Passion The Books

I keep this book handy for a quick read and the perusal of some wonderful art. It's colorful, restful, and thought-provoking. It keeps reaffirming for me that reading is definitely a passion to be pursued amid all the busy-ness and daily stresses. It's a terrific gift to give your book-lover friends and family!

It would be difficult for a book lover not to thoroughly enjoy this collection of writings about books. A great resource for thinking about books, reading and writing, for ideas about how to go about reading and writing, and for just finely crafted writing by lovers of books.

Bascove's art which adorns this collection creates a marvelously private, cozy, bookish world where voices seldom sound aloud, and the world outside is muted, allowing the reader or writer to be in the world on the printed page.

I am pleased with the handling of my order of "Where Books Fall Open". The book arrived in a timely manner and in good condition. I will always buy from Amazon.

This is a gorgeous book! It is filled with essays and poems and thoughts on reading, writing, and the love of books. The writings are from various authors some classic and well known and some I haven't heard of before. Some writings I liked a lot better than others. (-Regardless of the ones that didn't 'speak' to me, I still consider this a great collection of writings on the subjects I love.) The paintings are rich in color and detail and anyone who loves books/reading/writing will enjoy these highly eye appealing pictures that depict people with books! I'd love to have some of these to hang in my home!

This is a beautiful gift for yourself or someone you know who loves the literary world.

Buy it and enjoy!

This anthology of prose and poetry starts out strong .... prose selections from Italo Calvino, Lynne Schwartz, Roy Blount and Anne Fadiman are wonderful, affectionate tributes to reading, Also, I think this is the first time Steve Martin and Jane Austen have appeared together, and both are fine. There are also a LOT of poems here, and some are better than others, as with all poetry. This is a mix of contemporary (Fran Lebowitz, Billy Collins) and classic (Cervantes, Elizabeth Barret Browning) selections that explore reading, writing and books. Artwork by Bascove is of a style consistent with the cover -- bold, colorful and primitive, sixteen paintings that also feature books. A percentage of the profits go to First Book, a literacy program for children.

I'd say the quality of the selections is uneven, but you will undoubtedly find something, and probably many things, that will please you. This is a small volume that can be read quickly, or savored, and as an object it is very pleasing. This would make a fine gift for a bibliophile you know.

The Big Glow: Insight, Inspiration, Peace and Passion

I started reading this book when I first received it and loved it.. I decided to take it on my honeymoon. Its a book about love..
self love...being love and sharing love... Brian is very gifted in his prose.. His character comes thru with each word.. and he is a very special soul..here to share ! I can feel this from his words and I have never personally met him..This says alot !
I suggest reading it ! Having the book around on the kitchen table as we do and pick it up when you have a second and read a chapter.. Its set up that way... or take it on a hike or sitting near moutains by water as I did..or put it in your backpack and bring it out when you need a lift.
It is sure to inspire you and even shift your mood and focus !
I am grateful that he wrote this !
We need more like this today !
Tara Broughten

What a marvelous gift I gave to myself and to my entire family!
Brian Piergrossi is a vessel of light, healing, unconditional love and transformation to the world. Through his book "The Big Glow", he reminds us of the simplest pleasures of life and inspire us to better know our own divine selves! In essence he tells us that in the state of bliss everything is loved and how bliss is not a feeling but a state of being! I love reading this book by myself or with my children! I highly recommend that you read it aloud and feel every word deep within your soul, simple poems become prayers and declarations of personal freedom and exaltation. It's so much fun to just close my eyes and open the book to any page and find the perfect message to begin my day. This book is so unique that can be read from the end to the beginning or randomly as your heart calls for it. Go for it and treat yourself to this literary treasure.

"I own many books. And I've purchased many books. And I've given away many books. Every time I move, every time I break up with a live-in boyfriend or a lover, when a friend moves on or I just have to lighten my load, I get rid of books.

The ones I still have, forty-two years after my birth, are the ones which have become my best friends. Books with which I simply cannot part, these are my best friends. They inspire me, challenge me, treat me with respect, and honor me as a beautiful and unique being. They help me to free myself, they make me laugh and I find aspects of myself in the midst of my life with them.

"The Big Glow" will be with me, in my bookshelf, in my hands, on my desk and in my occasional recitals of poetry to friends. Perhaps it might even be one of those books that remains with me carelessly piled two books below a top one on my night stand, found in my home when they find me at the end of my days.

I am so deeply grateful for Brian Piergrossi, the author, and his god, "The Big Glow," for being there whenever I have needed and will need yet again to reflect on the rich place I call my life."

