Baker Books

Not a review here but a note. Readers who enjoy Orlando would appreciate Anthony Powell's witty account of the moon trip in the 12th and last volume of his A Dance to the Music of Time.

I may not have been the only person to have noticed how much the poetry improves in the last half of _Paradiso_ in the Dorothy Sayers translation. This is because Sayers died before completing the last of her translation of the _Divina Commedia_, and her devoted friend and admirer Barbara Reynolds took over. But where Sayers had been technically impressive in matching Dante's terza rima, but pedestrian in the poetry, at the point where (as I guess) Reynolds takes over a new lightness of touch and poetic feel for the language makes itself felt.

This Ariosto translation is Reynolds' great achievement. Moreover it is one of the three or four greatest literary translations in English, an achievement to stand beside Dryden's _Aeniad_ and Fairfax's _Gerusalemma Liberata_. (On Pope's _Illiad_, which I'm currently reading, I tend to agree with the contemporary reviewer who commented, "A very pretty poem, Mr Pope, but you must not call it Homer".)

She captures Ariosto's wit and lightness, occasionally turning in closing couplets for her stanzas that are as sharp as Byron's in _Don Juan_ (who was in turn also using Ariosto - among others - as a model), but also following Ariosto in allowing the sense to flow from stanza to stanza in a quite un-Byronic way. As well, she manages to transmit Ariosto's graver passages in equally dignified verse, for example some of the set pieces imitated (by Ariosto) from Homer. English readers tend to think of Ottava Rima as a vehicle for comic verse, but in Italian it is a model for epic. It's just that the great Italian epic tradition, unlike the English epic tradition before Byron's great anti-epic, includes humour.

As for Ariosto, he is a great poet and story-teller, and (not exactly a literary judgment, this) his authorial "voice" is one whose company you cannot help enjoying. His humour, sometimes sly, is also warmly compassionate; sometimes satirical, sometimes splendidly and deliberately silly. Ariosto knows his flying horses, invisibility rings, sexy sorceresses and the rest are perfectly absurd, but manages to maintain the fantasy elements as wonderful and exciting, without ever undercutting them with mere cynicism or bathos. But most often the humour is warm and character-based.

His story has an astonishing range of characters, the Moorish warriors and their lovers depicted as fairly and favourably as his Christian protegonists, and an astonish sweep, all over Europe and the East, with digressions to the Moon and other enchanted places.

Another feature of Ariosto is his feminism, which shows in his warrior women, who give and take in battle every bit as well as the men. He also tellingly mocks some of the anti-feminist aspects of chivalry, as in the scene where one of Ariosto's heroes is called upon to champion in a trial by combat a woman who has been accused of unchastity. The hero readily agrees to defend the woman's honour, but only after observing that he would as readily defend her if she were unchaste, as in his view (clearly also Ariosto's) women have a right to make love without being condemned for it.

Two last observations. First, I believe that this poem, and not Dante's, is the great Italian epic, superior to Dante for the same reason that Shakespeare is superior to Racine, or Byron's English epic is superior to Milton's or even Spencer's. Dante offers moral allegory (though with a thoroughly repellant worldview), and Ariosto's failure to preach has sometimes been taken as a sign of lack of depth or seriousness. But the great epics are about humanity, not allegory (though I have seen attempts to allegorise Homer, none have done so convincingly); and Ariosto presents one of the widest and greatest human canvases of all epic. It is the most readable long poem since the _Odyssey_. Yes.

Second, Amazon has linked this translation to another, a prose translation. I haven't read the prose translation, but I would observe that _Orlando Furioso_ is a poem. To render it as something else is to lose its structure, its purpose and its very nature. To present a prose translation of this poem as a genuine "version of Ariosto" is a bit like presenting Beethoven's Ninth symphony by playing an arrangement for kazoo: some of Beethoven will come through in a kazoo transcription, but you cannot call it the Ninth. Get the Reynolds; it is a great and easy _read_, and it is one of the glories of English poetic translation.

Cheers!

