One The Books

AN EXCELLENT STORY ABOUT AN INCREDIBLE MAN. PETE IS A HERO IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. THIS BOOK MAKES HIM HUMAN WITH FLAWS. I REALLY ADMIRE THIS AMAZING MAN. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS SOME MOTIVATION TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS IN THEIR LIFE. I AM GLAD TO SEE THIS MAN GET THE ATTENTION HE RICHLY DESERVES FOR AN INCREDIBLE FEAT. HE PLAYED BETTER THAN MEN WITH 2 ARMS. IN ANY LEAGUE HE PLAYED, PETE IS A HALL OF FAMER.

As a boy growing up in the West German State of Hess, I came to admire the great national soccor league players of my time. Since coming to the States, I have learned something of The Great American Past time. While initially dubious of the tradition in this country of professional athletisism I, none the less felt proud to meet Mr. Pete Gray while ravelling on extended vacation through the Pennsylvania Anthracite region, (my family owned and operated mines along the Ruhr prior to the war).

Having overcome the obstacles inherent to anyone, of working with the deficiency of one limb, (most particuarly an athlete), Mr. Grays grim determation served as an inspiration to his generation.

While sad that he is little remembered outside his own home town, Kashatus' book brings to us quite vividly his life and times.

As a boy growing up in the West German State of Hess, I came to admire the great national soccor league players of my time. Since coming to the States, I have learned something of The Great American Past time. While initially dubious of the tradition in this country of professional athletisism I, none the less felt proud to meet Mr. Pete Gray while ravelling on extended vacation through the Pennsylvania Anthracite region, (my family owned and operated mines along the Ruhr prior to the war).

Having overcome the obstacles inherent to anyone, of working with the deficiency of one limb, (most particuarly an athlete), Mr. Grays grim determation served as an inspiration to his generation.

While sad that he is little remembered outside his own home town, Kashatus' book brings to us quite vividly his life and times.

As a boy growing up in the West German State of Hess, I came to admire the great national soccor league players of my time. Since coming to the States, I have learned something of The Great American Past time. While initially dubious of the tradition in this country of professional athletisism I, none the less felt proud to meet Mr. Pete Gray while travelling on extended vacation through the Pennsylvania Anthracite region, (my family owned and operated mines along the Ruhr prior to the war).

Having overcome the obstacles inherent to anyone, of working with the deficiency of one limb, (most particuarly an athlete), Mr. Grays grim determation served as an inspiration to his generation.

While sad that he is little remembered outside his own home town, Kashatus' book brings to us quite vividly his life and times.

When Pete Gray reached the St. Louis Browns in 1945, the team was coming off the only pennant-winning season in its history. This fine biography by veteran baseball historian William C. Kashatus relates the story of Gray before, during, and after his stint with the Browns. Sportswriters dubbed Gray the "one-armed wonder." Born Peter J. Wyshner in the grimy coal-mining town of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, Gray at age six lost his right arm in a farming accident. He showed remarkable perseverance, however, and pursued sports with a zeal born of adversity. He overcame his handicap to play semi-pro and later professional ball. In 1943 and 1944 he stared for the Class A Southern Association's Memphis Chicks. In 1944 he hit .333, drove in sixty runs, stole sixty-three bases, led the league in fielding percentage, and was voted the Southern Association's most valuable player. While his handicap certainly raised questions about his ability to play in the major league, his 1944 performance earned him a serious look and the Browns acquired his contract for $20,000. Manager Luke Sewell viewed Gray as a sparkplug whose bat and speed would stimulate the Browns' pitiful offense. His strong fielding could only help in the outfield. The Browns' owner believed the one-armed outfielder would also be a gate attraction, especially for thousands of soldiers returning from World War II with handicaps just as significant as Gray's.

For his part, Gray understood that he was something of a token acquisition for the team, but he believed he could help the perennial American League doormat. And Gray had some spectacular moments, as Kashatus relates. He beat the Tigers all by himself during their first meeting of the season. A reporter with the "Detroit News" opined in June 1945 that no one could any longer be suspicious of the Browns' owner for "hiring the outfielder for box office purposes. That he helps the gate receipts is inevitable, but that he helped the Browns win games now is evident to all who have watched him play." And he did help at the gate. By July 1945 the Browns had won over many die-hard Cardinals fans because of the sympathy and excitement generated by Gray's presence in a Browns uniform.

Unfortunately for Gray and the Browns, the "one-armed wonder" could not sustain his early season success. Once opposing pitchers found his weakness they were merciless. Since he had only one arm he had to start the bat earlier than most other hitters and had less control over it once he began his swing. He had become a star in the Southern Association by murdering fast balls, and he could hit big league ones as well, but he had trouble with curves and change-ups because of his difficulty in altering the bat during his swing. Appearing in seventy-seven games for the Browns, Gray batted only .218 with fifty-one hits in 234 plate appearances. Sewell finally benched him when his hitting tapered off.

