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I have been fascinated by the Shroud ever since I read a decidedly church biased book back in the early '60's. This impeccably researched book is both pure reportage and emotional at the same time. It illustrates the Crucifixion in undeniable truths,because of the author's clarity and descriptive power. The chapters regarding the scientific analyses of the shroud, and the plentiful, fully documented results present a very strong case for the Shroud's genuineness. The many chapters about the Shroud's history are extremely well documented, and are tied together into a cohesive whole. The only flaw in this great book, (and it is a small one,) is that the illustrations are somewhat murky and hard to see. As a skeptic and an agnostic, this book was a true revelation. To a person of deep faith, I would say,"Read this!", for it will not only reconfirm and strengthen your faith, but will enhance your understanding of what the passion was like for Jesus the man. This is a superior book.

In the last few years a great deal of discussions have taken place regarding the existence of Jesus of Nazareth and some have even come to deny his actual existence in the form of a human being. ASARIM has gone back in time and located the true garden where his physical body was laid to rest after he was tortured by the Romans and crucified. Jesus was laid on this shroud without a doubt, and we think Mark Antonacci proves this fact. Asarim only adds in passing that the Sudarium found in the Cathedral of Oviedo contains blood of the same man. The Sudarium came directly from Jerusalem to Spain and was never contaminated. As for the question did Jesus die on the cross? Asarim holds that the blood found was "live" blood and not of a "dead" human being. Jesus was given "Vinum Moratum" before his passion and therefore was able to survive being crucified. Pontious Pilate had already agreed with Jesus that all this would be carried out to fullfill the scriptures and that Jesus would be able to go to Rome and meet the others upon healing. To prove this theory, Asarim has used the Shroud, Sudarium, other artifacts and historic accounts found in the Vatican about the birth and extension of Christianity. Asarim highly recommends this book for all those that need new scientific, medical and archeological evidence that Jesus was and is alive, and continues to live amongst us in our soul and hearts.

Five Stars? Oh! You'd better believe it!
The previous reviewers have done a very admirable job in extolling this "WONDER-FULL" book. I merely wish to add my voice to the chorus singing its praises.

THE SHROUD OF TURIN is an ancient burial cloth containing the mysterious image of a Man who had evidently been crucified - believed by many to be Jesus Christ. The internationally renowned, Peruvian poet, Yoey O'Dogherty, once wrote, "Nothing astounds like Truth." And the truth that has made The Shroud the most studied and least understood artifact on planet Earth is astounding indeed!

About 4 years ago, I happened to catch the author, MARK ANTONACCI, being interviewed on a radio program and found his statements so interesting that I went right out and acquired a copy of his book, 'THE RESURRECTION OF THE SHROUD.' From a young age, I had been intrigued by the implications of the Shroud although my knowledge was limited. Like countless millions of other people, when the 1988 Carbon-14 dating test results were announced, "proving" the Shroud to be a hoax conceived between 1260 and 1390 A.D., I thought, "Well, so it goes." Of course, I've learned A LOT about human nature and some so-called "scientists" since then. I'm not so gullible anymore, and after reading 'THE RESURRECTION OF THE SHROUD', I'm more intrigued than ever by this extraordinary treasure!

In the preface, the former agnostic, Mark Antonacci, relates how he was somewhat mysteriously goaded into investigating the Shroud, and how in pacing his apartment, reluctantly pondering some of its unfathomable anomalies, it suddenly hit him in midstep, "If all of the possible implications from the scientific examination were true, it would not be bad news - it would be good news."

Give Antonacci credit for having been an intellectually honest skeptic, unlike the flapjack who wrote the Kirkus review that our host has unwittingly presented in its Editorial section. That writer says that 'THE RESURRECTION OF THE SHROUD' "is unlikely to win any converts among empirical-minded skeptics." BALDERDASH! That is EXACTLY the sort of person who will be knocked for a loop by this great book! Actually, it is the intellectually dishonest (scared out of his wits) individual who will not permit himself to be converted, who will dismiss it. I know there are willfully ignorant people out there, but you'd hope that they could at least be a bit more imaginative and less blatant in their efforts to mislead others with their bias.

True, the book explores some fairly heavy scientific principles, but necessarily so. Unless the reader understands the science behind it, they will fail to appreciate the incomprehensible attributes of the Shroud. But if it makes you feel any better, I can tell you with perfect honesty that I'm one of the least mathematically and scientifically-minded people on God's green earth! I must be operating from the "left field" side of the brain, or something. If I could follow the science, so will you. I found the information unspeakably fascinating because of its portent.

