New Books

I've always enjoy Og Mandino's self-development books, both his nonfiction and fiction. The Twelfth Angel is trademark Og Mandino - it is a powerful self-development lesson taught through emotion and by example. It's a story of hope for the future, even when the future appears hopeless.

In my opinion, you don't just read an Og Mandino fiction book, you "feel" an Og Mandino book and The Twelfth Angel is no exception. He is one of my favorite self-development writers, so this review may be a bit partial.

Have you ever been through such a powerful life changing and emotionally devastating experience that you instinctively know life will never be the same again? You begin to realize that you are at an emotional fork in the road, you're either going to learn from the experience or end up wallowing in it. That's exactly what happens to the main character John Harding in The Twelfth Angel - his life is facing that powerful and often frightening life-changing fork in the road.

After the tragic loss of his wife and child in an accident, John Harding believes he is faced with the choices of either to go on living or to end it all. When it seems the bleakest, a friend comes to him asking for help. He's asked to help coach a boys little league baseball team. And slowly but surely John's life has hope and purpose once again.

We can learn so much from children. They have such an unstoppable optimism and enthusiasm. And in The Twelfth Angel, this is just what John needs in his life. This book is also about never, ever giving up. John begins to mentor Timothy Noble who is not the athletic type yet becomes one of the most important players on "The Angels" baseball team. Timothy teaches everyone about the power of possibility and persistence.

What can this well written story teach us? It teaches that life is full of purpose and wonder. You were placed on this earth to make a difference and it's up to you to find that purpose. As John discovered, with purpose you have the willpower to keep going even when the going looks impossible and hopeless.

This book is about courage, belief, hope, persistence and the power of purpose - that's how I'd summarize this powerful little story.

The Twelfth Angel is an easy read and in fact you can probably read it in a couple of days. Be prepared to read with your mind and emotions. Give yourself some quiet time to absorb the self-discovery lessons and feel the emotions these lessons can invoke.

If you decide to read The Twelfth Angel, please read with an open mind and heart because then you'll truly appreciate Og Mandino's wise lessons about the wonder of living a meaningful life.

This book just makes you want to count your blessings! I absolutely loved it!

I've read every book that Mandino has written. This was the first book that got me hooked on this author. He is a great story teller and a great motivational/inspirational writer! This is a must read for anyone over the age of 12. If all little league coaches read this book, there would be less problems with out of control coaches. This is not about baseball but about how to deal with life and how to treat people.

I have read everyone of Og Mandinos Books and all I can say is that he writes with brilliance, clarity, enthusiasm, and spirit. You can never go wrong with any of his books. He points out the path to success and motivates the spirit within to achieve all that we as human beings are capable. He helped me to tap into my innate genuis and create a life of prosperity and creativity. If you havent raed his books, start now and your journey of the spirit will begin. He was a born writer and even after his passing continues to have a great influence on many people old and young. He truly lived a purposeful and divine life. Go buy all his books and enjoy the growth and enlightenment. After that Buy my Book " Your daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present". Enjoy and rememeber you are capable of great things in your life.

The Twelfth Angel, by Og Mandigo, is truly an inspiring and heartfelt story. This story left such an unforgettable impact on me that I know I'm likely to ponder it for years. Everyone should absolutely read this book, especially those in need of inspiration and hope. This book leaves you with tears, with hope you never knew you had, and with the wanting to never give up.

I don't want to give away too much, but this book is about a young, diligent, succesful, loving man who moves back to his small hometown of Boland, NH, with his wife Sally and their young boy Rick. When tradegy strikes, John has to struggle to cope. His life is shattered and he ultimately looks to suicide as an answer. Fortunately, his old friend, Bill helps him out of the gutter, which is where his life now lies, by asking him to help coach the boys little league. Uncertain, John finally accepts.

