Burns Books

Brandao tries to give an answer, why did Iroquois conduct so many wars in the 17th century. He says, that the most important reasons were these: to obtain captives (mainly to replace dead), get honor, preserve security or to revenge. Very important thesis of this book is, that economic motivation (i. e. obtain furs) played only minor (and in many cases no) role in Iroquois decisions to go to war. Brandao says, that so called "Beaver wars" did not in fact exist, especially in 30's and 40's of 17th century. His argumentation is often very good but not (in some cases) absolutely persuasive, because of limitation of primary sources. I think, that book is very usefull reading for all interested in history of North America in the colonial period

Book arrived in good condition and in a timely manner. Excellent rating for seller. Would purchase from seller in future.

No matter what age you are or what genre of book you usually read, this is a terrific work of art. Everyone should take a rainy afternoon off to sit back, relax and read one of the greatest novels ever published. (And all other novels in the Anne of Green Gables series is just as exceptional!)

My niece loves this book. She was gifted them for past christmas. She says she has read it several times now. Great story for the almost teen.

Anne of Green Gables is about an orphan who is adopted by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. It takes Anne awhile to adjust to life in the elegant Green Gables, and gets into some pretty funny mishaps, like accidently giving her friend Diana too much raspberry cordial, for example, but in the end finds her way. Anee's point fo view is hilarious and very entertaining. This is a wonderful read for girls everywhere and is a classic that is not to be missed.

but my whole family loves this book along with the whole series. L.M. Montgomery's style of writing brings you right in with Anne. She makes the reader feel like a kindred spirit.

A girl who is accidentally chosen to be adopted winds up being the best thing that ever happened to Green Gables. Lots of fun and excitement is the only thing that can describe the life of Anne.

I somehow tragically managed to make my way to adulthood with never reading anything but the kiddie version of this book. When I found this book for super-cheap in the teachers' lounge book sale and I figured "hey, why not?" And thus I picked it up and immediately fell in love with the sheer Old-South charm that only Twain can deliver. Really, people, it is no wonder that this book is such a classic! It may not have the soulful human reflections of "Huckleberry Finn", but in the solemn concern for the pleasures of boyhood it certainly makes its own mark.

Mark Twain tells the story purely from a storyteller's view. No deep analysis of character that takes you right inside of Tom Sawyer's psyche, nothing blatantly philosophical. It is as if Mr. Twain lives to simply tells us into what trouble Tom is getting. He does not go out of his way to give lengthy, dull descriptions or even fully flesh out the details of just what Tom and his friends are doing. It gives it a charming, folksy style that allows for plenty of plot and action. Even, so the writing is unparalleled.

And it truly is a great story. It's fun! I don't know how many poor students have been tricked into believing it is not. It has all the great elements of a good boy story, what with the murders and buried treasure and faked deaths and hoodoo--not to mention the delight taken away by discovery of bacteria.

I'm also a huge fan of this Whole Story edition. It's beautiful, easy to carry around, and I guess I'm a sucker for the documentary feature.

Fantastic, fun story. Everyone should read it.

These audio books help children that are having trouble with the written word. I also use them in the car, so each trip we hear more of the story. The kids love them and I think it makes them interested in reading.

To understand America in the nineteenth century, you must understand Tom Sawyer. His life, so full of adventure set amidst the bustle of a changing nation, is in many ways the dream of nearly all male children. To spend your time swimming in the creek, gathering "treasures" and eating goodies is truly the good life. Tom's romance with Becky is also the way it is with most boys. Girls are universally considered to have some kind of contagious disease, when I was young, they had cooties, until you see that one perfect girl that you will share everything with.
The wonder and mischief of Tom and Huck are captured in this book, superbly illustrated by Michael Ploog. Tom is wide-eyed, freckled and has bulbous cheeks. Huck has a pointed nose, bright eyes and a suitably scruffy demeanor. With the exception of Sundays, the boy's clothes consist of a series of patches sewn over rags. This book is an excellent introduction to what is the tale of American youth of the nineteenth century, very appropriate for classes in English. Of course, after covering this book, the students should be required to read the original.

This book is a great example of what makes Twain one of America's most belvoed writers. Twain's unique sense of humor and his keen insights into human nature shine through in this book. Twain's style is wonderful, the characters are dynamic and the plot never hits a snag. Twain has created a novel here that is light enough on the surface to entertain young readers yet contatins enough substance to speak volumes to an adult audience. You are sure to love this one is you have read any of Twain's other works. If you haven't read Twain, delay no further--this book is the perfect starting point.

Ever since my dad first read this timeless classic to my sister & me as kids, while camping in our trailer during the summer, it has left its indelible impression upon my imagination. How I too wanted to shove off from shore on my "skiff" and have my own adventures down the Mississippi! I know of no other book that so wonderfully captures the essence and joy of carefree boyhood.

