Publications Books

Susan Sully's book revived many delightful memories of my recent visit to Charleston. Her evocative prose paired with the beautiful photographs made as much of an impression on me as seeing Charleston's gracious architecture in person. It's not often that such a pretty book is also so well written, but Sully' elegant, beautifully crafted sentences do justice to the photos and the grand old homes themselves. After reading her book I wanted to book a flight back for another visit!

Just named one of the ten best books of 1999 about South Carolina by "The Nation," this winner rises above the usual book of stunning photography in the quality of Sully's writing. Her thoughtful and incisive reflections upon a complex city are rendered in delightful, sensual, intelligent prose. All this is compellingly presented in a classic coffee-table stand-out!

Praised in House Beautiful (May '99) for author Susan Sully's "evocative text [that] lifts this book a notch above many similar style books," Charleston Style was listed by The State newspaper from Columbia, SC as one of the top ten books by or about South Carolinians published in 1999. The State's reviewer, William Starr praises the book's "uncommonly attractive" appearance and notes that "the author combines valuable information with an artistic sensibility.... Among the book's virtues is Sully's willingness to look beyond the obvious into homes which give us some very different views of this most traditional of historic cities."

Despite author Susan Sully's grammatical errors, misspellings ("sheathes of wheat" instead of sheaves of wheat -- why, oh, why don't editors catch those anymore?), labored metaphors, and use of cliche' ("dripping with spanish moss"), I loved this book. Josephine Humphreys writes a beautiful and moving foreward. The photos (by John Blais) are literally breath-taking (to borrow another cliche'). Imperative reading for the student of architecture or design, or for those simply enamored of regional style.

Susan Sully's Charleston Style splendidly captures the unique beauty of my city. Sully's writing is gorgeous, lush and evocative as many of the homes she shows us. Her thorough research is obvious; then she takes the facts and, with words, weaves a beautifiul gossamer fabric representing one ofAmerica's most beloved cities. As a Charlestonian, I was introduced to places I never knew existed. The detailed photographs, artistic and architectural, complement the text. I bought numerous copies to give to friends who have visited Charleston in reality or in their dreams.

This Commentary is a very affordable way to get Martin Luther's insight on his theology of the cross. This book is really a sumation of Luther's beliefs on God and Christ.

Commentary was for a Christmas present. Receiver of the gift was very excited, and enjoys the book very much.

This review covers the Flemming H. Revell Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to The Galations. This version is based upon Luther's lectures at the University of Wittenberg in 1531 and the translation is based upon the "Middleton" edition of 1575. This is the best version to my knowledge, but it is written in King James english. On the positive side, it reads very poetic, but on the negative, it is harder to follow. I personally like this writing as it is closer to the language of the 16th Century. This book was considered by Luther to be his favorite, and history rates it highly. To summarize, it has a number of messages, (1) Galations shows that a person who is in true faith can fall away if they are negatively influenced by false teaching - a real problem in today's world. (2) That Biblical teaching must be solely based upon Bible scripture, and anyone who teaches man's doctrines using random Bible passages to support his/her sermons is most likely not a trustworthy preacher. (3) That even faith is a gift of God, and not a decision that a person makes. (4) That "Justification" is based upon "faith alone. (5) That Mose's OT law condemns mankind, and that anything a person tries to add to God's grace in the way of works or self rightiousness, denies what Jesus Christ did for mankind on the cross - Galatians 5:4. (6) That good works result from heart felt faith, and that good works do not preceed or contribute to salvation when it comes to "Justification."
The world needs this teaching to be more prevalent; however, the world does not like to hear it; therefore, it is almost lost in today's religious teachings. This work is a masterpiece with few peers if any, and is highly recommended to a person familiar with the Bible who desires to grow in their faith and understanding.

This is, in my estimation, the greatest non-canonical book ever written. Luther expounds Paul's epistle to the Galatians with an insight, power and depth of emotion which is sorely lacking in modern commentaries. He is not concerned with the various potential interpretations of "problematic passages" that fill the pages of other commentaries. From the very first page Luther cuts to the heart of the epistle-the doctrine of justification-in the way that only he can. His bold words and plain-sense interpretations result in a work filled with much of the same force and passion that characterized the epistle itself. The grace of God and the love of Jesus Christ cling to every word like the scent of a precious perfume. I cannot recommend this work highly enough. This is the very essence of the gospel as understood by the one who "rediscovered" the doctrines of faith and grace as he teaches us from the words of the one to whom God first revealed those doctrines. If you are looking for an up-to-date critical commentary or a greek-focused exegetical work then you will not find it here, but if you would hear a plain declaration of the power and wisdom of God then you will not find a better treatise apart from the Bible.

