Publications Books

This book is the origin of information theory (then called "communication theory"). Explaining measurement of information in both discrete and continuous variables, this historic work defined one of the most important watershed moments in science, and serves as an excellent introduction to the subject.

This book doesn't need any presentation: it is well known by all the scientific community as the "start point" of Information Theory. Roughly speaking, today we would not have cell phones or internet without Shannon's work.
With his fundamental theorem, in 1948, Shannon prooved that it was possible, under some conditions, to have reliable communication. Since that moment, the research on Information Theory has become more and more important and has continued to develop in many different ways.
So, this book is historically fundamental for all those people interested in Communications.

Typically, a paper which defines a new field of science is not the best introduction to new researchers in the field. This is not the case with The Mathematical Theory of Communication. If you are interested in information theory, this is the one and only place to start.

This book is the best technical book i've ever read. It's clear, concise and logic. It explains all the fundamentals of communication theory, a basic for telecom and electronic engineers. All technical universities of everywhere must explain their communication theory subject following exactly this text. Above any other technical book. A gem.

The origin of this book lies in the Bell Telephone Laboratories initiative in researching how wireless and telecommunications can be improved. The problem it deals with is a classic one for electronics, telecommunications and computing - noise vs. fidelity of data transmitted. The solution it propounds is simple and yet so revolutionary that it charted the course of these fields since it was published.

The basic premise of the book is that 'redundancy' or elimination of noise occurs at infinite time. 'Entropy' or shuffledness allows for some noise and produces more information because it requires reconstruction at the receiving end.

The authors support their arguments with simple statistical formulae which explain how entropy and redundancy are inverse of each other.

This book has been highly debated by both the people involved in the fields concerned and the people outside the field.

Most of the debate surrounds the controversial aspect of Shannon and Weaver's definition of information in engineering terms, which excludes issues like relevance, meaning etc.

A great deal of debate also got carried into social sciences and humanities where a new celebration of 'entropy' occured.

This is an incredible book that offers profound and inspiring insights on the nature of spiritual development and enlightenment. While I understand the reviewer who was put off by the racially strident commentary that the author sometimes uses, there is so much of value in this book that transcends it. Anyone who allows those limitations to cause them to disregard the deeper and more significant teachings that the book contains, is only cheating himself. As an author of a book on leadership, I think this book is a must have for any leadership library.

This book is definitely a must have for anyone. It will allow you to overstand reality on a vast level. It's such an easy read too! I find myself falling asleep with it and waking up to it. It's such a spiritually powerful book that it can't be explained with words. The key to this book is to practice on a real level not an intellectual level. But don't take my word for it, reading is believing, so get this one. Get Vol.1 too. I haven't read vol. 1 yet, but if it's a good as vol. 2 it's a must have. Apparently, this is supposed to be a 9-volume set. I can't wait for the others to come out. - JAH Guide

Great book told in everyday terms. Lots of food for thought and opportunities to expand your thinking. A must read for those who like to think for themselves, and form their own personal opinions.

While the author has created a coherent, well written and easy to read book on egyptian spirituality, once again the author bogs the topic down with endless references to black supremacy.
I am sorry, but for those of us that dont know much about black history (except that they have been horribly supressed), it becomes a bit tiredsome to read. The spiritual information has value, and it is very interesting, but the endless war against white researchers just kills the experience for me. I have no axe to grind, and i dont care about color. The spirit has no color.

I only received this book in the mail today and have only read 19 pages but already I am amazed. I have already been convinced of the complete error of our mode of thought pertaining to how we view ourselves and also how we change ourselves. I am taking a break because my mind just can handle any more right now. I am overjoyed that I have decided to purchase this book; words cannot describe. Stop reading reviews and buy this book(or you can borrow it if you find someone crazy enough to let go of it).

"I interviewed Mike DiCerto on the AuthorsFirst radio show about his book
"Milky Way Marmalade." This book is awesome! The story just flows; it's
funny. The readers really get to know the characters, who are interesting;
each one different. If you like Douglass Adams' work, this is just as good
(in my humble opinion). Anyone who loves a riotous space adventure should
give this book a try."