In an irony of the first magnitude, the noble experiment of giving a one-armed ballplayer a major league opportunity may have actually cost the Browns the pennant. While his teammates admired Gray's courage and resolution in overcoming a handicap, several blamed their third-place finish on him. According to third baseman Mark Christman: "Pete did a great job with what he had. But he cost us the pennant in 1945. We finished third, only six games out. There were an awful lot of ground balls hit to center field. When the kids who hit those balls were pretty good runners, they could keep on going and wind up at second base [because Gray could not throw the ball in as fast as a two-armed player]. I know that lost us eight or ten ball games because it took away the double play or somebody would single and the runner on second would score, where if he had been on first it would take two hits to get him to score."

When the Browns' 1945 season ended, so did the major league career of Pete Gray. Thereafter he played with several minor league clubs all over the country but retired to his hometown of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, in 1949. He finally died in 2002, but was still alive when Kashatus wrote this short biography and oral histories provided much of the information contained in this work.

Masanobu Fukoka was a laboratory agricultural scientist who worked on fighting plant diseases. He also had many unanswered questions about the interrelationship between man and nature. After a long sabbatical he resigned his position and took over his father's rice and mandarin orange farm. Fukuoka thought that by putting the subjects of his questions into actual material challenges he might find the answers he sought.

Fukoka was immediately drawn to organic and natural farming methods, and over the years developed a type of natural farming that he refers to as "do-nothing farming". Contrary to what you may imagine, this method does involve work, much of it menial, but at least in Fukoka's experience the benefits outweight the negatives. His method of farming is thus:

After the seasonal heavy rains, the rice is planted by scattering it by hand throughout the farming area. The planting rice is rolled in a type of clay that will help prevent animals from eating it but will not inhibit sprouting. Clover seeds are also sewn at the same time in the same method. The clover acts as a natural barrier to the young rice shoots, and helps the soil from eroding.

The rice will grow naturally over the course of the next few months without constant pools of water as are often seen in traditional(from 1600-1940s) Japanese rice farming, albeit shorter and stockier than the cultivated rice. After the rice harvest, the leftover straw is scattered over the field to decompose, adding nutrients back into the soil. Afterwards, barley is planted as a winter crop and to further enrich the soil for the next rice season.

Fukoka does not use compost on his rice fields or on his citrus orchard as he finds that the byproducts of the plant provides all the soil nutrients needed. He does maintain a small compost pile for his vegetable garden, however. Outside of the rice season, he tends to his mandarin orange orchard, which is also kept on a "do-nothing" method of growth. From using this technique, he has not only kept up with modern(tractor, fertilizer, pesticide) farmers in quantity, but has a much higher quality of rice, barley, and oranges. He spends very little out of pocket and sells his produce for a very fair price.

The great thing about this short book (192pp) is that it is not exclusively about farming. In fact, there are many pages where Fukoka expands on philosophy, history, nutricion, intentional communities, and sustainibility. There is also an excellent forward by Wendell Berry, one of my favorite authors(Jayber Crow is a must read) Highly reccomended although it seems to be out of print. I borrowed mine from a local library.

This book is revolutionary. It really shows us how to get back to the natural way of farming and living. Like Thoreau once said Simplify, simplify, simplify. Fukuoka brings one back to the essence of life. Life was not meant ot be difficult, we must simplify to succeed, the more complex tends to be more difficult. Nature does not need the hand of man to thrive. She only needs to be. In mans pursuit to control and dominate we have succeeded in corrupting. Fukuoka's natural way would help humanity to redeem themselves and reach a state of peace.

There are thousands of Self-realized people , but only a handful of those have experienced that. This Japanese farmer/scientist is one among the rare who understood the truth that unless one put the "Truth" (Self-realization) into practise in daily life, one cannot experience it. He used farming to validate his realization and shares great truth to us through this book. The truth he shares about natrual food is amazing and is in tune with the truth given by other cultures. This book is highly recommended for someone who seeks Truth in every moment of life.

Some have said that the Fukuokan philosophy is the tap root of what is now more broadly called Permaculture, only Masanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese farmer, working with rice and winter grain in a southern Japanese climate. Both are no-till methods that shun the use of chemicals. However, Fukuoka should be set apart from farming in general and Permaculture in particular, in that The One-Straw Revolution is essentially a profound work of literary philosophy. Indeed, in many cases it reads like a naturalist's bible. Although the book is dressed in the language and anecdotes of a farmer, the message looms much larger. We read of a man who came to terms with the problem of death, and then decided to form a profoundly new (or is it old?) relationship with nature. In essence, the nugget of his wisdom is that, instead of struggling to control and command nature, we must learn to work with and learn from nature. Allow me to share one quote:"To build a fortress is wrong from the start. Even though he gives the excuse that it is for the city's defense, the castle is the outcome of the ruling lord's personality, and exerts a coercive force on the surrounding area. Saying he is afraid of attack and that fortification is for the town's protection, the bully stocks up weapons and puts the key in the door." Now I ask you, does the following paragraph sound like the words of a farmer or a philosopher? From the face of it, one might think Fukuoka is here criticizing the nuclear arms race, but he is actually talking about the warlike mindset of farmers who see leaf-munching pests as evil enemies that must be fortified against, sought out and destroyed. Whether we are talking about bull weevils or communities, though, his advice is sound. We must change our frame of reference and establish a different relationship with the world. Concise and yet elegant, Fukuoka's prose is pregnant with meaning. Altogether, this work provides poetic an intelligent critique of industrial agricultural practices and the linear notions of nature and progress that underlay those practices. In fact, Fukuoka goes as far as to declare that the scientific method itself limits our experience and knowledge of nature. An invaluable, timeless work that will move you, even if you have never picked up a hoe.

j.w.k.