When faced with the ineptitude of my walk with the Lord Jesus I must turn to Luther's Commentary on Galatians! It nearly always brings me to tears of joy as Luther expounds on the love of the Lord Jesus for me a sinner. If Christians of today would make this book a constant book of study, second of course to their Bible we as a church would be able to say along with the apostle Peter,"silver and gold we have none,but such as I have give thee..." Its time for revival in America. Luther's Commentary on Galatians was good enough for the Wesley's amd Bunyan as one other reviewer stated. May I say its good enough for us today. Let's reclaim the power of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and learn the old truth of being justified by faith alone through His grace alone.

The Complete Angler - Izaak Walton and Chalres Cotton

This book deserves a place in a collection of great angling books, such as those of John Geirach, Henry Middleton and Scott Waldie. It is really two books and an odd sort of middle section on property rights and fishing (funny how some issues have not changed much since the late 17th century). It has some wonderful discourses on not just fishing but the lifestyle and philosophy of fishing. There are some sections and descriptions that can be tedious but they minor compared to the overall wonderful dialogue of the majority of the book.

The first section is written by Izaak Walton and, to me, was Canterbury Tales-esque, is it's older English language (which is entertainingly preserved) and its format. Three travelers - a fisherman (angler), hunter and falconer meet. In the course of discussing the merits of their activities the angler convinces the hunter to come along fishing with him (after seeing a hunt with hounds). Over the course of a few days on the rivers of England, the angler turns the hunter to the quiet joys of angling. He goes through the fish in England and all the baits and methods of fishing for them as well as how to prepare each of them. I had never through of carp of chubs and fish to eat, but after some of the descriptions in this book, I may have to give the a second look someday. The first book is as much of a celebration of the social and contemplative nature of angling as it is descriptions and methods of fishing. Interspersed are encounters with the local farmers, milker and inn-keepers as well as the talking over of the days activities among friends. But the highlight of this first section, and in my opinion the entire book, is the parting words of the angler to the hunter of how angling is a life philosophy that departs sharply from the hustle and bustle of the capitalist life. The first book is replete with references to early Christianity and its admonitions against looking to wealth for happiness.

There is an odd middle section about property rights and fishing which serves as a rather odd bridge to Charles Cotton's section. This book focuses on fishing for trout and graylings in a small section of England. If found the wordy descriptions of the flies by month to be tedious and the lack of philosophical discussion of fishing to be a little disappointing of an end.

Five days of fishing along the river Lea which joins the Thames near London is the background on which the cheerful narrative of The Compleat Angler is laid. The splendid civil conversation of Latin named Piscator, Venator, Auceps, Viator, and Piscator Junior is a joy to hear. Shakespeare was just publishing his first work when Izaak Walton was born in 1593 in Stafford. Walton retired in his early fifties and traveled about rural England visiting friends, fishing, and writing in his easy-going fashion. After publication of The Compleat Angler in 1653 he continued to add to it in his leisurely way for the next quarter century. Samuel Johnson praised the book in the eighteenth century and later Charles Lamb recommended The Compleat Angler to Samuel Taylor Coleridge. 'It breathes the very spirit of innocence, purity, and simplicity of heart,' he noted. 'It would sweeten a man's temper at any time to read it; it would Christianise every angry, discordant passion; pray make yourself acquainted with it.'
The Compleat Angler is a true classic of English literature that owes it's esteem not to advice about fishing but to Izaak Walton's pre-occupations and exquisite manner. Subtitled The Contemplative Man's Recreation the pages glow with delight in the hills and dales, woods and streams of the beloved countryside. Walton conveys a message of meek thankful fellowship and peace to all "honest, civil, quiet men". 'The Compleat Angler is not about how to fish but about how to be,' said novelist Thomas McGuane. 'Walton spoke of an amiable mortality and rightness on the earth that has been envied by his readers for three hundred years.'

This is surely one of the earliest books available to the modern angler. But it's worth distinguishing 'anglers' from 'fishermen'. I take 'anglers' to be people who go after fish for fun or sport or pleasure and 'fishermen' to be people who go after fish for work.

