D Books

This is a great book, in perfect condition and mailed very well - good
packaging, arrived in time. Great seller, thanks!

I was searching for a book that would help me begin the process of assessing and measuring client outcomes in my counseling practice. It is a very useful book with very practical tools. Thank you!!

This book is not about learning a therapeutic technique, its about using simple tools in therapy (regardless of theoretical orientation) to help measure outcome - something MFTs need to know in order to provide good service to clients. I am a grad student and this has been some of the most valuable information I have learned thus far.

In the thorougly revised edition of the "Heroic Client", Duncan, Miller, and Sparks now advocate "A Revolutionary Way to Improve Effectivness." They invite mental health professionals, of any discipline, to partner with clients in all aspects of their care and abandon the search for the best therapeutic process or evidence-based therapy, and instead, focus on client-based outcome feedback to improve effectivness by an incredible 65 percent!

As in the previous edition, the strength of the authors' arguments for practicing "Client-Directed, Outcome-Informed Therapy" lies in their comprehensive and enlightening review of the science behind "what works" in psychotherapy. The revised edition updates the reader on the latest empirical findings targeting the limitations of applying the medical model toward resolving human problems-namely the myth of psychiatric diagnosis, the myth of evidence-based practice, and the myth of the magic pill. The sections examining the science of evidence-based practice and the ethics and science of using medications (especially for children) are significantly expanded, thought provoking, and timely. Also of significance, in the revised edition is the authors' unvailing of their own empirically tested process (Session Rating Scale-SRS) and outcome (Outcome Rating Scale-ORS) measures which have adequate psychometric properties, and of equal importance, are designed to be feasible for clinical settings. Using the SRS and ORS together, the authors report that their outcome management system offers the only system currently available which tracts both outcome and the alliance in a practical manner. Finally, as in the original text, Duncan, Miller, and Sparks intersperse case examples throughout their book to demonstrate the application of their approach to helping people change.

The revised edition could stand alone, without the reader needing to read it's predesesor. The only dissappointment to this reviewer was the mention in the first edition of The Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Pilot Project- Duncan and Miller's proposed solution to address some of the problems associated with conducting outcome research in the clinical setting. In the original "Heroic Client", they stated that results were preliminary because the study was still underway at press time and that two replications were planned. Unfortunately, the revised edition does not revisit this promising study.

Nonetheless, Duncan, Miller, and Sparks offer a simple, yet compelling message which has tremendous ramifications for the training, practice, and the delivery of mental health services. They are not just whinning about "business as usual" nor do they advocate another theory or therapy method which falls short of empirical support. Instead, the authors remind therapists that we are in the business of change, and out of respect for our clients who seek our sevices and the third party payors who help reimburse it, we must translate empirical research into an approach that they so rightly state will be "effective, accountable, and just." Their alternative vision of the future of mental health is a must read for students and practitioners alike.

After being a counselor for over thirty years it is refreshing to see a scholarly book by authors who understand what is important in change, growth and healing. For far too long therapists and medicine have taken credit for the work done by the clients.

This book outlines important research and common sense reasons why we need to really listen to the client and his family to learn how to support what he is doing to be healthy. Anyone interested in helping people change can benefit from this newest volume from the people who get what counseling is all about.

This book provides wise, loving, Biblical counsel to parents who are searching for direction. Reading this book requires concentration, but it is well worth it. Mr. Trumbull writes with maturity, experience, and kindness. His love for children is profound. This is an encouraging and helpful book. It is more of a philosophy than a "quick fix." A mainstay in our home library.

I came across this book in the 1990's, I was familiar with Elizabeth Elliot, H.Clay Trumbull's great grand daughter, and had great respect for her. I always wonder, about what the parents were like, of a person like Elizabeth Elliot. I was also looking for something fresh on Child Teaching and Training. I wanted a biblical perspecitve but was frustrated for years with the status quo "christian based" parenting books.
Our own family at the time, consisting of 4 sons, one in particular so very strong willed, while the children were doing well and respectful, I wanted more. I wanted to do better as a parent, and to gain new insight.
Now that we have 3 younger daughters, I am enjoying reading this book once again.
It always seemed that the "christian parenting" books were more about how to "control" than disciple.
This book is so refreshing. It is about discipling little ones. It is compassionate, caring and not a "how to" book. I am so thankful for that.
Trumbull makes you look at yourself, are you being tender? compassionate? Understanding? Are you depending upon the Lord for HIS wisdom for your little one? When your child goes to bed, are the lasts words they hear from you harsh or loving?
I cannot say enough positive things about this book.
And I just love, that he dispells the assumptions of modern day parents that in the "olden days" every parent was harsh and beat their children. It couldn't be further from the truth.

