Publications Books

This is a rare book, and Jesse Reklaw is clearly a rare sort of guy. He adapts and illustrates these dreams once a week for his "Slow Wave" page, and for a few small newspapers, and each one is a lovingly crafted work of art. Frequently hilarious, often disturbingly insightful, and always completely far out, this book and the years of work it represents is clearly a very special labour of love.

This book is great for a coffee table timefiller, but don't be mislead into thinking it as superficial. These little works bear a second or third reading over time. The disturbing night-works of the contributors are full of details and angles that'll have you twisting your neck trying to get into the minds of the dreamers depicted here. Buy it. Love it.

Incredible (third)-eye-opening toons that will appeal to the armchair Freudian or Dadaist in all of us. Floppy logic, zen-like revelations, and surprising celebrity cameos. Salvador Dali, meet Harvey Pekar. Published by Shambhala-- synchronicity or symbolism?

Jesse Reklaw's Dreamtoons is a strange mix of dry humor and strange situations. Everyone dreams, and those who are fortunate enough to remember some of their more insane dreams seem to have found Jesse. His illustrations are clean and add a lot to the dreams. His editing means no more run-on dream sequences, just great entertainment. I sometimes found myself thinking "Someone just made that up", and then remembered some of my dreams. Yes, they did just make that up, but they happened to be unconscious and drooling at the time. For 8 bucks, you have very little to lose, and a lot of great entertainment to gain. I've read it 3 times now and still enjoy many of the cartoons.

That's what I did. Jesse's deadpan cartoon renditions of people's wacky, surrealistic dreams are hilarious. Don't read this book in bed if your spouse is trying to sleep (although you must admit, it'd be thematically correct).

Send Jesse Reklaw a description of one of your dreams, and he might make it come to life . . . in his weekly comic strip "Slow Wave."

"Slow Wave" is available in several underground newspapers and on his web site. This book collects the first few years' worth of strips.

Despite being limited to four panels, Reklaw manages to convey the essence of his collaborators' dreams. Some are disturbing; some are very funny;, all have the twisted logic and unsettling creativity of authentic dreams. Reading them is not only a pleasure, but oddly reassuring: It's nice to know that other people have dreams just as, if not more, bizarre as mine.

For maximum effect, savor the strips a few at a time.

A pre-New Deal Republican, the quintaessential American painter, the painter of the Anglo-Saxon mood. I always liked Hopper's style without knowing why. After reading this book -and enjoying its beautifully binding quality, I like him even better.

His uncompromising confidence in his own art, his unbending individualism, his unashamed faith in the Anglo-Saxon quality of America, that which America-haters like to pinpoint most, all make him an icon of Americannes.

He was against the subsidizing trends the Federal Government took under Roosevelt, the Socialist take over of America under the harmless name of New Deal. While the world was doing propaganda (like celebrities do today), he stuck to his gut instinct, his uncompromising art. Should be a heroe of the people against big government today, a heroe who resisted the monopolizing tentacles of the Socialist New Deal. The Republican Party may have betrayed Conservatism, but Hopper sure didn't.

His "rejection of foreign influence and reengagement with American themes" set him aside (and I would say over) the rest of American painters of his time. And he was no flag waver either. He sold his soul to nobody. He was "successful enough in the 30's not to need the help of these federal programs". While writers like Dos Passos were depicting characters as pawns of business, he believed "in a social contract on individual liberties and property." His characters "like the artist himself ... are silent, absorbed in their own thoughts, lost in their own worlds." And that's exactly it: It's THEIR OWN worlds, not the worlds others would have them live in; it's like if you tried to peek into their lives and bumped into a sign that read: 'Don't trespass', or 'Mind your own business', or 'Don't mess with Texas', that I love America for so much.

Hopper's America is dead alright, since Roosevelt's New Deal came at full throttle. But it still glows in the hearts of individual men, and not necessarily they have to be Anglo-Saxon anymore. The world owes America at least that much.