The first thing to be said about Izaak Walton's book, is that it is a play followed by a text book. The second thing, is that it's in a foreign language even to the English, because it was first published in 1653 when the author was 60. A ripe old age in England in those days.

Walton was essentially a biographer. He got paid for it - often commissioned as a good artist might. He wrote 'The Life of Donne' - a poet who even I've heard of. He's alleged to have been a prosperous merchant, but it doesn't really matter. Great angling writers like Richard Walker were engineers. Old school writers like George Skues, were public school educated solicitors in London practices who took the train to the chalk streams of Winchester in Hampshire at weekends, tying flies as they went.

The play concerns three people who meet by chance and get into conversation about their interests. They're travelling at a walk, and so they lighten their journey with convoluted conversation. Before long, it develops into a bit of a competition. Walton is the angler (Piscator). Another gentleman is keen on falconry (Venator) and yet another is keen on hunting (Auceps).

If you tire of 17th century banter, skip forward to the chapters on each particular species of fish, which will ring true immediately. To me it's a revelation that these friendly old fish will still fall for the same tricks as Walton was playing on their ancestors over 350 years ago.

Three hundred fifty years ago Izaak Walton wrote of the curious blend of inner peace and giddy excitement which the amateur naturalist finds at streamside. He invites us to stroll with him through the countryside, discussing the mythology, superstition, and the science of England's aquatic fauna. It is an unrushed journey, though we often arise at sunrise, and the author introduces us to many of the local inhabitants. Indeed, if our fishing is successful, we might exchange our catch for the song of a pretty milkmaid. The Compleat Angler is a brief book, and Walton's intent is to hook the reader, and encourage him to try fishing for himself: "I do not undertake to say all that is known...but I undertake to acquaint the Reader with many things that are not usually known to every Angler; and I shall leave gleanings and observations enough to be made out of the experience that all that love and practise this recreation, to which I shall encourage them." Interestingly, Walton starts off on the defensive, since the fisherman's passion was even then caricatured. By the end the reader has joined the "Brotherhood of the Angle," making artificial flies and enjoying the poetry of fishing: "The jealous Trout, that low did lie, Rose at a well-dissembled fly." To the modern ear Walton's literal belief in naturalists' old wives tales may seem humorously anachronistic, and it comprises a remarkably large part of his affection for his subject. We are also frequently reminded of the book's timeline with comments such as "...the Royal Society have found and published lately that there be thirty and three kinds of Spiders," while we now know that there are thirty thousand species of Arachnids. And the Brotherhood of the Angle is a genuine fraternity to Walton, "...I love all Anglers, they be such honest, civil, quiet men." The prospective reader must also be disabused of the misconception that Walton was a purist for artificial lures; he strongly recommends worms, minnows, and live flies. In Walton's watery world there is no dry humor, only fresh. Following his description of the twelve most effective artificial flies he says, "Thus you have a jury of flies likely to betray and condem all the Trouts in the river." And here he compares the beautiful coloration of a living trout to...well, you'll see: "Their bodies [are] adorned with such red spots, and...with black or blackish spots, as give them such an addition of natural beauty as, I think, was never given to any woman by the artificial paint or patches in which they so much pride themselves in this age." At the risk of taking some of the surprise out of the book, I here present a sample of Walton's fishing secrets: "Take the stinking oil drawn out of Polypody of the oak by a retort, mixed with turpentine and hive-honey, and anoint your bait therewith, and it will doubtless draw the fish to it." I would guess that Walton wasn't much of a cook, however, and I do not recommend his recipe for eel (partially skinning it, packing the viceral cavity with nutmeg and anchovy, cutting off the head, slipping the skin back over the body, and sewing it together where the head formerly was, then barbecuing it on skewers). Walton's affection for fish and fishing extends beyond the aquatic nobility of trout and salmon, to the often ignored commoners: gudgeons, sprats, bleaks, herns, tench, roach, umber, loach, and sticklebag. And as for the importance of fishing in Walton's world: "I envy not him that eats better meat than I do, nor him that is richer, or that wears better clothes than I do; I envy nobody but him, and him only, that catches more fish than I do."

Walton uses the perspective of an enthusiastic angler to promote a lifestyle of reflectiveness, gentle humor, and appreciation for nature. The book is easy to read, despite being first published in the 1600s.
The Coachwhip Publications reprint edition (ISBN 1930585209) is inexpensive and contains Cotton's "Part 2," written at Walton's request for the fifth published edition of "The Compleat Angler."