I read "The Big Glow" to my children and I love to read the poem titled "Little Luna" for inspiration!
Thank you Brian for writing such a marvelous and inspiring book!
Joy and Abundance
-Moon Bullock

I first became aware of this book when a friend e mailed me one of the poems.. Apparently this particular poem has taken on a life of its own and is being e mailed all over the world !
Read "Love is the New Religion"

A great book to keep nearby.... stop every now and then and read something that catches your eye.
Brian has the gift of truly capturing emotion with wonderful images and insight.
Enjoy the places you visit deep within yourself as you take this journey ...have fun, smile, see things from a new perspective and share it with those you love.
Come join the "conscious army" !

...and Mary Rose Remington shows you how in this book, which I loved for its approach toward the Whole Person in determining career goals. A lot of books are more skills-oriented, purely practical, and they left me cold, didn't seem to speak to me. But Mary Rose knows, from first-hand experience, that without plumbing your depths and finding your deep calling, you won't be fulfilled. I particularly like her positive, can-do attitude. It's really infectious -- encouraging and energizing, at a time when you most need it.

This book was an easy, enjoyable read. It made you reflect on your own working status, and reminded me why I am in love with my job and the vocation I have chosen. As I reflect on retirement, it did open up a world of possibilities though.

Career Quest is a great reinforcement for those people struggling to find their life's passion, or for anyone that is already following their dreams. Mary Rose states that "Everyone is entitled to work they love!" I love her postive outlook that is conveyed through her words. This book has many interesting points and is very user-friendly.

The colorful, beautifully designed cover is a clue to the interior design of this book, which is full of wise counsel, research-backed information, anecdotal inspiration, quotable quotes, and hands-on application for the reader's life and career. Bravo!

I love this book! I started reading it and I couldn't put it down. Now I can't stop talking about Career Quest and I've already told four friends to order this book right now.

This book really hits a chord that is relevant for our time. I wonder how much untapped creativity is lost because too many workers are dying inch by inch at dead end jobs that they hate. It takes courage and a plan to move out of the comfort zone, so most people need a push and a clear path. This book provides a step by step guidebook for anyone stepping out onto that new and liberating path.

Ms. Remington covers the nuts and bolts of pursuing what she calls the career quest. She guides the reader through a complete exploration of their goals and dreams. In every chapter, Ms. Remington provides wonderfully practical guidelines and honest insights from her own life. I especially appreciate that she includes the spiritual side of life, a limitless resource that we all can tap into. I love to imagine all of the creativity and joyous contribution that this book will spark around the world, as more and more people read Career Quest and then set out to pursue their passion and what they really came here to do.

I'm not usually into sci-fi type novels, but this one had me captivated from the first chapter. I loved the paranormal expereinces that the characters shared. If only we could read the mind of our partner in real life. Ms. Bolton did her thing with this novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Don't be fooled the eroticism is there and on FIRE!!! A must read for anyone looking for a different, but compelling romance novel.

In Divine Destiny by Gwyneth Bolton, The Divine created a world where she desired nothing more than for couples to live in harmony with their soul mates in the heavens. Unfortunately, her plan was continuously destroyed by her jealous brother, The Cultitude, who caused discord among the couples. Distraught by her children's disobedience to her will, The Divine kicked her children out of the heavens and sentenced them to walk the earth apart from their mate until they found each other. It was not until the earth was destroyed and a select few took refuge underground, that couples destined to be together realized the gift that The Divine bestowed upon them. These couples, who were only a half, became whole when they were united with their mate.

As The world began to grow, greed, which was fueled by The Cultitude, began to set in. The monarchy robbed the poor and a revolution began. At the age of fifteen, Darwu, The Prince of the land, found his other half when the village she lived in was destroyed. Immediately, he knew Kara was his. Unfortunately, his joy was short-lived when her uncle, the man he believed slaughtered the village, snatched her out of his grasp. As the years passed, Prince Darwu thought of nothing more than to get revenge on the man that stole his other half and sentenced him to a life of loneliness. Relentlessly, he went about destroying the revolutionaries who dared to question the integrity of the monarch.

When the time came for Kara to fulfill her destiny as prophesied many years prior, her uncle sent one of his finest warriors to speak with Prince Darwu--Kara. As soon as the couple laid eyes on each other, they become inseparable. The question then became who would change in the name of love. Would Kara sell out her people to fit in with the royals, or would Prince Darwu sell out his family to do the right thing for the people under his father's rule.

As a fan of science fiction and fantasy, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Ms. Bolton's ability to weave a story with just the right amount of conflict and romance is nothing short of remarkable. In addition, her characters were unforgettable. Long after the last page was turned, I found myself thinking about Kara and Darwu. If you are a fan of romance, with a little mix of science fiction and enough steamy romance scenes to keep your eyes glued to the pages, Divine Destiny is a definite must read.

T. RHYTHM KNIGHT
APOOOBookClub

Since everyone has done a great job at summarizing the book, I'll get to the meat of this review.

