N Books

This is an essential bibliography as a reference to introducing students for the Plant Pathology science.

I have been out of Phytopathology since the fall of 1971. Over the years I have; from time to time; skimmed journals like Mycologia and Phytopathology. So the old urge came back and I bought this text on the recommendation of a friend.

This is an excellent text book on general plant pathology. The scope is extensive and I was delighted that a goodly portion of the book explores host pathogen interactions with a microbiological slant. My late, learned, and very noble professor, Dr. R. K. Hegde would have been thrilled to no end considering that the book generally follows his outlines of PL-PATH 600. Dr. Hegde Sir, whereever you are, remember that seminar in May 1968 on the basidiomycetous Fungi with Dr. C.S.Holton in the audience and your passioned pleas for more biochem data? Well those questions are explored to some extent in this book.

If you have any interest in biology, microbiology, biochemistry, or plant science get this book. Most definitely a classic.

Agrios has upgraded and improved his classic Plant Pathology textbook. I own the 4th edition, and I was uncertain at first if I should buy the 5th edition. It was defintely worth it. Not only is there considerable new information, there are also many more helpful pictures and diagrams. Plus, many of the old graphics that appeared in black and white in the 4th edition are in color in the 5th edition. I highly recommend it.

This is by far the best reference on the subject of Plant Pathology. It will be useful not only to plant pathologists, but to other plant scientists and biologists as well. George has done an excellent job in bringing his now famous textbook up to date. I have many books on Plant Pathology; this is by far the best. The fifth edition includes many new pictures and drawings to illustrate the concepts relating to diseases of plants. Plus many new sections dealing with the state-of-art of this science. George says this will probably be the last edition he will write. What a way to cap such an illustrious career!

This is an excellent introduction to plant pathology and the kind of book one tends to hold onto to use as a reference after finishing their coursework. I have known plenty of graduate students who've held onto their copies, and I've really never heard any serious criticisms of this book. The coverage is broad, and it will serve as a useful, interesting and highly readable reference for those with interests in bacteriology, virology, mycology, botany and a variety of other fields that overlap with aspects of plant pathology. Typically when I rate textbooks I am fairly harsh because the cost is generally high while contents often leave much to be desired. In my opinion this book is an exception, and I think the cost reasonably reflects the value of the information contained.

When I went to introduce my preschooler to Winnie-the-Pooh, I bought the big book with the complete stories and poems. It didn't take long for me to figure out that it wasn't quite right for my 3-year-old. Reading a story out of the original works takes a good 15-20 minutes, which is more than one can really expect from a preschooler or toddler. Also, the original Pooh is a bit like Sesame Street, in that there are phrases and indeed entire sections of the stories that adults will find amusing but which will just go over a child's head.

And yet, I didn't want to break down and go the route of the Disney-fied Pooh books, with their cartoonish illustrations and watered-down plots and characters.

That's why I was so pleased to find the Easy-to-Read series. There are six easy-to-read titles from two publishers. They are:

Winnie-the-Pooh and Some Bees
Pooh Goes Visiting
Eeyore Has a Birthday
Tigger Comes to the Forest
Christopher Robin Leads an Expedition
Pooh Invents a New Game

Each book is based on one chapter from the complete works. These little books are divided into four chapters, although it should be no problem to read one from start to finish in one sitting.

The print is large and well spaced, and there are ample illustrations (the original drawings by E.H. Shepard) on every page spread to keep little eyes engaged in the story. Most important, the editor has removed most of the passages that aren't so kid friendly and has simplified the stories without giving them a Disney style candy coating. One could read the original story and then the easy-to-read version and get the same basic plot; when going from the Milne works to the Disney versions, the same is certainly not true.

I didn't give these books five stars because the editor retained some language and dialogue that may be a bit confusing for children in the intended age range. Nevertheless, these books are a wonderful introduction to a classic cast of characters for the preschool set.

This is our very first book on tape. My son is five and listened intently to every word. I can't wait to go on vacation and have him listen while we are in the car for 4 hours. The reader is very clear speaking. I am not able to talk while this is playing because my son really wants to listen to it. He loves to be read to. I wish I would have discovered this sooner!

What a refreshing change to hear Pooh in his native tongue! I am a great fan of Disney movies but Pooh is something special in this wonderful audio version of the timeless stories. My 5 year old listens to this tape all the time!

My 3 1/2 year-old son and I absolutely love this cassette on a number of levels! The acting is great: lively without being over-the-top, convincing without being melodramatic. The cast brings out the humor of Milne's writing beautifully. I have to admit that I was not a Milne fan before purchasing this; I just didn't 'get' it. After listening to this cassette, I realized why: Winnie the Pooh is marketed here in the U.S. as an early childhood character/series. But it's not. The stories, the humor, the characters, and the language all are aimed at children about the age of Christoper Robin, who must be atleast 5, *and* at their parents. Ie there are elements that a child would never get, but I do, and so both my preschooler and I understand at our levels. Other fantastic aspects: great sound quality, sound effects, choice of stories. One point: Because of the British accents and idioms, this products works best for a patient and interested child. Also, for the preschooler (such as mine), it required that I listen with him the first few times until he understood the storyline well enough to follow without me. But don't let this discourage you. From the start, my child enjoyed the different voices (especially piglet) and sound effects. The subtlety only means that he doesn't get bored with it -- after even the 30th time.

