Alternative Books

I mean it,this is brilliant stuff ! Mr. Reginald has done his homework and proves himself a master of all things medieval with this first tale set in Nova Europa. His grasp of history playing itself out in a dark and bloody alternate Middle Ages and his subtle introduction of fantasy elements to the mix, earmark this as a series to follow closely in the months and years ahead. Im hoping that we are treated to maps in future volumes since the various tales are set in different areas of Nova Europa and at different times in history.Speaking with Ariadne Press,the second novel,The Exiled Prince will be arriving soon in Amazon warehouses and the third novel Questiones is due to be released in September.
May this author live to be a hundred !

It was with a degree of trepidation that I set out to read THE DARK-HAIRED MAN. 600 pages! I'm a strong admirer of Robert Reginald's short stories (see my Amazon review) but not a big fantasy fan. And the first few chapters were indeed not so easy. All those funny half-familiar names, for instance. Granted, there is a useful glossary at the back of the book for quick reference, and in any case that half-familiarity is the whole key to Reginald's Nova Europa. Nova Europa is how the world might have developed if the Roman emperor Julian, known to us as "Julian the Apostate", had not been killed in the year 363 in battle with the Persians (or perhaps at the hand of a Christian enemy? According to one tradition, this was the martyr St. Mercurius, who returned briefly from the dead to finish off the wicked pagan emperor). In this alternative vision of history Julian survived, to become "Julian the Great", and the following centuries worked out rather differently. The trick is not original, but Reginald carries it off most elegantly. Once the reader has grasped what the situation is, the novel zooms along in great style. I actually found it difficult to put down, and I read it through to the end in two late evening reading sessions each of which followed a long working day. THE DARK-HAIRED MAN is one of the most exuberant books that I've ever read. There is a wide-range of distinctively-drawn characters, the writing is atmospheric, the "fantasy elements" (the things I normally like least in fiction) are plausible within their frame of reference, and the main source of evil in the story is immediate, psychologically convincing and chillingly spiteful (which is more than can be said for Tolkien's Sauron, for example). So: Hats off to Mr. Reginald for a really fine piece of work! The second novel in the series, THE EXILED PRINCE, has already appeared, and there are apparently further novels on their way. If they can match the quality of this one, we shall be witnessing the creation of a major literary phenomenon.

P.S. The novel is very funny too.

And, here is a book truly for the readers of ... well... of ... "this kind of book". And, just what "kind" of book is it? Well, it's a book on the massive historical scale that includes pretty much all of the genres: mystery, suspense, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, murder, humor ... It's chockablock with a distorted Medieval Europe, and the myriad characters existing therein, that/who could well be assumed to exist in some other dimension. Kings and Queens and Dukes and Witches and Warlocks and Wizards, and Demons, even the Devil, come into play, in this fictionalized account of somewhere, sometime, Middle-Ages' landscapes whereupon power struggles bring into play, on an enormously large stage, all of the delicious vices and virtues, all of the acts of bravery and vengeance, all of the greediness for power and machinations of powerful people, good and bad who die and are born ... of nations that rise and fall ... of metamorphoses, physical and mental, that occur. Magic rings and torques and mirrors come into play. Magic, black and white, along with many momentous magical moments, arise on each and every page, as the brilliance of author Robert Reginald weaves this literary tapestry that, while it may prove too complex for some readers to fathom, on all its myriad literary (and those not in-on-the-inside-jokes) levels, does reward, one and all, in the end, with a finely-wrought solution to one man's search for his identify in a world suddenly gone mad because of vengeance and witchcraft. [Speaking of tapestries, by the way, a series of them play an important part in the latter pages of the volume]. THE DARK-HAIRED MAN is a must read for anyone "into" this kind of book.

In "The Dark-Haired Man, or A Hieromonk's Tale" Rob Reginald has created an intriguing blend of fantasy, history, romance, and mystery. Fascinating characters, from the tragic to the humorous populate in medieval world of Nova Europa. I especially like the strong female characters who use their brains, feminine wiles, magic, and their political connections to change their world. These women operate within the constraints of their roles as queens, princesses, and noblewomen but exhibit every bit as much power as men, without dueling with swords. Several forms of magic work in Nova Europa, sometimes in opposition to each other. Mysteries, from the overarching questions of Afanasy's parentage and the evil one's identity, to the small questions about magical dolls, increase the suspense. Amusing situations, witty dialogue, and sarcastic comments keep the reader laughing just enough to offset the sorrow over the horrific battle scenes and the death's of major characters. Although quite different from most fantasy worlds, Nova Europa is a delightful place to visit and I look forward to Rob Reginald's future fantasy novels.