It's been nearly ten years since this book was published, and many new techniques have emerged since then. It doesn't cover split rings or split chains, or mock rings, but it gives good information on basic technique. Not much in the way of patterns either, but good for a beginner.

This lovely book is an excellent buy for the beginner learning to make tatted lace as well as for the more experienced tatter wanting a good collection of small patterns. Ms Jones starts off with descriptions of six different methods of tatting, with the hope that if you don't understand one method you'll understand one of the others. Details are given of a range of different techniques including lock stitch, roll tatting, cluny tatting and others, however there are no instructions for split rings or self closing mock rings as these had not yet been popularised at the time the book was written in the 1980s.

There is a huge collection of patterns including tatted cross bookmarks, Christmas designs, tatted notepaper and an alphabet. Most of them are small pieces for beginners to enjoy, but the more experienced tatter will also enjoy this selection. One or two of the photographs don't quite match the diagrammatical instructions, but for the most part they are accurate.

Regarding the diagrams, they are hand drawn and clearly presented and apart from one of the crosses I worked quite a number of the pieces in the book myself, and had no problems.

Most people will enjoy this excellent collection of patterns and instructions and the book will remain a treasure on your bookshelf for many years to come.

When I first learned to tat this was the only book I referred to time and time again---two years later, I'm still going back to The Complete Book of Tatting to brush up on mock picots, cluny tatting and attaching edgings to hankies. Rebecca Jones gives *six* methods of tatting, including needle and reverse Riego, and also includes instructions for more advanced things such as Josephine knots and node tatting. The patterns aren't big or complicated, but there are plenty of smaller droodles and bookmarks perfect for novice tatters. A must-have for any tatter's library.

I purchased this book upon the recommendation of my tatting mentor. Like my mentor, I agree that all tatters should own this book. It is a substantive work, addressing the many techniques of shuttle and needle tatting--both basic and advanced. There are a number of patterns which provide excellent practice for beginners and food for thought for budding designers and advanced tatters. I frequently return to this book as a reference for tatting technique and for patterns to tat quick projects or gifts. Rebecca Jones' Complete Book of Tatting should be required reading for every tatter!

This is an excellent book for the novice or experienced tatter. The book offers excellent directions and diagrams for projects in the book as well as information for the tatter to begin designing and completing their own patterns.

If you are new to Children's Liturgy of the Word, this is a great book to start with! It is easy for anyone to use to facilitate Children's Liturgy of the Word, and it has all the Sundays for all three cycles. My parish has been using this book as a resource for two years.

A wonderful resource to use for Children's Liturgy of the Word or for catechesis.

I have been in charge of the children's mass at my church for a few years now. We had some old books from the 1970's that we were using, but they had inadvertantly got recycled during a clean out that I missed at our church. So, I went on several sites trying to find a replacement. When I found this book, I was apprehensive about what might be inside. I was very happy when it arrived. Not only does it cover the gospel for each week, but it has a suggested activity to go along with it that you can photocopy. I have requested that my church order one to keep with the children's mass supplies as I plan on keeping this one for myself to use not only for the mass, but also as a reference for the sunday school class I teach. This book will help anyone who wishes to teach a child about their religion in an easy and fun way.

we bought this book this summer, as a workbook/instruction manual for our church's recently re-introduced children's liturgy program. it's perfect! completely scripted, any one of the 4 couples who take turns leading, can just pick it up the night before, read over it and be ready to lead the next morning. in years past, the leaders spent so much time preparing and planning that they could offer only ONE children's liturgy a month! but with so much of the work done for us, in this book, we are happy to offer it EVERY sunday. the gospel is kid friendly, the discussion questions are very helpful and the kids love the activity pages....we love that they directly correlate to each sunday's gospel reading. 5 STARS! highly recommend!

This book is a wonderful resource for RE teachers and catechists. I teach 2nd grade catechism and use the readings in this book at the beginning of each lesson (once a week). The kids love to hear the stories and have told me that it makes "Father's readings more interesting!" The activities are very relevant and complement the readings very well.
The only problem I've had, is that a couple of the readings were too condensed and left out some key details. Therefore, it took a little more effort and time to explain them, and they left the kids a bit confused. But, with careful research and comparison from the readings at Mass, I've been able to clarify any uncertainty.
I highly recommend this book to catechists working at the elementary levels! It is a great addition to the curriculum and helps the kids get more involved in the Mass.