Reviewed by Susan Pettrone for Reader Views (9/06)

This fantastic tale of Caffrey Quark and his journey across time and space is one of those books that will leave you spellbound until you finally turn the last page and find out as Quark found out, what the one thing that brought meaning to his life really was about! Quark has endless musical connections throughout this book and they only serve to further develop his character through their use. It is amazing how the mere mention of a song within this book can conjure up so many images for the reader that mere words would fall short of doing. Music is after all the universal language and we see throughout "Milky Way Marmalade" language put to fantastic use by the author!

Throughout this book we meet colorful characters both in action, appearance and language such as Yin, the wonderful little "dog" he befriends, only to find he is actually another being equal in intelligence and cunning as Quark himself, Violet, a woman of spectacular beauty with, of course, fantastically "violet" eyes and a magical personality to match, POE 33, an android with a missing piece of his memory and the key to that is most important in Quark's life and to the music itself, and of course, Angie, Quark's computer-generated friend who spouts sugary "terms of endearment" in her quest to gain Quark's love. The phrases Angie uses often leave the reader laughing aloud with their obscurity and oddness, but for some readers create Angie's character as no other device could. These characters transcend all notions of "normalcy" and it is fact their oddities that endear them to the reader and cause them to have such depth of character and definition as integral parts of Quark's life. By the end of the book, the reader feels as though a part of Quark's life as well, a trait that I found to be especially endearing to myself as a reader!

"Milky Way Marmalade" is a book that spans so many ages, from young teens interested in fantasy and science fiction to adults wanting to escape from the realities of 9-5 and the high price of fuel. The adventures are many, the action dynamic and the storylines within so wonderfully woven that the transitions from one to another are seamless and wonderfully easy to follow for even the most casual reader! I would highly recommend this book to all readers from ages 12 through adult. It is a great book to "get away" from the world today and visit Quark in his world so different yet so very much like our own!

Milky Way Marmalade by Mike DiCerto is an unusual and whimsical science fiction adventure that brings together a collector of exotic meats, a blue android, a purple-eyed woman, a dog with a secret, a bizarre quest to save the Wisest Substance in the Universe (known as the mythical L'Orange), and perhaps also all life as well. A loopy, riotous, and high-spirited, original space romp, Milky Way Marmalade is a lot of fun and documents author Mike DiCerto as someone to keep track of!

"Milky way Marmalade" is a rather strange science fiction book. I liked it, and I enjoyed the style in which it was written. All in all, I can honestly said that I have never read something like it :)

Do you want some clues about why on earth I say that?. Well, I suppose I could start by telling you something about the plot. The main character is Caffrey Quark, a young man who sells exotic meat, and looks for unusual specimens all throughout the galaxy. Truth to be told, that business isn't an easy one: "The exotic meat collecting business relied on place and time. It relied on punctuality, and an encyclopedic knowledge of galactic fauna and their individual mating, scavenging, migrating, hibernating, hunting and dying habits. But perhaps more importantly, success in the business relied upon the planet containing the exotic edible to have the decency to be there when one arrived". That kind of job can be tiring after a while, specially for a sensitive man like Caffrey, who eventually decides he cannot go on killing "miracles of diversity", and decides to retire.

Caffrey doesn't know exactly what he is going to do, but destiny has something prepared for him... As he is travelling in his spaceship, "The Moby Dick", he finds an old box with Earth music, including "The Rollings Stones"'s "Satisfaction" and "Stairway to heaven" by Led Zeppelin. When Caffrey listens to those songs he receives a great shock, due to the fact that the music he knew was pretty boring, and nowhere nearly as good as that. Caffrey becomes obsessed with finding more of the music that has "kick-started his soul", and as a result ends up selling his spaceship and buying a transport with a "temporal twist engine" that takes him to the "original" Earth, in the past, "in a time where its future still held potential". There he goes to many live shows of Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Yes and Genesis, among others, but also forms a rock band named "Marmalade skies".

Things were going too well to last, though, and soon enough people from his previous life will meddle in his new one, kidnapping his four bandmates, and forcing him in a quest for "L'Orange", the most important substance in the universe. Caffrey, a more or less normal man in bizarre circumstances, will be accompanied in his quest by Poe 33 (a robot who was supposed to take care of "L'Orange", but that seemingly lost it), his recovered spaceship,Angie (a very disgruntled main computer), a dog that is not a dog and Violet.