Once you've grasped the complexity of it, you'll understand why John Walsh has written, "The Shroud of Turin is either the most awesome and instructive relic of Jesus Christ in existence...or it is one of the most ingenious, most unbelievably clever products of the human mind and hand on record. It is one or the other; there is no middle ground." And how the respected scientist, John Heller, could claim that, "If you were to give me a budget of ten million dollars and told me to make a replica of [the Shroud]...I would not know how to do it."

You'll learn why the faction that wants us to believe that the Shroud (which displays many anomalies that contemporary science can't even explain) is the handiwork of a medieval artist, doesn't have a leg to stand on. And why the Carbon-14 dating procedure, which supposedly put the final nail in the Shroud's coffin, was unreliable to say the least!

Antonacci's book examines the Shroud from every conceivable angle, including the very possible and enlightening connection between It and the Mandylion - gee whillikers! (Oops. Is one still allowed to say, "gee whillikers" in 2005?) It left this reader thoroughly mesmerized. Buy it and be amazed. Be VERY AMAZED!

I could go on all day about this book, but I'm going to pack it in here. I gotta go find that deceptive Kirkus Reviewer now and take him out to the woodshed. (Oh, come on, I'm only kidding! I know that God wouldn't approve of that. ...Would He?)

This book's "radiation" theory of image creation isn't as far fetched or a radical leap of reasoning as skeptics would have you believe. Why? Because the peer reviewed, scientific findings of a image composed of dehydrated, surface linen fibrils defies any "natural" explanation.

The image isn't a paint, powder, stain or transfer image. It's not imitated by decomposition stains, sweat stains, oils or herb stains. A heat scorch can't contain the subtlety or sophistication of this relic's image. If "vapors" created the image, there would be no possibility that the image would have any focus or definition. Nor is body contact the catalyst for image creation, since a body impression would have a fattened, "fun house mirror" effect.

Add to the exclusion of these past explainations the possible x-ray qualities of the Shroud image, the 3- dimensional "distance sensitive" intensity of the image, the exterior objects near the body "imaged" on the cloth... AND...

The MOST RECENT feature discovered, one Mr. Antonacci wasn't yet informed about as he wrote this book... a faint face image on the backside of the Shroud!

Why the imprinting of only the highest image features on the backside of the cloth? If it was paint or sweat responsible, it would diffuse outward and not be limited to (mostly) the face. Skin oils and sweat would had also darkened the Shroud man's "posterior" image dramatically... the back and buttocks which had the most weight pressure on the linen... yet the Shroud's back image is as subtle as the front image!!

Mark promoted the theory that the cloth collapsed through an image creating field of energy. The faint imprinting on the exterior side of the Shroud seems to validate this!

This theory now has support... discovered AFTER this book was released!!

As for whether the man in the Shroud is Jesus, consider... the Romans didn't always nail crucifixion victims; that a crown of thorns mocking of this victim should be unique to Jesus; the man was severely scourged; that this man had the athletic build of a manuel laborer (Carpenter, Stone Mason); was a young Jewish man beaten severely. The man was DEAD, as shown by the stiff, "rigor mortis" quality of the body image and the hemorrhage of the spear wound. And most significantly...

This crucified, Jewish "criminal" had a wealthy friend or relative who gave him a high quality linen Shroud! (Aka, Joseph of Arimetha?) Only high quality linens found at "Masada" featured the fine "invisible seaming" that this Shroud does.

This cruified Jewish "criminal" was allowed the privelege of burial!! Most crucifixion victims were considered defiled or cursed ("by the wood of the tree"), and were thrown on a disgusting pile of public decomposition by the brutal Romans. Dogs and crows routinely consumed the remains of crucified victims.

The man in the Shroud didn't decompose.

And the final point... ancient Jews overcame their aversion to "unclean" burial clothes and KEPT ... and PRESERVED... this shroud !! The blood stains ALONE would had prevented any normal Jewish individual from handling the cloth. Obviously, the man kept in this Shroud was considered "Holy," with "Holy blood."

How could this man NOT be Jesus?

Jeff Messenger, author of the novel "The Shroud of Torrington."

The Shroud of Turin is the most thoroughly researched artifact in the history of the world. Because of its wealth of astonishing attributes, the Shroud of Turin has draw over a quarter million hours of research by research scientists (mostly at personal expense) between 1977 and 2000--for good reason. All this rigorous attention is due soley to the merits and rewards they have reaped as they continue discovering its wonders.

