Publications Books

If you are looking for a book that would be easy for a busy parent to read and yet still pack a spiritual punch, this is the book for you. The author is entertaining, funny, inspiring, and very insightful. This book will help you remember what is amazing about family life and it will help you refocus your spirituality [if you happen to have lost focus in the midst of the chaos that is child rearing!].

I found this book surprisingly helpful - it was a quick, easy read but full of insight and very deep [yet accessible] spiritual truth. And it had the added benefit of being very entertaining and interesting to read.

I recommend this book highly for any Catholic parent who wants to do better - both spiritually and as a parent and/or spouse.

This book was a great and easy read. I loved the little chapters since I tend to fall asleep at night after only a few pages of a book (due to my tiredness not the quality of the book!). I really enjoyed Mike's stories and loved hearing about his family with lots of good messages and faith built in.

I read this book the night before giving birth to our third son, and have picked it up many times in the past three months while nursing the baby. The short, humor-filled chapters make it perfect middle-of-the-night reading for nursing moms... it is now my standard gift to expecting mothers. Aquilina's tales of his family's life have provided me with lots of great ideas to incorporate into our own family life -- making this book a fun read and a practical one too.

I love a great story.

The greatest storyteller was, of course, Jesus. He showed us how to live through parables, stories. Mike Aquilina follows in Jesus' footsteps.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I should let you all know the Aquilinas are friends. I've had the pleasure of personally hearing some of Mike's stories before he put them into a book for the rest of the world. Yet, there was a special pleasure in reading them. In fact, I read them aloud for my husband and children. They loved hearing Mike's stories before bedtime! They made us laugh, cry, and think seriously about how we are to live as Christians.

A good story goes beyond teaching, rather it "shows." It shows us how to live. It shows us the truth we should already know in our hearts (natural order, morality, respect, love) and brings those truths to the forefront of our minds. They show us so that we may imitate and live them out.

A good story is pleasing to the ear and to heart, just as Christ's parables are pleasing. They show us the path to eternal life in a way we never forget. They burn in our souls. Mike carries on this storytelling tradition with Love in the Little Things!

This is a "little book." You know what I mean: you take a look, think you can knock this book off by lunch time, and that'll be that.



But, Love in the Little Things is bigger than that. Yes, the reading is quick and easy, but the ideas loom larger than their appearance. Hmmm ... kind of like Jesus of Nazareth ... growing up in a non-descript way, living a quiet family life, full of hidden things beyond this earthly realm, beyond our imagining.



And that's what Mike Aquilina shows us: that family life is a very real reflection of the Trinity. It's the path to holiness for those of us who are called to this vocation.



But, these little vignettes aren't heavy-handed lectures. They are charming tales about Mike (often self-deprecating), his wife, Terri (adoring), and their delightful children (abundant fatherly love abounds.)



In "It's Verse than I Imagined" (and yes, many of the titles are punny, as are Mike's blog post titles), Mike takes a look at his daughter Mary Agnes's growing awareness of the unrelenting ways in which life will break our hearts. He inserts a line from one of my favorite Gerard Manley Hopkins poems at the perfect moment -- and every parent will face a version of this moment -- and in doing so, elevates this essay from sweet and charming to profound.



And, he keeps doing that. In short pieces about his wife, his children and his parents, he shows us, time and again, that family life is bursting with opportunities to grow in holiness. Bishop Thomas Tobin, of Providence, called this book "a domestic catechism for the domestic church," and it is that, indeed.



I'm starting to sound like a broken record -- every time I read a writer I love, I say I want that writer to live next door to me, and come over for copious amounts of coffee (I think Mike would approve the beverage choice ... one of the essays is entitled, "For the Love of Coffee" ....)



I'm afraid it's true again. It's no secret that I love Mike Aquilina, and I would love for Mike and Terri to move in next door. I'd love to meet their poetic Mary Agnes and their blunt Isabella (who, in "The Truth About Butterfly Princess" told her father, "That's OK, though. I'll bet you were really handsome back when Mommy married you.") I'd love to talk to Rosemary, the "great and cute saint," to meet sneaker-wearing Michael, who pays as much attention to what's on his feet as does my Anne-with-an-e, and to hug their little Gracie, whose encounter with beloved Papa John Paul II was as sweet as it was enviable.



In other words, I'd love to meet the whole crew. You will, too, after reading Love in the Little Things. And, while you're being charmed by these tales of family life, you just might pick up some tips and inspiration for that long and winding road to heaven along the way.

