Clouds Books

Mr. De Hoyos has done a wonderful job taking on the questions, the misinformation, the myths, and the misunderstandings and does what has needed to be done for some time; show them for what they really are, outrageous and outlandish, falsities.

I am an Evangelical Christian Pastor living in the Midwest part of the country. I have been indirectly involved with Freemasonry for several years. My Great-grandfather and all his brothers were Masons, his sisters were members of the Order of the Eatsern Star. My Grandfather and his family were also Masons or Eastern Star as well as my mother and aunts. I am a fourth generation Mason and proud of it.

I myself became a Mason only in the last few years and I prayed constantly over the matter for a long time having been exposed to all the "stuff" out there stating Fremmasonry was of the devil. Hooey! Read the books. I knew other pastors and family friends who were Masons and they assured me I was reading the wrong stuff. I talked with them on several occasions before deciding to become a Mason.

Being a Pastor and a Mason has helped me be better at both. Being a Mason has helped me become a better Pastor because of my desire to help others and show brotherly and fellowship while being a Pastor has helped me become a better Mason, because of my faith as a Christian I have found an additional avenue to reach out to the lost and help them by displaying brotherly love truth and relief. Aren't these the same "truths" that Jesus teaches us in the Gospels and all throughout the Bible.

This book has helped me also in the fight against ignorance in the church to those who don't know or claim they know but don't understand Freemasonry. We have several in the ranks of our church who only read what they can find on the internet about Masonry, and while most of that is negative, no one wants to take the time to research the positive. This book reveals the positive in an informative and substantiated way.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking to find out the real truth about Freemasonry.

Good day and Good reading.

Most of the claims made in anti-Masonic literature show one or more of the following characteristics: (a) a deep misunderstanding of Freemasonry; (b) a gullible willingness to accept, as true, claims that were long ago conclusively proven to be outright lies and forgeries; and, (c) sheer falsehood. In the early 1990s, Arturo de Hoyos, then a Freemason of about two years' standing, in his early thirties, came upon an audio tape marketed by a Pastor Ron Carlson, recording an anti-Masonic talk that Pastor Carlson had given. Pastor Carlson's talk showed these characteristics. Although most Freemasons had long taken an attitude of not responding to anti-Masonic literature, de Hoyos decided to take a different approach: He analyzed Pastor Carlson's talk in detail, and documented the many ways in which its claims were false.

Although Pastor Carlson and his claims may or may not be known to you, the reader, the anti-Masonic claims that he makes are largely those that many other current anti-Masonic authors make; many of these claims have been made for generations. de Hoyos's book is thus useful in answering many of the classic and current anti-Masonic claims. The author not only speaks to the falsehood of specific anti-Masonic claims, he also goes on to discuss the process and style of anti-Masonic thinking and writing. This makes the book a very useful tool for responding to many anti-Masonic critics.

de Hoyos is careful to document every claim that he makes. His scholarship is impeccable; his book is thoroughly referenced, his reasoning is careful, and he does not go beyond what he can document. He is thoroughly familiar with the intricacies of Masonic history and literature, and he guides the reader through these intricacies where necessary. I can recommend this book without qualification, to anyone who would like to check the accuracy of some anti-Masonic claim.

The rest of the story: The author remained active in Masonry, becoming Master of his lodge in Texas. About 8 or 9 years after writing this book's first edition, Arturo de Hoyos was appointed to the office of Grand Archivist and Grand Historian of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite (Southern Jurisdiction). In this capacity he supervises the vast literary holdings of the Scottish Rite, S.J., in the House of the Temple in Washington, DC--which means that now he has access to even more rare sources than he had in the early 1990s. He has continued to produce a great deal of Masonic scholarship, much of it published in _Heredom_ (an annual published by the Scottish Rite Research Society; excerpts from _Heredom_ are available in another book edited by de Hoyos, available on Amazon). He is also the co-author, with S. Brent Morris, of _Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry? The Methods of Anti-Masons_, which is another excellent book responding to anti-Masons, written for the general public, easy to obtain.