Wonderfully presented book of a great artist. Personal and career information is contained in a nice format. Art is described in the context of the time and the artist - his influences, the influences of the time.

One of the highlights of my summer was attending the Hopper exhibition at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, for which this volume (published by the MFA) was the companion text. At 288 pages, mostly filled with suberb reproductions of Hopper's paintings and sketches, this volume is comprehensive enough for even the most devoted Hopper fan. Perhaps only Gail Levin's "Catalogue Raisonne" offers a more comprehensive look at the artist. No matter how many art books you may own, clear a spot on your shelf or coffee table for this one. You will not be disappointed.

Edward HopperThis book is a great presentation of the outstanding Hopper exhibit at the MFA/Boston. Well worth seeing.

The book was published on the occasion of the exhibition: "Edward Hopper", organised by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; and the Art Institute of Chicago, 2007-2008. It comprises a series of nine essays by different writers, and concludes with Notes, a Chronology, a Checklist and Figure Illustrations and a Selected Bibliography.

This is a handsome volume large in size and almost square in format, illustrated throughout predominately in colour. The informative essays, each dealing with a specific period or genre, discuss the artist, his work and his methods, are illustrated throughout, with the relevant works appearing on or close to the page on which there are discussed. The illustrations are excellent, virtually full colour throughout, the black and white images being mainly drawings or period photographs. Many of the paintings are reproduced half or full page size, with a few full page bleed images of a detail from selected paintings. The quality of reproduction is excellent, often revealing the brush work and surface texture, and the colour rich and vibrant. In total there are 202 illustrations of which 180 are in full colour, they represent works in oils, watercolours and prints. A very desirable publication.

Although some reviewers list this book as over 500 pages, it is actually only 144 (see Amazon's Book Description). It has excellent illustrations, however, there is very little text. The introduction is approximately 15 pages and each illustration is accompanied by a short paragraph of text. If you are searching for visuals this is definately a good choice. However, if you are looking for information you may want to purchase an additional book (or different book). I am a art history student looking to broaden my knowledge of Egytian art and this is a great first step for those looking to do the same.

Wonderful Book
This book is a gorgeous and lavish catalogue of selected, exquisite, and little-known works of Egyptian art dating from the Old-Kingdom. I truly love it, and I recommend it to anyone interested in ancient art. I particularly loved the special devotion to fragments of statues and small works of art not usually seen, but as beautiful if not more pronounced than the usual art seen in other books. An masterpiece of art in itself.

You don't have to be an Egyptologist to appreciate the exhaustive research that went into the compilation of this catalogue that accompanieD a blockbuster exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

The amazing work of Old Kingdom (c.2650 - 2150 B.C.E.) artists is splendidly displayed on glossy fact filled pages.

The aim of the book is to capture the many artifacts of the old kingdom. in this regard, its aim is not to be informative by being detailed on the old kingdom history - there are many books which attempt to do this.

having stated the aim of the book, i should judge it on the quality of the pictures: they are superb!! one of the best pictures i have seen, especially considering that they are indoor pictures! the grain is non-visible, this makes a difference for such a relatively pricy book.

Many of the pictures fill the whole page and this creates a striking image! It is a great buy if you want to collect good pictures on egypt!

One minor disappointment is that they omitted some of the most interesting pictures or artifacts of the old kingdom, which you find in other books. For example and most importantly the bas relief of king djoser at the ny metropolitan museum. yet, i probably know why..

This magnificent volume devoted to the approximate 500 years that made up Egypt's Old Kingdom period(2649-2150 B.C.), is truly unsurpassed in information and artifacts that were brought together from collections in Egypt, France, Italy, Britain, the United States and elsewhere for a unique travelling exhibition titled: "Egyptian Art In The Age Of The Pyramids". As a lover of all things to do with Ancient Egypt I was amazed by this wonderful work that had as its focus not the frequently photographed treasures of Tutankhamen or the Valley of the Kings but instead on this much earlier period of Egyptian history that saw some of Egypt's most wonderous works of art and building accomplished.

