Shadow The Books

I found this book to be one of, if not *the* best book I have ever read on the subject of illness. Susan Griffin writes from experience, and yet manages to write an objective, thoughtful book on illness and what it means to society. Although New Age prides itself in having escaped the restrictive judgments of past centuries, and mind/body philosophies and metaphysics portray themselves as more enlightened, Susan exposes the underlying hypothesis for what it is--the same old moralism: "If you think the right thoughts, you won't be ill." "You are ill because there is something for you to learn." We still want to believe, she points out, that we are greater than Nature, that we are in control. Yet, anyone who has had a chronic or severe illness knows how very little control we do have. Perhaps, after all, New Age is just another way of dealing with the knowledge that someday, no matter how good we are, we all will suffer and die.

As a sufferer of CIFIDS, I found it wonderful to read about someone else's experiences with the disease, and to know that the things I experience are not in my head, after all. Griffin's book brought tears to my eyes more than once, as her comparison of her experiences to those of Marie Duplessis is both beautiful and painful. This book had a powerful effect on me, one that I can't really put in words. All I can say is: Thank You!

This is one of the most eloquent books I have read on the subject of chronic illness, in particular chronic illness which is not easily identified: "invisible illness, Susan calls it. She writes with authority because she has walked in those shoes. When standing in line and feeling totally exhausted because of her illness, another woman is wheeled to the front of the line in a wheelchair. Thus the perfect illustration of the difficulty. She uses the classic Dumas novel "Camille" to illustrate the status of the sufferer, and the reaction of those surrounding her. This is a book of perspective, and one that should be read by anyone in the caring professions, and anyone with a loved one who has an "invisible" illness.

his book was excellent. I bought it because someone I love and care about has an addiction to pornography. It helped me understand the situation without exposing me to all sorts of dirty images or ideas. It gets right to the point and it offers hope to people who may be struggling with this problem. It has given me some good ideas about how to help my loved one and I am hopeful that after the read it they will have a great desire to change and more hope that they can successfully kick this habit.

This book provided a straight forward and clear assessment of a challenging topic. I work with many youth and found this to be a one of a kind resource - there is not much out there that tackles this issue for teens or young adults (without being inappropriate that is). I would highly recommend it to anyone who is needing a good understanding of this issue or who works with youth or has teens in the home.

What's the Big Deal About Pornography? A Guide for the Internet Generation

Well written and an easy read on an important topic. This book is an excellent resource for youth and youth leaders and parents. It deals with the issue head-on, explaining why pornography is a problem and how it affects individuals, and what can be done to address the problem. The 12 suggestions for parents are particularly helpful.

Alexander Hinton obviously put heart and soul into this work. Our intellectual side never ceases trying to understand the beast that lies deep within every human.

The chapter entitled "Manufacturing Difference" touched me most. Today we invent sterile legalistic terms like "person under control" [PUC] and "enemy combatant" [EC] to replace "prisoner" to avert our consciences from the denials of due process. Labels are just as important to us as they are to "evil doers," it appears. The self-imposed and external pressures that influenced the behavior of Khmer Rouge interrogators are described in some depth, and help explain our own recent failures and abuses.

The chapter "Power, Patronage, and Suspicion" is rich with fascinating examples from post Khmer Rouge Cambodia. Upon reflection, we see the same instinct to curry the patronage of powerful political figures is alive and well in today's America. Once again, we start off studying what we assume is a more primitive society only to end up shining a light upon our own human failings. Somehow our own faults are held deeply submerged, probably because of the same instinctive self-defense tools which the "perpetrators" employ when asked, "Why did you kill?"

The leaders of genocide always appear to me to be simple power seekers who have an instinctive sense of the tools of human control. Strange how the "godless" Khmer Rouge and the Taliban "student seekers of God" were so alike. I cannot stare into the vacant eyes of one without thinking of the other. The common perpetrator hides within each of us under the label "cowardice." As David Chandler explained so well in his own masterful work on S-21, when men attach themselves to a bureaucracy they place themselves in a "state of agency" which allows them to do evil for self-interest and self-preservation while evading their own conscience in the process. One who finds himself obedient and "moveable" in terms of his principles is a prime candidate to find in himself the perpetrator of shameful acts.

