Alternative Books

Most of the book is devoted to institutional history (governance, finances, who sided with who in this or that petty dispute, etc.). Some attention is given to community aspects. We learn next to nothing about the academic side of things. The one exception is art, which is given some attention and only here are there some accounts of what actually went on in the classrooms. Art was central from the start and Black Mountain College became artier with the years and is perhaps best remembered as an art school today, but I still think there is good reason to be dissatisfied with this one-sided perspective, especially considering the founder Rice's very explicit rejection of the idea of the college as an art school: "'God, no!' he'd thunder, 'that's the last thing I want. They're the most awful places in the world!'" (p. 55). The following brief summary is essentially all we learn about how the college functioned academically: "Classes varied considerably in format, since each teacher was left to his own devices. Some would lecture or direct discussions more than others; some would settle for words, others would show pictures and play music; and occasional seminar would be taught by three or four instructors, and many classes had staff members or their wives sitting in as students. Most instructors privately jotted down grades, but only---so went the rationale, anyway---in case a student later needed a 'record' for transfer or for graduate school. The grades were never passed on to the students themselves, and never, therefore, became the focus of energy or the standards for evaluating self-worth ... The only exams given at Black Mountain were those to pass from junior to senior (specialized) division, and those set by outside examiners when a student felt ready to graduate. For the division exam, students were given all day, free use of the library and wide choice among many questions (which often included conundrums like 'How do you know the Philippine Islands exist?', or 'How do you know the sky is blue?'). ... Black Mountain never managed to get accreditation." (p. 108). Other interesting topics on which we would have liked to learn more include things like John Dewey's relation to the college. Dewey visited several times and became a member of the college's advisory board, but for some reason Duberman thinks that this should earn him no more that two short paragraphs (p. 102). The general conclusion from the entire experiment is fairly predictable: the college attracted interesting students (when fired from Rollins College, Rice "had few doubts about the students interested in starting a new school; 'top flight,' according to Rice, 'not a second-rater in the lot'---and indeed they included the president of the student body and the editor of the undergraduate paper." (p. 28)), and dedicated faculty (In 1942 "the community tried various expediencies in order to cut costs. Having already contributed its labor in putting up the new plant, the faculty now decided to contribute its pathetic salaries as well; it agreed not to draw any money, beyond $10 a month per person, until it looked resonable clear that the college would be able to survive (and in some cases faculty members turned down offers to teach elsewhere, including one that carried a $10,000 salary)" (p. 165)), although "at its worst, the community consisted of little more than a group of squabbling prima donnas---many professional, others in training" (p. 12).

With exceptional research, interviews and anecdotes, Duberman details the brief, lively history of Black Mountain College in western North Carolina. The influence of this experimental community continues to the present (the faculty and alumni included Anna and Josef Albers, Charles Olson, Robert Creeley, and Jonathan Williams, among many others). The struggle to keep the College fiscally solvent from year-to-year, as often happens at any instution, becomes paramount to the story, but doesn't detract from the intellectual achievement of Black Mountain -- or diminish the artistic clashes of its participants. In the 1970s, the founding of the Naropa Institute, the Jack Kerouac School of Disemobodied Poetics, and other experiments in community would find echoes in the history of Black Mountain College. This is an entertaining and informative history, and essential reading for anyone interested in mid-20th century literature and art.

Duberman's classic "Black Mountain" is the definitive work of scholarship on the school that gave America its most pivotal and influential artists of the 20th century.
A sheer joy to read, this account of the rise and fall of Black Mountain engages the reader into a world of ideas, community and art that is all too rare in today's considerations. Teachers can learn how to Teach and Do at the same time. Students can learn the meaning of involvement, responsibility and creativity. Parents might learn a thing or two about choices. And administrators will see where they've gone wrong. Something for nearly everyone in this erudite, and poignant dissertation.