For those not able to see the exhibition this book is a wonderful guide and source of information that can be enjoyed by people just developing an interest in early Egypt and also by those with a fairly advanced knowledge of this civilisation and its wonders. I was amazed by the terrific attention to detail and especially by the fact that many of the items featured have not been widely seen or examined in detail before. The volume begins with some detailed maps of the different regions of Egypt in the Old Kingdom period so that the reader can get a feel for where the various items featured originated from. A brief run down on the six dynasties of the Old Kingdom and their history including the Pharaohs who reigned during them is also included and certainly helps to give the items a proper time frame and place in the overall history of Egypt. The first chapters of the book cover specific areas of interest and vary from a detailed examination of the incredible Step Pyramid of King Djoser through various tombs of officials and court dignitaries to an examination of royal statuary, furniture of the old Kingdom, and the excavations that have taken place at old Kingdom sites. Each of these chapters contain a detailed commentary of the topic under discussion by various world wide experts and each include breathtaking colour and black and white photographs, maps and drawn ilustrations of tomb reliefs and wall paintings. The text in these chapters is clear and concise and easy to follow while still being incredibly informative with much background information included. These chapters really are a great introduction to all facets of cultural and religious life in the Old Kingdom.

The second section of "Egyptian Art In The Age of The Pyramids", deals with each individual artifact that was included in the travelling exhibition. Each item is accompanied by a beautiful colour illustration photographed often against a neutral background for maximum effect and also includes any other available photos that may have been taken when the piece was being excavated or from the site it was found in . Each item also has a detailed description and a background history and includes which dynasty of the Old Kingdom it comes from and who the reigning Pharaoh was at that time. Measurements and the loaning museum are also included to give a very detailed run down on the modern origins of each piece. The marvel of the items as stated is that both well known and quite rare items are included in the volume. We get to see such diversely famous pieces as the blue tile wall decorations from the under ground chambers of the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser, and the majestic twin statue of Pharaoh Menkaure and his Queen, through to the extremely rare Silver and Turquoise inlaid braclets belonging to Queen Hetep-Heres, the mother of Pharaoh Cheops, and the extremely touching statue of Queen Ankh-Nes-Meryre nursing her young son, the boy Pharaoh Pepi II. Less well known pieces such as vivid wall paintings from some of the nobles tombs, wooden statues of farmers and alabaster vases in the shape of monkeys from unknown sources really bring to life the everyday existence of both the priviledged and the general population during the six dynasties of the Old Kingdom.

As an amateur Egyptologist I would dearly have loved to see this original exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art however having missed that this splendid book is a perfect way to enjoy the wonderful artifacts that were included and to learn in a detailed but user friendly way much about Egypt during the Old Kingdom. "Egyptian Art In The Age Of The Pyramids", is one of the most tresured books in my personal library and I highly recommend it to all readers interested in ancient history and in early Egypt in particular. This volume itself is a true treasure just like all the precious items it so lovingly features in its pages. Enjoy!

I grew up poor (though not as poor as the Presleys). There were 6 people living in a 2-bedroom home. That Elvis slept with his parents (it gets cold in northern Mississippi and Tennessee) doesn't really shock or surprise me.

What does surprise me is that someone like Dee Stanley, who put her own sons in foster care so she could pursue Vernon Presley, would condemn them.

I am also not surprised that Elvis was never able to form a long-lasting relationship with a woman. Most of the women I have read about seemed only interested in what they could get from him. not what they could give to him; a total contrast to his Mother.

I thought Elaine Dundy did a masterful research job. Too bad the history books kids use in school don't usually match this level of research and dedication to facts.

This book is not just about Elvis, it is about poverty and how it shapes people and stays with them throughout their lives.

Buy this book, you will treasure it.