An almost too simple invitation to an otherwise complex topic so highly advocated by people so influential as Pankaj Ghemawat, Nancy J. Adler and Orly Levy ... the topic of developing of a Global Mindset! Global Mindset is the ability to handling very complex cognitive challenges in a cosmopolitan world - this takes Personal Leadership! In the book `Personal Leadership' you are as reader invited on a voyage that - if you allow it, will change your efficiency as leader in Global context... enjoy!

I loved the book. Some of the concepts were familiar. When I read the original authors, I found them too abstract. The way that the authors laid out the principles and practices so clearly and practically with exercises converted all that abstraction into a useful tool. I thought of a least one situation where I could apply it immediately. The authors were very open and generous in sharing personal stories. Congratulations on this significant achievement.

This book is a key to understanding how to build effective multicultural organizations. It is a must read for every leader in all organizations - including corporate, government, education, and non-profits.
This is a book for "our time" and includes an easy process that is important to practice on an on-going basis. This process is the key to making a difference in the world.
Dr. Ann C. Schauber, Professor Emeritus, Oregon State University

There will likely still be a place, and an important place, for cultural dimensions, value descriptions, and generalizations about cultural difference for decades to come. Yet such knowledge-focused tools are only a small part of the cultural competence equation and can be rendered futile when not matched with the right mindset, skills, and behaviors.

Personal Leadership helps address this need. It rests on the powerful premise that intercultural development is a lifestyle and daily practice--not simply a skill you get taught in a cultural training course--and offers a new approach that transcends a focus on specific cultures or limit to training or teaching environments. As such, it is an approach synonymous with and symbolic of the intercultural work of the future.

The word "Leadership" in the title of this book is the Trojan horse that suggests that those who are in or want to be in leadership positions order this book off the Internet and drag it within their mental and emotional gates. Reading it, we wake up to the fact that the leadership the authors speak of has nothing to do with (and everything to do with) leadership in the normal sense of the word. The key is the adjective that precedes it, i.e., "personal." The book is actually a presentation of a self-development methodology or spirituality of being and doing that consists of two principles (mindfulness and creativity) and six practices or steps for cultivating those principles.

The authors represent a training enterprise, Personal Leadership Seminars, LLC, whose programs are delivered by experienced interculturalists using the methodology described in the book. The methodology itself is a combination of humanistic psychology, spiritual disciplines and philosophia perennis that bloomed in the late 1960's and has continues as a subculture in the USA as well as abroad. There are no surprises here, just a well knit set of mental and emotional disciplines and an invitation to a community of support.

If not new, what is the currency of such training and a book about it? The key is, as the authors point out, practice. A bankruptcy of ethics and spiritual discipline as well as the deep desire for it has resulted in a search for fundamental well-being that has led many into extremes of religious fervor where self-immolation and Armageddon are seriously embraced and encouraged by the so-called political, religious, and military "leaders" of the day. So, Personal Leadership proposes an alternative set of spiritual practices aimed at bringing about awareness of self, one's internal and external environment and how the "others" live in them for us so that our responses are creative rather than destructive, real rather than stereotypical, affirming rather than conflictual.

We might say that "leadership starts at home" in the sense that enlightened leaders in politics, business and organizations will do well to have their personal act together if our world is to find its way out of the wars and destruction that much of its current leadership has presented it with.

But it is not only leaders who need personal leadership, in the sense that following the crowd and the demagogue is as much a part of the problem as are those who maladroitly direct the world scenarios. It is trite but true that people get the leaders they deserve.
So there is a set of values here that eschews knee-jerk certainties, "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!" The silver bullet is practice, practice, practice. Shakyamuni's dying words are reputed to have been, "Be a lamp unto yourselves."

Today's psychologically-honed expertise for economic and political manipulation is not going unobserved. Naomi Klein in her recent book Shock Doctrine how a runaway economic paradigm enables political and financial leaders to manipulate populations through fear and misinformation. Psychologist Clotaire Rapaille, in The Culture Code points out how people around the world live and buy as they do behaving according to predictable culture codes, largely driven by unexamined unconscious urges--the lizard brain. In other words, great careers and great fortunes are to be made if the blind can be encouraged to invite the blind to lead them, and are satisfied with the cake crumbs that fall from their masters' tables. Whether one blows the whistle on these practices or strives to make a buck off them, the effect is the same, more of the same, more of the same...

