Vans Books

In January of 1925, a diptheria epidemic broke out in Nome, Alaska. One Dr. Welch treated three children who were deathly ill. Since the town was under quarantine and an emergency alert was sent to the governor in Juneau outlining the need for the vaccine.

The necessary serum was in Anchorage, which was over 1,000 miles from Nome. This was during the early days of air travel and at that time no planes flew to Alaska during the winter months due to the lack of closed cockpits and the inclement weather would cost pilots their lives.

Trains were the popular mode of transportation. A train brought the serum from Anchorage to Nenana. In Nenana, the mushers and their teams of malamutes and huskies took the medicine for the rest of its cliff-hanging run to Nome.

I like the way a map of the route is included in this book and the way the dogs are introduced to readers. Balto, the most famous dog was the husky who led the team on the last leg of the journey. He has been credited with getting the medicine through in time to save the stricken children. Togo, a beautiful male husky is also featured. He was one of the huskies on the first run. Sadly, his part is eclipsed by Balto's now famous heroic journey. Still, this is not to discount what this brave curly tailed dog accomplished. Togo's stamina got the first team off to a flying start.

I like the way each musher is credited in this book; the distance of each run to Nome and each participant, musher and husky and malamute alike are listed. Each one of these people and curly tailed dogs are given their due recognition. If it had not been for those teams, the medicine would never have reached its destination before deadline. Truly a treasure for all ages. It makes me think of the 1979 song, "Ain't No Stopping Us Now."

Debbie Millerýs masterful retelling of the Serum Run, which saved the children of Nome, Alaska from a deadly diphtheria epidemic in 1925, goes well beyond the facts of this heroic team effort. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail includes well-researched factual information, reference tables, maps, and photographs. Millerýs narrative comes alive as she skillfully interweaves many little known fascinating details of how the mushers and their dog sled teams endured their individual treks from Nenana to Nome in such deadly weather conditions. The story behind this famous dog sled team relay was inspiration for the world famous ýLast Great Race,ý the Iditarod. Jon Van Zyle, the official Iditarod artist, complements Millerýs text with vivid, captivating illustrations. Readers of this book will gain a sense of the unbelievable accomplishment of these dog sled teams. People of all ages will treasure this book. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail should be included as a first resource for teachers interested in providing thought provoking discussions about the Iditarod, teamwork, and manýs interaction and dependence on animals.

About the Reviewer: Ann Morgan has taught lessons about the Iditarod in grades 2- 6 for the last 18 years, and is currently teaching at Chatham Middle School, Chatham, Massachusetts. In 2000, she was in Alaska at the Iditarod and acquired first hand knowledge of the race by following the mushers and dog sled teams with her own bush pilot from Anchorage to Nome.

The Great Serum Race, Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller with illustrations by Jon Van Zyle, the official artist of the dogsled race and a two-time participant in the Iditarod, is a children's book, ages 7 to 10, published in 2002 by Walker & Company. This has become one of my favorite books for introducing children to this amazing race of skill and endurance.

The book is based on the real events of January, 1925, when the population of Nome, Alaska, was in desperate need of diphtheria vaccine. Dr. Welch had not seen a case of diphtheria in twenty years and suddenly he had three young children very ill with the disease. Something had to be done. The community was put under quarantine and an emergency wire went out to the governor in Juneau that the town needed emergency help. This is where the mushers came in. The decision was made to bring serum from Anchorage, over 1,000 miles away, to Nome. In those days, airplanes only flew in Alaska in the summertime because they had open-cockpits and neither plane nor pilot would survive the weather. A steam engine (#66) took the serum from Anchorage to Nenana where the real adventure began. The rest of the story tells of the harrowing experiences of mushers and dogs in their race against time in getting the serum to its destination. At one point, it is believed the serum might be lost.

The front of the book includes a map of the dogsled trail from Nenana to Nome. There is also an introduction to Togo, a Siberian husky and one of the true heroes of the 1925 race. Another excellent feature included in this book, is the complete list of mushers who participated in the original race, each one's race segment, and the distance covered. The race's heroic dogs also have a page devoted to them at the end of the book. This book is a real treasure for both adults and children.