"...he could hear a sound like rushing steam inside his skull. It was the rush of madness, the incorrigible madness of this place...they had attacked and reduced him to a grisly, spastic, convulsive length of live meat burning in the throes of neurons gone amuck and hauled his shriveled caracus off to some madhouse called the Rubber Room." Quick! Tap the subconscious recesses of your computer-like brain and identify the author. If you pulled up Tom Wolfe, A Man In Full, page 368, you are correct. ##### Just goes to show, I guess, that wordy prose in the hands of a famous writer is still acceptable. (Little wonder that Wolfe writes 700-page books.) Suffice it to say, such over-the-top wordiness submitted to a publisher by an unpublished writer would probably be tossed in the waste basket, quickly, or consigned back to the slush pile. ##### Essentialism venerates humility as its highest virtue. Consequently, when in doubt, it is probably best to adapt the James M. Cain breakout writing fashion dating way back to the 1930s with his The Postman Always Rings Tiwice, Double Indemnity, and Mildred Pierce. Brevity. Simplicity. Faithfully follow Commandment V of the Plot Development Ten Commandments: Thou Shalt Not Hyperbolize. ##### In this regard, The Dictionary of Concise Writing is a precious gem. It is a volume which should be on every book shelf, conveniently accessable as a constant reference by every writer.

"The Dictionary of Concise Writing" is a thorough examination of how to write tight, well-crafted prose. The book begins with a section on "Perfectibility of Words" which defines wordiness and provides various examples of the different types. The following section is "The Imperfectability of People" which discusses the prevalence and acceptance of wordiness in society.

The extensive dictionary actually begins on page 49. Each listed phrase or word combination is followed by suggested substitutions, an example using the "wordy" phrase, and the same example using the correct substitution. If you are wondering if your writing could be more concise or looking for a suggestion for a phrase that just doesn't feel right, or just want to learn better writing skills then this is the book for you. It is the largest and most useful compendium of excessively wordy phrases and practical, workable substitutions that I have had the pleasure of using. A highly recommended purchase for anyone doing any serious writing.

Robert Hartwell Fiscke has produced two powerful, literary weapons to guard against the growing trend of misspellings, tautologies and clichés as well as hackneyed metaphors, inane expressions and bloated or weak writing: The Dimwit's Dictionary: 5000 Overused Words and Phrases and Alternatives to Them (reviewed elsewhere) and The Dictionary of Concise Writing: 10,000 Alternatives to Wordy Phrases.

The key to good writing, according to Fiske who is also the author and publisher of The Vocabula Review (an online journal about the English language), is concise and precise writing ~ and that's just what he offers with these two excellent reference books.

Like Fiske's other guide, The Dictionary of Concise Writing can be used as a reference when needed or read cover to cover. In fact, reading it like a regular book is a good way to grasp the rudiments of good writing.

It comprises two parts: The first offers a wide range of advice on clear and concise writing, including practical suggestions for trimming the fat from sentences and adding more muscle to your work.

The second part is the dictionary, which presents several thousand common, verbose phrases and offers fresh, concise alternatives and real-world examples of useage.

A point made in the foreword by Dr Richard Lederer sums up the objective of the book: "Cutting the fat is probably the quickest and surest way to improve [your writing]."

The author expands on that point in the first chapter:

"Poor grammar, sloppy syntax, abused words, misspelled words and other infelicities of style impede communication and advance only misunderstanding. But there is another, perhaps less well-known, obstacle to effective communication: too many words.

"We often believe that many words are better than few. Perhaps we imagine that the more we say, the more we know or the more others will think we know, or that the more obscure our writing is, the more profound our thoughts are. Seldom, of course, is this so. Wordiness is arguably the biggest obstacle to clear writing and speaking."

As Fiske says, our language has become bloated with phrases such as 'at this juncture' or worse, 'at this moment in the history of my life' which simply translates as 'now'.

The Dictionary of Concise Writing is a must for any writer - amateur or pro - and anyone else wanting to communicate more effectively. But don't just buy it, keep it handy on your desk. If you're like me ~ you'll be reaching for it sooner than you think.

-- Michael Meanwell, author of the critically-acclaimed 'The Enterprising Writer' and 'Writers on Writing'. For more book reviews and prescriptive articles for writers, visit www.enterprisingwriter.com

This is an excellent book, and other comments here are more profound than my own thoughts, so I'll just say that I use this (and it's somewhat companion, The Dimwit's Dictionary) with regularity. Whenever I've written something that I think may be verbose, I hastily consult this to see if I've erred. It's truly an indispensable tool.