I'm tired of the same ole, same ole in paranormal romance (though I would technically define this as more fantasy. It kind of has that 80's fantasy throwback flare to it). The story is absolutely great and you can't go wrong with a little BDSM thrown in for good measure. I liked the originality of the plot. It was different than my typical selection in the paranormal romance arena. I wouldn't technically classify this as an erotica (mainly cause I'm a pervert). I think it was just a very sensous paranormal romance with some S&M undertones to it.

My only problem with the book is I didn't think that the heroine was as strong as she was portrayed. She was supposed to be a warrior, but I found myself asking "would a warrior take that?" Many of her struggles were in her mind (you have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about).

I appreciated the book more AFTER I read it. Kind of like once it all sunk in I thought "Wow it was good and original!" And I love originality. Pick up the book if want to read something different than a vampire, fairy, or werewolf romance.

Zena the warrior princess had better watch out for sexy, powerful and phenomenal Kara Millan. Kara is a warrior princess fighting for her people against the evil rulers of her land. As a child, she witnessed the massacre of her parents and towns people by the rulers men. To avenge their deaths she becomes an active warrior/fighter and leader with the rebel group, "The Resistance".

Prince Darwu the rightful heir to the throne is out to avenge the death of his soul mate, Kara. As a child, he witnessed what he thought was her kidnapping and subsequent murder at the hands of "The Resistance". Darwu's life mission has been to destroy the leaders of this group for her murder.

Kara and Darwu re-unite in an unexpected way. She appears at his camp one day offering peace on behalf of "The Resistance but is captured and held prisoner. Kara and Darwu have the age-old struggle of who is in control. He thinks that he can control her because he is man and she refuses to be told what to do because she is after all a princess warrior. The turn of events regarding this power play is quite comical yet captivating.

Ms. Bolton has really outdone herself in her transition from the genre of romance to that of erotica. The characters exude strength, determination, and sexual sensuality. The sexual scenes in this book are very believable. In most cases, Ms. Bolton's words will leave you wanting, panting, and eagerly anticipating your next encounter.

This is not just a book for your to be read pile, it is definitely a MUST read.

Eleanor S. Shields, Black Butterfly Review

I admit when I first begin reading Divine Destiny I was skeptical of how I would enjoy it. But, as I became more engrossed in Prince Darwu's tenacious drive to completely annihilate the rebel Resistance he blamed for the murder of his "Sacred Mate", I was hooked and I'm glad.

Prince Darwu the only child of the King and Queen of Ourlane is known as the Warrior Prince because of his zeal in fighting against The Resistance, those considered traitors to the King's throne. Kara Millan's life is The Resistance ever since her village was destroyed and her parents were killed.

Kara is no weeping damsel, she is a highly trained warrior. But, she is not ready for the real mission her Uncle Rafe has been helping to prepare her for. From the moment Kara enters Prince Darwu's camp and they discover they are "Sacred Mates" they become embroiled in often bitter and dangerously tempestuous emotions of love, loyalty, faith and passion.

There are so many wonderful moments in this SciFi-futuristic novel. I love the spiritual collation between The Divine(good) and the Cultide(evil)I have hopes Ms. Bolton won't keep us waiting long for the next edition to this great reading adventure. I believe Divine Destiny is a TV drama waiting to happen.

This is an absolutely beautiful book ... worth every penny, and frankly more. The illustrations are magnificent and the writing is perfect. It details the entire Easter story in a gentle, tasteful and loving way. Although the story telling is child-like, it includes ALL the details of the entire story and does so in a way that holds even the littlest one's attention, beginning to end. It is told from the donkey's perspective. My 20 month old and my 3 year old both LOVE it and I think it would work well for older children also. I highly recommend this book ... it is one that will become a keepsake and heirloon for years to come.

I was a little skeptical about buying a children's book for $20.00, but I'm glad I took the risk!

The author/illustrator explains it best when he says, "It is the world's greatest story, burning with history, passion, and tragedy. I decided that the best way of expressing this epic drama was to teat it like grand opera, to create the sets and place the characters within them, capturing the symbolism of the Crucifixion and Resurrection in color, shape, and form."

The gold-toned illustrations are absolutely breathtaking. The text is very simple and perfect for our young ones. WE ADORE THIS BOOK!

I was very impressed by the beauty and pathos of this slim volume. Although the story is of Christ's passion, resurrection, and ascension, the story is really through the eyes of the humble donkey which Christ chooses to carry him into Jerusalem. It strikes me that children will be able to connect with the donkey's innocence and faithfulness, as a reflection of the person of Jesus Christ. Of course, it all makes for very interesting theological reflection. If anything, as other readers have mentioned, read it for its simplicity and the beautiful illustrations.

My almost 6 year old son was asking a lot of questions about Easter from what he has learned in Sunday School. I was looking for an Easter book which explained Easter, and the events leading up to Easter, in a simple, yet Biblical way. The book is not too simplistic, nor too complex and wordy. Also, the illustrations are magnificent, and are worth the price of the book alone.