Why is Caffrey's quest important?. Simply because "L'Orange" can shape the universe, and there are people who want to shape one without music. As our unlikely hero understand that he goes from someone who says "I wish I understood my role in this little soap opera" to a person willing to do almost everything to save a world that has a place for the music he loves so much.

On the whole, I think that if you like science fiction and rock music, you will really appreciate "Milky way Marmalade", an unusual combination of both.

Belen Alcat

An orange cube of gelatin contains the ultimate knowledge in of the universe. Called L'Orange, or the Akashic Records, or the Philosopher's Stone, or the Universal Hologram, and so on, it contains the past, present and future of all things. In the year 3265, Trinesmart Quark, II, a "procurer" of exotic foods, travels the universe in pursuit of his trade, until he tires of killing exotics merely for the satisfaction of the extremely wealthy and indulged. Soon he finds himself in pursuit of L'Orange and engaged in a surreal adventure.

Floating in the vastness of space, Caffrey discovers an ancient jukebox and recovers the sound of 20th century music. Living in a time when music no longer exists, Caffey finds that rock and roll speaks to his soul. His new passion lends new purpose to his life and he retire from procurement to spend his life on 20th century earth. But soon the android Poe 33, Portsmith to L'Orange finds him and ask for help. Suspiciously separated from L'Orange, Poe 33 needs Quark to help him before another entity can capture L'Orange and gain ultimate domination of the universe.

Author Michael DiCerto pens a novel that combines the outrageous fun of HITCHHIKER THROUGH THE GALLAXY and Monty Python with the search for cosmic meaning. Exotic imaginings and bizarre adventure lend MILKY WAY MARMALADE an irresistible appeal with its whimsical and outrageous style. Science fiction fans will discover DiCerto's gift of fabulous characterizations and wicked plotting lends a dynamic freshness to the genre. With rich nuances that become at once spiritual and satirical, MILKY WAY MARMALADE belongs on the keeper shelf. Very highly recommended.

"If you plan to live in a society that uses money as a means of exchange, then it is intelligent to master money," says Phil Laut author of Money is My Friend. Of course I agree, while noting that I have trouble recalling ever reading that sentiment put quite so bluntly.

Mastering money is, indeed, crucial to succeeding in our society and fortunately, or unfortunately, as the case may be, that task runs right through the task of mastering yourself, according to Laut. He effectively emphasizes the importance of throwing off negative programming and learning to write the script for your life and your financial success. He's 100% on target, but he makes it sounds simple, when, in practice, it may not be so easy.

Aside from the philosophical/psychological approach, Laut appeal's to the reader's analytical side by introducing and expounding on his four laws of wealth -- I. THE EARNING LAW, II. THE SPENDING LAW, III. THE SAVING LAW, and IV. THE INVESTING LAW -- throughout the book. But, where the book really excels is by offering ways we may have acquired "stinkin' thinkin'" regarding money and how to counteract it.

Money is My Friend is actually very similar to Moneylove by Jerry Gillies. These books offer slightly different takes on very consistent core themes. Since both authors site Leonard Orr as an influence, so it should be no surprise. Orr was an earlier proponent of the idea that the state of one's mind and one's beliefs about themself are key factors in manifesting more money. I actually like to think of these books in tandem. I recommend reading both of them in succession, as their slightly different takes form a more comprehensive whole.

In the final analysis, Money is My Friend makes a clear case that money, in and of itself, can not cure financial woes. But, the reader may rest assured in the knowledge that applying the ideas in Money is My Friend, as well as Moneylove, can pay massive, life long, dividends.

A friend recommned this book to me, and since I trusted this friend, I ordered the book. First of all, I am very sceptical of these money and beliefs books... but after reading through the book and doing the exercises, I realized the definite power this book has. It is extremely practical and provides the indepth work that one needs to do to overcome barriers to wealth.

This book really made me think. Its not a fluffy get rich quick scheme - its about owning up to negative values and habits and how to change them. I gladly recommend this book to anyone who has experienced poverty/and or debt and wants to rise well above it! It has really helped me challenge my beliefs...

