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This story is so good that I still remember how good it was and I read it many years ago. I too lent my copy out, never to return. But today I found many copies for sale on [...].

I can't find words for this book. It's the best one I've ever read. It's simply the best!

I first read this book when I was 16 and to this day I regard it as the best 'non-classic' piece of fiction I've ever read. Unfortunately, I loaned it to all and sundry and lost my copy. Since then, I've felt compelled to tell everyone how fantastic it is, but they can't possibly understand unless I tell them the secret of the ending (which, of course, I cannot). Buy it. Read it. Marvel at it. But don't think of lending it to anyone, even your closest friend!

this is one of the best books that no one knows about. it is a great thriller/suspense murder mystery that you will never want to put down. even if you don't like mysteries you'll like this one.
it may be hard to find, but you should still try to find it. it will be worth the work!

I read this book over 17 years ago. I couldn't put it down. I would love to read it again

"A modern classic. Dewey's lectures have lost none of their vigor...The historical approach, which underlay the central argument, is beautifully exemplified in his treatments of the origin of philosophy."--Philosophy and Phenomenological Research

"It was with this book that Dewey fully launched his campaign for experimental philosophy."--The New Republic

Dewey's philosophy is hard for some people to get into, or take seriously, because his whole body of concerns and ideas are present behind every sentence-- so, even though his language is plain-spoken, it is "saturated with meaning," to use one of his phrases. So it takes real work, and he doesn't always succeed in keeping the foreground clear, while remembering the background. It's DOING philosophy, rather than merely writing ABOUT it. This book is a great example -- what does philosophy do for us, how does it contribute when it is woven into the other enterprises of life, and what ideas in philosophy stand it the way of its making a living contribution. The book is full of dramatic, and even radical thinking, but in quiet, reflective language that requires relaxed, persistent attention.

Written shortly after World War I, John Dewey's classic RECONSTRUCTION IN PHILOSOPHY offered an introduction to the philosophy of pragmatic humanism, arguing against traditional philosophy by suggesting their fountains in self-justification were flawed and proposing an examination of core values based on other criteria. Published in 1948, this Dover reprint of the enlarged edition is an important guide to any college-level philosophy collection.

Written soon after the First World War, Reconstruction in Philosophy by James Dewey attempts to lay out a program for making philosophy adapt to the needs of a new time and age. As man's experience has changed in the modern era, so must philosophy change; philosophy must evolve in order to explicitly address those issues from which it originally arose - those dealing with the everyday concerns of man. It is contemporary philosophy's (in 1919) detachment from man's real life and goals that Dewey wishes to diagnose and address. Philosophy must break the bonds of tradition and become entirely secular; the scientific method which revolutionized man's life must be embraced by philosophy - the facts and experience oriented spirit of science must pervade the reconstruction of philosophy.

It is the rise of science as the great shaper of human life and culture that constitutes the greatest change in human experience. Pre-historic man's life - which, according to Dewey, consisted of brief periods of food gathering and the rest of long periods of reverie - gave rise to conceptions of the nature of man and the world. As men's culture advanced, so did men's accounts of the nature of man and the world; these developments culminated in the works of the classic ancient thinkers, notably Plato and Aristotle. These were philosophies that denigrated ugly matter and imperfect change, and idealized perfect, eternal forms. These philosophies, and those in modern times which carry their influence, place ultimate value and ultimate reality in otherworldly or extra-sensory things - in the Forms, Celestial Spheres, the Categories, etc.

The Pragmatic method proposed by Dewey seeks to dispense with the old dichotomies and idealizations and transform knowledge and philosophy from the "contemplative to the operative." Science broke the old dogmas about the physical universe and philosophy should similarly make experience the test of our principles; abstractions, principles, generalizations, etc. should service concrete action, not the other way around. "The true is the verified," writes Dewey. This is the method by which logic, epistemology, morals, politics, etc. should base its reconstruction.

