Hawaii Books

Gives a very good overview of Hawaii. Tells of the lowest rates ect. Very helpfull

Well written book with lots of details and recommendations. I like the way it is laid out in geographical groupings, not just a long list of one type of attraction then another.

The Fodor's Hawaii and Oahu Trailblazer were excellent mates. Fodors was too heavy to carry around all day so we tore out the pertinent pages and used it for their takes on restaurants and Waikiki. If you're on a budget these books are a must.

We used this on Oahu and the big island. It was indispensable for getting around and finding places. The write-ups were very accurate and helped us find a much nicer hotel when the one we had checked into turned out to be a roach motel.

Along with specialty guides for Hawaii like the Trailblazer series, we use this Gold Hawaii book for things like the spa addresses and the refreshment reviews. We keep it in the back seat and reach for it when we approach the little towns. Thumbing through it always turns up something worth seeing.

The shop reviews and addresses always interesting. Sometimes the storefronts don't have curbside appeal and the book always spurs some interest to go inside.

It could stand for more young family with children stops and more cheap restaurants. That's our only criticism of this otherwise valuable book.

When people analyze the life of a soon-to-be saint, such as Damien, it's not uncommon for them to gloss over any imperfections. This book, thankfully, doesn't do that. What it does do is show you a very human man, not an intellectual, not the star of his religious community or even his family, but a very devoted man who made an incredible difference in the lives of so many who others wouldn't even touch. Read it.

I visited the leper colony on the island of Molokai, the villages of Kalawao and Kalaupapa last March and this book was recommended to me. I picked it up from a gift shop there as I went round visiting the sites of Fr Damien's enormous and extensive ministry. I also heard from the tour guides, stories of the zeal and dedication with which he ministered to the ill-fated leprosy patients. I also knew about him from other sources.

The book is a wonderful read. It brings to the light of the world a rather obscure life of a Catholic priest who belonged to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts Fathers and worked in the mission of Hawaii. His devotion and dedication to the ministry in favor of the lepers and his eventual martyrdom as a leper seemed to have moved this non-Catholic writer to go into detailed research and strenuous investigation to bring out such a classic work on the subject. Gavan Daws does not idealize Fr Damien's life or make him a superman. According to him Fr Damien was an ordinary man, a priest with his own frailties and flaws, at the same time a hero and a martyr worthy to be called `holy.' The book in fact, is more than a mere biography of the leper priest. A lot of research and study has gone into the writing of this book which is a story of leprosy in the Hawaiian islands, a history of the Church in the second half of the nineteenth century, besides being the life of a saint-to-be. I hope that the book will inspire ordinary people to make deep personal commitments and fulfill them with extraordinary devotion and fervor.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who is curious about Father Damien of Molokai. It is comprehensive, non-religious, and thoroughly satisfying book. Gavan Daws did a great job describing Father Damien, his negative as well his positive attributes. The book is very well written, very well structured. It includes actual photos of key players at that time and drawings of the Kalawao settlement. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. This one is a keeper.

Very interesting, and informative on the times that the event was occuring in the Hawaiian islands. The story kept focused, and was very easy to read and keep up with.

"Holy Man" is undoubtedly the finest and most scholarly work to date on this topic. Prior to Daws' work, the overwhelming majority of books on this topic have been somewhat biased as they were produced by Catholic clergy and lay writers. Daws has brought the secular historian's skill to this subject and has produced a truly balanced account of the life and work of Father Joseph DeVeuster. Only a visit to the Molokai, Hawaii, settlements of Kalawao and Kalaupapa will provide the reader with a more detailed account of Father Damian's life and work among the lepers of Molokai. Father Daimian was beautified in 1993. A church inquiry is underway to determine whether or not this "Holy Man" should be made a Catholic saint. "Holy Man" is required reading for anyone even marginally interested in Hawaiian history. In the short period of time this work has been in print, it has become required reading for all students of Hawaiian History, American approaches to chronic and incurable disease and Catholic doctrine pertaining to leprosy and lepers. Daws has written a masterful account of the life and works of this important nineteenth century Catholic clergyman. "Holy Man" is the definitive work on Father Damian and is likely to remain so well into the next century. Father Damian was buried on the island of Molokai until earlier this century when his remains were exhumed and re-interred in his home of Louvain, Belgium. Today, only his hand remains buried on the island of Molokai. The hand is widely regarded as a religious relic.