This is a classic work by Bhikkhu Bodhi. It is academically outstanding and includes valuable notes, indices and tables. Even though the introduction is very good and translator has done an excellent job dealing with the great repetition of the Pali canon, I'm not sure that it would be a book for beginners. But as soon as one has some foundation and understanding of the canon, it is a must have.

This translation is a masterpiece of our time. An Epic translation unmatched in scholarship or praise. It is a volume that any student of early Buddhism, scholar and lay-person alike will cherish and refer back to time and again. Little criticism can be found in the scholarship of the translation, and for those who are curious, thorough notes are given at the ends of chapters, but I am forced to subtract a star just for the fact that one wishes that a work of this scope would be published in a superior binding than what is found in the current edition. The binding is unfortunately glued instead of sewn, and it can be expected that this is not a book that will last to be passed down to kin. I would like to see a publication of superior quality someday.

The book is an excellent introduction (albeit not an easy one) to the thought of the Buddha presented in a form as close to the original utterances as we are able to get at this remove in time. Anyone interested in Buddhist thought in general, and specific presentations of Buddhist ideas and ideals in particular, should be familiar with this book.

While much more wieldy as a two volume set, this single volume edition remains an essential edition to any Buddhist library. From the five aggregates to the eightfold path, the Samyutta Nikaya covers some of the most important topics in the Buddhist canon. Bhikkku Bodhi's translation is accessible and his omissions of some of the more repetitive passages welcome. In addition, Bhikkhu Bodhi's annotations are comprehensive and add much to the text itself. Whether one's interests are academic or spiritual (or both!), this translation comes highly recommended.

The Samyutta Nikaya -- Connected Discourses of the Buddha -- is an integral work of the Pali Canon of Buddhism, the Scripture of Theravada Buddhism. This work is also considered canonical by later schools of Buddhism. The Connected Discourses is a lengthy, difficult work which focuses on philosophical teachings and on meditation practice. It was probably written for advanced students unlike its companion volumes, the Mid-Length Discourses, (Majhima Nikaya) and the Long-Length Discourses (Digha Nikaya) also available in translation from Wisdom Publications.

This work has been lucidly and beautifully translated by the American scholar-monk Bhikkhu Bodhi who also edited the Majhima. Students of Buddhism are forever in his debt. The Connected Discourses consists of five separate, lengthy books, each of which, except for the first book, concentrates on a specific aspect of the Buddha's teachings. All the teachings in the book center upon understanding of the four noble truths. Each book is arranged in chapters with the suttas generally, but not always, presented in groups of ten. The suttas are generally short and dense and lack the quality of story-telling found in the Long and Middle Discourses. Bikkhu Bodhi has laboriously translated the text and prepared a general introduction to the entire book and an introduction to each of the five parts. There are extensive footnotes, some of which are for the specialist and some of which are for the general reader, which draw in many cases upon the ancient commentaries to the text, together with a concordance and a bibliography. It is an inspiration to have this volume available for study.

There are many famous discourses in this collection, and I will try to mention some briefly. The first book of the Connected Discourses consists of verses spoken by an interlocutor of the Buddha, frequently a deva or other supernatural being, and the Buddha himself. These cover a range of subjects. Probably the best-known Sutta in this part is the Sutta of Rahitassa, 2:26, in which the Buddha teaches that the end of the world can never be reached by walking but can only be understood through reflection on "this fathom-high carcass endowed with perception and mind." Bikkhu Bodhi comments on this sutta that it "may well be the most profound proposition in the history of human thought."

The second book of the Connected Discourses deals in detail with the difficult doctrine of Dependent Origination which is basic to understanding the four noble truths and to the doctrines of non-self and impermanence. Sutta 12:23, sometimes titled "Transcendental Dependent Origination", is an important part of this collection which adds a component to the doctrine not found elsewhere in the texts. It applies the teachings of Dependent Origination to the pursuit of enlightenment itself rather than only to the explanation of why people ordinarily remain emeshed in a web of delusion and ignorance. This is a profound and important teaching.

The third book of the Connected Discourses includes teachings on the five aggregates (form, feeling, perceptions, volitional formations, consciousness) which are the components of sentient existence. Buddha persents an understanding of the aggregates as necessary to an understanding of the path of liberation. One of the three earliest "cardinal discourses of the Buddha" delivered just after his enlightement is included in this book, at 22:59 which includes the Buddha's first exposition of the doctrine of nonself.

