Works Books

Andy Murry has a close relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus. He makes the point that we can only experience Christ by accepting that Jesus paid the price IN FULL for our unclean natures. Keeping rules of conduct is only a product of our FAITH. We are saved by GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST. GRACE IS AN UNEARNED AND UNDESERVED GIFT FROM GOD THROUGH CHRIST. AMEN!

Review by Richard W. Kelsey, PE and Author
Search "Powerful Wisdom for Powerful Writing,"
Amazon.com or AuthorHouse Publishers

Outstanding treatment on communion with Jesus. Very practical, accurate, useful in helping disciples to walk daily with the Lord.

I am a great fan of great devotional writing and Andrew Murray's "Abide In Christ" is one of my top choices along with a few, time-tested others (Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly, The Depths of Jesus Christ by Jeanne Guyon, The Spiritual Guide by Michael Molinos, The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer).

I know of no other lesson that is as crucial to every child of God than learning to "Abide in Christ." And yet there is nothing easier than drifting along on a thousand other spiritual currents than "the one thing that is needful." Our lives can thus be so fragmented and parceled among so many competing demands that we have lost sight of Jesus Christ. And to no longer fix our eyes on Him is to lose sight of everything.

One of our greatest lacks today, both individually and corporately, is authentic, intimate, sustained encounter with Jesus Christ. We think all things are well as long as we are continuing to learn more "about" Him rather than "from" Him.

The bible itself has become an obstacle rather than an avenue to greater intimacy with our Lord. Again, we think all things are well as long as we are continuing to learn more about the bible rather than the One whom the bible writes. We think learning biblical principles for living is somehow adequate and what we are called to. But this is not the call of Jesus Christ on our hearts. "You search the scriptures," He said, "thinking that in them you have eternally life, but you won't come to Me that you might have life." But in many instances, just like our forebears, we think it sufficient to eat from the tree of the knowledge of "good and evil" rather than coming to Jesus, our tree of life, our bread of life, our water of life, our "all in all." And on the road to Emmaus, Jesus "pointed out to them all things in scripture that pointed to Him." In all of our bible reading, do we fix our eyes on Jesus?

The deepest longing of Jesus Christ is for closeness with us. In one place it says that Jesus cried with a loud voice saying "Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest!" We need to be reminded of this, often and daily.

Murray writes:

And observe especially, it was not that He said, "Come to Me and abide with Me," but, "Abide in me." The communion was not only to be unbroken, but most intimate and complete. He opened His arms to press you to His bosom; He opened His heart to welcome you there; He opened up all His divine fullness of life and love and offered to take you up into its fellowship to make you wholly one with Himself. "There was a depth of meaning you cannot yet realize in His words: "Abide in me."

Just what is this "depth of meaning?" What is this "unbroken, intimate, and complete" fellowship with Jesus Christ? What is this call to "inner communion" into the heart of our Lord? Do read this classic devotion "Abide In Christ" and discover some of the answers. Rediscover the ultimate call and central message of Jesus Christ to all those who have lost their way.

Amazing book. It amplifies the call to eternal peace, the "rest for our souls" we all desire. His style is used to make one hear the Scripture and fall at the feet of God for rest. The problem with the text from the first few days is it could lean, out of context, to perfectionism.

This was one of the greatest books on living in Christ I've ever read. Though tough reading, it still influences my prayer life today. If you haven't read it, you must!

I haven't found any picture book of Manhattan that's as sharp, descriptive and beautiful as this one. Unfortunately, it is a bit outdated--for those seeking a realistic portrayal--because of new construction and destruction in New York City.

This book is really great. I recommend it to anyone who loves NY!

Let me first say I love New York, it is quite simply the most energetic, vibrant, alive place on earth. This book does the city such a service, it is spectacular and photographs just amazing. Mr. Cameron is such a singular talent and he does it hanging out of a helicopter. This book really captures the city and lets the viewer see the hidden New York, that very few see. I love the photos of Central Park, you have no idea what an oasis it is until you see it from high above. Some photos are in summer some are in winter and you get to see the city in all its various incarnations. Mr. Cameron also includes some vintage photos to let the viewer see how much the city has changed. I only wish that Mr. Careron had been able to photograph my city of Houston, she would have welcomed him with opened arms. I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed.