This little book is an exact reproduction of Chapter 2 in the original book, Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne, with illustrations by Shephard. All the charm of the original, in a perfect size for reading to littler kids, who can feel satisfied at having been read "the whole story."

This little book is part of a series of 10 such Pooh books published by Dutton.

a wise, hopeful, enlightened work from a truly qualified scientific humanist who has helped many for so many years. When reading Stan Grof, one's mind is treated to elegant research, philosophic musings, and poetic, smoothly flowing language that proves entertaining in its own right.

Grof builds a carefully laid out tapestry of thought unlike any other writer. Boldly going into dimensions that the orthodoxy fears, Grof consistently shows us that the best findings are often the result of adventurous undertakings.

One must truly venture into uncharted territories in order to discover hidden, powerful forces in the world.

All of Grof's work makes for a rich intellectual and spiritual treasure that will be edifying humankind indefinitely.

As our planet is threatened by wars, terrorism-violence environmental degredation, the only antidote is turning back to the roots individully or in groups and bringing back the archaic revival, bringing back the message of the ancient traditions. Stanislav Grof does this elegantly with the eyes of a scientist. This book will require the mainstream Psychiatrists to re-construct their worldview. It is a detailed exploration and a new explanation of the nature of human consciousness and the nature of reality

In my opinion, Stanislav Grof is the best, or at least one of the best, in his field of study. I have read most of his books and participated in a Holotropic Breathwork seminar weekend in Vermont. I highly recommend any educated person to familiarize him/herself with Grof's work (all of his books very informative and really make one think) and try a Holotropic Breathwork session.

This was my introduction to stanislav's ideas. This book is almost a chapter by chapter introduction to all of Grof's different areas of research and writing. The written experiences of holotropic states are entertaining and informative. This book adds a needed understanding to psychology by examining consciousness around the time of birth. The author is obviously well versed on many topics, and presents sound logic and arguments throughout. Holotropic breathwork might be very useful for anyone suffering from their personality (especially to those that are fear based). This book is a relative easy introduction to Grof's ideas, and a welcomed step to combining science with unbiased spirituality.

This book gives insight into the plight of children who live with domestic abuse, alcholism, and other "hidden" issues. Sometimes it isn't obvious to people what children are living through. Rachel is a perfect example of how children will go to great lengths to protect their families from outside scrutiny. It also gives insight into the feeling of waiting for "the other shoe to drop"! Unless you've lived in a environment with substance abuse and violence, you may not be aware of this feeling and the struggle for the other family members to predict and/or prevent the next outburst. I recommend this book to counselors, teachers, and anyone dealing with children. It is also a great read for children because it may let the other "Rachels" in the world know they are not alone.

This book makes me want to be a teacher just so I can include it in the curriculum. The author handles the deep and sensitive subjects of domestic violence and alcoholism with compassion and care. When I read this book I shed a tear, but it was one of hope. Highly recommended to all ages.

If this is the first in promised series about a group of children from a single classroom, then the series is off to a very strong start. This is not your typical "issue" book, because even though Rachel has a terrible family secret she is hiding, the book is less about the secret, and more about Rachel's ways of dealing with it. The author really captures what it is like to be a kid in a troubled home: if you can find anything else to focus on, you will, and Rachel does, delightfully. The school scenes, with Rachel's very cool teacher, Mr. Juarez, capture the power of a great classroom to help a student through bad times. Rachel's friendships and school projects are every bit as engaging as the more suspenseful family plot line. I found myself wanting to be in her class. The book also deals with an obviously gifted child, and without resorting to the "nerd" stereotypes found in so many books and movies. The book moves at a very fast pace and is over far too soon. I'll be recommending it to my own students!

Thank you Cindy Lovell Oliver! What an incredible book. After reading it, I couldn't wait to share Rachel's story with my class. I'm always looking for books that will help open the lines of communciation about topics that are not measured on a standardized test but are real life. This was it! Several kids in my class related to Rachel's life, and this book helped them realize they were not alone. Cindy Lovell Oliver is a gifted and talented writer whose insight and wisdom have created a story that lends itself perfectly to a myriad of lessons and class discussions. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out! If you are an educator, you owe it to yourself and your class to read about the life of Rachel Mason.