The fourth book deals with the nature of the six sense bases (sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell, consciousness) which are the means through which people understand physical reality. This book includes another of the three cardinal discourses, the famous fire sermon, 35:28, which shows how people are emeshed in sense and need reflection and the Buddha's teachings for awakening.

The final book is the longest of the collection and discusses the path to liberation. It culminates in a discussion of the four noble truths and also includes lengthy treatments of meditation the seven factors of enlightenment, the role of faith in Buddhism, and practices for laymen. This book includes the earliest of the Buddha's teachings delivered to his five original disciples, 56:11, in which the Buddha explained the four noble truths and turned the wheel of Dhamma to make the principles of enlightenment known to the world.

This is an inexhaustible and difficult collection that requires patience and reflection to read. It probably is not suitable for the beginning student of Buddhism because of its spare, philosophical character and because of its length and manner of exposition, which new readers will find hard to follow. The book is not for casual reading but will appeal to those wanting to deepen their understanding of Buddhism's basic teachings and to develop their own practice. As with the suttas as a whole, the book is less an exposition of doctrine than a means for reflection. It is a gift to have these teachings available in English in Bhikku Bodhi's translation and guide.

Robin Friedman

If I were a millionaire, I would keep a case of these in my car trunk and hand them out to any women I met who were getting married. I do give a copy to friends and family members who get engaged.

When I got engaged a few years ago, I went looking for a wedding planner book and was discouraged by the total focus on the superficial elements of the wedding in every book I found. When I discovered this one it was like a gift. Because of its suggestions I was emotionally prepared for my wedding and my marriage in a way I certainly would not otherwise have been. I am tremendously grateful to Paul for putting the focus of a wedding back where it should be, on the relationship between the two people joining their lives.

This book was purchased as a gift. It appeared to cover everything for a successful wedding. The only reason I didnt rate 5 stars is the mechanics of the book. I thought it was going to have spiral binding.

I only found this book about two weeks before my wedding, but it transformed my experience. The planning and participating in all the logistics absolutely had me in tailspin. I knew that I wanted to be FEELING the experience, to be present with it, but amidst all the chaos with flowers and registeries and RSVPs I couldn't hook into how. This book may have been the most significant contributor to my spiritually and emotionally absorbing my wedding after my husband and my family's presence. It is honest, deeply empathic, and really creative. Suggestions like "write a goodbye letter to your single self" or create a pie diagram of your emotions about the wedding/getting married, really brought out what I was feeling. Some of the parts were not relevant, so I skipped those. Overall, the book resonated deeply with me. I give it to everyone I know as an engagement present.

The Conscious Bride wedding planner is an insightful, organized and invaluable resource for any bride. It covers the deeper areas of preparation for your wedding day with just the right touch. It helped me clarify my intention for marriage and create just the right feeling and look for my wedding that was uniquely my own. I would have never been so prepared or calm or joyful without having worked through this planner.

I loved this book- it is great at helping you remain centered throughout the process of getting engaged and then married. It focuses on the emotional side of the process and has many excerises to work through, relating many of the aspects of the planing process to emotional events in your life, such as letting go of past relationships and lost loved ones, and asserting yourself (in creating and limiting your guest list). While it does have sections for everything from flowers and food to dress and location, it might not be the definitive planner in terms of planning a really traditional, detail-oriented wedding. However, if what you are looking for is a companion to guide you through the wedding planning process and keep you sane and grounded, this is really an excellent choice. Lots of excercises, worksheets and more, and a companion website- highly recommended!

I found this little book to be /Inspirational/Funny/Sad/I wonder is that how God really is. Bob seems to have a much better undestanding of the "spiritual world" than most.That is why I enjoy reading his writtings so much.Thank You again Bob

I liked a lot of things about this book. It's a short read in that it's a series of statements by folks with 'answers' from God in bold below them. Each statement/answer then is a stand-alone thought that can be read and appreciated for itself. I think that God watches Judge Judy on occasion. One person says, "God, I feel like believing in you is a complete waste of my time." God answers, "I know the feeling." Another statement hit home strongly with me. A man tells God that keeping his pickup truck from starting won't stop him from going out & getting drunk that night. God tells him the truck will start after he's gone back inside to say goodbye to his mother who won't be there when he gets back from the tavern. His Mom dies in his arms, in the house, 2 hours later and the man has not had a drink since.

