Perspective Books

I don't know anybody who having read Sharing Words doesn't believe that social transformation by education can be a reality. Sharing Words explains the possibility for adult illiterates to partake of literacy to the extent of reading classical literature. In addition, it outlines how it is possible to overcome the main obstacles like gender, race, age, and ethnicity that curtail literacy experiences and social participation. The reader appreciates how the literary circles and their organization become a democratic educative practice which produce a transformation in the learners, as well as in their daily and societal context. The experiences depicted in this book do away with stereotypes that relate to the low expectations of our society from people who lack a university degree. I identified the two elements that are propagated by Freire, the theoretical base of the educative experience and the dreams evoked by it. From deep understanding of theory and practice, Flecha deals with both in a very accurate way.

Before reading this book, I didn't believe that one person coming from illiteracy could read James Joyce. Going through Sharing Words, I have realized that to believe that this is possible is the only way to make it. Definitely: Sharing Words is a revolutionary book, it do to believe that the people make dreams possible by education.

What most impressed me about this book is how Flecha successfully overcomes the common gap between educational practice and theory. "Sharing words" is about an efficient educational practice which is taking place every week in different places around the world. The secret for the educational practice efficiency is dialogic learning. This innovative way to approach education is convincingly argued for by the author by introducing the powerful intellectual basis - Freire, Habermas, Giddens - which supports it. Flecha not only presents the seven principles of dialogic learning as a theory or as possible outcomes when the theory is applied; he also includes the voices of those who are actually taking part in the practice. This combination of theory and practice is insightful, especially since it is not easily found in the literature. As a result Flecha gives the reader the opportunity to be immersed in the successful learning experience of literacy students reading Kafka, Joyce, Garcia Lorca... an amazing real utopia! The seven principles of dialogic learning are the most exhaustive set of principles to be used to completely overcome all kinds of discrimination and problems that are at the center of the educational debate. All possible bias are taken into account: ageism, sexism, racism, classism... For all these reasons, I strongly feel that "Sharing Words" will be of great interest and of greater reward for all who care about education, believe in social justice and work everyday to make such ideals a reality for all.

What most impressed me about this book is how Flecha successfully overcomes the common gap between educational practice and theory. "Sharing words" is about an efficient educational practice which is taking place every week in different places around the world. The secret for the educational practice efficiency is dialogic learning. This innovative way to approach education is convincingly argued for by the author by introducing the powerful intellectual basis - Freire, Habermas, Giddens - which supports it. Flecha not only presents the seven principles of dialogic learning as a theory or as possible outcomes when the theory is applied; he also includes the voices of those who are actually taking part in the practice. This combination of theory and practice is insightful, especially since it is not easily found in the literature. As a result Flecha gives the reader the opportunity to be immersed in the successful learning experience of literacy students reading Kafka, Joyce, Garcia Lorca... an amazing real utopia! The seven principles of dialogic learning are the most exhaustive set of principles to be used to completely overcome all kinds of discrimination and problems that are at the center of the educational debate. All possible bias are taken into account: ageism, sexism, racism, classism... For all these reasons, I strongly feel that "Sharing Words" will be of great interest and of greater reward for all who care about education, believe in social justice and work everyday to make such ideals a reality for all.

"Sharing Words" is a book to be read if you want to know about an alternative educational method that listens to the voices of those people who are usually descounted. This book demonstrates how any person is able to analyze culture and society on the basis of his/her experience. Knowledge, as it is understood in "Sharing Words", is not only something abstrct with an academic degree; knowledges also comes from life experience and has not a concrete age, gender, colour of skin or preferences, this is, all the people are able to learn from their own capabilities and necessities and have the right to decide what and how they want to learn.

I had read this book's review in the Harvard Educational Review and I had very much anticipated its release, because it seemed to offer a unique look at education, its beneficiaries, and its methods. I must admit the book has measured up to all that deal of anticipation.

In "Sharing Words" Ramón Flecha raises critical issues. The book is both provocative and thought-provoking, and it challenges, in particular, mainstream ways of dealing with the world of literature.

The book offers ways of crossing cultural borders by focusing on the use and enjoyment of literature by ordinary people, and on their views, rather than on those of the elite, which is a somewhat rare approach in our so-called advanced democratic societies. However, these critical approaches are fortunately becoming less and less of an oddity these days, and books such as this one bear witness to that.

By way of a conclusion, I cannot but reproduce the H.E.R. reviewer's literal words: «'Sharing Words' crosses many borders. It highlights both theory and practice; it is both expository and narrative; and it refers as much to educational and social science works as to classical literature. In this way, 'Sharing Words' may be an example of a new way of writing about educational theory and practice, one that results in a captivating and enjoyable experience that invites the reader to share and comment with colleagues, students, and friends.»

Lave's book provdes an excellent overview of the concept of situated learning. If you are looking for a theoretical background, than this is the book for you. Lave provdes several useful case studies to illustrate legitimate peripheral particiation. However, if you are looking for a more practical view of situated learning or are interested in learning how to encourage such participation to occur, you might want to consider another book.