This book shows us a way of stepping outside the maelstrom. It is long overdue, particularly in the sense that the intercultural field has largely ignored psychological and spiritual factors in the development of intercultural competence in personal development. This negligence has to a great degree contributed to the irrelevance and ignorance of intercultural work for religious, now become political contexts.
Personal Leadership is evidence that the Buddha and the Tao and Fritz Perls are still pointing the way to enlightenment for those willing to take the steps to seek it. The payoff of personal leadership is in the experience itself, as the many personal accounts of self-engagement in the book illustrate--the book is worth reading for these alone. Coming to see the self and the world more directly and clearly is empowering, but there is no cheap grace. Fortunately we learn to drag ourselves kicking and screaming, leading ourselves to places in and life where we have not been before.

In a sense, this is a book that I didn't know that I was waiting for until I read it--an impetus to do more and better of what has made me do somewhat well in directing my own life and enriching and empowering those around me.

"Letting this book into my psyche" strongly reminded me that Moses, Jesus and Mohammed have left great spiritual traditions with powerful disciplines for development that unfortunately lay dormant but capable of being aroused even in those whose starting point is fundamentalist and authoritarian. Who will have the creative flash that will lead to taking greater benefit from sunnah, theosis, the Exercitia Spiritualia and the halakah etc., in those traditions that so many people feel themselves a part of, the empowerment rather than the opiate?

Excellent guide to teach technique to beginners. Also gets into intermediate practices as the book goes on. A great book for anyone who wants to use or improve your magickal repetoire.

Edain McCoy is a straightfoward writer - down to earth and practical. I would most certainly reccomend her books, especially to beginners, above anything by Crowley as suggested by another reviewer. To compare Crowley with McCoy is a tad ludicrous - for one thing, some of his methods are, to be frank, dubious; and he was a ceremonial witch, unlike the kind of magic McCoy is writing about.
If you are after theatrics and out-dated medieaval palaver, high drama and a boost to your ego by deluding yourself to be 'controlling' things, by all means go read crowley. There are other ways of working which are more in harmony with Earth and her energies, and are much more positive and life-affirming - Edain McCoy presents one such way beautifully.

As a practicing Witch for over 10 years & a teacher of Wicca, I always reccomend this book to my students as a first book to explore Wicca. It helps them to decide if this religion is right for them at this time. Young & old can easily understand all the concepts put forth in the book. I still refer back to this book in my daily practice. I find Edain's books well-written, informatinve (without the "fluff") and timelessly useful!

If you are unsure about Wicca - this is the book to clear up any imsconceptions & let you decide if this path is right for you!

I would like to say thank you Ms McCoy for writting this book. It is a great text book explination of magick and the way that it works. The methods she teaches is a basic for any one to build a great knowlege on. By far one of the best book I have ever read. She explaines the elements, including spirit, and pagan ritual. And one thing that she put in that is left out of some many other books is phychic self defence. I recomend this for any one who wants to know more about our universe and the way she works

I don't see how anyone who has read this book could want to throw it out. All I can think is that they either didn't read it or they are holding a grudge against the author or both. Personally I don't chose books based on who the author is. This book provides the basics need to know info on magick, what it is and how it works. Sure other books and internet sites may have simliar information, but here it is organized and presented in an easy to understand way. No one holds the market on this information. It's in how the information was presented that I find useful in this book. I've read a lot of books on this subject and a lot on related subjects that touch on this one but never quite get all the nitty gritty of it. I think author has done a find job at bringing it all together under one subject.

I actually borrowed this book and read half of it and then decided I had to have it so I could finish reading it.

throw it away??? what was that reviewer thinking?

I would recommend this book to any beginner and intermediate interested in working magick. It would make a great accompanyment to other wiccan/pagan titles up to and including crowley's if cerimonial magick is your thing. It's always good to read more than one view I think. It gives you a well rounded view of things and not a one sided view.

a well written book that obviously had a lot of thought put into it.

I purchased this book for a fellow knitter sight unseen. She was lucky to get it. I will be acquiring multiple copies of this book for my knitting friends. The instructions are clear and the writing style is charming. The illustrations are fun vintage images. A necessary book for every knitter.

This is such a fun book. I have read a little more than half of it now, and skimmed through the rest, and there is so much here. The history of knitting that she gives at the beginning as well as sprinkled throughout the text is very interesting. She shows ways to do things that I have never heard of, and explains some things so that I finally understand them! I don't know if this would be good for the complete beginner. But then, I think that knitting is easier learned from a person than a book. But, once you have a few basics down, this book will teach you a lot.

