Publications Books

I'm a personal trainer and this industry is full meat heads and corporate idiots that know zero about the fitness world. There main goal is to make numbers and get paid, while the trainer works his/her butt off to make a living. I saw Plummer speak at a seminar and he owns a chain of gyms in Colorado but he explains that in order to run a business you have to first take care of the employees and second creative a great workout atmosphere. Unlike Gold's gym or 24 hour fitness, kid's should be involved as well as grandma and grandpa.

Not meat heads that slam the weights down or overcrowded gyms where people ignore the 30 minute rule on the cardio equipment. Health problems in this country is on the high side of things just look at ur friends and family everyones getting fat and out of shape. We owe it to ourselves as Americans and to our families as fathers, mothers, etc to take care of our fitness and health cause its important.

Don't even think of starting or running a gym without reading this one! The ideas and lessons saved me thousands. Great for the staff too.

I am 18 years old and very interested in running a gym in the future. I believe this book can help me enormously. I worked at the front desk of a low budget gym, selling memberships for 6 months. I had a great time, but members constantly complained about the broken machines. Even so, members renewed their contracts at a pretty constant rate. By reading this book, I was able to target the pros and cons of the gym that I worked at, and I am even more excited about having a chance to possibly get involved in the fitness industry on a high level.

This book discusses gym busines: how to set it up, run it, attract members and so on. I was a little disappointed as I was expecting more info on becoming successful as a personal trainer.

The book is good and is based on extensive personal experience of the author. He goes into a lot of detail on how to deal with everyday realities of the gym business. If you want to run a gym, the information will be very useful. But not if you want to practice as a personal trainer.

This is the book that I used in a college-level hospitality course.
My department-hospitality management-was interested in showing that
the principles and orientations of a successful hotel or restaurant
applied to many other businesses as well.
One of the obvious choices was the fitness/spa business which depends
on customer perception of value received and on a strict attention to
cost controls and sales and marketing. This book was the only one that
had a useful perspective and that covered all the relevant aspects
of running a fitness operation. Of course, no book can prepare you with
all the answers about any business, but this one certainly started
students out with the right questions.

Lynn Hoffman, who interested in fitness, but really loves wine. New Short Course in Wine,The

This workbook is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in learning tarot or improving their reading skills. It is suitable for beginners, intermediates, and advanced alike. I have been studying and practicing tarot for about 15 years, and really wish this book had been available to me when I started out.

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card teaches you how to look at the cards and really see what is there. It gives you a foundation in things such as deck structure, numerology, elemental correspondences, dignities, etc., and teaches you how to put it all together with your intuition. The book really helps you build confidence in your reading abilities, while teaching you at the same time. A true gift.

I approached the book by doing all 21 Ways at the Apprentice level, and then going back and doing all 21 Ways at the Adept level. Some steps come very naturally, others are more challenging, and some feel awkward, but the results of doing all 21 Steps are very rewarding.

What you learn in 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card will allow you to put down the "crutches" when you read, and let you enjoy the experience. This book is about breaking down barriers, pre-conceived notions, and "quick" interpretations. If you are new to tarot and do not have any of these habits, then it will help you develop into a strong reader without having to unlearn or break habits that create barriers to learning tarot. If you rely on "crutches" or have confidence issues it will help you overcome that. If you are already a strong confident reader, then it will give you some new ways to explore the cards and enhance what you are already doing.

This is a fab book for anyone who really wants to get to the nitty-gritty of not only the tarot, but of themselves. It takes the reader through the most interesting and painless of ways of getting to know a new deck, and the deeper realms of reader and sitter.
The first I was introduced to the writings of Mary K. Greer was through this book and it is a revelation. If the reader is willing to get to the heart of any matter, this book is a great guide to finding some solid answers to the whys, whats, hows, wheres of your question. It is a lesson in patience and rewarded in an enlightenment which endures. Enjoy this read, it's an eyeopener!

This book is fantastic! I love the way the exercises walk you through all the individual detials of the cards. The authors teaching style makes it very easy to absorb AND RETAIN all that you have learned. I have several friends who have been reading tarot for years and they were amazed with how quickly I learned. I would absolutly recommend this to any beginnner or experienced reader looking to add a whole new level of depth to their readings.

((This review was written by my wife Lisa Hunt. She does not have an Amazon account but has read this book. Lisa is a tarot author/artist so is well qualified to add her thoughts to these reviews.))