When I say "carefree", however, I am not forgetting the grim and serious elements of the novel. But these work just as well as the sunnier and funnier parts. In fact, just when the narrative needs it, a murder comes along which boosts the plot most effectively, giving it a shot in the arm. And speaking of the darker aspects, does not Injun Joe have to rank highly on the list of greatest villains in the history of literature? I can assure you that as a boy listening to the cave chapters, his menace was palpable and unforgettable.

Unfortunately, literary snobs have often found it fashionable to belittle Tom Sawyer as inconsequential and a 'lightweight' seen against the towering greatness of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". I couldn't disagree more. (I love Huckleberry Finn dearly and plan to review it soon as well). I read a quote in a foreword that I thought was very insightful: "Huckleberry Finn is a greater book, but not a better one." I think this is exactly so. Extol the greatness of HF by all means, but don't make the mistake of downgrading Twain's other masterpiece, just because its theme is not so weighty and grave. In fact, the episodic nature of the telling of Tom Sawyer fit Twain's particular brand of genius perfectly (whereas there were some sub par stretches in Huck Finn).

Loved it as a boy, love it no less as a man. Thank you, dad, for imparting such an enduring gift.

I'm not going to rave completely about this book, but it is simply the best and most complete method of how to loose weight and keep it off. It is aimed at women more than men, but the things in the book are effective for men as well. He explains how the body works, which gives you better insight on why we eat what we eat in order to loose weight. It explains that carbs are just as important as protein, and that (certain) fats are just as important as vegetables. I was surprised to learn how fruit is healthy but does not help weight loss at all. Many books cover just excercise and others just food. This book gives you a solid routine for both. The food plan & excercise plans are very realistic even for the worst coach potato. I was dieting/excercising on my own and plateaued after a month - no weight loss for two weeks. I forgot I had this book, opened it up again, followed the plan, and BAM after two days I started loosing weight again. It works.

I do the at home exercises. Nice explanation. Very practical examples. Haven't done the diet part.

This was a good book with exercises that you can do in the comfort of your own home, or on the road (traveling).

I purchased the book over 2 years ago and it collected dust on my bookshelf. Just a little over 3 weeks ago I decided to use the program. I have to say that IT WORKS! My clothes are much looser and I've lost 5lbs. give or take. The eating portion I'm tweaking but if I were to follow it precisely I'm sure I would've lost more. The book is worth the price and Jorge is very encouraging with the daily talks noted in the book. I highly recommend this book for anyone struggling with losing weight!

I have contemplated this book for about 2years, I hesitated to spend 12 dollars on yet another excercise plan that probably wouldn't work. I found the book on the bargain rack 2 1/2 weeks ago so I got it. I have not followed his eating plan, I was going to ease into that. Instead, I have cut back on carbs and tried to add more lean protein. I also allow myself one day per week to eat those things I was craving. This helps me stay on track the rest of the week. The excercise are fairly easy, I like the abilty to use different weights and the variety of muscle groups worked is great. By the end of the first week my husband said he thought I had lost weight, I said nah, it's only been a week. At the end of week 2 I had to agree that I lost at least 2 pounds. My goal is to lose 10 lbs. This is the first time that I have tried to loose weight and actually succeeded!

This is one of the best books written for individuals suffering from anxiety and depression who are looking for tools that the can use daily to help themselves feel better. The author, who is a psychiatrist, is a pioneer in the field of cognitive behavioral therapy. His premise is simple..." the way you think determines the way you feel"

And he is right.

For the individual who is willing to put the time in and work through this book the rewards will be great.

I have recommended this book to a number of my patients

Dr Alagia

Good book! Arrived on time and in good condition. This book would help anyone to analyse their thoughts and make corrections in actions and thought toward a better life. I highly recommend it!

This book is truly awakening, it made me realize how distorted I view the world. I believe that the learnings I have gained from this book will make me a better wife, mother and friend. Good luck to all in the frustrating battle with depression, I hope you find the book as helpful as I did!

I've read several "self help" books on depression and I got the most out of this one, by far. I think maybe because it was so easy to identify with much of what he said. Like when he is talking about the different types of distorted thinking, "Hey, I do that!" His suggestions are simple and easy to follow. He admits to thoughts you may have as you read and responds to them. Just overall, I really felt like this book spoke to me more than any of the others that I have read.

This is an excellent book for anyone suffering from depression. It's not some magic cure-all, but it really helps you identify and actually CHANGE the negative thinking associated with depression. It actually helps you begin to feel better again. It didn't completely cure me, but I can honestly say that without the knowledge I gained from this book I probably wouldn't be here anymore. If you suffer from serious depression: first, find a therapist, then GET THIS BOOK!

I was a little skeptical at first. Loved the movie, but only so many good movies are made from good books. Excellently written. Had to get accustomed to the phonetic Scottish accent, but it allowed for the creation of recognizable narration styles that you come to recognize throughout the book. Wonderfully written- unyielding, brutal. Fantastic.