BTW, after reading this book and applying these prinicples I ended up with a nice new apartment (and saved $200 in rent), a wonderful girlfriend (now fiance and soon to be wife) and I got rid of my 20 year old car and got a nice reliable vehicle... So there! The principles in this book are great! It WORKS!

Money making process is a very wide area. Author tried to mention all the ingredients that make a successfull money making formula. In doing so the book is more a list of things, then practical ideas how to accomplish them. Also I do not like how he goes very deep into psychology. Rich Dad's series are much better if you need to change your way of thinking about money.

Money is my friend is a wonderful "how to" guide on how to achieve financial freedom. It is built on sound principles that show you how to eliminate you financial fears and reprogram your conscious and sub conscious mind with affirmations of riches and success. One of the prerequisites that are required in order for you to achieve mega riches is to believe you are worthy of mega riches. This book shows you how to reprogram your mind to believe that you have what it takes. Highly recommend!

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works and Founder of www.EmpoweringMessages.com

This book does a great job of explaining the reasons for commonplace hang-ups about money and offers a very workable solution. I actually struggled with being an "over saver" - and there aren't many books written for us. Laut outlines a great way to live for today (spending what you have) while also saving for the future. It's easy to read and easy to implement.

When my son was three, he made me read this book to him so many times that even now, 22 years later, I know the entire thing by heart.

Kids love this book. Parents do, too, at least the first 10 or 12 thousand times they read it to the kids!

I adored this book as a kid (I'm in my 30s now). I haven't gotten my new copy yet, but I think there is a lesson about temperance at the end, but that's not what I recall: I just remember the sheer joy of more, more, more. With books that use so few and such simple words, it's often hard for an adult to distinguish the adequate from the great. Speaking for my very young self, I can tell you that this book is great.

This is my favorite children's book - it is especially fun to read out loud. It has a cute level of humor and I've even had a class of 3-year-olds laughing at it. A good learn to read book - but also a good story in general.

I love reading this book to my daughter (2 1/2). I got it when i was a small child and have held onto it as one of my favorites. It is quickly becoming her favorite as well...the story flows so well its really fun to read...my daughter likes to see how fast I can read it without messing up.

I love this book. It lends itself to many activities with monkeys or spaghetti.

"Must-Win Battles" appeals to me as a book that gives readers (most typically managers) the tools to lead their teams through a journey that can save their very own jobs in the long run. With a style not too distant from Lencioni's, where the authors show a fictional case in action, the book presents the path in a journey to help teams win those battles they cannot afford to loose, what they call Must-Win Battles (MWB). While offering tactics to deal with the expected bumps along the road, the book remains very strategic all the way through, focused on the strategic goals of aligning steering teams around the same agenda and eventually getting the entire organization to buy it in and embrace it.

The book wraps up with lessons from won and lost MWB journeys and a real-life case from the Unilever Ice Cream Frozen Foods business group to illustrate the entire process in action. While the fictional case presented belongs to the executive team leading the entire European organization of a company, the learnings in it could easily be extrapolated to smaller settings: a production facility, a university, etc. Highly recommendable like all Wharton School Publishing books I've had a chance of reading.

Unilever's 19-page MWB journey described by Kees van der Graaf is a fantastic read. It not only illustrates the stages and steps aligned with the authors' belief of leadership principles, I find it most valuable is Kees van der Graaf sharing with us with his personal lessons learned from the processes such as "trust my gut more than ever before" and "We have great values; they come from the heart". This reminds me of another book titled "Head, Heart & Guts" by Dotlich/Cario & Rhinesmith. Indeed Kess van der Graaf brings these to life.

MWB stands for "Must Win Battles," which is the title and a common acronym throughout this this book. Authors Peter Killing, Thomas Malnight and Tracey Keys use "battle" to refer to competitors and "must-win" to mean these battles must be won. There are a lot of circumstances applicable to the concept of 'battle.' Examples and case studies cover management style, team work, planning, shortlisting, and executing, are noted. One example is Unilever in Africa, Nestle China, and a two-year case study of the CFF business groups from the words of an executive.

Three sections and nine chapters.