In this academic book, the authors argue that most literature on learning ignores the social character of learning. The initial intention of this book was to "rescue the idea of apprenticeship." The authors studied the apprenticeships of midwives, tailors, butchers, and others. They found that learning, to a large extent, was taking place between peers, instead of coming directly from the master.

This book was written for academics, but has serious implications for practitioners.

Michael Beitler, Ph.D.
Author of "Strategic Organizational Learning"

I wonder if two people have ever had so much fun writing a book together as Jean Lave and Etiene Wenger. Lave's choice of a cover illustration supports my point: she found the artwork at a beer-fest while visiting friends and studying in Europe. Lave and Wenger are world reknowned scholars who would rather spend the afternoon in a butcher's kitchen than hobb-knobbing at the faculty lounge. With "Situated Learning," the reader is invited to follow Lave and Wenger as they ponder the consequences of doors, tables, timeclocks, work schedules, and union contracts on human development and potential.
After reading "Situated Learning," it is difficult to imagine the constellation of concepts that make up our modern thinking of what learning is without Lave and Wenger's contributions. Like the artwork on the book's cover, and the story of its origins, Lave and Wenger's analysis restoke the fires fueling the learning sciences. It is not an overstatement to say that this short, sometimes difficult to follow book, is responsible for a whole new generation of thinking and research on learning and its sociocultural consequences.
Their analytical objective was simple: dethrone the dominant conceptions of learning in the social sciences and everyday life. In their place, Lave and Wenger offer and illustrate a handful of concepts that students of learning across the social and applied sciences are now usings to inspire new insights on the origins of social ascension and strife.
I recommend that the reader, too, pick up this book with the intent of having some fun: let your inhibitions, and intellectual reservations, down for a couple of hours and enjoy the show as Lave and Wenger take off the Emporer's (modern psychology's, that is) clothes. Readers need to approach this book with a light-heart, as its simplicity and substance leave one feeling as if the dominant, 20th century schools of thought on learning have placed a blacksmith's anvil on the center of one's chest. Thank goodness Lave and Wenger have brought our attention to this matter.
Needless to say, I highly recommend the book.

The book is easy to read, extremely interesting and gives a new perspective on learning. In this type of learning the learner models behavior of the teacher. Questions are not asked, behavior is not explained and all of the learning takes place as a result of observation and immitation of observed behavior.

If you are interested in the study of situated learning and social practice theory, this is the place to start - the origin of the terms `legitimate peripheral participation' (LPP) and `communities of practice' employed ubiquitously by researchers developing sociocultural critiques of Enlightenment thinking. The book is meant to open the mind, and one established notion that readers are asked to give up is a literal view of apprenticeship based on a single master and apprentice. The Lave & Wenger framework has received some criticism due to the explicit power structure associated with such a relationship and the uniform learning trajectory that is entailed, but this criticism is no doubt levied by writers who have not read the book, as Lave & Wenger are careful to note that in their quest to find a metaphor for learning that exists outside formal educational contexts and is based on social participation rather than the internal mental processing of the computer metaphor they aim to replace, they needed to take some artistic license. Their aim is to characterize a specific form of learning, LPP, and through their detailed examples, they illustrate types of relationships and forms of participation within which it emerges -- a broader and respecified notion of apprenticeship.

This book is programmatic - a specific metaphor for learning is described, it is elaborated through several examples, and major issues are discussed, but for details, you will need to look elsewhere. Wenger's (1998) Communities of Practice is an analytical treatment that is the antithesis of the light and vibrant Situated Learning, but that is the go-to place to understand LPP from every angle and in all its detail.

For those who hope to capture this genie in a bottle that is LPP, Wenger's (2002) Cultivating Communities of Practice explains how institutions can `plan for' LPP (it cannot be planned or managed, but it can be `planned for' by putting in place the conditions so that it is likely to emerge). But beware, as Wenger warns that few institutional leaders have the wherewithal to maintain the `hands off' policy required for LPP to be sustained over the long term (and the need for facilitative structures is also the basis for Lave's long-held skepticism about this form of learning appearing - at least in a positive form as educators intend it - in formal schooling).

Readers who are interested less in application than in the genesis and epistemological basis of a sociocultural, practice-based theory of learning will find Lave (1988) Cognition in Practice and Rogoff & Lave (1985) Everyday Cognition useful. They lay the groundwork for Situated Learning.

I am a School Psychologist and I use this program with Middle School students. The lessons are age-appropriate and easy to implement. The teacher checklist in the back is also very helpful in planning which lessons to use. I also use, and love, the early childhood and elementary skillstreaming programs.

I came across this book while working with a group of middle school students who were lacking social skills. This book provides step by step social skills information directed at the specific deficiencies. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the information I have gathered from reading this book.