Dewey's program, it may be argued, only serves to relocate rather than resolve some of the main issues of philosophy. How exactly the methods of science are to be absorbed by philosophy, and whether philosophy does in fact differ from the sciences only in its degree of generality are unanswered questions. While deriding "fixed and final" end in ethics, Dewey posits "growth itself as the only moral end." And by defining society as "the process of associating in such ways that experiences, ideas, emotions, and values are transmitted and made common," he makes both the individual and the state subordinate to this process. Have we not traded one thing to subordinate ourselves to for another? This is not to say that Dewey doesn't offer a framework that perhaps allows us to offer more satisfying answers to philosophy's issues (which is just what Dewey argues for); its just that he is proposing a new methodology for answering those issues, not (in this work at least) offering specific answers, or defending in a satisfying way the assertion that his program is in the first place tenable. These comments aren't mean to trivialize Dewey's program offhand, but to point out the sort of questions he raises which should be answered.

For a much more fruitful and rigorous defense of a pragmatic-type approach to some of philosophy's central issues, see Susan Haack's Evidence and Inquiry: Towards Reconstruction in Epistemology (for the title of which she borrowed from Dewey). This work by Dewey, however, is required reading for those who wish to study the American Pragmatist school.

John Dewey, as I've heard, was never comfortable with labels. Throughout his career he shifted from and to many rubrics: pragmatism, interactionism, instrumentalism, transactionism, experimentalism. Truth be told, all of these are present in "Reconstruction in Philosophy" and partly because of that, this is probably the best intro to Dewey available.

Dewy has a bone to pick with traditional philosophy. Not only has it lost track with real, as opposed to academic, problems (anyone walking down the street can tell us this) but it never really was that good at depicting real questions and descriptions anyway. Take comcepts like Plato's ideal forms and Kant's a priori. Neither of these are teneble in any realm of experience; rather, they were a misguided quest to explain the permanance and stability of the world.

Dewey's book is an attempt to pull the carpet out from under their feet; science and inquiry using its methods shows us that the world changes and if anything, stability is something that is felt by us - not inherent in the world. Thus a prioris, ideal forms, seperation of the noumenal and phenouminal amongst other current 'problems' in philosophy - all based on the idea of permanant/transitory dichotomy - are not only wearing thin, but are fast showing to be irrelevant. From this, he builds the groundwork of a philosophy in between rationalism and empiricism. Taking from rationalism an admiration and recognition of reason's power to direct action and combining it with empiricims fascination with experience, Dewey creates a philosophy that puts the spotlight not on one or the other, but on both as leading to and taking from eachother.

The first chapter are a philosophical survey of how philosophy went wrong; particularly in Ancient Greek and early Christian philosophy (both having a love affair with absolutes outside of experience). The second chapter focuses on the mistakes when philosophers, like Francis Bacon, widened the chasm between the real and experiential and the ideal and rational.

From here, Dewey proceeds piece by piece to show what was wrong and how to fix it by making clear tht scienctific inquiry (the equal interaction between subject and object) leaves no room for absolutes, forms or a prioris (or at least, not in any pragmatically useful sense). By extension, things like formal rules of logic above experience, non-experimentalism in moral or political theory and psychology that includes the individual without an equal part of the social; all of these become little more than unfounded but continually persisting glorifications.

For the reader interested in Dewey, naturalism, instrumentalism or the implications of pragmatism, this is a great introduction. From here, I suggest Dewey's "The Quest for Certainty" followed by "Experience and Nature", topped off with "Human Nature and Conduct".

This book is easy to use, yet provides the information that you need. Its color pictures make it easy to identify the coral that you see in the book out in the field.

For scuba divers, these volumns are unparalleled. There is so much to see under the sea and so many corals look very similar. Paul does an excellent job of helping you differentiate among species. Of course you have to use your memory or your camera to compare it to the guide book after the dive, cause the book does not tolerate depth very well. ;) Highly recommended book!

A field guide to coral, especially by Paul Humann, is essential to your collection of ocean field guides. Hundreds of coral species are listed, including: sea fans, hard corals, soft corals, and mushroom corals. The book also explains the many diseases that possibly afflict many species. The coral entries have excellent, detailed explanations beside them, concerning species depth, range, and abundance. The photograph transfers are above average, showing enough of the coral for identification purposes. The photographs are of course very beautiful, containing various, colorful hues of these animals. Buy the waterproof, annotated version of Reef Coral ID to bring along in the ocean on a scuba diving trip. The book has been updated twice since it was published, with the original print still floating around here on Amazon.com. The second edition is far superior, containing many more listings and more beautiful photos. Completely essential field guide for a private collection.