The day of tryouts John notices a boy who is smaller than any of the other kids, whose baseball hat and clothes look about two sizes too big on him. This little boy isn't very good at baseball, but he kept on trying, the whole time with determination and a big smile on his face. Although some of the older and better kids laughed and smirked at his constant mistakes and misses, this little boy was never put down and never stopped. And to John's surprise, this boy was amazingly the splitting image of his boy Rick! At first John had even thought he could have been Rick. This little boy, Timothy Noble, was by far the worst player of all the kids who tried out, and who had managed, almost as if by destiny, to end up on John's baseball team, receiving a jersey with number twelve on it.

Early on in the baseball season, John noticed that there was something very genuine and original about Timothy. What John and Timothy both don't know, is that their relationship will become very close, as they both need each other more than they can imagine.

I absolutely loved this heartfelt story. I even had tears gushing down my cheeks as I neared the end of the book. I think that this book is truly inspiring and comforting. I loved how caring and concerned John was of Timothy, and I especially loved little Timothy Noble and how happy he was. I was truly touched by this story and will always cherish everything I learned from this book. The lesson I think that Mandigo was in a way trying to get across is that you must be positive and have at least a good-maybe even a great-outlook on life, no matter what comes your way. If you are positive, you have a positive feedback, making your life richer everyday and in many different ways.

I really enjoyed Og Mandigo's writing style, as he was very, very vivid with his descriptions. I definitely plan to read more of his books in the future, and I would recommend this book to anyone who can read!

The great power of Arnold's book is in the real world examples of forgiveness he offers. Some of the examples have an "everyday" kind of quality to them while others are staggering in terms of the ability of people to somehow cut through their hurt, anguish and rage to come to the point of forgiveness. Arnold avoids the "Oprahzation" of forgiveness by reminding the reader that forgiveness takes both truth and grace into account He neither diminishes nor denies the hard realities with which people must live. Arnold devotes much space to the self-interested nature of forgiveness. We forgive because such an act works toward our own good. I would have liked to have seen him devote a bit more space to those instances in which people forgive because they see it as a way to display something of the character of God even when they themselves may never find peace through forgiveness. My only critique of the book is that author does not provide bibliographical references. The book is full of wonderful quotes and stories. I would like to have known the sources. Further, a recommended list of readings would have been helpful. However, having said all of that, this is the kind of book that makes you want to take off your shoes as you read...you recognize that you are on holy, holy ground.

Why Forgive? Hard as it may be this book shows in a simple and powerful way that the only way to true freedom is through forgiveness. While bitterness seems the roads to take and hatred towards those who have hurts us the excepted emotion, Arnold dares to tells us the true stories of people who choose the road less travel and in the end found the freedom to let go and change their world by forgiving. He also gives us a look into the lives of those who choose to be angry, only to destroy themselves. This book is moving and powerful, it is a striking lesson of something most people and talkshows refuse to speak about. I only pray that people out their struggling with bitterness and revenge read this book and know there is another way.

A powerful, emotionally driving book, "Why Forgive" provides a framework of forgiveness that not only defines why it is important to forgive, but also how not forgiving eats at us like a cancer until it kills our happiness and our very essence.

With true life stories of amazing acts of forgiveness, the book shows how forgiveness is required before truly moving on to complete healing when you have been wronged. The extremely powerful stories show how forgiveness has allowed individuals to regain their lives after severe tragedy has entered their lives. Instead of taking the easy path and allowing anger and hate to destroy them, they make a choice that results in a deep peace. Pick up the book, learn to forgive, learn how it is necessary for true peace, choose the road less travelled and choose forgiveness. If there is a book that should be required reading for everyone, this is a contender for that book.

This book will banish any lingering doubt that forgiveness and reconciliation is the linchpin of good in this world. Filled with compelling personal accounts of those who truly have the right to ask us all to forgive, the book has the power to change the direction of your life for the better. Don't miss it!