Section I: Preparing the Journey

Section II: Engaging the Team

Section III: Making it Happen

The different types of managers listed are the commander, diplomat, thinker, and motivator, who are defined and described. This is followed by the role of Emotional Intelligence in the workplace. EI is just as, and oft-times more vital than IQ. There are questions regarding this that the reader can answer for themselves so they can apply this concept to their own situations in life and in the work place. This book helps the manager and employees as individuals and allows them to reflect on others and themselves.

Different dynamics of MWB, which often may include change. While strategically planning and implementing Must-Win Battles there are Resisters, Bystanders, and Supporters. A time-line is almost always necessary and matrices and diagrams are presented, when planning and executing.

A good reality check is in chapter 4, which lists "Typical Company-Related Myths." Those who've worked in medium or large organizations can identity with the company values and slogans. But they're usually only slogans, because they aren't practiced. :)

At the end of the book there are:

A) The MWB Journey and Road map
B) The Denison Survey: Questions
C) Using the External Assistance

This is helpful for all people who manage and work in organizations of all types and sizes.

In any organization, at any time, there are probably three to five key battles that must be won to achieve important goals, write authors Killing and Malnight. As you read this, you are probably thinking of the battles that are ongoing right now, the ones you need to win to get to your own goals. The first step, then is identifying what the key battles actually are and eliminating the sideshows that distract from the real issues. The authors advise that these battles are NOT internal, instead they are:

Market-focused
Something that makes a difference
Creates excitement
Are specific and tangible
Are winnable (!)

The example provided is one of Unilever, a large multinational company, working to gain market in Africa. But despite Unilever as an example, the strategy to pick your fight and win it is equally applicable to small business--if not more so.

One point I really admire is that the authors recommend that emotion be considered along with reason in how to win those battles. In other words, instead of steamrolling over emotion, which is a statement of condition, like the weather, the authors recommend dealing with it and generating excitement by directing emotion. There is also good advice on "not shooting the messenger" or how to take bad news. As one top CEO remarked to the press on how he achieved success "First, you have to deal with reality."

Excellent book and a must-read for business managers of any organization.

Q: What must be managed effectively to improve an organization's performance?

A: "First, [managers must] identify and win the right battles....But to win the battles, many organizations need to create a more effective top team and build an organization that [is] .less silo-based and capable of focusing all of its energies and capabilities on the chosen battles."

Q: What is a "must-win battle" (MWB)?

A: "MWBs are the three to five key battles that your organization absolutely must win to achieve its key objectives."

Q: What are the characteristics of a well-chosen MWB?

A: It must "make a real difference, be market focused, create excitement, be specific and tangible [and measurable], and be winnable."

Q: What is an "MWB journey"?

A: It is simultaneously both an emotional and intellectual process which must be completed by everyone involved in order to transform their organization. Ultimate success will depend upon a "shared understanding of the challenges and options facing the organization, an agreed list of three to five MWBs, a committed [and competent] team for each MWB, a high-level action plan for each MWB, new [better] ways of working together, individual commitments, and an initiation assessment of the starting conditions for engaging the organization."

Granted, this is an unorthodox way by which to begin a review but I really could not think of a better one. (No doubt someone else has.) The authors of this volume share what they have learned about why some organizational transformation initiatives succeed while most others fail. What they propose is a three-phase process (a "journey") which begins with a rigorous and thorough assessment of the current situation, followed by an engagement of the Team and then of teams for the MWBs, and then an engagement of the given organization which involves embedding the Team agenda and aligning the organization while maintaining momentum of the MWB initiatives.

I especially appreciate the authors' provision of all manner of reader-friendly devices throughout their lively narrative. For example, check lists of key points, graphics (maps and figures) which illustrate step-by-step segments of the "journey," and - whenever appropriate - caveats and disclaimers which correctly remind the reader that no course of action (including the one which the authors recommend) "fits all."

In the final chapter, they share eight "Lessons" learned from their research: five from successful MWB "journeys" and three from those which failed. In Appendix A, readers are provided with a comprehensive "MWB Journey Roadmap" and then in Appendix B, the authors provide "The Denison Survey: Questions" (copyright © by Daniel R. Rosen), a culture survey which is discussed on pages 47-48.