Trainspotting is a brilliant book that delves deep into the mind of an addict. Or more so addicts, as there are multiple narrators through out the story. Each chapter is a short story but yet a somewhat central plot ties them all together. The main character (who's in most of the chapters) is Renton, a drug addict and a failure to his parents. Through out the book he engages in many various, disgusting, vile things as well as an attempt or so to stop his addiction after getting another addicted and seeing the horrors of heroin.
Everything has pinpoint accuracy. Even the language and the accent is perfect. There are certainly some strong points in the fact that you can actually feel the need for heroin and how the characters become slaves to it. It's an uncommon, unbiased view.
Trainspotting has no candy coating. There is no kid friendly wrapping, it's all the terrible truth. However it's still hilarious. It's the kind of dark humor that's not expected in a book about addicts.
The plot isn't terribly complex. It's a rather loose one, since it's just a bunch of short stories. Renton and his buds are druggies, and they basically do a lot of drugs and various assosiated acts. Renton introduces Tommy to heroin early on, which ends up affecting his conscience later on.
I would not advise skipping over reading this book to see the movie. Both are absolutly brilliant but the book is different. Going into their minds is dark, real, and somewhatr funny. Everyone should read this book that doesn't mind 8 swears a paragraph and constant vile activities.

Sure the movie is fantastic, pretty much everyone will agree on that, but to really get the full story one has to read the book. Yes, as alot of people will say, it is hard to understand at first because of the dialect, but Welsh is a master at the Scottish dialect, and to truly be absorbed "intae" the story, you have to have that key component.

Welsh brilliantly combines all emotions here over a rollercoaster ride through the drug scene in Scotland. An absolute must read for any book lover. Read "Filth" also. Welsh is flippin great.

Although it took me about 30 pages to get the hang of the language, I found Trainspotting to be a intriguing balance of crass humor and sub-cultural commentary, with the occasional note of revelation.

fantastic once you get the hang of the language and slang. Suggestion--watch the movie first to put a face with the characters. The movie is but a fraction of the book, so it won't spoil anything. LOVE IT!!!

Having been already exposed to both film versions of the book, I was finally curious enough to engage myself in this classic and this time with my seven year old daughter.

Needless to say this is a fairly direct departure from the films. Sara Crewe and her world is not the sappy musical world of Shirley Temple nor the melodrama of the more recent version. This is an exploration of character. Sara Crewe is struggling with her identity and the toolkit she had built up to cope with life and discovers that poverty and cruelty cannot repair a hungry stomach or a lonely heart. Readers may be surprised by the ending which is far less melodramatic than the film and frankly much better. This book is a more gentle Oliver Twist. It is a reminder to us all that we cannot hide from the torments of the world around us. Instead we must face the trials of society if we are to make them better.
At the end of the story, Sara learns the true meaning of being a Princess and the ending is as poignant as anything I have read for it is real drama based on real situations.

Just as a caution please be aware the language is a bit dated. The term 'queer' is used to describe strange long before other meanings were added on. The term 'oriental' and 'yellow man' were used as well but this is just a reflection of the time, not overt racism.

This book is about a rightly raised little girl and how she turns out - nearly PERFECT. This goes to show parents to BE NICE TO THEIR dependant and helpless little kids - brats are raised by @sshole parents, NOT by kind and loving parents, as Sarah's dad had been. It is about a very serious battle of the Self. Sarah says to every one "me and you are the same. it just so happens that I was born rich and you born poor." It doesn't make us WHO we are." which is true, but then her self-doubt manifests "who knows? maybe I am kind and generous because I have everything I could ever want. I give someone 100 pence and I don't lose anything because I have many many more. maybe if I was poor or had to work I'd be cruel and just a total Miss Michnkin or something." Note: these quotes are not exact from the book.

at this, "the Magic" steps in so that she DOES become poor and wretched, and thus proves to herself that she is who she is BECAUSE SHE IS, NOT because of being rich and doesn't work. Being poor and wretched gives the child the opportunity to manifest her inate kindness in unprecedented ways, like giving other people food when SHE herself had been so cold, wet and very hungry. See, she could not have proven this to herself had she stayed rich, and she apparantly needed to. All in all, a beautiful story of truimph of good over evil, abundance over poverty, exuberance over stale bread, and self security over self doubt (which she didn't have before). A truimph of the SELF shown where it always begins in life - in childhood. We are used to seeing this type of stuff in adults but adults do NOT have the same battles as children do. For one, adults are not helpless, dependant, and our battles are not as serious life-and-death. so, whatever empathy we have for other adults, should be increased a thousand times for children, like this soldier this little girl. yeay!

Good to see that readers are still enjoying this marvelous 1905 book which makes it a century old. Reminiscent of Dickens, but mercifully shorter, the prose flows in beautiful rhythms keeping young readers and readers like myself who are young at heart poised to keep on reading to find out what becomes of our tough little heroine.