That's what Mark Twain said while he was on that steamer traveling the world~ and these pages...Jimmy Buffet sings it as he follows the equator...and Rachel Mason feels it...deeply...as only a child can...Rachel Mason is good...and she knows how to keep a secret...a terribly painful, embarrassing secret...consequently, she is lonesome...for anyone who has ever loved a child, this penetrating book is one of the most beautiful stories of gentle courage and childlike goodness you will ever read...Cindy Lovell Oliver respectfully addresses dificult themes through the eyes of a wonderful little girl who never deserved her fate...be good and you will be lonesome... be lonesome and you will be free...there's a gift for everyone in Rachel Mason. This book deserves a quiet afternoon and some tea, an easy chair and a footstool...every moment spent with Rachel is a worthy moment...but don't just take my word for it...allow yourself the experience.

Marissa is erudite, quick, fun, funny, committed to social justice and truth, and and an acute observer of human behavior. Her friend Johnnie Cochran describes her (in the introduction!) as "a prosecutor's prosecutor. She is full of zeal for her profession and possesses an insider's knowledge of the criminal justice system." She's also devoted herself to Buddhism for over 30 years, as well as to the mastery of the culinary arts. All of these elements figure in her very unusual book.

Besides telling three compelling and hair-raising tales, Marissa shares aloud the unspoken rules of the courtroom, and offers appreciative and insightful looks into the lives of law enforcement professionals, and denizens of South Central LA and the gay demimonde of Hollywood.

As a skillful storyteller, she is compassionate without becoming maudlin, and righteous without losing her sense of humor.

I am looking forward to her next book, which I understand is under way!

Marissa has the heart of a warrior. Her stories are classic story telling with spell binding revelations of what the truth is when it comes to crimes and the criminal mind. Her attention to detail, coupled with a sense of the world of the victim, allows the reader to be a prosecutor seeking justice for the people. The criminal procedural aspects of the criminal courts are cleanly explained with no chance of misunderstanding that lawyering is still an art when done with a heart. Marissa injects the calmness of her buddhist philosophy into the psyche of the reader to allow a deeper appreciation of the law and the victim equation.

As a criminal defense attorney, I usually avoid "true accounts" written by prosecutors as they tend to be one-sided, self-serving renditions of cases that could be won by a first year law student. The usual story involves a clear cut case where the District Attorney is representing the forces of right (the good people of the State) while the defense is usually some bad dude who deserves a long vacation in Prison. Of course the good guys prevail and the prosecutor is the hero. Good and Evil, Right and Wrong are clearly defined and everybody leaves happy. Not so with Ms. Batt's book. Besides her personal disappointment at the result of one of her cases, she manages to show that all is not black and white - urban life and particularly the criminal justice system present a myriad of situations where the lines become blurred. Her cases are interesting in that there are victims - individuals who by virtue of their own life choices are often viewed as not deserving of protection by the law and the system. Besides showing the underside of life, Batt also manages to forcefully demonstrate the maxim that "no man is above the law and no man is below it."
A great read, colorful, fast paced and real...I loved it.

...of the L.A. justice system. I won't repeat the other reviews, but two or three things deserve note. First, Johnnie Cochran wrote the introduction...high praise indeed. Second, the appendix - "Twenty-five rules for giving effective testimony" - is interesting reading in itself. Overall, the book is not compelling reading, not forcing you to read it in one sitting, but it's interesting and varied. I consumed it in three sittings if memory serves. The pace is generally good, although I felt the Buddhism dragged a bit, but that was only a couple of instances. So - recommended - *especially* if you are a fan of mysteries set in Los Angeles! I await Marissa Batt's next work with more than a little interest.

What makes this book so compelling is that you get to hear the perspective of the actual prosecutor in the cases described. Through Marissa Batt's words, you get a virtual tour of the way the Los Angeles legal system works, or in some cases doesn't work. You are introduced to characters that actually inhabit Los Angeles, who actually went through the situations described - cases that are so intense and bizarre, they seem unbelievable. Through it all, you get a comprehensive version of the legal system mirroring human lives and decisions, as seen through the eyes of a person who does their job with integrity, intensity, and strength of character. READ THIS BOOK! It is a thorougly enjoyable read though shocking and extremely upsetting at times.

Thank you for your prompt delivery. We are using this book for a study class and like it very much. Jane and Charlie

Pr. Brighton says his Revelation was 25 years in the thinking, praying, researching, and writing. The work reflects his deep thought and knowledge of the Koine grammar, textual critical issues, and the scholarly field which is thick with commentaries, not all of them good.

In preparing my own MA thesis, I used Pr. Brighton's text and sought to prove that his grammatical points and analysis were either a bit off or wrong; this I did in order to be sure that his work would be an unimpeachable source. His Revelation stood up to intense grammatical and analytical scrutiny. The Revelation narrative, he writes, is recapitulative. The same event is recounted through different scenarios, and they all lead to the Second Coming.

This is a book that any serious scholar of The Revelation must have on his bookshelf. Moreover, it is tremendously accessible to people lacking the academic background in the Koine and textual criticism.