Laon

This is a wonderful flight of fantasy that is full of magic castles, horses that fly (hippogriffs), and such imagination and humor that you never cease to be entertained by it all. You may wonder like I did that: If this is "Part One", where is part two? I was unable to find any such continuation. You have to just enjoy this marvelous tale for what it is.

I read this book over the course of a summer, and delighted in taking Reynold's translation canto by canto. Ariosto's style is immortalized in her translation, complete with his witty asides and satirical commentary. Amazing.

Ariosto was one of the giants of Renaissance literature, and this was his footprint. Grand, touching, funny, witty, stirring -- as Dryden said of Chaucer, here is the world's plenty. Some of the greatest poets of the next two centuries (Tasso, Spenser, Milton) explicitly attempted to overdo him, and only sometimes succeeded; Byron took as much from Ariosto as he did from Pulci.

But don't read this on that account. Read it because it's a delight from start to finish. War, love, and chivalry are the poet's themes, and they're here in all their forms.

I don't know Italian, but everyone I've asked who would know assures me Reynolds's translation captures not just the essence but the spirit of the original.

(Ignore the reviews that claim that this is a prose translation -- they are from another translation.)

A fantastic novel, and a must-read for any native of Wales.

Not only are the characters of the people and land portrayed in beautiful, lyrical writing; the spirit of Wales becomes very nearly tangible in this great novel. This work is replete with local superstitions, myths, and legends; giving the reader a clear insight into the heart and mind of a nation.

Once I started reading the book I couldnt put it down. I learned about the welsh people and there traditions. I would love to visit the country side there. I was being taken along with the boy and his dog on all the adventures. The people of Carmarthen came alive to me as they found ways to deal with an orphan in there midst. When Emrys went in the cave and down the dark passages, I found myself right there with him. His discovery down in the cave was a wonderful surprise. I can hardly wait to see if there will be a second book. I want to know what happened to Emrys, his dog and the people of Carmarthen.
If you want to read something that will keep you wanting to read more buy this book. I guarentee you will love it.

As an expatriot of Wales, I must say, this novel captures the heart and soul of the countryside. The people are wonderfully friendly, full of the joy and song of life...and "The Orphans of Carmarthen" captures that sense with each page.

It is full of joy of spirit. The author spreads the country out for the reader like a banquet, sharing his love for the hills and valleys through a beautiful story of an orphaned boy.

I much prefer it to the idea of Harry Potter, where magic is all spells and incantations. "Orphans" sets out the magic of life that lies within us all, in a setting where dragons and sorcery are secondary to the beauty of Wales itself.

I recommend that everyone get a copy and lose themselves in the language. Can't wait for his next one!

I recieved this book as a gift and had a hard time putting it down. Mr. Baker takes you into a world of the past filled with mystery, misgivings and mistrust. From the beginning you find yourself living each day with the boy and his dog, learning and growing in a world filled with magic and questions. Lessons learned from both animals and dragons, as well as humans keep these two in and out of mischief. I found it sad and uplifting at the same time. Imagine my surprise at the end when the boy hears the name the dog has givin him.

This novel is quite accurate, within the mythological framework. I particularly enjoyed the adventures of the young boy within the cave of the dragons. Full of myths and great descriptive language. Would recommend highly.

I knew BT. I've worked in Sacramento for more than 30 years. He was a string of contradictions. Yet this book captures who he was. It begins with his funeral- which was a series of events that brought together his friends in the Cathedral and at a wake and in the memorial that he worked so hard to create to remember the veterans of Vietnam.

BT, that was how he was known in Sacramento, worked for Jerry Brown and Pete Wilson. He also served as the deputy Treasurer under Tom Hayes. At the end of his life he served as my Assemblyman. He had a fierce wit. In his last campaign, I decided to do some calling for him and got a personal note back from him wondering whether I was employing my time appropriately - if I had enough time to call for him, I had too much free time. That was BT, a bit outrageous about the people but always respectful of the underlying dignity of the public process.

He lost an arm and a leg in Vietnam and yet one of his campaign buttons was of a hook and sometimes referred to himself as Captain Hook. When he headed the California Conservation Corps he drank a glass with Malathion to prove it was safe. His older sister brings together all the things that made him who he was - all those funny quirks yet a strong sense of values that pervaded what he did.