Of over a dozen child training books I have read, this is the best. Not only that it is full of Bible-centered wisdom, it actually put convictions in my heart on how to be a parent as God originally designed us to be. This is a God-send, so well-rounded in the areas of child training it covers. It does not just rest on the side of discplines nor does it just emphasizes on the role of love. It shows both the loving and righteous sides of our God in a good balance.

This is not a book for Christian believers only. Any parents seeking hard for good philosophy and practical tips about parenting will found it helpful. I read it many times already and everytime I get new insight and revelation from it. It calms me down when facing parenting issues and it provides hope. We all love our children, but a lot of times we are doing it in such a wrong way that we in reality push our children away and become negative forces in their development. That's why this book so stands out amongst all parenting books because the author's love for children and his profound wisdom on parenting is so evident throughout the book. He was so humble in his tone of writing that you don't feel condemned or pressured but just wanted to read on, read again and again and wish you could listen to him talk...

This book is the epitome of biblical wisdom, and humility. Henry Clay Trumbull is undoubtedly an expert in his field. He was a father, an educator, an author, and an evangelist. This book is not the "know-it-all" rantings of a new father, but the humble wisdom of an experienced father. The original book was written in 1890, when Trumbull was 60 years old.

In the preface he relates an encounter with a friend who questioned him on his theory of child training...

"`Theory?' I responded. `I have no theory in that matter. I had lots of theories before I had any children; but now I do, with fear and trembling, in every case just that which seems to be the better thing for the hour, whether it agrees with any of my old theories or not.'"

In a world where everyone views themselves as an authority on every subject under the sun, it is refreshing to see one, so worthy of the title, admit with humility that he does not deserve it.

This book is a collection of "hints" from one who has been down this path before. These hints are not presented as a fool-proof method for raising a godly child. They are practical tips, deeply rooted in biblical truth, and proven over time in the lives of this man's children and grandchildren. (He is the great-grandfather of Elisabeth Elliot!)

This book starts off by defining the terms used. So often the idea of "training" a child is used interchangeably with the idea of "teaching" a child. As it is used in the context of this book, "the training of a child is the shaping, the developing, and the controlling of his personal faculties and powers; while the teaching of a child is the securing to him of knowledge from beyond himself." (pg. 1) He quickly points out that although both are a necessity in the upbringing of each child, training is a possibility long before teaching is. In fact, he says, the training is begun much earlier than is the teaching.

Chapter 2 - The Duty of Training Children:
This chapter, in my opinion, is right on target. He starts off by saying, "It is the mistake of many parents to suppose that their chief duty is in loving and counseling their children, rather than in loving and training them; that they are faithfully to show their children what they ought to do, rather than to make them do it." (pg. 5)

He carefully explains how it is both a privilege and a duty of parents to train their children to do and be what they should. Just because a child has natural tendencies in one direction or another, does not mean that he or she cannot be trained to restrain themselves in certain areas, or to develop proper interests in another. He offers a reminder to parents that "there are no absolutely perfect children in this world. All of them need restraining in some things and stimulating in others." (pg. 7)

Chapter 5 - Will-Training, Rather Than Will-Breaking:
I found this chapter particularly interesting for two reasons. I have a stubborn little girl. I often find myself engaged in a "battle of wills" with her over one thing or another. I have always heard that it is sometimes necessary to break a child's will in order to get them to do what is right, even, or especially, if they have no desire to do so. But, Trumbull suggests a different approach:
"To break a child's will is to crush out for the time being, and so far to destroy, the child's privilege of free choice; it is to force him to an action against his choice, instead of inducing him to choose in the right direction." (pg. 20)

As parents, we have to remember that the final choice, and the consequences associated with it, belong to the child, not the parent. It is our responsibility, as parents, to see to it that his will is strong towards right choices, and to guide them in that.