A critique of current farming practices as well as consumer values, Masanobu Fukuoka's One Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming outlines a more simple life that strives to work with the earth rather than against it. Mr. Fukuoka states that natural farming is not just a method of agricultural production but it is a way of life.
In The One Straw Revolution Mr. Fukuoka explains that modern methods of agriculture work to control nature with the assumption that humans can understand nature and there by improve on it, but modern techniques using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are only temporary solutions that humans have discovered in order to correct the imbalance they have caused. "Human Beings with their tampering do something wrong, leave the damage unrepaired (SIC), and when the adverse results accumulate, work with all their might to correct them. When the corrective actions appear to be successful, they come to view these measures as splendid accomplishments."
Natural farming allows for nature's processes to take care of most of the work that farmers find necessary in conventional methods of agriculture. Mr. Fukuoka claims "there is no time in modern agriculture for a farmer to write a poem or compose a song." When he first began, Mr. Fukuoka thought, "How about not doing this? How about not doing that?" By allowing for the natural processes of decomposition and growth to occur there is very little work to be done and the farmers have more time to enjoy life. This line of thought has been central to Mr. Fukuoka's natural farming philosophy. Eventually he came to the realization that "there are few agricultural practices that are really necessary."
Mr. Fukuoka's method of natural farming follows four basic principals; "No Cultivation", "No Chemical Fertilizer Or Prepared Compost", "No Weeding By Tillage Or Herbicides", and "No Dependence On Chemicals". Although many of the practices described in the book relate specifically to farming rice, wheat, roots, and oranges in southern Japan, it is these four principals that can be applied to farming anywhere in the world.
To give a good example of natural farming, Mr. Fukuoka's method of cultivating rice and winter grain is as follows. In the fall Mr. Fukuoka sows the seeds of white clover, rice, and winter grain onto the same fields and covers them with a mulch of rice straw. The grains and the clover sprout up right away but the rice seeds will lie dormant until spring. When spring arrives the grains are harvested and the straw is scattered over the fields as mulch. The fields are flooded for a short period during the monsoon season giving the rice a chance to sprout through the cover. Once the fields are drained the clover recovers and spreads beneath the growing rice plants. As you can see, this is a far cry from the labor-intensive methods of paddy farming that is common throughout Southeast Asia.

The One Straw Revolution is a great book, it is insightful, practical, easy to read, and the chapters are short and give the reader concise, to the point information. Mr. Fukuoka gives readers a viable alternative to the current consumer lifestyle. The strong beliefs and successes of natural farming found in this book make Mr. Fukuoka's arguments extremely convincing. However, I'm sure the sheer simplicity will create doubt among readers, as we are used to the complexities of fertilization and pesticide use. Even organic farmers who swear by compost and manure are doing unnecessary work according to Mr. Fukuoka.
The farming techniques found in this book are extremely important as our use of fertilizers and pesticide use has skyrocketed over the past century creating many environmental problems, and life on earth is facing serious consequences as a result.
Another important point made in the book is "Humanity must stop indulging the desire for material possessions and personal gain and move instead toward spiritual awareness." This sentence outlines what I feel to be the reason for the problems of humanity today. Without a deep respect for nature and our place within her we have no limits on what we expect from her. We have increased our material wealth greatly and yet we have not become more contented, in fact we become more stressed. By creating a simpler life where our days are spent outside tending to the fields under natures guidance. We not only would curb the destruction that is related to consumption but we also are given a chance to breathe and become truly aware of our surroundings and ourselves.
I feel that the words of Masanobu Fukuoka have only increased in importance since the time in which they were written. People's lives have become increasingly urbanized and we now have generations of people who have been cut off from Mother Nature's wisdom. Although Mr. Fukuoka's sentiment that "if 100% of the people were farming it would be ideal." may seem extreme to some, it would be a plausible solution to many of the problems we face today.
The environmental movement was just beginning when The One Straw Revolution was first printed we now have scientific studies reinforcing what people have been noticing for years and the lands and waters that were once healthy are now being poisoned. I would recommend reading The One Straw Revolution to anyone interested in spirituality, globalization, farming or the environment, but I would also recommend it to anyone with an interest in preserving the quality of life on earth.

The book is good. Just wanted everyone to know that the editor, Marie Davis, hasn't paid any royalties to the authors in this book, even though she was supposed to in August. Also, the authors have no way of knowing exactly how many books sold or how much they should really receive. I should know--I'm one of the authors.