Along the path of this penetrating study, Alexander Hinton has done a wonderful job annotating the twisted Khmer Rouge terminology which still never fails to send a chill down my spine.

I read "Why did they kill?" trying to use it as a mirror to see if I could recognize my own face. As I feared, some shadows were all too familiar.

Deep and deeply disturbing study of genocide and of Cambodia. This book is essential reading - easily the most insightful work on the motivations of people which give rise to genocide and a mine of information on the origins, history and consequences of the period. A superbly researched and well-written study. Anybody interested in what happened in these years in Cambodia, as well as anybody interested in what motivates societies and the individuals that constitute those societies to act as they do should read this book - but be aware that the book may also be a mirror.

Why Did They Kill?: Cambodia In The Shadow Of Genocide by Alexander Laban Hinton (Associate professor of Anthropology, Rutgers University, Newark) explores the cultural and political underpinnings of one the most heinous holocausts of the twentieth century, perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia from April 1975 to January 1979. Approximately twenty percent of Cambodia's population died due to starvation, malnutrition, disease, and outright execution due to the drastic policies the Khmer Rouge implemented trying to transform the nation into a purely agrarian state. The Khmer Rouge regime was unusual among genocidal states in that, though it did target muslim, Chinese, and Vietnamese citizens, much of the killing was ethnic Khmer exterminating ethnic Khmer, a perplexing feature that sets it apart from many ethnicity or religion-based genocide situations. Indeed, the Khmer purged so many of its own cadres that its destructive ways weakened itself and contributed to its downfall when Vietnam invaded. Why Did They Kill? strives to answer its title question drawing upon the author's extensive anthropological study and expertise, and includes numerous interviews and testimonies, as well as insights into human psychology and sociology. Why Did They Kill? postulates that societies can be "primed" for genocide when saturated by certain features such as severe class distinctions, the absence of an international response, moral restructuring, socioeconomic uphevals and more, and then "activated" into mass killing by various triggers, especially idealogues who spread a climate of fear to induce violence. Chilling yet meticulous in its search for answers, "Why Did They Kill?" is an absolute must-read for scholars and lay people alike striving to understand genocide in Cambodia as well as the horrific underpinnings and workings of so-called "idealogical genocide" in general.

An artist, John Denton becomes obsessed with the image of a beautiful red-haired woman, a dream woman whose portrait he finds himself painting over and over again. She haunts his dreams, sometimes inviting, sometimes threatening. When John takes a job in the Canadian wilderness, he discovers his dream woman in the flesh -- but all is not well. She's under the brutal spell of the ghost of a dad ancestor. And John is the target victim of that long dead malevolence. Recommended reading, Gabriel Sinclair's The Woman Of Shadow Creek is a deftly written novel that gripes the imagination and attention of the reader from first page to last.

This book is different from all of the books I have read. It is very well written and the authors style is great.

My name is Don Bell and I am using this account.
There is never a dull moment in the book. I enjoyed more than current bestsellers.

Robin Robertson has a real knack for explaining the complexities of Jungian psychology in a straightforward, even comfortably casual way, without ever dumbing it down. And in this slim but informative volume on the Shadow, he's in top form. Using vivid analogies, as well as experiences from his own life, he takes us into the depths of the Psyche & introduces us to the Shadow, the part of ourselves we tend to fear, deny, and project onto others rather than face outright. Not only that, but he makes clear that the Shadow isn't simply our "evil" side, but everything about ourselves that we've refused to acknowledge & accept -- including many positive things that can lead to personal growth, if we only have to courage to go through the darkest places to claim them.

The unfortunate cover might put some potential readers off, looking something less than slick & professional -- but isn't that what the prospect of facing the Shadow does anyway? We tend to judge by outer appearances too quickly sometimes, especially when we project our own fears outward. Just look a little more deeply within, and you'll discover that there's treasure to be found. Highly recommended!

Concise, easy-to-read, and practical introduction / layman's guide to the Jungian concept of the Shadow self.

Robertson avoids the stuffy, technical writing so often found when reading about Jung's ideas, and instead presents the material in a very down-to-earth manner, - aimed squarely at the average reader.