Chapter 11 - Training A Child Not To Tease:
I often read with a yellow highlighter in hand, which I use to mark thoughts, sentences, or quotes that stand out as particularly educational or inspiring. I like to be able to easily reference these portions when I return to the book at a later date. This chapter is exactly why!

It begins by saying that "a child who never `teases' is a rarity." In this chapter more than the others, it is important to remember that this book was written over 100 years ago. "Teasing" is not what we might think of when we hear that word used today. He defines it as "to pull, to tug, to drag, to vex (or carry) with importunity. A child teases when he wants something from his parents, and fails to get it at the first asking." (pg. 57)

He is referring to what we today commonly call "whining!" The practicality of this book is clearly seen in this chapter. He simply states that, "If a child never secured anything through teasing, he would not come into the habit of teasing; for there would be no inducement to him to tease." (pg. 57)

For one reason or another most parents to give in to their child's request after some amount of whining. But, no child should be under the (mistaken) impression that his parents decision was based on his teasing (whining), rather than their own understanding of what is best for the child in a given situation. If a child knows that he can eventually get what he wants by teasing (whining), the parent does not have that child's respect.

It is difficult for parents to refuse to give in to a child's teasing (whining), without exception. But, in this chapter, we are wisely encouraged to give careful thought to our child's request before giving an answer. A quick, or thoughtless reply will only result in furthering a child's belief that he can push just a little farther to get what he wants. A parent's answer should be final, and the child needs to be trained to accept it as such.

Chapter 14 - Training a Child's Faith:
Faith is instinctual in a child. But, the "knowledge of the One on whom his faith can rest with ultimate confidence is not innate." He clearly sees the responsibility of the parents in training a child in a knowledge and understanding of God - a concept that a child is capable of grasping.

"...Children...can receive the profoundest truths of the Bible without any explanation. When they are older, they will be better fitted to grapple with the difficulties of the elementary religious teachings. The idea that a child must have a knowledge of the outline of the Bible story before he knows the central truth that Jesus Christ is his loving Savior, is as unreasonable as it would be to suppose that a child must know the anatomy of the human frame before he is able to believe in his mother's love for him." (pg. 77)

This is unquestionably the most important duty that rests on a parent in the area of child training.

Chapter 30 - Good-Night Words:
Thirty chapters make up this book. It ends, appropriately, with a chapter about saying "good night" to your children. He emphasizes the need for these last words of the day between parent and child to be pleasant, encouraging, gentle words of affection. This is not the time for sharp rebuke. He closes this chapter, and the book, with this gentle admonition to parents:
"Let, then, the good-night words of parents to their children be always those words by which the parents would be glad to be remembered when their voices are forever hushed; and which they themselves can recall gladly if their children's ears are never again open to good-night words from them." (pg. 181)

We would all be wise to carefully consider the words in this book, and "take a hint!"

"In God We Trust" is an epic that is a MUST READ for anyone no matter the age! It puts life and God's work into perspective. The is a book that everyone should have on their bookshelf and hand to anyone they know who is struggling with or interested in finding the way to both financial and spiritual freedom! Great Job, Jon!

John has given us what I consider a "must have" for your personal development collection. My team (and other teams) use this book on personal development "team calls" and has become one of the "standards" of personal development that we use. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in personal development of any kind.

A Wonderful story! This book brought out a lot of emotion in me, and touched me deep down inside. A delightful way to introduce us to some wonderful, truthful, Biblical and insightful teachings, that can make a huge difference in our lives...if we'll just apply them.

This short book holds the secrets to true success and wealth. It's got so many gems of information that I know that I will be re-reading it over and over again. It is a must read for those wishing to follow God's will for their lives and be blessed.

Jon's short book is a thought provoking book packed with poweful insights. Each character is so well developed that you'll "experience" that person as you read their story. In God We Trust is filled with widsom that applies to every area of life and inspires the reader to put the principles into practice. A true gem.