I am not into cards or tarot at all, but I was struck by these cards! The illustrations are so simple, yet beautiful. The interpretation book is informative about Hawaiian culture (chants, mythology) and full of wisdom that you can integrate into your life. I highly recommend these!

Love the Mana Cards. They have an awesome story and always a deeper meaning!

The author of this captivating deck is an assistant professor of communications at the University of Hawai`i in Hilo who specializes in intercultural communication. Becker has spent many years connecting "with the natural and spiritual worlds of Hawai`i" according to the biography in the almost 200 page book that acompanies this deck of 44cards. It shows. The artwork on the cards defies description - it's wonderful and accurately portrays Hawaiian cultural concepts and values while maintaining a definite aura of mystery and intrigue.

The book is a virtual primer on the Hawaiian culture. Each card's description consists of three sections: a brief relevant chant, a thorough explanation of the cultural concepts that are pictured on the card in a teaching section and an interpretation section that explains the card's meaning in a layout. Becker also provides the reader with 8 different spreads to use for different purposes. Becker's book has several other important features. There are extensive endnotes that provide excellent resources for further exploration of the Hawaiian culture, and an addendum that describes all of the symbols on each card, including their Hawaiian names.

My only criticism of this deck for fortune-telling purposes is that some of the cards' interpretations are complex and difficult to connect to the image on the card. Again, this can interfere (initially) with intuitive use. But whether you actually use the deck for fortune telling or not, it's a "must have," and studying all of the information here will teach you a lot about Hawai`i. I did give them a try, and my first reading produced some pretty incredible results (chicken skin kine). This deck will take a lot of study for a non-Hawaiian to use effectively, but I think the effort will pay off.

Pacific Voyager Cards - Journey to Kanaka Makua - Rediscovering the Light of Island Wisdom, by Greg Scott, Self Published, Kea`au.

This deck is very different from the previous two. The cards are made of inexpensive patterned beige cardstock instead of slick, coated paper. And the printing is in monochrome brown ink. And the deck doesn't come with a book (which is a work is in progress, Greg tells me), but only with a large folded sheet (which wraps around the cards and protects them) with only two layouts and a brief explanation for each card. These aren't shortcomings; it's a great deck for fortune telling!

There is a simplicity and authenticity about this deck that is appealing. Each of the 48 cards encompasses a basic Hawaiian concept that is illustrated with a single Hawaiian word, a simple phrase in both English and Hawaiian and a simple graphic. One of its special attractions is that once you have read the information sheet on the cards, the interpretation of a reading is pretty intuitive and can be done without having to look up definitions. This is a real asset for using this deck for its intended purpose of guiding you towards becoming a Kanaka Makua, a "complete human being." This is a great deck to use to get started and for quick readings (but don't confuse "quick" with "simple")

I've been looking for a deck of tarot cards that I could really work with, these cards are wonderful. I would recommend them to anyone who is learning or a novice at tarot reading as well as experienced readers.

Hawaiian wisdom has the power to heal and mana is something that everyone has. It connects people with the ability to heal physically, emotionally, spiritually. These cards will not heal you, but they will inspire you, as you will see, the author was inspired when she created these cards. After handling these cards for several months, or however long it takes, they will become "yours." If you handle someone else's deck, you may find yourself choosing cards that pertain to issues surrounding that person, or your relationship with that person.

There is nothing threatening in these cards, there is no "death" card, or any cards marked, "the unknown." These cards give evidence of our intimate connection with the world and the freedom that is involved. For example, the Hawaiian word for waves is "nalu." The card for nalu gives the reader perspective through the analogy of experiencing a wave on an emotional/spiritual level. Sometimes we duck under the wave where the current is calm or sometimes we ride it out. The richness of the Hawaiian wisdom presented in these cards is derived from Hawaiian language, chants, beauty, and culture.

If you want a deeper understanding of the power and beauty of Hawaii, these cards will put you in touch with your mana.

Fay Calkins and her husband, Vai, meet while studying for graduate degrees in the U.S. They return to Vai's native Samoa with dreams of developing Samoan politics and economics. "My Samoan Chief" offers a humorous look into the cultural and practical issues that confront their academic ideas. Fay provides a loving Western lens on different aspects of Samoan culture.

This is a great read for economists, and those interested in third world development. Even when development ideas come from the inside out, it proves nearly impossible to implement them without significant cultural adjustment. An enlightening and beautiful story of the interactions of Western and Samoan culture.
Also, a well written and entertaining read.