The writing style makes you feel as if she is sitting there talking to you. And the words "hip", "funky", and "not your grandmother's...", are never used. That is a real plus to me, as I find that whole trend rather irritating. (But that's a whole 'nother topic.)

Here are the chapter titles to give you an idea of what is in the book:
History
Knitting Implements, Ancient and Modern
Knitting Yarns
Gauge and Tension
Knit Movements, Stitch and Fabric
Selvedges. Casting on. Casting off. Edges
Shape: Increasing and Decreasing
Colour Knitting
Frame or Rake knitting
Looped Knitting
Beaded and Bead knitting
Embroidered Knitting
Garments
Details of Garments
Shetland Shawls
Gloves
Socks and Stockings
Knitting Hints

I found it very interesting that there was a chapter about rake and loom knitting, as that has become so popular again. I do knit on knitting boards too, and the directions and illustrations were the same that you would see in a more "modern" book. There really is nothing new under the sun! The spiral sock pattern looks fun too. I want to give that a try soon.

Overall, this book is full of interesting information, and while not as glitzy as the newer books, it would make a great addition to your knitting library.

I've taken my time between receiving the book and writing this review. This book has so much going for it I didn't know where to start. This is so information packed with techniques that I thought were "new" such as knitting with beads, looped knitting and felting.

I know how tempting those big books with all the beautiful color pictures are but you'd pay three, four or five times as much as you would for this little gem. It provides a surprisingly interesting chapter on the history of knitting.

It has an old-fashioned feel to it that is totally charming as are the illustrations which give the eye a rest among all the info provided. I purchased it mostly because I need techniques for Fair Isle knitting, and the book provides very good info on this.

Deserves to be in every knitters library no matter how hip you may be.

The Mary Thomas knitting books (As far as I know there are two, one on knitting per se and the other on knitting patterns.)are the only knitting books one would ever need to learn knitting and enjoy knitting for a lifetime. Granted, there are many wonderful modern books with better pictures, great diagrams, fine patterns and neater print, but contained in these two paperback Dover reprints of very old books are instructions for beginning through advanced knitters, simple explanations to all the knitting problems I have ever encountered and instructions for any knitting pattern you'd ever want to knit. There are even little funny bits in the margins for folks who like a good pun. I am a life-long knitter and have frequent use for these books. These books make great gifts for a knitting friend who does not own them

This is an old book with beautiful instructions to try some wonderful stitches that are not found in most new books on knitting.

Medieval Calligraphy; Its history and technique, is a comprehensive book on the whys and wherefores of Medieval Calligraphy.
It covers the development of different scripts and letterings. It gives a bit of background on each script, how it was used and when it was used. It then gives details of each letter and some variations as well as how to form the letter.
As well as the focus on calligraphy itself this book puts scripts into context. It gives individuals the tools to use the scripts to complete a project with a medieval tone and flavour. It talks about page layouts, how to alter scripts for capitals, additions of ligatures and numbers. The book also covers materials that can be used to produce a completed piece that looks very close to medieval without going to all the bother of making the inks and other items yourself- although this too is covered.
This book is fantastic for anyone with a serious interest in calligraphy in the middle ages.

The book provided an excellent history of the evolution of letter formations used in medieval manuscripts. Especially interesting was the impact that the Emperor Charlemagne and a Benedictine monk had on standardization of text forms throughout much of Europe.

Pros: Nearly half the book covers the history of calligraphy as well a selection of various scripts. The other half covers basic technique and specific instructions for 13 different scripts plus numerals.

Con: No colour images of period examples.

Great for SCA/reenactor

This is an excellent book with the exception of the glaring lack of colour in the photos.
Great explanations, good connnections between the different eras and styles, but again, if one is depending on a book for colour suggestion, this is not the tome.

Medieval Calligraphy by Marc Drogin is comprehensive and historically informative, certainly worth having in your collection.

Continuing tale of the Cambridge-educated English Officer living the hell of warfare on the Western Front: replete with adoring batman, blustering colonel Blimps, out of control colonials (Australians and Canadians), journeys to England on home leave to meet misinformed civilians. Sasson has a style that waxes between light and lyrical, cynical and dark and starkly realistic. It is reminiscent of Graves but less dark than Blunden.