In "The Dictionary of Concise Writing", Robert Hartwell Fiske battles the veritable plague of excessive wordiness that threatens to make muddled mush of the English language. Well, maybe that's hyperbole. And maybe it's too wordy. In any case, in this book's first two chapters, "The Perfectibility of Words" and "The Imperfectibility of People", Fiske explains how, and hypothesizes as to why, we cloud our speech and writing with so many unnecessary words. The first chapter gives common examples of objectionably wordy sentences organized by part of speech and type of phrase. The second chapter discusses wordiness in business, legalese, journalese, academicspeak and its repercussions. Those chapters are followed by "The Dictionary of Concise Writing", whose 357 pages constitute the bulk of this book. The Dictionary lists common wordy phrases, alphabetically, and suggests more concise alternatives for each one. Every wordy phrase is illustrated with an example sentence and an improved version, in which the phrase has been replaced by something better. Fiske isn't claiming that these wordy phrases should never be used -although I gather that he might say that of some, but that we should express these ideas succinctly whenever it will do the job. Truthfully, writers probably don't notice when they use too many words, so we may not think to look for an alternative in this book. I find "The Dictionary of Concise Writing" most valuable as a reminder. Fiske's examples stick with me and make me more conscious of wordiness while I'm writing, especially of common redundant and overwrought phrases. There is a short interview with the author at the end of the book. Robert Hartwell Fiske is the editor of The Vocabula Review (www.vocabula.com), where you will find further interesting opinions and observations on the English language.

Reviewed by Nicholas Lopez (age 5) and Leslie Granier for Reader Views (1/08)

"Dr. Duncan Dog on Duty!" tells the story of a very special family. Everyone, including the pets, has an important job and each is capable of doing something to help others. For example, the father is an attorney who helps his clients and the mother writes children's books. The bird even contributes by cleaning her cage. But at the heart of the story is Duncan, a dog that was rescued from a shelter and has become a volunteer at a hospital, passing on the love he receives from his family to the sick children.

Nicholas thought it was really cool that the kids got to play with the dog in the hospital. He enjoyed the pictures, which were very colorful and detailed. He laughed at the picture of the bird sweeping out her cage. He also thought it was funny when Duncan went to visit a grandma who fell off her skateboard. Although the book contains many light-hearted moments, it also provided an excellent opportunity to discuss more serious things with him, such as that some kids have to spend time away from home because they are sick.

This book will appeal to children between the ages of four and eight. It will be especially helpful for kids who have friends or siblings who have serious illnesses and often spend time in the hospital. The main focus of this book is that everyone plays an important role in the family and that each of them can do something to help others. After reading "Dr. Duncan Dog on Duty!" children will be interested in figuring out what their roles are in their families. This will be a great time to help them think of ways they can serve others.

"A delightful book. It has become a family favorite." -- Bettye Baker, columnist, Vineyard Gazette, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

This inspirational and educational children's book is written from the perspective of a little girl in a busy but loving family. Her father is an attorney and her mother is a children's book author (Lisa Dunn-Dern?) who writes at home.

The little girl has an industrious pet bird named Delilah, and a friendly brown dog named Duncan that they rescued from the shelter. Duncan is a "Therapy Dog" whose job is to visit sick children in hospitals.

Readers will learn all about therapy dogs from this delightful book - how they must get ready to visit a hospital; what they must wear (they have a special ID vest and a backpack with three important things inside); and the kinds of things they do to help children and adults to feel better.

"Dr. Duncan Dog on Duty" has adorable color illustrations by Andrea Yomtob on each page, with easy-to-understand text for young readers. Children will want to read this heartwarming book again and again.

Mr. Duncan Dog on Duty is one of those wonderful delightful jewels of a children's book that you want to give to all of the people you know from the very young to the very old. With a wonderful tale about a hospital visiting dog, and the life-loving and life-giving family who owns him, this book is a joyous celebration of life, loving what you do everyday, and the joys of service. Service, not in the showy way, but in the simple caring way that shows how simple, but how meaningful it can be.

I love this book. I love the quirkiness, the joy, the delightful text and illustrations, the multi-racial family that is at the center of the book and with no fanfare, just a beautiful fact of life.

And, the illustrations are absolutely delightful, done with imaginative detail, great sense of humor--again for all ages---so that everyone can have a great time looking at the quirky and delightful details.

This book makes me smile whenever I read it, or even think about it. A great story, great drawings, and a great book!