Forgiveness is the key to real freedom. The path to forgiveness is not always easy. The renewal of the act of forgiving makes the path easier to travel. The road to forgiveness becomes smoothly paved as we forgive and keep on forgiving. Our journey gets easier with each trip down the original path, leading to the paved road of freedom and happiness. See chapter 14, Not a step but a Journey.

In Regards to Eheieh Ain Soph .... wtf

Crowley was a man, I'm sure his potential was higher then any womans could ever be....

Otherwise this deck is awesome and so is the man who is behind them.

This is the first deck i have ever worked with, and the only one i will ever work with. Its colours are amazing and every time i see it i want to work with it. I recomend it to anyone who likes Crowley, or his system. You will not be dissapointed with this deck.

I bought this deck along with another more well-known deck. I am new to Tarot and have been reading some books. When these decks arrived...I looked at each card. Personally...this deck is not for me. I am sure many people like this deck since it is quite colorful and the pictures are powerful. But it didn't feel right in my hands. I highly recommend that if you are "ify" about this deck...to visit some other Tarot sites to get a better look at the cards. If you are a beginner, try using the deck that goes along with your beginner book. If you are experienced...this may be an excellent deck.

I didn't know there were two kinds of decks, green and this one. My first deck was the green one and I never really bonded with it. Then one of the cards just vanished, so I couldn't use it. Maybe I wasn't supposed to use it. Comparing the two, this deck is so much nicer. It has a much higher vibration to it than the green one.

I purchased this deck expecting to receive the one pictured that is printed in Switzerland. All of the other reviews exclaim happily that it is as well. Instead of getting the red and white packaged deck in the mail I got a purple and coloured package from Game Systems U.S.A. that is printed in Belgium. Very dissapointing. The colours are greenish in hue and not true to the originals. I wish that the picture of the item and the reviews hadn't been so misleading, as I never would have purchased them if I had known.

It is difficult to write about a book that in many ways was life-changing. It awoke within me the realisation that the Grail Quest was not something that had to do with psychedelic lights, mystical mumbo jumbo, ritual, or chanting "ommmmm". It was intimately linked to one's daily life. And it threw down the gauntlet, as if it was saying, "Now that you've understood that part, what are you going to do about it?!"

For this reason, this book will not be to everyone's taste. If one wants to escape life, then there are thousands of other books out there. If one is interested in the results of Knight-Jadczyk's search, then The Secret History of the World, which presents many details of her thirty years of research, is the book to read. But if one wants evidence that the Grail Quest is open to anyone, no matter their background, this is an excellent place to begin.

The seeker of the Grail is "a widow's son," born in obscurity, beset on all sides by trials and tricks and traps, and that suffering and overcoming this suffering is what purifies the soul and gives hope to others. This is the true alchemical work. This is the point that Amazing Grace illustrates. That is the purpose of the book, to bring the Grail Quest and esoteric work down to earth through the story of a woman living in the backwoods of Florida, whose struggle to overcome her many problems became the means by which she became a true Knight of the Grail. All of us have the same opportunity.

To further understand the Knight-Jadczyk's development, what happened after Amazing Grace ends, it is necessary to read the Wave series and other articles on her site.

I mentioned above that Amazing Grace was life-changing. When I first read Amazing Grace, I knew nothing at all about the author. In my case, it led to my eventual contact with Laura Knight-Jadczyk. I now work with her. I mention this in the interest of full disclosure. I would have left the book unrated for that that reason, unfortunately, Amazon does not offer that option.

And a note to a previous reviewer who mentioned the passage on sending Laura's daughter to do the shopping -- no, the six-year-old did not go alone. She went with her father. They lived far out in the country and had to drive into town. Not even a precocious six-year-old could get away with that. Also, Laura doesn't talk to "aliens". The Cassiopeans describe themselves as "Us in the future", but Knight-Jadczyk also hypothesizes that they could be the manifestation of her subconscious self.