Robert Cameron's "Above New York: A Collection of Historical and Original Aerial Photographs of New York City" sets itself apart from other similar books. In no particular order:

a) the photos are unbelieveably crisp and the printing is of top-notch quality;
b) don't ask me how, but Mr. Cameron makes the city look like a place where human beings actually live and work, rather than making the cityscape look like an architectural diorama;
c) other boroughs are represented! New York is not just Manhattan, as so many other books would have you think.

The contrast of the modern skyline with the older photographs is very effective, as others have mentioned. But what is also appealing is the changes of the skyline between the time these photos were taken (ca. 1988) and today, as we New Yorkers would notice. The images of the World Trade Center are poignant, but I'm glad that the publishers did not update the book, in order to remove them. As time takes its healing course, we can look back fondly on those buildings--still with pain, but now with some acceptance. "Above New York: A Collection of Historical and Original Aerial Photographs of New York City" remains a glorious collection that has yet to be eclipsed in quality.

Rocco Dormarunno
author of The Five Points

This is the best photographic book I have ever seen. Its pictures of The Big Apple are magnificent! Comparative pictures taken in years past, many in the 1920s, show how sections of the city have changed. Whether one is a fan of New York and who isn't, you will enjoy this book. It makes me want all the other "Above" books now.

Fabulous! Alfred Tarski was one of the two greatest mathematical logicians of the twentieth century. (The other was Kurt Gödel.) Solomon Feferman, a student of Tarki's in the early fifties and a friend for over twenty years throughout the rest of Tarski's life, is himself one of most outstanding logicians of our day. Anita Feferman, Solomon Feferman's wife, is the author of the tremendously exciting biography of the logician and bodyguard to Leon Trotsky, Jean van Heijenoort: "From Trotsky to Gödel". (I know it's difficult to believe that a logician could also have been Trotsky's bodyguard; her book must be read to be believed!)
Clearly, this Tarski biography is a labor of love. I completely agree with those reviewers who have explained in detail why this book reads in places more like an exciting novel than a mere biography. What I found very impressive was the beautiful, delicate balance of the book between Tarski's mathematical accomplishments on the one hand and the daily features of his personal life on the other. He was not just a mathematician but rather a force of nature, a tornado, who swept everyone around him in his wake. Students, other mathematicians, university administrators, friends, colleagues, and especially women were all pulled into his mathematical and personal whirlwind.
No praise would be excessive for this outstanding book!

Feferman made a great work in this book to show another facet of Tarski's logic. Usually, Tarski is associated with set theory, notwithstanding his main interest was algebraic. He didn't trust to the set-theoretic concept of individual; as a matter of fact, in boolean algebras where's no individuals at all. It's a mereological point of view, according to which what it's given aren't the parts, but the whole. An atom is what we obtain, as a limit concept, dividing endlessy a corp. One of the first papers by Tarski was on the foundation of geometry assuming as a primitive entity that of sphere (i.e. the whole). And his latest book was again on the relational algebra. We must thank the polish logician for his research on this aresa: relational algebras, boolean algebras with operators, cylindric algebras, etc.

I don't agree with Feferman only on a point: this way to approach logic come to Tarski from Lesniewski and not from Kotarbinski. This is not the place, unfortunately, to discuss this matter.

At any rate, the book is delightful, precise but very easy to read.