As for Roger Ph Drews who wrote thus: "Even though "martus" a "witness" appears in 1:5, the significance of a martyr, one who will die for his testimony, is apparently not significant," either he has not read The Revelation of Jesus Christ, either in the Koine or the English, or he did not understand what he read. For, the text of Rev 1:5 reads as follows: "kai apo Ihsouv Cristouv, o martuß, o pistoß, o prwtotokoß twn nekrwn." Translated, this means: "and from Jesus Christ (who gave John the Revelation which the first century church heard), the martyr, the faithful, the first-born of the dead." In other words, 'martus' is in apposition to 'Jesus Christ' and therefore specifies Christ Himself. Since the entire Revelation is Christ and His Second Coming, it is absurd to claim as Roger Ph Drews does that: "Even though "martus" a "witness" appears in 1:5, the significance of a martyr, one who will die for his testimony, is apparently not significant." Apart from this, though Drews tosses in some of the code words of NT scholarship ('textual variances,' for instance), his ignorance of the field, Revelation itself, and Brighton's text is clear.

No doubt one can make valid criticisms of Brighton's book. However, Drews's is not one of them.

Dr. Brighton does a wonderful job of presenting an interpretation of Revelation from an amillenialist viewpoint. He clears up many of the controversies surrounding the book of Revelation with careful exegesis of the text and proper matrixing of related Scripture. Pastors, seminary students, and laypeople alike will find this book to be very useful in their own study of Revelation.

It is rare for a biblical commentary to "catch on" so to speak,
but it is evident that this is an exception. It went into a third printing in less than a year. This is the definative
commentary of Revelation for any student of the Bible. I have
not heard of any scholarly detraction of this work from the academic community or from the discerning layman. Dr. Brighton
is Professor Emeritus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. I know that he is sought after to lecture on the Book of Revelation both here and abroad and often does so. I gave friends and relatives this book as a gift.

In the United States today, the dominant view among Christians concerning the end-times is something very similar to the "Left Behind" scenario. This commentary on Revalation gives a completely different, centuries-old amillennialist interpretation of one of the most difficult books of the Bible.

Brighton is a professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis (and one of the nicest people--student, prof. or other--that I've met on campus) and has an extrodinarily high reputation in the New Testament department. His commentary is based on the Koine Greek, which is translated into English. Any awkward translations of unique word usage is explained to the point that, by the end of the book, one is able to see Semetisms in John's hasty writing.

As far as the text goes, Brighton masterfully lays out his amillenialist view: that the seven seals, trumpets, etc. all introduce the same period of time (not following strict chronology) and that these visions all represent what is happening in the church today. Symbols are clearly explained and frequent reminders are provided so that the reader doesn't get confused trying to keep them all straight.

For many people, the thought of the end of the world is quite frightening. Brighton's Revelation commentary is Christ-centered and has a clear focus on the Good News of life eternally with Christ in heaven. Instead of feeling fearful as I read eschatological prophesy, I found myself longing for Christ's return. Highly recommended.

A friend passed this on to me and I am very grateful. This was just plain fun to read with a great storyline, interesting characters and very crisp writing. I highly recommend this novel.

I read SWAN Lake on a flight and enjoyed it so much I left it on the plane for the next prospective reader. Then I went and bought another copy, to give to a friend, who also loved the book. I look forward to this authors next work, regardless of the genre'. Keep up the good writing Lucy.

David G.

Truly a page-turning, spine-tingling, brow-raising, head-scratching, masterpiece. Silversmith has done it again with this epic tale, which takes place in the World's most beautiful places. A book you absolutely can not put down.

Truly a page-turning, spine-tingling, brow-raising, head-scratching, masterpiece. Silversmith has done it again with this epic tale, which takes place in the World's most beautiful places. A book you absolutely can not put down.

I very much enjoyed this read and would recommend it highly. Lacey was a well-written character and i identified strongly with her. author...
Looking forward to seeing new and exciting things from this lady!

If you're wanting to understand either nondual wisdom or psychotherapy more clearly, read this wise and literate book. And when you're done, then read the second volume as well, Listening from the Heart of Silence. I wrote a longer review over there that applies to both volumes. They're good and, sad to say, there's nothing else out there that's like them. We need more. Until then, at least we have these.

This book is my first contact with non dualism in psychotherapy.
I read a lot of books on modern psychology in the past, but hadn't tapped into the edge of the field in a few years. Reading this made me aware that psychotherapy had finally found its maturity. I've expected this for 30 years, that our modern world would provide paths to truth/reality/God/I AM...And here it is. Expressed by modern minds, non dualism is easier to "understand". This book contains many tentatives at describing the undescrbable, or at least get as close as possible, a bit like hints. The authors are so articulate and honest ( exposing the weaknesses, pitfalls etc...of what method they use in their non dual therapies) that they succeed, and one can get a good taste of what they hint at, providing one reads slowly, with an open heart/mind. I find it fascinating and plan to study this field for awhile. It helps me clarify my mind, which is precious. It's pretty funny by times. These folks have humor, I like that too.