This book is a tarot treasure trove that has something for everyone regardless of one's level of expertise. Even if you aren't a tarot reader or are completely new to the art of divination, Greer's book contains a comprehensive overview of the many uses of tarot. Her presentation is well thought out and stands on a strong foundation of research that parallels Greer's own journey as a tarot reader and teacher. She successfully integrates the theories and terms postulated by 20th century psychoanalyst Carl Jung, adding dimension to this fascinating text.

Regardless of scholastic influences, she never strays from her earthy voice making this book interesting and informative without being offputting. Not only does she include interesting personal anecdotes and sample readings, but she offers excellent suggestions for enhancing one's own intuitive skills. The book is replete with effective exercises that are fun and helpful and can be practiced over and over again. Some of these ideas examine themes/motifs and others help the reader to become more acquainted with symbolism and others examine more subtle elements of tarot. Greer gives us examples of how to answer tricky questions and expand on a reading by utilizing the nuances of an image or allowing the intuitive spirit to flow more freely. She also gives us tips on how to rephrase the querent's question to help free up any potential stumbling blocks during a reading.

Even if you don't gravitate to a particular activity or agree with all of her methods, Greer provides simple yet potent tools that can serve to expand one's own rapport with the cards. It's a fun-packed volume filled with Greer's unique wisdom that is sure to please tarot enthusiasts everywhere. Also included is an excellent glossary that can be used as a quick reference guide.

Hello all

I am part of a study group going through this book. What an adventure I thought having tarot cards for years that there was no way there would be this many ways to " see" a card. But was I wrong , and gladly so.

We finished all the apprentice steps and are about to start on the adept part now and truly I am a much better reader then i though I ever could be.

One warning though it takes work and time to apply everything but the rewards are very much worth it.

I really am pleased that I read this book because within its pages you can see the birth of our modern world.

Despite the fact that Rene contorted himself to try to prove that God exists; he still managed to create a great work. He began the inquiry into reality wherein we try to understand the world through experimentation. I think he failed in many ways to develop a coherent philosophical structure due to his attempts to please the Church but given the social conditions of the day this was the best that he could do. Even in this flawed analysis Rene paved the way for what would later become the Scientific Method.

I only wish that he could live today and write without fears of reprisal from religious entities.

well..descartes is kind of long winded.
he's trying to prove we can KNOW things about the natural world, which he does. fantastic.
the problem now is by decartes standard can there be agnostic or atheist scientists?

In the 17th century, the world underwent dramatic and incredible changes. The Scientific Revolution was gathering pace, Europeans had experienced the Reformation and the Renaissance, and boundaries and horizons in all areas were being expanded and changed at a breakneck pace.

Into this time of upheaval comes Descartes, one of the greatest Philosophers to ever live anywhere in the world. While 'modern' philosophy, which broke off its roots from Scholasticism, does not necessarily begin only with Descartes, it is true in Descartes the agenda of post-Scholastic philosophy is most clearly and beautifully expressed in logical terms.

Descartes's project is to take into account the implications of the scientific revolution for philosophy; for Descartes, it is no longer religious authority or pure philosophical speculation which tells us the most accurate truths about the cosmos, but science based on observation and the use of mathematical and logical methods employed by the aid of natural human reason.

Descartes sets into motion an astonishing project into motion; to basically remove Scholasticism and its corrupt and inept attempts to understand the universe and replace it with a complete and unified system of knowledge, based on certain truths clear and knowable to anyone, whatever their class or background.

Descartes, following a plan of 'meditation', withdraws from the senses and attempts to consider the universe as it is to the intellect. Descartes carefully invokes several skeptical doubts about our knowledge, the existence of the external world, and our own existence and attempts to set out what he felt was true and what is not. The famous phrase 'Cogito ergo sum' is one result, though Descartes's overall system and arguments are more complex.

Descartes argues that the cogito, along with the goodness of God who does not make a creature merely in order to decieve it, ensures there are certain and indutible truths about ourselves and the world which will ensure his project will be a successful one. But Descartes encourages the reader not merely to accept his arguments but to put them into practice themselves, hoping in doing so they will discover new truths about the universe which will be plain to anyone using the light of reason.