Presumably the authors agree with me that it would be a fool's errand for anyone to read and re-read their book, then rush - or even stroll -- to implement everything in it. It would also be a fool's errand to cherry pick diverse (albeit sound) ideas from a variety of different sources and then attempt to consolidate them in a single plan of "attack." Rather, I urge each reader to read Must-Win Battles with great care and then, preferably in discussion with others, co-determine what would be most appropriate to the given organization. Killing, Malknight, and Keys can be very helpful to that process of aanalysis and, especially, to identifying the highest priorities and most important objectives. My guess is that, by following that procedure, the "must-win battles" will reveal themselves.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Jason Jennings' THINK BIG, Act Small, Michael Hammer's The Agenda and Robert Mittelstaedt's Will Your Next Mistake Be Fatal?

This is still the definitive book on the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Almost anything you want to know about the breed is here: its history, pedigrees of some well-known ancestors of today's Tollers, training information, even a full pictorial on how to groom a Toller from start to finish. Alison Strang and Gail McMillan share their love of the breed as well as their knowledge. I recommend this book to every Toller owner or would-be Toller owner, since your life won't be the same once one of these little red rascals joins your family.

This is just about as good a book on any breed you can get, it has pride and place with my other books.

If you are seriously considering adopting a Toller, then this book is a must-have reference. Ms. Strang encapsulates key information and lays it out in an easily-accessible format. She discusses the history, breeding, and temperament of the Toller in a comprehensive and interesting way. The step-by-step grooming section (and accompanying photos of the late, great Barney) is the best I've seen to date. It's rare to find a groomer familiar with the breed in the US; most assume they are small Goldens and that grooming is done similarly. Au contraire! When I used to bring my dog to a groomer, I learned years ago to bring a photocopy to serve as their cheat sheet/user's guide. Due in no small part to this section (and some hands-on training-thanks, Alison and Sandy MacF!), I now groom my own dogs. This reference has enriched our knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of the breed. We suggest it to people who meet our dogs and want to learn more. I definitely recommend it for anyone interested in this intelligent, active and keen breed.

It is is very good book about Tollers. Lay-out is very high quality. If you have Toller of your own or you want to know about Tollers it is a good buy.

This fantastic book really gets into all corners and hide-outs of the Toller. Alison's and Gail's knowledge of this dog is simply amazing. We as breeders show the book to all our friends in the dog world, and many of them has already bought it. Simply fantastic. Thanks Gail and Alison

Trying to understand Tibetan Buddhism by starting with the so-called "Book of the Dead," to me, is akin to learning about Catholicism by beginning with St. Ignatius of Loyola's "Spiritual Exercises." While an intellectual, a mystic, or a combination of the two might be able to do this, for beginners, casual inquirers, or a combination of the two, a primer to this dauntingly diverse panoply's better suited. This introduction-- written by a convert and a Buddhist nun whom I believe is an American-- provides English-speaking audiences with an accessible, brief, and sensible overview.

Chodron in her other books appears to emphasize psychological affinities with Buddhism rather than historical, catechetical, or inspirational approaches. Therefore, she takes considerable time exploring personal transformation; Buddhist concepts come gradually, and a full-fledged treatment of the faith arrives only near the conclusion. First, she deals with taming our emotions, numbing attachment, managing anger, and getting a better perspective on our selfishness, pride, laziness, and fear. This leads to a more altruistic attitude.

She then turns towards the Buddhist conception of our karmic patterns and how we can escape the "ferris wheel of recurring problems." She leads us to her acceptance of "inborn goodness" and urges us to use the opportunity of human life to move towards enlightenment and recognition of our "buddha-nature." This segues into the tenets of Buddhism, its four noble truths, its ethics, its longing for liberation, its compassionate wisdom, and its meditative and sangha (community) resources to help us as we search for freedom and long to assist others along this same path.

Finally, a few pages on the life of the Buddha and various traditions preface a closing reminder to pursue "self-cultivation" and to take small steps towards a great goal. This common-sense connection makes Chodron's book easier to understand than the more lofty treatises penned by those considerably more advanced along Buddhist mindsets thanks to their growing up in societies permeated with such values.