This is a tale of the human mind (an upper crust mind) that makes the journey from old world to that of the lost generation -- but Sassoon never loses himself. It shows that the mind-set was already there capable of dissecting and throwing away the old world view tradition. With capable honesty Sassoon relates the contradictions in life, army and mind set of the pre-war generation. He still takes advantage of the liesure of the educated class; his batman pours his tea, he still sees the colonials as slightly quaint and backwards (especially the Australians), still finds refuge among his educated Cambridge intellectuals -- this is no tale of class struggle.

This book can read as part of his trilogy lifestyle or on its own. It has many haunting vignettes and is perhaps one of the top 5 WWI memoirs. Highly recommended.

Siegfreid Sassoon's wonderful war memoir is thinly disguised as the story of George Sherston. Based solely on Sassoon's life in the trenches of WWI, it recounts the horror and scale of carnage that occurred. More importantly it shows the emotionally scars that the survivors carried with them as a result of exposure.

Sherston (Sassoon) was a rather spoiled and pampered young upper class Englishman. The war changed all that. Confronted with death, destruction and idiotic leadership from the High Command you sense the inner turmoil of Sherston.

Relieved when he is not involved with the fighting he is driven by guilt over the loss of the soldiers in his battalion. Consequently when his platoon is on the line he takes great risks in reconaissance of the German positions.

The effects of non-stop total war, stupid leadership and the complete contrast between England and the trenches (only a few hundred miles apart) is staggering to Sassoon. Sassoon becomes anti-war and considers becoming an objector, but his obvious connection to his comrades and loyalty to them wins out in the end. He hates the war but won't abandon his comrades in the field.

This is a great war memoir written by a poet who survived and was changed for life by his experiences in it.

Terrific book that sounded a bit autobiographical. Sassoon, of course, was a war hero on the battle of the Somme, decorated twice for bravery.

The book reads lyrically and is convey's nicely the daily life of soldiers moving back and forth from the front fighting trenches to the rear area of the battle field. He also does a great job portraying the strangeness and inner conflict of being back in British society (while recovering from illness) with people who know nothing of the war or its cost to the participants.

A Brit's version of "All Quiet ..."

While perhaps best known for his poetry written during WWI, Siegfried Sassoon was a very talented wordsmith in general, a trait that is demonstrated in his second semi-fictionalized autobiography, "Memoirs of an Infantry Officer". Sassoon chose to fictionalize his accounts of his life, an odd technique that allows him to distance himself from these experiences as he intimately describes the raw emotion and response behind them. In his three memoirs he is George Sherston, a thinly veiled version of himself, who thinnly veils the real-life characters he encountered during these times.

Readers are automatically flung into Sassoon's war experience, from the disjointed and fantastical training, to the brutal reality of life in the trenches. Sassoon describes these experiences in vivid detail, the sheer misery of trench warfare, the almost callous attitude toward the dead on both sides, and the surreal life led by those back home. Sassoon, nicknamed "Mad Jack" for his stubborness and seemingly sheer lunacy at times, was awfully lucky during his battle campaigns. He was wounded a few times, always sent back home to England to recuperate, and almost happy to return to the war.

However, after one session as an invalid, Sassoon begins to recognize that the war may not be all it's cracked up to be, that those in power are not telling the truth about their war aims, and that he may just be a lowly pawn in a game he doesn't want to play. Towards the end of his narrative, Sassoon tells of his decision to speak out against the war, even if it meant being court martialed. This act, filtered with courage and fear, is achingly portrayed as an act both necessary and questionable: as Sassoon places himself in danger, he questions his true beliefs in the matter. This account ends just as Sassoon enters the hospital in Scotland, avoiding court martial with a diagnosis of shell shock, 'lucky' as usual.

"Memoirs of an Infantry Officer" is a vividly descriptive account of life in the trenches during WWI. Sassoon is a gifted storyteller, who can make even the direst settings come to life. He offers a unique insight into the soldier poets who first questioned whether or not war was such a noble and glorious pursuit and if the sacrifice of lives was worth the price in the end. While a little slow at times, the last quarter of the narrative which details Sassoon's questioning of the war, is a brilliantly written firsthand look at how a too little celebrated writer finally found his voice.

Siegfried Sassons' "Memoirs of an Infantry Officer" is a first-hand account of life at the front line during World War 1. This is not a just a historical document or diary however. Sassoon writes via an alter-ego called George. In real life, Sassoon was an infantry officer who fought at the front, but eventually grew suspicious of the reasons for the continuation of World War 1, and as such became a dissenter. This book may be fiction, but it is based on fact and it gives an impressive account of what life must have been like in those trenches, nearly a hundred years ago. Sassoon's incredible ability with words paints a much more vivid picture than any war movie will ever provide.