Descartes in his other works uses this method as a justification for his approach to science and mathematics. Descartes was in every sense a polymath; a trained lawyer, an excellent writer, a student of human anatomy (in which Descartes made many pioneering experiments and observations), a brilliant philosopher and (for his time) physicist, and a mathematician of genius. However, while much of his science is now plainly wrong and was superseded by better scientists such as Galileo and Newton, the agenda Descartes set for philosophy remains much the same even today, especially in the Analytic tradition. Philosophy owes to Descartes two great achievements, one, in applying more rigorous logical methods to philosophical problems while paying attention to the results of science, and second, the re-introduction of skepticism into philosophy which provides a valuable check against dogmatism, but which would only truely be extended to its fullest possible means by David Hume.

Whether or not one ultimately agrees with Descartes's arguments, it must be acknowledged he is a great geius who stands shoulder to shoulder with people like David Hume, Liebniz, Spinoza and Kant, who all radically changed the way philosophers look at the world and the problems it poses.

I needed this book for my doctoral studies. I needed it for research and needed it quickly. I am very pleased with the delivery service and the book

I leave it to the reader to determine the merits of Descartes' thinking; that this work is seminal is obvious and needs no exegesis (nor does explanation of the text do any good for those who have yet to read it). The Cambridge edition is in my opinion the best out there for the English speaking world. It is a clean, literal rendering that does a great job of capturing the Latinate sense of Descartes' terminology in English with minimal obfuscation.

Our book study just completed Miracles Do Happen. It was incredible to see God open hearts and minds to Jesus' healing power. It's written in a simple style but it packs a punch in terms of presenting the Gospel. The son of a friend of our group was diagnosed with a recurrence of a brain tumor, and just like in the book, Sister Briege showed up in our town and was able to pray with him and his family. His prognosis is now quite favorable, praise God. If you want to hear the story of how Jesus still cares about His people, how Jesus is still in the healing business and you need a reason to have hope in Christ, this book is the best choice I've ever seen.

This is a great inspiration to me, though I am not catholic.
Her words are uplifting and healing.

"Miracles Do Happen" is an excellent testimony to the power of faith. Briege Mckenna developed sever arthritis as a young adult, which confined her to a wheel chair. When attending a Catholic Charismatic prayer services, she was miraculously healed. Allegedly, she received a private revelation, in which God asked her to be a healer to others. She debated whether the message was really from God, as she was a member of a contemplative community, but after a period of discernment and a series of signs, she lost all doubt.

"Miracles do Happen" is an autobiography of Sr. Briege's healing ministry. She prays for people and many have been healed of spiritual and physical pains and diseases. The book is full of stories and photos of people, whom she has encountered during her journey and many of whom were healed by prayers. It is easy to be skeptical of spiritual healers today, but unlike many charlatans in the field, Sr. Briege does not accept money or promote products or methodology for financial gains. The book is great for renewing faith in prayer, and offers much guidance and learning to discern God's voice in your life through prayer. Sr.Briege herself spends an estimated two-three hours in prayer each day, and write about the types of Christian spiritual practices which have been spiritually edifying for her.

This is a simple book about the role that prayer and faith has played in her life, and in the lives of others whom she has had the fortune to know, during her religious life and is not bogged down in theological explanations or issues related to debatable doctrines. It is written simply as an intimate conversation, as often is the case of works from saints, and when one reads it one has to wonder if they are living in a very special life time of a woman who might be recognized as a saint in the future.

This is a wonderful book. We often need to remind ourselves about the present of our Lord Jesus Christ in our daily lives, and Sr. McKenna has done a wonderful job of doing so. Buy, read and believe...

This is the story of how Sister Breige McKenna became a healer of human bodies and human souls. She herself had a instantaneous healing from Rhematoid Arthritis. Because of this book I sought out her phone number and upon hearing a healing prayer over the phone, I was healed spiritually. I have never been the same and I thank God for it! Buy this, you won't regret it!!!

For Begineers who want to understand the basiscs of their machine..

I found it very easy to follow in the most part, not to use on a certain bike, but with a bike manual it will be great help.

It covers a wide variety, but I sensed speceific hostility to my baby (Harley Davidson), but oh well, Loved by few, respected by many :).

I found this book an extremely interesting read and a great introduction to the basics of motorcycles. A must read for motorcycle enthusiasts looking to get a grip of the basics!