I grew up in the polynesian culture and for two years I lived, ate and breathed "Samoa" by attending a Samoan church, singing the hymns in Samoan and dancing with the church up and down the coast of California. As well, my BIL is Samoan and while reading this book I kept shaking my head a vigorous YES at what the author so clearly outlined. I was delighted, moved to tears, captivated, and thrilled to have read this story of life in Samoa. I read it from cover to cover while on a month long vacation throughout the Hawaiian islands and every chance I got I called my sister to read her bits and pieces of this wonderfully crafted book. Her understanding of the "Samoan way" was reinforced by the authors life experience. Anyone know where she is now??? I recommend this book HIGHLY, for anyone...anywhere....anytime.

FAA-Samoa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was a really a great read and well worth it! It's quite amazing how I too could relate to the experiences present in the book. The author really put me in her shoes and in turn I thought I was walking them during some of the chapters. I passed the book on to the non-Samoan members of the family who can appreaciate the culture or at best hunger for some faaSamoa incite.

This book was a truly great read for those looking to understand more about Samoan society. Not much has really changed in 50 years . It will give insight into the differences between western thougts and ideals and faaSamoa, the Samoan way. It is also humorous and very entertaining.

This was a nostalgic book. I was born in Pago Pago in l952 from East European immigrants escaping Soviet occupation. We now live in the Michigan. The reason this was nostalgic is because my father is mentioned in the book as the kind Latvian physician who helped deliver the authors baby. My father is still alive and just read the book with great interest. He says it is very accurate, entertaining, and a good look at Samoan life. I would love to be able to contact the author and tell her about the wonderful doc that I know that delivered her child.

One of the nice things about Beh Affleck's awful movie was it got people interested in this subject, and a some good books were written for those people to read. Better entertaining than the bomb that they were inspired by.

This one of the better ones. Nicely written. Very informative. Well illustrated both with original art and period photographs. A good read on this subject.

What I liked best about the book were its real-life pictures with facts in the captions. I enjoyed most of the book. My great-grandfather was at Pearl Harbor. I am glad to know now what happened and what went on day by day. It was easy to read in some parts, too. The writing, however, failed to hold my attention after reading only a few pages. Also, the book was about a couple of battles, not just Pearl Harbor. Still, I would recommend this book, especially to someone who wanted to know about our nation's wartime past.

A Fantastic Read

This book is terrific. I really liked the fact that it put the attack in the context of the Second World War. It gives you a good understanding of the conflicts in Europe and the Pacific and helps you to see why the attack was so pivotal. I've never been all that interested in books about war, but this one proved to be engaging and very moving. Susan Wels has done an outstanding job presenting the people and the politics behind this much-discussed event.

Pearl Harbor is a day that our nation will never forget, and this book helps those who weren't there understand why it is imperative to remember. This book draws up a landscape of history that is relevant to the incident, and discusses both prior and after effects of this notorious day.

The book is excellently done, encompassing informative material that allows people to understand many different aspects of the attack, and life at the base, both before and after.

If you enjoy US History, then this book is a wonderful addition to your collection. I keep going back to it to read about different aspects of not just Pearl Harbor, but World War II.

Since I am only 21 years old, it was difficult to grasp the human aspects of such an attack, but this book puts things into perspective.

I will always keep this book, not only as an informative guide, but also as a reminder of America's Darkest Day.

With the recent interest in Pearl Harbor bringing books out of the woodwork, I spent alot of time searching for a comprehensive summary of that "infamous" day. This coffee table book has it all. Stunning photography and wonderful writing. From the start, the forward by Senator Inouye brought tears to my eyes. I've gone over it cover to cover several times and its a treasure!! If you have interest in this important part of our country's history...buy this book!

Excellent survey of the literature in the major European languages. Well-organized, thorough, wonderful bibliographies. Start with this book, check out the references, read the title recommendations, lots of hidden musical gems in here. Buy it first, then search for the references in Amazon or your local library. A splendid service to those who want to know more about classical song literature and its background.

This book occupies a unique place in the entire body of published works for an overview of the art song genre and its development. Dr. Kimball's superb eye for detail has carefully amassed an amazing compilation of biography, analysis, and commentary on the most comprehensive number of composers, spanning all eras of song composition. The introductory
section of the book lays out a practical but not mandatory approach to using the information, in a way that encourages good listening skills and a coherent overview. Additional bibliography provides a very flexible resource for any course structure or further independent study.