George was a middle-class officer who had the luxury of a university education and was an avid reader of classic English literature. He juxtaposes the themes and ideas in this romantic poetry with the realities of life at the front to great effect. Although a tad repetitive in it's ideas (perhaps to get the point across clearly), this book is rewarding and still relevant this whole century later. As one character in the book says, "In war-time the word patriotism means suppression of truth" .

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK FOR WHEN YOU HAVE A CREATIVE BLOCK -- LOTS OF IDEAS AND YOU CAN EASILY ADAPT THEM TO FIT YOUR STYLE! TONS AND TONS OF GREAT STUFF

Great Book, I love it. Good source of information and ideas. I would recommend it to anyone. I plan to get her other books also. Thanks Becky Higgins.

Becky Higgins is a wealth of ideas for scrappers, and this book is just the thing I need when I'm trying to put together a layout. In the world of scrapbooking, trends come and go, but because these ideas are based onkey graphic design concepts (and all of Becky's stuff is like this)they can easily transfer over to new styles and techniques. If you are an experienced scrapper, then you've probably seen a lot of this stuff before and would benefit from getting her newest book, "Best of Becky Higgins Sketches." But I consider this book indispensable!

I bought this book 5 years ago, and I still use it. This book, and all of Becky's sketch books, give you ideas for pages not reliant upon products, designs, or themes. I simply look for a page layout based on how many photos I have and their orientation. Turn the book 90 degrees and you have more options. Turn it upside down for even more options. Have an empty space to fill with an accent? Check out that section. Wondering how to emphasize your focal point photo? Look at frames.

The best thing about this book is that the sketches do not rely upon the more modern trend of oddly sized photos. All the photos in this book are 4 x 6 or thereabouts. No PhotoShop skills or computer equipment is necessary!

Absolutely worth every penny.

My favorite part about this book is that it isn't just a bunch of pages other people have created that you then get caught up in the photos and stories, forgetting why you originally went looking. For years, I'd gotten the scrap magazines, which, while beautiful and ususally inspiring, did not always help me. I usually thought I had to find a book with exactly the theme I was working on. The good news is that you don't, and this book has mock-ups of layouts, borders, etc. that are easily adaptable to any book you're working on. I think the only downside might be that there are so many new techniques that have come out in the five years since it was published, that it may not cover as much as some might like. Having said that, I'm willing to bet the #2 that just came out will pick those up perfectly! From my perspective, buying either book (or even both!) would be a good investment for anyone who's found themselves stuck creatively!

This Dover edition is superior the Alladin Publication of "The Children of Odin" simply because it contains the original artwork, albeit in black and white. This a bare bones retelling of Nordic and Teutonic tales - Part 4 is devoted to the Ring of the Nibelungs. Keep in mind that the audience for this book is children and young adults, but is an excellent place to start.

Why Amazon chooses to sell both publications together is beyond my ken.

Buy the Dover edition if only for the artwork !

Be prepared for some archaic language : "dost", "spake", "knowst", etc.

This particular book is great for studying up on Nordic mythology or simply just reading for the enjoyment of it. The reading is strait forward but all of the names of people, places, and things can be a bit confusing because you read them once in the biggining of the book, along with many other long and strange names and don't come across them until many pages later, which causes you to look back and try and see what or who that thing was. But other than that, it is a very satisfying read and is strongly recommended as a good introduction for anyone who wishes to learn about the ancient Norse culture.

I thought that this was a well-written story, and an excellent introduction to the mythology of the Norse Gods. The story is enjoyable from cover to cover, and at certain points, it is very hard to put down.

Basically, the author takes the disjointed and sometimes backwards poems of the Poetic Edda, found a unifying theme and a linear story, and runs with it. This gives an interesting, although somewhat false account of what "really happened" according to the ancient text. The cause-and-effect relationship between the events of this book may not be quite what the original authors intended, and thus, there is a bit of bending the rules.

Overall, however, this book should be commended for providing a more readable account of Norse Mythology for those who want a story more than a collection of poems. I thought that the shorter episodes would make a great collection of bedtime stories for a young child, and the whole book is an excellent book for preteens to learn about the myths. Don't let that fool you into thinking this is a kid's book, however, as this is really fun for all ages.

This is a telling of Norse mythology in a form that lives and breathes, not in dry academic prose. There are no pseudo-intellectual discussions about religion or tiresome comparisons to other, lesser myths and cultures, just straight storytelling. It is not a children's book, though the language is simple and the book could be read by children. The illustrations are excellent. This is a slightly altered version of the book that has been around since it was written in 1920 and called "Children of Odin".