In the interests of full disclosure: I read the de Hoyos and Morris book twice before becoming a Freemason myself, in late 2006, at the age of 49. I hold a doctoral degree in psychology from New York University, and am a committed Christian who currently teaches Sunday School; I am thus neither unaquainted with scholarly research, nor an unbeliever. Although it is not hard to find my e-mail address on the Internet (I have published a lot myself), I ask that no one write me to attempt to dissuade me from Freemasonry; I do you the courtesy of not attempting to dissuade you from whatever path you have chosen in life.

I'd wanted to read THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING for years. I'm so glad I waited to buy and read this translation, because it is excellent. The writer is, of course, unknown but the translator has managed to preserve the writer's intentions, yet make the text readable, understandable, and compelling. I would heartily recommend this translation to anyone serious about meditation, for this fourteenth-century monk surely was 'way ahead of his time.

A very interesting description of a contemplative discipline conveyed intimately from an unknown teacher to an unknown student. The text is a mystic exploration of the divine that rejects the use of the intellect and the imagination, preferring an inner knowing, like a numinous experience based on feeling, a gnosis of the heart. An important theme is the difference between the active and the contemplative personality; others include the awareness of self, death of the ego, and advice on leading the contemplative life. Although this writing is deeply embedded in Christian tradition and I disagree with many of these beliefs, I still admire the author's gentleness and sense of humor. All spiritually-minded people will benefit from a study of this almost poetic text. The most beautiful sentiment is this: "For it is not what you are nor what you have been that God regards with his most merciful eyes, but what you would like to be."

I like this book because I can read it to my little brothers, who are 6 and 3 years old. They like the pictures, which are interesting, and they like to hear me read to them about the saints, especially the new ones we didn't know about it before. We have Joni's other saint book, too, and we like that one too!

I am twelve years old and I love this book. Some books about the saints are VERY boring. They're too long, and give too many facts. But, this book is all in poetry so it's easy to read. It also gives interesting information about the saints. Next to each poem there's an awesome picture of the saint. It gives just enough info. without being boring. I love this book, and I'm sure everyone else will also like it as much as I did.

Best written book i've read in a long time. Written in simple english yet captivating and enticing. Any one who likes Salvatore or Tolken will enjoy this family friendly book. My childern 10 and 8 loved this book it's sure to be a bedime classic in my house.

This is for anyone who enjoys getting lost in new worlds. Smith blends the adventurous flavor of swords-and-sorcery fantasy with Darwin-gone-mad species creation to produce a world populated with fascinating creatures that mesh into a plausible but wholly fantastical environment. The cloud whales and their symbiotic crews are wonderful, the pace is engaging, and the reader is presented with some new marvel at every turn. The logical framework surrounding the magics lend them an intriguing plausibility. Smith is a new author of imagination and promise, well worth encouraging.

WONDERFUL BOOK, KEEPS YOU ON THE EDGE WANTING TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. GREAT HISTORICAL THAT SWEEPS YOU BACK IN TIME. THE ADDED BONUS OF SOME GREAT DESCRIPTIVE SEX...COWBOYS AND INDIANS, OH MY!!!!!

This was a terrific book. The story was really powerful and the writing was evocative. The landscape becomes another character in the book, it so intricately woven into the story. Terrific love scenes, too!

I found Cloud Swallower to be a compelling murder mystery with action, adventure, and twists on every page. The author's thoughtfully developed characters and cunning plot allowed the riveting story to unfold with vivid detail and unpredictable mystery.
The story is based up an accurate reflection of the Pueblo Indians and some of the issues they have faced in their quest to honor and perpetuate their culture. I became engaged in not only solving the mystery but also by what I was learning about Pueblo Indian customs and behaviors.

The author's voice comes through loud and clear throughout the book. His passion for New Mexico and its people and his conviction for preserving the environment for generations to come is another compelling feature of this novel. A great first novel that has whet my appetite for Fowler's next effort.