Researching for an accademic paper on the development of the Art song has brought me to Amazon and it's great prices and selection. I bought this book based on the description, assuming that I would find some good resources for my paper and for future research.

When I got this book, I was astonished at the heft of the thing! This book is huge, and is much more than just information on a few songs or composers. "Song" gives a basic introduction to the idea of the Art Song, and then gives ideas on researching and studying the song that is being studied. from there, and for the vast majority of the book, the author completes a thorough, systematic survey of songs, grouping into location of origin (German, French, etc), then by composer in a chronological (earliest to latest) order.

Each of the most important composers of Art Songs is included here, with no glaring omissions that I have found. Each composer is presented, with valuable information on the individual, influence and styles. Then, the most important of that composer's songs (or song cycles) is given the same, thorough, systematic treatment, with more than a page of information and insight into each song.

I will doubtless use this book over and over in order to research my repertoire pieces I am studying, and those I am assigning to my students. I will also be passing this on to my own teacher and my mentor for their libraries.

This book is fabulous! It is an important resource for a serious singer.

This text contains valuable information on Standard Song Rep.
It provides in-depth but concise information on the composer, song text and the poet.

Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy by HelenKay Dimon was incredible! A lot of times snarky dialogue feels forced to me and pulls me out of a story, but the characters of Kane and Annie were hilarious and believable! The story kept me engaged (and practically had me washed away at high tide because I didn't want to move from the beach chair!). I can't wait for more from her. Fantastic! Now if only she will be doing Josh and Derek's stories. I know something is in the pipelines for another Hawaii story because I went to her website, but I am soooo very impatient!

Another new contemporary writer--hooray! This is a quick-witted, fast and enjoyable read set in a new locale--Kauai! The setting descriptions and discussions of the real choices the locals have, inform the reader that the author knows her setting. The male lead is a charmer but rather than another overwhelming Alpha male--he seems more regular guy who would rather solve a tricky puzzle game involving a mysterious half-drown naked lady, than spend some vacation time relaxing. Secondary characters are interesting but the plot has some weaknesses with the villian--who comes in so late to the story we don't care anymore. Can't wait for the next book from this great new writer--hope she does some more set in the REAL
Hawaii, too!

Helen Kay Dimon turns up the heat with Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy!

If you like your romance sexy, sassy, and a little sweet, you'll love this book. Dimon strikes just the right note with her smart-mouthed heroine, Annie Parks, and hunky hero, Kauai Police Chief Kane Travers. I've read several romances that use the Hawaiin islands as a backdrop, but never one with a native Hawaiian hero. Dimon's insights into this unique culture are spot on, the dialogue sparkles, and the sex scenes are crazy hot! It's apparent that Dimon truly loves all things Hawaiian, and that's what romance is all about.

If you're looking for a fast, enjoyable, SIZZLING summer read from a writer who gets it right, look no further than Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy by HelenKay Dimon.

Helen Kay Dimon has written a funny, hot and sexy story in Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy.

Police Chief Kane Travers is forced to take a vacation when charges of wrongdoing are circling around him. Kane has gotten bored after only a few days. That is until he finds a naked woman barely breathing on his stretch of Hawaiian beach.

Annie Parks has come to Hawaii to find the man who scammed her mother. She was so close to the man until she was thrown overboard a yacht out in the ocean. Annie is grateful to be alive but not so happy to be the prisoner of the Police Chief.

Kane slowly gets some of the story out of Annie and this sets off a chain reaction that is connected to the case that forced Kane's vacation. Kane has his hands full trying to keep Annie safe and keeping the danger away from his family.

Kane and Annie's road to romance in paradise is filled with sassy and witty dialogue. Their chemistry leaps off every page. They snap and sizzle in and out of the bedroom.

Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy is a true find. I strongly recommend this book to every romance reader. It's a gem.

Kane Travers is the police chief of Kauai in Hawaii. Placed on suspension by his superiors, he is slowly going nuts during this so called `vacation'. While wandering on the beach, he comes across a lovely nymph that has washed up on his beach. She's red haired and stunningly beautiful, so Kane does what any other law-abiding citizen would. He brings her back to his house and handcuffs her to his bed.