"My job is to go to school, ask questions, try my best, and have a good time," says the little girl who tells this story. Everyone in the family has a job, and their dog Duncan's job is to be a therapy dog at the nearby children's hospital. This is a children's book that affirms the idea that everyone (even the family pet) can be of service and has something to share. Children will be introduced to the healing and comfort brought to people of all ages by therapy dogs. Though the ending is a bit abrupt, the illustrations are warm and colorful, and the concepts empowering. And who could not love the adorable Dr. Duncan Dog?

by Carolyn Blankenship
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins in 1998, my husband was told there was very little hope of his cancer going into remission let alone a cure. After six months the lumps came back after the 1st round, then another 6 months of the strongest he could get. A co-worker loaned him this book--he has been drinking the tea now and has had no lumps return, blood tests and xrays reveal nothing returning-- it is worth a shot!

this is a great book, i could not put it down.if you or someone you know is having medical problems, this book will reveal to you an alternative for modern medicine. you have nothing to lose and maybe everthing to gain by trying this herabl tea. my dad (age 74 ) and father in law (age 75) are both drinking this tea for prostate cancer and heart problems, both were amazed at the immediate difference in how they felt, both have more energy and feel 100 % better while drinking this tea. this tea will clean the toxins from your body and as my father in law says, you will feel 20 years younger. if you love someone who is in bad health, buy it for them. it is not just for cancer, but has been proven to help many ailments. darlene bishop, po box 35, henry , tn 38231

my brother in law got malignant melanoma and after several surgerys and chemo treatments it kept coming back,so the Dr stopped all treatment and we went home with very little hope then i was shown the Essiac Report,when i started reading it i could not put it down and somehow i knew it was our answer so he started on the herbal tea right away and i am happy to say he has been free from any malignant melanomas for 4 years now and i am very thankfull for the book...it was a sign from God for us and i highly encourage anyone to read it, you will not be sorry...

This is an excellent book. I would recommend it to everyone -- not only those who have or know someone who has cancer. It presents a lot of food for thought. The facts and testimonials are true. It informs the reader about Flor Essence Tea and its benefits -- something I truly believe in from personal experience.

I encourage anyone that has come in contact with Cancer in any form, to please, please, please, consider this. It has proven itself over and over again, but you will not see it on any commercial.........

Perhaps the best book ever to explain why New Zealand is not the USA with minor differences. There are considerable cultural and societal differences which may escape the visitor unless and until they experience New Zealand on a deep level. Some find the mysterious aspects of her experience of the Maori culture to be doubtful or merely coincidence. Those born in New Zealand will understand them and will not be surprised.

My mother mailed me this book from America to New Zealand because I have recently arrived in NZ and I will be living in New Zealand for the next year. I find Carol O'Bistro's insights about New Zealand culture relevent and insightful for a current long-term visitor. Her writing is lyrical and fun to read. I wonder what she is doing now.

Thought provoking, moving and fun. The story is told in a masterful way that made me laugh, cry and sit-up thinking about it for a week after I read it. The author takes you along on her own personal journey and as her New York City eyes and heart transform into something miraculous so does the readers'. It touches the heart and reminds us of our humanity in the most magnificent way. Read it slowly; you won't want it to end!

I bought this book when I was visiting New Zealand in 1988 where people kept recommending it, and I am just now rereading it for something like the fifth time--including one time with a discussion group. This time through I am finding new delights that I must have skimmed over before. Parts of the book are naively New-Agey, but even those parts are personal and honest and fun to read. It is the story of a woman whose job takes her into the middle of an enormous cultural shift, and she manages to stay in the middle--between the world views of American bureaucracy and a traditional people's values, and somehow to walk that precarious boundary and to be receptive to the ways it changes her. It's an amazing story.

On September 10, 1984, at first light, New York's Fifth Avenue was the scene of an unusual ceremony. On the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art a group of Maori women wailed the ritual welcome: HAERE MAI !! Their calls were answered and taken up by a group of Maori elders down the avenue, their leader in a feathered cloak, their path cleared of evil spirits by a small band of tattooed warriors ferociously thrusting their spears.

It was opening day of a groundbreaking exhibition at the Met: Te Maori: Maori Art from New Zealand Collections. The elders were in New York to lift the tapu and open the exhibition. Their greeting was for their ancestors, spiritually residing in the 174 taonga (treasures) on display outside New Zealand for the first time. Nine years in the planning, Te Maori was the culmination of a massive exercise in politics and logistics.

Carol O'Biso was the registrar of the exhibition, responsible for the packing and safe passage of these treasures collected from a number of New Zealand museums. First Light: A Magical Journey is her lyrical story of this great adventure.

The "cultural artifacts" are believed by the Maori to be sacred and powerful. Carol, overwhelmed at first by the vast divide between her New York self and the ancient Maori beliefs, struggled to do her job in the midst of controversy over the exhibition. She was excluded by Maori custom from speaking at the many ritual gatherings in museums and meeting houses. Frustration was her constant companion, in those early days. Gradually the power of the collection became entirely real to her and she found herself honoring the treasures in ways she would not have found possible.