Just loved this book it was fascinating about Gladys and Vernons background. How poor they were and the sadness of the birth of Jesse Garon and Elvis it's to much to tell every Elvis fan needs this book. You will be amazed on how much understanding of the Presley family you will have after reading this book. This is why Elvis had such a kind and gentle way about him and a giving heart it hurts me to know that the people he loved the most used him for there own fame and fortune. All i can say is buy this book you will not be disappointed and you will come to know Elvis a lot better than before it's a must for every Elvis fan.

I've read quite a few books about Elvis and this one is excellent. The author spent a lot of time with people who knew Elvis back then and uncovered some very interesting and heart-warming stories. I learned a lot about his childhood and school days that I hadn't heard before. I'd recommend it for any Elvis fan.

What impressed me most was the account of Elvis' intense, enduring interest in performing beginning at an early age. She cites his participation in school shows, contests and courthouse jamborees, his involvement with entertainer Mississippi Slim, and his 240 mile hitch hike to compete at the Jimmie Rogers Festival. Elvis's association with Bill Black, his first bass player, occurred long before that famous Sun session that produced his first hit. Those who think that Elvis was just a truck driver that lucked up on a record hit are sadly mistaken. Elvis was into the music scene from the get go. He may have been lucky, but like they say, you make your own breaks. He was there, prepared, looking for the opportunity and taking the initiative.

The life of Gladys and her influence on Elvis are well documented. I've read several Elvis books, and none provides a better description. Gladys had her own dreams of stardom which filtered through to Elvis.

The author does a thorough, excellent job of researching and developing her own independent conclusions. For the most part, her logic rings true. In a very few instances, she may infer too much.

The author, Elaine Dundy, not only tells the story of Elvis and his mother, she traces back several generations into the history and psyche of Elvis' ancestors: the Scotch and Irish who settled the Southeast and tamed the Mississippi Delta. Although she is British, her extensive research and comments about post-Civil War Southern society, customs, lifestyle, and mindsets are dead-on. I grew up in the rural Deep South and many of the influences peculiar to the South that Dundy sites in this book were still a part of my mid-20th century experiences.

The reader closes the book with one thought about Gladys (and Vernon) and that is that these two parents loved their son more than life itself and that they simply did the best they could. They were handicapped from the beginning by poverty, ignorance, and also quite possibly genetic pre-dispositions towards depression, obsessive/compulsive disorders, and addictions. It was not uncommon throughout the 19th century and into the 20th that first cousins would marry and have children. The inter-marriages within the Smith and Presley families were pervasive and no doubt exacerbated genetic tendencies.

Gladys' relationship to Elvis was very close in that she put his needs above everything else in her life. She was the only person who could have ever "saved" Elvis from his excesses. But unfortunately, she succumbed to her own drinking habits early on. Once she was gone, his life spiraled out of control.

Elaine Dundy leaves the question unanswered: If Elvis had such a close relationship with Gladys, why wasn't he ever able to form an equally enduring and intimate relationship with a lover? The answer comes from the reader's personal conclusion that the mother-son relationship was close to the point of crippling to Elvis. Just as he reached young adulthood his fabulous success story began. He was stretching out for independence and Gladys figuartively and literally abandoned him -- through death. Elvis was always able to keep the "enduring" part of a relationship going (i.e. he could never let Priscilla go) but his love affairs seemed to mirror his relationship with Gladys in bizarreness, obsessions, and misery.

As a professional comprehensive healing practitioner I have read hundreds upon hundreds of resources, always seeking out key elements and information written in layman's terms to share with clients, resources that help clients empower themselves. Let me tell you, they are hard to come by!

I bought Colleen Deatsman's book and read it cover to cover, then went through it again and applied every single exercise, meditation, etc., doing so from a client's point of view. Was this something I could easily and without reservation recommend to clients? Was this a resource the average person could read, understand, and apply with ease? Astoundingly, throughout the entire book, through each and every method shared by Colleen, the answer is an astounding "YES!" to every question. This is _the_ book I had been looking for. (My only complaint, and it's a small one, is the section on Energy Cord Cutting. Because of my work and research with energy cords, I have discovered that pulling and other non-cutting methods tend to be safer and more effective. - Sorry, Colleen! =p)

Because of the amazing benefits of applying Colleen's knowledge I have seen incredible results, with myself, and with clients. Numerous clients who have purchased this title have written or called afterward to tell me of their amazing results, especially when combined with treatment from an esoteric energy practitioner.