Sara had a charmed life as an only and beloved child which fortified her through later immense difficulties as she fell from riches to rags. Her ability to tell stories and to help others saved her from the appalling treatment she received from the aptly named Miss Minchin. The author's own life (1849-1924) as a child parallels that of her heroine.

Young readers will find Sara a loving spirit to emulate. We are truly THERE with her on every page. When she eats her hot cross buns and tea we long for the same. Although drawn out at the end, the book ends at a surprising and perfect place.

My son and daughter were both enchanted by this story as I read it to them a few weeks ago. We all fell in love with Sara and her very active imagination. She inspired us to do good, as she did.

I thought it provided an excellent opportunity for us to discuss how important it is to treat others with respect, even when you think you will gain nothing from it. Sara seemed to be nothing more than a lowly pauper, but the man who chose to provide some beautiful things for the pauper next door was so immensely blessed by having done so. Conversely, Miss Minchin thought she could treat Sara in a humiliating demeaning fashion, but it ultimately brought her harm. Thus, there is value in being kind to everyone we meet. This point wasn't made in the story (I know that would turn some people off), I just thought it worth using the story to drive home the point.

Anyway, it is worth reading for more reasons than just that it is a great story, but it definitely is that.

When I was in third grade, I longed for a story that I could actually enjoy and remember nearly everything that goes on. You see, I couldn't find ANYTHING interesting until I found Secret Garden, Black Beauty, and A Little Princess, all of which I literally COULDN'T PUT DOWN. Now in fifth grade, I continue to read these books again and again and again and again and again and again and again and... you get the picture. $[...] is a great price for a book like this. If you have not yet read this, I strongly reccomend you read it. You will be blown away at this.

Hope you enjoy the story!

-[EoN] FrenchFryMayo

I received the book in a short amount of time and it was in perfect condition.

...It was OK. I found the novel slow to start, difficult to deliver its theme, and a bit pale in the spectrum of existentialist literature. I have a feeling that I may have enjoyed it more at age 17 but it held no new revelations for me nor did I find the style particularly captivating. That said, I was intrigued by one particular passage:

"Always, you must think of these things in evolutionary, in historical terms! When the upheavals of the earth's surface flung the creatures of the sea onto the land and the land creatures into the sea, the specimens of the various orders that were ready to follow their destiny were the ones that accomplished the new and unprecedented; by making new biological adjustments they were able to save their species from destruction. We do not know whether these were the same speciments that had previously distinguished themselves among their fellows as conservative, upholders of the status quo, or rather as eccentrics, revolutionaries; but we do know they were ready, and could therefore lead their species into new phases of evolution. That is why we want to be ready."

...Hesse as a pre-Kurzweillian proto-Singularity transhumanist? Or Hesse attempting to appeal to us that we are otherwise base, animal creatures that seem capable only of destruction?

As a little boy Emile Sinclair feels that life is divided into a world of light and a world of dark. Emile meets Max Demian, an older self-assured boy who seems to know much about life. While Demian does not dominate Sinclair, the younger boy falls increasingly under the influence of the older youth. The novel follows Sinclair's development through through childhood to adolescent rebellion to young adulthood. It plots Sinclair's evolving thought from unorthodox religion to philosophical mysticism and on towards self-awareness.

This book was published in 1919, just after World War 1. It shows the influence of the great ferment of thought that occurred at turn of the twentieth century and which resulted in various mystical movements such as theosophy and Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophy. Most of all, the book seems to show the influence of the then new psychology of Carl Jung, including Jung's interest in psychic phenomena. The novel is increasingly didactic as Sinclair delves deeper into mysticism, philosophy and psychology and as a result will be of less interest to those interested in stories of human interaction and events. This is not to say that 'nothing happens' in the novel, even in the second half, but long 'teaching' speeches occupy much of this second half of the book. As someone interested in Jungian psychology I found this book fascinating, but almost 100 years on I am left wondering did the 'grand new man' really emerge or are we still clinging to the "heard instinct" so accurately described in ?

Hermann Hesse's Demian (1919) is the coming-of-age story of Emil Sinclair, an initially innocent, introverted boy who, over the course of a decade, falls under the spell of the intellectually seductive and physically charismatic Max Demian in pre-World War I Germany. Finding himself blackmailed by lower-class bully Franz Kromer after foolishly telling a lie in public, Emil is mysteriously freed from his plight through the intervention of Demian, a romantic figure who is also a fellow student at Emil's school. Demian takes up and drops Emil socially over the course of a year, before inexplicably targeting him for friendship at the time of their confirmation.

Physically mature for his age, poised, well-dressed, and handsome, Demian challenges Emil's bland acceptance of the scriptures, outlines his own personalized Nietzschean philosophy, and shares his Gnostic beliefs ("God and Satan are one"). In the process, he slowly reveals himself to be something more than merely human. For Demian is capable of uncanny paranormal powers: by carefully studying his subjects and concentrating his will, Demian can read the minds and bend the will of others "like puppets on a string." Transfixed, Emil learns that Demian is suspected of being "a heathen" and rumored to be involved in an incestuous relationship with his own mother. Emil perceives Demian in numinous and archetypal terms, as "animal, tree, planet"--as "somehow timeless, bearing the scars of an entirely different history than we knew."