This book is primarily directed at teachers and professionals trying to manage and socially 'skill' aggressive and delinquent adolescents. The book consists of short exercises sandwiched between buffers of explanatory material. The exercises are fairly much standard prosocial activities involving discussions and role-plays. As an overview, or outline, of what to do, these are good. However, the instructional sequences are short, and occassionally vague. My overall reaction to the book is that it needs a companion manual to realise its usefulness. There is also a deal of repetition of points that may or may not be useful depending on the audience. The amount of explanatory text is high for a book that is not theoretically laden down, and this weakened its appeal to me. In my own opinion, it is hard to beat (pardon the pun) for detail Teaching Social Skills from the Boystown Press for this youth segment.

I was introduced to this book by the co-ordinator of out patient services as a book that she thought highly of in working with adolescents. A chronically mentally ill client from my program was seeing her outpatient for counseling and she thought the book may work well in assisting the client with social skills. On an individual basis it worked very well with the client. We decided to start a group within our program to see how it would work with other chronically mentally ill clients and it has worked extremely well.

A super book for working with socially challenged youth. High risk kids often get into trouble because they don't possess appropriate social skills, and they are not motivated to practice positive skills. They simply don't see the value. All to often their innappropriate skills have been rewarded in life. This book prepares teachers and adolescent group leaders to develop missing social skills in a step by step well thought out and research proven manner. The book also prepares the leader with great stratagies for recognizing and dealing with trainee/client resistance. Of course in your group you will not experience this. If you really want results and not just feel good discussions with kids this material is state of the art. Highly recommended!

I am currently in therapy and this book has been a God send! It has made my experiences in therapy much more meaningful. Also has made my therapy process easier to handle during all those difficult times. Great book to have if you currently going through your own CSA therapy!

Although this book is written for therapists and analysts -- not their clients -- I found it invaluable. Reading it as an accompaniment to my ongoing therapy helped me to listen better to myself and to my therapist, and to understand the many obscure and puzzling episodes and interactions that were taking place during sessions and outside of them. The authors are clearly experts in their field. Their book contextualized and provided insight into both my own history of childhood sexual abuse and the twists and turns of the therapeutic process in general. Despite its sometimes highly technical language for which I had to consult a dictionary, this book is the most focused and helpful work on the subject that I have read. I'm very grateful to its authors for writing it and recommend it without reservation.

As a psychology intern from a psychodynamic background working with numerous childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors, I found this book extremely helpful and inspiring. The conceptualizations about working with CSA survivors and the integration with trauma research are solid and insightful. The case material is effective in clarifying the concepts and bringing to life the importance of this healing process and the meaning to be found in it. In addition, I found the broader perspective on modern, relational psychoanalytic psychotherapy clear and rich. It helped reconnect me with the value of this approach and with the complexity of the therapeutic interaction.

I imagine this book would be too technical for most therapy clients/patients as it was a demanding, dense read for me after several years of coursework and experience, but who am I to say?

Excellent book.Every worker in mental health should read it.It offers a deep, wise and well informed psychoanalytic approach to the issue of abuse. I feel I'm a better person and psychoanalyst after reading it.

As a therapist who works with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, I am always searching for books which provide new perspectives and formulations on the topic of sexual abuse. The book by Jody Messler Davies & Mary Gail Frawley provided a cogent argument for the importance of a psychoanalytically informed framework in treating adult survivors. The authors do an excellent analysis of the bodies of literature from the fields of psychoanalytic thought and trauma based research/therapy. The reader is then shown perhaps previously unnoticed connections between the two bodies of literature. There are numerous case examples throughout the book to illustrate the various concepts that are discussed.

I gave this book five stars, because any book which causes an individual to reexamine their theoretical orientation/mode of conducting therapy, should definitely be sitting on their bookshelf at home.

I had heard of and was considering a water birth for my first pregnancy. After reading Napierala's book I wonder why waterbirths are not everyone's choice. Now it seems a "no brainer." She gives wonderful detail on options, methods and benefits of waterbirths. She paints the picture of waterbirth as spiritual and gentle; the way a birth should be. Also included are moving birth stories. Plus a "how to build a tank" chapter for midwives. Excellent resource to show skeptical grandparents as well!

Filled with interesting historical insight to humans' connection to water. It is an interesting and captivating read, explaining the wonders of natural childbirth in water. It even describes in detail how to build your own birthing tub for home births! A must have for anyone considering waterbirth.

This book is an excellent resource for anybody considering a waterbirth, or anyone interested in the subject. It explores just about every aspect.. humans' connection to water, the benefits of water for a laboring woman, the impact of water on a just-born baby, generally accepted safe practices for a waterbirth, how to find a tub or build your own, what to have on hand for a waterbirth, and much more! It's amazing how much stuff this book covers!

If you are considering waterbirth, BUY THIS BOOK! If you are a midwife who practices waterbirth or is interested in doing so, BUY THIS BOOK! If you are going to be attending a waterbirth, BUY THIS BOOK! Hey, everyone should just buy the book to shut me up!

Read this book after attending my sister's water birth (which was amazing). This books sums it up quite well. It is detailed and realistic (not all births can be via water), and dispells the fear of water birth. How can water not be considered natural? A very good read if you are considering a water birth (which we are).