"I loved 'Infinite Variety' for the way the authors brought the Marchesa Casati vividly to life."--Robert Fulford, author of 'The Triumph of Narrative: Storytelling in the Age of Mass Culture'

"'Infinite Variety' is a thoroughly unbiased and well-researched biography. The 'Definitive Edition' includes a plethora of new information as well as artwork and photos. Thanks to the efforts of Ryersson and Yaccarino, the story of the Marchesa Casati, with all its splendor, will continue to astonish.--Jonathan Williams, Gothic Beauty Magazine

"Mesmerizing and revealing, 'Infinite Variety' is the definitive account of the Italian femme scandaleuse. A great glimpse, and more, into the life of a larger-than-life individual."-Mar Yvette (Clear Magazine)

"'Infinite Variety: The Definitive Edition' provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the bizarre and spectacular life that Casati led...All you fashion-conscious history buffs will love the in-depth exploration the authors take into Casati's stylish life."-Denise Dandeneau (Zink Magazine)

"This meticulously researched and completely updated biography vividly details Luisa Casati's extravagant life...Fashionistas, art history buffs, aficionados of Belle Époque and Jazz Age culture-and general readers-will be pleased."-Lorraine Thompson (Primo Magazine)

'This book about the Marchesa Casati (1881-1957) is called "The Definitive Edition" about a lady of extravagant leisures. It is an excellent book reviving the roaring twenties in Europe and gives you a fairly good insight of the lifestyle of the truly rich and famous through to the 1940s. Part of this set was the Marchesa Casati, who is a source of inspiration to this very day for fashion designers, artists and wealthy heirs. So if you squander your vast inheritance, at least do it in style!' (review from Elegant Lifestyle)

This book is great resource for a student leader, either for quotes, or to actually inspire you as the title suggests. Student leaders can use this book...I thought it was so great that I bought Inspiration for Greeks too. Also, I have spoken with one of the Authors...They know what they are doing. GREAT BOOK!!!

"Inspiration for Student Leaders" as with all of the books in the series, continues on giving the variety that I look for and enjoy and never stops sparking me with inspiration. The "personal stories" - the quotes - the struggles shown...and - "the short and sweet" style, help to make this book fun and a breeze to read. When you pick it up, you want to read from cover to cover without putting it down. What I mean by "short and sweet style" is that the stories and messages in this book are - in length - short...but their impact is profound. Some of us know how it is to be in college - to be bombarded by text books and novels - to have to write papers and read over notes. By the end of all that, who wants to read for enjoyment? Just like the other books in the series, "Inspiration for Student Leaders" gives us stories about real people, "famous people" as well as people we've never heard of. They common thread to them all is that they have faced similar situations as our student leaders are seeing today. These stories show how they've dealt with them - and what they've learned along the way - all in a "little package". I also like the creativity that is shown. For example, I'll use LESSONS FROM THE PLAYGROUND. I've never looked at monkey bars or hopscotch in such a light as to what leaders learn, do, and endure. WOW! It just amazes me how practical these books are. They don't use big, "million dollar words" - but put concepts and issues in terms and examples that students will enjoy reading...and can understand. Not only that, but with each story I, myself, as a Student Services Professional was inspired to go above and beyond what I'm doing with my career!

This book is phenomenal! A collection of stories, poems, quotes, and real experiences for student leaders. The book has many applications to leadership studies and personal motivation and inspiration.

As one of the co-authors, I'm extremely proud of the finished product. In addition to getting a great resourse for your library, every purchase of this book gives a $1 donation to the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Educational Foundation - NACA provides scholarships for college students across the US.

While there are certainly MANY books on leadership and developing student leaders there are few that offer stories of inspiration and hope that allow the reader to draw his/her own conclusions. This book presents examples of all types of leadership and leaders from the celebrated to the unknown. Each story highlights the every day opportunities to achieve and learn. There is potential for trainers to use the stories as reflection for group exercises or to motivate campus organizations. There are stories to reflect on each students personal responsibility within an organization and the many rewards of participation in campus life. It's a great book for the new leader and a reminder to the seasoned veteran of the importance of each action and choice we make-and how profoundly we can positively change the campus community and each other.

Inspiration for Student Leaders is a concise, intelligent read, ideal for both students and professional staff who work with student leaders. Stories, poems, quick quotes and other works combine to make this publication live up to its goal of inspiring student leaders. Student Activities professional should give this book to incoming student leaders to help them broaden their perspectives on leadership. Established student leaders whose energy may be waning, can draw encouragement from the passages written by other students. This book should be on the resource shelf in every Student Union in America.

