more than you sleep. No matter what course you pursue, you will have no regrets if you make this a hard-and-fast rule."

In this section, Mas relates his own personal history and some of the troubles he found himself in as a young man before he devoted his life to the study of karate.

3. Courage:

"The fastest way to attain courage is to follow the chosen way and to be willing to abandon life itself for the sake of justice."

Everyone of us has been afraid at one time or another, it's how you handle that fear that determines what kind of person you are or will become. Mas himself admits in this section to certain times in his life when he to has been a victim of fear.

4. Success Demands Courtesy:

"We must always remember to be kind and considerate and must abide by the customary practices of the society in which we live. One of the most important things in preserving harmony among individuals and society is courtesy and mutual respect."

One must not only be strong, but also soft and malleable when need be. As former United States President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt used to say, "Walk softly and carry a big stick." The United States needs to return to this way of thinking and acting in the international community.

5. Parents:

"The length of the period (from fifteen to twenty years) during which the human parent must care for and protect its offspring means that relations between parent and child are deeper in human beings than in other animals."

It often amazes me that we seem to take for granted those who brought us into this world.

6. Reasons for Fighting:

"Human beings worthy of the name ought to be willing to challenge wickedness with justice, even to the death if necessary. Without the willingness to stand up for justice in this way, what is life worth?"

Just because you can fight doesn't mean that you have to fight.

7. Karate and Zen:

"Zen is the complete unification of the body, the intentions, and the spirit. Unification of this kind is the sole way to human perfection and harmony with the universe. It is Zen."

In order to achieve a Zen state, one must concentrate, but not to hard or you will hinder your own efforts.

8. Breath Control and Mind Control:

"Oriental training codes have evolved concrete systems for the total unification of spirit and body. These systems are of importance not only to art and technical achievements, but to daily life and morality as well. They consist of three methods: breath control, strengthening of the abdomen through breath control, and meditation."

Various methods and techniques for breathing properly in order to develop power are explained.

9. Love and Marriage:

"Woman is simultaneously man's greatest joy and his greatest sorrow. Men usually encounter three kinds of women: mothers, wives, and seductresses who are only objects of sexual desire. The way a man reacts to these women is one of the most important elements of his life."

Women should be loved and respected, but never let them control you.

10. Keeping Money In Its Place:

"Money is a social necessity. As a reward for labor and for human blood, sweat, and tears, it is honorable. It makes me sad to know that some people judge everything in terms of money and what it can buy."

Although money is a necessary function of today's society, do not allow yourself to be ruled by it.

11. Liberation, the Ultimate Truth:

"But the way to truth is long. One of my mottos is this: A person is still beginner for a thousand days; he finds the truth after ten thousand days of practice."

The road to the truth is not easy, but it is attainable.

12. Significance Today:

This section concludes this book with the state of karate throughout the world at the time that it was first printed.

This book has been out of print for the past twenty years and is very difficult to find. I found my copy finally and paid over $100.00 for it. Money well spent!

This book is among all, very well organized, and written book by now most well respected Japanese modern full contact Krate system (Kyokushin) founder Sousai Masutatsu Oyama. While other famous book by the same author emphasizes on the style, history, and training aspect, this book strictly focuses on Kyokushin philosophy. Excellent book if you like to dig deep into meaning of Kyokushin, and how you want to apply into your daily life. It hleps to have been practicing Kyokushin to be able to deeply apply Sousai Mas Oyama's philosophy since Kyokushin can only be experienced through knowing the ultimate truth, facing fear and pain! However, this book is still for ALL walks of life who want to improve their quality of life through direction by the founder of the most strongest Martial Arts on the earth. MUST HAVE book once in your life time!

This book is a philosophy of Kyokushin karate, the strongest martial arts on the planet founded by Sosai Masutatsu Oyama. While other books by the same author focuses on training, this book ONLY focuses on the philosophy. This book will make your life better, and helps our society a better place. It will bring us back to basic......MUST HAVE for those who would like to improve quality of their life, and quality of our society. Kykushin Spirit will live on......find your ultimate truth! OSU!

Hace unos dias estuve en Costa Rica y compre este libro, esta simplemente exelente!, cuando lo empiezas a leer cuesta cerrarlo para pasar a hacer otra cosa, no te lo puedes perder, he reido, pero creo que he llorado mas, es increible imaginarse que estos hombres pasaron por martirios como los descritos y algunos siendo inocentes... si tienes la oportunidad, leelo!!!