Aside from the occasional spelling differences (tyre instead of tire, etc.) this serves as the perfect introduction to the inner workings of your bike. It's not too complicated, nor does it treat its readers as idiots; rather it's a great blend of information and photos that allow you to learn the core ideas behind the metal and plastic. What I really liked was the build up of old to new styles of all the various systems it covers. As the title plainly states this is a basics book, and it won't get you to the point of being a mechanic, but after reading this you should be able to begin a study of motorcycle repair without a problem. This is money worth spending if you aren't already educated about engine systems.

I'm a young(ish) woman who is absolutely new to the world of motorcycles. I bought this book from Amazon after reading through the posted reviews, and am pleased to say that it was an excellent purchase.


I really don't have anything to compare this book to, but I can say that it has been a wonderful introduction to the nuts and bolts of motorcycles. I never really understood what constituted an engine before picking up this book, but now I can talk intelligently on many mechanical matters with my grease-monkey mates. It's also a great reference when you're struck by a killer question about the intricacies of gear shifting, or whatever.


The book's only drawback, from my point of view, is that the text is rather dense, which makes it slightly daunting to sit down with. All in all though, my thanks and congratulations go out to the author.

This book is not and does not try to be a shop manual. What it is, is a well-done primer on the theory behind the various systems in a motorcycle. The chapter on engines was fascinating to me. It explains, in rough historical/chronological order, the development of various engine designs, and how each was a reponse to weaknesses in previous designs and how each one introduced it own problems (while at the same time older designs were tweaked in various ways to minimize problems). The design variations include number of cyllinders, number of crankshafts, orientation of cyllinders with respect to each other, orientation of the crankshaft with respect to the motorcycle, ratio of bore diameter to stroke length, various arrangements of valve trains, etc. Two stroke engines are also covered. Illustrations are extensive, but tend to be pulled from other books or from manufacturers manuals, so sometimes include unnecessary detail, especially in the carburation chapter (which was very complex and a little over my head). Some chapters (e.g., exhaust systems) were not as detailed as the engine chapter and were slightly disappointing.

I followed this book up with Keith Cameron's Sportbike Performance Hankbook, which explains some systems in more detail. Cameron's book is ostensibly a book for souping up your motorcycle, but in the end managed to convince me that I want to keep my bike stock unless I don't plan to use it on the street: the manufacturers generally know what they are doing.

One caveat about Motorcycle Basics Manual: the book was authored in England and uses U.K. terminology. A glossary at the end gives U.S. equivalents, but a few things are left out.

the seller did a great job in getting this book to me quickly. Great job

One of the best books ever written on the subject. If the topic is confusing, she makes it less confusing. She is one of the great spiritual thinkers of the early twentieth century.

What else can be said about this work Mysticism that hasn't been said over the years. Some say, in this modern period we now live in that some of her phrases etc. are out moded. Perhaps this is true! But if you are a person who has had experiences with God or Inner revelations, you feel this great Love within you, but you are not sure what it is, this book may give you the answers. When I first tried to read St. John of the Cross when I was 25, I felt the beauty and the love from his writings, but all the suffering he kept talking about was too much for me. Meaning of course I wasn't actually ready to read it until years later. After I had developed a little more spiritually. The same with this book it's a great history of mysticism and love; but you will not understand it fully
unless you are on this Path of Transformation. It can be read, but it will only be guessed at, until you experience it within your self. Yes, this is a great book; and remember: "You are the Love, You Search for In Others.

Underhill's book is a superbly authoritative look at the facts and processes of the mystical experience. This work offers much in the way of assurance and guidance to those whose inner eyes are beginning to open, as well as those who are already well acquainted with the deeper layers of their own spiritual reality. She is keen on detail and shares a wealth of examples from the lives of well known and not so well known mystics from all times and places.

While one may get the feeling from Underhill's works that self deprivation is a key to enlightenment, it should be remembered when reading such potent material that spiritual development is an evolution of values, that we move into each new phase when we are clear that our current values no longer serve our forward movement.

I particularly appreciate Underhill's superb command of the English language in choosing words that convey abstractions that could easily be defined merely as inexplicable feelings. She is one of those rare and gifted writers that I wish were still alive. I would love to be able to thank her personally for her monumental contribution to the world's great spiritual writings.

J Douglas Bottorff, author of The Whisper of Pialigos.

The author states at one point that only a mystic can write about mysticism, or rather about the true mystic experience. Conventional language, mere words, are poor tools for expressing transcendent reality. In spite of this I found myself exclaiming again and again during my reading that I knew exactly what was being described.