Of all the books I have read about the Shroud of Turin, this is by far the most excellent, thorough, well researched, and well documented. Yochanan (John) records in his gospel that the miracles recorded of Yeshua (Jesus) were only the tip of the iceberg (John 20:30; 21:25). Back in those days people had different opinions about the miracles: some rejected them, some doubted, some believed (but took it all for granted), and some were appreciative and glorified God. Everyone must draw their own conclusions about the Shroud--don't let others and media spin masters make up your mind for you. When it comes to the Shroud, the powerful amazement of it lies in its details. If you do not know the details, you are missing the boat. This is the book to find those details. The more technology grows, the more they research the Shroud, the more powerful and impressive it is. Quantum leaps in technology uncover, corespondingly, quantum leaps in hitherto hidden mindboggling aspects about the Shroud. It seems evident to me that Yeshua has left this as a special sign, especially for our generation. We are the first generation to have the scientific technology to fathom the wonders of the Shroud. You owe it to yourself to investigate for yourself and draw your own conclusions. This is the book to give you the best coverage and analysis of the details among all the books I have read. My commendations to the author, Mark Antonacci, for his excellent work, resulting from 20 years of writing and research!

This book provides excellent examples and guidelines to putting the respected values back into corporations. I especially enjoyed the chapters on valuing the worker, transparency and integrity and customer care. I have seen how these, when in place, really explode the popularity and the growth of corporations, and when management deviates from the values for the short term buck, then corporations are then exposed in the media and start to fail (and people even cheer for their downfall). This is a great follow up to "The Naked Corporation" book, and both state that some sort of plan of transparency should be in place.

David Batstone's excellent book on corporate integrity is a must-read for executives and managers who want ideas on how to create profitable but soulful businesses that show heart as well as logic. This is not a text that preaches from the pulpit or revels in moral condemnation of Enron's misdeeds. For those of us who are sick to the teeth of reading Enron/Anderson post-mortems, Batstone's book will come as a refreshing change.

Reputation building has always been a profitable way to grow a business. `Reputation is not the same thing as a brand' Batstone says. Instead he says, `Reputation is the perceived character a company holds to public eye', which is probably the best definition this reviewer has read. Using the eight principles outlined in the book, managers are guided through examples that have helped or hindered individual companies. IKEA vs Home Depot for example is cited in the Community section of the book - the underlying principle being `A company will think of itself as part of a community as well as a market'. Which one would you rather have open a store in your community, and why? For the record, the residents of Mountain View, CA (a pretty town near to Silicon Valley) said they'd prefer an IKEA, and not because they like modular Swedish furniture.

The eight principles outlined in the book are:

Principle One: The directors and executives of a company will align their personal interests with the fate of stakeholders and act in a responsible way to ensure the vitality of the enterprise.

Principle Two: A company's business operations will be transparent to shareholder, employees and the public and its executives will stand by the integrity of their decisions.

Principle Three: A company will think of itself as part of a community as well as a market.

Principle Four: A company will represent its products honestly to customers and honor their dignity up to and beyond a transaction.

Principle Five: The worker will be treated as a valuable team member, not just a hired hand.

Principle Six: The environment will be treated as a silent stakeholder, a party to which the company is wholly accountable.

Principle Seven: A company will strive for balance, diversity and equality in its relationships with workers, customers and suppliers.

Principle Eight: A company will pursue international trade and production based on respect for the rights of workers and citizens of trade partner nations.

If you are looking for one book to share with others in your organization to start a discussion on integrity and reputation, Saving the Corporate Soul should be it.

This book is written very well and is pretty straightforward. So straight forward you can get most of the concepts of the book by reading the table of contents. There can't be much to argue with in the book because virtually every corporate hack who raked in the money during the obscene years is now preaching the same messages of corporate redemption. Expense stock options, treat employees fairly, create an environmental scorecard.... wake me up when it is over. In short, there is nothing new in these pages but the way it is recapped is very sweet primer on the subject. But my question is why did Batstone stop where he did? Where are the chapters relating to the ethics of afdvertising and PR? The ethics of obscene campaign contributions and political lobbying efforts? Where are the chapters about companies holding communities hostage by leveraging the threat of relocation for sweet tax deals? The chapters about what truly sustainable business practices mean about the globalization of companies?
Batstone does a nice job on the content he handles but fails miserably in addressing the core problems at the heart and soul of corporations today.

Batstone shows by numerous examples, compelling stories, and shrewd analysis, that running a business with integrity and values intact is indeed "good business". This refreshing book provides welcome reading in a time dominated by corporate scandals and public cynicism. I recommend this book to EVERYONE!!

I say this book is worth reading, after watching The Corporation (the documentary).

You can read many books on "corporate responsability", ethics, and caring for the environment. But, when pressed for profits, in real life, when your job is on the line, would anyone "do the right thing"?.

