Maxim Books

Guy de Mallac has given us a masterpiece through his translation of one of Leo Tolstoy's last works.

In this book, chapters are devoted to such things as "Effort", "Love", "God" and "False Science" and upon which Leo Tolstoy makes comments about the things he believed were most apposite to each subject, and which, when practiced, would make a person a better person in this life. He spent the last years of his life devoted almost exclusively to this matter, which was near and dear to his heart.

Leo Tolstoy lived his life at the Yasnaya Polyana estate, an estate which would later cause strife in his marriage as he came to believe that land ownership was immoral when there were people who were able and willing to work, but could not for lack of land. When he sought to give much of the land away, acrimony in his marriage soon followed. Near the time of his father's death, the estate held approximately 2000 books. Throughout Tolstoy's life, and especially after his conversion to Christianity after his near suicide at the age of 51, he sought to spend all of his time learning from the great minds throughout history. This meant studying Greek so he could ready ancient texts, studying Hebrew for several years so he could study the original Old Testatment, and this also meant that much of his life was studying any religion which he felt could prove useful to all humanity. Near the end of his life, the Yasnaya Polyana collection swelled to nearly 32,000 books!

A chapter at the end of the book details his search for wisdom, and what he thought of each of the religions; some he had more favorable opinions of than others, as he was not a person who believed in strict adherence to any dogma which was immutable, even if facts proved it incorrect later in time. This was the first I had ever read of some of his opinions on these matters.

"The Wisdom of Human Kind" gives us a glimpse of how Leo Tolstoy thought people should live to make their lives meaningful.

A must have for anyone who is interested in Tolstoy's spiritual writings.

Tolstoy (known today only for his novels) attempted to complete his philosophical conceptions by unifying the basic moral conceptions of all religions and this is a condensed (and more manageable) form of his final work. Although emphasising pure Christianity it also blends this with traditional eastern concepts and creates a good complete summary of proper moral behavior. He seems also to convey a certain passion and love, giving the book a spirited tone. It preaches non-violence and even vegetarianism. I was surprised to learn that Tolstoy's ideas were much regarded 100 years ago and even were an inspiration for Ghandi. Depending on your background in world religions, the contents may or may not provide you with any new knowledge. It is certainly not out of date or only for readers of Tolstoy's novels. Five stars, although there may be better books out there (?).

This is the greatest book that I have ever read in my life. Within this book there are answers to all that human beings seek in order to be happy. It is a how to book if one is interested in living a moral life and in becoming a more complete human being. Leo Tolstoy with Guy De Mallac has written a masterpiece, a truly great piece of work from one of the most justifying minds of our times, Leo Tolstoy.

The "Wonders of Solitude" is a magnificent discovery of how to be at peace with one's self. A self-discovery of how wonderful it is to be alone, to reveal a deeper and spiritual awareness of ourselves. It brings a true sense of fullfillment to the word "solitude", without any feeling of deprivation or lonliness. Truly great reading material for anyone who is uncomfortable with being alone or in need of soul searching.

Living in a hurry up world has made it seem wrong to look for quiet and solitude. This book gives all the reasons why solitude is needed and important.

A really nice collection of quotes & thoughts to ponder, from a very wide variety of authors, philosophers, and otherwise great thinkers or just neat people. In such a busy world today where it seems like we are always on the go, this book is a really great reminder of the time we need for ourselves, to center ourselves and listen quietly to ourselves. I know a lot of people who have a terrible time being alone. This book is a great gift for people who need to just slow down for a bit. For the most part the quotes are non-religious but there is one section called "Finding God" which was a bit much for me. I loved the quotes/thoughts that center on nature especially. The chapters are as follows:
1) A noisy world
2) Solitude as Discovery
- Finding the Self
- Finding God
3) Solitude as Inspiration
- Inward peace
- Creativity
4) Solitude and the Natural World
5)Other places of Solitide
- At home
- In Houses of worship
- Among others
- Within the human heart
6) The power of silence

Really a wonderful collection with a super message woven through the quotes and the wy that they are assembled.

What a hoot! Anyone who has worked for a loser before can relate to this. The book makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time!!!

Claude Carter's book is really funny. The fact that these are true stories makes it even more humorous. I laughed out loud many times and found myself reading passages to friends and co-workers using an introduction of "Do you believe this?", all the time.

The fact that I am a manager to some also made it valuable as a how no to guide to leadership. This is a unique, funny, and different book that was a fast read. I recommend it highly.