Carol spent several years packing, shipping and unpacking the irreplaceable treasures and was under their spell when she returned them to New Zealand in 1986. She handed them over, in yet another ceremony that left her in tears, to a New Zealand registrar for their awe-inspiring progress through New Zealand museums.

Carol's story is a very personal one and some of her early impressions of New Zealand were less than favorable. However the country's charm and especially the strength of the Maoris' respect for their culture led her to a deep appreciation of The Land of the Long White Cloud.

I had the privilege of seeing Te Maori in New Zealand, and First Light brought back vivid memories of its power. I read the book in the early 1990s and then gave it away (read it! you'll love it!), and when I found a copy on Amazon this month I was delighted to be reacquainted with it.

Linda Bulger, 2008

This book is an excellent informative book, on how to use food, diet and herbs to get well. Unfortunately in the United States we seem to be lacking in the food education department. With the simplistic, dated food guide pyramid that many of us base "healthy" eating choices on, we still don't know what to eat, to keep us feeling well, and healthy. For example a "grain is a grain" at the base of the pyramid, our starting point, gives us so little information to keep us healthy. Is eating a piece of chemical ladden, processed fluffy white bread the same as eating a piece of luscious, rich whole grain pure bread? According to our Food Guide pyramid it is.
Dr. Khalsa helps us get back to the basics of nutrition. It was such an interesting book to read. He made it simple for someone like me who doesn't like veggies that much. He gives excellent statistics, and recipes. Later in the book he gives specific nutrient and food information, as well as suggestions for herb use in specific diagnosis related illnesses. He has chapters on gender specific nutrition, and some excellent Resource ideas in the back of the book. It is worth it!

This is a an excellent, informative book about the importance of food for a healthy body. Written by a doctor and kundalini yoga practitioner. Backed by legitimate research and self discovery. Delicious recipes in every chapter. This book is not just for yogis, but for anybody interested in a long, healthy life. NO scam diets. No false promises. Just the facts. The book will open your eyes to the importance of using food as medicine. Read and eat well!

This is a tremendously helpful book. The author is a physician who's also a believer in the spiritual aspects of health and nutrition. As a result, the book is as practical and grounded in science as you'd expect from an M.D., while providing an enlightened underpinning for what he teaches. Best of all, you can just look up what ails you, or what part of your physiological being could be improved, and find exactly which foods to eat to treat yourself well. Even if you don't buy the spiritual stuff, the nutritional advice is flawless and easy to use. This book goes on the shelf right next to Dr. Andrew Weil. I recommend it that highly.

"Your body has the ability to heal itself if you just give it a chance. Using food as medicine gives [you] the greatest chance of all to heal....What you eat can either prevent cancer and other chronic illnesses or help cause them....My number one recommendation is to eat a rainbow of fresh fruits and vegetables every day." Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.

FOOD AS MEDICINE is a must-read for all, particularly those who dislike fruits and/or vegetables but want to be healthy and prevent diseases because the doctor explains clearly and succinctly what each food can do for your body. He also has a chapter about each common illness and what he recommends eating to overcome the illness. He reminds us that by cutting down on total calories consumed while eating nutritionally dense food, we can increase our life span by as much as thirty percent.
Dr. Khalsa writes a chapter about each of his seven principles of yoga nutritional therapy to help you restore balance to your body, mind and soul. They are:
1 Detoxify your body. (If fasting isn't for you, you can take two 450 mg aloe vera tablets at night or go on a monodiet.)
2 Go organic. ("The switch to organic food is vital if we are to save our environment.")
3 Limit or eliminate genetically engineered foods. (Examples include: aspartame, canola, corn, cotton, crook-necked yellow squash, dairy products, papaya, potatoes, soybeans, and tomatoes.)
4 Eat clean protein. (Buffalo, rabbit, ostrich, and venison are some non-traditional sources. I personally enjoy the latter very much. Choose chicken and fish--preferably wild salmon or other oily fish. Shark, swordfish and tuna also have potential problems with contamination--mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium and arsenic. Also soy protein and definitely beans and legumes are great--they have almost no fat and are rich in fiber and good carbohydrates.)
5 Discover juicing and supplements. (I don't do this one because there is more fiber in the fruit than the juice and that is good if you want to avoid getting type 2 diabetes down the road.)
6 Cook consciously and eat mindfully. (Chew slowly, savor your food, sit down and relax and "remember that everything we eat comes from God, as do our health and healing.")
7 Make the transition to the yoga nutritional therapy diet. ("By following a plant-based diet, you will find that you have improved focus and higher productivity in your daily life.")