Carolyn Rowe Hill

Debbie Miller's masterful retelling of the Serum Run, which saved the children of Nome, Alaska from a deadly diphtheria epidemic in 1925, goes well beyond the facts of this heroic team effort. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail includes well-researched factual information, reference tables, maps, and photographs. Miller's narrative comes alive as she skillfully interweaves many little known fascinating details of how the mushers and their dog sled teams endured their individual treks from Nenana to Nome in such deadly weather conditions. The story behind this famous dog sled team relay was inspiration for the world famous "Last Great Race," the Iditarod. Jon Van Zyle, the official Iditarod artist, complements Miller's text with vivid, captivating illustrations. Readers of this book will gain a sense of the unbelievable accomplishment of these dog sled teams. People of all ages will treasure this book. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail should be included as a first resource for teachers interested in providing thought provoking discussions about the Iditarod, teamwork, and man's interaction and dependence on animals.

About the Reviewer: Ann Morgan has taught lessons about the Iditarod in grades 2- 6 for the last 18 years, and is currently teaching at Chatham Middle School, Chatham, Massachusetts. In 2000, she was in Alaska at the Iditarod and acquired first hand knowledge of the race by following the mushers and dog sled teams with her own bush pilot from Anchorage to Nome.

Debbie Miller did a great deal of research before writing this book, so though it is written for children, it is a great account for all to read. I would highly recommend it to readers of all ages who are interested in dog teams and their important role in Alaska. This is the best and most acurate telling of the story of the serum run to Nome in 1925 which I have ever seen. It is a children's book in that it explains what happened from the viewpoint of children. Beyond the story, there are facts presented in the back of the book. Jon Van Zyle is a popular artist, but I did not feel that his oil paintings for this book were all that great.

The Great Treasury is based on the syntopicon of the Britannica Great Books of the Western world; the syntopicon is an index of basic, central terms in the great books (the so-called "great ideas"), arranged in alphabetical order from Angel to World. In the syntopicon, each central term is assigned its own chapter, which begins with an introductory essay on the meaning of the term and its various interpretations in the great books, followed by an outline of topics falling under the great idea of the chapter; specific references to passages by the great authors in the series relevant to each topic follow. The Great Treasury mirrors the syntopicon's format, but includes a selection of topics, together with the text of the relevant passages from the great books. The Great Treasury is more than a book of quotations: it serves as a practical guide to the wisdom of the Western world, of particular use to anyone interested in philosophy not merely as a professional academic discipline, but as the ancients viewed it: as a way of life.

This is one of the best single volume books that my family owns. It is not the average "book of quotations," the quotations are organized according to the idea being represented. The ideas are extensive as well the quotations for each. They authors represented are everyone from Plato to Bertrand Russell. Highly recommended.

Simply put, essential to any well rounded library reference section. It is so much more than the quick snippets one finds in the average "book of quotations". Mr Adler and company have made a volume that offers the reader and researcher deeper and longer passages, within which are nested many of those quotable nuggets we are so familiar with. But this book gives them to us in context.

For the historian it is a wonderful timeline of the evolution of thought on many subjects. For the reader, it is a well crafted look into the quintessential ideas that have shaped western society and our literature, both fiction and non-fiction, and a window into the times in which books were written, when concepts such as war or death, or love were rather different then the 21st century mind sees them. For the writer the book is a must for understanding the zeitgeist of different ages and writing believable fiction.

The Great Treasury is, without a doubt, the most useful and interesting book I have in my possession (it is my father's, but I "acquire" it from time to time). Brimming with insight into just about everything, this compendium is essential to any scholar or "backyard philosopher" you know. It contains insight from almost every major philosopher, encapsulating many topics (however, there are very, very few female writers). It is also brilliantly indexed, and flipping to your topic of choice is simple and easy. I believe that it is an essential part of everyone's library, and if its presence is missing, then it should be bought.

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in ideas and prepared to distil the essence of what has been thought on major topics. There are thousands of entries. (The index alone is some 350 pages.) It's far more than a book of quotations although that too. Few books contain such extensive extracts running to several pages of normal print -- the type face is fairly small (My eyesight is poor but I had no trouble.) The content has been brilliantly categorized by theme and what I found invaluable was to sweep through history and notice the changing views of philosophers, essayists, and major poets over time.(There are relatively few female writers) Virtually all the major western thinkers are featured. If you are interested in finding out what major thinkers thought, this could be your starting point. It'll take you three months to read through if you tackle the whole thing at a go as I did. Excellent value for money.