I really, really loved this book. It's one of the few times that I can recall having laughed out loud at a book. I am a boss now. I am an entrepreneur and I run my own company. I think the main reason that I am a boss today is that I used to work for folks like some of the clowns that are described so clearly in this book. So I guess I have to thank all these bad bosses for helping me get to where I am today.

One thing that I found about the book that was useful to me was that it contains a lot of valuable workplace humor. As a small business man I am also my company's chief salesperson. Humor is a great ice breaker at sales presentations. And I found that this book contained a great wealth of material that could be used in that fashion.

It also helps me within my own office. I once heard that you can learn from anyone, even a fool--if only how not to be one. In that sense this book was a great learning experience. It helps you to think about how others view your actions and reminds you to always think about the position of the people that work for you.

But obviously I don't just think Working for a Loser is only a book for bosses. It's a great book for anyone who participates in the American workplace. I found the stories wonderful, funny and at times profoundly insightful. But more than anything its funny. There is nothing like laughter and this book produces plenty of it. I strongly encourage you to read it. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Hats off to Claude Carter. He has really produced a winner.

This is a wonderful treasure for people who like quotations;and even more so if you like quotations abour books,writers,critics and readers.
This book is the result of a personal collection of quotations by the author from the time he was only 17 and had his first notion of becoming a writer.
Being a rather small book of 5 1/2" X 6 1/4 " ;it might appear to be insignificient sitting on the bookshelf;but don't let that fool you.It is 372 pages with many hundreds of quotations by over 500 different writers. While some are from outside America,most are from the US.The breadth and variety of people and topics is exceeding great for a book of this type. The quotations are presented under 50 different subjects .Just to show the subjects covered;let me list a few; Best-Sellers,Censorship,Colleagues,Critics,Editors,Fiction,Money,Output,Fame,
Publicity,Posterity,Techniques,Work Habits,Readers and Reading,Publishers,Success and on and on.
Then at the back of the book we are given two indexes;one by Writers and another, Alphabetically.
You are sure to find quotes from most of your favorite writers and also many you may not be as familiar with;but you are going to be astounded with the quotes Winokur has assembled for your enjoyment.
This book was first written in 1986 and reprinted a few times,and when you see how comprehensive it is,it's little wonder it is still available.If there is any shortcoming,it has to be that there are no quotations from some of the more "recent writers" such as McMurtry ,King and so on;so maybe we will see a new updated edition edition one of these days.Here are a couple of quotes you'll find here;

"There are no dull subjects.There are only dull writers." H.L.Mencken

"Write without pay until someone offers to pay;if nobody offers within
three years,sawing wood is what you were intended for." Mark Twain

"I'm a commercial writer,not an "author". Margaret Mitchell was an
author.She wrote one book." Mickey Spillane

"I have never been a title man.I don't give a damn what it is called."
John Steinbeck

"I think you must remember that a writer is a simple-minded person
to begin with and go on that basis.He's not a great mind,he's not a
great thinker,he's not a great philosopher,he's a storyteller."
Erskine Caldwell

"A writer has nothing to say after forty;if he is clever he knows how
to hide it." Georges Simenon

"His style is chaos,illuminated by flashes of lightning. As a writer he
has mastered everything but language;as a novelist he can do
everything but tell a story;as an artist,he is everything,except
articulate. Oscar Wilde on George Meredith

"He festooned the dung heap on which he had placed himself with
sonnets as people grow honeysuckle around outdoor privies." Quentin
Crisp on Oscar Wilde

I could cry that this book is out of print. I pored over its pages when I was first writing fiction. I highlighted stuff. It kept me going. I still refer to it. We can hear the voices of writers in it, dead and alive.

Like this:

"A work of art has no importance whatever to society. It is only important to the individual." --Vladimir Nabokov

"We have art in order not to die of the truth."--Friedrich Nietzsche

"Poets have to dream, and dreaming in America is no cinch."--Saul Bellow

"There is no way of being a creative writer in America without being a loser."--Nelson Algren

"Writers don't have lifestyles. They sit in little rooms and write."--Norman Mailer

"I never wanted to grow up to be a writer; I just wanted to grow up to be an adult."--Toni Morrrison

It puzzles me beyond belief that "Writers on Writing" is out of print. This book is a grand, well-chosen collection of quotes on such apects of writing--from getting published, to starting out, to writer's block. Jon Winokur is a quote-collecting master. When I first became serious about writing, I found this book at my local library, and found it hard to put down, and extremely helpful and insightful. I was being taught by the likes of such literary greats as Truman Capote, Lewis Carroll, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. This is an educational journey all the way through, using down to earth quotes from those who know, rather than a drawn out step-by-step instructional book. It cured my writer's block, and improved my amateur work. Required reading for aspiring writers.