To be honest, I started reading this book with some suspicion. In the first place, I was neither a fan of Tarski nor of S.Feferman. Though I did regard Tarski as one of the intellectual giants in the 20th century, I still frowned at the book's opening description of him as one of the "greatest" logicians of all time - on a par with my own hero Godel. My feeling towards S.Feferman was similarly ambivalent. In spite of his substantial contribution as the editor-in-chief of Godel's Collected Works and the universal praise he has received for that project, its end-result (the project was abandoned for running out of supports in 2005) is seriously lacking. For one thing, after almost 30 years' work the huge bulk of Godel's Nachlass in Gabelsberger (an almost extinct German shorthand) has been left unpublished (although approximately half of it has already been transcripted). It seems that more emphasis had been given by the editors and their colleague commentators on INTERPRETING Godel rather than making the inaccessible original material available to the wider public. I have always doubted the wisdom of Feferman's chief-editorship on this and other issues

Nevertheless, Feferman turns out to be a much more successful co-biographer of Tarski than an editor of Godel. The Tarski book goes far beyond my expectation. I simply couldn't put it down and went without sleeps for several nights until my eyes could no longer tolerate my indulgence. The reading has made Tarski an immensely more interesting figure to me - almost as interesting and intriguing as the enigmatic Godel. This aftermath is something which I could never have anticipated in my wildest dreams beforehand.

Since I agree with much of the praises from the Amazon Editorial and Customer Reviews of the book, I don't think it desirable to re-enumerate the book's various merits which others have already done. Needless to say, the book is not perfect and leaves much that is desired unaccounted. For one thing, although the book does present an interesting picture of the development of logic in the last century, it is presented from the Fefermans' highly personalized viewpoint and very one-sided. For example, from the book the reader will only get a very uninformed idea of the development of set theory which happens to be both Tarski's lifelong "hobby" and a source of intellectual uneasiness since he had a certain (though ambivalent perhaps, for he sometimes spoke in a Platonist tone) nominalist temperament while set theory is prima facie concerned with highly transfinite objects and often pursued by pronounced "realists" like Cantor, Zermelo, Godel (who was in effect described insane when Tarski declared himself as "the greatest living sane logician" ) et al. It is arguable that similar tension should also occur in Model Theory where Tarski reigned. But there is no discussion on this issue. It will also be interesting to know how Tarski reacted towards the epoch-making invention of forcing by P.Cohen in 1963, when the former was still an active researcher. The Fefermans say almost nothing on this either, although S.Feferman himself was one of the earliest developers of forcing immediately after Cohen. My own conjecture is that, like Godel, Tarski did not take forcing to be FUNDAMENTAL. Godel almost had a proof of the independence of the axiom of choice in the 1940s, but he abandoned the project partly because he did not want to encourage other logicians to plunge into a pursuit of independence proofs instead of trying to discover and develop new, further TRUE axioms of mathematics. Presumably the nominalist (by lips?) Tarski will perceive the issue very differently from the Platonist Godel. Yet the book gives us little clues about such and various other issues.

Paradoxically, it is precisely from the frankly personalized and unsystematic viewpoints of the Fefermans and other intimates of Tarski that we find much that is valuable. Moreover, unlike the Godel case, the authors did not forget to let the protagonist to present himself. And in spite of its moderate length and lack of comprehensiveness the book does manage to weave abundant insights into their captivating story of this intriguing man who is, given all his unconventional acts and deeds notwithstanding, first and foremost "powered by his ideas" (as Peter Hoffman puts it) with an extraordinary self-confidence throughout his life. It is amidst this web of insights that we are granted some of those very rare glimpses into the mind of a genius that so few biographers have ever accomplished.

unlike all the previous praises this book seems to have gotten, i was not impressed by it. the book is an account of tarski the academician as seen/experienced by his phd students one of whom is the co-author himself.

the book is an account of tarski's academic life which is apparently believed to be best reflected through his students' eyes. this account fails to put in anything else. even what his son and daughter have to say is missing for the most part. there are many things which go unexplained or unquestioned:
1. why was tarski so much into nature?
2. why was he obsessed with rigor and formality? just stating an observation and looking for the reasons of that observation makes the difference between a fact telling book on the verge of being a mere factoid and an intriguing/enriching one. this book is unfortunately as shallow as can be when it comes to some psychological assessments.
3. why was tarski a womanizer? was he really that or did he like portraying himself as one?
4. was he a tyrant and if so, why?

the authors make a huge deal out of the fact that he was a jew. can it be that this whole emphasis on his religious and ethnic origin is anachronic in nature? maybe he just did not care, really. why did he choose catholicism? just because? or was he so ambitious that he did not really have any ground rules at all? in the end, these questions all go unanswered.

giving 5 stars for such a shallow book is unwarranted and is an unjust blow to some successful biographies such as the enigma (about alan turing) crafted by andrew hodges.