Annie Parks knows she is in trouble when her gaze meets that of a hard bodied, enigmatic stranger. Six feet tall and purely gorgeous as only native Hawaiian men can be, Annie knows she is in trouble. Feigning amnesia, she figures he will take her to the hospital and then go on his merry way. Annie could not be more wrong because not only is he stubborn, but he is an officer of the law as well. She doesn't have time to be waylaid by Mr. Dreamy, she has a vendetta to accomplish and he is just in her way.

Knowing that his handcuffed dream girl is lying through her teeth, Kane vows to get to the bottom of her showing up unconscious on his strip of beach without clothes and identification. He has no idea that his suddenly boring life will become more exciting than he ever thought possible.

HelenKay Dimon is a genius. Witty repertoire, stunningly sensual overtures and just plain good writing, she captured my attention from the first page of Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy until the last page was read. Annie and Kane's banter back and forth made me laugh out loud more often than not and their love for each other, once they finally admitted it, was just the perfect ingredient needed to make this book a truly enjoyable read.

Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy is the first work I have read by this author but it won't be the last. I can't wait to go back and read her other books. For a fun, quick witted and steamy romance, you can't go wrong with Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy. Now if only Kane's interfering and nosy nephews could have their own stories my life would be complete!

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I am a personal growth coach who uses an integral approach to psychology to work with clients. This approach places the study of psychology within the larger context of the world's wisdom traditions. I have my graduate education in this area including a lot of sacred psychology and I have been a student of world religions for 25 years. I have also studied philosophy quite deeply as part of my academic education and attended school at a Jesuit University. In addition, I teach meditation including multiple Eastern approaches. It is out of this context that I'm writing this review.

In my opinion, Advaita Vedanta is a remarkable book. In about 115 pages it captures the philosophy and spirit of this complex territory. Every word in this book is carefully chosen and it is a model for good philosophical writing and general writing as well. It manages to both educate and keep the reader's attention very well.

The general approach in this book is to assume a very broad audience. What is truly amazing is that Deutsch succeeds in addressing this audience in an effective, deep and meaningful way. This is not a dead lifeless analysis and contextualization of Eastern concepts. I feel it captures the heart of the tradition, the most important concepts and is successful in presenting these ideas to a Western audience concisely.

I would also like to add that in no way is this book superficial. It is all meat and no fluff. While it's not the type of book you would read at the beach, it isn't inaccessible to the average educated person. The way the ideas are presented, also provides great food for thought on the big existential questions for anyone.

The symbolism and mythology that underlies Hinduism is not emphasized here. What is most important are the ideas and the underlying reality of the ideas. The ontology (study of Being) and epistemology (theory of knowledge) in this worldview is handled very skillfully, which is a must of a Western reader approaching the study of this area from a much different perspective.

Lastly, the author has good credibility. In addition to being a professor of philosophy, he was the editor of the Philosophy East and West journal, authored a book on the Bhagavad Gita and coauthored The Essential Vedanta: A New Source Book of Advaita Vedanta (Treasures of the World's Religions). He also spent some time in India and has an in-depth understanding of both Eastern and Western thought.

At it's core, Advaita Vedanta is about experiencing reality and it's approach is a via negativa (or path of negation) with respect to concepts. This is something that the author understands and conveys very well. Considering he is a philosopher, this is quite an achievement. While he is not a follower of any particular lineage, he handles the topic in the manner of someone with a deep understanding and felt sense of what it's about.

For Westerners, it's hard to imagine a better introduction. This book gets right to the point and untangles the basic tenets and ideas from the symbolism and cultural baggage that can often accompany an in-depth study. At the same time, he respects the cultural mileau out of which the tradition arose and does a good job of giving the reader a sense of this without overwhelming him or her with unnecessary detail.

This is one of the best books in the area of religion that I have read period. It is certainly my top choice for Westerners who want to get started with Advaita Vedanta. From this book, you can branch out to the area which most interest you. If you have no background in religion of philosopy, then I would recommend that you read Huston Smith's The World's Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions first. If you want to take both of these and contextualize them for applicability to a modern context, then another good read would be A Brief History of Everything. If you are more of an audio person, then Kosmic Consciousness is an even better place to bring all of your thinking together and integrate it with the modern world, sociology, science, etc.

This is an excellent book. Very clear and concize. People who have studied vedanta the conventional way will also gain few insights. While for people used to western philosophical tradition, it is one of the best introductions.