The core here is that only Being can know Being, we behold that which we are, and we are that which we behold. There is a spark in man's soul which is Real and by its cultivation that we may know Reality. You can only behold that which you are. Only the Real can know Reality. If this resonates to you, if it sounds strangely familiar, then perhaps this work is for you.

The mystic is drawn to the path by the force of love- the overriding desire for union with the Absolute. It is by this power that he or she is drawn to transcendent reality. This love leads to the state of contemplation which is the subtle state of consciousness that allows access to another plane. It is a form of consciousness recognized by Plato and Plotinus as well as Augustine and Aquinas. It is that form of consciousness beyond the emotional, intellectual, and volitional striving of ordinary men- a different way of knowing.

The second half of the book is structured according to the pattern of awakening, purification, illumination, ecstacy and rapture, the dark night of the soul, and the unitive life. In no sense is it a "how-to" guide, but it is a most valuable validation for those who have travelled any way at all on the path. It has also been traveled by others.

I find it significant that the author ends her appendix of biographical sketches with William Blake's death in 1827. There have of course been genuine, accomplished mystics since then, but the materialist and rationalistic world is more hostile to the testimony of the true mystic than the "dark ages" ever were.

And yet Mystic Union is no less a reality- and no less obtainable by the boon of grace.

After all, it is to know God that is our ultimate and highest purpose- all else is secondary if not ultimately trivial.

In La Niebla by Miguel Unamuno. Is a story of love, tragedy, and existentialism. Augusto (the main character) falls in love with Eugenia that is in love with another guy. At the beginning, Augusto didn't know she was in love, but later on he knew that Eugenia was in love with other, however he don't care about it, because he is rich and he can be more helpful than his boyfriend. To start it Augusto pays the loans that Eugenia had to pay for her house that her father leaves her without pay it before he died.

In some way Eugenia felt like she must corresponds him by marring him, because she knew that that was what Augusto wants. One night before the wedding she escape with her boyfriend and leave a letter to Augusto, giving thanks for pay the house but she couldn't married him. Augusto felt terrible and died in his bed. And the theme that I like is existentialism, in which the man is victim of his own circumstances. In which Augusto knew that Eugenia was a pretty and that she never was going to fall in love with him. Also when tries to play a Hero when he pays the loans to the bank, so Eugenia can see what her best choice is.
Practically it was about a man that is trying to be happy, but didn't know how to choose the correct way.

The book is absolutely wonderful. It is funny as well as powerful. Unamuno effectively uses the construct of the book to criticize aspects of Spanish society.

" Ni los recuerdos ni los suenos son tan efimeros como la NIEBLA"

This book deals with human emotions, thoughts and fears in a deep, meaningful and funny way. It has a little bit of everything, private conversations with God, the search for the true meaning of life, the quest to find an everlasting love, the fear of facing death, and the hardships that every single human faces during a lifetime.

I read it in Spanish, and I have to say it is one of the best written books I have read so far. Every single word is where it should be, and the story flows magnificently.
Although it deals with very serious topics, the story is simple, well written, funny, easy to read and with a very unexpected twist at the end...

It simply belongs to a class of its own.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Niebla... es un libro maravilloso, que toca temas muy profundos y valiosos para cualquier ser humano, de una manera unica, original e incluso graciosa.
Incluye conversaciones privadas con Dios, la busqueda incanzable por encontrar el verdadero significado de la vida, la necesidad de encontrar el amor, el miedo a la muerte.... en fin.... un poco de todo, y sin embargo la historia es simple, facil de seguir, divertida y con un personaje principal con el que cualquiera puede identificarse.

Definitivamente uno de los mejores libros que he leido... Unamuno tiene una manera unica de escribir y de mantener al lector interesado a lo largo de toda la historia.

Este libro nos muestra el genio de Miguel de Unamuno. Su tecnica en crear Augusto Perez y su mundo es brillante. Niebla representa el elite de la prosa Espanola...Cada palabra ocupa su propio lugar y lo que resulta es una obra con pasion, humor, un lirismo hermoso, tragedia , y sabidura universal.