My favorite part is the valuable information about each food (chapter 5) as well as the anti-aging in chapter 18. I've eaten blueberries every day since I've read this book because "blueberrries contain the highest antioxidant capability...comes from a class of flavonoids called anthocyanins...blueberries protect against brain aging, heart disease and cancer. The most astounding aspect of research on blueberries has been in the area of brain longevity."

Soar into healthy eating! Just adding one fruit or vegetable a day is a good habit to start. Do it!

Recently, I was diagnosed with renal failure. Immediately after the diagnosis I began a search for cook books and other helpful resources on kidney-friendly diets. I read the section of this book that was on kidney disease and kidney health and fell in love with it immediately. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who wants to make a change in their life.

Stepping Off the Edge: Learning & Living Spiritual Practice
Archie Fire Lame Deer is the son of John Fire Lame Deer and succeeded him as head of his spiritual lineage upon his father's death. A "modern" medicine man with an incredible life story. He's funny, charming, impactful, tells the truth. If I were making a list of "must meet" holy men, he'd be on it.

Growing up nurtured in the many faces and realities of nature - and the beauties & dangers therein - provided a school of knowledge for Archie Fire Lame Deer. Along side of this, were the brutalities and horrors of another type of school; this school sought to shame, beat, and abuse the native spirit out of him. This place was one of the many much written about Christian Indian Schools. Within both settings were men who set examples for Archie of humans who realized they had to do nothing else but provide him with acceptance and kindness: his grandfather and a priest at the Indian School. Archie was sent to this school by his Grandfather for the knowledge to be gained there. Grandfather was a Shaman;he knew that Archie would be one someday,too. I think the real reason he sent him to that school was to expose him - first hand - to the ugliest parts of human nature that he knew about. Archie going to Indian School was tantamount to hurricane Katrina being stopped by the frivolous levy systems in New Orleans. Despite all this violence, Archie was able to learn...the kindly Priest at the school was there, right on time, to provide support when Archie needed it most. After freeing himself from this place, his journey was soaked by alcohol. It accompanied Archie everywhere: with lots of women; in lots of fights; in just as many jail cells. It then took him to Hollywood where he became a stuntman. Under all of this was his calling as a healer and a Shaman: this is a terrifying calling. The physical and emotional demands are overwhelming. Here are the facts: only someone willing to throw away, time and again, friends, relatives, jobs, and opportunites is fit for such a job. It seems that such a person would be a narcissist; on the contrary, this kind of person walks with death and loss every day. They have no ego; they have no feelings. We have called them sociopaths. The difference between a sociopath and someone who grabs THE GIFT OF POWER is simple; the former dies or goes insane, while the latter somehow recognizes the destruction in him/herself - and in the wake they cast - as only another possession to be tossed aside. Then that empty hole is filled with the GIFT OF POWER. Archie's natural Father died. In this dying he passed the gift on to his son. Archie was born and raised in the Badlands; but other lands were just as bad. There is beauty in the Badlands...you just have to recognize it. This book should be on all required reading lists.

This book was totally amazing. Written in Archie Lame Deer's own words. Archie really takes us deep into the Lakota culture and brings us into the world of American Indian life. The style in which Archie teaches instills in the reader the importance of laughter to the American Indian people as a way of dealing with the horror dealt by the government and settlers throughout history.

This is a first-person account of the life of a "medicine man," or Native-American shaman. The style is personal and engaging. This is a good introduction to the topic for the novice.

If you like me, before I read this book, are naive to what true American Indian culture is all about (or maybe you won't realize how naive you are until you read the book), then this biography of Archie Fire Lame Deer, a Lakota Indian is definitely an excellent crash course to bring you up to date! Much of American Indian culture, especially their religion and intense beliefs about people, animals and our earth make a lot of sense to me. So many suppressed or simply not understood parts of this culture are clearly explained and described in fascinating detail. Though I don't plan to change my personal Christian beliefs, I'm moved by the depth and intensity of this culture; Archie Fire's descriptions moved me to intense shame regarding the many horrible things that were, and are still being done in the name of Christianity to this culturally rich, intelligent, colorful and generally peaceful people (Archie Fire Lame Deer, somewhat similarly, also expresses his shame of so many false medicine men promoting Indian religion & culture). And we claim to be a free country guaranteeing freedom of religion? As has become apparent to me, so many things that we believe to be a part of our white North American cultures are actually rooted in American Indian tradition. I say thanks very much to Archie Fire for recording this valuable, enlightening information for we, the unindoctrinated. I wish him and the American Indian people the realization of all of the wonderful dreams described here (as I wish to share in them also).