Books by authors who attempt to distill the essence of a vast and esoteric subject into one volume often fall short of the mark. Advaita Vedanta: A Philosophical Reconstruction, by Eliot Deutsch, is an exception. Professor Deutsch's subject is Advaita Vedanta, and in particular non-dualistic Advaita as conceived by Sankara.

Concepts implicit in Advaita are concisely exposed. For example, the idea of subration

"the mental process whereby one disvalues some previously appraised object or content of consciousness because of its being contradicted by a new experience."

is made clear, and then used to define the three levels of being: Reality, which cannot be subrated by any other experience; Appearance, which can be subrated by experience; Unreality, which neither can nor cannot be subrated by other experience. Further subtle gradations of Appearance are elaborated.

On the other hand, ideas which are explicit in Advaita writings, but are extraneous to or demonstrably not implied by the non-dualistic core of Advaita, are discussed but separated from the pure non-dualistic abstraction. Most impressive is the chapter devoted to a discussion of the doctrine of karma and the corollary concept of samsara, (transmigration or reincarnation). The author notes that

"There is perhaps no other basic doctrine in Indian philosophy which has had such a hold upon the popular thinking and practical religion of India ... as the doctrine of karma."

and then proceeds to prove by the pramanas, or "valid means of knowledge", identified with Advaita, that karma is not demonstrable within the framework of Advaita. This remarkable chapter concludes

"In sum: The law of karma, which occupies so important a place in Indian thought and which is central to the manner in which the supreme value of moksa or freedom is conceived, must, for the Advaitin, have the logical status of a convenient fiction."

This sounds a bit harsh taken out of context, but hopefully will provoke further inquiry by reading the book!

Finally, after having lifted the core of Advaita Vedanta out of its cultural, historical, and religious contexts, this book succeeds in imbuing the reader with the feeling that Advaita is surely one of the greatest intellectual and spiritual achievements of mankind.

This is a good introduction to all the basic tenets of advaita vedanta. This book is not for a casual reader, but as long as you know a little about vedic religion you will be able to read it carefully and come away with a very good understanding of advaita vedanta.

Each chapter explicates a single complicated topic in language that is for the most part easy to understand, but occasionally is philosophically dense, as expected and hoped for from this topic. The topics covered are, in order, Brahman, levels of reality, the relation between Brahman and the world, the self, karma, epistemology, ethics, moksa, and jnana yoga.

I would highly recommend this book as a starting point for anyone interested in a complete perspective on advaita vedanta. After reading this, it was much easier to continue on to more difficult, abstract philosophical analyses.

For anyone who may have become curious about Advaita Vedanta, and who is looking for a good introduction to what many feel is one of the greatest philosophical achievements of either the East or West, there could be no better guide than this book.

Eliot Deutsch, professor of philosophy at the University of Hawaii and for many years editor of the prestigious journal, 'Philosophy East and West,' writes in a wonderfully lucid and straightforward style, and clearly admires his subject as being of universal philosophical interest.

In his short book of just 120 pages, he skilfully introduces us to the basic ideas of this complex system (Brahman, Levels of Being, Brahman and the World, Self, Karma, Epistemology, Ethics, Moksa and Jnana Yoga), while taking care to avoid overwhelming the reader with too much detail.

Advaita, we learn, is a non-dualistic system, expounded primarily by Sankara (ca. 788-820), the main concern of which is to show that all boundaries and distinctions are unreal, that reality is not made up of parts, and that "in essence it is not-different from the Self" (p.3). There is, in other words, only the Self, Brahman, or the One, a state "which is ultimately a name for the timeless plenitude of being" (p.9).

If this seems difficult, think of a movie screen. Any scene projected upon the screen will seem to hold a multiplicity of clearly defined and separate objects: a man, a woman, a child, a dog, a table, chairs, walls, windows, etc. We know, however, that the picture is one. Now consider what is present at the moment in your own field of vision. It too 'seems' to contain a multiplicity of 'objects'...

In reading this book I was impressed, not only by the clarity of the author's style and by his lucid treatment of the subject, but also by the fact that, although his approach to the subject is that of a philosopher, he clearly respects Vedanta as being both a way of spiritual realization as well as a system of thought, a religion as well as technical philosophy.