Miguel de Unamuno es sin duda un gran escritor, ennieblado? No lo creemos, mas bin ennivolado. Veremos al Creador y al creado, a Unamuno y a Augusto, al que tiene el poder y al que prescinde de poder. Es el autor un ateo? Si lo fuera no pudiera haber creado al protagonista de la novela, pues al no haber Creador para crear lo creado se convierte en una utopa la existencia, y siguiendo entre Creador y creados, nunca se niega la existencia de la vida, mas bin se aplaude tristemente la negacin de poder desempaar lo enmaraado de ella, pero abunda existencialmente. El existencialismo de Unamuno nos niebla el camino a una salida y nos enfrenta a un Creador al cul aparentemente no entendemos unos, no le creen otros, y le odia el pelotn de los autnticos desafortunados.

"Empez hablndome de mis trabajos literarios y mas o menos filosficos...no dej claro esta! de halagarme, y enseguida empez a contarme su vida y sus desdichas...las vicisitudes de su vida saba yo tanto como l...y los que l crea mas secretos" (XXXI). Aqu empieza el autor a enfrentarnos filosficamente en su existencialismo a nuestro Creador. Creemos conocerlo y no cesamos de halagar y adorarlo para entonces poniendo nuestra esperanza en EL comenzar a confesar nuestras faltas, desdichas, las trampas, las injusticias a las que estamos sometidos, el odio que ronda entre piratas, la mala hierba que abunda en cada jardn, la envidia que roe mas que huesos esqueletos generacionales; pero no importa, por mucho que hablemos, escucha lo que dice la cancin de la realidad: "se lo demostr citndole los mas ntimos pormenores y los que l crea mas secretos", entonces el Dios de Unamuno, a quien l arremete en la novela, es capaz de crear, de saber todo, an lo profundo de nuestros corazones.

Unamuno conoce al diablo, su filosofa entra en el mbito espiritual abofeteando su propio existencialismo: "Tu...con un tono autoritario-tu, abrumado por tus desgracias, has concebido la diablica idea de suicidarte...vienes a consultrmelo." Dios en su trono, es consultado, y en algn lugar dimensional, el diablo empujando a un hombre abrumado al suicidio. Vuelve a caer, s, vuelve a su enclaustro terrenal: "no eres, pobre Augusto, mas que un producto de mi fantasa".

El existencialismo es un "movimiento filosfico que trata de fundar el conocimiento de toda realidad sobre la experiencia inmediata de la experiencia propia" (Real Academia), pero un producto de la fantasa no puede tener experiencia propia, mas bin se convierte en un instrumento desmesurado para tirar por la borda toda filosofa real que nos permita cuestionar nuestra existencia; es por tanto el autor un ser sincero por su dolor, pero contradictorio porque quiere negar lo que para l es innegable: la existencia del mismo Dios, conviviendo con la existencia humana. Lo que vemos aqu es a un Unamuno atareado con disputar evocando su voz hacia el cielo, pero con el pequeo valor de mantener sus ojos en la tierra, para as exprimir de esa naranja terrenal cuanta lgrima pueda verter, cuanta desesperanza pueda acumular, cuanta tristeza hacer memorar, olvidando an el propio amor que hace cantar, rer, celebrar, soar, y contemplar el nacimiento transformador del nio que el propio Victor (Unamuno tambin) una vez rechaz depresiva y existencialmente, pero que admite llen su corazn de un gozo inexplicable.

"Bueno basta!Cllate!...una criatura ma...Dios, cuando no sabe qu hacer de nosotros, nos mata." Basta Una-mundo que Dios te di la vida y ha dejado que hables, te permiti crear y asi colaborar en Su dominio, te dej procrear y asi experimentar que el manantial existe para ser bebido, y que no hay fuerza ni inteligencia que pueda machucar el amor a la vida y el querer alcanzar la eternidad prometida.

La lucha que Nivola nos entrega en bandeja es afianzarnos a la desesperanza de la existencia. Nos mata el aliento; sin embargo, el autor supo conservar el aliento durante toda su vida, se supo enfrentar a las injusticias, y nunca dej de tener hijos. El es por tanto uno que no se dej vencer por la niebla que encontramos en el camino, y as un hijo prodigo que arremeti contra Su Padre celestial, pero que sinceramente nos anuncia que el camino a transitar esta lleno de falsos brillos, mereciendo pues respeto por ello.

Un poco de admiracin para lo que hemos vivido, y asi no dejar que la Niebla nos impida la F en lo desconocido.

Alejandro Roque.