Don't get me wrong... I praise the author for writing books like this one. And more like it are needed. But the question should be: aren't corporations, often almost-run by stockholders (with CEOs always on the line and on the brink of getting a kick by angry shareholders) and also the executives heavily influenced by wall street gurus, are all of them capable of "corporate responsability" and a long-term strategy?. I'd say no.

I think that companies that "sell out" to the stock market lose their soul, and become tools for a few speculators to "make a quick buck". A stable, responsible company then starts sailing at the mercy of a few stock market gurus and the volatility of the international stock markets. But of course, that is my personal opinion.

The Canadian documentary titled "The Corporation" (can't wait to see it on DVD - for the moment check out www.thecorporation.tv ), argues that Corporations as we know them today, and specially mutinational ones, are flawed by design.

The movie surprisingly got a great review on financial publication The Economist, which praised it:. It begins with a potted history of the company's legal form in America, noting the key 19th-century legal innovation that led to treating companies as persons under law. By bestowing on them the rights and protections that people enjoy, this legal innovation gave the company the freedom to flourish. So if the corporation is a person, ask the film's three Canadian co-creators, what sort of person is it?"

"The answer, elicited over two-and-a-half hours of interviews with right-wing captains of industry, economists, psychologists and philosophers, and left-wing intellectuals, is that the corporation is a psychopath. Like all psychopaths, the firm is singularly self-interested: its purpose is to create wealth for its shareholders. And, like all psychopaths, the firm is irresponsible, because it puts others at risk to satisfy its profit-maximising goal, harming employees and customers, and damaging the environment".

I repeat: try to read this book, and then watch The Corporation (the documentary), which shows the opinion of real execs, in real life. Both essays will make you think, probably getting in the way of your good night's sleep.

Have you read "Good to Great" by Jim Collins? If the answer is "Yes", you don't have to spend a lot of time in reading this book. At least, 50% of the book conveys what is already told in Good to Great. Of course, with different stories as example.

I liked two concepts from this book - "Have everyone think and act like an owner" & "Choose your competitors". It is hard to institutionalize the first concept, though.

Choosing your competition is something that many companies forget to do (or) they don't do it right. Many of them aim to reach the sky and at the end, do not even take off from the land.

If you are wondering how to keep the startup spirits alive in your giant corporation, this is a good book to read.

I loved this book. It's an easy, enjoyable read, and very rich in information on how companies we know and love have made it through difficult times and the habits and beliefs they live on a day-to-day basis. Very interesting and insightful. I plan to re-read it in case I missed anything the first go-round.

The book covers the study of 10 companies that have had an increase in revenue and profit of 10%, or more, for 10 consecutive years. There are many similarities with "Good to Great", however, this book deals with smaller companies and the leader at the helm is written about in more detail than "Good to Great". Like any great book on leadership and business you will find that the key to greatness is, you guessed it, FUNDAMENTALS. I particularly enjoyed the study of Koch Industries. Mr. Charles Koch guiding principles are outlined well in this book and I believe they are worth studying and implementing. They certainly have produced incredible results for his business conglomerate. Overall this book was well written and I was able to get some great nuggets of practical information from all 10 of the companies studied. I really enjoyed it, and got enough out of it to give it the 5 stars.

This book reminds us to set aside our own egos when managing a business or a department. It is a quick read with a clear message. I would recommend that all senior managers and those who aspire to be a senior manager read this book.

This is a great business practice/philosophy book. It doesn't throw numbers at you or tell you how to hit your quarterly target. Instead, the stories of nine culturally healthy and monetarily profitable companies are told. The format is interviews with the company leaders and other key players. Jennings expounds on the interviews and builds similarities among the companies. For instance, these companies don't acquire customers or clientèle, they build communities and fans.

The stories are inspiring because they truly start from the beginning. For example, Dick Cabela purchased fishing flies in Chicago for only pennies apiece. When he returned home to the Midwest, he put an ad in a sportsmen magazine and the orders started to roll in. He and his wife filled orders on the kitchen table and their first warehouse was the shed in the backyard. Today, Cabela's is one of the largest outdoors specialty merchandisers/retailers in the US, grosses more than $1.5B, and their stores are considered tourist attractions.

One more story: Charles O'Reilly and his son Chub worked at an automotive parts store for years. Charles was let go at the age of 72 and Chub was transferred out of state by some higher-ups, as I like to call them. So Charles decided to open a competing store. Chub was a cofounder and they also hired 10 employees from their competitors under one condition, "anyone joining the new company had to make an investment and become and owner."

These companies don't make big 5-10 year plans, instead they focus on today through next year and sometimes two years ahead. They claim making big plans never work because trends, business, technology, etc. change too often and you lose site of the fundamentals and current goals and neglect suppliers (partners) and customers (the community). Additionally, resources are wasted trying to achieve something that might never be. However, they do focus on being extremely adaptable; ready to refocus the entire company or invent new businesses in short notice.