I have discovered this book to be a fascinating and heart-felt autobiography of a unique individual who traveled on the road of "many dangers, toils and snares," and on the quest for the truth and of discovery. This is the story of the Soul who saw and experienced many hidden dangers of the unseen evil in our world and discovered the most difficult truth about the nature of our reality through her experiences as expressed in this book. The lessons she learned and experienced give us a strong understanding behind Laura Knight-Jadczyk's passion for knowledge and Truth, and we can learn from these lessons.

This book is consisted of 44 chapters with roughly 540 pages, and it is very well written and very inspiring.

I truly agree with this author as she said in the end of her introduction (p. 14):

"We have the potential to discover the genuine existence of spirit and the play of the archetypal forces in our world, and to connect with them in a dynamic way."

This is the story of the life of a one-of-a-kind individual, the sort you might read about in, say, one the great Russian novels of the 19th century. It won't be anything like what you may expect, but you will find yourself, at its end, loving this ordinary/larger-than-life woman and the richness that is her life.

Laura Knight-Jadczyks' writing style kept me riveted to this book. It is her story of Mystery and Intrigue. The "Adventures" she endured were quite incredible and written so eloquently as to keep you wanting more. I highly recommend this book and found it an outstandingly good read.

The author eloquently expresses her experiences in this account. It's easy to see the programs and patterns when someone puts it down for us to see. But can we see it so readily in our own lives? This one left me with many questions about my own experiences, and those around me. An eye opener.

This is a very good book, but not great. Matthiessen's writing is engrossing and it is difficult to put it down. However, the vileness of some of the subject matter is a bit hard to swallow. This is, no doubt, a realistic tale, written after Matthiessen had traveled throughout the continent. The movie does have an influence, as one keeps thinking of Ms. Hannah. The plight and evolution of the natives and their values is intriguing. The disaster that results from outsiders forcing culture and religion down the throats of the "savages" is thought provoking and relates to many situations one sees. The characters aren't all that likable, but certainly very real. Hazel is a sad case. The jaguar shaman-to-be is a character about which it would be nice to learn more. Matthiessen says that he rewrote the last journey many times. This is the toughest part of the book to follow; is it real or a dream? I actually did reread parts of the end. There's no escaping the depression that comes from dwelling on the conflict in the jungle. I still feel that, despite the author's beliefs, his nonfiction work is better. But this is an enjoyable novel, regardless.

An excellent adventure story that is both fast paced and well developed. I've read a number of books by Matthiessen. This is the best I've read yet by him. His fiction is far better than his non fiction in my opinion.

I see there are many 5 star reviews here on Amazon. I 2nd these reviews. Recommended.

I am reading this book as a book on tape which is a good way to "read" it. This is a "good read" and worth your time. Recommended. Email Boland7214@aol.co

Why do I never hear Matthissen's name come up when there is speculation about who will win future Nobel Literature prizes?
AT PLAY is surely one of the great novels of the last half-century, and the reviewers hit on all of the reasons why. But add to that FAR TORTUGA, and the Watson Florida trilogy; and then add to THAT his brilliant and important non-fiction, from The Tree Where Man Was Born to The Snow Leopard, to In the Spirit of Crazy Horse; then, for good measure add in Matthiessen's involvement in The Paris Review, and you have a resume that is Nobel-quality.
Hey, I love Roth, too (admittedly not everything), but get serious!

This case study of culture clash is the story of Protestant missionaries trying to bring the Word of God to jungle savages. They think themselves heroes of The Lord, but there are no heroes here save, perhaps, Louis Moon a reservation half-breed who lost his faith. Moon is now an aimless mercenary staggering through life, bouncing off one obstacle after another. When it becomes his job to massacre the indigenous people, he is revisited by drug-induced dreams of his youth and instead joins them as their rain god fallen from the sky (and a failing airplane).