This book is an inspiration.

Some people hang flags in their front yard, some have bumper stickers...
Some only celebrate on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July with a hamburg or hotdog. It's not just fireworks and an occasional parade. It means so much more. The men that have fought for our country, now and then deserve the highest recognition and so much more. B.T. Collins was a hero of all heroes. Maureen Collins Baker captures this and pulls you in from the front page with the true story of an american hero, a believer from the moment he was born. A true patriot. He had a vision of what this country was and what it should be. If only everyone could have those same visions, the U.S. would be a better place to live. While I was reading this, I reflected on the ways of the world today, the corrupt politics and how there are holes where the values of the american dream used to be. I think everyone should read this remarkable book. If everyone could just go back to the American roots and values- and believe. Turn your dreams and hopes into reality- and, most importantly, never forget to support our American troops. They are fighting for you and me. Maureen Collins Baker is an extremely talented writer that gives you a glimpse of B.T. After the laughing and crying, by the end of this clever story, you will feel like you knew him all along even if you did not get the honor to meet this Outrageous Hero.

At a time when many were doing all that they could to avoid service Brien Thomas Collins volunteered three times to go to Vietnam. His first two requests were granted. The third, made while he was recovering in Valley Forge General Hospital from combat wounds which cost him his right arm and leg, was turned down. In a world too full of chicken hawks and windbags B.T. was unique, he lived his beliefs and achieved much while having a grand time.
His most enduring legacy is the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial which honors simply and poignantly those who did not return.

This book will move you. A wonderfully written story about a man, an everyday man, a determined man, a passionate man and yes, a hero but certainly not a perfect man and that's what makes this story, about a man, so real. You will laugh on one page and be moved to tears on the next. By the middle of the book you will feel as if you know B.T. personally - you will certainly wish you had. Read this book, learn and grow from it and then tell a friend to read it too. Thanks Maureen for your hard work, dedication to the story and for laboring over finding the perfect words - in my opinion, you did.

From the first five pages I knew this would be a captivating story. It is hard to believe that it is all true. Anyone who ever questioned themselves about 'right and wrong' should read this story. It is the story of a true Patriot. The biography is well written, and you laugh between your tears, which will happen often.

The books I ordered were delivered on time and in excellent condition. I could not have asked for better service.

It is a very informative book. I like the way it is laid out. It gave me a better understanding of the Old Testament. Also, Geisler clearly reveals how Christ is presented in the Old Testament.

I love this book for it's Christ-centered treatment of the OT - as well as it's overall simplicity/readability (It's an overview - not a very detailed study -- but excellent for what it is)... This is the book that I keep returning to in my preparation for teaching Sunday School.

We are taking a seminary-caliber class on this book at our church, led by one of our educational staff members. The book gives a wonderful study of the entire Old Testament without bogging down in minute details.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book during my seminary days and plan to use the book for a class I will teach as an adjunct instructor at a local community college.

The book is succinct, contains valuable information, and is very reasonably priced (certainly compared to educational publishing authors who sometimes have a decidedly more secular worldview).

The book's basic format is as follows for each Old Testament book:

1. Introductory information.
2. Who wrote the book.
3. When, why, to whom was the book written.
4. Doctrinal and Christological purpose of the book.
5. What the book is about.
6. Basic content of the book with a focus on particular chapters.
7. Study questions at the end of the chapter.

The book will help anyone who wants an introduction to the Old Testament instead of an intensive detailed study. Again, the price is also very reasonable compared to other publishers.

Read and enjoy. Highly recommended!

I received the book in great condition and find it to be very inspiring.

This book is a excellent study of the worldview of CS Lewis - one of the most influencial christian writers of the twentieth century. It is aimed at those who have either read or are contemplating reading Lewis's work. Unlike some books which deal with worldviews this is very readable, and far from being dry and abstract. The author demonstrates throughout her book a profound understanding of Lewis's writings and communicates this in a lucid and readable style - showing how Lewis's whole system of thought is centred in what she terms "Incarnational Reality" - the reality of God, present in and through His creation.