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (6/06)

A sequel, yet a stand alone, "Pearls of Wisdom: Surviving Against All Odds" is a compilation of life stories of five "over fifty" women: Leigh Anne, Sandra, Emily, Dolores, and Lynetta Marie. The women are anonymous and use only their first names. Each writer discloses a touching narrative of her life, or part of her life, that truly does depict "surviving against all odds." There are portrayals of sexual abuse, incest, cultural adversity and a search for Prince Charming.

Dolores's story touched a cord for me. Although we were raised in different cultures, different countries, and thousands of miles apart, I paralleled much of my experiences with her. Dolores was raised in a impoverished Hispanic community in southern Texas with four siblings by her mother. The father was in the military and rarely made an appearance - often 5 years apart for each visit. She speaks of her upbringing, her innate defense mechanisms being the youngest of 5 children, going to school without knowing English, constant whippings for whatever reason, her relationships, her marriage, and the adoption of her children.

Even though each woman speaks of the dark moments of her soul, each one also speaks of how she was able to find peace within herself and continue to live a balanced life. There is something to be said that maturity gives us the opportunity to reflect on our life, accept the negative experiences, pick out the good, and carry on. The five women that share their stories are certainly survivors and give those who feel hopeless a glimpse of hope.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories. The writing is very personal and as I read each woman's sequence of events, I felt like I was right there experiencing life with them. I commend Marie Davis for compiling the anthologies and sharing them with us. For anyone that loves to read about other people's lives, this is a great book for them.

These true stories written by women over 50 years old expose the seamier side of life in the 50's and 60's. Illuminating as well as shocking at times. Kudos to these women who survived against all odds. Definitely worth reading.

Marie Davis and her survivors have once again shown us a different aspect of how life was growing up in the 50's and 60's. These stories are both heartwarming and poignant, and I greatly admire the "survivors" for opening up their hearts and laying their pasts out for all to read. I enjoyed Marie's first book, and equally enjoyed the second, I hope the series has more to offer in months to come.

Reviewed by Kornelia Longoria for Reader Views (6/06)

"Pearls of Wisdom. Surviving Against All Odds. Book One" is the first book of the series, which is a collection of life stories written by different women. Mary Davis, the creator of the series, met the authors online in one of the chat rooms she frequently visited, and put their stories together into a very inspiring and heart-warming book. The four women from Book One have seemingly nothing in common. They live in different parts of the States, are of different age, and have different lives. However, the one main thing that they do have in common is the desire to have a good and happy life. All of them have gone through a lot on their way to happiness. It was a bad marriage, problems with drug-abusing children, or problems with their own destructive behavior. Life was not fair to them in many ways, but they fought their way through, strongly believing that one day their patience would be rewarded and everything would get better.

Probably the most touching for me was Angel's story, who lost her child in a court battle and even though she tried very much to get the custody over her little daughter, everybody and everything seemed to be against her. As a mother, I can imagine what she must have felt when she could not see her child and could not do anything to change anything about it.

Even though the stories have a lot of pain and emotional suffering in them, they all show us the amazing strength of women and the determination they often show to make their lives meaningful and make the world a better place for the ones they love. I truly admire Concetta, Marianne, Peg and Angel for bravely facing their past and honestly telling us about their lives and often their own mistakes. It shows us that sometimes life does not go exactly how we or our parents planned it for us, but with a little bit of determination and strength, you can turn things around.

I believe that the book would be great for women of all ages. It's a great source of strength and a reason to pause for a while and appreciate the lives we have. I will definitely look out for the other books in the series.

This book is a warm, thoughtful invitation to revisit some poets and poems that remind us of the abiding universality of this form of expression. It's also a joyful nudge to try poetry the way it's best experienced....read aloud. I especially love the entries on Eliot, Berryman, Burns and Coleridge.

I loved this product. As an English teacher in DCPS I have found my students loved being read to. Sometimes they become a little sick of me reading out loud, so having the CD accompany these fantastic poems worked out well in providing variety.

This is a wonderful book for the beginner or anyone wanting to awaken the lapsed poetry lover within. I haven't read poetry since I was in college (many years ago) and found this book an easy re-entry into the wonderful world of poetry. Everyone will have their favorite poems, but I think the ones chosen for this book are diverse and reflect a treasure of past and contemporary work. I have listened to the CD over and over again as it opens up the other dimension of poetry which has helped me fully appreciate many of the poems. John Lithgow is a wonderful host, and beckons us all to enjoy one of life's truly meaningful and mysterious joys. The brief information about each poet proceeding their poem is very helpful and there are highlighted bits of general information including further reading, links to websites etc. Warning--reading poetry can be addictive...

The most important factor in this anthology is that Lithgow is not a poet! How great is that! No name dropping, no friend of a friend, no academic postulations on the preponderances of poetry's perplexing postulations! He just loves poetry. And that frees him to choose what he likes.

The second important factor is that he provides us with audio. Poetry is an audio art as well as visual one. And it stinks to always be missing out on 1/2 of the art.