If there was one idea that pervades the book, and, indeed, pervaded the college it was that "living" and "learning" should be intertwined, and a favorite slogan at Black Mountain was that "as much real education took place over the coffee cups as in the classrooms."
There is much that we all can learn from this account. But read it for the adventure! Think of it as a sort of Intellectual Indiana Jones where the treasure is that harmonious mix of education, art, community and life -- in other words, the very gem that these brave and gifted women and men of eminence sought at Black Mountain.
We owe these pioneers a great deal.
Honor them with your mind, and read this wondrous account by one of Black Mountain's own.

Dave Beckwith
Founder/President
Charlotte Internet Society

Needing guidance on how to lead an artist's community, I discovered this rare and remarkable book. It takes you inside an intentional community, one better known for its mythology than for its reality, and shows you the birth, growth and death of an ideal. Unlike other books on similar subjects, it is never trivial or purely ancedotal -- every paragraph reveals something fundamental about the struggles, passions, successes and failures that are part of inventing a community. There are moments in this book that are so profoundly true -- I know this because I recognize them from my own similar experiences. I respect Duberman's perceptions and his deep emotional attachment to the subject (someday I hope to thank the author personally as this book has made a positive difference in my life and the development of my community). I recommend this as a textbook for those thinking of starting an artist's community.

If "God" had to equip us with an owner's manual for our bodies, this would be the book. This book is full of usefull information from cover to cover. I highley recommend it!

I own a lot of books on optimum brain performance as part of relentless seach for better understanding - & application - of peak performance technologies. I know very well that peak performance depends very much on the brain working in perfect harmony & close integration with the body. I therefore also own quite a lot of books about enhancing body performance.

This is one of them, which is also one of the few I always keep on my immediate shelf for quick reference.

Although it has been written essentially as an introduction to Hellerwork, I find the authors' intellectual work in creating the connection between life issues & natural bodily alignment very illuminating. Additionally, he shows how to restore the body's natural balance from the inside out.

Obviously both authors have profound understanding of the human body & its possibilities for maximum health & efficiency.

I did not realise that one of the authors (Joseph Heller) was an aerospace engineer by training until I read this book. This probably explains the logical structure & systematic layout of the various chapters as follows:

PART I: KNOWLEDGE OF BODY
The Body in Everyday Life
The Body's Role in the Strcutures of Consciousness
The Plasticity of the Human Body
Bodywork

PART II: BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
Introduction to Hellerwork
The Thoracic Cavity
Understanding or Standing on Your Own Two Feet
Reaching Out
Control & Surrender
Gut feelings or Let It All Hang Out
Holding Back
Losing Your Head
The Balancing Act
Integration & Coming Out

I only wish that there were more visual/graphic illustrations to go with the various chapters.

To me, the authors sum up the book very beautifully. Let me recap their exact words in the last chapter: "...Enlightenment is not something that ony happen when you meditate, chant your mantra, listen to your favourite piece of music: It is something that happens every day, in the way you move, relate to others, work, cook supper, brush your teeth. The challenge or purpose of life is to experience it as fully as possible at every moment. Your body is both vehicle & metaphor for your process: When the hologram is integrated with the being, the result is enlightenment." [The authors use the hologram, in an abstract sense, to represent the exact physical expression of a person's mind & spirit; in a concrete sense, any part of the body may be seen to reflect & contain everything there is to know about the whole body, just like a hologram.]

On the whole, the many ideas in this book are definitely worth exploring from the standpoint of becoming a full-time owner of your own body!

I learned a lot about my body from reading this book, especially why I get stuck. The connection between what I think or believe and how it manifests in my body couldn't be better explained. It was a real eye opener. I also enjoyed the practical suggestions for getting aligned and balanced, particularly undulation, one of my favorite exercises.

Anita Boser, author of Relieve Stiffness and Feel Young Again with Undulation

All I can say is "Wow". I did not expect to get this kind of a workout from this book, it's really heavy.