I originally checked this book out from the library for my son last Easter. My husband and I were so impressed we bought it this year for him as a gift. The illustrations positively glow. And, the story line is captivating and easy to follow, unlike other children's versions I've read. It's a beautiful book that my two year-old will continue to enjoy for many Easters to come.

What better way to exprience a nationthan through the lives of it's people. This ultra-connected Canadian and incredibly entertaining writer tells stories that can't be forgotten. A must-read!

Peter Newman is probably Canada's best-known journalist, an editor of MacClean's Magazine and the Toronto Star, and the author of many books about the Canadian establishment. In this autobiography, he tells us how he came to Canada from Czechoslovakia in 1939 as an eleven-year old, and worked his way steadily upward. He has plenty of interesting stories to tell about prominent people in the Canadian establishment that he has personally known in his lifetime, people like Pierre Trudeau and Conrad Black. He is an excellent writer, and I found the book interesting to read.

Peter C. Newman is truly a very remarkable and great Canadian. He is by far the greatest non-fiction writer in Canadian history. Newman is a very remarkable and extraordinary person -- I admire the man !

'Here be Dragons' by Peter C. Newman is without a doubt a very very excellent book -- and that is why it is a Canadian best seller. Mr. Newman has led a very outstanding life and his memoirs speak volumes about the greatness of this man.

As a Canadian I am proud I got a copy of this great book by a great man for Christmas. Peter C. Newman's life life story is one to
admire and at the end of the day I recommend this book because
Mr. Newman is truly a great Canadian !

Peter C. Newman is truly a very remarkable and great Canadian. He is by far the greatest non-fiction writer in Canadian history. Newman is a very remarkable and extraordinary person -- I admire the man !

'Here be Dragons' by Peter C. Newman is without a doubt a very very excellent book -- and that is why it is a Canadian best seller. Mr. Newman has led a very outstanding life and his memoirs speak volumes about the greatness of this man.

As a Canadian I am proud I got a copy of this great book by a great man for Christmas. Peter C. Newman's life life story is one to
admire and at the end of the day I recommend this book because
Mr. Newman is truly a great Canadian !

Biographies are usually dull, because they implicitly brag about the achievements of the rich and powerful and famous and glamorous rather than dealing with a topic that's really important and interesting -- ME !

This book is an exception to the rule.

It's a fascinating story of a once super-privileged Jewish boy whose family escaped pre-war Czechoslovakia because a Roman Catholic priest gave them certificates to slip past the Holocaust. Being Catholics enabled his family to emigrate to Canada, where he became the leading political analyst in newspapers, magazines and books. Like many immigrants, he is more Canadian than most people born in the country; the result is a book written with humour, kindness and a sense of shattering disappointment and disillusion.

Political journalism is a slash-and-burn war in the US, anchored by the pure hatred of right-wing zealots such as Rush Limbaugh and his ilk; or the pompous twits who debate whether dissent to erudite liberal wisdom ranks above or below the grunts of orangutans. In Canada, journalism proves "the emperor has no clothes" by laughing at the foibles, faults, fears and follies of politicians. Newman is a 'Mack the Knife' artist, he doesn't use the blunt force trauma of a California Terminator. Newman wielded the best scalpel in Canadian journalism for decades, and he did so with such skill that his victims never felt obliged to drop him from their Christmas card list. In this book, he provides the delicious details of how it was done,.

But it's much more.

Think of Newman as an intelligent Garrison Keillor, who talks for 20-minutes every week about the inanities of ordinary folks in Lake Woebegone. Newman tells even better stories about the motivations of the rich and powerful leaders of America's largest trading partner (the single largest source of foreign oil, for example). Newman's harshest criticism is of his own shortcomings, not the faults of the unworthy villains writhing on the point of his pen. But he also portrays the absolute perfidy of some Canadian politicians, the devils who make any US president look saintly by comparison. It's the approach many wish they could have used against newman 40 years ago.

A few years ago, Newman visited the Theresienstadt concentration camp where most of his relatives died. He also saw10 names the same as his -- Peta Neumann -- ranging in age from 10 months to 10 years. This is what he escaped in a series of events that would put the film world to shame. But this is not another Holocaust book; it is a story of a life that soared to greatness when nourished by the freedom of Canada. Instead of the "scorched earth" journalism of the US which I favoured, he used humour to puncture the hubris of the high and haughty. In the US, humour is often acerbic. Newman embodies the definition by Stephen Leacock, "the essence of humour is human kindliness", but he accompanies it all with his penetrating analysis of Canadian politics.

To understand the soul of Canada today, this is the prime guidebook.