And unlike other materials I've read on this topic, Robertson's purpose is to give the reader some practical ways that they can begin to acknowledge and re-integrate their Shadow.

Quick, worthwhile read!

This is a marvelous book of wisdom about the hidden side of human nature, told in a deceptively simple style through engaging stories, and illustrated by drawings that arrest our attention and add a new dimension to the text. Wonderful. --Allan Combs; author of "Synchronicity: Science, Myth, and the Trickster"

There's a lot written about war and, increasingly, about the lingering effects of war, fighting, and fear on the psyche. Battle trauma and post-traumatic stress syndrome have been increasingly well documented. It's not only male writers who've tackled the subject. Pat Barker's painfully luminous novels about the First World War come to mind, and Susan Griffin wrote an outstanding and unclassifiable book, A Chorus of Stones about public and private wars in her family. But Betsy Howell's brave and beautiful memoir of two important American wars through the eyes, words, and memories of her great-great-grandfather, a Union soldier in the Civil War, and her father, a paratrooper in Normandy in WWII, is something special. Not content to just read through her great-great-grandfather's war diary, she donned a uniform herself and became a Civil War re-enactor, toting a musket and even wearing a fake beard for a few battles. These passages of the memoir are hilarious at times; but the book ultimately has a deeply serious task--to come to terms with how war may have affected her father, James Howell, and contributed to his alcoholism. Howell's relationship with her delightful but damaged father as a child and as a young adult are touchingly told. I admired the research that went into backgrounding and shaping this story, and even more admired how Howell isn't afraid to mine her past for the truth about her family. She obviously loves the place she grew up--the Northwest--the Civil War, and her parents, and all that love and curiosity enriches and balances a story about soldiers and what happens to them and their loved ones. I really recommend it.

This is an amazing work of narrative non-fiction. I was riveted from the first page. Ms Howells' prose is elegant without being prosaic; tender without being sappy, and literary without talking above the reader. The most exciting thing about this work is the way she links three different time periods together so seemlessly that you are spirited into each world without hesitation. I have never read a book that captures the impact of war on men, on women and on families in such a personal way. It is a journey anyone who has been impacted by any war should take. Truly hearthbreaking while also breathing hope into the simple experience of memory. A joy on every level.

One of the things I've always loved about the adventures of Psi-Judge Anderson is that her stories really could take place in any time period or locale. The fact that they take place in the post-holocaust 22nd century of Mega-City One is often incidental. While the More well known Judge Dredd often deals with high-tech plots, mutants, etc..., Anderson's stories are often tinged with more horror than Sci-Fi elements. This is certainly the case with the second book in the Anderson series from The Black Library, "Red Shadows" which is a terrific serial killer mystery that has Anderson and the rest of the Judges completely befuddled.

William Ganz seems to be killing his victims at random from a list he carries. All he knows is that all of them have a red aura about them. He can see this because he is a powerful psychic, not only able to see people's auras, but because he is also a Tele-Dominant, and able to force people to do his bidding, and to make them see what he wants them to see. The murders become increasingly brutal. Even longtime Judges are shocked by the savagery of the killer. The victims all have their throats cut, some have all their organs removed or limbs hacked off. Clearly this is one very ticked-off murderer. When Anderson psi-scans the dead victims to see what they saw before they died, she has images of a delivery man bringing flowers or candy, yet each time it's a different looking man, and yet surveillance cameras never see any such delivery man.

It is only after several murders that Anderson discovers the man's incredible psychic powers...powers which he uses to murder two Judges, and powers which may be even greater than Anderson's. That's not the worse thing though...the killer has now seen Anderson, and her aura glows with the brightest red he's ever seen. Now he's forgotten about the rest of the names on his list and is setting his sights on Judge Anderson.