Here is an unlikely great read. An important slice of the intellectual history of the 20th century, a human tale of immigrant success in America, fascinating gossip about famous philosophers and logicians, and required reading for anybody seriously considering graduate work in mathematics or any other highly abstract discipline.

This book creates a very realistic picture of academic life in which high intellectual achievement and ordinary human (mis) behavior are strangely intermixed. The way scholarly communities form and disperse around ideas, historical circumstances and personalities came across in a way I found to be very gripping.

Tarski, a tiny Polish professor who meticulously fussed over precision and complete adherence to the rules of highly abstract "Formal Systems" was actually a boozer, abuser, drug user and schmoozer. He didn't live a Formal life. Married to a Polish Resistance fighter but even so himself a serial adulterer, he flourished and eventually died in Berkeley carried there by historical currents of violence and anti-Semitism.

The book introduces us to most of his colleagues and PhD students, a rare collection of brilliant eccentrics for the most part. Consider his PhD student Richard Montague: a respected Mathematician and Philosophy Professor, but also a real estate speculator, epicure, fixture in the Gay LA Noir scene and, ultimately, murder victim. A common theme in all this is that in logic the character of the work and the character of the workers do not harmonize in a way that most people would find to be intuitive or even plausible. These logicians are not logical. Bertrand Russell is another case in point. Godel, who appears in the book in cameo, is perhaps the exception. An alternative way to say the same thing: these scholars display perfect intellectual integrity and only average human moral and social integrity. So much for the heroic Attic view of philosophers. Nevertheless, they all come off as admirable in the sympathetic but still somewhat ambivalent treatment by the authors, who were social and professional associates of Tarski's.

Their kind of mathematical work seems to have been a kind of creative art conducted in a difficult and technically demanding medium. By people with "artistic" temperaments. Several anecdotes and characters in the Polish part of the story seem to reinforce this impression. The handsome and seemingly idealized painted portraits on the dust jacket painted by a contemporary Polish logician-artist emphasize this aspect of the tale.

Their subject, mathematical logic, may seem recondite and obscure, of no interest to the general reader. In fact, its development by such men as Godel, Turing and Tarski may well be one of the great intellectual triumphs of the last century. Among other things it was essential to the development of computers. And perhaps to the systems of control and thought which keep the current huge social and economic system intact. This is an ironic legacy for such a wonderful collection of mathematical bohemians (should I say Warsovians?) and free spirits.

This book will soon find its place next to your bed and near your heart. It is full of amazing images. Great Work!

I was very pleased with the product, the time it took to get here and the over all experience of the Amazon system.

Thanks for being there.

Rich

Ken Duncan has been Australia's foremost photographer, taking superb shots with his panograph camera. He has again produced a beautiful collection of photographs across this great land. Each picture is a work of art in itself! The book makes a great coffee table book - one to pick up and browse at any time.

This is an awesome book and covers the majesty and beauty of America from sea to shining sea.

Don't forget to check out his other book, Australia Wide. Another incredible collection of photographs.

My whole family, teenagers included, keep looking at this book. We've been to many of these places, but the way Mr. Duncan presents them is beyond words.

In the past ten months, I've burned through over $100k in insurance benefits, pursuing what conventional medicine offers for osteoarthritis. In that time, the disease has rapidly and progressively degenerated joints in my neck, shoulders and hips to a point that I am almost completely bed-ridden. Conventional medicine has not only done nothing whatsoever to aleviate the disease or the pain, it has addicted me to morphine and Duragesic (80 times more potent than street-level heroin). I turned to this book out of desparation.