It's written by a man who knows how to love; a combination of pure exhilaration and crushing despair that creates true passion. Instead of the polls and poltroons of modern politics, Newman's focus is on the feelings and meanings of public service. I've known him since the 1970s, and we've been in the like sport for decades, though I've never worked with or for him (he does quote me briefly in the book). Based on my career, I can honestly say this is the book of a master craftsman gifted with a rare insight, sensitivity and acumen.

It's liable to infuriate many Canadians, who tend to be very sensitive about having their political idols described as emperors without clothes. For that reason, it's probably the best book about Canada written within the last 50 years. Newman reflects the finest principle of honest journalism, "Comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable".

"In The Fullness of Time" is an updated version of a trilogy on early Christianity written by the historian Paul L. Maier. Part I covers the Christmas story, Part II covers Easter, and Part III takes readers from Pentacost to Nero's persecutions. I had previously read and enjoyed a number of Maier's fictional works and I had high expectations for this non-fiction work. I was not disappointed.
The book is a fast read and the author kept my interest. Each section was concise though informative. Information about the region's climate and background stories of some of the key players helped flesh out the familiar story. The book also contains numerous photographs to help the reader visualize the places the author is writting about. Maier avoids sensationally radical theories or over-literalism that mar many works on the same subject. Overall, an enjoyable book about the rise of Christianity.

Pail Maier, a expert in ancient history, has written a great book. from my understanding is that, this book was three different books now put into one. If you are a new Christian, you need this book. If you read this book as a new believer, you will have a better grasp of the background of the NT in reading this book, than going to a expositional preaching church for two years. It will lay a great foundation for your walk with the living Christ. If you a long time believer, and have not read this book, you should, for it will open your eyes, to the NT. Dr. Maier goes into the Christmas story, Easter Sunday and the early church. Great book.

Maier does a good job putting Christmas and Easter into their appropriate historical contexts. Lots of good information that helps to place both into perspective.

The third part of the book, on the early church, is not as well done. There is less historical and archaelogical information brought into play. It was still pretty good, just not as good as the first two sections.

Still, I would recommend this book as one to help build a foundation.

Paul Maier is a truly gifted lecturer. I've had the pleasure of watching two of his videos and if I lived anywhere near Western Michigan University, I'd sneak into the back of his classroom (he is a member of the history faculty there) on a regular basis - he has a gift for making the First Century A.D. accessible.

"In the Fullness of Time" continues this tradition. Maier has basically consolidated 3 other books into one larger volume (with a few changes) and he discusses the first Christmas, the first Easter and the ministries of the early Apostles, especially Paul and Peter.

Maier does a great job of bringing actual documentation that supports the stories of Christmas, Easter and the Book of Acts. He includes the works of Roman and Jewish historians, explains Roman and Jewish religious and political practices and deals with alternate theories that have been proposed. While this could be dry reading, Maier makes it lively and this volume reads more like a novel than a textbook.

So, who is this book for? If you are a well-read Christian who has looked into many of the facts that back the New Testament as it is written on your own, you won't find much new ground covered in this book. The internet has lots of this information scattered about. However, you are unlikely to find sources as concise and as well-written as this one. Plus, if you are interested in further research, it is well-documented with tons of footnotes.

If you are a new Christian or are newly interested in the history behind Christianity, this is a powerful introduction.

I give this one a grade of "A"

Maybe it's because I enjoy reading historical literature... or maybe I am facinated by the notion the Gospel accounts are historical in nature. Paul Maier has done a wonderful job combining backround historical context, archeological artifacts, and a clear logical approach into a credible and refreshing look at what is was like to: experience the first Christmas, the first Easter, and what it was like for the early Christians after the resurrection. This is surprisingly enjoyable read.

After reading Stuhlmann's poignant introduction, it was impossible for me to read any further. Stuhlman included a few lines of the correspondence between Henry Miller and Anais Nin. After reading just these few lines and seeing the depth of love between these two people, I felt that reading their letters would be like taking a photograph that steals the soul of the subject.

Maybe later I will be able to read their letters, but not now.

("No, if I have not written about Louveciennes it is only because I am not writing history, I am making it. I am so aware of the fateful, destined character of this Louveciennes...What I was thinking tonight is that Louveciennes becomes fixed historically in the biographical record of my life, for from Louveciennes dates the most important epoch of my life." -- Henry Miller. We all have a Louveciennes. Mine was Pateley Bridge.)

Big fan of these two, but more of a Henry Miller fan personally. The letters bring Henry Miller out of his fiction/novels and bring him into the realm where Nin was in writing her Diaries. Good for that reason, two lovers but volatile ones. Testing sexual boundaries is a touchy thing, after all.