As a student a teacher of poetry I was schooled in contemporaries like Collins, Howe, Harjo, Bukowski so I always had an aversion to the masters being a lot of it was now cliche and with that annoying abab rhyme scheme. But Lithgow and company make it come alive for me. Hearing Auden read by Foster blew the doors on my poetic hinges. I think this anthology is important for anyone who loves the arts. It is not condescending or overwrought with analysis. A little history of the poet, a little nostalgia about why he like the poem, and then BAM! the poem PLUS he give you more poems by the same author after his initial pick just for exposure so you get 50 poems on the CD plus more in the book. This is the kind of book you buy everyone you know when you can't think of any really worthwhile and meaningful to give them.

It makes me want to do my own anthology poems I love. I my own quarrel is that I doubt there will be a sequel.

The Poet's Corner, compiled by John Lithgow presents an expansive collection of poetry, and is accompanied by a bonus MP3 CD featuring readings of poetry by Mr Lithgow and his friends [ Glenn Close, Morgan Freeman, Jodie Foster, Sam Waterston etc].

Though not the most comprehensive collection of poetry, it is a worthy compilation of well-known poetry written in the English language and is sure to find fans, both existing lovers of poetry and those just coming to appreciate the genre.

Each poem that is selected is accompanied by a short bio of the poet and Mr Lithgow's own explanation as to how the piece interests him or its emotional pull for him. The poems are presented by the poet [alphabetically by their last names] beginning with Matthew Arnold, and ending with William Butler Yeats. There are 50 poets in all, and the poems cover different eras, varied subjects, yet are all beguiling and unique in their ability to draw us in and affect us in different ways. Reading this compilation impacted me emotionally, engulfing me in feelings of joy, sadness and even silent contemplation. The bonus CD is another plus and together this is a wonderful and enjoyable compilation of poetry.

Many reviews have covered this more in depth than I will here. Reinventing the wheel is not my objective. As a spiritual worker, counselor, and teacher, I have to say that the Ra materials (and this means all 4 books of transcription) are basic. They create an understanding of who and what we are and where we are going. Understanding our place with respect to service to other-selves or service to self is the start of wisdom. Further, while some argue that service to self is indeed service to the whole, these writings give clear understanding of why you may wish to follow a service to other-selves path in preference to service to self. If your heart presses you to spiritual growth, start here.

I discovered this material in the early '80s about the time it was released. I was blown away then and still am. I'll never forget the feeling - something similar to having uncovered a profound and precious secret. I remain convinced that other than ACIM, this may be the ONLY channeled material out there that is what it purports to be. Much more recently, I've begun kinesiologically calibrating books, people, spiritual teachers, institutions with the method taught by Dr. David Hawkins. The Law of One books collectively calibrate (or they did with my calibration) at over 800, in fact somewhere in the neighborhood of 850 if I remember correctly. Astounding, considering that Hawkins states that less than 5% of channeled material calibrates over 455.That's about all I can say. Uh...Adonai.

This book contains very interesting information inside which I'm not sure if they are true or false.. But, it is so detailed and realistic that I want to believe it and after I read the book, I realized that it may be like the book says.. Ra Materials answer all the unknown about cosmology, from where men came, what will happen etc... Even if the book is full of false information, it is worth reading because of it's interesting theme..

The Ra material is the transcription of the taped communications between researcher Don and the entity RA, a being that is talking through Carla, often referred to as the "instrument" throughout the book (s), in a state of deep trance. The transcriptions are carried out by Jim and the three are always present during all sessions, creating a triangulation of light that allows for RA, a sixth dimensional being, that calles itself a "socialmemory complex", to come through and speak.

RA has choosen this group because of the purity of their intent and makes himself available to them for questions about the Universe, the Creator, the dimensions, Karma, the law of One and any other material that might aid people in understanding universal truths that might be helpful for mankinds evolution.

The materail is very esoteric and requires some concentration. However, it is well worth the effort, as it is enlightening, very precise, accurate and informative. The explanations around the shift in dimensions we are about to undergo on the planet, that Ra defines as the harvest, are devoid of hype and sensation. Harvest is a process that all beings and planetary bodies eventually encur, following physical/spiritual law just as eclipses do or the seasons.The science of the harvest ( ascension) is explained in depth here as is the chakra system and it's role in Soul evolution.

Also extremely interesting the explanation of the polarization of entities into Service to Self orintated entities and Service to Others orientated entities and the implications these have in the ascension process and the roles they play within the bigger picture.

A really deep read and well worth the effort. I have read all four volumes and I am about to tackle vol 5. I thoroughly recommend it.

There is a lot of channeled material out there, some good and some not so good. I think it is important to use discernment when reading channeled material, just as it is important to use discernment when reading anything, or when listening to a preacher talk.

Ultimately, the truth is inside of us, but we don't know it. So it helps to have it confirmed by `outside' sources. Sometimes we come across something that has that ring of truth in it, and we know it is appropriate for us in this point of time in out lives. Not necessarily appropriate for everyone at all times, or even for ourselves at all times, but appropriate in the now, for where we are at right now.

Thus, I have encountered many books and other sources of info that have all had varying degrees of what I consider `truth', but no one of them being THE TRUTH. (I have long ago dismissed the bible as THE truth, but consider it to have SOME truth in it, while most of it has been distorted.)