Don't take my word for it, go to a handful of dive shops and this author's name will come up more than once. An excellent book, I haven't come across anything I like better. The others in this family are just as good.

This Reef Coral Identification book is THE definitive guide. In brief there is not a better guide out there. It thoroughly covers each type of coral and gives identification information as well as full color photographs. In addition to all the corals it covers other plant life likely to be encountered while snorkeling or diving. These include grasses, weeds, algae and coral diseases. With a plastic cover and the pages treated to resist water it can be taken to the beach or onto the boat without much concern about the water damaging the book. For each item the book also discusses any danger to divers that the particular coral may represent (such as fire coral).

This book can also be purchased as part of a three part set that also includes the Reef Fish Identification and Reef Creature Identification texts, each of which is equally as excellent as the Reef Coral Identification book.

I found this novel truly enthralling. Based on the author's own family history, "Remembrance" is an episodic and densely plotted family saga set in rural Georgia that spans the first five decades of the last century.

Rich in history and filled with personal tragedy (spousal abuse, alcoholism, suicide and murder), and epic drama (crop failure, a hurricane, the great depression, two world wars), Hipps beautifully renders his family's story with love and affection. His use of language is impressive. His storytelling is compelling and detailed. Best of all his characters leap off the page with authenticity. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed meeting every one of the strongly drawn characters in this generational family tale. I found myself out of breath and running down the road with Leola as she fled the unbelievable aspect of losing her husband to the plague of measles and her overwhelming hopelessness as she colapses against the railing of the bridge. This young woman who, in the beginning of the book, blushed with the feeling that "she did not possess the sofistication of mystery" under the gaze of her new beau; became a formidable woman. She blossomed into a survivor through the extraordinary experience of her life. This book is filled with strong women characters and I was fascinated by the glimpse of everyday Georgia life from the early 1900's. From surviving the horrific hurricane in Holmstead to the destruction of crops by Boll Weevils and finally, mothers watching their sons go off to be swallowed up by war. I appreciated this lesson in history and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Hey, Nathan, and then what happened?

Fran & I really enjoyed meeting, Nathan Smith Hipps, author of "Remembrance," in Tallahassee at a wine & cheese author signing and reading event that took place at the Tallahassee Little Theater. For me, books become much more personal when I can put a face with the author's name. Nathan grew up near Fitzgerald, GA, and has written a book about the life of a farming family living in the early 1900's. One of the characters is a young woman named Leola who grew up 10 miles outside of Fitzgerald, "a small settlement founded by Union and Confederate soldiers too weary and battered to make the long trek back to their homes." Nathan is able to bring to life that families often work through problems differently than you or I would. Maybe it's just because some of us have never been exposed to some of the hardships that his characters endured. Today we have an understanding of the word measles, and we vaccinate our infants to protect them from this disease, but so many of us forget that people died from this as Nathan brings out in his book. Not only did people die, but there was panic when an epidemic would break out in a town and people did not know what to do. They even used extreme measures like burning down the home of any family that had a death from measles. This seems drastic to us today, but it happened.

One quote early on in Nathan's book helps you understand his sensitive style of writing. This takes place immediately after the death of Leola's beloved husband, Luther. She says to him, "I love you Luther Smith. Don't you ever forget that. I will see you again one day, and what a glorious day that will be." Nathan also shows the other side of humanity in the character of Leola's father who is such a cold, heartless person. He has an accident on his farm and his leg turned so green and gangrenous that the doctor could do nothing for him. As Leola is sitting at the bedside as he is drawing his last breath, she realizes that the saddest part of her father's death is that no one would truly grieve his passing.