I became interested in water birth because I have back problems, and the only way I've been able to have a normal range of motion has been in the water. Being in the pool takes the pressure of gravity from the baby off my back, and warm water relaxes my stiff muscles. Water Birth gave me tons of detailed info, and thoroughly explained advice on the complete water birth process: the history behind it, how to make a tank, what problems may come up, and laboring in the water. The book isn't just a bunch of fluff that you could've just found by doing a net search. Yet it does contain beautiful stories that really draw you into the sacred experience while reading, which makes it interesting as well as informative. I bought this book in combination with Active Birth (revised edition). While Water Birth does outline some different positions a woman can try to help her labor progress, Active Birth focuses on this 10 times more, and has better diagrams to show what's happening inside a woman when she's going through the different stages of labor and pushing the baby out. I really needed these extra anatomical diagrams, lengthy explanations, and numerous positions so I could see how different positions would affect my spine. If you have a back problem as well, I'd suggest buying these two books, as they've complimented one another for me.

We Are Here is the 3rd book in the New Perspective Trilogy, written by husband and wife team Ron and Denny Reinolds and unlike the first two books, which mainly focus on the teaching and illustration of metaphysical principles pertaining to manifestation (book 1) and relationships (book 2), this third book is a book of information and insights channeled directly from a group consciousness referred to as the "We".

The format is mostly one of questions and answers, with Ron bringing through the "We" (his higher self? a council of higher consciousness? the voice of the etarnal? for you to decide) and Denny acting as questionner or as facilitator of the questions posed by members of a small group of interested seekers.

The topics covered are many, from the nature of reality, to aspects of human relationship and to the laws of manifestation. However, to some extent the matter of what topics were being discussed here is irrelevant. Let me explain. While I was reading, I was very aware of the consciousness behind the words. A consciousness so pure and high in vibration that the linear thoughts communicated became almost meaningless. Far from meaningless was the transmission of the energy. As such, it took me a long time to read this book, despite its small size. Not because it was boring (far from it), but because I felt the energy from it so strongly, that after reading a few pages I would start to trance out. So I had to put the book down, allowing for the energies to integrate, before I could continue. The only books that I have encountered so far that have had this effect on me are some of the early Kryon books(up until book 7) and the 4 books of the RA material series, which are both classics in their own right.

So, summing up, great book, not so much for the information (which by the way is fabulous), but for facilitating the opening of a doorway to a very high consciousness of magnificent purity and refined light.

The authors of this fascinating book keep it humble and real, while the wisdom just keeps pouring through them. Ron taps into an inner voice, and wonders where it's coming from. Is it his own subconscious? Some Higher Self? Or maybe even something greater? His refusal to jump to conclusions is endearing.

Denny, his wife, begins to ask the voice questions. The answers are surprisingly helpful and wise. Soon she's interviewing like a pro, bringing up real-life situations for clarification, and brilliantly managing groups of curious questioners.

The combination of profound, universal wisdom with no-nonsense real-world questions is dynamite. A coherent worldview emerges during the sessions, covering everything from spiritual growth to inner struggles to work and relationship issues.

According to the voice, we create our own reality. In answer after answer, the process is described in detail, with special emphasis on where we get off-course and how to get back to love. Very useful indeed.

This is not an unfamiliar perspective to me, yet I find myself appreciating how honestly and clearly it comes across in this book, as well as in the Reynolds' first two books, The New Perspective, and The Art of Relationship. These folks are walking their talk. It's a privilege to hear their insights.

"We Are Here" works as a basic introduction to the journey. And yet there's something deeper being communicated through these words, too. I find myself returning to the book often, popping it open at random, and hearing something new each time. That's the sign of a classic.

I have found this book, We Are Here: The Voice of The New Perspective, to offer many profound and deeply beneficial universal truths to advance anyone's spiritual growth - from those new to wisdom teachings to old time seekers and finders. All this is written in an easy to read, conversational style while addressing personal, practical, real life questions, quandries, and pain. I consider this a jewel of a book to be re-read regularly and often. anonymous

This is the 3rd book in a series written by this duo, and this book offers a key piece of the background of how these teachings and concepts came into the awareness of the authors. Ron experimented with channeling and an inner spirit voice came through, which is referred to as H.S. in We Are Here. There are many similarities to teachings of A Course In Miracles and other teachings considered "New Age" or "New Thought." The Reynolds, with the help of their spirit guidance, present these ideas in a very concise and easy to absorb manner. I like how they discuss the topic of Higher Self and match it with the Holy Spirit that is discussed in A Course In Miracles - I also see our Higher Self as the level of self through which we are connected to Source/Creator and which is very much involved with planning our life lessons and offering subtle guidance to help us forward, especially when we open ourselves up to and seek that pure guidance. The role of Higher Self is neglected in many popular spiritual teachings (e.g. The Secret) but is essential to fully understanding and appreciating how our lives play out. We Are Here includes a variety of excerpts from the guidance offered by H.S. including sessions where guidance was given to the authors' friends. The book could have been a bit longer, but readers can further their exploration of this material by going to the first New Perspective book, which could have fit well if merged into a single book with We Are Here. I appreciate that these writers have shared more of their personal discovery process and I know that many people will be supported along their path by learning to observe their lives through this expanded perspective that guides us to see challenges as opportunities for growth and our external reality as a mirror to lead us to understand and master ourselves.

