Senses Books

There is many books about self defence out on the market, most of these books deals only with physical techniques. How to defend against a punch, kick, knife or any kind of weapon. How to use ordinary things as a weapon, keys, pens, hairspray etc. Gauge the keys into the opponents eyes, kick him in the groin and run like hell kind of books. This is what we call the Tiger aspect of self defence that only deals with things that can be seen.

What most books don't even scratch the surface of is the Dragon aspect of self defence, the things that can not be seen, things that can not be touched and even understood. Responding to someone's intentions, listening to your inner self that try to protect you. Both aspects was well known to the warriors in the old, very few self defence classes deals with both aspects today.

Most Martial Arts instructors tells you that the best self defence is not to fight at all, but few really understand what this _really_ means. This book is one of the very few that explains with examples how the author used his "sixth sense" for self defence that saved his and other people's lives. It also gives many practical self defence lessons of what you can do to prepare yourself before anything happens. But the core essence is to awaken your inner guide or voice that will warn you in good time before you need to resort to violence. When you read this book with an open mind the seed has been planted, it is up to you what you do with it. I highly recommend this book to all my students.

Mats Hjelm, Shihan Bujinkan Kaigozan dojo

Ever had the hair stand on the back of your neck. Ever felt an uncomfortable feeling somewhere gave you, not knowing why? Ever wonder what people mean when they say "trust your gut"? This is a must read! It could open your eyes to the little things that protect you and those you care about.

It is an extremely well written book. Jock explains the abilities that we all have, it is just a matter of being sensitive enough to be in tune with it. I have been looking for a book like it for years! He even gives you exercises to improve your ability. It is an amazing book and I highly recommended it! It can open your eyes and change your life.

It was very refreshing to read a book full of esoteric concepts that can easily be incorporated into daily life. The author speaks to you clearly and in a concise manner which is quite an accomplishment when describing things that sit outside of the first five physically tangible senses. For many years via different vocations he has put all of his senses to the test and gives great examples of real world situations were he was able to stay free from harm. There is a clear emphasis in this book that all of our senses work wonderfully together with the sixth sense often being the most pivotal in critical situations. Outside of being caught in the heat of an issue, he demonstrates that growing in tune with the messages your intuition reveals on a regular basis can help you avoid trouble even before it manifests (or you walk into it willy-nilly). Considering the wide range of topics that are covered, I sense this will be a great reference book for me if in the future I become involved in situations that are not currently in my sphere of experiences. The value of coming away from this book with a greater sense of personally driven empowerment has made it a tremendous gift to myself.

Of course, the title of this book is intriguing enough, but what really caught my attention is the subheading: How to remain safe in a hostile world. So my attention was then drawn to read the back where I discovered that Brocas, formerly a top security consultant as well as personal body guard, has been taught and is now a teacher in the ways of Ninjitsu and the Samurai, and is also an experienced psychic medium. Immediately, I knew that this was not going to be your average book about developing your psychic abilities. Brocas has put together a book that is very interesting and current, separated into three parts: commonsense, risk and intuition. Each part ups the ante on the previous by delving deeper into one's innate psychic ability and proving to us that the ability is always there for us to realise and use to our advantage. This is a great way for us to develop a trust of our inner voice when we are confronted or threatened. A very interesting book that is timely for a generation where threat levels are at their highest.

This review was written by Oddyssey Magazine in South Africa

I found the book Power of the Sixth Sense to be a very well written work on a little known part of self defense. The information most people study on the physical side of defense is important, but is made vastly more effective by adding the ideas laid out in this book.
Dick Severance, Florida USA 15th Dan Bujinkan Dojo

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1B0XLXHUO6L8E Amid the prying eyes of spicy New Orleans society, one woman must choose between embracing her passion or heeding practicality in this finely-tuned Southern love story. For more information, www.tomysenses.com. For more book trailers, visit http://www.movingstories.tvTo My Senses