Another subject that Nathan helped me understand had to do with boll weevils. In Nathan's book, you see his farm family investing all they had for a few more acres to plant in cotton. Reports started coming in about the boll weevil in Texas. Then the next year it was in Mississippi, and some people were predicting that it would be in Georgia by the following year. The family now had a decision to make and they chose wrong. When they walked into the fields and found their cotton infested with the boll weevils, they knew they could lose everything! They were able to buy some of the dusting powder that they had to hand apply to each and every cotton plant in order to kill the weevils. If it had rained, all their hard work would have been for nothing. They couldn't afford to purchase enough to apply it to all their acreage. Even if they had been able to buy it, they wouldn't have had the time to apply it to all the plants.

Reading this book reminded me to count my many blessings as I compared my easy life to the hardships that so many in this family and many others endured. Yet through it all there was love and joy and family sticking together.

I really encourage you to meet this talented young author by reading his book, "Remembrance."

A marvelous tale of southern life that never resorts to cliche or stereotype. As a result this story rings with a universality of small town life in the early twentieth century. The drama interweaves with the family life that is its source without overwhelming it. Vivid memorable characters.

I read this book in the bathtub, with bubbly. It made me cry. A lot. It's being immersed in an ordinary day in the rural South when life feels like a suspense novel. The monsters are real. Hurricanes, measles, boll weevils and unfortunate marriages.

The surviving is real too.

If you ever thought you knew all about wood, guess again.
This book has more history, knowledge and facts than any we
have ever had. We have a copy and have given copies to approx.
6 people in the wood working business.

We own a saw mill, but my husband was so delighted with little
known facts and trivia, we just had to share it with others.

A MUST buy!!!!

Eric Sloane has written several books, filled with his wonderful drawings, looking back at times in our early American past. This is the first of his I've read, and I want to read them all. I can't say if he is accurate in his depictions, nor whether his viewpoint has full historical merit, but he shows us the value of what we've lost.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it in a sitting. I'm not even all that interested in wood or building anything else that may have made me a likely fan. The writing was fantastically engaging, and the tidbits and anecdotes just kept coming. I say it's Cliff Claven writes a book because that's how I've been describing it for 10 years now - Sloane's enthusiasm and honest passion are to writing what the charm of a pure young laugh is to happiness. I've given this book away I don't know how many times, and have never heard of somebody not loving it too.

This is Sloane's best book in my opinion, but then I've been a woodworker for many years and already have "a reverence for wood". There is much to learn here, a lot of information compressed into easily understood drawings and text and a joy to study. Highly recommended for both the woodworker and anyone interested in wood and its properties and uses.

This is an easy read that yet conveys quite a bit of information. An important part are the drawings, which say more than a thousand words. It is an atmosphere book, which lets the reader understand something of the relationship between the early Americans and their material (wood). It also shows that wood allows more uses than what passes for woodworking these days.

I am a little dubious about the inclusions of trees in the back. The author appears somewhat out of his depth here (he is no Peattie, not by a long way).

This book is an easy read with a common down -to- earth simplicity that strikes at the very root of your heart. The authors Irish wit and love of his fellow man (in whatever background they may be from) is so very apparent that it will make you think twice before judging another human being. The stories are short, diverse and sweet. This is a must read for anyone that needs a lift and a different perspective on the every day comings and goings of life. This little book of gems left such an impression on me that I ordered 3 more copies of it and sent them for Christmas presents. Thank you Patrick Hannon for your humor and wit and keep on writing!!

Father Pat has a unique way of allowing the reader to experience the love of God in everyday, human lives. I laughed, I cried, I marveled, I prayed during my reading of this book. Father Pat also allows us insight into how to accept all of God's beings with dignity, humor and grace, no matter how challenging the situation. I liked how each story was in itself an encounter with God's mercy and love. This book is worth several reads!!

Anyone who likes a good story should like this book. It is a delightful and enlightening work that I have been recommending to my friends. Patrick Hannon, a young Holy Cross priest, generously shares with us tales of his family and his life. They are warm and engaging stories in themselves and Hannon is a great storyteller. And in his faith he reveals to us another dimension of reality -- that of prayer which is laced through the fabric of ordinary life, usually not recognized or recognizable as prayer until a book like this points it out. You will enjoy the book, you will want to pass it on.