I brought this item as a gift for someone who was dealing with fibroids. Prior to ordering the book on line, I had the pleasure to review the book as well. It is an excellent and informative book, which is well written. I recommend this book for any women who is dealing with fibroids.

Thank you.

the best book on the market for women of color who suffer from fibroids.when i was thinking of surgery monique's book helped me make the final choice.I am so glad I bought it.I will recommend it to all those who are going through the same thing.

This book is WONDERFUL. It is easy to read and the humor is great too! It gives you more information then you can image. It prepares you with questions to ask your doctor; what foods to avoid, how to share what you are going through with your mate and much, much more. More importantly, she praises God! A book to have in your library. An EXCELLENT Reference tool. I have recommended this book to four women within the last two months and told at least twenty or so about it. Ladies, we must not keep this to ourselves... SHARE it with others.

I found Monique Brown's book more informative than any I read of its kind. So much so, I recommended it to a number of women and even purchased it as a gift for some of my friends.
Many of them wished they would have known about the book prior to undergoing a hysterectomy or a myomectomy.

I found the case studies inspiring and the resources quite helpful for my research. The diagrams were awesome as they helped me to picture what fibroids actually look like in and on the uterus. Furthermore, the natural healing information has been extremely helpful in providing alternatives to surgery. Overall, I especially liked that it was an easy warm read and not cold and clinical.

First, let me say that, "It's A Sistah Thing," by Monique R. Brown, is one well written and well researched book on fibroids. Ms. Brown's credits include: senior editor of Black Enterprise Magazine, an adjunct professor at Long Island University, and President and Founder of Professional Women of Color.

The author, Monique Brown, had fibroids and has herself faced the horrible specter of hysterectomy. She was one of the lucky ones and got a myomectomy. She reports that her myomectomy improved her sex life.

The main thrust of the book is to advance alternative approaches to fibroids; however, she does take the op to sound many important alarms. She is delicately raising the hysterectomy/race connection. She notes UAE is new with few studies done and then adds Dr. Scott Goodwin's remark, pg. 203, "If you embolize and block the blood supply to the nerves going into the uterus, those nerves may very well be damaged. And if you were feeling something in your uterus that was pleasurable, you may no longer feel that after embolization."

And Monique is pretty straightforward about hysterectomy and sex. On page 204 she quotes Herbert A. Goldfarb as saying that 40% of women indicate a reduced sexual response after a hysterectomy and then goes on to briefly explain why. But what made me buy the book?

One short sentence found on pg. 201, "There's also a theory that the vagus nerve, a nerve that shoots from the cervix to the brain stem, is a pathway for orgasmic sensations." Readers, that is not common knowledge. Ms. Brown has done her homework.
Let her share what she has learned with you!

This book was in very good condition, and I would buy again from this seller.

The Lord has blessed everyone through Gayle Irwin as the Spirit of Jesus is displayed for us to view between the paper covers of this book.
Bill Bracken, Pastor Calvary Stanberry

This book outlines in clear and unwavering language what it truly means to be a servant. It was very apparent that what most Christians consider being Christ-like and a servant to mankind is off the mark. Gayle Erwin will point you in the right direction without any vacillating at all. There are several occasions where Mr. Erwin is critical of even himself and how he has behaved in his walk with God.

If you consider yourself a Christian, other than the Bible, this is one of the most important books you will ever read.

I was raised in a church organization that was cultlike in its legalism. We read the same Bible as everyone else but by the time I was 7 (about when I could read it myself), it was clear to me that the God being taught and the God of the Bible were two very different people. As the child of my parents, my mind believed what I was taught but as a child of God, my heart could never accept it. Jesus is the man that Gayle Erwin wrote about and the God who had been speaking to my heart for my whole life. I just had to get my head straight. The Jesus Style was the tool God used. Most people reviewing this book remark on its depiction of true Christianity. For me, it simply saved my life. I couldn't find the real Jesus anywhere and had begun to think that maybe that person about whom I was taught as a child was the real Jesus. I was ready to turn my back on God and walk away, my life had been so painful. In the pages of this book, Gayle Erwin described the Jesus my heart had always known and of course, backed it up with scripture. I cannot explain the joy I felt to have been so affirmed. I knew I wasn't crazy. I knew the Jesus I read was different and so did Gayle Erwin. This book is in its 40 somethingth printing now. I am sure hundreds of thousands of copies have gone out. But I believe that God inspired this work of Gayle Erwin to pull this girl out of the despair that legalism causes, to put my feet back on the path and get me moving again. A couple of years ago, it was my greatest happiness to drive to hear Gayle Erwin speak. I hoped I would have a chance to talk to him. I wanted to thank him and I did. Without any God in my life, I don't know where I would have ended up. God used this man and this book at that particular time to reach me. If you are reading this, it is entirely possible that Jesus is trying to reach you too. Do what Gayle Erwin did....Listen. You have no idea how your life could change.