Nicci Beauvoir is a debutante. She is not your typical society girl, which is hard to find in The Big Easy, New Orleans. Just because Nicci attends all the galas does not mean she likes going. The only good thing Nicci has to say about going to all the different parties is that she never gets bored; watching all the snobs making mockeries of them selves. Plus attending the galas helps Nicci keep track of who is dating whom. While attending one of the many galas, Nicci meets the most intriguing man by the name of David Alexander. Mr. Alexander has many talents as both a painter and part-time gigolo. David and Nicci soon become lovers but this budding romance may end before it's even begun if certain people have anything to say about this relationship.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I shouldn't be surprised as the characters were great and the storyline was seamless. Nicci turned out to be a good female lead. She had grace, compassion as well as actually being human. Not to say that debutantes are uncaring but because Nicci was the complete opposite of what I know of socialites that is why I fell in love with her and David's story. A lesson to be told from this book is that "You can't help where you came from but you can choose who you give your heart to". To My Senses by Alexandrea Weis is a wonderful debut novel by an up and coming new author. To My Senses is like finding a diamond amongst a pile of cubic zirconiums.

The plot of this book was very intriguing, well-developed, and multidimensional. The characters in To My Senses were so lifelike and compelling. I definitely recommend this book. You will not want to put it down!!!

This was an Excellent book. The characters are so real and they will stay with you for a very long time. The plot worked on so many different levels that I could not put it down. This is one of the few books I have read that actually delivers on entertainment and carries you away until you come to the last page and just want to start over at the begining again. Great Read!

I can't remember ever loving characters in a book as much as I loved Nicci, her dad, her uncle, Ned, Val, and yes, even the Hoover sisters. I just didn't want this book to end. I felt like I knew each one intimately and didn't want to close the pages on them.

I tried to read it in one day. Stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, but couldn't make it. Even though I tried to gobble it up, this wasn't a fast read. I felt myself slowing down, not wanting to miss anything. I wanted to feel exactly what the characters felt.

When I read the ending the next morning, I am glad I didn't finish at 3:00 a.m. The ending was so surprising, so shockingly stunning, it would have jolted me awake and I'd never gotten to sleep. Here's a little bit about the book.

Practical Nicole "Nicci" Beauvoir wanted more out of life than marriage and kids. She had plans to be a nurse. She's fiercely independent and didn't feel she needed a man to muck up her future.

When David Alexander, a struggling artist, sees Nicci at a garden party and the attraction starts there. They both find they have something in common. Each lead a life void of passion by closing off a part of themselves to the world. Against her better judgment, Nicci responds to the passion David offer. Soon she finds out she's been deceived. David isn't what he appears to be.

It will take the aid of her meddlesome family to get them back together, but the story will not end there. The author saves a super-sized twist for last in this page-turner of a book.

A must read for every American. Find out why our founders fought for our country and why the current state of our country is very un-American.

William James Murray hits the nail on the head when it comes to the American System and what has happened. To know and understand how and why our country was founded is the first step to discovering how it is we save our country from falling into the trap that so many before us have become ensnared. Murray teaches you what it truly means to be a real-American in easy to understand language, and easy to understand concepts. Though he can be repetetive in his writing, it is clearly methodically repetitive. There are concepts in this book that must be understood. I am going to teach American History and Government at the High School Level and I will fight to have this book be required reading in my classes.

If I was a rich person (which I'm not), I would buy a copy for every elected official in this country and make them read it. (Ahhh... wishful thinking)

Fantastic book - fantastic and easy to read. It has quite literally changed my life. Opened my eyes and made me rethink our form of "government" we know today.

There is still a knot in my throat from reading it and being so angry - even though I finished it last month!

Every taxpayer, every school kid, every parent, every voter should have a copy of this book.

Simply put... the best book I have ever read. It will fill you with pride, anger and activism. You will read in awe of the courage of our founding fathers. You will read in horror about the beast that our government has become.

It's hard to disagree with the principles expressed in this book. I've bought 4 copies already to share with family and friends!