This is a wonderful easy read about the history of western herbalism. It is very thorough without becoming dry or overbearing, and is written in a very pleasant style.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in medicine and/or herbal medicine. It covers an incredible amount of history, presented in a very easy to read and engaging style. I couldn't put it down!

Green Pharmacy is one of the best books to read on the history of Herbalism and its connections to medical treatments. I liked it because it clearly explains how the principal constituent when isolated for conventional medicinal purposes, can cause harmful side effects. The book reveals that using herbs as a whole plant is more beneficial. A very educational book.

Ms. Van Der Zee has written a book that is quite fascinating! For me this particular book was required reading, but Im actually glad that it was because I learned a great deal about the history of herbal and general medicine throughout the millenia. The history and facts are interesting and higly readable. Ms. Van Der Zee makes you want to keep reading. Green Pharmacy is a book that is not only a "must read" but a definite "must own".

The sick and suffering in the USA who are appalled by current high prices for their medication will be amazed to learn this struggle has been unceasing throughout human history. Barbara Griggs describes how for many centuries inexpensive herbal remedies were fostered by women who were unable to afford the costly medicines or services of established doctors. For current times, the author explains,"The quiet revolution which is gradually bringing plants back to centre-stage is patient rather than doctor-driven. It is patients who may be bankrupted by the cost of medical treatment, if they are not lucky enough to be clients of a generous national health service"pg.369 An outraged public is making this a major concern of the presidential election. To intelligently deal with our current medical dilemma, read and absorb this studiously prepared history of ways of healing.

Patricia Eslava Vessey shows us intentionality in making your life become what you want it to be and Ken Piazza Malchiodi teaches that unconditional love means sensitivity toward those who we tend to ignore. Patricia was my "retirement" coach - I went from fear and trembling into a satisfying retirement life! Get a life coach - it is well worth it.

I purchased this book because I know one of the contributing authors--Patricia Eslava Vessey "Discovering Your Core Heart Essence (CHE).

I have had the opportunity of working with her on a personal training level, and liked her outlook on life, it's challenges, and how you can take a "bad" situation and use that as a springboard to find your "CHE."

This book is a great gift for those around you that are in a "rut." I like the different chapters, all written by different authors. It gives a different perspective and anyone who picks up this book will relate to at least one, if not more, of the chapters in this quick and easy ready!

I keep it in the bag I carry with me. Anytime I need a break from the stress, or just need a "pick me up" I refer to one of the chapters. I like the different writing styles, the book is written from their experiences, while at the same time keeps it "real" without getting too "clinical."

I was privileged to be part of the editorial preparation of this book, so I know the chapters intimately. Each of these coaches brings brilliant expertise into her aspect of fostering success in building a vibrant relationship. The chapters are an interesting, easy read, and the contents are both pithy and practical. You cannot go wrong in purchasing this book because it's juicy contents will aggrandize your life! I highly recommend it. I own it!

What a great concept. We are all so busy these days that we don't take enough time to know ourselves and figure out what WE truly need. I really enjoyed the chapter by Ann Golden Egle on Falling In Love With Yourself. This is something we should all do, and every one in our lives will be the better for it!

After reading this book twice already, I'm much more aware where I am in my life, where I want to be, and how to get there. Those coaches are a beacon of experience and inspiration! I was especially transformed with the chapter 'Designing Your Success', where author Denise Braunstein coaches us through an unforgetable step-by-step life changing journey. Simply brilliant. Cheers to your best life!

Since the Bible is not taught in most schools, this Cliffsnotes is quite handy. There are so many biblical references and ideas driving the theme of Hawthorne's splendid novel, that without this guide, few teachers would understand the full context of Hawthorne's book.

Oh, students will find it helpful as well!

I fully recommend "Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter (Cliffs Notes)."

Anthony Trendl

This book made what was an incredably difficult book to follow easy to understand. I had to read the Scarlet Letter for my Honors english class. Highly Recomended.