Later chapters in the book look at how Lewis understood the role of an artist, the nature of imaginative experience, and Good and evil (the author contrasts Lewis's views on this with those of the psychologist CG Jung and fellow writer Charles Williams).

Well worth reading for anyone even slighty interested in Lewis.

"Real Presence" is the best introduction to C. S. Lewis that I have seen; Leanne Payne captures the essence of Lewis better than anyone else I've read. She follows the main threads of Lewis' thought through a comprehensive cross-section of his work, and, from where I sit, she gets it exactly right. I kept finding myself nodding vigorously as she described some key aspect of Lewis that I had noticed but couldn't quite put to words.

"Incarnational Reality" is Payne's key insight (hence the title) - that, just as God in Christ took on human flesh, so in our day, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, lives in Christian believers. This leads in some very fruitful directions as she develops how God "breaks in" to our universe and sanctifies ordinary life - her thought is very "sacramental" (dare I say "catholic"?)

Lewis once said that he discerned in George MacDonald's writing an elusive quality which he later realized was holiness; Leanne Payne here returns the favor to Lewis. After I finished "Real Presence", I realized that what I loved about Lewis was exactly holiness. Thanks to Leanne Payne for showing it to me.

In the REAL PRESENCE, Leanne Payne explains the spirituality of C.S.Lewis as revealed in his fiction and nonfiction writings. Payne is in part an interpreter of C.S. Lewis; in part a Christian apologist to the philosophical community; in part a spiritual director (telling us how to 'grow our own spiritual life'). She is also a minister in her own right - she has an international ministry of spiritual (emotional) healing. She has a somewhat arcane writing style which takes just a little bit to decipher. But her understanding of Lewis is great. His spirituality was foundational to the development of her own, and she articulates it very well. She explains it in light of classic, historic Christian doctrine, especially that of the early church. This book is very helpful in understanding her own subsequent books, all of which I highly reccommend, esp HEALING PRESENCE, RESTORING THE CHRISTIAN SOUL and LISTENING PRAYER. She has a tremendous understanding of (as she terms it) 'Incarnational Reality', the essential Christian assertion that, through the Holy Spirit, God comes to live right inside the believer. It is in listening to and collaborating with the Holy Spirit, who indwells us, that we are healed and caused to grow. Lewis wrote much about this concept (in large part symbolically, in his fiction); and it is from him that much of Payne's own understanding comes. It is to this concept that she refers in the title of this book - THE REAL PRESENCE. The book is a tremendous help in understanding the complexity of Lewis' writing, especially his fiction. Without understanding his underlying spirituality, it is hard to appreciate any but the most superficial aspects of meaning in the imagery and characterizations in his fiction; it also informs much of his nonfiction. Payne does an excellent job of explaining that spirituality and does so with frequent quotes from and references to Lewis' writings. (Perhaps you thought that the Narnia Chronicles and his outer space trilogy - PERELANDRA,OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET,THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH - were simple children's books. They are, in fact, profound works, if one only knows what is meant through the imagery.) Payne taught at Trinity Seminary in Deerfield IL USA, and had access to a large body of Lewis' unpublished writings and correspondence. She has taught, there and elsewhere, on an undergraduate and graduate level, the writings of Lewis, Tolkein, Charles Williams and others. I give this book five stars (" ... and two thumbs up - way up!")

This book is a excellent study of the worldview of CS Lewis - one of the most influencial christian writers of the twentieth century. It is aimed at those who have either read or are contemplating reading Lewis's work. Unlike some books which deal with worldviews this is very readable, and far from being dry and abstract. The author demonstrates throughout her book a profound understanding of Lewis's writings and communicates this in a lucid and readable style - showing how Lewis's whole system of thought is centred in what she terms "Incarnational Reality" - the reality of God, present in and through His creation.

Later chapters in the book look at how Lewis understood the role of an artist, the nature of imaginative experience, and Good and evil (the author contrasts Lewis's views on this with those of the psychologist CG Jung and fellow writer Charles Williams).