Forget Nin's works of fiction, the journals, letters, and life are truly worth experiencing over and over again for their honesty, passion, and viewing the internal turned external for our benefit. Everyone knows of Miller's and Nin's relationhip, through "Henryand June" if anything, but it is through this work that we see them less as romantic figures and more as humans capable of the idiocy, devotion, and prolongation of things we should all end and just don't for whatever reason. This is a great buy if you are a lover a letters. Reading "Fire" is a must, however.

Like many others, I have been fascinated with and frustrated by Anais Nin for many years, since reading the first volume of her expurgated diary in 1977.

This volume of letters enables the reader who has already read other versions of the Nin-Miller story to form additional conclusions about what might actually have happened. Because the letters were sent into the possession of others, they were less subject to the constant revision and reinvention that bedevils all attempts to determine objective facts about the mercurial Nin.

If you are not already an amateur historian of literary trends of the 1930's, fear not. The letters are worth reading as an introduction to Anais Nin and Henry Miller as well, for they depict a real-life romance conducted by two who absolutely relished the game and were highly articulate in dramatically different ways.

Whatever you may think of her writing, Anaïs Nin was definitely a femme fatale. Henry Miller was, he claimed, the "happiest man alive." Together, Nin and Miller created a literary language for sexual fulfillment; she in a diary whose original form still remains unpublished, he in novels banned in both the United States and England until court cases in the early 1960s permitted their publication and turned Miller into something Nin had already achieved: the status of a cult hero.

Nin and Miller met in Paris in 1931. Miller, an aspiring novelist, wanted to meet the banker's pretty wife who had sung the praises of D.H. Lawrence and whose books had been deemed "pornography" outside of France. Neither Nin nor Miller, at that point, had published much. Their mutual interest, as they freely admit, was in sex and in each other and, consequently, they began a long affair.

It was during this affair that both Nin and Miller produced their finest writing--the writings that would eventually become Nin's two diaries and her novel, House of Incest, as well as Miller's Tropic of Cancer and Black Spring. Each believed in, and nurtured, the others genius and Miller wrote that Nin's diary would take its place "beside the revelations of St. Augustine, Petronius, Abelard, Proust and others."

Miller, only forty-one, but already somewhat down-and-out, fascinated the twenty-nine year old Nin, whose vague yearnings filled the many pages of the diary she had been keeping since the age of ten. "He's a man who makes life drunk. He is like me," she mused. Nin and Miller, however, were not alike. One of their most essential differences was a difference typical between men and women--Nin censored herself, while the world censored Miller.

Published in 1963, Nin's diary caused a literary sensation. It was begun as a letter to her father, a man who abandoned the family when Nin was only ten, and it remained intensely private. Revised into frequent distortions, the diary was a record of a compulsion to conceal as much as of a quest for feminine fulfillment. A mixture of fact, fantasy and calculated lies, Nin's editor asserts that the diary nevertheless presents a "psychological" truth. Kate Millett hailed Nin as "the mother of us all" and the women's movement immediately embraced her writings. Author Erica Jong said that no woman had told "the story of women's sexuality" more honestly than had Nin.

Despite the praise, if we read between the lines, while still observing Nin's frenetic whirl from bed to bed, we come to realize that she was really never satisfied. Her insatiable appetite aside, Nin was, at heart, a prudish libertine. Her childhood molestation by her father, whom she, herself, seduced as an adult a year after meeting Henry Miller, seems to have contributed greatly to her private inhibitions. Although she flitted from bed to bed she sadly confessed, "I am hellishly lonely." Instead of sex, Nin longed for "what I give Henry: this constant attentiveness."

In the "Black Lace Laboratory," as Miller's apartment was dubbed, Nin and Miller conducted literary and erotic experiments, prompting Nin to write him a thinly disguised warning to herself, "Beware just a little of your hypersexuality!" Toward the end of his life, unable to write about women except as prostitutes, Miller claimed not to know what the sexual revolution was about, saying that he had always loved and honored women. Nin agreed, saying that Miller was a romantic, rather than a rake. At eighty, Miller confessed that far too many people engaged in sex without love.

Basking in the warmth of Nin's caresses, her skilled editing of his work, and the material possessions she lavished upon him, Miller wrote prolifically and with a rare genius. Eventually, his romance with Nin faded (or warmed) into friendship, but the legacy of their literary teamwork remained: In 1974, Nin was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters. The Los Angeles Times names her Woman of the Year in 1976, the same year Henry Miller received France's Legion d'honneur. The 1990 movie, Henry and June is a chronicle of Miller's affair with Nin, which later became a triangle involving Miller's wife, June.

Nin and Miller have become cultural icons. Nin is the focus of women's study courses as well as being included in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations. Miller and his work need no comment. Although both Nin and Miller were pioneers of free speech and sexual freedom, and both helped to forge a new literature and a new culture, the ultimate emptiness of their lives, with its attendant lack of depth and meaning point to the futility of their attempt to wrest security and happiness from sexuality alone.