This is one of the single greatest books that I have ever had the privelage of reading. The writer describes in clear and concise terms the price of liberty, how we won it, and how we are losing it. You wont find this information in any government school or college.
Delightfully this book is an easy read. The author wrote this book with the common man in mind. Splendidly I tore through this book in no time at all without having to read a single sentence twice.
Patriots, students, and anybody dedicated to preseving liberty and economic freedom should definately read this masterpiece. Its amazing that the information in this book is surpressed from our schools. Everybody should read this book twice and buy copies for all your family and friends.

My daughter just turned 1 and I am considering buying a second copy of this book. This book has been her absolute favorite and frequently sitting by herself reading out loud to herself. She loves looking at the babies and giving them kisses and already knows where her ears, nose and mouth are. A VERY durable book, but she is trying to give it a run for its money.

My son loves the Happy Baby series! I can't say enough good things about these books. It's hard to find a book that will have my toddler sitting down for a few minutes and sitting quietly reading, but these books do it.

We bought Happy Words to help with his vocabulary, and it didn't take long to see his interest grow in wanting to know the names for things around the house. I know he enjoys the book because he pulls it out nearly every day for me to read it, even more, he's starting pointing to certain pictures asking me to repeat the names, so I know he's learning and taking it in. This book has about 13 full spread pages each with a familiar scene for a toddler- getting dressed, eating a meal, going on a walk, taking a bath, facial expressions etc. What I like most is that these scenes and words included are pertinent to a toddler, they're not just about whatever, but things a toddler needs to know the names of. Last but not least, did I mention my son loves this book??

So, if you're a mom of an infant/toddler or buying these as a gift for one, these are a SURE BET. They are also reasonably priced in my opinion. Other books in this series we own and enjoy are the Colors and ABC's. We'll definitely be buying more too as time goes on. Way to go Roger Priddy!!

perfect for identifying objects. bright and cheery, so babies and toddlers love to look at the pages.

I've been on a mission to find a book that meets the following criteria for my 9 month old son:
- Must be a board book (because he chews everything!)
- Mustn't be too long (32 pages maximum because we're dealing with a short attention span here)
- Mustn't be too big (so my son can easily pick up and play with the book)
- Must contain photographs of familiar objects and other babies (because all of his other books only have illustrated pictures of animals for some reason!)

"Happy Baby: Words" fit all of the above criteria perfectly and my son loves it to death. He can actually turn the pages himself and he gets so excited seeing all the baby photographs inside.

Great book!

Our copy has been through two children. Both of my kids love the bright and clear pictures. We are teaching my son sign language and this book is great for teaching simple words and signs! A well loved book!

This book goes beyond the normal ADD books. It helps you deal with life after the diagnosis and getting on medication. How you deal with the emotions of low self esteem, not ever being good enough etc. Then how to live so that others can see you as a different person. Different that you were before you found the REAL you underneath all those annoying ADD traits.

Sari Solden takes readers through the change process with sensitivity and honesty. Unlike other books about AD/HD that explain what it is, this books deals with the different stages people go through in accepting their diagnoses, reaching out for help, and finding their value as whole people, not just as ADDers. This is a good book to read after you have gotten the initial medical information about AD/HD and need to process what it means. Really, this book can be useful for anyone in a period of identity transition.

I simply like her books. I am french and it's easy to read and understand I recommend her +++
I have read many books about women ADD and this author is the BEST for me.

Journeys Through ADDulthood is a very good book to read to better understand the challenges of ADD and how to cope with it. I found this book to be a qiuck read and continue to use it as a resource in dealing with ADD challenges.

Ms. Solden has opened the door to new territories in this book. Unlike other books on AD/HD that seem to repeat much of the same information over and over again, Journeys into ADDulthood gently leads the reader into the next stage of one's ADD self-discovery and growth. It is a refreshing look at "what happens next"- after one is diagnosed and treated.

The author breaks up the book into three main sections, or journeys: The Crisis of Understanding, The Crisis of Identity, and the Crisis of Success. She gently walks the reader through each stage, offering insights and gems of wisdom. Each chapter ends with an "Exploration"- a short self-help exercise to help you think more about how you can use the material in a personal way for self-growth.

Both practical, sensitive and emotionally packed with wisdom from this pioneer in the field of AD/HD, I highly recommend this not only to those touched by AD/HD, but to those who work with them.