Bottom line, all the stories and lessons are inspiring and invaluable. Considerable focus is placed on the cultures of these companies. Basically, they don't worry about making money and acquiring customers. They concentrate on building a healthy culture, make sure employees are happy, and provide solutions to problems; gaining wealth and customers is only an axiomatic consequence.

The nine companies interviewed are PETCO, Koch Industries, Sonic, Cabela's, Medline Industries, O'Reilly Automotive, Dot Foods, SAS Institute, Strayer Education. The companies presented have grown revenues by at least 10% for 10 consecutive years.

This is probably THE most concise and well written book on self improvement EVER. I've been to the motivational seminars of many of the greats, but this book touches on what they all have to say and in a succinct and understandable way. Recommended for anyone serious about self improvement and reaching their full potential. If you're looking for one book, this is it.

This book helps the reader keep his/her mind up and fight low self-esteem. However, chapter 1 says it all. After that, the books constantly repeats everything over and over again: "You can do anything you wanna do in life". That's all this book says only written in different words. Therefore, there's little knowledge to be gained here. This book is more like a treatment reminding you to always think highly of yourself. That's it.

This book is incredible. Makes total sense and easy to read even though the content is pretty deep. I've read it 3 times and highly recommend it. Recommend reading some of the book every day.

This book is one of the best and clearly defines what it takes an individual to be successful in their own life. Easy to understand, clear concepts to follow through and think straight to be successful! I know it is one of the best out there! I GIVE THEM AWAY TO MY CLIENTS AND FRIENDS!

If you're looking for the ultimate in self-development books this book is a must buy! Dr. Staples is a master at his craft and seeks to help you understand that the way you think about yourself and your life is a direct correlation to the outcomes you're receiving. If you are on a track to truly improve your life by undertanding the way you "think" about it, this book will definitely pave the way to acheiving all that you desire and deserve! I whole-heartedly thank Dr. Staples and hope he writes more!!

It was nice to read this explanation of Jewish customs and what not. I've ready many books that are overviews but this had alot of FEELING.

To read the book feels like you are having a personal explanation... with good comparison, wit and humor.

* * * People who read this will also like the following.
You Can't Buy a Halo

Herman Wouk examines Judaism in a modest manner that informs without preaching. Wouk looks at his religion from his Orthodox practice, but with easy-reading prose made for all audiences (Jews, Christians, etc.). Readers learn about the Sabbath, Torah, holidays, rituals, feasts, and other vital traditions in this, the world's oldest monotheistic religion. We also learn about Judaism's three main branches (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform), plus pious and non-practicing Jews. Additionally, Wouk examines his own perspective. The result is an informative and personal look at Judaism, particularly in the USA.

Some note that Judaism has changed somewhat since this book arrived in the late 1950's; today there's more ultra-Orthodox, non-practicing, even messianic Jews. Still, this is an informative, valuable book. Readers might also enjoy Wouk's popular novels, including THE CAINE MUTINY and WINDS OF WAR.

This is my God has become a classic on Jewish Thought and Culture. If you are just beginning or are a seasoned scholar, This is my God has something for you.

I totally recommend this book. You will enjoy immensely. Read it with a highlighter, you are going to want to quote it later.

Wouk, Herman. "This is My G-d: The Jewish Way of Life", Little Brown and Company, 1959. 1988.

How I Live

Amos Lassen

Here in Arkansas, especially from my gay friends, I contstantly get questions about my being Jewish. After a few moments of discussion, I usually refer people to Herman Wouk's "This is My G-d" which, even though is not new, explains basically everything Jewish in the easiest way. The book goes with me wherever I go. I keep a copy in my office at the university, a copy in my study and one in my suitcase. Anyone who wants to know what Orthodox Judaism means to a well informed and intelligent Jew but who is an American (by birth) as well, can find out what he wants to know in this book. Written in terms that are easy to understand, the book stands alone in being a guide to the Jewish religion. Herman Wouk is a wonderful person to consult on matters Jewish. He writes with humility and wisdom and his explanations are clear and concise.
There is a lot of literature on the Jewish religion available and new books on seem to be published almost daily. Wouk gives us a brief history of the Jewish people and an excellent discussion on the meaning of G-d. He explains who we are and how we have survived and carefully looks at the importance of symbols in the religion.
In part two of the book, Wouk approaches issues of faith and sows how it is impossible to study all of it. Looking at the holiday calendar, he is able to equate the observance with the nature of the Jewish mind and explains in detail what the synagogue is and what purpose it has. Looking at the dietary laws and explaining how orthodox Jews observe them is an experience that I have not found in other books. Wouk manages to bring the laws to a level of understanding that explains and codifies them. He also speaks of clothing and shelter which I found especially interesting as most do not realize that there is a certain way that Jews look at them.
Wouk takes us through the life cycle--from circumcision to Bar Mitzvah to death and explains issues of love and marriage. Looking at law, Wouk explains the differences between Torah, Talmud, common law and modern theory. Finally he looks at the state of Judaism in the present and evaluates the various schisms in modern Judaism.
The newer edition contains an epilogue which deals with Israel and the question of Jewish survival. For a novice this is a place to begin and for others it is a book to consult. Surely a religion that has lasted thousands of years cannot be written about in just 300 something pages but I tell you, it has been a great help to me in both understanding myself and explaining Judaism to others.