The book states clearly and early on, that conventional medicine doesn't know what to do for osteoarthritis OTHER THAN to mask the pain with narcotics. The position of conventional medicine - i.e. most A.M.A. practitioners - is that osteoarthritis is a normal part of aging and once it occurs, there is nothing that can be done for it. This book contends that is absolutely wrong.

The book puts forward a very compelling argument that by following a nine point systematic approach, the heart of which is a regimen of daily glucosamine and chondroitin together with ASU, osteoarthritis can not only be stopped in its progression, but the symptoms actually reversed. The book is wonderfully and powerfully written and I think maybe, the best hope and option for osteoarthritis sufferers.

How am I doing since going onto the 9-part program espoused by the book? Well, I've only been on the glucosamine and chondroitin for about three weeks. I haven't been able, as yet, to locate a source for ASU, and I haven't yet implemented any of the the other 8 parts of the cure - though I will be doing so within the next few days.

Have my osteoarthritic sypmtom abated since I started the program espoused by this book? Sad to say, no. However, I am truly convinced that as I factor in the other 8 parts of the cure and give it another month, my pain will decrease, I will regain range of motion, and I will regain function again.

I believe this is an excellent book and very much worth a read by every sufferer of osteoarthritis.

The title is unwisely chosen, close to a cheap shot, designed to get the attention of people in pain. This is unfair,and diminishes the total effect of the book, which is well researched and documented for a book for a lay audience. It is very helpful to have all the information on glucosamine and condroitin together, with an exact plan. Very useful is the attention paid to the lack of quality control in choosing nutritional supplements. Dr. Theo provides excellent advice on how to choose wisely, and how to avoid poor or deceptive formulations.

Three months ago I was as skeptical as John (below). I have OA in both knees and was contemplating knee replacement surgery. I decided to give this guy's recommendations a chance as a last resort, since my meds weren't helping much. I've been on fairly large doses of glucosamine/chondroitin, ASU, SAMe, and Omega 3-6-9 since around last Thanksgiving. My knee pain has reduced by, I would guess, about 75%. I don't want to over-hype this regimen, and I don't have any idea how long the relief will last. But it's real, and it's substantial. Note that you have to allow a couple of months for it to fully kick in. [...]

The above review was originally written on 2/14/07. As of 6/7/07, I've added the supplement MSM, and the "cocktail" continues to work. I'm still off pain meds except for the occasional ibuprofen. The supplements aren't magic, my knees continue to hurt, but I'm still much closer to pain-free than before I began the regimen. And most importantly, I'm still avoiding the surgeon's knife. ~CPW

Put it this way, I have joint pain, and I take glucosamine and chondroitin for the pain. But I have my doubts about them, too, especially with regard to the claim that they "rebuild cartilage" (note: I am not a doctor, and I am just a layperson and reader of average knowledge, who has done some reading on this).

Here is what the Mayo Clinic site states about glucosamine and chondroitin (Mayo has one of the top-5 arthritis departments in the country):

"Many manufacturers market dietary supplements that they claim can rebuild cartilage. But little scientific evidence supports this claim. The most studied of these supplements is glucosamine sulfate.

Glucosamine is a natural compound in your body that helps make your cartilage strong and rigid. Osteoarthritis causes the breakdown of joint cartilage and can affect any joint, including the elbow, ankle, wrist and knee. Although there is insufficient evidence that glucosamine rebuilds cartilage, there is some evidence that a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may relieve moderate to severe pain in some people with osteoarthritis of the knee. The mechanism by which it does this isn't clear."

Some doctors state that glucosamine mimics aspirin and Tylenol, i.e. it is a pain reliever, not a rebuilder of joints.

The book is still good in that it shows the current scientific ideas on how to heal and feel better; but let's not let our hopes of a "holistic cure" get in the way of evidence.

I have been investigating health issues for almost 30 years, and Dr. Theo's book is the best one I have read concerning the solution to arthritis. I am also one of the victims of arthritis because I have literally walked or run for thousands of miles in my lifetime. So, my knees and hips need constant attention, and I can personally confirm that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements work. The doctor is right that different brands vary a lot in quality, and I am glad he listed some good brands in his book. He also tells the exact amount of each supplement that you must take in order to get effective results. Although I did not see the GNC brand mentioned in the book, I have found that the GNC chewable Tri-Flex candy supplements work for me. You'll be glad you bought this very informative book if you have arthritis or know someone who does.