The Law of One books are the closest I have found to being THE truth. Many of the channeled works out there are cheesy, or they come across too `authoritative' ie `...in such-and-such year this WILL happen...', `...that IS the way it IS...', etc.

Ra, on the other hand, does not claim to be an authority. Rather, this entity repeatedly tells us to please use discernment and accept only that which resonates as truth within ourselves. Then proceeds to give info that totally rocks your socks off!

This stuff is deep, very deep. I have never read anything else, channeled or not, that even comes close to such high caliber! It is just completely obvious to me that the info really is coming from a higher being, cuz no way anyone could have made all this up!

OK, maybe someone could have. But this info came thru a woman in a trance, and she did not even know what she was saying until she woke up. Even very specific details are consistent throughout the text, over the course of several years of channeling.

AND, the material describes a cosmology that was ahead of its time. Certain aspects of quantum physics, for example, described in the books had not yet been discovered. So no, no one could have made this up!

When you read the material, you get a very strong sense of HIGHER KNOWLEDGE. It's just really obvious that this is NOT coming from a human source, the way most other channeled material seems to be. I had a lot of 'Aha' moments while reading it...in fact, pretty much every sentence!

But, my purpose is NOT to try to convince you. B4 the skeptics start, let me say that I am NOT trying to prove that this channeled work is authentic - if you are searching for absolute proof, then clearly this book (or any channeled work) is not for you. Better to stay in an organized religion and do as they tell you.

However, if you are a serious seeker who is not afraid to think for yourself, then I highly recommend you give these books a try. Prepare to have your mind opened!

If you're still with me, then maybe you'd like to know what the books are about. OK, for starters: the nature of life, the universe, how the pyramids were built, who the aliens are, the chakras, other dimensions, the important elements of a spiritual path, the nature of sexuality, etc. and lots of other interesting topics. But that is not what makes these books stand out - other books have tried to address these topics as well.

What makes the Law of One stand out is the explanation of `Good' vs `Evil'.

If you find the idea of a `good God' being in a constant war with the `evil Satan' oversimplistic, or if you believe that God is all-powerful and beyond good and evil, or if you have a hard time believing that God will `lose' most of the world's population to the `devil', and you are searching for a more intelligent explanation of why there is evil in the world, then these books might be for you.

Or, if you are tired of all the `doom and gloom' prophecies and would like to rekindle hope, then these books might be for you.

Be forewarned: these books are NOT light and fluffy. And whatever you believe, they will challenge you. But they will also inspire you, and give comfort.

I was please with the book overall, because it is very down to earth real world stuff from someone who really has done it, IN FLORIDA. I learned a lot of things to look for and questions to ask that I might not have found out about until it was too late, but I need to ask someone in MY STATE to be sure to get the right answers. I have learned that tax deed laws are very state specific and I would urge anyone interested to find a resource specific to their state.

The information in this book flows easily and its to the point!! It was an easy read.

I liked this book. Very informative and takes a different approach than most of the other books I've read on this topic. It's easy to see why the authors are making money using this method.

I highly recommend it.... ESPECIALLY in today's troubled housing market. This is how to still make money...

I'm not much of a technical person so I was happy when I actually made it all the way thru this book. The stories of their success were pretty impressive and with the information they gave I could actually look it up in the property appraiser website and verify they owned it! It was pretty cool! The examples in the book really helped out the tougher sections. Most the other books I've read concentrate too much on tax liens, this only focused on tax deeds, where you can buy the properties cheap. I've been to a couple auctions in the past and this book helped clear up some issues like getting a clear title in 90 days instead of 4 years. I'm gathering together my cash to go buy my next discount property at an auction in Lake County Florida. I recommend this book.

This is just the kind of investing book we all hope for, with detailed instructions as well as both the pro's and the con's--not just the hype that sells books, not just "how to get rich without effort," but the authors honestly explain the negatives right along with what's so great--all the things that can go wrong, what to watch out for--also how to avoid wasting time, which is extremely important. They also stress that it is a lot of work, yep; but then they show how effort pays off, AND that taking care counts much more than having bundles of cash to invest--and that's what I want to learn more about, don't you? Needless to say, the book is inspiring simply because it makes it seem realistic for anyone to get into this type of investing since the authors explain what they actually DO. I felt they actually WANT to share their professional secrets--and you know, not everyone does! Which is almost like having a personal mentor! This book is that good!

this book is so simple and factual that even the most sceptical person can appreciate the information contained within this wonderful guide book for life.

i dare you to try it for your self and not feel the weight drop from your shoulders and your feet lift from the pavement as life becomes a joy and true living begins.

Enjoy

"Masterfully written.......a most comprehensive, clear and concise book that will assist in connecting to and healing your deepest wounds. A must for those on the healing path, giving specific instructions every step of the way. Once you open it, it will be hard to put it down".

This book goes a long way in helping to become aware of beliefs that we all hold about ourselves, our families and how life "should" be. The truth is that none of us can truly fulfill our destinies until we realize the untruths that dictate our behavior and thoughts. For anyone who has a desire to learn how to unblock the energy these false beliefs stifle, this is a great step in the process.