This work is a wonderful introduction to and survey of Orthodox Judaism. This book stands out from the pack of other works on the same topic in that This Is My God was written by a master novelist (Wouk gave us Winds of War, War and Remembrance, The Caine Mutiny, et al). Herman Wouk is passionate and candid in what he writes here.

The tone is conversational, unconfrontational and uncondescending. Although packed with factual information, Wouk keeps it personal and interesting by moving back and forth between the mechanics of Orthodox Judaism, and his own personal experience - especially his formative years under the hand of his beloved, learned and pious grandfather. Considering the scope, it is brief, by the author's own admission.

Wouk explains the basic approaches marking Orthodox, and to a lesser extent Conservative and Reform, Judaism. He discusses the practice . . . dietary laws, tallit, the Sabbath, the Feasts, etc. He sketches history and historical figures (I especially appreciated his sorting out of the great sages and each of their places in Judaical history). He describes the source texts - Torah and Talmud. Also, Wouk easily could have - but did not - bury the reader with Hebrew phraseology.

This book is unique and well worth the time for an interested truth seeker of ANY faith to invest. I could continue with the praises of this work, but I would just be repeating what other reviewers have already written.

I will add a couple of critical comments. This book, published in 1959 (written while the State of Israel was only 10 years old, how remarkable!), has become a bit dated. (Obviously no fault of Wouk's here). Orthodox Judaism has evolved increasingly into what people call "Ultra-Orthodox" and has become largely identified with Hasidic dress and practices. In today's world an observant Orthodox author, out of reverence, may well have refrained from penning the title "God", preferring rather "G_d" (interesting since the diety's personal Name is not actually God . . . a gentile word having rather pagan roots). Orthodox vs Conservative vs Reform have all changed a bit over the years. I was disappointed that Wouk did not even mention the phenomenon of Messianic Judaism, which has grown greatly since the book was authored. Wouk also more or less wrote off the Karaites as an extinct sect . . . but that movement has also grown greatly since the book was authored. But of course Wouk's passion is Orthodoxy, and my point is that there has been much change even in the brief historical period since 1959. This is a minor criticism and hardly detracts from the value of the book.


Secondly, although I was drawn to this book by its enticing title, it would have been more accurately titled, "This Is My Religion". Orthodox Judaism wholly embraces the the Talmud. Unlike the Torah, the Talmud is arguably the work of great men, but not necessarily of God. There is wide and heated disagreement on this point. But in Wouk's book, any insight as to the nature of God will have to be inferred from the general discussion.

But again, any truth-seeker, and especially followers of the God of Israel, should have this information. An observant and learned Orthodox Jew will likely find no new information here, but may enjoy Wouk's personal perspectives.

I bought this book because I grew up hearing stories of Corrie ten Boom from my mother and her friends, and I wondered what all the fuss was about.

Well now I know. I couldn't possibly describe the experience of reading this book, and what it did for me, except to say that it was so much more than just a good read. I would say that it changed my life.

This book showed me that walking side-by-side with the Lord wasn't just for people in Bible times--it is meant for us today.

Corrie wasn't perfect. This book isn't about being perfect. And it isn't even about giving all you can give to God. On the contrary, it's about taking all you can take.

Her language is so simple, yet her message incredibly profound: there is an endless resource available to each and every one of us, and that resource is Jesus Christ.

Whether you're going through the most difficult time of you life, or you simply want to be inspired--Tramp for the Lord is the book for you.

I've read many of Corrie's books since this one, but "Tramp" is still my favorite. I own three copies, so I always have two to lend.

Now I'm the one telling people "Corrie stories" the way my mother used to. They are stories the next generation needs to hear.

Tramp for the lord is an eye opener for you to look at where you are, where you have been and where you are going. A good read for those moving through life and a must read for those that want to celebrate life to it's fullest.