I found her discussions direct and devoid of preaching. Although I have difficulty at my present position of comprehension with some of the teachings, as she notes, Buddhism does not expect total fealty to its dharma. Chodron tells us that we can pick and choose as if at a buffet table, and find what suits us. She does not shirk the concepts that to us Westerners appear less clear, but keeps the more challenging aspects of Buddhism in harmony with the practices we can take on more effectively.

For instance, in explaining karma, she considers how when we see dishonest rich people or kind ones who die young, "we may doubt the law of cause and effect." But, for Buddhists, this law works over lifetimes; what's done in the past may work today, and what's done now may bear fruit in a life to come. Curiously to me, "the wealth of dishonest people results from their generosity in previous lives. Their current dishonest creates the cause for them to be cheated and impoverished in the future. Kind people who die young are experiencing the result of negative actions such as killing in past lives. However, their present kindness creates the imprints on their mindstreams for them to have happiness in the future." (104)

I suppose this makes more sense than a capricious deity's unfathomable will, and perhaps it provides more comfort than those who tell us we are but bursts of energy within a cold universe. Still, it confronts us Westerners with a difficult mindset to enter into. She offers an encouraging analogy two pages later: "At present, our minds are like uncultivated fields. Purification is similar to taking away the rocks, bits of broken glass and bubblegum wrappers cluttering the field. Accumulating positive potential by acting constructively is similar to adding fertilizer and irrigating it. Then we can plant the seeds by listening to teachings and cultivate them through contemplation and meditation. After a while the sprouts of realization will appear."

Chodron repeats how Buddhism demands that we take action. We cannot wait for divine revelation. No priest waits to baptize us, nor does any action guarantee salvation. It's a philosophy of re-orienting our lives away from ourselves so as to realize inner peace and outer harmony with others. It's not nihilistic, self-absorbed, or esoteric. It also expects us to make an effort, on our own resources aided by advice and consultation, to better our world one person at a time. It begins with us, then spirals outward, but it has to be worked at, not only mulled over. "We must act to improve our lives and attain enlightenment. Although we can employ someone to clean our house and move in new furniture, we can't hire someone to clean our minds and install compassion and wisdom. However if we act, the beneficial results will surely follow." (106)

One final quote encourages us to take on what, I admit, seems quite a task. Buddhism, when we read about adepts and lamas, may seem esoteric, bewildering, and inattainable. Chodron, in true tradition, turns us towards our own capacity to learn and to better ourselves, a sign of Buddhism's respect for our own potential betterment as lying within our grasp rather than at the ministrations of a caste, within a dogma, or inside an organization. The "seeds of perfection" lie within. We need the confidence to progress.

"At the moment, our Buddha potential is dormant within us, covered by the clouds of our disturbing attitudes and karmic imprints. Sometimes our Buddha potential is compared to honey surrounded by angry bees, or pure gold wrapped in impurities. The bees and the impurities, just like our disturbing attitudes and the imprints of actions, are temporary obscurations."(119) We remove them by following not the path of the gods, but of a human who found the way out: the compassionate wisdom of the Buddha.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Well, I can also say that Lon Milo Duquette's "Chicken Qaballah of Of Rabbi Lamed Ben Clifford" is a good intro to the Caballah and this is a great place to go next for a more in-depth(still accessable) study in the Caballah. Regardie's "Garden of Pomegranettes" is a classic for caballistic pathworkings but this book offeres a simplified version of that. Greer is AWESOME at making Golden Dawn practices easy for the 'less than adept' to access!!!

If you ever wanted to understand the true foundation of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, this book is a must have! I cannot recommend this book enough! Mr. Greer's explanations of the magical workings of the Cabala and its relations to the Golden Dawn system of magic are well worth the lofty price to acquire this book. "Paths of Wisdom" sets the stage for Mr. Greer's follow-up book "Circles of Power". If you are an aspiring solitary magician looking for a fresh approach to the Golden Dawn traditon of magic, then invest your money wisely and buy these books. You are guaranteed a well rounded education in the high magical arts.

First off, I must present my biased disclaimer of being a huge fan of John Michael Greer. Few authors in this field have his ability to tackle a complex subject, gather an immense amount of information, sift through the dross, and present it in such accessible and practical fashion.