Both internally and externally, Demian becomes an idol and unwieldy obsession for Emil, simultaneously exerting a hold on him from a distance and occupying the still center of his private universe. Emil eventually becomes enamored of a young woman whom he calls 'Beatrice,' who is "boyish" and slightly built. He paints her portrait, but realizes it doesn't resemble her. He studies the painting day after day before he realizes what the reader has already effortlessly guessed: that the painting does not resemble 'Beatrice,' but Demian, who is "an angel and Satan, man and woman in one flesh, man and beast, the highest good and the worst evil." Taken a step further, Emil equates the face in the painting with his "fate or daemon," which further literalizes the book's title and title character.

As in Steppenwolf (1927), and to a more pronounced degree in Narcissus and Goldmund (1930), the novel has a muted but unmistakable homosexual subtext: Demian and Emil speak specifically of the "vice" of youthful sexuality, an unnamed "drive" that "the Greeks and many other peoples" elevated to the "divine and celebrated it in great feasts." Shortly after their initial meeting, Emil dreams that the larger, older Demian kneels on his chest like a medieval succubus, a dream that Demian correctly guesses Emil has experienced. Later, Emil finds the scent of "fresh soap emanating from his nape" intoxicating. Emil calls Demian "my fate and my beloved."

In fact, the entire novel reads like the protracted end product of the author's repressed and sublimated homosexuality, which, unrealized and driven inward, has taken on a variety of archetypal and magical connotations in his creative psyche.

Hesse attempts to resolve this conflict by allowing Emil to meet and fall in love with Demian's mother, the banally named "Eva." Eva is essentially Demian in a dress and with longer hair, though Emil finds everything about her "riper, warmer, more self-evident," and before long, Emil is hilariously kissing "the rain out of her hair."

Whereas Demian has long predicted a coming cataclysm that will first destroy and then transform Western civilization, Eva spouts a kind of woozy, proto-New Age mysticism that would have made Anais Nin blush: "Yes, you must find your dream, then the way becomes easy. But there is no dream that lasts forever, each dream is followed by another, and one should not cling to any particular one...as long as the dream is your fate you should remain faithful to it."

Now enthusiastically invited to share their home life, Emil soon finds himself surrounded by "astrologers and cabalists...devotees of Indian asceticism, vegetarians, and Buddhists" as the novel further devolves into unintentional parody.

The book concludes with Emil and Demian literally entrenched in the war that Demian has foreseen. Laying side by side, "his lips very close to mine," Emil finally gets the dramatic kiss he has been longing for, though it is a kiss, Demian explains, which has been ordered by and sanctioned by Frau Eva. When Emil awakes, Demian is gone, but he understands he will always remember him as "my brother, my master."

Murky, nearly useless mysticism, not wisdom, defines the text. Once Emil's early isolation and emotional suffering comes to an end, at the novel's midpoint, the book falls apart spectacularly, a fate also suffered by Steppenwolf in that novel's closing pages.

I was never quite sure how to describe or catergorize this odd and beautiful masterpiece, but over the years, I have remained grateful that I even had a high school teacher who included this in a Senior lit. class so many years in my past.

Over the years, I have glanced through this rather slim novel from time to time, puzzled at what it was that made such a huge impact on my spirit, all of 17 years old at the time. But there was something here that Hesse capitivated and I don't know exactly what it was but I sat up and read each word with utter fascination along with an eerie kind of knowing.

It's that kind of book.

If you are looking for a straight narrative that has a predictable or pat ending, you might be dissapointed. This is definitely not for the WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, EAT PRAY LOVE set. It's strange. It's fascinating and it's a classic one of a kinder. There will be those who swear it has the power to change your life and those who will shrug their shoulders with indifference. I have no idea why this read impacted my 17 year old self so. It has not done the same to me as a 38 year old as it had with my adolescent self. But I will say it is so worth reading, as all of Hesse's strange and beautiful works. There just isn't a lot out there today that captures spirituality the way this author does.

One exception, however, is the remarkable SIM0N LAZARUS--of course, the Eckhart Tolle endorsement inspired me!

Excellent book! I read it just prior to when I had suspected I would be getting engaged (I was right!), and it has helped me to overcome some huge hurdles and navigate the sometimes turbulent waters of being engaged. It was such a relief to know that how I was feeling wasn't just me being unreasonable, and the book has some very sage advice for handling the multitude of "disasters" you'll encounter. I'm a well educated, reasonable (usually), self-sufficient woman, and I suspect that if I hadn't read this book I would have thrown dishes at my hubby the first time he simply assumed I would do them...HA! Luckily I saw this coming and had a very calm discussion with him about what our "roles" would be in the house...my role was not to be the maid.