Having long been a Tony Hillerman fan, Cloud Swallower by David Fowler was recommended to me as an entertaining Hillermanesq murder mystery set in the midst of New Mexico's Pueblo Indians. The story line is well conceived and deliciously intricate with a number of subplots deftly integrated with the central conflict (which we learn about in the 1st three pages). The characters are interestingly multi dimensional and all play an organically credible role as things unfold. Although there are eventually a number of suspects, one never gets the feeling that a particular character is included merely as a false lead (what I dislike about many murder mysteries). I enjoyed the degree to which Fowler weaves in all kinds of pertinent and informative cultural insights: from Pueblo culture and spirituality, to the use of a lethal Native American weapon known as an atlat, to the funeral rites for a parrot. The book both entertains and educates as it ultimately moves to several thrilling climaxes, one involving a major (and unexpected) revelation, the other involving the final showdown. This does not feel like an author's first attempt. The dialogue is crisp and entirely believable, the action transitions smoothly from one set of circumstances to the next. It is written with an energy and passion that speaks to the knowledge and skill of the writer. It pulls you in and keeps you riveted. Bravo. A masterful effort.

I am 11 years old, I am glad my mom bought this book, because it remind me of when I was six years old, I had a imaginary friend,call buddy,I really dont no what happen to him,I just continus to get more friends after that, just like ed will.

Cloud the snowman is a wonderful book for children , it teaches children sometimes it's sad how we lose things in life, and how sometimes things are not permanent,

This is the definitive history of the Alamogordo/Sacramento Mountain Railway. The steepest standard gauge railroad in the world. I am the chaiman of the foundation dedicated to preserving the memory of the famous historic railroad. The A/SMR was the first railroad to use switchbacks to gain altitude, the first excursion tourist railroad (1898-1947), the steepest, 4300' to 9600' in 30 miles of track.
thanks to AMAZON for helping us raise funds to continue our work.

Richard Haskell

This is an excellent source of information about a long lost piece of American History. I have personally visited many of the sights contained in the book during time stationed at nearby Holoman AFB. in the middle 1980's. The book has been a great resource in modeling the branch line with my son in HO scale. Much of the old road bed still remains in the forest near Cloudcroft, and can very easily be followed during hiking trips. There is even some remnants of old tressels deep in the woods today.

I love the illustrations in this book. I use it when I teach my Yoga kids classes. It is also great for primary elementary classes when studying clouds.

We have the British edition of this book--Burningham is British--and it is one of my 2-year-old son's favorites; and last week, when I saw my 2-year-old niece, she wanted me to read it to her three times in two hours. At first I thought perhaps they might be scared by the idea of Albert falling off the cliff on his hike with his parents, but they weren't because the next thing you know, he meets all kinds of new friends. The story is an original and unsentimental way to help kids figure out not only that "there's no place like home," but also that you can appreciate other places while you're away from home, and that you can always find company and be taken care of. This is great for families who travel a lot. And of course Burningham's illustrations are amazing. In this book, he does something different from his others--he uses photographs as the basis for some of the pictures, adding his amazing interpretations. And he never talks down to kids or plays to sappiness or sentimentality. If you don't have MR. GUMPY'S OUTING and MR. GUMPY'S MOTORCAR, I'd recommend those as well.

This is one of those childhood books you never forget. I had the privilege of growing up in Fremont, the authors home town, and knew their children very well as I grew up with them. This book will always hold a special place in my heart and I can't recommend it more highly. The simple structure and beauty of Jane's artwork and prose are timeless. I still keep my original copy closely guarded and my son, Liam who is 3 now, knows it is a special time when the book comes out. Along with "Where the Wild Things Are" this should be one of the staples of every child's early reading experiences. Thank you Jane for the memories, and this wonderful book!

I have loved this book since I was little! Jane Stroschin beautifully tells the tale of a cloudy day. The main characters are cloud watchers, modeled after her own two children. The children look up into the sky, use their imagination and let the fun begin - a variety of scenes can be found in the clouds. Children and adults will enjoy this book and may want to do some cloud-watching of their own!