What else do you need to know? This is a telling of Norse mythology in a form that lives and breathes and which has proven its quality through its
staying power.

It seems to me that if you only read one book in your entire life, it might as well be this one.

I bought this book thinking it would be a difficult-to-understand translation of the norse myths, as I've found in other books. How surprised was I to find that the stories are actually re-written to sound much like a children's book! I kept thinking that it reads like Harry Potter as I was rushing through the pages. This is definitely one of my favorite books on Norse mythology due to the refreshing flavor the author has put back into these ancient stories. One could easily read through this book in three days, and have felt like they've been on a great adventure in the end. I hope to see more books like this one in my studies, and I will be sure to recommend it to all of my friends - some have bought and read it, and loved it just as much! Well worth the affordable price!

I already read many Oracle books from Oracle Press & other publications. They are very good. This book takes different approch of How-to Style content which is very much practical & solves day to day administrative needs. Topics are covered in detail. Most importantly examples given are from grounds up. Excellent! This book is also helpfull for all who know a little bit of Oracle Database & want to know more in depth

We all know, especially here in Brazil, the money that one pays to have a good Oracle trainning. If you already have a little knowledge of Oracle and its jargon and are self estimulated, this book will take you to high level of expertise without a pain . Want to know Oracle ? Start with it.

Among all the Oracle reference books, I found this one to be the most useful and practical book. This book is very well written and has an easy to read format. The detailed step-by-step instructions in Q&A section helped me solve problems quickly. This saved me much time and effort than going through piles of other reference books and trying to pull pieces of information here and there together to get a complete picture. I highly recommend this book to Oracle DBA's in all levels.

As an Oracle Instructor and DBA I've had the opportunity to review numerous Oracle texts for DBA's and have to say I've been quite disappointed with most of them. Mr. Yuhanna's book however is an exception. Out of the many DBA texts I have on my shelf this is the one I goto most frequently. Unlike other texts which spend excessive amounts of time covering uncommonly used features and little to no time covering commonly used features this books covers almost all the basics in a hands on approach. The book is setup in a step by step how-to format. Although it doesn't discuss concepts much that is not its purpose and the best concepts book is the Oracle Documentation anyway. I've have yet to see a good how-to DBA book until I came across this one. As a consultant/instructor I recommend it quite frequently.

The book is very useful for both new and experienced DBAs because it has a lot of practical examples. I especially like its Q&A format with scripts which makes reading very interesting.

This book remedies one of the main problems in publications about alchemy - it is both understandable and practical! The basic practices and symbolism of alchemy are detailed, with emphasis on spagyrics (plant alchemy), including how to make various tinctures and plant stones. The author is to be commended for laying open so clearly this complex area of esoteric study.

This book is not for the lazy! It gives you material that will take years to work through, though it is all explained in a way that will encourage you to try things and see for yourself. It has certainly got me thinking about purchasing some of the equipment to give it a go!

A cautionary note, some of the alchemical symbolism differs from the classic Qabalistic symbolism. The author does explain this, so pay attention to these sections to avoid confusion. All in all this is an excellent practical and thought provoking book that I would recommend to everyone who is genuinely interested in magick. I hope the author will write a further book exploring the wealth of alchemical symbolism with a similar level of clarity to further the availability of the huge corpus of alchemical material which is largely ignored today. Now pass me that alembic!

In "The Path of Alchemy", author Mark Stavish gives an introduction to the concepts and practices of Alchemy that, in all honesty, surprised me with its depth of knowledge that contrasts with the simple and very user-friendly presentation used. And when I say "depth of knowledge", I don't necessarily mean sheer amount of knowledge, but the quality right amount thereof. To quote him in the Introduction to the book, "'The Path of Alchemy' seems to walk the thin middle ground between these giants, and like Baby Bear's porridge, it is 'just right' in the information department." I wholeheartedly agree with this. There's a lot packed into this little book, though. There's enough information and an abundance of exercises and meditations to get the Alchemical student's feet wet. What's even better is that the entire book is pretty much structured like a self-paced course of study. That being said, I do think it is more or less a beginner's book on Alchemy, but what a beginner's book!

Most of the book focuses on Spagyrics, or Plant Alchemy. Stavish, with his easy, friendly writing style, starts off with a chapter introducing the overall concepts and ideas central to Alchemy. After this he goes into the specific concepts and operations of Spagyrics, going from basics in tincturing to creating a plant Stone.