I picked up this book from my local library mainly because Fr. Hannon is the Parochial Vicar at my parish. I was interested in his writing, as I absolutely love going to Mass to hear his homily every Sunday--he is an extremely gifted priest. This book is fantastic, and Fr. Pat is truly a man with a tremendous spirit...and a very talented writer. I read the library copy and quickly bought a copy...it is definately a book you will want to read again and again.

You don't normally think of spirituality as a "fun read" but this small book can put a whole new spin on the concept of relating to God and when is it, exactly, that we are praying. It is engaging, poignant, thought-provoking (in a positive, non-troubling way) and conveys an optimism about how to live and experience life. I recommend this book to everyone who believes that life has a larger purpose --- if you take its meaning to heart it can make every day of your life a fair bit richer. I received this book as a Christmas present and, in turn, have now given it out as a gift to many of my closest friends and family members --- getting unanimously positive comments in return. This one is really worth it.

I admit when I bought the book I read it quickly cover to cover. I couldn't resist the overview, but I quickly saw that real benefit would only come through practicing in depth with each page. Ezra's words gently encourage us to go to our own edge...to hear his wisdom and use it as inspiration toward our own proving ground.

Ezra Bayda's latest book even tells you how to use it! He says, "Don't consume this book." I, therefore, did not read it straight through and, instead, gave it preferred space on the passenger seat of my car for those moments when I need a little encouragement. His writing is very accessible and goes right to the heart. Treat this book like a special friend.

Got this for a friend who has breast cancer. Great words and thoughts.

This is my third book by Ezra Bayda and in many ways it is my favorite. Thomas Moore sums it up best in the introduction when he said, "I like Ezra Bayda because I don't think he assumes he gets it all right." And this is why I liked this book, it does not provide answers it only provides questions for reflection. For some reason I like the format and I also like the way the book feels in my hand. It just begs to be carried around with you and read throughout the day. But unlike many books, I do not feel the need to read it from cover to cover, rather I use it judiciously throughout the day. I let the day determine what page I will read. If it is 9:34 in the morning I turn to page 93 and read the passage if the temperature is 74° I turn to page 74. I found this to be a great tool to return my awareness to what is real.

I am amazed of how deep can Ezra Bayda communicate his insights with such concise words. He helps unveil the false beliefs we all carry upon our shoulders and inside our soul. Every line read is like acknowledging the truth we have always felt was there but resisted to be put in words.
As I slowly read each page, I looked around me just to be sure no one else, besides the author, knew what I have been feeling all along in my life. So, you will not only read a book, you will read yourself as if your inner self was an open book waiting for you to dive into it.
Thank you Ezra, this book is not staying on my shelf but instead, will be carried inside of me forever.

If you want to know more about your subc.I heartily recommend these CDs

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
The Master Key System
Thought Vibration or the Law of Attraction in the Thought World
The Science of Getting Rich
The Science of Mind
Think and Grow Rich: Original Version

You can get all four of FSS's work in the Wisdom of FSS, which is only $11.20. Believe me you won't be sorry her work surpasses that of Wayne Dyer, Esther and Jerry Hicks, and even Catherine Ponder.

Consisting of a series of talks on various topics relating to the achievement of happiness, this book teaches the reader how to triumph over adversity and experience abundance through spiritual law. The author's explanation of Biblical tales and metaphors is especially valuable and insightful and her interpretations are full of common sense and practical wisdom. Her very engaging style and wonderful ability to explain age-old spiritual truth ensure a stimulating and uplifting reading experience. She deals with topics like faith, intuition, inspiration and more, even referring to movies like The Wizard of Oz. The last chapter is about the inner meaning of the fable of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and how it relates to the thought-forms in the subconscious mind of the individual. It's brilliant! Not only are her words powerful and inspiring, but special affirmations are provided to help achieve successful outcomes. The Secret Door is definitely on a par with her classic work The Game Of Life and I strongly recommend it.

Bet you can't read just one! You will crave all of her books once you have a taste of Florence Scovel Shinn's words. After you read the books, don't forget to buy the affirmation cards - they are a must!

Florence Scovel Shinn's work, specifically in this book, is a beautiful testament to how unlimited our universe is, and how boundless our creative capacity is in our life.

As a true pioneer in the field of consciousness/laws of attraction in our current times, Shinn writes with uncanny wisdom about succinct concepts, as she helps anyone who reads this book learn about success: that being abundance without limit.