As the third book in Ron and Denny Reynold's inspirational self-help trilogy, WE ARE HERE immediately sets itself apart from its predecessors by presenting information that came through from H.S., which the Reynolds explain can stand for human subconscious, higher self, or holy spirit... depending on the reader's beliefs. WE ARE HERE describes how it can be possible for anyone to access the voice of spirit, and contains some of the most interesting transcripts from "The We" obtained by the Reynolds.

While Ron Reynolds channels The We, psychotherapist Denny Reynolds and others ask questions which provide WE ARE HERE with its unique focus and direction. The basic teachings of The We reflect global truths such as those found in perennial philosophy about the nature of reality, the self and the world... yet some channeled sessions delve into relatively newer concepts of how we create our own reality as we choose to be and express either love or fear. A central key to these teachings is that there is no such thing as objective reality, because when we change our minds, we influence everything.

One of the things I love most about WE ARE HERE is how it describes that we are not our bodies and we are not our stories... that we are able to allow life and divine spirit to flow through us so we may see how all aspects of our lives are perfection and in divine order. When we learn to be still and turn off the ego mind, we are capable of knowing and understanding all, as we accelerate our spiritual growth. There is a gentle quality of compassionate kindness to this book, which makes it a true delight and inspirational treat to read.

This is a brilliant, concise gem of a book that brings certain sights of Kyoto to life unlike any travel guide. When I visited many of the places described here, I'd no idea that any of this remarkable history had occurred.

I think this book is an essential addition to any serious Japan library, and as it is a slim text - I think it'd be a welcome and portable companion on a reader's visit to Kyoto.

Keene's study of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, who many historians call the worst shogun in Japanese history, is remarkable for its central theme: that this man was actually one of the greatest Japanese persons ever.

Keene does a decent job of recounting the historical context of Yoshimasa's life: it was an era of unending war and brutality when famine and sickness ravaged the peasantry and rich aristocrats vied for power in the most brutal fashion - beheadings, suicide and betrayal were commonplace. These same aristocrats also lead lives of dissipation - spending their lives drinking and "sporting" while the masses suffered and Kyoto was razed time after time.

But where Keene shows his brilliance is in his interpretation of the life of this failed shogun who embraced religion and the arts as an escape for the 'impure world' and in the process invented many Japanese cultural forms.

When Yoshimasa fumbles the choosing of his successor and a civil war is unleashed, he decides then and there to leave his shogun's life behind and build a mountain retreat - the so called 'silver pavilion' - where he spent his days contemplating the arts.

It is clear that an aesthete such as Yoshimasa was incapable of leading the Japanese nation in war. But Keene shows in this book that Yoshimasa's peculiar taste in art - simple unadorned wood, sliding screen doors, rustic tea utensils, and gardens filled with rare trees and stones, poetry, Chinese calligraphy, flower arrangements, No theatre and so on - served as the template for future Japanese cultural expression.

Yoshimasa's silver pavilion was thus an incubator for 'the soul of Japan,' and a location where visitors can still see the building almost exactly as it looked a half millennium ago. Now I want to visit Kyoto again with newly aware eyes.

This book's only shortcoming is its lack of explanation as to how the culture born at the silver pavilion spread throughout Japan. Yet that might require a lengthy tome, and one of the nice aspects of this history is that it can be read leisurely in a couple of days. It also features some nice color photos. Highly recommended.

This book was given to me by a friend. Frankly, I wouldn't have bought it based on the back flap. Yet, Donald Keene wrote a great book explaining the importance of possibly the worst Shogun in Japanese history, Ashikaga Yoshimasa. He was a terrible military strategist and his government (especially during the Onin war) was one of the weakest in Japan's history. On the other hand, Yoshimasa was of vital importance to the Arts; calligraphy, Waka and other poetry, the cha-no-yu ceremony and painting all were sponsored by Yoshimasa. He also left the beautiful Ginkakuji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion, for posterity. Yoshimasa's impact on Japanese culture and the arts is undeniable, even in modern day Japan.

Donald Keene, who probably has done more to make Japanese literature understandable to Americans now turns his attention to the state of Japan during the days of Yoshimasa, one of the Ashikaga shoguns. Like other families to rule Japan in the name of the emperor, the founder of the family generally tended to be a fairly dynamic figure, followed by persons of varying competance before sinking into dynastic decadance.

This book presents a portrait of one of the least competant persons to ever become shogun, but managed to have a positive influence just the same. Keene argues rather convincingly that Yoshimasa, though a weak ruler, was an influental patron of the arts. It is Yoshimasa's aesthetic which eventually prevailed in the Japanese imagination and that is the lasting contribution of both him and the Silver Pavilion.