I first read this book back in 1983. The hardship, tragedy and suffering that the author LIVED made me want to cry. I was lucky enough to visit Isla San Lucas and could visualize everything that the author described.

This book is the Papillon of latin america. A poetic prose, both horrible and beautiful. A jailed man tells his story. A timeless classic not to be missed, One of my favorite books. MUY BUENO NO TE LO PIERDAS>

As a Celtic artist I'm always on the search for books speficially on Celtic art, not just the Celtic people in general. This book by the Megaw's is the best I've found yet, giving lots of impartial information without romantic colorings about 'mystical meanings' and such. Just a great overview of how the art style is thought to have evolved, how it changes throught history, and lots of great photos. And a word on the photos of artifacts... many of these photos are 'new', in the sense that they're not the same ten images you see in every other book about the Celts. New photos of new artifacts not often shared with in publications. Great for Celtic artists who enjoy checking out ancient artifacts to use as source material and to track the evolution of its design and patterns!

The photos of the book are breathtaking and the book gives a good overview of Celtic art spanning the Celtic period. However the reader should bear in mind that the book is not comprehensive. Books available in German such as the Praehistorische Bronzefunde series give one a glimpse as to how wildly creative the Celts were especially in all of the art in general of Hallstatt period and of the variety of of styles found on fibula in the La Tene period. I highly recommend one with a serious interest in Celtic art to continue to search for more source material in addition to this book. However if one were to own one book as an overview of Celtic art I would recommend this book as one of the books to have.

I enjoy this book a great deal because it includes history, art, timelines, and discoveries in the Celtic civilization. There are several maps that describe the Evolution of the Celtic Empire and its power before the rise of the Roman Empire. It talks about the beauty of the iron work that the Celtics created and the complicated knotwork designs that are very popular in Scotland and Ireland today. This book will give you a great overview of the Celtic Culture, I greatly recommend it!

In her book "Not Untrue & not Unkind", Martina Newberry takes you gently by the hand, and shows you a life. It's a life filled with all the joy and anguish of a young girl growing.

Many readers will see there own experience through the author's eyes. I started it, and couldn't put it down. The book takes poetry's ability to say so much in just a few words, and puts it to work.

Robert E. Jordan

This book of Martina Newberry will not disappoint you. Definitely worth reading over and over. She has an amazing gift with words and is able to express feelings in a unique and vivid way.
All her writings are excellent and I recommend them all.
Now I am looking forward to her next book!!

Martina Newberry's latest book "Not Untrue and Not Unkind," is filled with diversified, thought provoking and stimulating poems. Ms. Newberry has the ability to go deep inside the soul to show us what human nature is really about.
She also has the ability to say the simplest things in a most extraordinary way. For example: in the poem "Someone I Knew" she talks about the unactractness of a woman's hair:
"Her hair failed her too
It rose from her head too proudly,
like stray thoughts."

The author is also able to create vivid pictures (imagery) with her words. In the poem: "Jacarandas" she takes about a young child being repeatedly raped:
"He found me each time--made a map on me
that matched the tree flowers. I knew how to lie still--
a pond gone stagnant for the moment--I let him
sob out his nasty nature, raise his fists
for good measure, then leave to let me clean myself."
And in the last line of the poem
"I forgave it all, mistook it, you see, for love."

The poem that continues to dance around in my head is titled:
"My Mother's Eldest Sister."
This poem deals with a woman who risks her life to save her duck during a tornado. only to kill it in the end, so that her husband could have duck soup.
"She said novenas
for a year, in gratitude to Saint Jude,then
she cut the duck's white throat to make Char~nee~na
(duck's blood soup) a dish her husband loved."

"Not Untrue and Not Unkind" is just that.
This is a book to not only own, but to read again and again...and again. Enjoy!

This may be the best guide book I have ever used. I think I should write Kerry Moran a fan letter for helping me to have an amazing and wonderful time on my six-week trip to Nepal without always feeling like a clueless tourist. This guide is so well written and interesting that I read it cover to cover during the trip-- even the sections about places we weren't planning to go. The cultural descriptions are informative and sensitively written, but not unrealistically rose-colored. The guides to towns and trekking routes give you an accurate and practical idea of what to expect when you get there without being overdetailed or bossy about telling you what do. The Nepali vocabulary and grammar in the appendix really came in handy and Nepalis, even when they could speak English, seemed genuinely pleased that I was trying to speak Nepali. The maps are not especially good, but then even with maps you would still have to ask directions. This is a great guide for anyone whose itenerary is not set in stone and who wants to get some genuine insight into Nepali culture.