Her work is beautifully expressed, and brings about a peaceful feeling when reading. You can tell she knew what she was writing about, and her faith in unlimited, positive creative capacity is truly timeless wisdom. This is a classic book that can only benefit any reader.

Of all of the books read to me when I was little, few stand out more prominently in my memory than this one. Now, over twenty years later, I am so pleased to have just found my old copy, which I hope someday to read to my children. What a magical book!

One of the best children's books I have run across. The book explains the consequences and dangers of the shadow world and the rewarding richness of standing in the light. It is presented in a non religious, simple and magical way. Opening the doors of understanding for children and reminding adults at the same time.

My 6-year old's teacher reminded me about this book at our conferences. It is a magical journey for children to share. Sylvia lives in a cottage near the woods with her mother. She is very connected to the world of gnomes and fairies, and spends her days doing things I wish I could do with my girl - she bakes, paints, visits with the Old Woodsman who smells like the trees and love...She has a "Sister-in-the-Bushes" to talk to. She has friends in the village who come to her St. Nicholas party. It's an amazing life. Each night her mother tells her a story, usually connected to the events of her day. Then, Sylvia puts her "Wonder Book" out on her bedside table. During the night, the Rhyme-Elves come to paint a picture and write her a short poem connected to her day. The book is full of seasonal celebrations from Michelmas to Advent to St. Nicholas to King's Day. Sylvia loses her first tooth (which means that NOW she can go to school). I highly recommend this book to everyone looking to find something magical to read at bedtime. My daughter is spellbound. One minor fault, easily changed when reading - the dark gnomes, ones who are evil and scary (leading her into the woods when her mother told her not to go in alone, but helping her experience why she needs to mind her mother) are all referred to as 'black imps'. I changed that to 'dark imps'. PS - my daughter has had an easier time not being led by her inner 'dark imp' since we've been reading this together. But, I fight the guilts over not providing her with a Wonder Book of her own!

I was pleased to receive the book as quickly as I did. I was nervous that I would get it too late for my son's 7th birthday but no, I had a few days to spare. Thanks.

I was given this book when I was seven and have since cherished it for its beauty and sensitivity. It is a wonderful read aloud book for ages 6-8 and mostly 7 that is inspiring both for children and adults alike. Enjoy!

This book was great for ideas and general instructions. However, I found the patterns to be way too large for the 18" dolls, and I found several errors in the construction directions. As a seasoned sewist, I knew how to work around this misdirection, but newer sewists may not.

I can still recommend the book though just for the inspiration.

This book contains full size patterns that sew beautifully. Great selection of outfits and complete insructions that are very easy to follow.

Joan Hinds provides an excellent choice of patterns with which to create indoor outdoor fashions for 18" dolls. The patterns are timeless. They can easily be modified to reflect most style periods from the mid 20th century forward.

My daughter (who is 10 years old) got her American Girl doll for Christmas this year...and after spending all that money on an 18" doll, I wasn't about to pay $24 per outfit.
I have some sewing experience. I can hem up jeans, sew pillows, fix a seam or button if need be...but that's about it. I've never used a pattern before.
The hardest part was finding the pattern pieces. There are two large tissue papers tucked away in the back of the book. Each piece appears to have hundreds of little patterns. Once you find the pieces for what you are making, it is a breeze.
I will warn you, there are some things that just can't be sewn with a machine. Invest in a thimble and proceed.
Half the fun is teaching my daughter how to sew. She loves her doll and wants it to have a wardrobe exactly like hers. I warned her that the deal was if she got the doll, she would have to help make the clothes. She agreed and we've been able to sew many outfits that closely resemble hers.
This book, in my opinion, contains the most modern clothing patterns. It also has very easy to follow instructions. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an American Girl doll.

I have made most of the clothes presented in Hinds "Sew the Contemporary Wardrobe" and been very pleased with the results. Her instructions are clear and complete and allow for personal variation. My granddaughters and neighbor girls have been happy with their gifts of doll clothes!

Because I liked "Contemporary" so much, I recently ordered (via Amazon)and received promptly 3 more Hinds books.