Out of the thousand or so books I have read in my life, if I were to put the Bible aside (since the Bible speaks with a special authority to believers and cannot really be compared to other books), I have read no more than five or six books that I would call truly great. That means there are only five or six books I would rate at five stars. This is one. Yes, it is that good.

I have never read any author who could make the English language sing the way Chesterton does in this poem -- for over a hundred pages. In contrast to contemporary "poets" whose "poems" consist of a bunch of strange words scattered apparently at random on a page, whose meaning, if there is one, is far beyond obscurity, Chesterton had apparently unlimited ability to create rhyme and alliteration, and then he bound it all tightly in the sing-song ballad style that carries it all swiftly along. The words of this poem are glorious to hear, and really, this book should be read aloud, so that one might hear the music of the words.

And few have ever been able to match the way Chesterton paints pictures with words. I will quote one passage, and hope it is not to long, to illustrate this. The scene here is Alfred's army making one final charge against the Danish camp:

Then bursting all and blasting
Came Christendom like death,
Kicked of such catapults of will,
The staves shiver, the barrels spill,
The waggons waver and crash and kill
The waggoners beneath.

Barriers go backward, banners rend,
Great shields groan like a gong,
Horses like horns of nightmare
Neigh horribly and long.

Horses ramp and rock and boil
And break their golden reins,
And slide on carnage clamorously,
Down where the bitter blood doth lie,
Where Ogier went on foot to die
In the old way of the Danes.

It would be hard to imagine anyone anyone describing such a violent scene in so few words any better than Chesterton does in that passage. And this passage is but one of dozens of glorious word-pictures that Chesterton's poetry paints in this book.

Beyond its magnificent use of the English language, this book also contains much philosophical insight -- insight that, although first published in 1911, is directly and clearly applicable today. Chesterton expresses very clearly the way that Christianity has formed the heart of Western culture over the ages, and the way that Christian faith -- which seems all about self-denial and thus sadness -- leads to unconquerable joy.

The book, of course, is not perfect; no work of literature can be. There are places where it gets a bit too preachy for my taste. But the book's flaws are few and minor, while its good points are many and glorious.

How good is this book? I have read it at least 50 times in my life, and I still enjoy reading it. In my opinion it is one of the truly greatest works written in the English language. It is one of the few books I have read that truly deserves five stars.

Anne Perry, the enormously popular writer of historical fiction, just recommended this ballad by G. K. Chesterton as one of five must read tales of historical fiction. (See the Wall Street Journal's online Opinion Page for April 21, 2007 in an article entitled "Past Tense.") Here's part of what she said:

"This is the story of the English King Alfred's desperate stand against invading Danes in 878. England is conquered, and Alfred is a fugitive when he sees a vision of the Virgin Mary that bids him call together the remnants of his people for a final battle. "The Ballad of the White Horse" is an epic poem of courage, passion and unsurpassable beauty."

If you'd like to read other tales and poems by Chesterton, you might want to get "The Ballad of the White Horse" as part of a collection of his poetry that I edited for not much more money. It's called G. K. Chesterton's Early Poetry and has "The Ballad of the White Horse," along with two other books of Chesterton poetry under one cover. That means you'll also get his best humorous poetry, "Greybeards at Play." No less a writer than George Orwell ranked Chesterton as one of the three best writers of funny poetry in twentieth century England. The poems are a riot of the ridiculous and are accompanied with equally funny sketches he did.

And although Anne Perry and I have the same last name, as far as I know we're not related. Her's is a pen name. Mine is a real name. I guess I'm not creative enough to invent a name for myself.