What is the actual implication of this fictitious work? Isn't there a serious, profound and truthful lessons in this love story so down-to-earth but yet so complex?

Marianela, a love story published in 1878 portrays a relationship between a blind man and his guide-- not beautiful a woman, whom he imagines attractive. Loving him she worries that once the man recovers his eyesight realizes she is not as pretty as he thinks her to be.

The author wisely crafts an interesting symbolism between the capacity to see, which is always spiritual and emotional, and on the other hand the human eyesight which can be inadequate, restrictive and misleading.

The implication that runs through the whole story is that adversity is a blessing in disguise, since blindness forces him to be humble enough to perceive the beauty she and others manifest. Once he recovers his eyesight and sees her for the first time with his human eyes, he rejects her.

Wasn't he in possession of real sight while blind than when he was able to recover his sight and to humanly see? Isn't Perez Galdos message, that the capacity to see and understand is mental, emotional and not necessarily physical?

Finally I can say this classic must be understood as a lesson on the spiritual superiority over the evidence presented by the human senses. This emotionally complex story has a symbolism, it will teach a lesson to whoever is receptive enough to its deeper meaning.

I am a young "Anglo-American" (white) girl living in a Texas/Mexican border town with a 98% hispanic community, and am on my way to learning the language fluently. I read this book in my Spanish class, and nearly died from the beauty of this book! It has helped me along with recognizing and comprehending Spanish along with leaving me a satisfied reader. Someday when I speak fluent Spanish, I will read this to my daughter and am sure it will be her favorite bed-time story. :-)

Seeing as though I couldn't get the real Marianela quickly, this one suited quite well, perhaps even better. I had to write a paper on it and the simplified language made mush easier to understand.

Pablo, a rich blind boy is madly in love with poor Marianela. Things go smooth until renowned Doctor Teodoro Golfín offers to cure up Pablo's eyes. Marianela, who thinks she is ugly is afraid that when he starts seeing, he'll see how ugly(on the surface) she really is. Her fears are confirmed when he falls for his beautiful cousin Florentina, who doesn't treat Marianela too well. She is so attached to Pablo that if she doesn't look beautiful for him, she won't be any use to him. A very destructive point of view which she sticks to. It's a tragic ending but it's common in most Spanish-language stories.

I must admit that this book didn't pick my interest when I started reading it in My Spanish AP class in high school. Now after reading it I have to say that this book is wonderfully written and very educational.
Marianela is a girl who lives in The Mines of Socartes, she is the guide of a rich boy who suffers fom blindness Pablo. I loved Marianela's character since the first pages, she is so full of life, so innocent. All her life she lived out of the pity of others but it didn't matter to her. Pablo "said" he loved her and she lived in this illusion where she thought that she would finally be loved and not criticized by her looks.
Then, everything changed when Teodoro Golfin, a miracle doctor gave Pablo his sight. That's when everything changed. When Pablo saw what Marianela really looked like, he just started treating her horribly. Where did all his love go? I have to say that by the end of the book I hated Pablo with a passion. How can someone be so cynical as to tell a person how beautiful she is without really seeing the exterior appearance and then being disgusted by what he sees when he looks at how that person really looks? Sadly that's what happens with Pablo and it would have been better if he had stay blind.
This book bring some things that are really important. True beauty is on the inside, never judge someone by their exterior appearace because you might be surprised. True beauty is not something that you can see or touch, beauty has to be felt.
I highly recomend this book, it will touch your heart I promise

As an educator with a primary school child, I've read many books on numeracy. This is one of the very best. It's lively, engaging, grounded in theory and practice and clearly reflects a lifetime of reflection. MacNeal weaves in many examples from real life, together with instructive and sometimes humorous and touching anecdotes about his own childhood.