I thought the book was consistent with the overall general high level of scholarship that characterizes Keene's works in general. However, while I am willing to give this work my highest possible recommendation, I am not sure if I can totally support all of the claims made for Yoshimasa. My main concern is that even though I am ready to concede that he does have an aesthetic legacy, I am not sure (and for that matter no one ever really can be) that he can claim to have originated all of the artistic innovations (though patronage) that Keene claims. My reason for doubt is that many buildings that date back to Yoshimasa's period were themselves destroyed during the Onin war (a war brought about by Yoshimasa's politic ineptness). Lacking anything really to compare the Silver Pavilion to, makes it difficult to determine just exactly how great an influence this building actually had at the time. The fact that it survives at all probably ensures that it has had and continues to have an impact on other generations. I am just not sure on what influence it might have had at the time that it was built.

The title of the book is "the soul of Japan" which means the Silver Pavilion built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa the 8th shogun of the Muromachi period.

Chapter 1 Ashikaga Yoshinori the 7th shogun, a tyrant killed by one of daimoys
Chapter 2 Childhood of Yoshimasa, his wife Shigeko and his "favorite mistress" Imamairi
Chapter 3 Weakness of the shogunate, preparation of Onin war
Chapter 4 Onin war, the relationship between Japan and Ming dynasty of China
Chapter 5 Japanese Renaissance, Eastern Mountain culture
Chapter 6 Yoshimasa as a patron of Cha-no-yu, his interest in Chinese painting
Chapter 7 Poetry at that time: renga and waka
Chapter 8 The Silver Pavilion, the garden and the architects Zenami and Soami
Chapter 9 Cha-no yu
Chapter 10 Religions of Yoshimasa, art of the no theater

The division of the chapters and the description of their content are very rough because the author usually puts many different topics in one chapter. This informal writing style seems like that the author has no clear plan and he just writes down something when he remembers something. Reading the book from cover to cover may not be the best way to appreciate it. The character I most like is the index of the book. It is complete and interesting. Just choose a word from the index, and read something about the word in the book. For example you can just read the paragraphs about the eccentric Zen monk Ikkyu and his poems. After you finish all the words in the index, you are able to construct a whole story in your mind. It is the post-modern style of V. Nabokov's novel "Pale Fire".

Judging from the book, the author is just a good story-teller not a good historian. Actually he is good at Japanese literature. This book just contains much facts and details which I don't think important. The author does not see the essence of Japanese culture and does not explain why Japanese culture is special. It is not easy to understand the essence of Japanese culture for most Western scholars. Usually they just emphasize bizarre events, strange imaginations or explain things from the Western piont of view. In my opinion, the soul of Japan is the Bushido and Zen. These two topics are not treated deeply in this book. If you are interted in Japanese culture I will recomment to you the other books:
Bushido: the soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe
Zen culture by Thomas Hoover
Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn

By the way, I like this little book. It is beautiful with its poetic language. It is a pleasant experience reading the book on the train passing through Appalachia Mountain in the summer.

Donald Keene's latest contribution to the field of Japan studies is a masterpiece on the development of Japanese aesthetics and kokoro (heart, soul, mind), much of which evolved during the Higashiyama Period at the Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji) under the leadership of Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Shogun at the time of Onin War (1467-1477), which destroyed nearly all of Kyoto, Yoshimasa was a hapless leader who devoted himself instead to the pursuit of beauty. In this Period, Noh and ink painting flourished, the tea ceremony "originated in a small room at Ginakaku-ji where Yoshimasa offered tea to his friends," and with it the Japanese art of flower arrangement was born. Keene acknowledges the judgment of most historians-that Yoshimasa was weak, extravagant, incompetent in affairs of state, and unable to end a meaningless war and its incumbent famine and suffering-yet posits that he has yet to be recognized for his contribution to Japanese arts and taste. In the midst of wholesale destruction, Yoshimasa precipitated a Japanese renaissance.
Though respecting his grandfather Yoshimitsu, the builder of the Golden Pavilion (kinkakuji), he had no interest in emulating either his life or works. Yoshimasa's Silver Pavilion stands in stark contrast to his grandfather's Golden Pavilion, the later coated in gold leaf, the former the epitome of Kyoto cool wabi sabi understatement. "The simplicity and reliance on suggestion of the buildings and gardens at Higashiyama may indicate that a man who had earlier exhausted the pleasures of extravagance had at last achieved a kind of enlightenment," writes Keene.
This concise work is a complex web of murder, chaos, and endless war that destroys everything in its wake. And, simultaneously-amazingly, ironically, unbelievably-the Period gave birth to some of Japan's best-known art forms. As an insight into medieval Kyoto, there is no better place to begin.

_The Zionist Connection_ is written from the perspective of an antiZionist Jew. The author takes a look at the situation in the Middle East, the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israeli Jews, and places the blame on the state of Israel. The book basically tries to show that support for Israel is contrary to America's best interest (as they were defined in 1978 when the book was written) and is also morally suspect. The author contends that a single special interest group, the Zionists, have wrapped America and its leaders in a stranglehold in their attempt to maintain an "Israel First" foreign policy. The author distinguishes Zionism from Judaism, and he views Zionism as an idolatrous usurper. By appealing to emotion and memories of the Holocaust and cries of "antiSemitism" this single group of Jews has basically forced the United States into this position. The author contends that much of the press is Zionist controlled and that it is by appealing to "Christian guilt" that these Jews have gained their position of prominence. The book concludes with a section on the wars between Israel and the Arabs, as well as a discussion of such events as the U.S.S. Liberty attack.