I got this book right after my own wedding and really enjoyed reading it. It dosen't tell you anything new. But the tone of the book and the personal stories the author shares makes it seem more informative. The book would be great at soothing pre-wedding jitters (and if you have time to read before you wedding you are to be commmended.) But I would reccomend this book as a "fun read" after the wedding and honeymoon are over. It helps transfer a bride's thoughts from wedding day worries to larger marriage issues in a fun friendly way.

I'm guessing that writing this book was quite therapeutic for Ms Stark; marrying a military guy must have been hard. I found it full of personal info, but short on real-world application. I would not recommend this book for anyone looking for real advice, but only as a semi-entertaining story of one woman's trial thru her early days of marriage (with tidbits thrown in from her friends' lives). And maybe that's all its meant to be, but the flavor is laced with resentment--which is not that funny.

This book has changed my marriage and life for the better! Stark writes what many think and feel but no one says. I suggest at least flipping through it before your wedding, but definitely reading it soon afterwards. Well-organized, it's a fun read that could go quickly if I didn't constantly stop to digest her new revelation and apply it to my own marriage. My new favorite book.

I read What No One Tells the Bride a while ago and was shocked when I read the review titled "What Have You Done for Me Lately." Let me quote what comes straight after "To this day, her husband does not know about the fling" on page 48.

"Now, I'm not recommending a fling as the learning experience is was for Yvonne. But among the brides I interviewed for the book, Yvonne's experience is not that uncommon. Many brides contemplated one last fling, while almost everyone I know or interviewed, either in the engagement or early in the marriage, entertained such questions as, Am I doing the right thing? Did I marry the right person? Or, Am I even the marrying kind?"

The review I am replying to paints an unfair picture of this book, and represents an attitude that many brides struggle with. It may not be OK to have one last fling, but judgmental attitudes towards the many complicated emotions people experience while navigating their relationships lead to shame, which is not productive for anyone. Cheers to Stark for talking about the stuff everyone's afraid they're the only one thinking or experiencing.

I bought this for myself over a year ago and cannot say enough good things about it (this purchase was for a dear family member). This book has opened up my eyes and the dark clouds that surrounded me for years...

Cognitive therapy is a tested, effective treatment for depression. It can be used instead of medication, or to add to the effects of antidepressants. This book is clear and well written. It has helpful worksheets and exercises to reinforce the information. This book can help you break the negative habits that cause and maintain depression.

If you just want to read "Feeling Good", do not buy this handbook version of the book.

The author uses imperative statements and not so subtle naratives to coerce the reader into doing the exercises. The objective... teach in simple practical terms Cognitive Behavioral Therapy methods for reprogramming out thinking.

Plan to read a few pages and then work on some exercises and ponder over your beliefs and values.

This is not a book for speed reader rabbits. It is more for the the thoughtful, consistent tortoise.

Michael P

Abstract

The following study investigates the text, The Feeling Good Handbook, by David Burns. Specifically addressed are issues regarding the cognitive-behavioral model of twisted thinking, moral relativism, and the denial of objective truth. It was found that the text provides an inadequate definition and application regarding moral and objective truth issues. Recommendations for revision of the model are included.


A Critical Analysis of the Feeling Good
Handbook: Its Usefulness in Counseling Practice

In addition to the popular text Feeling Good, which became a national bestseller, and The Therapists Toolkit, a resource developed for mental health practitioners, David Burns released The Feeling Good Handbook, a 729-page (including index) guide to cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. Semantically speaking, the text is well written, in simple (approximately 8th grade level) English, and is specifically marketed as a self-help text, though its usefulness for counselors is evident in that throughout the text the reader is often asked to assume the roll of the counselor, and after Burns describes a therapeutic technique, the reader is asked in a presented milieu, to implement that technique (for example, responding to a hypothetical client in a vignette empathetically).

In beginning to review this text, it is noticed a review can be accomplished in two ways. One, the text can be analyzed in respect to how it communicates the points it attempts to make (presentation), how it facilitates the ability in the reader to implement what is learned into his/her life or practice (application), and it can be reviewed in regards to how accurately the book delivers the ideas of cognitive therapy, mood therapy, empathetic response, etc. In all these aspects the book veers well--quite well--for even Albert Ellis (who holds a reputation of not being impressed with others' therapeutic approaches) critiques the text as "Clear, systematic, forceful."

The second approach to analyzing the text, the approach that will be taken, involves an investigation of one can trust as a suitable methodology the tenets from which the text is written, the tenets of cognitive therapy. It will address where the tactics disclosed by Burns are believed to be useful, and when it is hypothesized they would falter in a counseling practice.
Understanding Your Moods

Burns begins discussing moods by stating the fallacy clients often share, which is "I just can't help the way I feel" (Burns, 1999, p. 3). He then states a grounding premise of cognitive behavioral theory, which is that one's thoughts create moods. Quoting Ellis, the acronym A + B = C is stated. In this formula, A is the presenting event, B is the thoughts of the client, and C is the way the client feels. This formula is to show As do not create Cs--that is, what happens to a person does not effect that person's mood. The thoughts the person maintains affect the person's mood.