Self-righteous missionary Martin Quarier, becomes less certain of his beliefs as the novel progresses, but seems incapable of moving beyond them. He sees the absurdity of the doctrinal feud between Catholics and Protestants, yet cannot think of priests as anything but the Enemy, in league with Satin. And Satin seems to be working on him, as well, churning up lust for the wife of another missionary.

The religious beliefs of the natives give a glimpse of how faith gets started. Their minor gods clearly provide more for them on a day-to-day basis than the major one Quarier tries to serve. He creates a "rice convert" or two, but is ultimately a miserable failure.
At Play in the Fields of the Lord is a classic tragedy of misunderstanding and miscommunication. If you haven't read it, it's worth that first read. If you have, it was probably long enough ago that it deserves a second look.

this is the best and most easily understood bio of St Augustine, I love it.

This is an excellent scholarly biography of Augustine of Hippo. Peter Brown gives a thorough and balanced treatment of all of the important aspects of Augustine's life, thought, and historical context. I personally used this book as my set textbook for an independent study course I took on St. Augustine when I was attending university.

Brown does a very good job of summarizing important philosophical and theological concepts that are central to understanding Augustine's significance to the history of Christianity.

However, despite my very positive appraisal of this book, I feel that this might not be the best choice for people making their first entry into Augustine.

Augustine's is a severe and forbidding character. His intellectually rigorous reasoning on(and harsh views of) salvation and grace made him an inspiration to Calvin and the Puritans. But gloomy though his view of human nature might be, Augustine was intense and passionate, a theologian and philosopher with a poet's sensitivity to natural beauty and the use of language. This books puts the reader in Augustine's mind and life: there is the young man dedicated to an idealistic pursuit of truth,surrounded by admiring friends and family; later, his imposition of that truth on the all-too-human structure of the early Christian church will be fraught with challenge. Augustine knew Rome and Roman Africa in their glory days; he died as Africa fell to Vandal invaders who would impose a century of brutal rule. Peter Brown brings the tumultuous period in which Augustine lived fully and comprehensively alive; he makes us one with a brilliant, uncompromising, surprisingly compassionate human being.

This a revised edition of a very good biography of St Augustine of Hippo. Although I am in the mist of reading this bio I find the writing inviting and histology very well done.

Peter Brown's AUGUSTINE of HIPPO is epic study of the adventure...the spiritual-intellectual ODYSSEY...that is Life of Aurelius Augustine,Saint and uber-Father of the Christian Church in the West. Brown's peerless biography details(36chapters;437pp)a life of towering intellectual genius from birth in AD 354 in Thagaste,Province of Northern Africa SPQR ;until his death as Bishop of Hippo in AD 430.His education is sweepingly arrayed ~beginning in Carthage as orator and magister;his thorough indoctrination in Manichaeism; his meeting with St.Ambrose and immersion in philosophy of Platonist...the birth & death of his brilliant son,Adeodatus,"gift of God"..;the everlasting presence/influence of his mother,Monica; the epiphany cited in THE CONFESSIONS,"to take and read(Biblical exhortations of St. Paul)"followed by his Conversion/Baptism and quick-fire Ordination as Roman Catholic priest;and almost-instant elevation to Bishop. This prelude is followed by Augustine's unsurpassed career as The West's first & premier existential-psychologist:THOU HAS MADE US FOR THYSELF LORD; AND OUR HEARTS ARE FOREVER RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN THEE; and ironic humorist~LORD MAKE ME PURE...BUT NOT TODAY. As well as arch-foe of anti-Catholic heresy~Donatism; Pelagianism;and the Occult(with which he was expertly familiar having been 10 year Initiate therein).