Paths of Wisdom is no exception. If you own only 1 book on the Hermetic Qabala (as distinct from the traditional Hebrew type), MAKE SURE this is it! Qabala, by its very nature, can be a complex, pedantic, and often dry and confusing study. However, the patient and persistent student will find great rewards. Too often one learns the rudiments while lacking the deep understandings, which can be subtle and paradoxical. This book helps clarify all that. Granted, there's a lot of material here too, and it'll take time to fully absorb all the hidden jewels. But the engaging and lucid writing style makes this anything but a dry reference or "how to" manual.

Greer does not lose sight that to experience the Qabala is to practice and live the tradition each day, not just read and discuss it. Paths of Wisdom is a reminder that Qabala is not a static, pedantic methodology that exists in a vacuum, but a beautiful, living, dynamic system that evolves alongside humanity's aspirations to re-discover our forgotten Oneness. As a valuable tool for personal growth, pathworkings are presented as a freeform, archetypal, and deeply subjective experience based on the Tree of Life's path symbology, and not as the common, predefined, guided visualizations. The incredible and often neglected faculty of the human Imagination is greatly emphasized. The aspects and symbology of the Tree of Life are very well presented. With this book and Greer's equally excellent Circles of Power, the student of The Western Mysteries will find a lifetime of treasures and inspired direction for their sacred journey.

What an unbelievable gem. I wish to the gods this wasn't $8 million used. I can say without reservation that it is one of the best Cabala/Kabbalah/Qabalah book EVER WRITTEN. Why it's no longer printed, the world will never know. JMGreer is planning on expanding it and printing it with another publisher, luckily.

If you ever come across a cheaper copy--or have the extra dough to spend--I recommend this book immensely, for accurate and clearly explained Kabbalah study AND magickal practice. I can't recommend it highly enough. Because most people can't afford this, I second this recommendation with "The Magic of Qabalah" by Kala Trobe and "The Mystical Qabalah" by Dion Fortune. You won't be disappointed with either. Beginner or advanced, all of these both invaluable, accurate and wise.

this book is very easy to read and understand. it brings many of the complex concepts of the qabala, (as understood in the golden dawn) to a level most students can understand. it's like a more interesting version of the golden dawn papers. i'd also recommend Dion Fortune's mystical qabala.

I must say first that the format of "Politics" takes some getting used to. Mr. Heselov goes from giving examples of how the general public is being taken advantage of by credit card companies and the resulting "Credit Card Cancer" to hidden secrets about mortgage companies and loans (his own bailiwick, with over 42 years experience), to anecdotes which go from O.J. Simpson to Michael Milken. Sometimes all in the same page, without any clear boundaries separating them! However, once you acclimate yourself to his unique writing style and get your "sea legs" beneath you, "Politics" is a truly remarkable and illuminating read. Interspersed with the author's own experiences and insights, he paints a picture with seemingly random strokes of the brush about the general climate of Big Business and the political arena. But, like paintings that look like a collection of random shades and layers of paint up close but magically transform into a vivid image when viewed from afar, "Politics" leaves the reader with a clear picture of the forces that lay just beneath the waterline in the political and financial world. Read it once all the way through, then keep it around and read the selections in random order! It is simultaneously amusing and shocking, and guaranteed to entertain and educate. I am on the verge of buying a house myself, and I definitely feel better prepared to face the lending companies after having read this book. Thank you, Mr. Heselov!

The writing style is energetic and it draws you into the world of numbers. Mr. Heselov provides case histories that will make your hair stand on end. A must-read for anyone with more than one credit card. And Mr. Heseleov knows Cher! (page 40)

Politics, Money & Shtick should be required reading for any credit card holder or mortgage shopper. The book is informativeand easy to read. This book is an investment that will bringyou many returns. If you are serious in saving money this book is for you.

An interesting & amusing look a Pot Pourri of Subjects. Don't analyse just enjoy.

Jack Heselov provides a lot of insightfulness and information in his book regarding credit cards and home loans. The American Consumer can gain a good deal of useful knowledge by reading his book before buying or refinancing their home. Additionally he really nails the credit card companies and shows just how much they are really charging the average consumer who carries a balance on their credit cards. The interesting and humorous manner in which Mr. Heselov has written his book makes it easy and enjoyable to read.