However, in reading the text, it is found that the true formula used in the text is not A + B = C, it is B = C, A = 0. The point being, the book extremely minimizes the effect of A. A, in essence, is described as a force that is prone to trying to manipulate one's B to produce unpleasant C's, but is in itself generally insignificant. More clearly, the situations, trials, relationships, and anything else external a person confronts merely challenges a person's thoughts. If the thoughts can be changed, or maintained as healthy thoughts, the person will always report a pleasant mood (C).

According to Burns, "sadness and depression result from thoughts of loss," "Anxiety and panic result from thoughts of danger," and "Guilt results from the thought that you are bad" (Burns, 1999, p. 5). To Dr. David Burns' credit he does state the following, which he titles a disclaimer: that there are times when negative feelings are appropriate and healthy, and that "learning when to accept these feelings and how to cope with a realistically negative situation is just as important as learning how to rid yourself of distorted thoughts and feelings" (p. 7). The reader must ask him/herself at this point, if Dr. Burns believes this amazingly astute point (i.e. equal importance), why then is only one line spent addressing that As are relevant, while 728.5 pages are spent denying their relevance?
False Sincerity of the Empathetic Response

A rebuttal to the statement that Burns' methodology denies all relevance of coping with a negative situation would probably include the premise that such is accomplished with the use of the empathetic response. The problem with this premise however, is the use of the empathetic response validates nothing. The therapist agrees to none of the truth that the client speaks. The empathetic response simply makes the client aware that the counselor is aware of his/her hurtful thinking.

Reading the text a reader might be perplexed with the question, when is there objective truth in thinking? More specifically, can not hurtful thinking (i.e. I have been a terrible father) be accurate? And if it is accurate, who is to say disposing of this accurate--though hurtful thought--is in essence better for the client than allowing the client to maintain this thought until the client changes his/her behavior so that the client can display another more healthy, and accurate, thought, (i.e. I am no longer a terrible father). However, by Burns' model, the man who states he is a terrible father, even if it is true (by all ability to quantify what a terrible father is), will be handled in the following way.

One, the client would be empathized with: "You are telling me that you are not a very good father, and you are clearly upset with that." Two, the counselor might disclose an "I feel" statement: "I would definitely not want to feel like I was a terrible father. That must be a horrible feeling." Three, it would be suggested to the client that he has twisted thinking which include "Should Statements" (You are wrongly telling yourself you should not be a terrible father), "Labeling" (there is no such thing as a terrible father, just persons who act the roll sometimes), "All-or-Nothing thinking" (surely you have done something that was not terrible--for example you are in therapy), "Overgeneralization" (Being a terrible father is a general simplification. Burns states "there are no Jerks in America" only persons who act like jerks from time to time), "Mental Filter" (you are pretty upset over this whole fatherhood thing. Lets think on things you're not terrible at), and the list goes on.

Burns' model provides no basis for determining what is "twisted thinking" and what is thinking that is the downright painful truth. He states, there are no Jerks in America--just those that act like Jerks. But if a "jerk" does not exist, then from what basis can one state an action as jerk-like? Furthermore, in the 700 plus pages of text on how to handle clients, not once does Burns confront a client because his/her thinking was pleasant but skewed. Therefore, it is a safe conclusion that--though Burns may briefly claim otherwise--to Burns pleasant thinking is correct thinking.

This is further evidenced in text when Burns addresses confrontation. Choices of words include "it was unpleasant when" or "I felt uncomfortable when" (Burns, 1999, p. 156). Both are notoriously relative remarks. There is no claim to objective truth; there is no "what you did was wrong," or "I was treated unjustly." Such relativism can be no more apparent than in the following excerpt:
You may have difficulty with this idea [that there is not use for shoulds]. You may insist that there's nothing wrong with using the word "should." You may think that it's your duty to clean your desk or to study hard. You may feel it is something you should do!

There are actually [only] three valid uses of the word "should" in the English language. One is the "moral should." You "should" not intentionally take advantage of someone, because this violates your moral code. The second is the "legal should." You should not drive at 90mph because it is dangerous and you'll probably get a ticket. The third is the "laws of the universe should." Things "should" happen because the forces of nature make them happen. For example, if you drop a pen, it "should" fall because of the force of gravity (p. 179).

The enormity of the errors in the thinking above is staggering. First, the only two claims of truth presented above are (one) that it is wrong believe one ought to believe there are moral shoulds or shoulds caused by one's duty, and (two) that the English dictionary agrees with David Burns. Both claims are false.

It is very possible that someone could have a duty to study. A physician being paid to study the effects of a rare disease infecting his/her patient, for example, is an explicit instance when there is a definite "should" due to duty. One would concur that the situation would not have to be so dire (matter of life and death) to still constitute a legitimate should. Though Burns--in the quote above--states that one "feels" shoulds, and does not know them or objectively understand them (lines 3-4).