It seems that the Library Journal review of Jeff Gunhus's "No Parachute Required" is rather mean-spirited, to say the least. It is seldom that one reads a book review in which the reviewer cannot cite any merit to the piece, and that makes one uneasy. The reviewer seems to take particular offense to the title and marketing, which she sees as a jab at the fine work of Richard Bolles, a motivator and guru with decades of experience. Perhaps it can be argued that the title slyly acknowledges Bolles as the standard.

I am a recently retired veteran of a thirty-year career in student advising and employer relations, including positions as Assistant Dean/Director of Career Services at UCLA, Southwestern University School of Law, and Loyola Law School. I have never met Mr. Gunhus, but was asked by him, via telephone, to look over an early draft and was subsequently contacted by the publisher to make a statement on an advance proof. I therefore feel qualified to speak about the unfairness of a cranky reviewer and, more importantly, able to state that the book has considerable merit. It is a book that speaks to its own generation, and that is one of its strengths. It is a young man's book about young people interested in entrepreneurial and creative careers, and the plain need to earn a paycheck, and it speaks forcefully and well.

Like most business-side writers, as opposed to academics or career services professionals, Mr. Gunhus speaks about his business and the lessons from that work. This seems valid enough. His use of quotes is a common motivational technique, and any quote-adverse reader can ignore the insets easily enough. I found them to be well-chosen when I read the final piece.

College grads and twenty- or thirty-somethings considering business or creative work frequently fall into passivity and confusion. This is understandable because of the complexity of choices, and the increased anxious parental pressures. Mr. Gunhus's enthusiasm about goal-setting and having faith in oneself is energizing to read. Perhaps this quality is what struck the Library Journal reviewer as excess, but the examples she presents of the author's advice seem to misrepresent his viewpoint.

The sharp sword of a book reviewer completing a critique by indicating that it is nap time for her may be a shade too trite, even harsh, to make some entirely trust her good faith as a critic. "No Parachute Required" is solid, standard career-planning and job-search material from a pleasing and lively author. It should be appealing to the under-35 audience without a childhood job dream in place. In this reviewer's opinion, it is well-written prose and should sell extremely nicely to the intended audience.

For a very young working man to research and draft a book, sell it to a publisher, and have a highly competitive piece in a saturated career-guide market is reason enough to trust his advice and purchase and read the book.

I just recently finished this book, and all I can say is "WOW!" Jeff Gunhus writes in a very straightforward, down-to-earth style that is very conversational. It's like having a wise older friend show you the ropes in life.

Filled with inspiring quotes, the book made me excited about life and about career choices. Having grown up a great deal in the past few years out of college (I'm 25), pretty much everything Gunhus wrote rang true for me. Trust me, you younguns' still in college can USE THIS BOOK! If I had read it, it might have saved me from a lot of heartache and depression, upon graduating from university with a 3.8 GPA and being totally unable to find a job in my field (that challenged and motivated me.)

This book is a great investment. It's very inspirational, and gets you excited about life. Most importantly, YOUR LIFE. Mr. Gunhus pulls no punches. He makes it clear to the reader that if you want success and happiness, YOU MUST PURSUE IT. Cuz it ain't gonna just come to you, folks! That perfect job isn't gonna come a'knockin' on your door!

One of the most useful parts of the book to me was the section on resumes and cover letters. You must be tenacious and direct in order to get a job these days. BUY THIS BOOK and you'll be on your way!

PS: I also thought the first book reviewer wasn't too wise. I think Mr. Gunhus' book title is amusing and truthful. That other "parachute" book was boring to me, a young person.

As I get closer to graduation I have some serious concerns about what comes next: Do I go straight to graduate school? Do I get a job, but what kind? Do I do both? No Parachute Required has given me the inspiration to grab my diploma and then take charge of my life. I now feel I have the tools I need to turn what I learned in class into something meaningful for my future. I only wish I had read this book a few years ago, while I was still in school ... I think I would have done a few things differently.

The Job market is slowing down. Getting rich out of college is a myth. Gunhus's book helps prepare students for the reality of job hunting and helps them package themselves for the future.

Tired of mundane career jargon? Then jump into No Parachute Required!!! I loved its every page as I found a truer view of not only getting a job, but also getting a lifestyle that I love living. Don't buy this book if you want to sit in a cubicle for the next 15 yrs. Only buy this book if you want to step outside the box of a normal job search and into an open world of opportunity.

Very efficient with delievery and a book in excellent condition. I thank you .Our son reads alot and we were pleasently surprised in ALL areas of this transaction.

I am a new fan of the clash and just fell in love with them one day. Wanting to know more about this band, I bought this book and was blown away!! I honestly couldn't put the thing down. It really gives an insightful history of the band and really made me like them even more. If you love the clash this book is worth every cent. Buy it!!!