Edward MacNeal (1994) an airline business consultant, introduces Mathsemantics (Science of Mathematical semantics) as an extensional (factual evaluating) language for proper evaluating. Showing via job application tests taht maths incompetence often results from semantic mis-understandings; like any language, requiring familiarity.
What Jean Piaget (1926) found in children. Alfred Korzybski (1933) showed persisted via an education in Aristotle's (c. 350 B.C.) 'intensional' ('subject-predicate', false-to-facts 'universalizing') linguistic structure ('logic'), reversing the empirical evaluating order (event-perceiving-insight-formulating), consequently allowing 'identifying' 'meanings' (words) with perceivings, etc.
Whilst our mathematical education mostly fails to solve these semantic problems, involved in applying numbers to events. For example, we may expect that calculations have only one answer, despite measuring involves approximating (rounding-up, etc) involving estimates (probabilities). Further Greeks like Parmenides (c. 480 B.C.) did not accept zero as a number, 'reasoning': "non-being could not be, because it was a logical impossibility". Thus unsurprisingly, many tend to round-up to 1 rather than 0!
Infact Kurt Godel (1940) found no mathematical system can be complete-nor-consistent. As Korzybski (1933, 1936) asserted: "map is not the territory...is not all the territory...is self-reflexive (speak of map of map, etc)".
Korzybski (1933) asserted that by extensionalizing to events, we find context. However MacNeal continues that units (unity) entail convenient 'categories' representing events despite that a name tells us nothing-about-nor-is-the-thing. MacNeal argues that we cannot do without 'addition', suggesting that we can 'add' different changing things under combined units: "2 apples + 5 oranges = 7 fruit".
Yet MacNeal the General Semanticist (Korzybski (1933), Science of values, hence evaluating), avoids the fact that events, abstracting processes, etc., are not 'additive', involving Korzybski's (1933) non-elementalistic, functional (non-linear-asymmetry-non-additive), more-or-less emergent wholes. As Korzybski (1933) argued water, having new emergent characteristics, is not the 'sum' of an oxygen atom 'plus' two hydrogen atoms.
Therefore,

C = A + B

becomes,

C = f (A, B)

Let alone that 'classifying' entails 'identifying'.

As a fan of general semantics, I enjoyed this. What is 2 apples plus 3 oranges? The author uses simple questions like this to illustrate use and misuse of numbers. Most maths teaching ignores the meaning of numbers, but this short book shows lucidly how an understanding of the process of abstraction can help us avoid using numbers irrationally. Recommended, though I suggest reading in conjunction with Hayakawa's Language in Thought and Reality (the most readable book on general semantics).

I teach British literature and love Scott, Austen, Wodehouse, and Hardy. I thouroughly enjoy the murders mysteries of Rex Stout and Dorothy Sayers. So why am I reviewing a book about math? Because it is one of the finest books I have ever read.

This book bridges the gap between the right and left brains. While its subject matter includes some advanced concepts, they are expressed so articulately that they are accessible to virtually everyone.

This is not a book for educators or students alone. Everyone should read it.

The author is "an expert" - someone who knows something and can explain it to and/or use it for those who can't - or just don't - on their own.

I am a high school math teacher and community college and high school computer teacher. MacNeal THRILLED me with his insight into something that may be part of the problem with education the way we do it. Look for his connection of Piaget's work on the development of children's and adults' abilities through necessary stages with the Chinese language and with the teaching of math.

I have had more successes with some of my students because of MacNeal and his book.

I have a previous book by the same author. I have yet to use it, and will probably do the same with this one. The reason is simple. I don't want to have to go out and buy about 6 Yoga blankets, bolsters, folding chairs and belts, ropes and other items that are pictured in order to do most of the positions. If I had all these items, thinking of where to store them all and the thought of dragging them out every day in order to do my exercises is a complete turn off to me and my aging body.

Suza Francina's book "The New Yoga for Healthing Aging" is a must-have for anyone over 50 as well as for those of us who work with the aging baby boomer population. This book is chock full of inspiring photos of seniors in different asanas, sage advice and some sample routines. I can't believe that some of these people are over 90! Wow!

Francina is Iyengar-based, so many of the poses are shown with props and there is good information on how to use the props safely. In this book you can also find medical research and advice on using yoga for a variety of conditions including arthritis, osteoporosis, hip replacements, alzheimer's and parkinsons. Many of the seniors in the book share their stories on how yoga has helped them with their issues, and this can be very encouraging for people who may be fearful of trying yoga.