Well worth reading for anyone even slighty interested in Lewis.

Although this book was short in length, it was long in content. The seldom addressed theory of systems was easy to understand. The author takes such seemingly unrelated analyses of golf and symphony orchestras to demonstrate the wholeness of systems theory. The first half of the book was jam-packed with management concepts and ideas that evolved from the theories of the late W. Edwards Deming. The second half was comprised of actual examples of these theories in successful practice. Overall, this was a marvelous learning book.

Dr. Baker's book is an excellent contribution to the Deming legacy of systems thinking. Our mental shift from mechanistic to social, interactive concepts is well served in "Scoring a Whole in One". I strongly recommend that educators as well as managers in business take this book seriously. Systems thinking is essential to re-thinking education. Dr. Baker adds substantially to this task.

Dr. Baker has given us an excellent reflection on the theoretical and practical aspects of systems thinking. Drawing us from a strictly mechanistic view of organizations, he leads us to a deeper understanding of the social, interactive organization, and the differences such thinking will have on our managerial actions. Second, this is an important book for educators. If we are to reform education, we must do so by return ing to a theoretical basis for ensuing dialog. Dr. Baker offers us an invaluable contribution in this task.

Dr. Baker has managed to create a very portable and accessible volume that gets to the heart of management theory. It is no secret that the issues associated with managing the modern enterprise have multiplied in complexity in recent times. Dr. Baker's experience in consulting and with Ford comes through in relevant examples. His examples of short sighted decisions and their impacts will feel familiar to many. The power of the book comes in the discussion of how such problems occur, the theory of how to solve them, and practical solution tools to use. This level of completeness sets this book apart. Dr. Baker's theories on management and systems are aligned with those of the late Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Dr. Baker condenses concepts which have troubled many in Dr. Deming's books into easily readable and practical format. Particularly for those intimidated by Senge's "The Fifth Discipline", Wheatley's "Leadership and the New Science" or Deming's "Out of the Crisis". Scoring a Whole in One is a great place to start.

Like much of the writing of the author's mentor, Dr. W. E. Deming, this book is deceptively simple and straightforward, but contains some basic principles of leadership that have profound implications for the management of any enterprise.

Before proceeding, I have to reveal my bias. I have to good fortune to be friend of the author. Dr. Ed Baler. He and I co-facilitated several Deming 4 day seminars and have kept in touch over the years. It is doubtful that there is much that Ed would say about the subject of Deming's teachings with which I would disagree. This book, however, clarifies and extends those teachings considerably.

A variety of metaphors are used to present the basic concept of systems thinking and the implications of these insights for managers. Of those used, I thought the illustrations using the metaphor of the symphony the most helpful. Ed continually points out that it is the coordination of the talent contained within the orchestra that produces the sound. The interactions of the players produces an effect over and above the sum of each's individual efforts.

It is this concept of interaction that I think is made particularly clear. Some people use the word interaction to mean inter-relationship, but in the sense used here (and by Deming), it means more than that. The interaction is an effect over and above the sum of the parts. This is an important distinction as this book points out clearly, because the interactions must then be considered in any attempt to manage the enterprise as a whole.

The first part of the book is given over to some clarification of the nature of systems generally. They operate over time, they are far-reaching, they are nested within other, larger, systems, and, as pointed out above, a system is more than simply a collection of parts. As someone once pointed out to me, if you divide a pile of sand (not a system) in half, you have two piles of sand. If you divide a cow in half, you are not left with two cows.

The book then draws out the implications of these principles of systems for the human enterprise that operates at the core of any organization. It is disheartening to hear some managers continue to divide organizations into `people problems' and `technical problems'. Surely we know by now that these are all people problems and the technical state of the art at any point in time is usually given.

There is, in Chapter II, a discussion of the interaction between the individual and the enterprise which is right on the money and shows clearly one of the major problems with any policy of pay raises or advances based on individual rating and ranking. Separating the contribution of the individual and the enterprise is virtually impossible. The authors description of the `Enterprise-in-the-Individual' shows clearly how the enterprise molds the activities of those who work in it, and the `Individual-in-the-Enterprise' shows the converse.