This has become the **number one book** (and CD) I recommend to clients, colleagues, family, and friends. "Energy for Life" is worth 20,000 times its weight in gold. It is a must-have resource for anyone in the healing arts, and for those simply looking for result-oriented methods they can easily apply themselves, in the comfort of their own homes.

An amazing explination of energy and how to stay connected and energized in our lives. One of the best written books on the subject I have ever seen. An absolute must for any healer, lightworker, shaman, or just anyone who wants to learn valuable techniques for taking control of your life and claiming all the power that is yours.

This is a book full of exercises dealing with energy, visualizations and so on. If that's what you were looking for, great; this is the book for you. But I was looking instead for a book not so "practical", but rather focusing on a better general management of your energy, so as to keep always in control of your energy level and prevent getting depleted when you are tired, or get suddenly angry, for instance.
I guess I will have to keep looking for that other book. Anyway, this book could be of help to you if what you are looking for is a daily exercise program to keep "fitness", energetically speaking.

"Energy for Life" is a very valuable resource for those of you looking for ways to activate your energy. So many of us are stressed out from having to figure out how to survive in today's world.

Colleen Deatsman teaches us how to thrive and not just survive. She brilliantly teaches what energy is, how to activate your own life-force energy, release blockages, stop energy leakages, and connect with the source of life.

I really appreciate how Collen takes some complex metaphysical concepts and can speak about them in a way that is easy to follow showing us how to work with energy on a day to day level in our lives.

I also appreciate her own journey as "a wounded healer". For she overcame chronic illness using the techniques she shares in her book. She knows the path that we must all walk on our healing journey.

I highly recommend this book to learn how to rejuvenate and heal. She also included a CD of guided meditations which are simple and relaxing to work with.

All in all "Energy for Life" is a gift for all of us living in today's world. It's well written, easy to follow, engaging and gives us practical ways to change our health as well as our lives.

I am interested in energy work from a metaphysical standpoint but that should not stop anyone else who is interested in raising their energy levels and getting connected with their center core. One just needs an open mind not a religious affiliation or context to benefit from the information contained within.

The CD was amazing although I wish there were other mediations from the book that could have been added to the CD which would have made this package out of this world.

As with anything else, meditations differ from person to person, I tend to prefer the more concise practices rather than the drag me out 40 minute editions which one does not always have time for. Thank goodness of the 5 meditations only one was longer than 20 minutes and it turned out to be my least favorite anyway.

Overall this book and CD are worth the price.

"Facets of Unity: The Enneagram of Holy Ideas" by A.H. Almas is a transformative book.

The Enneagram reflects nine personality types that form spiritual realities for you to experience through your interactions in day to day life. Keys are given to unlock 'fixations' in your life in order for you to move on and experience personal life transformation. Great insights expounded about enlightenment.

Powerful for freeing you from limitations.

Even better when read together with "Nexus" a New Age novel that is a true psychological and spiritual adventure.

Nexus: A Neo Novel

Reading "Facets of Unity" was a transformational experience for me. I experienced my foundamental connection to all that is as I read it. Love and light became more real than the bed I was sitting on. My ego seemed transparent. I highlighted several key parts, and I regularly go back and read those when I need to reground myself and get perspective beyond my story.

This exploration is a most valuable contribution to the understanding of Gurdjieff's Holy Ideas. I found it to be very seminal and I am sure that for some time to come it will be an often referred source.

This is truthfully the best book ever. If you know anything about the enneagram, this book will let you know what the enneagram is made for. Alright, it's fun to think about all the frilly little quirks inherent in the enneagram that the "other" books like to get stuck on, but this book is actually the real thing. The JUICE. The whole point lies between these covers. If you are looking at this review, you need to buy this book. Get it used if you are low on money, just get it and read it.