"Red Shadows" was a fantastic, and thoroughly grisly story. Be warned that the murders and murder scenes are quite graphic as writer Mitchel Scanlon pulls no punches. For perhaps the first time we see Anderson truly in doubt and in fear. Once Ganz goes after Anderson it's a great game of cat and mouse that Scanlon delivers with the skill of seasoned mystery writer. "Red Shadows" was a thrill to read and I hope to see more from Scanlon.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

By the year 2126, atomic war has decimated humanity and the world is a bleak wasteland, inhabited by mutants and freaks. Most people live in vast, walled cities. Boredom, unemployment, and crime is sky high. The authorities must use an iron fist to keep the 400 million citizens in check. Justice is upheld by the implacable Judges. They are empowered to act as judge, jury, and executioner. Radioactivity has given some people dangerous talents: telekinetics, pyromaniacs, telepaths, and more. It is the Psi Division's task to do what the regular judges cannot: deal with supernatural phenomena and hunt mutant psychics down. Its ranks are comprised of telepaths and psychics, able to scan minds, even those recently deceased. Psi-Judge Cassandra Anderson is the best in the division.

The Necropolis Event (in "Fear the Darkness") ranked alongside the Apocalypse War as one of the worst disasters to have ever befallen Mega-City One. Judge Edward Weller still has nightmares because of it. It is also why he despises all psychics, even psi-judges. And Psi-Judge Anderson, in Weller's opinion, is the worst, simply because she is the best in the Psi Division. Needless-to-say, Weller is NOT happy when he finds out Anderson is assigned to assist in his case.

Psi-Judge Cassandra Anderson hunts a teledominant. This serial killer mentally dominates the minds of other people and makes them believe anything he wants them to. Every time Anderson scans a victim's mind, she sees only what the victim saw. Since the victims saw only what the killer wanted them to, Anderson has no idea as to what the killer looks like. To make matters worse, Judge Weller's prejudice ways keeps him from sharing vital information with Anderson. Yet even when they find out who the killer is, they must still find the person who is pulling the killer's strings.

***** Author Mitchel Scanlon often mentions names some of today's famous people or film characters within this series. They are slight, little mentions that many readers may not even notice. But for big fantasy and sci-fi fans, like myself, you will get a chuckle each time one of them jumps out at you. Other than this, the author keeps his sense of humor under wraps and gives his readers some of the best futuristic fantasies of the year. Author Mitchel Scanlon has a new fan in me! Fabulous! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Robert Lovett's book is different from many watercolor books that simply show a picture and have a brief blurb on the picture.
Lovett has a very thorough and systematic way of teaching and explains each lesson in great depth. This book tackles the key elements of creating an effective painting and shows probably over 100 of Lovett's paintings. Lovett is a gifted teacher and painter and his book is highly effective. Lovett has a very colorful, yet traditional painting style, so if you are looking for experimental or california school loose, look elsewhere.

When buying online, its sometimes hard to know what is inside the book that makes it special. I have tried to outline parts of this books to give you a better idea of what it's about and how things are taught.

This book is an excellent tool for learning about planning a painting and factors that influence a strong vs weak design. The books stated goal is to help artists avoid common design errors and "learn the 15 things that comproise the 'how' and 'why' of design. Beginning with a subject and it's sketch, Lovett teaches the steps of designing the painting and "arranging the marks, shapes, colors and tones." The book is filled with vivid illustrations and step-by-step demonstrations.

After a brief chapter on materials, Chapter 2 teaches "the how and why of design--the 15 things you should know, explained and illustrated." Then, the 7 Tools of Design are explained--line, shape, tonal value, size, color, texture, and direction. The "why" encompasses 8 things--unity, contrast, dominance, repetition, alternation, harmony, gradation, balance.

Lovett takes several beautiful and varied paintings and explains the tools of design in each that give it strength, unity, and interest. The tools of design for each painting are explained, and then the "design plan" of each is explained---the marks on the paper, and how those marks will be arranged--example:--unity, contrast, dominance, repetition, alternation, harmony, gradation, balance. Lovett then goes on to explain how contrast can be the layout, but making one tone, value, shape, etc more dominant than the other can create unity.

HE then takes different paintings and explains the "main arrangement" of the design (ex: unity, contrast, etc.) He shows such examples as using a dominantly wet-wet method in a painting, but then saving the center of interest to be painted with sharper, dry, crisp edges to contrast. Also, the harmony of color, gradation of colors from the top to bottom of painting and using contrast of light to make it a well-designed painting

PART 3 of the book is on "Training Yourself to Plan Your Painting". It begins with Chapter 3 on "Seizing the essence of your subject with sketches."---choosing subjects, choosing the best light, choosing to draw, choosing total recall. Next--Painting on Location---the factors the interfere with concentration and the need to "simplify the subject." Lovett states, "You must learn to see the subject as simple masses of tonal value.." Lovett encourages the reader to try to draw small subjects directly in watercolor without any preliminary pencil work as a training tool.