More than half the book is taken up with a fairly specific discussions of the requirements of leadership given the foregoing. There are some general points made such as the echoing of Deming's caution about managing by visible figures, and there are some very specific suggestions such as the Interactions Matrix and it's list of "do's and don'ts".

Finally there are some specific examples of enterprises that have operated to one extent or another with these some of the principles as a basis.

All in all, a book well worth reading not only for those who manage enterprises, but also for those who help them. It would be nice to see similar, companion pieces on some of the other aspects of Deming's teachings such as variation and his Theory of Knowledge.

I pick this audiobook up recently and have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Gielgud and Richardson were simply amazing in their respective roles as Holmes & Watson, and I believe the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself would have approved.

Worth mentioning is another item I read recently, The Crime Doctor. This book depicts EW Horung's sleuth, Dr. John Dollar, in his exploits in England and throughout Europe.

Both products recieve 5 stars from me.

I'm 25. I first heard Gielgud and Richardson's "The Speckled Band" back when I was in 6th grade. I found copies of the Baker Street Dozen stories at my local library, and would constantly check them out, over and over again. Around 8 or 9 years ago, I bought my own copies in a cassette boxed set, which have since worn out.

So I was more than thrilled to see this, the Baker Street Dozen stories on CD, and separated into chapters, at that! There are websites that have copies of these stories, but they are in terrible quality, or chopped up. For stories that were first recorded in 1953, they sound like they were recorded yesterday. I have a bunch of old radio broadcasts on CD, ranging from THE SHADOW to MURDER AT MIDNIGHT and THE GREEN HORNET, and their quality ranges from horrible to fair. But THIS, my friends, is British radio at its finest; fully dramatized, with music and sound effects that fit right into the story, characters that come to life, and stories that will keep you listening over and over again.

It seems everyone in America can't look past the Sherlock Holmes ideal with Basil Rathbone and his rendition of the great detective... nobody really bothers to look or listen to other actors' versions of the character. Sir John Gielgud is, in my opinion, the greatest portrayer of Holmes. EVER.

To wrap this up... if you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, GET THIS. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. The acting is superb, the quality is astounding for something that's over 50 years old, and the replay value is higher than high, because these stories are timeless. The game is afoot, and you should come along...

These great recordings were made for the BBC in 1954 and were first aired in the UK that year and in the US in early 1955. The casting is perfect John Gielgud as Holmes and Ralph Richardson as Watson could not be beaten for a radio broadcast, and this probably still holds true to this day 53 years later. Although I think Jeremy Brett would push Gielgud close even without the visual aspect.

The addition of Orson Welles as Prof Moriarty in the story The Final problem is the icing on the cake. That penetrating voice is chilling and truly Holmes/Geilgud meets his match in Welles/Moriarty. Any Sherlock Holmes fan should get these historic recordings - you really don't know what you are missing.

Three kinds of customers will appreciate this well-remastered collection: (1) Sherlockians, who love all things Doyle; (2) lovers of classic radio drama; (3) afficionados of two of England's finest actors of the modern stage, Sir John Gielgud (playing Holmes) and Sir Ralph Richardson (Watson). Since both actors also possessed two of the twentieth century's most mellifluous stage voices, these dramatizations are a feast for the ear. If you're at least two of these three customers in one, this reasonably priced set may be an irresistible buy. Get it now, before it goes out of print.

superb acting, excellent production and writing. it takes great skill to turn one of doyle's most excellent tales into a less than 30 minute radio play, and, to do a darn good job of it.
no matter how little time you have or how short your attention span, these are doable on the daily commute or while making dinner or housecleaning. if for some reason you are unable to read these stories, these cd's are the next best thing and a great introduction to the canon.