G. K. Chesterton's Early Poetry: Greybeards At Play, The Wild Knight And Other Poems, The Ballad Of The White Horse

Mr. Chesterton has a masterful skill with the pen; _Orthodoxy_ and _The Napoleon of Notting Hill_ are wonderful books--but _The Ballad of the White Horse_ is heartbreaking in its power, beauty, and nobility. With a stunning use of alliteration, rhythm, and imagery, Mr. Chesterton teaches the reader about true hearts, true faith, and true sacrifice. I have bought a few copies of this book to give as gifts to friends, and I eagerly recommend it to anyone who will listen. This book is a must-have for any individual interested in expanding their knowledge of great poetry!

I had read some of Chesterton's fictional books, most of which contain poems which he has written, and I very much enjoyed his poems, so I decided to get a book of his poetry. This too I really enjoyed, so I decided to get another book of his poetry, this time it was The Ballad of the White Horse, and this book simply blew away all of the rest of Chesterton's poems. In fact, it simply blows away most poems by anyone. I have read Dante's Divine Comedy, Milton' Paradise Lost, Eliot's Wasteland, Chaucer's Canturbury Tales, etc., but I can honestly say that I enjoyed this epic far more than any of them. I am not saying that it is a better written poem or that it should be ranked above these classics, but I am saying that it is much more exciting to read than the others. Somehow Chesterton makes his poem involving: you are drawn into it and cannot put the book down until you have finished the chapter. He wrote it in such a way that the verses beg to be read quickly, and as I read I found myself reading faster and faster, until I was stumbling over the words and had to slow down again. Chesterton, like no other poet whom I know of, paints a picture of glory, honor, bravery, and captures the true spirit of an idealized Medieval War. The poem resounds with the drums of doom, the cries of angels, the hordes of invading barbarians and great deeds of heroes of old. If I were to recommend owning one epic poem, this would be the one.

Overall grade: A+

A stirring epic poem with a message important for the future of western civilization...to act on hope when there is no longer any hope... The outcome is always, finally, in God's Providence. "The Ballad of the White Horse" should have great appeal for young men who can dream impossibilities because they are firmly grounded in the eternal verities. The battles scenes will fire the blood!

When I got this book I read it cover to cover and felt like a pro after. I refer to it all the time for help with movements and terminology. It also has some WONDERFUL history on famous dancers, the evolution of the pointe shoe, even about tutus! It also has amazing sections on different ballet buns, what dancers should have in their dance bag, how to properly sew and tie pointe shoes, and more equally useful things! It also has a lot of information for late starters and recreational dancers. It answers those embarrassing questions most people are too afraid to ask about! Plus they couldn't pick a better model! She has amazing technique.

By far the best ballet book I've ever seen. Lots of pictures, concise information, covers just about everything. Despite being by Minden, it's not a book that overly promotes the shoes. I'm a Grishko-wearer and was expecting a lot of tie-ins, but the book actually says different dancers may have different needs.

I highly recommend this book for young and older dancers alike.

We give a copy of this book to all graduating seniors who intend to continue their dance career.

This book is a must have for anyone who loves the Ballet. There is a little something her for everyone, instructors, dancers, ballet enthusiast. It's a beautifully put together collection of photos, descriptions of ballet moves as well as descriptions of actual ballets. This is a wonderful book for research purposes and a beautiful addition to anyone's personal library. The history of dance is also included as well as other interesting bits and pieces of trivia.

Ms. Gaynor Minden's love for ballet comes across in this book. I highly recommend this title if you love ballet or know someone who does.

Written in lay-persons terms so I could understand. Every thing you need to know concerning ballet. - From warm ups to jumps, ribbons to toe shoes, healthy eating to injury protection, Ballet history to future diva dancer. I have been able to look up an ache, see what muscles are in the area and then look up the appropriate stretches. All in one book!

And there are 5 glossaries in the back of the book. - Ballet Terms, Music Terms, theater Teams, Social Dances, and Dancer Slang! Don't get stuck with a "Dolly Dinkle"! Be a proud "Bun Head" and be in the know! This may very well be the only dusted book in your Ballet Library.

Poor Mom of Three Darling Dancing Divas.