... The gory details of the brutal killing of a Palestinian child are spelled out in the chapter "Terror: The Double Standard", but the details of Palestinian terrorism are totally suppressed by the author. Nevertheless, the book is highly interesting and worth reading for the author's perspective on the Middle East, even if it is far too idealistic.

This book is of immense importance. Only a Jewish critic of Zionism could tell the terrible truth about America's blind support for Israel. It is astonishing, especially in the wake of the atrocity of September 11th, to find this book so hard to get hold of. The University of Oxford, with its great libraries, does not have a copy, so I was grateful to Amazon for enabling me to buy one for myself. A look at the copyright page suggests the explanation. Four editions were published by a small U.S. publisher, which went under in 1989. To produce an international paperback edition, Lilienthal had to go to publishers and printers based in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Even that failed to achieve a wide readership and, given the Zionists' capacity for suppressing the truth, as revealed by Lilienthal, I suspect that many copies were bought by them to be destroyed.
The fear of being labelled 'anti-Semite' is the main weapon used by Zionists to silence their critics, and many of the non-Jewish supporters of Israel are racists who want 'to send the Jews back where they belong'. I should therefore make it plain that, although not Jewish, I consider Judaism in many respects superior to Christianity. The greatest danger to the future of this venerable religion comes from Zionism, whose aim is the purely secular one of 'ingathering' a supposed 'homeless nation' on land seized from a defenceless people, who had always lived at peace with their Jewish neighbours. Everyone should learn to distinguish, with Lilienthal, between practising Jews, people with some Jewish ancestry (which probably includes most Palestinians), Israeli citizens (three million of whom are Arabic-speaking, and one million of them Muslims and Christians), Israeli governments and Zionists.

Alfred Lilienthal, a prominent Jewish critic of Zionism, has remarkably presented a candid picture of the dangers of equating Judaism, the world's oldest monotheistic faith, with Zionism, an essentially political movement emanating from largely socialist, secular European Jews in the nineteenth century. This work is well researched and documented to prevent any misunderstanding or misinterpretation of his thesis that the obstacles to a just solution to the Middle East conflict between Israelis and Palestinians arise from what he feels are the "racist" origins of Zionism and a consistent misuse of the word "anti'-Semitism " to stifle legitimate criticism of Israeli miltary actions against Palestinian civilians.

The text is not inflammatory or denunciatory towards any ethnic community, contrary to what the title may imply. Lilienthal reiterates throughout the text that his sole purpose is to make an attempt for Westerners to understand, so that current and future generations may contribute positively towards a just settlement of the Middle East conflict, a conflict that has shed the blood of thousands of Israeli and Palestinian lives over the past fifty years. I highly recommend this scholarly work to anyone interested in understanding the nature of the Israeli - Palestinian conflict and the obstacles that are preventing a peaceful settlement.

This book, out of all books on the Middle-East conflict goes beyond the Orient and examines the Zionist Web that has Entangled the American beauracracy, Media, etc.. Lilienthal proves a very significant fact, and that is the Holocaust is being exploited for political purposes, being used as a justification for the existence of Israel. when its clear, as he points out, that Zionists did nothing to help their fellow Jews in the genocide. This and other significant issues are discussed in detail in this most comprehensive book. It is strongly recommended for evereyone with a keen interest in the Mid-East conflict and even in U.S. politics and the Israeli lobby group. I'am grateful for Mr Alfred Lilienthal, that as a Jew, he had the courage to expose the reality that has been hidden to Westerners away from them. Blinded by the Holocaust from seeing that a traditionaly persecuted people (ie the Jews) are capable of becoming the chief persecutors...

One of the prize possessions of this reviewer is an autographaed copy of Alfred M. Lilienthal's THE ZIONIST CONNECTION. Alfred M. Lilienthal has shown courage and toughness in refuting myths regarding the creation of the State of Israel and status of U.S.-Israeli relations beginning in 1948.

THE ZIONIST CONNECTION can be considered the final book of a trilogy that Lilienthal wrote. The other two books are titled THERE GOES THE MIDDLE EAST and ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN which are also instructive of events in Israel and Palestine.

Lilienthal begins THE ZIONIST CONNECTION by reciting some forgotten problems and history of zionism. He details the planned atrocities of some of the zionist units especially those of the Irgun and the Stern Gang. For example, Lilienthal cites the Deir Yessin Massacre in April in which old men, women, and children were massacred by Begin's "soliders" who wiped out the inhabitents. Lilienthal cites sources that the people of this village had just repulsed a Palestinian attempt to enlist their support against the zionist forces, and these people just wanted to be left alone in the midst of the war taking place. Readers may be surprised at other zionist outrages which occured.