What a find - a book that explains what is essentially unexplainable! The Sacred Mirror is the "Bible" for any therapist who works from the nondual perspective. The Sacred Mirror expertly guides readers beyond what the words themselves point to. It is very rare to find anything on the subject of Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy, let alone a book that does the subject any justice.

I appreciated the essays by John J. Prendergast and Dorthy Hunt. Prendergast writes, "The critical question is whether the therapist's awareness is centered in the moment and creatively responsive to what is." And Hunt writes about, "...the healing that unfolds when that which is awake directly and intimately touches what is." I found the same power and clearity in these authors' words that is typically found in the most illumined teachers. Both of these writers are seasoned psychotherapists. They write from their direct experience.

This book serves as a wise mentor to my work as a psychotherapist. It encourages therapists to trust such "non-tangibles" as silence and presence. It helps evoke the living experience of oneself as THAT which IS awake while expertly exploring how this "understanding" connects with psychotherapy. It is no wonder that the Sacred Mirror is considered the current reference in its field.

- Jonathan Gustin M.A. LMFT, Psychotherapist; Founder of San Francisco Integral Transformative Practice; Founder of Green Sangha: Spiritually Engaged Environmental Activism; and teacher of Mind/Body Medicine at Kaiser Permanente.

Reality, Self, unconditioned mind, awakening, presence, silence, emptiness, being, nondual. If these are words you'd like to hear associated with psychotherapy, this book will be very welcome.

The Sacred Mirror is a collection of original writings by leading practitioners of nondual psychotherapy. Each author -- in his or her own fashion, and with varying degrees of emphasis -- addresses the nature of nondual disposition, what nondual therapy is, how it is practiced, and its role in psychotherapy. It is angled toward psychotherapists and the healing of psychological problems, but will appeal to anyone interested in nonduality, whether a professional healer or not. This book will be appreciated by one who senses or knows presence, whether one is held, or holds, in presence.

Since the function and work of the guru or spiritual teacher is essentially the same as that of the nondual therapist, both voices are heard from each author. Since these authors and therapists are intimate with nondual awareness, there is no underlying difference. What nondual therapists possess that most gurus do not, is formal training in psychology and a set of skills allowing them to practice conventional psychotherapy.

The first two chapters give overviews of nonduality and nondual therapy. John J. Prendergast, in the first chapter, asks whether the nondual approach makes for a new school of psychotherapy. He talks about how nonduality fits into practice. He addresses whether psychotherapy is evolving into a vehicle for transmission of truth, and whether awakening therapists are in the same lineage as Buddha or other great sages of all time. Prendergast speaks of the primary and secondary impacts of awakening. He discusses psychotherapy methods and skills in light of nondual awareness and how awakening impacts the psychotherapist.

Following the first two introductory chapters is an interview with Adyashanti. This, the third chapter, could also be considered an introductory chapter, as it gives further overview of nondual therapy and nonduality. Adyashanti is a significant character in this book since he is an outsider to the profession of psychotherapy yet works one on one with people who are awakening. His perspectives on nondual therapy would seem to be important. The interviewers ask over two dozen excellent questions, not including follow-up questions and comments.

Chapter Four is by Prendergast, who writes, "When we look into an ordinary mirror, we see how we appear. When we look into a sacred mirror, we see who we are." The role of "sacred mirror" has traditionally belonged to the guru or spiritual teacher. This chapter describes how the role is being played by the therapist and explores ways of including this function into transpersonal psychology.

Chapter Five is entitled, A Nondual Approach to EMDR: Psychotherapy as Satsang, by Sheila Krystal. EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. For the reader who has some familiarity with EMDR, this chapter gives an excellent, sometimes sizzling, introduction. Having no knowledge at all of EMDR or the associated terminology, I had to search online for background information, which helped me more fully appreciate what Krystal has compiled.

Chapter Six is authored by John Welwood. Its theme is, "Being fully human means honoring both these truths -- immanence, or fully engaging with our humanness, and transcendence, or liberation -- equally. If we try to deny our vulnerability, we lose touch with our heart; if we fail to realize our indestructibility, we lose access to enlightened mind. To be fully human means standing willingly and consciously in both dimensions."

Chapter Seven is by Dorothy Hunt, and is entitled Being Intimate with What is: Healing the Pain of Separation. Here are a few major points:
-- "When what is awake directly touches its own experience of anything, there is deep intimacy with what is. ... In this intimacy we find ourselves undivided."
--"(This realization of our undivided being) is unfailingly healing because it experiences itself as a whole."
-- This intimacy is not conceptual, not another idea or identification to be harboured. It is not separate from this or what is. It is direct experience. Any conceptualization is movement away from the experience of this. "Healing happens when we are not separating ourselves from the authentic truth of the moment."