Eliot Deutsch, in short, has given us a book which is fair-minded, scholarly, and extremely well-written. It is also well-documented and has an excellent bibliography. Those who might wish to further deepen their understanding of Vedanta might consider looking at 'A Duet of One - The Ashtavakra Gita Dialogue' (Advaita Press: CA, 1989. ISBN: 0929448111), a fine translation by Ramesh S. Balsekar of an amazing and beautiful short early Advaita text which deserves to be better known.

Buy this book. You will enter this story and truly be absorbed. Patricia Grace is one of the most important writers in contemporary literature and this novel is one of the most necessary texts that I've come across in a long time.

I was travelling overseas when a friend gave this to me to read on trains and downtime - I couldnt put it down and read and re-read it continuously. Im a HUGE fan of Patricia Grace and find myself wanting to crawl inside her books and become a part of the characters world. What away she has with worlds - thank you Patricia!

Baby No-Eyes is a novel beautiful in both language and content. Patricia Grace weaves this complex yet very comprehensible novel through the use of four narrators, each of whom serves as a different lens for understanding the events which take place. Although I do not wish to over-simplify the book by saying it is a story of the Maori struggle in a Pakeha-run environment, this is certainly one of the most important themes.

The main piece of plot, as far as action goes, involves the legal battle over an area of sacred land between a group of Maoris and the Council--a government group attempting to uphold and profit from outdated land "negotiations" between the Maori people and the British. Grace deals with this topic firmly, yet does so in a manner which does her surname justice. She manages to point out the absolute absurdity and unfairness within the bureaucracy without falling into large-scale hatred of all things Pakeha.

Aside from the David verse Goliath type theme, the idea of family is an incredibly important issue in the novel. Grace challenges some normal conventions of the immediate family, and opens up new avenues of thought for understanding what family can mean.

In Baby No-Eyes Grace has created an intricately woven, powerful piece. It offers an insightful and informative viewing point into certain aspects of Maori culture, and is also simply a well-crafted and engaging piece of fiction.

This is one of those books that you want to re-read after finishing it. I love it.

This novel is a very enjoyable read but as an added bonus it also enables your eyes to be opened more about the maori culture through the lovable characters. It takes you into what they as a people hold dear and why, and as a sub-plot there is an attempt to get a piece of swampland returned to a particular tribe and this involves an occupation of a park not too dissimilar to the Wanganui occupation of recent New Zealand history. Especially if you are a New Zealander of european descent this book is valuable because it makes you see the issues from a different perspective then your own and I found that aspect nearly as interesting as the actual story. Overall I found the charm of this story is the ability to take a horrible act of insensitivity and turn it into one of the most original characters ever told.

I've recently embraced snorkeling, and one of my biggest frustrations is the number of books that combine snorkeling and diving... and then focus almost wholly on the diving. Since many of us cannot get PADI certified (for example, if we've ever had asthma), we're left with only snippets and leftovers of information. But that's NOT the case with "Best Dives' Snorkeling Adventures." This book does an excellent job of listing and rating snorkeling sites around the world (though mostly near the USA, Caribbean, and northern South America). It lists recommended dive shops in those areas, and even offers suggestions of where to stay. And best of all? It's for those of us who SNORKEL.

I hope that when they put out a 4th edition, Huber, Huber, & Sammartino include a page or so on Florida's Golden Coast (Fort Lauderdale, etc.) or, really, *any* other East Coast US snorkeling sites, assuming any exist (their main focus on the US itself includes the Florida Keys, Florida Springs, and Hawaii). Still, I'm now far better prepared to choose my next snorkeling vacation destination, so I'm rating this 5 stars.

I was surprised to find out that the title did not tell the truth. The writers did not include half the world. The indian ocean for example is missing.

This book is a must for anyone who enjoys water activities. It is a terrific book for beginners and also for those who are advanced in snorkeling.

I love this guide. My dive vacations are strickly to take underwater photos and being able to plan ahead makes my life so much easier. It gives me the airlines, the resorts with prices, when I can expect good weather. It's like having a personal travel planner. I would not plan a Caribbean dive trip without consulting this trustworthy book.

While most travel guides give vague descriptions about snorkeling or send me to places with nothing to see, Best Dives Snorkeling Adventures gives complete vacation planning details with maps and directions to terrific places in each destination to snorkel off the beach, sign up for a boat trip. IT COVERS all the best Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda snorkeling sites, the dive shops that will take you on boat tours and resorts that are especially dive-friendly. Great for families, novice and experienced divers.