Not to sound pretentious, but I had no trouble understanding "The Scarlet Letter," but I still found immense value in this companion text from Cliffs. It helped me by confirming what I myself had thought about the book and giving me interesting ideas for the term paper I was writing. Its usefulness comes from the ease of reading and the volume and quality of its contents. Of further value to the student is the rapidity with which the Cliffs Notes are read, making it indispensable for last minute paper-writing!

One closing comment: Cliffs Notes, however useful, are an aid for the reading of the full text and are no substitute for it.

Once, we were impressed by the characters and conversations. But, you will soon find out thatis not important. I know it is easier for a Christian to feel how painstaking to cencede. We are living in a sinful world with our erring nature. Death should be our eternity. But, Mr. Dimmesdale strived to win and be respected. He knows what is wrong and make the very decision to admit his error. He is brave, with no fear of death or punishment. A love lasts for seven years. Connecting our innermost desire for love, it touch every reader. I cannot move, feeling sorry after reading the ending. I hope no one will miss it.

These cliff notes greatly enhance the reader's ability to understand Hawthorne's extensive symbolism throughout the story. In addition, the character synopsis and plot summary allow the reader to fully understand the actions embedded in this wordy novel.

I have been using this book, among many others, since its publication. What I find is that with almost every subject, this book provides clear answers that are reinforced across the entire body of nutrition research literature. I have come to trust this reference as a "single source" as a result, even though in the beginning I would consult several sources. Mr. van Straten is the #1 health journalist in the UK and has run a private practice for nutritional healing for 30 years. His advice is practical and very usable. The book is also beautifully illustrated, making it a pleasure to use.

This book is one of the most wonderful things I own. Given to me as a gift by my friend, I thanked her million times for the book. Has great advice for all age groups from pre-pregnancy - kids - teens - middle age to elderly etc., - goes full circle.
We keep referring to it pretty often. It covers most of the foods and most of the common illnesses that can be cured with proper regulation of diet. A Wonderful reference. Does not require you to read it from start to finish.

This book is excellent. It covers everything you could possibly imagine including natural foods, vitamins, food suggestions for illnesses, fruits, vegetables, diary, meat, nuts, soy just to name a few. Also stress, relaxation, yoga and age groups. Well written for the layperson as well as the expert, and includes beautiful color photographs. If you want to buy just one book that has it all, this is the one!

If there was only one book I could keep..above all others it would be this one. I have referred to this one over and over again. It is a wealth of nutritional information and tid bits of trivia regarding almost every food and drink going. From fruits and veggies to natural spring water (from around the world), wild game to candy this book has it all.
"Healing Foods" also contains a section on foods to include and/or exclude from your diet in relation to many different symptoms one may be experiencing.
Not only does this book cover the value of food for our body but also for our mind and emotional health as well. There is just so much info available along with colourful photos and an eye catching layout, I reccommend this book to anyone interested in a natural way to boost your health in general or just curious to know how the food we eat affects our body and mind.

So easy to use either as a quick resourse guide or for indepth reading. Suggested for anyone interesting in alternative medicine, healthy bodies through healthy eating, and gaining a knowledge of the benefits of specific foods. Certainly a must for your reference library!

as a teen i read hodgson's "the nightland" and "boats of the glen carrig" with the former impressing me strongly. i could never find "the house on the borderland" and was unaware of his short fiction. hearing of the release of hardcover editions of his collected works led to an enjoyable reread of "boats" and the short fiction in the 1st volume of the series.(also thank you to my teen son who suggested i seek out "house.") i preordered this 2nd volume months ago, and the wait was well worth it. "house" is a match for any work of fantastic horror (lovecraft, derleth, king, etc)and a book almost unbelievably inventive for its time. the short fiction in this volume is as much of a treat as what was in the 1st volume. the last story is a chilling comment on the danger of the western mind misunderstanding the thought processes of the east (certainlyly pertinent today) and all the short fiction has something to offer. this was strong work and is highly recommended.

Lovecraft wrote of "The House on the Borderland", ""Never has a book so hauntingly conveyed a sense of terrible loneliness and isolation" and called it a "classic of the first water". Hodgson himself saw it as being part of a "trilogy", along with "Glen Carrig" and "Ghost Pirates". He was probably too close to his own work to see that ALL of the later, better material, carried the same oppressive message: we are shielded from malign outer forces by the thinnest of barriers, that what we would like to think of as "reality" is a tissue-thin wall separating us from entities whose very existance and purpose lie far beyond our ability to understand, much less deal with.