I just got it a week ago. I CANNOT put it down. Well written and a lot of great facts that I never knew about. For example: Did you know that Joe Strummer's first guitar was actually originally owned by Pete Townshend?

A great,detailed and thorough history of The greatest Punk band ever. This is a MUST READ for anyone interested in the origin of contemporary rock music. The author delves into the personal history of the band members from childhood on. Pat Gilbert obviously has a passion for The Clash as every band today should and probably does. This book is an amazing overview, easy to read and impossible to put down. I bought this for myself but my 14yr. old son "permanently borrowed" it from me, reading it like crazy(he's not fond of reading) and I couldn't be happier.
Thank you Pat Gilbert for writing this awesome book!!!!!

This review applies to the 2004 hardcover edition. I knew a reasonable amount about The Clash before reading this book but the author here opened my eyes to a number of things and helped to confirm some of my ideas and reject others.

This is an academic book in the sense that any university sociology or history department type would or should respect the high standard of scholarship here - painstaking research involving interviews with a large number of band friends, business associates and childhood and youth buddies - and objective and intelligent analysis throughout. Although the research is detailed and Gilbert takes the subject matter seriously, the writing is still lively and captivating.

The book first traces the childhoods, youth days and former bands of all members individually which is fascinating and well researched. A lot of this information would be new to even the diehard fans. It's fascinating to read about and see a picture of Mick Jones' gran's 18th floor council flat in South London overlooking the Westway - where Mick "practised daily in my room" according to the song Stay Free. We also get to learn about Mick's close friend, also written about in Stay Free, who in real life did serve time for a bank robbery offence.

The art-school beginnings and the "squatting days" in early 1970s London (living in vacated houses under the Westway without paying rent) and the members' pre-Clash bands are well documented. Overall, Gilbert does an excellent job in helping the reader recreate in his/her mind the world of 1970s South London where the Clash story was played out. That is one of the book's great strengths in my opinion.

The book demolishes some punk myths, but keeps others alive. Firstly, the book demolishes the cherished idea that The Pistols and The Clash were working-class lads who met up, decided to form a band, and sing about social and political topics. There is some element of truth in that idealised view. However, the bands' respective managers, Malcolm McLaren of The Pistols and Bernie Rhodes of The Clash, clearly manufactured the bands to a certain extent based on their personal visions of what they wanted to achieve. Joe clearly understood this and was willing to co-operate with Rhodes to achieve common goals - but Mick was less supportive, being more of a traditional old-time rocker.

Gilbert clearly describes the social changes affecting Britain in the late 70s - the rise to power of the Thatcher right-wing government and the first wave of West Indian immigrants into London (and especially Brixton). We see how all band members had a genuine and sincere desire for racial harmony - they were fascinated by Jamaican reggae music and later New York hip hop. The bands' involvement in anti-racism gigs and sharing the stage with acts such as Bo Diddley and Micky Dread were extremely influential in contributing to the unity of the streets.

Another Clash myth that the book does not debunk but strengthens is their closeness to the fans and genuine warmth they felt towards the fans and vice-versa. However, the bitter infighting and bad vibes involving Joe, Mick and Paul often seemed to take the joy out of their lives and the book exposes this fully. It ultimately led to Mick's sacking at the hands of Joe, Paul and Bernie.

Other highlights are detailed descriptions of the recording sessions that led to each album and brief song-by-song descriptions (however, the focus on the actual music is fairly brief - the book is more a study of people and society).

Producer Guy Stevens' drunken chair-smashing antics during the London Calling sessions are hilariously recounted. His crazy energy probably contributed to the eclectic joy that London Calling produced. The details of the football games during the London Calling sessions are also interesting. The orange mohawked Japanese guys they met playing football in the London park - who knew every note of every Clash song (and Joe's cynical reaction to them, in contrast to the other band members) - also is humorous in my opinion.

Lastly, we are also are given a rare insight into The Clash Mark II. The three young band members who replaced Mick and Topper are all interviewed. Naturally they were dissapointed with certain aspects of the Mark II experience - but they don't seem bitter and it doesn't seem that they were treated totally badly (at least not by the band - by Bernie Rhodes maybe). In my opinion "This is England" (from 1985) ranks in The Top 3 Clash songs of all time. Good to get an insight into this less-publicised and once-denied stage of the band's existence. It almost makes me want to go out and buy Cut the [...]!!

I enjoyed my trip to the world of South London that Gilbert offered and South London became a better place I'm sure due to the huge influence of Joe, Mick, Topper and Paul. Stay free...

See also my soon to be published paper:
James, K. (forthcoming). "'This is England': Punk Rock's Realist/ Idealist Dialectic and its Implication for Critical Accounting Education", Accounting Forum, doi:10.1016/j.accfor.2008.01.002 (available at www.sciencedirect.com or by contacting me at kieran_james@yahoo.com (Kieran James)).