Unfortunately, for me personally, there are several examples of answers from 'God' that perpetuate the 'fire and brimstone,' "You're going to burn in Hell forever" God that turned me off to Him years ago. Fundamentalist Christians will love them but I tend to take that kind of statement with a grain of salt and look for the loving message that I know underlies it if it's really from God. I highly recommend this book as something to have handy for a quick pick-me-up since you can open it almost anywhere and find a useful inspiration of some kind. Even the ones I disagree with make me think and that's not all bad. It was worth the price to me.

I am an avid reader.Having read many books through the years Christian and Non-Christian.I have been helped and blessed by some,entertained by others,but I found this book to be Inspired.I could give this to my teenaged grandsons,best friends,or my mother and all would be able to enjoy and relate to it. It is refreshing and insightful.It will allow you to chuckle,touch your heart and your soul.Give you peace of mind and spirit. Each home would profit by having this book accessible to family members and friends.Its message is profound and I would recommend it as a wonderful gift .

A friend knowing my feelings about God, sent me this book. Be it a real or an imaginary God in this book, it is a God I can believe in. It feels good not hating television evangelist. It was the first time anyone had laid it out so clearly.

There are advantages of being a fulltime pastor for forty-three years. Then there are the disadvantages. I try as best I can not to dwell on the disadvantages. But the one that did bother me the most, was not being able to answer the questions of children. Adults seldom ask really hard to answer questions, like, What is Gods favorite color? or Are their toys in heaven? or Why is everything that is fun to do a sin? I remember this one well, Why did God choose the Jews instead of us? Forty-three years I have been talking about God, only to learn that I knew very little about Him. This book is The Spirit at work. A Minister who has not read this book is unlearned regardless of their education.

Kevin Conner is a gifted man of God endowed with great discernment and wisdom. I buy all of his books and encourage everyone else to add them to their own collections. His books are great tools for any student of the bible and are HIGHLY recommended.

This book is being used in a bible study on "The Covenants of God".
It is very detailed & gives alot of bible verses to refer to. This is a
great study guide...Recommended with a smile.

A great Bible reference tool; every serious Bible student should have this one in their library. The book is a comprehensive look at the major covenants; begining with the Edenic covenant in Genesis and on through to the New Covenant in the New Testament Gospels. I found this book an invaluable study tool.

The book is brilliant. I am using it as the basis for a church bible study and it is really making the folks think. We are looking at the bible in a way some have never considered before with the result that there are people dipping into the bible as they have never done before. It is a challenging book well written in a way that can easily be used to teach others from.

This book was definitely worth reading. It brought clarity to the various covenants in the bible. I particular liked reading the promises and commandments of the New Testament/Covenant. It brought to light for me of how much authority the body of Christ could be walking in through the promises of the New Covenant.

When reading about the covenants in this book, it's like reading a contract of Power. It's an excellent book, very detailed and organized.

More than any other living astrologer, Noel Tyl has wholeheartedly dedicated himself to the comprehensive blending of the very best that psychotherapy and astrology have to offer. His studies with the psychologists Henry A. Murray and Gordon Allport, the sociologist George Homans, the anthropologist Clyde Kluckhohn, and the theologian Paul Tillich have informed and enriched his perspective. His own vast individual experiences as a businessman, as a global traveller, as an artist and performer, and as the facilitator in thousands of therapeutic sessions with his astrological clients bring overwhelming clarity and credibility to everything he does. He never ceases adding value to the discipline of astrology, steadfastly helping it keep pace with the most sophisticated advances in modern humanistic studies. His influence is truly enormous-- it's fair to say that everyone who connects with a competent, knowledgable astrologer today owes Noel Tyl a debt of gratitude, directly or indirectly.

Best of all, Noel Tyl never stops learning and growing, and he has shared the fruits of that ongoing growth in the nearly two dozen books he has authored or edited. In his newest book, The Creative Astrologer, he has expanded his vision of relevant personal astrology to a new, incredibly fulfilling level-- astrology, in his eyes, can immeasurably enrich people's lives as a single-session counseling approach that provides "insight study for self-help assistance," provided that the astrologer approaches this important work with consciousness, compassion, and creativity.