This may be the best guidebook I've ever used-- I read it cover to cover during my trip, and feel like I ought to write Kerry Moran a fan letter. The advice and information in this book helped me to have an amazing and wonderful experience Nepal without always feeling like a clueless tourist. The descriptions of Nepali culture and customs are sensitively written and indespensible for a mystified first time visitor. The guides for trekking routes and towns are right on the mark but not overdetailed, so you get an accurate idea what to expect without being told exactly what to do. The Nepali vocabulary and grammar in the appendix were very handy and I really had fun trying to speak the language. This book does not have good maps, but I was able to get pretty good maps in Nepal.

Being a traveller who usually swears by Lonely Planet guides, I have to admit that when it came down to taking one or the other, the Lonely Planet book stayed at home and this one made it into my backpack. It's just plain good. I will be sure to check out other Moon Guides in the future. Their series might soon be alongside my LP and Footprint Guide collections.

Mary Buckles develops a great relationship with life on the Sound and shares it so gracefully with the reader. There are so few books available about the Sound, and hers is one of the best.

I met Mary Parker Buckles 20 years ago and immediately fell for her. Articulate, witty and graced with the style of a native Southerner, she enthralled me. After reading her book on Long Island Sound, I just fell for her again. It's an articulate, witty and graceful look at all that grows along and in the sound.

This is a beautiful and enchanting book. Mary Parker Buckles initiates the reader into the teeming vitality, ceaseless creativity, and mesmerizing wonder that is Long Island Sound. The familiar, but oh so strange world of owls and ospreys, barnacles and crabs, bivalves and boats, are engagingly explored by Mary -- a true natural scientist, but with a poet's eye. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is superbly well written, and in her elegant, imaginative, playful, even rapturous style Mary helps the reader to discover the magic that lies hidden in plain sight throughout this natural habitat. Mary seems to pour her soul into the Sound, and what emerges is a lyrical voice that speaks of wonders too fair for words.

This is by far the best book that I have ever read. If you like grandscale epics, this will blow you out of the water. To me, true stories are more intriging than fictuous ones, and there is so much intrigue locked in the obscure history of the Moghals - and Waldemar Hanson does a phenomenal job in his book.

This is one of the best written and interesting books which I have read on Mughal history. It is mainly about the story of the accession. It is REALLY a brilliant read, as it is written in an interesting manner & one feels transported back in time to the Shah Jahan era.

The Mughals at the zenith of power were the richest and most powerful kings in the world.

It is one of the best written and gripping book about the history of Moghul India. Very well written, very detailed but at the same time very interesting. It takes you into a journey of the mughalai world. Amazing book and a must read for both the casual reader and Indian history buff. The accounts on Aurangazeb and the war of sucession are especially really good.

Midway through Pediatric Home Companion the author sticks her neck out and answers the question: "What do you do when your [the author's] kids have colds?"

"At bedtime," she writes, "I frequently drug them with Benadryl. . . . (Sometimes I take it instead!") Dr. Wiseman gives straight answers to the big questions about childhood health problems. That's what makes this book easily understood. It's snappy and fun to read too.

I was lucky rearing my three kids. Neither their mother nor I knew a lot about taking care of children (There weren't any good books on the subject then.) So, we worried a lot! But they grew up healthy, smart and sometimes smart-elecky! Lisa, the only girl, went to medical school. I was very proud. Now she has three fantastic children of her own, but she was too modest to put their picture on the cover of her book, PEDIATRIC HOME COMPANION!

Julius Grossenbacher

Truly oustanding - well written - where else can you get information on the nutrition value of twinkies?Loved the humour mixed with the message - this is one book that all parents should read cover to cover. One problem with the book though is that it challenges some of the "old wives tales" and threats my Mom used on me - good thing I didn't have it when I was young - Read it - you'll love it.

Dr. Wiseman offers a no holds barred approach to her philosophies on taking care of children. It's easy to panic when your kids get sick; this book helps you know when it's legitimate to panic and when it's not. Dr. Wiseman reminds us that kids are pretty hardy souls, and that taking care of their health and well being with commonsense and love usually are pretty much all they need (even when we screw up sometimes). You'll enjoy getting the information in a readable format, as well as the humor with which the book was written.