"The House on the Borderland" is probably the most accessible of the four novels Hodgson wrote, especially since it eschews the "archaic" language device and sickly-sweet "love interest" that make "The Night Land" so difficult. It is a crisply-written narrative whose power still grips after repeated readings. "Canacki the Ghost Finder" is a more familar "occult detective", somewhat along the lines of Blackwood's "John Silence", but he reaches incredible heights of tension and sense of dread, especially in "The Gateway of the Monster" and "The Whistling Room".

The remaining eleven short stories vary in quality, but none of them is a "dud", and none of them has been available in anything other than obscure, expensive, and now out of print anthologies.

Beautifully presented in dark blue with brilliant silver stamping, this and its companion volumes don't just LOOK good, they're **fantastic** values. Absolutely my highest recommendation. Reading this, you'll see that "fantasy" and "horror" writers of today scribble in the shadows of giants.

I just received this book from Amazon and will be buying the other editions in this collection as my budget allows. I first read The House on the Borderland years ago and it is indeed a weird and memorable story, ranking up with Lovecraft's best work. This book includes a number of Hodgson's stories about a supernatural detective, and I can't wait to read them.

This edition is among the best of any horror and fantasy editions I've ever seen, with nice use of large and readable typefaces, a very sturdy binding, intriguingly strange artwork inside, and beautiful silver stamping on the cover. My wife has never read anything in this genre but when she saw my book she immediatley picked it up and was entranced by the wonderful craftsmanship in this edition. At just over twenty bucks, this is a terrific value and will not only look beautiful on your shelf but may keep you up all night!

I'd guess that if you are looking at this review you probably already know that William Hope Hodgson is one of the masters of 20th Century Fantasy Horror, and a huge influence on all who came after him in particular HP Lovecraft. Whether you know anything about Hodgson or not, this volume is a good place to start reading. It contains two of his masterworks 'House on the Borderland', with its truly brooding sense of cosmic despair, and the stories of Carnacki the occult detective. It also has quite a few other stories I have not seen before which while generally not of the same quality are definately worth reading.

The production values of the book are excellent, with decent size font, sewn binding and rather irrelevant but interesting illustrations. My only vague complaint is that the backing boards are of a plasticky nature and probably will not last as long as cloth, but this is a triviality.

I will definately be getting the others of the series as they come out, and will probably not bother hanging on my copy of the old Arkhan collection of novels. There is no better recommendation.

This odd, deeply atmospheric novel is undoubtedly the masterwork of the eccentric Edwardian English wrtier William Hope Hodgson. It presents the haunting story of an old recluse who lives in a weird borderland between ordinarly reality and unspeakable horror. The tale is presented through the experience of two friends who discover an old manuscript in the ruin of a mansion while camping in rural Ireland. The papers describe the strange visions and terrifying experiences of the recluse who, together with his elderly sister, was the house's last living inhabitant. The story is powerfully evocative of the different kinds of evil that can befall a human mind. It should appeal to anyone who likes Lovecraft or Poe, but goes far beyond the limits of the horror genre in its imaginative power and artistry.

Excellent book. I have played for quite a while and sometimes have not understood the cause and effect of flaws in the swing. This book explains them all. From grip to follow through.

I was chosen as one of the top golf instructors of the nineties in L.A. and Palm Springs and many of Ms. Lupo's techniques are similar to what I taught. I particularly liked the drawings by her husband. A couple of her swing ideas are a little off the mark but most are accurate and very good.

I have read mucho golf books and this one is great for telling you how to perform fundermentals rather than just identifying what is a geat swing method. I have been working with this book for a month and my swing is getting better, better, and better. Also consistancy is taking hold. The illustrations are 1st class...... I am an 8 handicap and dropping....

Redog

Both beginners and experienced golfers will learn a great deal from this book. The book focuses on the fundamentals of the golf swing in a manner that beginners can understand, but with enough detail and subtlety that even an experienced golfer will benefit. For example, beginners will appreciate the clear descriptions and pictures that cover the basic setup and mechanics, while seasoned golfers will appreciate the discussion of "swing thoughts" and other mental aspects of preparing a golf swing. The emphasis on developing a solid, dependable setup and swing is invaluable. This is a no-nonsense book; if you follow the lessons and practice, you really will master a great golf swing! I know, after 20 years of trying, I took the time to rebuild my swing according to this book; in one season I dropped from mid 90's to low 80's. It could have happened faster if I had practiced more...