Especially helpful are the suggestions for getting up and down from the floor and the section on teaching seniors. Any teacher who works with the aging population will find these parts invaluable! I hope that this book can not only help me to be mindful of my teaching skills but also about my own aging body.

As a brand new yoga teacher (at age 62), I find Suza Francina's latest book, "The New Yoga for Healthy Aging", to be a great resource. I teach in the 55+ community where I live, so many of my students have health challenges. I often refer to the chapters on teaching seniors, as well as those dealing with specific health issues, like hip replacement (I have two in class), arthritis and osteoporosis. I also like to share quotes from Suza and the other senior teachers featured in her book with my students. I highly recommend this book for new teachers and older students as well.

Carin Seebold, RYT

With the innumerable yoga books on the market and the attempts of companies trying to make a buck of the yoga boom I am leary of buying any products, including books, marketed for yoga. Also, from my own experiences I feel many reviews give an exaggerated view of the books.

However, this book is truly a good book. I am 49 yrs old and have been practicing yoga for almost 5 years, two to four times a day. I am constantly trying to find out more about books, DVDs, websites etc on yoga related items in order to improve and deepen my practice. I am glad I bought this one.

For someone who recovered from a severe and incapacitating lower back injury with the practice of yoga asanas, this book is a reaffirmation of my own experiences. Had I not taken to an asana pracitce, I know for a fact that my injury would have made a "cash cow" out of me for the "medical professionals" in our health care system. More importantly the book offers tremendous inspiration, hope and encouragement to the aging -- which includes all -- and people recovering from chronic pain. It does this by sketching the lives of those who have been practicing yoga asanas.

I assure you that if you are serious about your mental, physical and emotional health, and if you have had a year of yoga and want to give your practice a boost then this book will not let you down. It will confirm your realizations and build on them regarding the healing potential of yoga asanas. I have already bought two copies and will be buying numerous more to give to everyone I know. This will save them a lot of pain and suffering as they grow older, not to mention the expenses of a medical system that is absolutely out of control. In my opinion and experiences medical science itself is shallow and flawed despite the many sincere practitioners. People suffering from chronic ailments are a testimony to this claim.

The writer has done a very good job of writing this book. Thank you Suza.

"The New Yoga for Healthy Aging is one of the most exciting yoga books ever published. Its promise is one that millions of baby boomers will find comforting--that yoga is a natural prescription for reversing the aging process. The proof is in the lovely and inspiring photographs of yoga students in their later years in poses of beauty and strength. This outstanding resource addresses the common ailments of aging and is as encouraging as it is informative and practical. Suza Francina shows how even challenging yoga poses become "do-able" through the use of props and modifications. Her extensive knowledge and experience teaching yoga is evident and her wisdom and deep caring shine through her words and stories. "

---Peggy Cappy
Author, Yoga for All of Us, and creator of the popular video series Yoga for the Rest of Us, as seen on public television, and the guided relaxation audio CD series Deep Relaxation for the Rest of Your Life. www.peggycappy.com

My two-year-old and I really love this book. After I initially took off the shrink wrap, I thought the smells were a little hard to take; however, after the book "aired out" for a couple of days, the smells were not so strong and were very pleasant. The pictures are fun with the ladybugs, butterflies, beetles, etc. A great little book!

I got this for my 2 toddlers and they love this book. The smells are very strong and they have nice big pictures. The smells really do smell like the real thing. It is a short story so a busy toddler's mind can consontrate long enough. I enjoyed this book.

This is a very nice book. Good pictures and very potent smells. I would have given it 5 stars if 2 of the smells didn't smell VERY much the same. The smell is put on the page not with stickers (like I am used to when I was little some 30 years ago) but with a texured surface that is only visable when you look at it from an angle. Very large areas of smell make it easy to get a good whiff. I am hoping this new way of smell application also lasts much longer than the old way!!? Happy sniffing!

My son who is 11 months loves this book and he loves to smell (and lick!) the different items. It has simple text in the form of questions ("Does the rose smell sweet?") alongside with real-life photos.