Augustine's CITY of GOD is not only the first consummate philosophy of History (surpassing Herodotus "then";and Hegel/Spengler & even Marx "now" in effect on history. CITY of GOD shaped the LOGOS,world-view of Western Man for 1000 years/entire MIDDLE AGES(ca~AD 476-AD 1517).Austine wrote catechisms ENCHIRIDION);treatises on Free Will;predestination;and is formulator of the Christian concept of ORIGINAL SIN.Augustinian theology l comprises(ironically)most fundamental notions of Protestant Reformers. Catholic Church champion St.Thomas Aquinas is -as-indebted to him as to Aristotle in framing THE SUMMA THEOLOGICA.


Peter Brown's new St.AUGUSTINE of HIPPO is not so much revision but carefully written...in modus of Augustine..reflection on what he had once written.There is brief preface.There is extensively documented epilogue comprised as New Evidence;& New Directions(pp441-520).There is expanded bibliography & index.The 1967 edition is 463pp;the new is 538pp.
Any student of Augustine knows that with him "more is More. Whether 75pp mas is MORE, the reader will of course determine.Brown's book is the classic,unlikely to be surpassed,study of a genius in the service of God,SERVUS DEI. Any serious student of theology,philosophy;or history of Ideas must confront St.Augustine of Hippo.This profound, mythology-like masterwork is not the opus to start with.But when you're ready "to TAKE & READ",it is matchless story-telling that is worthy of the unique,perhaps most remarkable,QUEST for God & Truth that a great and gifted man ever committed his life toward. (777 stars)

A close friend of mine had attended a live training with Rose Rosetree and talked highly of her. I then bought her book on Aura Reading and also on Empathy.

My friend tells me that Rose is much better in person than she comes across on the written page.

I tend to take books such as this with a grain of salt, while trying to keep an open mind. At this point I'm very skeptical, but I do not want to "close the book" just yet. I have read the book and reread certain sections, including the exercises.

The book has a section on identifying "your special talent" for reading auras: visual, kinetically, olfactory, "knowing," etc. By the end of the chapter I think that everyone would have identified with one of the things Rose said. This means that we ALL have a special talent. However, if we all have it, what makes it so special?

The book is about "reading" auras, not "seeing" auras. Basically, she talks about gathering information about someone or something through "subtle perceptions."

She has several exercises for developing your ability to read auras. I really want to see colors, but I don't. She relies on the ability to see colors when describing some of the uses of aura reading. At other times, she seems to put everything under the umbrella of aura reading. Want to "hear" the music on a CD before you buy it? Read the aura! Use aura reading to smell perfumes without opening the bottles. (I kid you not, this is in the book).

The preparation for some of the exercises is simplistic and the book doesn't explain how or why certain things do the things she says they will. For example, she reported that you can raise your vibrational rate, by taking three deep breaths, which she calls "High vibration breaths." I've done a lot of deep breathing and a lot of meditation, but I don't believe I've really "seen" an aura.

On the other hand, I've "seen" things and felt things. I'm not sure what these things are. I don't know if it's just me fooling myself or if this is genuinely aura reading. I've always had the ability to look at someone or a picture of someone and size them up fairly accurately (based on reports by others). This is what I mean by the jury still being out. I continue to try the exercises, because I really would like to do the things she describes.

Please note: I'm writing this from my office and don't have the book with me, so some of the terminology may be off, but the concepts are not.

The bottom line is that the book doesn't cost that much and if you are interested, buy the book and try the exercises. Maybe you'll have more luck than I did.

This book is one of a kind. Most book on aura reading are very limited in the way they teach to develop your abilities. This book cannot fail to help you unravel your gifts because it pinpoints your strengths. It doesn't promise instantaneous and magical aura viewing in "30 seconds!" or in "30 minutes!" Psychic reading is a skill to develop and this book helps you develop it.

One of the most interesting idea she discusses is that of synesthesia, the merging of the psychic senses (clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience, etc) that happens eventually as you develop one or two of your talents. She also develops the three basic psychic senses into eleven.

The other strength of the book is that the author links psychic abilities development and spiritual development. She offers recommendations and a resource section to that end. In short, that book is completely worth it to the spiritual student, healer, psychic or else.