Lilienthal also makes some procative remarks that some of the zionist leaders collaberated with some of the German authorities during World War. Lilienthal details the Kastner Affair whereby Kastner made deals with Adolf Eichmann in 1944 to leave poor Hungarian Jews their fate when they only had to walk three miles from Hungary to Soviet occupied Romania to avoid concentration camps. Kaster refused to alert these poor souls and left them to their fate by prior arrangement with Eichmann. When Kastner tried to file criminal charges against an Israeli journalist for making these allegations against Kastner, an Israeli exonerated the journalist, and Kastner was assassinate because of the political embarrassment this could cause. As an aside, Hannah Arendt has a good section of this event in her book titled EICHMANN IN JERUSALEM.

Lilienthal also refutes the nonsense that the "wicked Arabs" started the Six Day War in 1967. Lilienthal cites public sources such as journals and newpaper articles whereby Israeli generals and military advisors bluntly admitted that the Israelis started the Six Day and provoked the hostilities. There is nothing arcane in Lilienthal's report of this war.

Lilienthal indicates why many Americans are kept ignorant of events in the Middle East. Lilienthal cites the cowardly media types who are too timid or two biased to give an accurate assessement of events in Israel and Palestine. Yet, what disturbs these media cowards is the fact that some folks are not easily impressed with lying media accounts and have made significant contributions which have been embarrassing to political "experts" and media gurus who are easily refuted by honest research and writing.

Lilienthal does not have any political partisan ax to grind. He faults both Democrats and Republicans for their bad policies and timid responses to events involving Israel and Palestine. Lilienthal also offers scathing denounciations of the entertainment business for thier false protrayal of these tragic events.

Lilienthal's book may appear dated, but the book is still important. Lilienthal's THE ZIONIST CONNECTION lets the readers know how severely flawed American foreign policy has added to exponentially to the tragedies in the Middle East. Lilienthal writes well, and his research is solid. Readers should read THE ZIONIST CONNECTION and add Rabbi Elmer Berger's MEMOIRS OF AN ANTI-ZIONIST JEW to have a comprehensive view of events in the Middle East.

My husband put this in my stocking at Christmas. I find it comforting to read a few passages each day. Ms. Saviski has done a wonderful job in summing up the Art of Nursing. I, like her, am "just a nurse" and very grateful to be a member of this profession.

A great little inspirational gift book. Makes me reflect on my years as a nurse. Some funny, some sad, definitely uplifting !! THREE CHEERS !!

I found Mrs. Saviski's book to be inspirational for the field of nursing and health care. It was uplifting and humerous. In my opinion, a great gift for anyone considering a career in nursing! I highly recommend this book to everyone!

This book is the perfect gift for a nurse or someone who might be thinking about becoming one. The author has done a remarkable job of conveying how important nurses are to our society, and how they touch the lives of everyone they come in contact with. Parts of the book are funny, others are touching, and others are just plain fact -- all of it is inspirational! If you are a nurse who needs a lift, this book is a winner!

Cramming in the full history of the rise and the fall of the Islamic Empire in one book is not an easy task. Peterson's nicely readable explanation includes even more: he starts with ancient Israel and their subjection to the Greek Seleucids and the Romans before Islam was established through Mohammed the prophet. Much of the history is uneventful for the non-scholarly read, so Peterson focuses on the events that have formed modern Islam and modern Judaism, even talking about the recent Near East developments. His whole point is that you need to understand where Muslims came from to understand their current strife and complicated (seemingly irrational) behavior. Islam is not a pagan religion, but a sister to Judaism and a cousin to Christianity. The very word Allah, translates to "one true God" in English. He explains the virtue of Mohammed and the wonder of the Empire he created. For centuries, Arabic was the intellectual language of the world, in which all science, philosophy and literature was conducted.

I chose to read this book because I heard Peterson give a lecture on Mohammed and Islam at BYU in early 2004. He was an articulate orator, and I was engaged within minutes. "If he is a good speaker, then he must be a good writer," I thought, and I purchased his book that week. Indeed, I remember certain phrases from his lecture that were nearly identical to his chapter on Mohammed.

Abraham Divided attempts to help westerners, particularly LDS ones, see Islam in a different light-appreciating and recognizing Muslims for the great contributions they made to western history. Peterson proves that the West is intellectually and technologically indebted to the Near East under Islamic rule. If LDS Westerners tried to understand Muslims without stereotyping, then they might try to understand us (and wouldn't the world be a happy place!). Actually, Peterson wisely declines to offer a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict in Palestine, only recognizing that it is a very difficult and complicated situation.

The only thing that would make this book better would be an updated version. So much has happened since he wrote it that I would love to hear Prof. Peterson's interpretations.
It is an excellent resource and I refer to it often.

Islam, the faith of millions, is easily misunderstood in the west. We, for example, often see terrorists justifying their brutality in the name of Islam. This book, written by an LDS scholar on the Middle East, paints a very sympathetic but even-handed picture of this important faith. I learned a lot that I now value knowing. It is a good read too.

The author writes very well, and has a lot to say -- with humor and a light touch. I've had a few Muslim friends read the book, and they have all, thus far, come away from it impressed by the author's fairness and by how much he knew and understood about their faith.