About a year ago I had very uncomfortable gastro-intestinal issues. Specialists performed a series of horrifying tests and and after four months had no diagnosis. Taking matters into my own hands, I picked up and read "The good gut guide" and begrudgingly changed my diet and lifestyle. I am pleased to report that my guts are good. Thank you for the well written and user friendly guide book.

An incredible collection of what can go wrong with your gut. The Good Gut Guide provides answers and direction for the unknowing parent, friend or neighbor that has been battling just about any type of intestinal problem you can imagine. Zinser uses humor to break through the embarrassment we all generally feel when talking about constipation, gas or other sensitive issues like these. The book is reader friendly, educational and still amazingly detailed. My nine-year-old daughter suffers from chronic constipation. The Guide provided me with invaluable insight for treatments that had not previously been explored by top physicians over the past five-years. I applaud Zinser for writing such a classy book! When word gets out about "The Guide's" usefulness, I believe that millions of people may very well be healed in the years ahead. The Good Gut Guide is the best tool you can have when you aren't sure why your stomach hurts. Take it with you to your next doctor's visit, he or she may just learn a thing or two. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

This book clearly lays out disorders of the digestive tract, and even addresses personal issues with embarrassment, intimacy, and other non-medical impacts of these disorders. I liked the anatomy section in the beginning which laid a foundation for understanding and imparted new respect for digestion. I actually found myself wanting to eat better and somewhat dismayed at the stress bad food & drink habits have on my body! I also liked that it offered medical, wholistic, herbal, and even aromatherapy ideas for treatment. I read the whole book in one sitting the day after I got it. While my diagnosis in quite minor, I feel this book gave me an overview of where it could lead if untreated, and lots of practical advise on how to deal with the situation and improve my lifestyle. I guess my only regret is not paying for expedited shipping so that I could have read it sooner!

An incredible collection of what can go wrong with your gut. The Good Gut Guide provides answers and direction for the unknowing parent, friend or neighbor that has been battling just about any type of intestinal problem you can imagine. Zinser uses humor to break through the embarrassment we all generally feel when talking about constipation, gas or other sensitive issues like these. The book is reader friendly, educational and still amazingly detailed. My nine-year-old daughter suffers from chronic constipation. The Guide provided me with invaluable insight for treatments that had not previously been explored by top physicians over the past five-years. I applaud Zinser for writing such a classy book! When word gets out about "The Guide's" usefulness, I believe that millions of people may very well be healed in the years ahead. The Good Gut Guide is the best tool you can have when you aren't sure why your stomach hurts. Take it with you to your next doctor's visit, he or she may just learn a thing or two. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

An incredible collection of what can go wrong with your gut. The Good Gut Guide provides answers and direction for the unknowing parent, friend or neighbor that has been battling just about any type of intestinal problem you can imagine. Zinser uses humor to break through the embarrassment we all generally feel when talking about constipation, gas or other sensitive issues like these. The book is reader friendly, educational and still amazingly detailed. My nine-year-old daughter suffers from chronic constipation. The Guide provided me with invaluable insight for treatments that had not previously been explored by top physicians over the past five-years. I applaud Zinser for writing such a classy book! When word gets out about "The Guide's" usefulness, I believe that millions of people may very well be healed in the years ahead. The Good Gut Guide is the best tool you can have when you aren't sure why your stomach hurts. Take it with you to your next doctor's visit, he or she may just learn a thing or two. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

Green architect Eric Corey Freed knows his stuff and it shows in Green Building and Remodeling for Dummies.

Freed makes green building and remodeling approachable and very doable.

I like the checklists throughout the book and the perfect green rooms, both of which make understanding the big picture easy.

Freed does an excellent job in explaining the advantages of building green for the health of the occupants and the environment.

If you've ever wondered what the true environmental cost of a particular product is, Freed does a great job of explaining it in "the life cycle of materials from cradle to grave." If you didn't "get" greeen before, this section will show you how important it is to look at the entire life cycle of a product to determine how green--or not--a particular product is.

I also liked the handy list of green material substitutes which make purchasing very easy.

The book was very readable and concise and even fun to read. I highly recommend it.

By the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet

I am truly a dummy when it comes to green building, I've never bought a dummies book before - but wanted to remodel my kitchen and needed some expert green advice. The book is broken down into these really helpful sections like finishes, water and energy. It even includes helpful checklists to remodel your kitchen in a green way. The advice I learned from this book will probably save me thousands in construction costs and will continue to save me $$$ on my water and energy bills. The author presents the info in a very fun and logical way. Anyone building or remodeling their home should do it green - and definitely needs this book to guide them every step of the way. The reason I bought this book is that I heard the author speak at a local green conference, and the way he presented the information just made sense to me.