If you have ever wondered what it truly means to follow Jesus, or if you have ever wondered "What Would Jesus Do?" then this book is a must read.

Written in plain language, this is an easy read. I found it to be an absolute joy to read it and gained some interesting insights in to the style of our Lord and Savior.

Truly a delightful, useful book, I recomend it to everyone.

One Man can do often more than hundred
so-called 'pp'* together.
Devotional Creationist can get me read
his commentary work and appreciate it.

*(profane pros)

i got this study bible for myself at christmas time in 2007. it is written from a creationalist point of view. to counter evolution. all of the hard versus you thought you would never understand are broken down. what i did was i started out using a sharpie highlighter but it bled though the pages. i went to a christian book store to get a bible highlighter it was almost $4.00 just for one color. and when i got it home i could hardly see it on the paper. so i went and bought a set of twist up crayons at walmart. there is 10 different colors. so i would highlight a verse or word that stood out. or i would highlight a verse and the corresponding explaination at the bottom of the page in the same color. let me tell you, this really makes it nice to find a verse quicker and by using the same color on the verse and explaination it really helps to locate the harder versus and their meaning. check out my other reviews on how to really study the bible with just a few products. by using these products over the last 8 months i have learned and reatained more than ever in my life. get 1 or all of these products and watch the bible come alive. i bought 3 of the hardcovers for my relatives. and 2 soft covers for my parents and brother. i like the softcover better it lays open easier, but i bought the hardcovers because they were a little cheaper.
GOD bless you on your journey....................

This is a wonderful edition of the King James Version for anyone with an interest in science. Dr. Morris provides highly readable and eye-opening explanations of many passages - especially gripping when he unveils the science behind such passages as 2 Peter 3:4-7.

The KJV New Defenders Study Bible is just that, a great study Bible.Anyone interested in understanding what the scriptures really say should consider purchasing this Bible. I know I shall enjoy reading this Bible for years to come.

The good;
First let me say I agree with the other reviewers and will tell you this is a wonderful study Bible. I purchased it because I am a fan of Dr. Henry Morris and his work in studying and making available to Christians everywhere strong scientific basis for the literal interpretation of the Bible and creation.
The notes in the Bible with his insights are wonderful and will help you grow in a your understanding of the Bible. The notes are extensive and as one reviewer noted they are the same font size as the Bible text and do take up a considerable amount of the page throughout the Bible. I did not really find this a hindrance at all and in-fact like the fact that the larger font makes the notes easier to read. I also liked the self-pronouncing text and in-text explanations of archaic words, So I think that is really a matter of personal preference.
I would not really look at this so much as a traditional study bible but as a bible with a commentary built in.

The bad;
I did not know Dr. Morris's denominational affiliation and I really did not expect that he would have any dogmatic theological positions in his notes other then his strong stand for a literal six day creation.
But here is an excerpt from his introduction to the Bible;

"The Bible does contain many teachings that Christians have disagrees about, of course, and some annotated Bibles try to take neutral positions on such controversial doctrines. I have thought it best, however, to express my own convictions on these matters, even at the risk of losing some readers who hold other views...Based on this literal and contextual approach, the notes become what one might call Baptistic in ecclesiology, pre-millennial in eschatology, non-charismatic in pnematology, and moderately Calvinistic in soteriology. These are man-made terms, of course, and no attempt has been made to develop formal theological doctrines in the notes. I have tried to be irenic, rather than argumentative, in dealing with such controversial matters, so it is hoped that anyone who disagrees with any particular annotation will still find the other notes helpful and profitable."