Chapter Eight is by Dan Berkow: A Psychology of No-thingness: Seeing Through the Projected Self. "Therapy therefore facilitates exploration, gives feedback, and promotes inquiry. The effects of self-imposed friction are addressed honestly and without either minimizing or exaggerating. The psychosomatic and relational repercussions of self-protection are clarified with self-examination. The dropping of the projection of a separated self is the choiceless awareness of moment-to-moment being."

Chapter Nine, by Richard C. Miller, is about nonduality and Yoga Nidra. "Yoga Nidra is an ancient tantric Yoga practice that reflects the perspective of Awareness both as the inherent ground of our essential beingness and the container, agent, agency of our healing into the understanding that this is so."

In Chapter Ten, Stephan Bodian speaks about deconstructing the self via inquiry. "The inquiry that I describe in this essay, which now arises naturally with my clients, draws upon The Work, the self-inquiry of Advaita Vedanta, and the phenomenological investigation of experiential psychotherapy."

Chapter Eleven is called Healing Trauma in the Eternal Now. Lynn Marie Lumiere sets forth that nondual awareness is unconditional love and as such accepts extreme ecstasy and extreme trauma equally. "It is only in this embrace of the manifest by the unmanifest that true transformation or healing takes place," she says.

Jungian Analysis and Nondual Wisdom, by Bryan Wittine, is the twelfth chapter. "This chapter is about the journey in Jungian analysis of a spiritual seeker named 'Jenna,' who longed to know God. It is also about a defensive process I call 'psychospiritual splitting,' which nearly derailed Jenna's quest. Finally, it is about our analytical relationship and a nondual understanding of spirituality; both of which were central to her journey."

Chapter Thirteen is written by Jennifer Welwood. The author describes how we develop a conditioned identity. She states, "We lose the true support of our deeper nature and seek refuge in the false support of our conditioned identities. This is how our samsaric confusion manifests at the level of psychodynamics."

Nonduality as a term, as a word, remains a stranger to vast stretches of the fields not only of psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy, but of religion, spirituality, physics, and philosophy. And to music, art, literature, ecology, architecture, athletics, nonduality is barely a phantom; it has barely breathed in those spaces. This book, The Sacred Mirror, introduces nondual wisdom or nonduality to the field of psychotherapy. This book provides an education in nondual wisdom, an enjoyable expression of nonduality, and an opening to a new direction in psychotherapy.

Jerry Katz
One: Essential Writings on Nonduality

The Sacred Mirror is truly a landmark book in the history of psychotherapy, and can be considered "must reading" for all therapists, therapists-in-training, their instructors, and, I daresay, many spiritual teachers. Editors John Prendergast, Peter Fenner, and Sheila Krystal have done an outstanding job, not only in the quality of their own articles (for instance, senior editor John Prendergast's "Introduction" and his article for chapter 4, "The Sacred Mirror: Being Together," are alone well worth the modest price of the book), but also in the high quality of all the other multi-faceted papers they have inspired their fellow authors to draft. Note that all these papers are original, not having been previously published elsewhere.

Each essay is a gem. Having spent over three decades in "the nondual way" exploring its relevance for authentic living, loving, working and serving, I had wondered, before reading this book, just how much new insight could be generated by having so many contributors to this topic, "Nondual Wisdom in Psychotherapy" (the book's subtitle). After all, Alan Watts had brilliantly touched on many issues in his classic "Psychotherapy East and West," and Ken Wilber had written a fair amount on the nondual culmination of the psycho-spiritual development process.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Whereas there is some overlap, especially in that each author must define what "nondual" means for them--and the term tends to evoke a lot of the same definitions--even here I was impressed at the wealth of nuance in how each author has truly "owned" the language of nonduality, and doesn't merely sound like s/he is parroting nondual wording from the Perennial Wisdom traditions of Advaita Vedanta, Kashmir Saivism, Zen Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhism, and contemplative Taoism (the main five sacred traditions that have engendered the rise of nonduality in the West).

Not only are these pages abundantly filled with "nondual insight" and good conceptual overview, most of the authors present transcripts or synopses of interesting individual cases clearly showing how nondual awareness-- arising either spontaneously or via gentle suggestion -- allowed for the therapeutic relationship to deepen profoundly and then, suddenly or gradually, radical healing/wholing could occur.

Limited space for this review prevents my discussing each of the papers presented in The Sacred Mirror. Suffice it to say that this book should be required reading for anyone working in the fields of transpersonal, humanistic or depth psychology. Persons in other "helping professions" and many other walks of life will also greatly benefit from reading this authentic compilation of enlightened teachings, thoroughly grounded in psychotherapeutic sensitivity and pragmatic common sense.