I have a number of the Dummies books on various topics, and had an interest in how one might "green" an existing home, or build a new one. One thing I learned recently is that 50% of the energy lost from a typical house is due to poor building insulation, and that's one area in which most houses, depending on where in the U.S. they're built, could be improved. Since we wanted to beef up our house's insulation, we had a type of insulation installed that was more green than the other choices, and that is equally effective. If you're building a house from scratch, this book has a lot more information on many other topics relating to green building, including materials, construction, design ideas, energy saving tips and ideas, and many more topics on the subject.

Interestingly, since I was interested in insulation, I just turned up this information on insulation principles from a German website on all the details relating to that, in case this help anyone else:

Occupational skills

Thermal and noise insulation fitters carry out their work on the basis of technical documents and job orders, both independently and in cooperation with others. They plan and coordinate their work, consult and coordinate with others working on the site, set up construction sites and take the measures required for smooth-running operations, for health and safety at work and to protect the environment at the job site. They check their work to ensure error-free execution, document their work, carry out quality assurance measures, calculate job performance data and hand the vacated job site on.

When carrying out the following activities, thermal and noise insulation fitters use plant and machinery, they erect and dismantle scaffolding for work, protection and support purposes and measure constructions and elements thereof for proper fit.

Thermal and noise insulation fitters
* process materials to protect surfaces, for example steel and non-ferrous sheeting and synthetics,
* build and mount supporting and load-bearing constructions,
* build models of fittings,
* prepare elevations and developed views from templates for simple and complex fittings,
* measure up system components and prepare isometric projections,
* check site conditions for insulation purposes and select appropriate insulation materials,
* build mattressing from insulating materials,
* apply materials to insulate against heat, cold, noise and fire,
* craft and fit parts and fittings,
* coat insulation systems with sheet metal, foil, sheeting, wrapping and hard plastic coatings and fittings,
* build and fit inner linings for cooling chambers,
* build construction elements using dry construction techniques,
* check insulation systems and assess their efficiency,
* identify damage in connection with rehabilitation and refurbishment projects, determine the cause of the damage and carry out the corresponding rehabilitation and refurbishment measures.

Additionally, thermal and noise insulation fitters carry out related tasks in the field of building construction.

Great info. in an easy to read format. Really enjoyed learning about different products and solutions.

This book gives a great overview of various green building options for homes. It has a lot of practical and useful information for the beginner or even the advanced green building enthusiast. It also contains a really helpful list of resources for further research. I would have liked a little more information on solar and geothermal, but the book isn't designed to give thoroughly detailed information about every option. I would highly recommend this book.

This is a wonderful book that gives real insight into getting and staying healthy. It also provides real information that needs to get out into society to help people who are facing auto immune illnesses and have very little hope of beating their diseases. This book offers so much hope as does the Transfer Factors you can now purchase through 4life!

THIS BOOK ON TRANSFER FACTORS IS WELL DOCUMENTED SOLID SCIENCE WRITTEN IN AN EASY TO READ AND ORGANIZED FORM . THE INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE BY DR. WHITE MAY PROVE INVALUABLE TO THOSE WITH CHROINC ILLNESSES AND THOSE WANTING TO KEEP THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM FUNTIONING AT ITS' PEAK. THIS BOOK SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR ALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

This book has been extremely important for me in so many ways! Thank you Dr. White for taking the time to share this information with us! My only hope is that this book be translated in Spanish, as I know many people in the Hispanic and Latin American countries would benefit greatly from this information. Please contact me (lcolon@ohio4life.com) as soon as you translate this book into Spanish, I will buy many of them! Thank you Amazon!!

Several months ago a friend of mine mentioned his use of Transfer Factors in strengthening his immune system as he struggled with Lyme disease. He stressed how much the use was helping him. Recently, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease so I contacted him and he recommended this book to better understand what and how Transfer Factors work. The book is essential reading for anyone wanting to boost their immune system.(and who doesn't?) Aaron White has provided laymen with a well-written, informative and easy to understand book. I highly recommend it.

I read this book and I am quite satisfied and glad someone has done the research and expressed it so eloquently. I am a seasoned investigative reporter in the natural health care field and I have met, personally, individuals with such chronic illnesses as terminal Cancer, Lupus, Aids, Diabetes,Asthma, MS, etc., recovering their health, many of them in as little as three weeks. These transfer factors are not curing anything but merely enhancing the human (and animal) immune system which in turn does what it is supposed to do: Protect us from opportunistic invaders such as viruses, bacterias, fungi and parasites. If anyone is interested in translating it into Spanish and Portuguese, please, contact me at ([...]) conveniently. I would heartily recommend it to everybody, specially to those folks with family history of chronic illnesses.