Next, Burns' first definition of a true should is logically meaningless, in that he states it is truth that one should not take advantage of someone (a valid should) because it violates the person's moral code. Therefore, Burns is saying, as long as one is not violating their own relative moral code, he/she can take advantage of anyone and not be violating a "should." Burns' second definition, regarding the legal should, is quite depraved in that he states speeding violates a legal should (true) because one could hurt him/herself or get a ticket. In reality, Burns is not addressing a legal should at all for legally the should would remain constant whether on not the violator injures him/herself, or receives a ticket for the violation. What Burns is really stating in his example is the claim that one should not partake of behavior that may cause As that could instigate unpleasant Bs.

Lastly, Burns demotes the laws of physics, to the shoulds of physics! If one drops a pen according to Burns, it should hit the floor. According to the law of gravity however, if one drops a pen, it will hit the floor.
Discussion

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective. Burns does a fantastic job of describing how to implement cognitive principles into one's personal life, even into one's counseling practice. The ideas are useful for healing. However, the theory is weak in that it does not provide the practitioner, nor the client, correct direction regarding what is twisted thinking, and what is true--though painful--thinking.

Final Note: Telephone and Online Counseling may be a good way to provide quick and effective care to clients. Learn to provide Telephone and Online Counseling with this very well done book: The Therapist's Clinical Guide to Online Counseling and Telephone Counseling: The Definitive Training Guide for Clinical Practice

As a book on cognitive therapy, this book is well-reputed and worth reading if only for the sections on communication. However, this kind of therapy depends a lot upon the patient's thinking process and the theory that feeling follows thought. While I agree with optimistic thinking, maintaining positive thoughts, and having a disciplined thought life, I do not agree with the idea that suppressing emotions by using pseudo-logic to dismiss and discount one's feelings to be any better than lying to yourself and denying what you feel. Burns demonstrates this problem himself in his book with the contrary advice he gives in the "Ten ways to untwist your thinking," and the advice he gives in the sections on communication where using techniques to untwist thinking is the wrong thing to do when trying to communicate with someone else. Thus, he wants you to talk to yourself in ways that he doesn't advise using with your friend which results in a self-inflicted hypocrisy where finding "what's true" or valid in the other persons communication is completely ignored in analyzing your own communications with yourself.

The critical aspects of untwisting your thinking are mostly valid from the standpoint of logic if your thinking is illogical to begin with, but it doesn't follow that the illogical thought causes the feeling in as much as the feeling causes people to form thoughts about their feelings using irrational thinking to demonstrate its emotive quality, which gets expressed in a language that can be corrected by logic. (That is, the fact that it is illogical (usually by universalizing or by moralizing) is what conveys the fact that it is a feeling being refered to, and that the feeling is the cause of the universalizing or moralizing conclusion.) For example, if a person says they feel like a failure, Burns' technique is to put the lie to the statement by looking at the person's successes as compared to failures and looking at the failures as learning experiences. Yet, the person may not be referring to specific failures exaggerated out of proportion to successes, but rather to a consistent failure to make himself happy even when successful; thus the person is saying that they are a failure at being happy. Consequently, the fact that we think with an acquired language, and that language is the media of expression, does not mean that the expression has a necessary identity with the emotion referred to. If so, then we would not be able to refer to an emotion, only express it. Thus, the thought/language may be formally incorrect in logic and composition simply because of an error in precision, yet still be a valid attempt to construct a language/media to express the emotion, much like bad art or poor grammar. Burns implicitly admits to the limited success of his "ten ways to untwist your thinking," when he discusses the problems he had using these techniques with patients and then goes on to effective communication techniques where the feeling is validated despite any irrational composition of the language expressed.

From one point of view, the techniques to untwist your thinking model a parental role like that in transactional analysis and can be successful for those who lacked parenting where logical thinking was modeled as a skill for problem solving. This is much like Alcoholics Anonymous where the program and a sponsor become the parent. The success of such techniques depend much on a persons susceptibility to authority and a degraded self-concept where they need someone else (whether a program, guru, or doctor) to assume responsibility for "fixing" them.

The section on communication is more balanced in that there is more of a co-operative dialogue where mutual dignity and validation is prominent and each person maintains authority over their own feelings and thoughts without having them discounted and dismissed. There is less of a competition to be "right" or superior to another and no "authority" to abuse or bully compliance. The techniques of communication have more relationship value while the techniques to untwist your thinking have a potential as tools for abuse simply because of their logical "authority." Thus, while they are helpful for an individual who can apply them as tools for self-help, they can be misused when used to attain authority over someone else.

If you believe that you feel the way you do because you think a certain way about yourself, this book is useful in changing the way you feel by changing your thinking, or by giving you a rationale for suppressing your feelings. If you think the way you do because you feel that way, then this book can do little more than offer some tools for communicating.