If you read this book you will NEVER forget it. Such wonderful testimony to the miracles that the Lord is still doing in the world. I highly recommend it. It's a real page turner.

Tramp for the Lord is ONE of the most rewarding books I have ever read in my life. Everyone should read this book. She too was a human who sinned and came short of the glory of God. Corrie shares so much of her heart and life - not only because of her experiences in prison, but in every day life as she traveled the United States and to other countries to share God's work. As she experienced real life situations with ordinary people, that grew her daily in her walk with God, because as Paul learned, God's work was not easy. It was those situations that she shared in "Tramp for the Lord" that she was also growing with each situation she faced as Paul did as he continued in his day discipling for God. Corrie's book, "Tramp for the Lord," is a must read after "the Hiding Place" and will be hard to put down.

This book is a sequel to "The Hiding Place" a biography about Corrie Ten Boom's experience during World War II, arrested and sent to a German concentration camp for hiding Jews.

Corrie surrenders to God's Will for her life to take the Gospel and her story to the entire world. Because of her humbleness, she is able to connect to people from all walks of life, from royalty to prisoners. She was especially able to connect with prisoners who were hopeless because of her own experience of being locked up.

It was easy for her to minister to the victims of WWII, but Corrie resisted going back to Germany, the land that she dreaded. But she obeys and goes to Germany where she meets one of her former prison guards, one of the cruelest, walking up to her after a meeting. A chill grips her heart and bitterness wells up when he asks for her forgiveness. Leaning on the power of the Holy Spirit, she was able to forgive her enemy and found God's love overflowing.

Each chapter is a story and devotional about a situation Corrie encounters. My favorite one is, "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go, Dear Lord... but Not Up Ten Flights of Stairs."

This book awakened me to a new concept that is the life of the soul. This book can be a light to human journey in this planet.

This is a follow up book to Grand Master Lee's Best seller book, Healing Society. If you enjoyed the book Healing Society, you're sure to enjoy this book. This book is a must read for those wanting to make a difference, and those who can make a difference. as Dr Lee says, "What we need now is an Earth-encompassing awareness. Loving Earth means that you recognize yourself as a member of the Earth community,". We are all members of Our Earth's community, and it is up to us to protect it.

The time is now for all of us to come forward as one to claim our inheritance of enlightenment. Dr. Lee tells us enlightenment is already ours, we only have to choose it. We need only allow ourself to "deprogram" the old and let in the new information that will heal ourselves, our community, and our society. Dahnhak is one way to activate our choice and learn tools to actualize our inherent enlightenment. This book will bring hope and peace to all.

The Lee's book re-packages the basic teachings of Eastern Mysticism and conveys them to a modern audience. For instance the authors write about a mass spiritual awakening in which humankind finally comprehends the truth -- that "we are all one." This idea of monism has been around for ...well, a long time. In short, there is very little that is 'new' in the Lee's book.

1. The author refer to an energy called "Ki" which they claim is the natural bridge that connects body, mind, and spirit, and is the perfect tool for allowing people to feel and understand the universe's most profound truth. That 'truth' is the idea that everything is one. This they state is the thing, which allows humanity to go beyond current problems into a higher spiritual plane.

2. And it's here that the ideas stumble. Are you having family problems? Are you having work problems? Are you having health problems? The Lee's claim that you are not. You are rather experiencing an illusion. You aren't seeing things correctly. Everything is one. It's all the same. Good and bad circumstances don't exist - just circumstances.

3. See, the book tries to get people to go beyond the categories of ethics. You can't call rape or murder 'bad', because everything is one. The good is the bad and the bad is the good. If everyone would just understand that, then this world would be a better place.

4. However, this isn't ultimately a very satisfying answer. In fact, it's an answer that asks the person to ignore what they know to be true in their heart; that evil is real, the good is real. The Lee's ask their readers to pretend that all is one and to not 'solve' problems, but to see them as not problems at all. This is escapism - It's running from the problem instead of facing it.

5. The Lees ask why this most simple and important truth gone unheeded. For one, it's a very difficult world to live in. It's hard to believe that justice, mercy, hope, love, and goodness and all illusory.

6. The authors sate that the world is in political, religious, economic, and ecological crises of our own making. We need a mass spiritual awakening, in which billions truly realize that we are One. This would transform our world: children wouldn't starve, women wouldn't be brutalized, and young men wouldn't die in battle. I can't agree with their conclusion. People would still starve, and women would still be brutalized, and people would still die in battle, but nobody would care. Why? Because it's all good, because it's all one.