The smells are: Rose, Lavendar, Pine, Grass, Mint.

It has lasted for a few months of abuse so far except for the last page (Mint) which the scent has faded.

I would definitly recommend this book and I look forward to owning the others in the scratch and sniff series.

Santa brought my little 2 yr old daughter this book for X-mas! She loves this book and so do I as it is a delight to smell fresh cut grass and fresh cedar wood in the dead of winter here! Am even getting a copy of this book for my 90 yr old grandmother who lives in a nursing home. How she would love to revisit these "warm weather day" smells!

I very much enjoyed this book. It is well written and will take you back to your college days!

written very well,although there was a little to much of the f-word. I would like to read more of this authors writtings.

I don't know exactly why I picked-up a copy of "Assault on the Senses" -- likely because I thought it would be a funny book about boozing-- but when I began reading it, I realized that what I had bought was a coming-of-age-novel; a book about teen angst, anomie and unrequited love, and I was prepared to hate it. When it was revealed to be a halfhearted mystery story too, I almost stopped reading it.

Having nothing better to do, I kept slogging on, and never has a book turned me around and won me over as this novel did. True, there's much poor writing (the protagonist can share his thoughts only with a pet hamster) and broken grammar in it, and one could write an equally long book about the novel's faults, but it is my sincere feeling that this novel is a masterpiece of the first chop and a genuine piece of literature.

All the other reviewers here seem to regard this as light reading and a comic look at college life, another National Lampoon's Animal House, but it is nothing of the sort. I consider Michael P. Ferrari to be the F. Scott Fitzgerald of a new generation, and I'll be certain to watch for his whatever he has published in the future.

Bravo!

CollegeHumor.com contributor Michael P. Ferrari presents Assault on the Senses, a grimly humorous novel about the downward self-destructive spiral of college student Kalvin Gray. The repercussions of a bad breakup plus the lack of direction in his life are further compounded when he discovers a "wanted" poster warning students of an attempted rapist, featuring a police sketch that looks suspiciously like him. Despite his innocence of the heinous crime, he fears that his reputation and sex life will be ruined - until he crosses paths with the seductive school newspaper editor Katie, who becomes his ally in the search for the truth. His life just might have the potential to turn around - if he can stay sober long enough for that to happen. A tongue-in-cheek look at the dark side to the campus experience.

Kalvin Gray is a college student with a taste for beer and a talent for self-hatred. While his fraternity brothers (Wally, Jay, Dutch, Doug, and Barry) provide ample support for his wild behaviour, the emotional backing comes from his female friends, Molly and Lana. Still suffering heartache over his lost love, Jill, Kal's world becomes even gloomier when the whole college assumes he is the attempted rapist pictured in a wanted poster. After establishing an unlikely alliance with Katie, a vivacious campus newspaper reporter, the pair set out to prove Kal's innocence, find the true culprit, and possibly develop their own relationship in the process.

This is a funny read, with plenty of crude laughter peppered throughout. Much of this is based upon Kal's own witty comments, both spoken and commented, together with the antics and primitive opinions of his various friends. His five frat brothers do rather blend into one without particularly establishing their own characters, but the laughs they introduce make up for this and Dutch's party trick never fails to deliver.

Early-on the pace of the novel is good, with entertaining introductions to Kal's beer-soaked life as well as plenty of plot suspense. There are many darker moments too, as Kal's downward spiral progresses. While the book's middle section struggles to live up to the promise of the beginning, there are still moments of comedy to make the read thoroughly worthwhile - Kal and his friends crashing an 'alternative' house party is one prime example. Towards the end we have twists and turns aplenty, with things never quite ending up as you expected them to. Some of the twists could have been introduced earlier in the novel to keep the plot ticking on at a higher rate, but Ferrari is to be commended for tying up all the loose ends of a clever storyline.

Overall, 'Assault on the Senses' is a very enjoyable read with plenty of crude laughs and a plot that will keep you guessing right to the end. If you're looking for a similarly entertaining campus comedy novel then you should also enjoy A Foreign Education by Craig Alan Williamson.