In moments like this when all the world is facing so much pain, fear and caos, we all search for answers, we need to know why... Well, this book not only gives you ALL THE REASONS WHY and all the answers for what we are facing on a huge scale as a humanity or as a country, here you can find how to change it all.

Because in this great book I found the only way we can do that is by healing and changing our own selves.

I have read many books in my life, but this is the first time I find a very easy and practical way to heal my wounds, to understand them and to really change my life.

I wish I had the power to put this book in the hands of each person on this planet.

Please read it!!!!

Ron Baker is a leader in the Ascension movement, and this book is proof. Luminously written with step by step instructions and exercises, this book will lead you down the path to personal empowerment. Revelations for a Healing World, Book One is a resource that you will consult over and over again on your healing path -- you could spend a lifetime working with these tools, so why waste anymore time? START NOW! In these uncertain times this book will give you the tools to create a reality for all our higher good.

Tim Ward writes about sex the way women talk to each other about sex...with brutal honesty, playful humor and savored sensuality. His search for the Goddess is a brave, deep dive into the mystery of sex...and love...and the masculine soul. Not many men have the courage to write about these scary subjects, and I honor Ward for his willingness to stand naked before the Goddess and everybody. Savage Breast is also a fascinating travelogue, archeological exploration and paradigm-busting romance. This is cutting edge literature that defies categorization...but offers unexpected rewards to the adventurous reader.

Tim Ward takes us on his journey through love, sex, history, archaeology, psychology and the ancient Western world in his attempt to figure out why he can't maintain a relationship. He describes very intimate revelations and experiences, he shares his dead ends and over analysis of his circumstances, he takes in information from all kinds of sources, his gut, feminist readings, Jungian psychology, archaeological sites, his interactions with his fiancee, and he describes all of his musings and inner conflicts and essentially walks us all through the process of figuring out a man's relationship with a woman, the world and himself. He fearlessly examines it all from every angle. And he gets it in the end! To read where he started from, with his dare-I-say "typical" attitudes about women, which he does not flinch from describing in disturbing detail, and then to see where he gets to after all of the pondering and heartache, it's just amazing. This is an awesome book. There were times when I was rolling my eyes and muttering "Men!" But one of the things that's so great about the book is that it is from a man's perspective. Men are men, but you know what? It's okay. Just as he reaches a conclusion about the ordinariness of women, he demonstrates to us women readers the ordinariness of men.

Aphrodite. Athena. Hecate. Pandora. Hera. Goddesses revered for centuries by women, who still invoke their names as icons of strength, beauty, and eternal love. While many women have written that developing a Goddess consciousness has transformed their lives, Ward is perhaps the first modern man to deeply consider the question: What does the Goddess have to offer men? In our age of patriarchy, male bias, and anger at the feminine, what do these deities offer them?

To find out, bestselling author Tim Ward (Arousing the Goddess: Sex and Love in the Buddhist Ruins of India, What the Buddha Never Taught) traveled to the ruined temples and shrines of the Goddess in the cradles of Western civilization. He meets her face to face in her many forms: at Delphi as Gaia - Mother Earth; in Romania as the maiden Pandora; and on a remote Anatolian hilltop as Hekate, crone-queen of the witches. The result is "The Savage Breast," the latest example of Ward blending his confessional honesty with his powerful writing skills to draw the reader into a fascinating narrative that ranks with the best tales of self-exploration and travel.

Ward is one of the pioneers in the modern genre of spiritual journalism: exploring the frontiers of philosophy and mysticism through the lens of his own experience. Seeking out even the remotest sites of Western civilization in his quest for knowledge, he examines the history, significance, and consequences of the pantheon of goddesses found in Europe and the Near East. His vivid account amid temple ruins and local museums breathes life into religious stereotypes, paring away the cultural myths of Western society to uncover what is at the heart of our relationship with the feminine divine - and, just as important, man's relationship to woman.

Keeping Ward honest in his quest is Teresa, the woman he loves and travels with through the often difficult terrain of self-discovery as he undergoes the painful reckoning of his own prejudices. Loyal even in the face of Ward's emotional storms, Teresa encourages the author to confront his demons - and stands by him when those demons unleash their wrath.

Fully engaged with the subject matter, Ward gives the reader candid prose, imaginative recreations of sacred rites, and presents a compelling story that is part history lesson, part confession, and part exploration of how the male and female can fully, honestly connect.

So, how can men hope to reconcile their unnamed fears and find genuinely satisfying relationships with women?

As Teresa wisely counsels, "Ask the goddess."

~ Mark Hawthorne, author of Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism

You will literally laugh, cry and grow in spirit in the name of the Universal Goddess with author Tim Ward. I honestly hated putting this book down ... This book kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what would happen next.

Basically, this is a story about a man (the author of the book) Tim and his spiritual journey to discover the missing Goddess of our culture. He basically asked this type of question, "Their were soceties past, where it is said woman ruled their kingdoms and they were united under a Goddess .... why did these ancient Goddesses disappear?" ... This isn't an actual quote from the book, but my interpretation of what the author was looking to discover.