7. The Lees claim that the purpose of life is really no big deal, although people have generally viewed the question, "Why am I here?" as the ultimate in self-exploration. This is true. If someone truly believes all is one, then my life is no more significant than the lives of the bugs on the bumper of my car. The authors teach that we are here on earth in such and such shape, form, and mind to strive for the completion of our spiritual selves, not only as individuals but as the whole. That 'completion' is a recognition that all is one. We are a drop in the bucket. Far from offering hope, this offers hopelessness, and asks that we accept that and come to terms with it.

If you were wondering what you could do to help change the world, then you must read Dr Il chi Lee's new book "The Twelve Enlightenments for Healing Society." Dr Lee's words go straight to the heart and show that with choice, a change in perspective, vision, and action, we can heal society. Give yourself a gift and buy this book, then buy one for someone else. It truly is a gift to the world.

This is a practical straight forward guide to Architecture for the non-architect. Also of use to those interested in building design and architectual history.

Vision is better than a thousand words. This graphic book makes you very easy to understand the architectural vocabulary. Not only good for student but also good for architectural practicer.

My husband bought this book for me when I decided to go back to school to study architecture, and it has turned out to be sooooo helpful. I have used it in every course I've taken; it makes studying for tests so much easier. It has a fabulous index so you can find what you are looking for right away, and the illustrations and page layouts are great. This book is a must for any architecture student. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

As with other materials by Francis D.K.Ching, the illustrations are not only clear and precise but aesthetically pleasing. It is a pleasure to read through the material for a comprehensive understanding of architectural concepts, presented in an historical perspective which clarifies the how and why of modern day building technology. The Visual Dictionary of Architecture
is an invaluable reference for the student and architectural practicioner as well.

This book is really good for architecture students. I do not use the book every day, but when I need it, it proves very usefull. All books from this author that I purchased are really good so far. This one has a lot of details drawings which are great.

This was actually the first Daniel Steele book I ever read. It was wonderful the story so well developed and the characters so full of life. In fact I have now read this book at least 3 times maybe even 4, truly a classic. Everyone should have this on their shelf to read when you get tired of just seeing words on a page that take you nowhere.

Audry is SUCH a great character! Her love of adventure and for her man, but her loyalty to her family is what really pulled the story together. Very enjoyable book!

I have read many of Danielle Steel's books. This has to be one of her best. It is about a young woman named Audrey who has been caretaker to her grandfather and younger sister. Then, she has this need to do some traveling, and see the world. She does so, first going to New York City (she lived in San Francisco). She meets two people named James and Violet, and she becomes a travel companion for the two. In England, she meets Charles, whom becomes her one true love, and they travel the world together, and no matter what threatens to break them up, they never give up on each other.

This is not as formulaic as many of Danielle Steel novels, but it is still wonderful and one of her best.

This book is so cool...it takes you so many places, you most likely have never been to. It's so fun to put yourself in this characters shoes & see what it's like. I love to read about countries I haven't been to...classic DS

I have been reading Danielle Steel for over 15 years and own all her books and this is one of my favourites - one I can read over and over again and still enjoy the story.
I was transported back to the 1930's and admired the bravery of Audrey travelling to China when it was probably a dangerous (and not "proper") for a young single woman to do so. This one made me laugh, cry and wish that all would go well for Audrey.
If you are a Danielle Steel fan you will love this one. Her earlier novels (like this one) are so much better than her later books. If you are new to Danielle Steel - this one is highly recommended. Enjoy!

I picked up this book, which has been updated with a hard cover now, after a time of not reading it. To my amazement it seemed brand new. It was more rich reading it again after some time had passed. Try it you will like it.40 Day Mind Fast Soul Feast

Having attended Agape when I lived in Los Angeles I looked forward to continuing to gain from Michael's inspiration.
I am sorry to say this book is a disappointment for me. I do not feel inspired when I read the daily messages and the affirmations do not resonate for me. I continue to read hoping to find that spark of inspiration that comes across so brilliantly when I hear Michael speak. I am now on day 10....
This is my personal experience and yours may be completely different.

In some ways reading one of these two-page chapters everyday seems tedious if your really doing some soul searching about what is being taught to you...still, I think its very helpful.

If you're wanting to be uplifted, buy this book and read a part of it each day. Dr. Beckwith is such a beautifully positive person and his intention to see that in each one of us is obvious in his writings and teachings.
This is a great little book to have with you at all times and to share its insights with others.

One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel
Rev. Michael Beckwith..is the most powerful teacher of them all...at least in this decade...I call him a brother from another planet...a visionary of light..to read his teachings...to hear his spoken word...to listen to his sermons...moves me like none other...he is the wind beneath our wings...those of us..who are blessed to have sat in his church..are all so thankful for his teachings... his work is a WOW factor at the highest level.