Beauty in the Balance is a wonderfully written book covering a wide range of topics in cosmetic surgery and treatment. Dr. Rosen and Dr. Ablaza reveal the many options available using every day language. The decision to select cosmetic surgery is often confusing and frustrating, this book tackles the many issues and answers the questions those considering surgery often have. This is a must read for anyone considering cosmetic surgery.

Karla L. Hall
National Organization of Vascular Anomalies
[....]

Excellent reference book on the latest cosmetic surgery procedures for face and body. Does not include reconstructive procedures.

I was truly impressed with "Beauty in Balance". It gave me a clear understanding of the procedures and this in turn helped me to have realistic expectations. I would recommend this book for anyone contemplating cosmetic surgery.

I'm so impressed with this book. It contains clear-detailed information in a professional yet easy to undestand manner.

I found this book to be most helpful in researching cosmetic surgery and the various procedures I am considering. The information was succinct and easy to read. I feel much more confident about the process as a result of reading this book. I recommend this book with great enthusiasm!

This is a good book, with clear instructions. It is a good starting point for learning about mini-books and paper folding. I found going through the book thinking of different ideas in addition to those in the book. Some of the illustrations provided inspiration for subjects to cover. In all, it is a good jumping point to start from.

This is a great book for teachers!!! #Exspecially if you are short on money and time. Dinah Zike has helped those teachers that need some motivating activities for students without the cost! I love the book and so do my co-workers. We will be using it for years to come!

This book has many useful tips on how to incorporate construction paper into a variety of lessons for a variety of grade levels.

Dinah Zike makes paper folding easy and education fun with her creative methods of writing and instruction. The students enjoy the lessons just as much as I enjoy teaching them! The photos and instructions are easy to follow and personalize to your own classroom needs. This is a must for all ages/grades!

This is a creative and helpful book. It really helped my kids know their material better. They would use big or small books to elaborate on topics they had learned. They love to look back through the books they made, reinforcing the information over and over.
They were able to remember so many more details of the topics we covered from the ideas in this book.
--Michelle L.

Blackbelly is a novel of unexpected depth from an author who understands how to tell a morality story without beating a dead horse--or sheep, in this case. Heather Sharfeddin's prose is straightforward, non-judgmental and honest from first word to last. And her characters, Chas McPherson, the proud loner who wants to do right by his dying father, and Mattie Holden, an unassuming nurse looking for a chance to start fresh, ring as true as any I've encountered--on or off the page--in recent memory. Blackbelly is a story of loneliness, repressed needs, and bigotry in a small town. Sprinkled with a hint of the supernatural, a few bible quotes and a layer of underlying tension, it resonates like a clanging cow bell. We haven't heard the last from this outstanding wordsmith. Salmon Run

I read Sharfeddin's book between Hemingway and Terry Kay. She more than held her own against these two great writers. From the first chapters I was drawn in and felt like I was a part of the story. I was impressed with Sharfeddin's ability to capture the lead male character so well. How did she get into the mind of a male so well? Maybe I don't want an answer.
This is an enjoyable book that reaches deep to capture emotions we all face but often hide from. Through this book we can learn a little more about ourselves, our society, and others. I recommend this novel.

I know Heather Sharfeddin personally. I raise Blackbelly Sheep. I grew up in rural Idaho just a few miles from where Heather grew up. With all that being said, I loved this book. I read it in one day just days after it was released. I didn't want it to end. I still think of the characters and wonder how they are and what they are doing. As I was reading the first few pages, I kept thinking how amazing it was that Heather was the writer and that I knew her. It was not long before she took me away from that and led me into the lives of her characters. I am buying this book for almost everyone on my Christmas list. One of the best reads ever--and I read a lot!!

Have you ever hit a dry spell with the books you read? When everything you pick up is missing that special something that hooks you in and holds you until the last word?
I was in just such a dry spell when I picked this book up after having seen in reviewed in the Idaho Statesman. I am so glad I did!
I will wait as patiently as possible for this author to write another novel.

This book is a real page turner that is masterfully written. I am eagerly awaiting a second novel from this author.