I was a Physiology Teaching Fellow in a university and an avid golfer since the time I was about 12 years old. Since that time, I have read many books on golf and the mechanics of the golf swing. In general, I've been frustrated by poor and incomplete descriptions in the past. This is because I think most great golfers don't have the ability to articulate what the actually are doing when they are making a swing. Their knowledge is embodies and underneath awareness. This book is unique in that it provides that missing information and presents it in a logical, clear and comprehensive manner including all the important details.

In addition, this book is not so technical that it is unreadable by the average person. All of the concepts, even the more suble or complex are presented in a straightforward and concise manner. I believe this is a monumental achievement and a valuable contribution to the golf literature.

This text will help you to understand EVERY aspect of a good golf swing, why it's important, what can go wrong and how to make corrections. There is not a single aspect of the swing or any element to it that is left out from feet placement, movement around various joints, etc. It also teaches you how to feel these things in your body and raised your awareness of how different things going wrong feels.

In my opinion, this book should be on every golfer's shelf.... amateur and professional alike. It is a rare gem and one that will help you to improve your game. While it won't take the place of golf lessons by an excellent teacher, it will help you to digest what your pro is trying to tell you and give you the concepts you need to make improvements on your own.

I ordered it thru a company at 1-800-695-7838. Signed copy, 29.95 and shipping 7 bucks. Arrived in 3 days or so. Read it in one sitting, that is how good it was. Wonderful read. Great tech stuff, outlines on workshop protocol and ideas. I highly, highly recommended it. Took the fear and guesswork out of doing a workshop (either for me or for a group). Thanks!

This excellent popular book seems to have been out of print for some time now, but the good news is that the original publisher Interweave press sells a new print (with new cover art) at their web site for $29.95.

This is one of those books which is much more than a how-to for natural dyeing. Trudy van Stralen writes in a conversational style, yet gives succinct information where needed. Especially helpful are the photos of fibers and fabrics of both cellulose and protein origin, and how they are affected by natural dyestuffs. I find myself thumbing through this book again and again, and recommend it heartily. There is a terrific chapter on how to organize a group dye class with a clear section on how to keep records which make sense long after the dye session is over. A must-have book for a natural dye enthusiast.

I use this as one of my primary reference books for natural dyeing. Trudy has a nice style providing a good framework for beginners to be successful. The color samples on various fibers are excellent. Her percentage of mordant and dye stuff to "weight of goods" method provides consistant results especially since I bought a digital scale. The photos are gorgeous and the text is clear. Bonus is a detailed chapter on conducting a dyeing workshop.

technically out of print, author purchased last few thousand copies...Louet Sales 613-925-4502 is distributing this title

This book was my first and the best introduction to Buddhism. This book led me on the path of Buddhism and I ended up learning a lot from other sources as well.
The best part is the graphics as well as minimal yet clear presentation of the complex concepts.
Every time I turn the pages of this book, something new and profound hits me...

Well, not really. But at least I now know the famous story of his life, and have a very good overview of how the movement has split/changed over the centuries. Very good book.

If pictures are worth a thousand words then there is a ga-jillion words in this book. Packed full of illustrations! This book will have your light bulb turning on and your bell ringing with Satori. Some of the ideas are very complex and other authors require several pages to explain it. But these guys are masters of efficient learning -- accomplishing the same task with one picture and just the right words. You'll learn all about the Buddha history, traditions, culture, and philosophy. The many experiences of sudden enlightenments and flashes of epiphany resulted in fun comprehension. Definitely one of the best books to get you started into Buddhism.

This is the best introduction to Buddhism I've seen. It's clear, concise and enjoyable. The graphics are entertaining, as well.

If you want a concise yet accurate summary of the origin and development of Buddhism, this is the book to buy. The text is easy to understand, and the book covers a lot of ground on the subject without using a lot of jargon. The illustrations are vivid and often humorous. A lot of people have misconceptions of what Buddhism really is; this book will help you understand the true spirit of the teachings of Siddhartha. It's a lot different than what you may have thought!