This book is very interesting and helpful for the person who wants to know more about the world we belong to. I would recommend to read this book.

This book will help you develop your skills as an aura reader. It is a great reference book to have with a vast amount of information in it. You can go back to it repeatedly and find it offers you something useful every time. The question and answer sections are very funny and give you the feeling of being in a workshop. The techniques are clearly explained and will help you to deepen your subtle perception.

This book is well worth your time! If you are looking to expand and enhance your personal Divine abilities, here is the best example of guidance I've had the pleasure of reading in a while. The techniques and guidance have enhanced my own personal experience so much, I simply have this "knowing" that it will benefit other's as well. Rose Rosetree, the author, has a knack of helping one see beyond the walls of the box we tend to compartmentalize our learning. She is encouraging and knows that each of us has our own special abilities, how to indentify those abilities, and then how to enhance and use them. You may find that it "qualifies" things you have done your whole life and didn't realize till you read "Aura Reading Through All Your Senses". Enjoy!

To know Rockaway is to absolutely know what it's like to not be able to live without Rockaway. Kevin Boyle captures Rockaway's darkest moments and shows how a community bonds together and rebuilds. He shows our strength and our unity during these tragic times. Thanks Kevin.

Kevin Boyle writes about Rockaway and its inhabitants with respect and humor. It has a nice balance of history, humor, and gripping unreal reality. I am from the area and lost a loved one. This book was tough for me but I can honestly say it is the most personal and realistic look at not just the firefighters that were lost, but the people that were lost. I recommend it.
- James Suhr

Fascinating account of the history of The Rockaways, and the devestating impact of 9/11 and the November 2001 airline accident. The reader is introduced to a number of families, and how they were impacted by the two tragedies. It is a wonderful read, and although The Rockaways are a scant few miles from Manhattan, the feeling is one of a small-town, where neighbors look out for neighbors and there is a community spirit of togetherness.

I must have read twenty 9/11 books and only came upon this after doing a search about 9/11 books. I had only heard of Rockaway Beach from the song, Rock, Rock, Rock, Rockaway Beach. I didn't know such an amazing place actually existed. Kevin Boyle writes of a place we want to call home and of people we want as friends. The bravery and toughness seen here is superhuman, and so is the goodness and strength. It's a story I'll never forget.

Being from "Rockaway", although technically from Breezy Point, I know what the people around here faced in both tragic events. I know the numbers involved. I decided to read this book because I wanted to know the names and thoughts behind those numbers. It was nice to know about all the places described in this book, and I found myself nodding at many of the comments or descriptions about life in Rockaway. Rockaway is really THE forgotten part of New York City, and this book puts us out there. I particularly liked the sections about the history of Rockaway, most of which I knew absolutely nothing about.

Thanks Kevin, for bringing out Rockaway's story and for making it so genuine and truthful!!!

A Child's Christmas In Wales CD: And Five Poems
Hurrah! Now I won't have to wait for the radio to play Dylan Thomas reading his wonderful Child's Christmas every Christmas. Truly a beautiful recording of the other poems as well.

My goodness, these illustrations are ugly. They completely detract from the beauty of the language. Either read it out loud to a blind person or stick with the version illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.

This reading of A Child's Christmas in Wales is tops! It wouldn't be Christmas for us without hearing Dylan Thomas tell his story. He recounts a holiday of simple, family and neighborhood doings, and paints a picture of snowy, seaside Wales of the 1920's.

I love this story, as do all my children, who, from their earliest years, have not much struggled with the density of the language nor the scatteredness of the story. 5 of my 8 great-grandparents are from Wales, and the remaining 3 have the blood in them as well, so maybe it is like drinking water for us.:-D Our minds are all scattered, and words, even English words ;-D, fall on us in clumps....which makes it doubly hard to keep a clean house. LOL

The sort of prose-poetry imaginative way of seeing and describing the world unique to Welshwomen and Welshmen and Welshchildren, which does not seek to keep up the pretense that history can be separated from myth, story and desire, and which requires loving with eyes wide open to [and eventually embracing] one's own and others' bumps, bruises and idiosyncracies included, is extraordinarily well represented here. So, by the way, is speaking and listening to the close and Holy darkness!