Touching, warm, gentle and precise. Almaas explains how we get fixated on certain enneatypes, and also points the way out of fixations. Reaching far deeper than the 'standard' personality approaches to the enneagram, this book really opens the gates to those who are seriously pursuing the Work of self-liberation.

This is my third copy of the Cosmic Ray book; the other copies have been "borrowed" and not returned. The maps are amusing, and it fits into a jacket pocket pretty easy...Good book if you like a cartoon type picture.

I have both hiking books--Best of Phoenix and Best of Flagstaff/Sedona. In fact, I am on my second copy of both as I have lent my first Phoenix copy to a friend (it disappeared) and wore out the first copy of my the Flagstaff/Sedona book. The maps are easy to follow and the topographical maps are awesome. Whenever I go hiking, I have two little girls (ages 1 and 4) in tow, so it is necessary to know the terrain inside and out before ever leaving home... Cosmic Ray is so detailed and so accurate that I never worry about being misinformed. Buy a copy for yourself and buy one for a friend... That way yours won't go missing!

Just got back from Arizona- and we used this book extensively as it was easy to read, the maps accurate, and the book is quite entertaining. My 6 year old son stated that the Lava River Cave trail "changed his life" (in a good way). The trail trips turned out to be the highlight of our trip!! The authors advise is excellent and the designation of level of difficulty is on target.

This is it...look no further...

Trail maps and information as well as local business area beta....covers all the well-known hikes and even some of the lesser known...

A must hiking guide for Northern Arizona.

Both Sedona and Flagstaff are covered....the book is stout and put together very well; this sturdiness provides needed protection in your pack!!

As a transplanted Montanan, I don't trust much advice on hiking in Arizona. I thank you for the Favorite Hikes book. I used to hike in the Glacier and Bozeman area but have been out of the action for a few years since moving to Flagstaff and having a baby. I have found this guide to be accurate and reliable when planning hikes with my son and/or dog. Thanks again. Buying this book is the best 10 bucks I ever spent.

As a young idealistic college student protesting on behalf of humankind I was arrested on one occasion. And when they took all my "valuables" from me, I happened to have a copy of this book in my pocket. The police officer said, "Yeah, Every Man for Himself, that is just what we need more of in this country." And I said, this is not a selfish book about every man acting out of personal greed and selfishness, this is a book about how Mankind could serve its own interest in trying to do good for one another. And he said "Yeah, yeah, yeah - put this butt-head in cell # 4.
So as you can imagine this book has a significant personal memory for me. I will bet if I read it over today there is not that much that I would disagree with. I am now 65.

In this book the author gives an overview of his thinking on humanistic ethics, which is interesting from a speculative/philosophical viewpoint, but falls somewhat short if viewed from a scientific perspective. The book has an optimistic tone, as do many others by the author, and this makes the reading more palatable. If the ideas in it could be fleshed out with real scientific analysis, with supporting data, it would be a significant advance in the study of human psychology.

The author explains his optimism, interestingly, by reference to his experience with patients in his psychoanalytic practice. He speaks of encountering the strength of the strivings for happiness and health exhibited by his patients, which he believes is the natural embodiment of humans. "There is less reason", he says, "to be puzzled by the fact that there are so many neurotic people than by the phenomenon that most people are relatively healthy in spite of the many adverse influences they are exposed to". The statistics supporting this are overwhelming, and without a doubt are on the side of optimism.

The book is not a "pop-psychology", "self-help" book though, but instead a theoretical attempt to shed light on the problem of ethics and psychology. The author's goal is to get the reader to ask questions, and not to expect to find advice on how to obtain "happiness". The author's main goal is to find a validation for humanistic ethics that does not collapse into moral relativism but is based upon human nature and human's inherent qualities. The character structure of the mature and "integrated personality" is the origin of virtue, and vice originates from the ignoring of the self and "self-mutilation". To have confidence in values, the author argues, one must know oneself and be aware of one's capacity for doing good and being a productive human being.