Congratulations and "Thank you!" to Prendergast, Fenner, Krystal, John Welwood, Jennifer Welwood, Dorothy Hunt, Dan Berkow, Richard Miller, Stephan Bodian, Lynn Marie Lumiere, Bryan Wittine, and Adyashanti for their truly fine contributions.

Only three criticisms of the book: 1) I don't recall in any of the papers (I might have missed something) any discussion of the ancient warnings by nondual sages that a person be relatively free of certain basic "defilements" before being introduced to nonduality (i.e, that only the One Is, that one's real nature is the Absolute, that "the sage transcends right and wrong"). Such warnings are given lest any immature persons misappropriate nondual glimpses or teachings for reifying or aggrandizing their own limited egocentricity (leading to the problematic "psychic inflation" that Carl Jung warned about).

2) Many persons can fall into a veritable "spiritual vertigo" when their initial nondual breakthroughs occur (recall the cases of Narendranath with Sri Ramakrishna and Paul Brunton with Ramana Maharshi, to give only two examples); I don't recall any of the authors dealing with this potential phenomenon in the therapeutic or nontherapeutic contexts.

3) A minor quibble: the "selected bibliography" could have been expanded by about 1 page to be more extensive without being exhaustive. For instance, I (and probably other readers) would have liked to have seen listed some classic works on the Sankara advaita and Kashmir Saiva advaita traditions, Yoga Vasishtha, Ribhu Gita, Ashtavakra Gita (etc.), more Ch'an/Zen and Taoist works, and works from some especially clear advaita teachers of the modern era like Douglas Harding and Wei Wu Wei [Terry Gray]--though several sages of great stature-- Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Jean Klein and others are referenced here. From a transpersonal psychology perspective, two classic works, Dr. Arthur Deikman's *The Observing Self* and Erich Fromm's *To Have or To Be* would also be quite relevant for this bibliography.

I must add that the one reviewer here who dismisses this book with "two fat gold stars" and denigrates the need for psychotherapy, suggesting that people simply read a few teachings from Ramana Maharshi, has not truly understood Maharshi's wisdom or the ancient distinction between the conventional and absolute levels (preliminary and final levels) of upadesha / spiritual instruction. Ramana was entirely open to his disciples utilizing whatever approach works for their authentic awakening in Atma/Self and their ongoing abidance in this nondual Love-Awareness. Thus, he readily supported disciples' and visitors' involvement in the various margas, the "pathless paths" or ways of spiritual awakening-- including wisdom and self-enquiry (jnana and atma-vicara), devotion (bhakti, especially abheda bhakti, devotion without any concept of duality between God and self), Patanjali's 8-limbed yoga system, and selfless service (seva). Had Ramana known about transpersonal psychotherapy, I'm sure he would have encouraged anyone chronically suffering mental/emotional challenges to avail themselves of this form of therapeutic help to work through their suffering to genuine freedom.

It is not enough to enquire (a la Ramana's well-known "final approach") "Who is suffering?" or "Who needs psychotherapy?" to live authentically in the miracle of this spaceless-timeless here-now. When a person still has some unreleased, major identification with one of the koshas (physical, psychological, or psychic "sheaths" of karma), trying to launch themselves into the nondual "beyond the witness" state in almost all cases will not produce happy results. To know this is simply basic wisdom and compassion. And along this line, The Sacred Mirror is an invaluable contribution.

The critic also indirectly mentions the Buddha, who, 2500 years ago, urged that we be a light unto ourselves. But this critic fails to mention that the Buddha and other enlightened masters in his lineage(s) strongly encouraged association with a wise "spiritual friend" (kalyana mitra) and any number of (at least) 40 methods of meditation and inquiry into the source and causes of "attachment, aversion and egoic delusion" (lobha, dosa, moha). The therapists who have contributed to The Sacred Mirror are using "skillful means" (upaya) in helping anyone in pain to do just that and thereby come to real, final freedom.

And yes, this situation is a wonderfully wild, wacky PARADOX, for, ultimately, there are no separate beings needing therapy or "final states" of anything. One finds here only Buddha-nature, only Awareness, only God. YET... YET, as part of this enjoyment of purely nondual experiencing (no experiencer, nothing to be experienced), the nondual One can easily manifest in its dream-play of Awareness, a "someone" "buying" "this fine book" and "enjoying wonderful release"! No problem. Nothing really happening.

--Timothy Conway, Ph.D. (East-West Psychology, CIIS), author of *Women of Power and Grace: Nine Astonishing, Inspiring Luminaries of Our Time* and the forthcoming book *India's Modern-Era Sages: Nondual Wisdom Teachings from the Heart of Freedom.*

My family and I love Serena, Food & Stories and have given copies to each member of our family and special friends. It combines extremely delicious and easy to follow recipes with lively illustrations, beautiful photographs, and totally engaging stories; it is so much more than a cookbook. The Raspberry Frangipane Pie with Almond Whipped Cream is fantastic. Serena Bass' warm hearted spirit and love of cooking set this book apart. My daughter and I whole heartedly reccomend this special cook book.