As a Charismatic Armenian I do wish Dr. Morris had taken a more neutral position on matters that in my opinion are probably outside of area of expertise as a creationist bible teacher, and had I known this about him and the bible notes I may not have bought it. But I will say to his defense he does not take a very strong dogmatic stand in the notes even though it does become obvious what he believes about certain bible passages. For instance he does not dogmatically say that the spiritual gifts in 1st Corinthians 12 stopped with the Apostles but the notes do reflect the fact that he does not believe they are for today either.

Here is an example of Dr. Morris's notes from 1st Corinthians 12:8
"...No individual would have all the gifts, nor (probably) would any one church. Some would cease with time, others would be added, as needed. They are gifts of the Spirit "as he will" not "as I wish". "

And 1st Corinthians 12:10
"...The word tongue itself (Greek glossa from which we get "glossary"), always refers either to a definite structured language or else the physical organ of speech as used in both biblical and extra-biblical Greek writings (never meaningless noises)."

To me this reflects the misunderstanding of charismatic christians by non-charismatic christians and the gifts of the Spirit.
Modern day speaking in tongues are often in known foreign languages and in our modern times have resulted in people that were present when they were being spoken that knew those languages recognizing them and being converted to the Lord by hearing them. It is not just "meaningless noises".
Additionally, the gifts of the Spirit are indeed given by the Lord as he wills and not as we desire but if we are not open to them being from the Lord in our modern time he does not force them on us either.

Claudia Emerson, Late Wife (Louisiana State University Press, 2005)

I've had very little patience with review-writing for the past six weeks or so, and thus I let this review go unconscionably long (I finished the book on April 30th and am writing this on June 10th). Thus, I've forgotten most of the phrases I was turning over in my mind. I do know, however, they all involved heaping a great deal of praise on Late Wife, Claudia Emerson's most recent book and the winner of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. I often find myself wondering what the judges were thinking giving the prize to book X instead of book Y; not in this case. The details may be a little fuzzy in my head this far after the fact, but the book itself is pure gold, that much I remember. Emerson has a wonderful eye for detail and that all-too-rare quality in a poet of not letting the story get in the way of the description:

"I'd run that course/so many times I imagined myself/a goat encircling an invisible stake//of the baseball diamond's off-season/desolation, scoreboard blank before/the lightening sky." ("The Practice Cage")

That, right there, is some language, folks. This is a book you want to read. Likely to be on my ten best reads of the year list. **** ½

I read about this collection by Claudia Emerson on a list of recent Pulitzer winners, and its marital themes appealed to me, so I gave it a try. These poems seem deceptively simple upon first reading, but as I've reread and lingered over them, they have grown deep roots. There is indeed a lot going on under the surface here.

The first two sections of this slim volume offer restrained yet poignant snapshots of a marriage viewed in retrospect--domestic moments that serve as subtle metaphors for a failing relationship. For instance, Emerson describes various homes that she and her husband occupied--houses that appear sound on the surface, but that include occupants like spiders, bees, bats, and termites, suggesting a marriage that is internally unsound. "Natural History Exhibits," for example, describes the newlywed poet opening up her silverware drawer to find a coiled snake. Rather than killing it, she hesitates and eases the drawer shut, letting the snake exit the way it came, but washing "every fork, spoon, and knife" afterwards. Her misgivings and her attempt to overlook the event mirror her handling of her early marital regrets. Another recurring image involves trapped birds--an orphaned cedar waxwing, a hawk caught in a batter's cage, and, in "A Bird in the House," the poet herself as a bird... the displaced "late wife" that her ex-husband's new wife chases out.

In the collection's final section, Emerson opens a window on her current relationship--one haunted by the ghost of her beloved's deceased "late wife," yet ultimately hopeful. In "Leave No Trace," a conscientious hiking trip becomes a meaningful metaphor for the subtle footprints we can't help but leave in each others' lives, yet Emerson's eyes are fixed confidently on her companion "on the trail just ahead."

This lovely, empathic collection is well worth a careful reading.

This author knows how to capture the nuances of life that most of us can relate to. I found that I could not put this book down. I will be re-reading this approachable "story" many times.