The author carefully distinguishes between humanistic and authoritarian ethics, with the ethical norms of the former originating from humans themselves, while the latter some other entity. It is important for him to clarify the definition of "authority", one being "rational" authority, whose source is "competence", and "irrational" authority, whose source is always power over people. Rational authority he says, is based on the equality of the authority and the subject, with both of them differing only in the skill level in their respective fields and always having mutual respect for each other. Irrational authority on the other hand is based inherently on inequality, and denies the human capacity to know what is good or bad.

In humanistic ethics, as the author sees it, is formally based on the principle that only humans can determine the criteria for good and evil, and completely rejects any transcendent source of values. What is "good" is what is good for humans, and the "bad" is what acts to their detriment. Humanistic ethics, far from suppressing individuality and self-realization, encourages it, and there is no room in it for ethical doctrines that do not take into account the needs and nature of human beings. It is a life-affirming ethical philosophy, one that taps the human capacity for genius, and encourages responsibility for one's own existence. The crippling of human powers is the ultimate vice.

The problem then for humanistic ethics is to find out exactly what humans do in fact need in order to develop a healthy psychology. Throughout the book, the author attempts to characterize what such a psychology would be. In many instances throughout the book he makes some unexpected commentary, if judged by the overall theme of optimism in the book. For example, he views the human capacity for reason as both a "blessing" and a "curse". Viewing reason as a distinctly human capacity, not shared by other organisms (and this is troubling from the standpoint of current evidence to the contrary from biology), the author puts humans into a state of "constant and unavoidable disequilibrium". No matter what the level of accomplishment, humans will always be discontented and perplexed, and consequently driven to find new solutions, resulting in an endless restless cycle of achievement and discontent. But many humans do not fit into his sweeping generalizations here, but instead are very contented with their lives on this planet, and find the challenge of life fascinating, and who mourn only the prospect of it ending.

Because of his professional status as a psychoanalyst, it is not surprising perhaps to see a somewhat elaborate classification of what constitutes a healthy versus a non-healthy personality. There are "receptive", "exploitative", "hoarding", and "marketing" characters, which are non-productive and signs of personality "disorder" in his view. He gives detailed descriptions of these different types, but unfortunately does not quote case studies or any studies in the literature to support his views. Do individuals who have these personalities find it difficult to live and adjust in soceity? The author would probably argue that such an "adjustment" could be done, but that by itself does not mean that the individual at hand is not following a healthy course of action. The author seems to be getting quite dogmatic in his classifications here, and leaves the reader with a somewhat narrow view of what constitutes a truly healthy personality.

With more scientific research and justification put into his ideas, the author could have given the reader a more accurate view of what constitutes a healthy, integrated personality. The book is a good start though, philosophically speaking. Sometimes philosophy can encourage further scientific research, and sometimes it can clarify the issues involved in such research, but it can never take the place of science. The author's optimistic view of human nature is, to repeat, totally justified from a statistical point of view. And his view is somewhat rare, surprisingly, if one examines the statistics: the vast majority of humans are healthy, productive, and proud of their inner capacity for genius, and are without doubt fine examples of the humanistic ethic.

"There is no meaning to life except the meaning man gives his life by the unfolding of his powers." This sentence may be one of the most important themes in this wonderful book.

....and toward a celebration of human-centered values: Fromm makes his case for it in psychological terms not to be missed. (He'd have liked Herbert's distinction between law and justice.) And yet, and yet...while this book is splendid, I can't buy making man the measure of all things; somehow there ought to be a recognition that some situations may harm and even kill the self (as in "self-actualization") that nevertheless feed the soul. Anyhow, well worth the read.