This has been a great teaching text for neurology and psychiatry residents. In fact, I think my original copy was never returned by one.

While Devinsky is probably best known as an epileptologist, his knowledge of behavioral neurology is very clearly displayed in this very readable & concise book. 100 maxims takes the form of 100 facts in behavioral neurology, all concisely written, well researched, and authoritative. Clear neuropathologic and neuroanatomic substrates for numerous behavioral neurology syndromes (e.g., aphasia, visual agnosia, ideomotor apraxia, etc.) are discussed, with appropriate clinical examples. This is an excellent 'little' book, very concisely and densely written. It makes an excellent study guide for neurology residents, neuropsychiatrists, neuropsychologists - those preparing for boards, teachers in the fiels, and as a quick reference for experienced professionals. Highly recommended!

This book is profound and touches the very depth
of your soul. Not only the words but the mandalas
or art work. Having studied ancient wisdom teachings
for over 40 years the truth is easily recognized
in these maxims.

A truly enjoyable book for everyone looking for answers and directions in life. Every maxim makes you think much deeper about your life and all that you do everyday.The artwork is also remarkable.

1001 triumphant quotes @ the capital of the world! CJ Sullivan has done an oustanding job gathering quotes from across history & arranging them imaginatively. This book is a great reference and a great gift for anyone anywhere who loves NYC!

This collection of quotes is a loving tribute to a great town. It's moving, funny, haunting, surprising, witty, gritty, fresh and nostalgic, all at the same time. Just like New York.

Quotebooks are invaluable for writers--good quotebooks. This is one of my favorites, because it is indexed by specific topics, not general ones and it has a good mix of Christian and secular authors.

Many quotebooks offer a lot and then when you get them you'll find the same tired, old rehashed quotes in your other ones. Plus it is thick. Add this to your library at once!!

Under the apt editorship of Frank Mead, 12,000 Inspirational Quotations is a superbly presented compendium of thought- provoking quotations derived from 2500 sources and includes a spectrum of history's most respected secular and religious thinkers and writers. This outstanding collection of practical wisdom, insight and inspirational guidance is an invaluable reference for speeches, reports, presentations, and productive living. Highly recommended for personal, professional, school, and community library reference collections, 12,000 Inspirational Quotations is usefully indexed by both topic and author.

Well, I got this book because nobody loves Mickey more than me (no, really). While I expected much more from it, I'm not disappointed by it. Basically, it's a little picture book full of scenes from various Mickey movies with one-line advice captions on each page pertaining to the scene shown... did that make sense?? Let me explain... there's a picture of the scene from "Fantasia" where he's leading the marching brooms and the caption on the bottom says "Be a leader." You got it now??

It's a very elementary book, but it's adorable none the less. And it's full of Mickey pics, which everyone MUST love!

A charming collection of timeless advice for getting through life, this little book confirmed my suspicions that Mickey Mouse was way ahead of his time. The little mouse has faced it all in his eighty or ninety years of making us laugh, smile and think. And evidently, he's learned a thing or two. The illustrations, taken from old animated shorts and features, are delightful; the text is short, sweet and ripe fruit for thought. The perfect, life-affirming read while waiting for a friend, sitting by a pond, or recovering from thorassic surgery.

J.S. Salt is a sharp editor who knows how to stay out of the way and let his subjects do the talking, so the book has a strong sense of unpolished truth to it. Though some of the entries tend toward the cute, the rest are touching, funny, and straightforward. Kid-wisdom is absolutely refreshing (especially in an election year), and Mr. Salt obviously has a great love and respect for his contributors. It's a perfect companion to his earlier Always Kiss Me Goodnight.

J. S. Salt does it again! This is one of the most charming books that I've ever read! This heart-warming and clever book makes you realize just how simple life can be and will bring you back to a simpler time in your life as you read it. I recommend it for any parent or anyone who works with children. It is also VERY FUNNY to read the kids' handwriting! Trust me--you won't be sorry you bought this book!