Night's Master was my first introduction to Tanith Lee nearly ten years ago and ever since I have been addicted to her work. Her writing is beautiful and seductive filled with lush imagery and descriptions that will have you longing to enter the pages of her novels. This is not your typical "fantasy" novel. It is powerful and moving and unlike anything else I have ever read. Of all of Tanith Lee's books, I would recommend the Flat Earth series and The Silver Metal Lover as the best. They never fail to transport me to another world, and really isn't that the great joy of reading novels?

This title have now been out of stock for at least two years running. That is too long.

The flat earth books are Tanith Lee's best. Spiritual and physical, romantic and thought provoking.

My copies are falling apart from all the times they have been borrowed and all the times I have re-read them myself.

So REPRINT!

Please.

Night's Master reads like a twisted fairy tale for adults. Lee's writing is very elegant and compelling. The world of the demons is wonderfully imagined, and full of vivid, dreamlike imagery. It's affecting and thought-provoking, and I was able to totally immerse myself in Lee's world. This is a wonderful escape from reality, far beyond the typical sword-and-sorcery shenanigans.

...and you have the strange feeling that you are reading something that is a dream, and yet it is so magical and fairytalish, but in a dark and twisted way.

In this book we meet the Prince of Demons, Azhrarn, who plots and schemes to his own dark ends. He is an evil, selfish antagonist, and yet Sivesh, his adopted son is the 'good guy', falls prey to his evilness and in the end...

The book is written like a myth, with strange and wonderful things like silver collars woven of tears, and demon horses that ride the night...

Enjoy it!

Fantasy, ultimately, depends on description to carry it. The more alien the landscapes and psychologies an author wishes to describe, the more she must rely on her style and vocabulary to carry it off.

-Night's Master- kicks off the Flat Earth series, about a richly imagined, glittering, world of cruel and proud daemons. What ultimately carries off the story of Azhrarn is Tanith Lee's strong prose style. You can tell that she must have been the victim of a classical education.

Over the last few years I have purchased over 50 copires of this book and given it to my friends and co-workers. It is that good! It has a very uplifting message that is well grounded in real life. I very highly recommend this book to those interested in Buddhist philosophy or to anyone who simply wants a more open heart and clear mind.

This book, written in a flowing conversational style, has 7 sections: an introduction, an extremely fine rendition of Buddhist psychology-aimed at human emotions, the "current situation" on cyclic existence/karma, the future-Buddhahood, the path to take, the past-brief Buddhist history; & conclusion. Overall, it's a very fine introduction to basic Buddhism & a terrific companion to Ven. Chodron's Q&A "Buddhism for Beginners" & "Working with Anger." While the author is a Gelugpa Tibetan Buddhist Bhikshuni (ordained nun), the book is more generic. The pp. 25-80 psychology portion is convincing: e.g. p. 40: "The sources of the pain & confusion are our own biased projections & the selfish expectations we've placed on others," but goes a bit far, stating p. 77: "all problems arise from the self-cherishing attitude." Later sections present std. Buddhist doctrines, dogmas, mythology, & terminology-very different from the psychology section. For example, as I read Websters, "kindness" implies intention; while one can be grateful to another for some benefit, an unintended benefit is not a "kindness." Similarly, p. 161 the discourse on emptiness ignores the mixed definition of "cracker"--Websters says it must be baked, it is not simply the sum of its parts + synergy is possible. She has some questionable (though not unusual) assumptions-saying p. 196 there were no Buddhist wars (but the Gelugpas came to power over the Karmapa via Mongol military strength etc.). The discussion on soul/self is also party line e.g. p. 163: "the Judeo-Christian idea of an eternal, unchanging soul" & p. 166: "the self still exists, but in a gentler & softer way. It's merely a convention, not a real entity." IMO it depends on one's definitions of words used. This basic book doesn't address specific Vajrayana or Mahamudra perspectives, but Ven. Chodron says very valuable things when speaking for herself: p. 206: "Others may not be our relatives, but they are someone's parents & children. They are the same in being parents & children, only the possessive pronoun describing them is different: `their' instead of `our.' Once we recognize the arbitrariness of these labels `mine' & `others,' our love & compassion can spread to everyone impartially. In this way, feelings of alienation & barriers between people fall away." I find this observation very useful in developing lovingkindness, compassion, Bodhichitta & Tonglen & p. 209: per Lama Yeshe, "We do whatever we can, with whatever wisdom we have...to the best of our ability. This in itself will be of enormous benefit to others; we don't need to wait until we become Buddhas before we can begin to act."