Claudia Emerson's precise use of words to convey images and to stimulate reflection is an artform. The simplicity of the poems and their ease in reading them mask the depth that is in each. This is key to a poet's success. The ability to appeal to all audiences by conveying a clear picture, yet not giving away too much, allows for the preservation of the reader's ability to use their own imagination. Imagination is the precursor for reflection. When room is made for reflection, each poem takes on a life of their own and the experience becomes unique for each reader and a connection is made. Connection is what poetry is all about. Not only did I make strong connections with these poems, but I truly enjoyed them just for the pure pleasure of reading them. The descriptions and images were so beautifully conjured through the artistic use of words that like admiring a great painting, they encourage you to be artistic as well.

I was a student of Claudia Emerson's at Mary Washignton College, and find her ability to honest and genuine in the classroom translates in her work. I remember her discussing "Late Wife" just as her previous collection "Pinion" was released. It is exciting to see the conversations she had among her students, now present in the art. My favorite poem is her metaphoric look at the batting cage and the hawk escpaing. Perhaps, because I have run around the fields myself, or maybe, because I relate to the universality of feeling like exhibition, and desiring to be the hawk with its talons and break free. She is a wonderful poet, and I look forward to reading every word she writes.

Ghalib lived in very turbulent times. The Mughal empire in India was on its last legs and the British empire had tightened its clutches over India. Ghalib even lived through the horrendous 1857 "Sepoy Mutiny" of the "First War of Independence" (depends on whose view you believe in) and saw decimation of Delhi, a city he loved. The anguish of his poems is extremely hard to convey in a sterile language such as English. In any case, Robert Bly and Sunil Dutta's translations are over and above what else is available in the market. Excellent job.

Ghalib's playful poetry in Urdu is fascinating, such as the line in the caption of this review, a fact most Indians are privy to. But having his quirky, self-effacing romantic gems in English is a delight of a different order altogether. The translation is thankfully quite interesting in and of itself which lends this book an amusing, page-turning quality.

Couple of notes:

(1) Get the Ecco Press version if you can find it, the paper quality is less annoying. The Amazon site (this page) advertises a publication from "Rupa Co." which has crummy pages that I regret buying.

(2) Also, the Ecco Press version of the book contains interesting translation notes from Sunil Dutta, which are fun to read. Robert Bly is listed as the editor, and while he hogs the credit, he simply performed the role of revising and redecorating Dutta's copious translation notes.

Either way, I highly recommend this thin volume for people who appreciate poetry in general or "shayari" in particular. I'd gladly pay for more than 30 samples of Ghalib's prolific work.

Although Ghalib is not as well known as the famous Sufi poet Rumi and great Persian poet Hafez, in my view he is even better in some ways. His Urdu poems are sometimes very complex and he was a master at exploiting subtleties of Urdu - a language in which one can write couplets that can be interpreted in several different ways. Furthermore, Ghalib could exploit the Urdu by using ambiguities - one doesn't know whether he is longing for God or his lover in his couplets. Several people have attempted to translate Ghalib and I think it will be next to impossible to get the same color and taste once an Urdu couplet gets changed to English - In my opinion English doesn't have the poetic capacity to absorb the richness of Urdu. Despite these limitations, Bly and Dutta have done a great job. I understand both Urdu and English and therefore I can say with confidence that this book contains the best translations of Ghalib's poems.

The paperback version of this book contains the Ghazals in English, Devnagari, and Urdu script. Go for the paperback and see how the original poems look in Urdu. For those of us who can read Urdu, it is a delight to read the original verses and match them with the English translation.

Ghazals are Urdu poems that have at least five couplets. Interestingly, the couplets within a Ghazal generally are not related to each other and stand on their own. Ghalib is probably the most loved Urdu poet. He was a master of Urdu poetry and his considerable linguistic skills in Urdu and Persian allowed him to create subtle and extremely complex metaphysical, existential, romantic, sad, and biting poems. One reason why Ghalib is not as well known as Rumi (though, a better poem, in my opinion) is the fact that his poetry never received good treatment from other translators. In fact, when I read some of the translations of Ghalib's poem, I sometimes laugh at the idiotic interpretations and mediocre quality. Even when an Urdu scholar translates Ghalib's poem, the problem is that this scholar is often mediocre poet and poor in English penmanship. The results are horrendous (read the translations by Ghalib Academy, New Delhi and see what I mean).

This work by Bly and Dutta is simply marvellous. I think the credit probably goes to Bly as he is not only a great poet, he also has deep experience in translating poetry. I doubt anyone else could have done a better job than this. Well done and thanks.