Lovett teaches about what the painter needs to study about the subject he plans to paint---the direction of light, the viewpoint, the lack of detail, the different shapes, the scale, the color and tone. Each of these is explained with a small example painting

Chapter 4 is about Planning the picture--how you want it to look when it is finished--the arrangement of light and tonal values and how to make a tonal value plan, color plan--what will be the dominant color, where to place a small patch of complementary color, what color would harmonize the dominant color, etc.. He explains "a simple way to select a harmonious color scheme". Lovett shows a photo of a scene and then illustrates a tonal drawing of it, then how he uses different color sketches to change the mood.

Next--"Plan your attack"---choosing paper, wet-wet, dry brush, edges, tonal value arrangement, etc., each with examples of his work to make a point.

Next--Lovett demonstrates how he sets the tonal key with the first wash and follows with further steps of making contrast of tone and color

Chapter 5 is "Designing with Perspective" where he explains how to establish the vanishing point, basic principles of perspective. Lovett then shows a series of stepped demonstrations of paintings of buildings in Venice. Lovett explains how he uses perspctive and planning ahead to draw the eye to a certain part of the painting.

Lovett's book explains further on how different elements of a painting contributes to the whole, and demonstrates what happens when design elements are removed from a painting. Next 6 Step-by-Step demonstrations are given, each with a clearly stated objective of the the demonstration, the technique used (ex: wet on dry), the tools and arrangements in action, materials the artist used including pallette, brushes, paper. Each demonstration covers a different strategy (ex: " Placing Color in the Area of Most Interest"...."Designing with Color Temperature and Line"...etc. These beautiful paintings are done of scenes in Italy and Wales.

Chapter 7 is "Designing for Mountains and Rivers", where Lovett again gives Step-by-Step demonstrations with a clearly organized objective, techniques, tools (ex: repetition, shape, color contrast, balance, value) used, and materials used. In the mountain scene of New Zealand, Lovett explains how the repeating triangular shapes of the mountains is what caught his eye, aside from the overall breathtaking scene..

Next, a River painting demonstration.
Later in the book, Designing Seascapes, harbors, and boats.
Then, Designing still life and interiors--all with demonstrations and clear objectives, and tools and arrangements used to make it a strong design.

Chapter 10 is about Designing figures and animals, and step-by-step demonstrations are also given.

This is a wonderful book--one of the best I have seen on compostion. The artwork throughout is breathtaking. It is well-organized and easy to follow. It is a book that you will probably want to keep. Outstanding.

The price of this book is 100% paid for in the first paragraph of the first chapter, which contrasts the new-age (rhymes with sewage) view of spells as words, candles or stones with the Wiccan (and Pagan, and ceremonial magic) view of magic as change occurring in conformity with will.

For those who choose to use the power of words in their direction of Will, this book is an excellent primer, and worth your while.

Hard to know where to start with this. Smith-Wylle's book is a great read on many different levels. It was enlightening for me to see some of the "science"/structure behind the art. I myself am not a practitioner of spell-craft, but this book definitely helped enrich my efforts at song-writing and poetry. Her voice is erudite, yet accessible.

Something that I really appreciate is the author's non-dogmatic style,- encouraging the individual to intelligently experiment and to keep what works for them. I so much appreciate this approach in a world with so many "experts" acting as if they have the "right" answers for everyone.

I also appreciate the way the author intersperses her personal experiences into the educative material. That helps to make it more tangible for me- she gives examples I can hold on to.

Down-to-Earth, human, and sweet. Whether an adept or novice at spell-craft, a writer of any creative sort, or just a fan of quality literature, I strongly recommend this unique contribution.

Elder Eyring is an excellent speaker. This selection of discourses are wonderfully written and composed. He has a wonderful ability to share ideas and principles through personal stories and experiences. I highly recommend this book.

As a parent, I often feel the fear for my children who are growing up in such stormy times. This book reminds us that life can truely be wonderful as we draw upon the strength and love of our Heavenly Father.