You will not find a better introduction into the world of Buddhism than Open Heart, Clear Mind. Thubten Chodron does a phenomenal job simply explaining complex concepts in language that the beginner can understand. Her prose style is easy yet full of wonderful metaphor. The book is all about questioning our basic assumptions, and examining them in a whole new way, such as this passage about the management of anger:

Generally when we're angry or hurt we feel like victims of others' harmful deeds. We see ourselves as innocent people who unjustly have to bear the brunt of others' actions. We're hurt or angry because we think other people are wrong or bad. Both the anger and the hurt refuse to accept what has happened.

Many people live with a "victim mentality," constantly feeling helpless, mistreated and fearful. However, the more we understand the workings of our minds and the functioning of cause and effect within our mental continuums, the more we'll understand that our present interpretations, as well as our past actions, have played vital roles in the evolution of what we experience. We are in some way responsible for what is happening to us. Knowing this, we then take responsibility and act in order to improve our situation. (47-8)

Part of the understandability of Thubten Chodron's explanations stems from the fact that she is a Westerner, and once had all the questions that we might ask. Her ability to discuss reincarnation, karma, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path to Enlightenment in clear and compelling writing is an incredible accomplishment. And those wanting to learn about Buddhism would do well to heed her words.

Following is a quote quoted in the book (so this is a quote of a quote of a quote) from Christian Humphreys (an eminent British judge) that sums up a lot of what I dig about Buddhism:

Buddhism . . . is a system of thought, a religion, a spiritual science and a way of life which is reasonable, practical and all-embracing. For 2,500 years it has satisfied the spiritual needs of nearly one-third of mankind. It appeals to those in search of truth because it has no dogmas, satisfies the reason and the heart alike, insists on self-reliance coupled with tolerance for other points of view, embraces science, religion, philosophy, psychology, mysticism, ethics and art, and points to man alone as the creator of his present life and sole designer of his destiny.

An excellent book to re-read at least once a year. Thubten Chodron offers insights from the combination of many perspectives-a Buddhist in a Christian world, a nun in a predominantly man's religion. But underlying the philosophies is a gentle female offering wisdom on how to give, receive and feel love! Beautiful!

This book was the start of an unquenchable thirst for Tibetan Buddhism for me. I recommend it to beginners in Buddhism and as a complement to any variety of spirituality. A must for understanding and treating human suffering at the root cause.

I used this book on a medical humanitarian mission to Africa because I didn't want to lug my huge textbooks around. It was the perfect size to fit in my carry on and fanny pack. The material was clear, concise, and up to date. I used it every day of my trip, and would recommend it to physicians or other health care professionals.

The Oxford Handbook of Tropical Medicine is a great book, as the other reviewers have stated. There is one reason why it stands out, and that is its physical construction. The paper is very thin (like a bible), and the writing is microscopic (good for traveling). The cover is tough plastic, and it is crammed with great reference material. If you've made it to this review, you should buy this book even if you aren't a doctor. If you're going to a developing country (where English is spoken) it would make a wonderful gift for the local doctor or nurse (many of whom are forced to consult 20 year old smeared photocopies of photocopies of out of date textbooks for their clinical information).

I stay part time in rural India and this book is awesome. It addresses issues that I had begun to believe I would never find solid information about. It also gives treatment options that keep Third World Medicine in mind. Very practical.

I recently spent some time in a small, rural clinic in sub-saharan Africa, and this book was by far the most useful tool I had. This is not at all a book on disease theory or etiology - it is purely practical. Concisely, what to suspect, how to diagnosis, and how to treat (e.g., step-by-step instructions on how to Giemsa stain a blood smear). One feature I especially appreciated was how this book doesn't make any assumptions about what diagnostic tools you have available; it explains how to best make decisions both with and without radiology, bacterial cultures, etc. The size of this book of course precludes certain information, the incorporation and discussion of WHO treatment guidelines is incredibly valuable.

I had this book among several others while working in rural Uganda. I quickly forgot the other texts and had this stuffed in my back pocket on the wards and going for housecalls. I'm an internist, so when a measles outbreak started I really appreciated the great section on managing this disease. This text contains the essentials for all aspects of medicine in tropical, resource-poor settings as well as great nutritional information. I will bring this book whenever when workng abroad.