My favorite version isthe one illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. To me she has captured the complexity of the Welsh personality best, though i have nothing to say against the other illustrators praised in these reviews. I DO have a warning for you: there are some skinny versions flying about which do not have the poem-story complete and correct. This sort of work cannot suffer removal or modification, IMHO.

gbg

If you have read A Child's Christmas in Wales, you know that it has to be a classic. But you can't fully appreciate it until you have heard Dylan Thomas read it. What a deep, expressive, poetic voice. For years, I have listened to the recording on a Caedman record. It is wonderful to have it on a CD.

This is a helpful book that is broken up into small chapters that are easy to read.It made me laugh,and get a better understanding of people who are never satisfied with their weight.

I can't begin to describe my difficulties of growing into the body I am going to have as a woman, but I don't have to because Jessica did it for it for me. There are very few ways to describe how it feels to read "Do I look fat in this?" except to say it's freeing. As I turned the pages I would eat up every word & little by little i could breathe easier.
Jessica is the start of something amazing that i want to be a part of!!

"She wins who calls herself beautiful and challenges the world to change tp truely see her" - Naomi Wolf

I loved Jessica Weiner's books A Very Hungry Girl and Do I Look Fat In This. Therefore, when I saw she had a "new" book out, I immediately ordered it from Amazon without paying attention to details. Please be aware that if you already own Do I Look Fat In This, you do not need to order Life Doesn't Begin 5 Pounds From Now; this is the same book with a different title and a new forward. So now I own two copies of this book with different covers, but I don't mind so much because it is filled with wonderful information for not-slim women like me. Guess I must have needed to re-read it, huh?

If you're tired of dieting, this may be the book for you. Jess's book is a breakthrough experience for anyone who has struggled with self-appearance and self-esteem....and isn't that most of us. She believes that by focusing on what others tell you are your shortcomings-- you miss opportunities to feel connected, sexy and powerful. Whether you're a size 2 , 12 or 22 or beyond-- you can benefit from Jess's words of wisdom. The motivational speaker, author and self-described "actionist" versus Activist...writes in plain English and tosses in some great motivational quotes from famous people and some fun facts about self approval and more. Twelve chapters plus an afterword are included..and the chapters are fun to read-- get this even if you don't have the time to read it-- just scan it and you'll benefit -- I promise...ANyway the chapters range from Decoding the Language of Fat...to the Famous or should I say infamous question most women ask daily "Do I look Fat in This? to "I Feel Fat" to If I were Thinner, He'd Love me" to Thunder Thighs Run in my Family to Ch 6-- I'd be so happy if I looked like a Celebrity to 7) Once I lose some weight..... to 8) All of my Friends are not and I'm not...9) But I'm jsut trying to be healthy to 11) [...] 12) Sorry I don't speak that language. Quizes, roleplaying experiences and fun quizes are interspersed with TAKE ACTION steps...Probably the most important thought though is that YOU CAN"T FEEL FAT -- because fat is not a feeling-- and if you read that section alone (I don't want to steal her thunder with her response to this) ...you'll benefit greatly...AN amazing lady and a fun, easy-to-read book that's great for girls above 12, teens, college chicks and women of any age...great to get this before the holiday parties start! Fun birthday gift...

I have been a psychotherapist for about as long as Jessica has been on the planet and a writer longer than that. From both of these vantage points I applaud this excellent book. Most of all, Jessica is honest and vulnerable in what she has to share and teach and it is that kind of genuine connection that really helps people heal. Buy 2 copies; you'll want to give one away.