His search is more than just where did these ancient Goddesses disappear to or why they aren't worshipped so freely now as they were by our ancestors, but it is an emotional, physical and spirtual revelation of why men treat women the way we do.... Why do some men view women as second class citizens? Why do men get so upset when a woman rejects his advances? ..... And if the ancient Goddess was as prevelent in our society today as they were thousands of years ago, would women still be treated the way they are today? Would woman have had to fight so hard for the same freedoms that men had?

He shows his continual development and understanding on these trips throughout Europe to the sites where Goddesses were heavily worshipped ... On these trips, his wife is with him -- and through the story, he discovers his true self and you get to experience the trials, tribulations, failures and successes of his relationship with his wife .... Slowly, he begins to understand it all -- and you will hear all about it in Tim's fasicinating book, Savage Breast!

Recommened for all men and women to read .... Men, you will learn so much about yourself and your relationships with women, this book will change your life. Women, you will be angry with Tim and then fall in love with him over and over again as he truly works to understand the Sacred Feminine.

I enjoyed reading "One Man's Search for the Goddess. In addition to being well written it was a real learning experience as well as entertaining. This book will make the reader think and, incidentally, will create a desire to visit the sites of the Goddesses in Crete, Malta and Greece. However, that this book will have a limited audience as I believe that one would have to have, at the least, a basic knowledge of classical Greece.

When Mr. Ward appeared at the Ottawa Writer's Festival in the spring of 2006 he made the comment that his Mother was in the audience and moreover, had read the book. Parts of it may have given her pause for thought.

All in all, a great read and I think I will have to read the author's other books.

This is by far the best book of stories written with teens in mind. I've been a youth leader for the past 11 years and I use this book often. In fact, this past weekend I loaned it to an 18 year old high school senior to use for our lock-in worship. He said he started reading the stories and couldn't stop! He said he was going to get a copy (but I should't tell anyone.) I told him to keep my copy and he did. Buy one for you and one to share. You will not be disappointed!!

I highly recommend this book to all teenagers and everyone else, also. I reviewed the manuscript in an early form, and I'm pictured on the front cover, along with my brother and other friends...Reading the stories made me laugh and cry, they were all very touching. It's a great book.

This book was an inspiration to me. I am going through a lot of hard times right now and this book has helped me see that my problems aren't as bad as I thought they were. One of my favorite stories would have to be "Miracle at the Mall" on page 314. There's always a different way God lets people know he cares and loves us. I look forward to future books by Alice Gray. Also, I would like to thank the people who allowed their stories to be published.

THIS BOOK IS A GREAT READ FOR TEENS.THE STORIES ARE FUNNY,HEART
WARMING AND AT TIMES SAD.MOST OF THE STORIES TEACH VAUABLE LESSONS ON LIFE.MY FAVORITE STORY IN THE BOOK WAS DUMP BOY.THE LESSON THE CHILDREN LEARN AT THE END WAS REALLY TOUCHING.ANOTHER
FAVORITE WAS A POEM CALLED MAKING SARAH CRY(WHICH WILL HAVE ALL
YOU SCHOOL BULLYS WISHING FOR A SECOND CHANCE.BUY THIS BOOK AND LOVE THE STORIES JUST LIKE I DID.YOU WON'T BE DISAPPIONTED.

Man....I dunno where to begin with this book. Yeah its that awesome! I've just started reading it and I'm abt 80 pages into it but lemme tell ya , Its just as good if not better than the rest of them in the "Stories 4 the Teens heart" series! I don't think the stories are just for teens either , anyone can read them and they are sure to enjoy them. The stories talk about real life situations and how others have coped with them. This book can really cheer a person up and help them out. I hope anyone who veiws this would read it and enjoy it! Best wishes to all ya'll out there!

I loved this book. I actually thought it was better than the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul books. This book is quite uplifting. It is trully a great read!

This book is wonderful! Filled with inspirational stories - some of them tear jerkers - and a correlating Bible verse after almost every story. These are real life stories from real life people, and they really make you think!

I was headed for some or most of these things. Being a teen my self i could relate to all of these things and the feelings in the stories. These stories made me veiw things from a different side. Like my parents i was having fights with them. I thought that they were against me fully. Well after readin these stories i learned the hard way that my parents weren't against me they were with me and only trying to protect me. If you are a teen and in trouble, have questions, or anything else i FULLY recomend this book for you.

This is an awesome book to read anytime and anywhere! Full of a variety of types of stories such as ; uplifting , inspiring , teaching and so much more! This is the type of book most kids , teens and even adults would love to read! Stories that we can relate to in life and that we can enjoy. These stories are garunteed to make any one with a heart (which is everyone) laugh , cry and smile. After reading a few of these stories you will have a whole new positive veiw on life.
I highly recommend you buy this book and I hope you enjoy it! ^_^

Great stories in this book! The stories deal with EVERYTHING a teenager goes thru and then some.

For teens that aren't usually big time readers, this book is great. Short stories that hold their interest....and keep their interest. Maybe they will go on to read more often? :)