In The Creative Astrologer, Tyl not only presents a convincing case for his view of astrology as a therapeutic tool for personal empowerment; he also provides detailed, step-by-step insights into the counseling process, dramatically illustrating his writing with case studies that make the theory a living reality on the page. There's much in this book on the nuances of communication in an astrological counseling session, with specific guidance on questioning techniques, presentation skills, objectification, creative listening, disclosure, and the like. There are solid, sensible tips on relating to client expressions of anger and depression; on discerning needs, feelings, and coping mechanisms; and on doing the necessary astrological preparation prior to meeting the client.

Above all, this book is a call for astrologers to make creative connections (hence its title!) with clients and their horoscopes. Tyl notes that "the creative astrologer feels good about life, feels that there is a purpose for developmental tension" and can "relate the horoscope to the life being lived by the client." He admonishes astrologers "to look beyond the obvious; to play astro-detective." And throughout his book, he encourages astrologers to be sensitive in paying attention to their clients, to be competent and ethical, and above all, to think. "Together," Tyl says, "astrologer and client achieve insight, rebalance judgment and values, and affect change. And it feels good."

The Creative Astrologer is an important book. It brings clarity, insight, and life-supporting energy to the practice of person-centered astrology. It's a book with a lot of heart. If you're an astrologer, you certainly don't want to pass this one up.

But even if you're not an astrologer yourself, if you personally know or work with an astrologer, don't waste any time. Buy a copy of The Creative Astrologer immediately and then give it to the astrologer of your acquaintance. Your gift will benefit both of you immeasurably!

Other reviews here have explained the content and value of this book very well. I would add only that this work is important to the practicing astrologer because it does show how to focus on key elements of tension within the chart when a client seeks a consultation. Most people seeking astrological counseling for the first time are in some sort of crisis and need affirmation of and help with their experience. Using many examples that are clearly explained, Mr. Tyl does a superb job of showing how to be as effective as possible without wasting time. This work should be in every astrologer's library.

I have recently finished reading "The Creative Astrologer" and must say that Noel Tyl has done it again! His well documented examples of how to relate what is suggested in the horoscope to the client (in terms that anyone and everyone can understand) is first class. The information and insights that he shares regarding the discussion of developmental difficulties which one may face in life are an absolute essential for anyone who is dealing with the psychological interpretation of the horoscope. This book provides the reader with a clear understanding of complex life situations and suggests techniques to effectively deal with them in a single counseling session. Within these pages one is shown, by example, how to work with the client and how to convey information in a clear and concise manner. We are provided with wonderful insights into understanding the significance of the client's body language, tone of voice, mode of dress, etc. The knowledge and wisdom that he shares with the reader is a gift to us all.

This book can be said to be a very useful book for astrological practitioners who want to make the best of limited time for consultation. The title of the book says the "creative" astrologer, since Mr. Tyl believes that neither therapists' credentials (i.e., Ph.D., M.A., and so on) nor experience are not relevant to the effectiveness of therapy.

The aim of this book is to instruct how to conduct an effective counseling and provide numbers of applicable examples. If possible, I recommend you to read Basil Fearrington's "The New Way to Learn Astrology" before reading this book. The author of "The New Way-" is a Mr. Tyl's student, who explains Mr. Tyl's theory very clearly. If you read this book first, you can understand easily theoretical background of "The Creative Astrologer~."

In his creative counseling, Mr. Tyl emphasizes the importance of thinking deeper into parental influences and persistent tendencies that one have been continuing from childhood. In this sense, he takes much of the effects of transiting Saturn's aspects to Angles and to Saturn (7,14,28-30, 35, 42-45, 60 years old) in the natal chart. Also, he put weight on Moon due to its importance in developmental stage. In the late chapter is like a cookbook filled with his "creative" connections among planets and houses.

Although I am not so much interested in the main parts of this book, i.e., case studies of a siingle session and his advice, this book can be of great use for practical use of astrology.

I greatly enjoyed this book, however I do have some reservations about the focus. Mr. Tyl approaches sessions with clients as a type of psychoanalysis which, while certainly valid, has some drawbacks in that it may be too specific.

Tyl is concerned with parental influences and upbringing as well as self-worth feelings in the client. All well and good, but not every person wants to take this approach; some just want to know about their careers and love lives.

The author deals mainly with minor aspects in the natal chart such as the quindecile and downplays major aspects such as the trine and square. He also frequently refers to solar arcs and to his own counseling textbook, which can give one the impression that he subscribes only to his own techniques and dismisses others.

Having said all that, there are great nuggets of infomation here, and I prefer to study Tyl's books and use what works, incorporating it with what I already have learned.