Trusting God through Tears: A Story to Encourage

I found this book to a true source of encouragment after the loss of our 19 year old son Aaron in an auto accident May 5, 2004. Mr. Burton's honesty and transparency with his feelings gave me hope that the pain would lessen as time went by. It also helped me to know that I wasn't crazy or of less faith just because I was experiencing such a traumatic crisis of my faith. As a man and Father I felt as though I was supposed to be able to hold it all together and stay strong for my family. I identified with Mr. Burton because of his openess of his feelings and being able to express his grief and the hope that is found only in God and His plan for our lives. I especially recommend this book for grieving parents. I have read many books on grief, if I could only choose one this would be my choice.

This is a book that reaches out and holds your hand while you are suffering through the loss of a child. My wife and I have experienced this pain, when our seven-year-old daughter died in May 2000. No other book related so closely to what we were experiencing as grieving parents. Jehu Burton's book was truly revelant to us during our grieving process. Jehu showed us that we were not alone and the feelings that we had through grieving were normal. In his book, he forces you to answer some very difficult questions that only another grieving parent could ask. Answering these difficult questions forced us to grow and accept what we couldn't comprehend. We highly recommend this book for parents facing the ultimate tragedy, the loss of a child.

I read this book shortly after losing my son -- my only child -- at the age of thirteen. The book was IMMEDIATELY helpful, and I reread it several times. In fact, had I been limited to just one book besides the Bible, this book would have been my choice. It deals honestly and realistically with the pain of grief without being overindulgent. Solidly biblical, it points to Christ as the only source of true and lasting comfort. For there is an end to grief: an object, a direction. And grief will have had its greatest end when it ends in Christ. Therefore, I gratefully acknowledge the author for having helped me to survive the most difficult challenge of my life by pointing me to the only source of true and lasting comfort, Jesus Christ.

Jehu Burton's book Trusting God Through Tears is an open and honest portrayal of grief from a man's point of view. I have observed that those who have a strong faith may often struggle severely because the death of a child seems contrary to placing our trust in a "loving" God. Jehu addresses our doubts very openly and provides answers he has obtained after great struggles. I believe most bereaved parents will find empathy and understanding in this book. I did, and I am a three-times bereaved parent. Marilyn Heavilin, author of Roses in December.

Jehu Thomas Burton offers countless "pearls" in this scripturally based study. His reflections are honest and sincere. Most importantly, Burton clearly illustrates that only God is God! This book is a definite must have for anyone who has experienced a death of a loved one.

As a Shiatsu (3rd year)student, this book is so helpfull for me, that I am using it every day.
It explaines every Element in such a way, that you can realy understand it and use it in every day's life.
I reccomend this book to everyone who wants to know more.

this books is well written and provides a beautiful overview of the 5 elements and how they manifest in our world. i was looking for something that was more oriented towards the overall charater of the elements and less concerned with the technicalities of chinese medicine. i got what i was looking for.

We all love now to take care of our own health, right ?! Few of us understand, though, the Chinese medicine, unless you read a lot of books on same subject. And then you have to "digest" the information and apply it patiently to yourself. WE ALL ARE UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS. And the ones who will borrow or buy this book will prove to be the smart ones too. Not only that I would recommend this book to all of you who want to change your life for the better (and get rid of your daily pains) but this book --among the thousands written -- is an eye-opener to many other self-healing directions. Beware, at first you will say to yourself that you will need TIME and PATIENCE to go through it (which none of us HAVE anymore!), but you will feel smarter than any doctor in this world, after you assimilate the knowledge in this book. It is better than you imagined by its modest title. One of the best-kept secrets (until now !), trust me on this one. Good luck to all of you !

This book is excellent for anyone starting to learn any aspect of Chinese healing or astrology. Everything is interconnected and this book expands that horizon. This should be a text book for a curriculum of any "Chinese" course. I have had no previous teachings of Chinese culture and this book explains it all without being too political

This is the definitive book on feng shue! It is not for people who are looking for fluff - this is serious, and well thought out. It has really worked to get me to focus on the important things in life and has helped in explaining the balance that we all need to have. I am now giving this book as a gift to people I care about! Thank you, Ms. Reichstein, for writing such a wonderful book.