Britannia's Fist: From Civil War to World War is not a book about the Trent Affair. And given the number of alternate history books released in recent years (1862: A Novel, Stars & Stripes Forever: A Novel of Alternate History (Stars & Stripes Trilogy), etc.) that have revolved around that subject, I immediately gave Tsouras extra points upon cracking this book open. Instead of just another Ameriwank fantasy that has Gatling guns, repeating rifles, and ironclad warships magically produced and used by the most effective commanders in the Union by the end of 1861, what I found was a well-researched, interesting story with at least a semi-plausible backstory. Any potential reader should be warned that this is just the first book in a planned trilogy, however.

Rather than the Trent Affair, Tsouras chooses the diplomatic conflict surrounding the construction of the Laird Rams, a series of ironclad commerce raiders constructed in British shipyards for the Confederate States of America. In our history, American diplomacy and the desire of the British government to avoid war caused the seizure of the rams before they could be turned over to the British government. Here, that government is slightly slower to act, and an American ship attacks the first of the ironclads in British waters before it can be outfitted with guns and a full crew. A British ship attempts to intervene, and is sunk in the process. The public on both sides of the Atlantic is inflamed, and the war is on.

Unusually for an alternate history novel, which tends to assume a bit of familiarity with the subject by its readers, Tsouras spends a good quarter of the book establishing backstory and setting the scene. Given the relative obscurity of his point of departure from our history, however, the words are well spent. Particularly nice is a foreward in which he partially explains why he chose this subject. I assume that we'll see future volumes building upon the backstory established in this first volume, as there isn't much character development in the book -- Tsouras balances his time among three different theatres of war, and two others are hinted at.

That balancing act forces Tsouras to spread himself thin in showing readers the overall course of the war, and at just 255 pages (including approximately 30 of appendices and footnotes), I felt I didn't get as much bang for my buck as I hoped. This can be made up in future volumes, but if Tsouras spends too much time in the next volume recounting what we've learned here, it may limit what he's able to cover in the overall series. The footnotes and appendices are extremely useful for someone hoping to find out more, and there are dozens of allohistorical notes that provide hints of the future story.

Because the book is mostly written from the angle of a history recounting the war, we don't get much characterization. That fact may have prevented Tsouras from falling into the typical alternate history author's trap of giving past characters modern morals -- or Tsouras may be savvy enough to avoid falling into that trap. I simply can't tell at this point. That isn't the case with Tsouras' non-human characters -- the weapons used by the combatants.

I use the phrase "non-human characters" for the simple fact that far more attention is devoted to the details of Dahlgren Guns and Armstrong cannon than President Lincoln or the other figures who appear in the story. Tsouras' attention to these "characters" extends to the point of him seeming to set the stage for faster technological development of weapons -- Gatling Guns, repeating rifles, etc. -- in future books. He does manage to put this into the context of historical characters, however, and gives at least some basis for the movements in that direction.

In doing so, Tsouras avoids falling into the trap of Harry Harrison's Stars and Stripes Forever trilogy -- to which I think this series can be compared. Both deal with British/American conflicts during the Civil War, both will involve the quicker development of technology, and both (likely) deal with American victories. Although this is only the first book in the trilogy, Tsouras' writing heavily foreshadows an American victory in the war, even at this early point in the overall story.

Fortunately, the foreshadowing and characterization isn't absurd as it was in the Stars and Stripes trilogy. Tsouras seems to have a well-researched series in the works here, and if it can keep from advancing technology too quickly (or if it can at least provide enough justification for such a move) and if it can avoid falling into the bombastic Americanism of Harrison's series, this could be Tsouras' best work yet.

I'd recommend alternate history fans with an interest in the Civil War pick this up, but I'd warn alternate history fans in general or Civil War history fans in general to be wary of buying this at full price.

British troops barrelling through Maine on U.S. railroads. Russian, Union, and British naval vessels fighting it out near New York City. Citizens of Charleston, South Carolina, lining up behind P.G.T. Beauregard to greet a battered Royal Navy ship. Confederate flags flying freely over the Windy City of Chicago. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in his greatest battle since Little Round Top at Gettysburg. French troops march through Texas to relieve Union-held New Orleans. Lincoln and Stanton fighting a war on multiple fronts. Troops and ships rushing all over the map to confront one another.