While I have to admit first thing that my wife and I are friends of Serena's and mentioned in the acknowledgements, let me also say that we were used repeatedly to test, taste and attempt to prepare the dishes in the book as it was written. I have eaten nearly all and endeavored to cook a great number of the recipes and I can personally attest to their appeal. Serena's way with straightforward, high-quality ingredients and a restless imagination produces extraordinary food that can be prepared by us, mere mortals.

And just when I think I've heard all the stories Serena can muster she blithely unearths another nugget of her past, recent or otherwise, and surprises me with how many lives she's lived.
This is a great cookbook and an tantalizing look into one of the
most interesting and dynamic women I've met. A star in the making.. you heard it here.

A dinner party is not simply the food that you prepare. It is the care taken in the preparation, the friends with whom you share it and the reminiscence after-the-fact with your significant other or friends. If you are lucky, you will get plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" during the event, but the mark of true success is when your guests are still talking about it days and weeks later.

Serena, Food & Stories has all of the necessary ingredients for a fabulous event. This is both a cook book and a cook's book. Complete with easy to follow recipes, great stories, and photos that make your mouth water. I keep all of my cookbooks together in a cabinet, this one I keep on my counter-top. I grab it when I need a great recipe or when I simply want to read and daydream about my next dinner party.

I'm a huge fan of eating but not cooking - and I loved this book (and am making my boyfriend, who does like cooking, do all the recipes for me...) The photographs are mouthwatering, the recipes the perfect blend of comfort and posh food, and Serena's own life stories entertaining and moving. Plus I love the large amounts of highly practical advice scattered throughout about how to entertain, serve and hostess effectively - lots of things I would never have thought of but which make fantastically good sense. Highly recommended.

I have worshipped Serena Bass from afar for many years. I arrived back in New York City too late to eat at her Chelsea basement retreat, but knew of her from many who had and adored her cooking. She has not catered for me because I haven't had an event that needed catering. However, I have kept up with her through interviews and food magazines. I was delighted to see she had written a book of her life and adventures and bought it. She does not disappoint. The book is like Serena Bass: Beautiful and brilliant. Full of wonderful stories and practical recipes for those items you cook on a daily basis. Or want to cook but are afraid to. She makes it oh so easy for you. The photographs are stunning and make your mouth water. Everything from Vanilla Cupcakes to tasty Vinaigrettes. My favorites.

I lived and worked in London in the late 60s and early 70s and miss the country, the people and the food. Yes, the food. There is something warm and homey about English cooking and she has filled this beautiful book with lots of recipes that bring back happy memories of my time there. You can sit for hours reading this book from cover-to-cover and I heartily recommend that you do. Fix yourself a nice hot cuppa and sit back and be swept away. It's truly Serena's world. We only live in it. Or wish we did! Buy this book and you will never have to spend another dime on anything else. Glorious!!!!

I just returned from Napa Valley and particularly enjoyed reading about the harvest and scenery as described by the author.

The characters we're well planned and described. I hope that as the series continues we learn more about them and what makes them tick, both the good and the bad.

I thought the author did a good job of telling a clever story. The answer to "who done it' wasn't obvious but the author didn't take the easy way out and withhold clues to make the culprit impossible for the reader to figure for him or herself.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I don't normally read fiction. (As my previous reviews indicate.) I had just finished reading a beautiful big coffee table book - "Napa Stories: Profiles, Reflections, and Recipes from the Napa Valley" by Michael Chiarello. I was certainly in the mood.

Author Nadia Gordon did her homework about the Napa Valley. As a biologist I wasn't sure the glassy-winged sharpshooter was an actual insect. Well, it certainly is. She creates a very real "sense of place" about this world famous valley. She weaves in a lot about wine making, believable local politics, society and personal relationships.

I guess I am being a little bit picky, but I wish the book were a little bit longer to flesh out some of the characters more. However, this is the first of a series, so I guess it is a complement that I would like to know the characters better. The only other comment would be one of the main characters is named Rivka. It is a little bit difficult to mentally pronounce.

I must admit it was a great read and I look forward to the rest of the series.

this book was really great. I hope nadia gordon will match this book's superbness with her next one. can't wait! she expresses the napa wine valley beatifully and makes the story easy to follow.

If you love Napa, the wineries, the bistros, the relaxation, you'll love this mystery! Nadia Gordon weaves a wonderful story, full of friendship and memorable characters - not to mention the scenery. Sit down with a glass of Pinot Noir and read this book!

Especially nice if you know the Napa Valley and if you like to speculate on just WHO in real life would make the best verisons of the fictional characters in this easy-to-read, enjoyable book. I even learned how to enjoy that left-over red wine the morning after!

Good read, nice holiday gift along with a bottle of a great Napa Rutherford Cabernet!