After this he moves into some technically-based chapters by discussing distillation using basic equipment that can be utilized in one's kitchen. He even goes into how to distill pure alcohol from wine!

After going through the material on distillation, it seems like he moves into specific aspects of Alchemy and its uses. Included in this is Initiatic Alchemy, Alchemy in health and healing, use in ritual, a discussion of the Red and White Stones, and finally a discussion of Tarot-related symbolism. That last, by the way, includes a dreaming exercise that I've found very effective so far, and it's only been 2 days of use. Last, but not least, the Appendices include such articles on things as Planetary Hours, the Longevity Formula of St. Germain, and the Path of Nicholas Flamel.

The one and only thing I wish were a little different about this book is that I think it should have been a little more illustrated with a few more classic alchemical symbols, although it already has plenty for the essential concepts.

If you want to learn about Alchemy, but have been intimidated by all the older works on it, don't want to wade through confusion, or if you don't know where to start, buy this book!

The three traditional pillars of the Hermetic arts are Alchemy, Astrology, and Qabalah. None of these are stagnant but are all living, growing and evolving arts which are completely compatible with both religion and science.

This amazing tome, written by one of the foremost living authorities on Alchemy, gives a guided path to anyone wishing initiation into the mysteries of this amazing process. It combines practical modern science with the ancient Alchemical sciences and gives working students a firm foundation on which to build their temples of ascendant light.

This book is truly a treasure which provides years of practice and work, and with it one could ascend to mastery in this both ancient and sacred art/science/religion/philosophy (collectively known as Magick.) For a deeper understanding of the philosophy I suggest "Sorcerer's Stone," by Hauck. And for a more scientific introduction to the subject, especially for students with a background in other schools of sciences, I suggest, "Real Alchemy," by Bartlett.

These three books I have called (semi jokingly but still in truth) the "Holy Trinity of Modern Alchemy." They compliment one another perfectly, each focuses in a slightly different manner and the combined information is a very nice place to start your journey in preparation for the actual process. Read all three, make sure you understand them well, and then patiently, and with utmost care begin your Great Work!

Unlike many people who pick up this title, I am not in search of the rumored Philosopher's Stone. I started reading this book to find ways to change myself for the better. Within its pages, I found not only philosophical alchemy, but practical alchemy as well. I took my time, created a few of the basic tinctures, used them over a period of time, and I have to say that I have indeed changed. Now, I'm not saying I sprouted a third arm or anything, and I'm certainly not going into specifics via this medium. But, I will say that my communication skills have improved, I'm more understanding and compassionate when dealing with everyday concerns, and I'm just generally more pleasant to be around. And yes, I am attributing much of that to this very book (and my own elbow grease of course.) You don't have to believe it can be this easy. Buy the book; read it; re-read it; perform the exercises, and you'll find out for yourself.

This book is a true gem. Before reading it I had little interest in laboratory alchemy and while I still have little interest in the path of mineral alchemy, my interest was more than just a little piqued by this book.

Plant Alchemy or spagyria is the application of alchemical theory to herbal products. By breaking up the plant into it's "Mercury" (alcohol product), "Sulfur" (essential volatile oils) and "Salt" (the white/gray ash left over from a slow, low temperature burn) these three principles are then recombined in various ways (even producing a plant "stone") to enhance and purify the occult, energetic properties of the plant.

The true value of this book is in the author's ability to make the work seem so possible, even easy. Mr. Stavish also has the courage to admit that he believes that plant alchemy can be more than just a healing art but also has the potential to be an initiatory path in and of itself (a claim usually reserved for the path of laboratory mineral alchemy). I agree with him with the caveat that a strong energetic bond must first be forged with the very plant whose product is being worked upon. The practice of "dieting" a plant as practiced in some South American shamanic traditions would seem to be a useful practice as a preliminary to such laboratory work (see Plant Shamanism by Heaven and Charing).

The only criticism I have for this book is that it would seem to make it all look too easy. In fact I would prefer to have more guidance in the actual temperatures at which to heat the product at various stages and for how long to expect each stage to take. I would also have liked to learn more about the distillation processes as the technique Mr. Stavish goes into is only for those on a shoe string budget. However, as the title of my review states, this book is the best of all possible beginnings.

Other sources to study are the works of Junius Manifred and the works of Jean DuBuis whose works expand upon and fill in the gaps of this brilliant primer.