Can there be an ethical system that does not rely on moral absolutes on the one hand or moral relativism on the other? Is there any other way? This book says yes and -- amazingly, brilliantly -- lays it out in a way that makes perfect sense. The only value we can know, the only value we need, and the only value that can have any real claim on us is OUR value, human value, and that is neither absolute nor relativistic. If this sounds absurd or offensive to you, skip this book. If you see the brilliance in it, you're in for a treat. I've read this book several times and can't get enough. Fromm is an underappreciated genius.

This was a wonderful book. It was well organized and very informative. Any person who is serious about owning and caring for a ferret will be well versed in the responsibilities associated with that duty after reading it.

This book was extremely helpful in my decision-making for my ferret. This is pretty much what sealed the deal for me. I had always thought about it, then I bought this book and knew a ferret was the right pet for me! Lots of great starter information here, plus some facts that will be helpful for me! I still recommend other books, but I think this is a helpful book as well!

This book tells you alot about farrets, their habitats, what they eat, and other useful information about them. It tells you ways to fight diseases and how to keep them healthy and active. So if you owned a farret defenatly get this book to start you off on a good start.

One of the very best all around ferret books available. Detailed, up-to-date information on housing, feeding, ferret-specific ailments and training. This book gets into the nuts and bolts of day-to-day living with and caring for ferrets, its a must have book for both novice and experienced ferret owners. If you can only afford one ferret book, this is the one to get!

This book has everything I needed to know and more. The advice on feeding, types of food extended their life span, and safed me major medical expenses down the road. Oh and my Ferrets don't bite any more. I can't say enough about this book. "BIG Bravo Zulu"

Both the plot and the characters are vivid and engaging. The main and supporting characters are unique, interesting, and have detailed backgrounds (details are hinted at just enough to be fascinating but not slow down the plot). The universe is well thought out and populated with all sorts of amazing, strange, and internally consistent beings and cultures. The plot moves fast, and it is impossible to put this book down until finished. If she writes more in this series, I will mail Ann Maxwell a kilo of chocolate and a dozen roses, for brightening my weekend. And if she doesn't return to this series, I will remain glad she gave us these delightful three books to appreciate.

I have read many of Lowell's books, this was the first of her sci fi, though. The character's are so complex and well drawn, a great story. My only warning is that this is the first novel in an unfinished series. But it is GREAT! I absolutely loved it. The relationship between the main characters is just wonderful.

A terrific blend of romance and sci-fi. the character are absorbing and you plot fixes your interest. whether a sci fi fan or a romance fan you will like this book. I've read this as well as the other two I only hope the series continues soom

I read the unfinished Dancer series (Fire Dancer, Dancer's Luck and Dancer's Illusion) as a kid and I wanted to re-read the books as an adult. I bought a used book online and it's even better than I remembered.

It's very much a pulp sci-fi (almost fantasy) adventure series. This book is in the romance section because of her other books, but this truly is an action adventure story not a romance.

Ann Maxwell does a great job at writing compelling characters. The fire dancer Rheba is exotic and exciting. Her mentor Kirtn, the furry Bre'n, is an interesting and unexpected counterpoint. Additional side characters are so interesting that I wish she had written whole books about them such as the mercenary fighters on planet Loo. When I read the book as a kid, I didn't care for the young boy (I don't want to give too much away so I'll stop there), but now I have more empathy for his character. Maxwell is just extremely creative.

Another strength to her writing is that she keeps the plot moving fast. Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger or some other twist on the story. This book is an easy, fun read with some sparkling creativity.

On the downside, the main characters get a little too lucky a little too often toward the end.... there are some gaps in believability that allow the plot to keep moving at a lightning pace. However, the book is so enjoyable that my only real complaint is that I wish she had written more books!

I'm not certain why this series has been placed in the romance section, there really isn't any romance involved, it should be placed in the sci-fi section!

Firedancer is the story of a young girl who has lost her planet and people in the supernova of her system's sun. As far as she knows, only she and her Bre'n (her partner-protector-symbiote, not reproductively compatible) have escaped. As she seeks other of her kind who might have been off-planet for the disaster, she runs into more trouble than she expected...