Get started planning your early retirement today with Your Complete Guide to Early Retirement: A Step-by-Step Plan for Making It Happen. Retiring at age 40 is no longer a pipe dream for today's middle-aged Americans thanks to this helpful how-to on managing your time and money prudently. When do you need to start saving for retirement? What kind of retirement benefits can you expect? How can you ensure you don't overextend your retirement budget? What happens when you do?

These questions and more are answered once you read the do's and dont's in Your Complete Guide to Early Retirement. If you are thinking about an early retirement, then this book is for you.

Who has not entertained thoughts about early retirement? I certainly have. Before reading the book Your Complete Guide to Early Retirement: A Step-by-Step Plan for Making It Happen, it seemed more like a fantasy than a reality.
Step-by-step, line-by-line Sandy Baker teaches how you determine what your retirement goals are, how much they will cost, and how to start on the road to achieving them. She makes it clear that while it will not be easy, age, income-level, and family situation do not keep you from being able to succeed. She talks you through making and sticking to a reasonable budget. She teaches you how to sort out and pay off your debt, once and for all. Calling you a 'Millionaire in Training', Sandy describes what to do to build your savings through wise investments, finding 'free' money, and living below your means. She details the role of a financial planner and how to find the one that is right for you. Describing the many varieties of financial plans in detail, she explains how each will benefit you and your loved ones. Sandy even tackles the difficult subjects of the emotional toll retirement and planning your estate take and how to plan for it. In the end, you are left feeling as though you are well-versed in becoming financially sound and have taken the first steps to turn your dreams into a reality.

This step-by-step plan for early retirement offers in-depth advice on three key tips to early retirement: managing expenses and eliminating debt, accumulating capital, and investing it wisely. Chapters cover all the basics, from building a portfolio geared to these goals to handling inflation and considering income payments from social security and other sources. It's a 'must' for any general-interest lending library.

Whether you're years or light years away from retirement this is the "how to" for anyone looking to put the ball in motion. The Complete Guide to Early Retirement takes the reader through the financial and emotional issues that you want to think about now in order to do it successfully later.
Is it really all about the money and having enough of it--or is it about changing your lifestyle? If you're asking yourself these kinds of questions then read this book for the skinny on what retirement is really all about.

Author Sandy Baker takes a bird's eye view of the whole picture, looking at the truth of our day to day spending habits, the facts and figures on inflation and how we can get behind the wheel and steer toward a much brighter future. This book takes a direct approach from the beginning by asking the reader to define retirement--which is different for all of us--keeping the focus on our individual goals and how to achieve them.

Exploring the inevitable changes we face both before and after retirement is covered concisely with a solid understanding of the most important short and long term issues. Putting your plan together is well defined also, with great suggestions, insights and a clear, common-sense approach that makes the important distinction between having money and being secure. You can't afford not to read this book.

Although published in 2007--a year during which economists began to debate the existence of an impending recession-- Early Retirement: Your Complete Guide aptly serves the savvy optimist who still plans an early exit from the working world. Although the author posits the abolition of debt, accumulation of capital, and acquisition of wise investment knowledge as essential to anyone's early retirement plan; individuals who seek to fulfill any one or combination of these goals will also find this book tremendously valuable.

An inspiring introduction is followed by a series of questions that will seem like old hat to those who regularly think about and plan for their retirement. Individuals who rarely contemplate their financial future, however, may find themselves squirming in their seat as they struggle to answer tough, honest questions. The key question amongst the numerous posed: What does the word "retirement" mean to you? The author guides the reader in considering the various elements that should be included in one's long-term financial vision. Next, the author provides a step-by-step procedure for developing and implementing a plan of action. No stone is left unturned; this book is a comprehensive collection of virtually all personal finance subjects from A-Z. In fact, students would benefit from the addition of this book to the undergraduate core curriculum at colleges and Universities. Consequently then, young people would find themselves well equipped with essential personal financial information before graduation, instead of afterwards.

The strongest aspect of this book is the breadth of its scope. You will truly learn everything that you need to know about how to plan for an early retirement. The author also successfully breaks down each chapter into shorter, manageable sections. No reader will be overwhelmed; it is easy to absorb the material at one's own pace. A workbook would serve as an excellent accompaniment to this book.