Britannia's Fist, the first in a new trilogy from Potomac Books, can best be described as a believable and well written alternative history that "might have been." Replete with fictitious and real footnotes and references, George Tsouras's latest work at first glance might repel the die-hard Civil War buff who is looking for facts. However, this fascinating book is written in the fast-paced, free-flowing, "you are there" style developed so wonderfully by Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Shaara in his masterful book, Killer Angels. Both books start a little slow as they set up the background and characters, but both build to a crescendo. Unlike Shaara's book, this one leaves you hanging and desperately awaiting the second installment.

Tsouras, an analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency, writes this book in a believable fashion, using actual Civil War characters and situations as the basis for his alternative fiction. He begins in the fall of 1864 after the Battle of Gettysburg and the New York Draft Riots. Diplomatic blunders and errors by overagressive military officers collide to set up a chain reaction that draws Britain, France, and Russia into combat in North America, while the Confederate army licks its chops and awaits the orders to advance on Washington. William Rosecrans is bogged down in Georgia and Tennessee, and secret CSA operatives match wits with George Sharpe, the Union head of intelligence.

What results is a fast-paced, action-packed book that frankly reads like a TV mini-series in the waiting. Alternating between the main )and some lesser) characters' point of view, Tsouras has fashioned a book that is sure to fascinate most readers, and especially those who enjoy this kind of alternative history. To me, it's much better written and more enjoyable than Newt Gingrich's series or even Harry Turtletaub's extensive line of "fictional history." At slightly over 200 pages, I read the book in a couple plane rides while on business this past two weeks, and, frankly, the flights whizzed by and I was disappointed to land and put down the book.

As you dive into the book and begin to get drawn into the action, be warned that the book ends abruptly, a ploy that is certain to draw fans back to their wallets for rounds two and three of this trilogy.

All in all, I was throughly entertained, something I cannot say for much of the alternative history that has crossed my desk in recent years.

When I heard about Peter Tsouras's new alternate history book, I had to read it. His compilations have always been varied and provocative, but always grounded in a good sense of historical possibilities. His latest book, Brittania's Fist is no exception. Solidly grounded in a shudderingly possible outcome, the author takes us to the dark days of America's Civil War. Following the defeat of the South at Vicksburg and Gettysburg, things looked up for the Northern cause. However, relations with Great Britain, never rosy due to their ill-concealed support for the Southern cause, reach a breaking point not seen since the Trent Affair. In an odd twist of fate, the two nations are suddenly battling at sea, shredding Lincoln's dream of "One War at a Time".
Not seen from the perspective of the iconic generals like Lee and Grant, instead we go down to the lower levels of command, from Garnet Wolseley, later one of England's greatest generals, to Thomas Meagher, the retired commander of the Irish Brigade, recalled to the colors when the redcoats are coming again. Faced with a three headed hydra of the Confederacy, England and France, the latter coming up from Mexico, the North seems ready to collapse, but unlikely allies like Russia and innovative designers like Dahlgren and Lowe prove that technology had give the edge to the underdog.
Still, its an uphill battle as British soldiers pour down from Canada and the mightiest ships in the British navy appear on the Atlantic Coast. At the end of this first book, the issue is still in doubt, but the North is not the house of cards its enemies expected.
Tsouras breathes historical figures to life for us, showing their hopes and dreams along with their grit and determination. Spies, Copperheads, inventors, government bureaucrats and others have their parts to play in this tightly woven tale of a nation at war on all sides. Technological matters of warfare are explained in detail so that the reader understands how battles can be won or lost if soldiers and sailors make full use of the equipment they are provided with.
The battle scenes, whether on land or sea, are breathtaking and terrible to behold. You feel the shudder of the deck as huge guns erupt in broadsides, with flame and splinters flying. Tsouras has given us an alternate history tour de force and I will be unhappily chafing for the next installment. Great read, highly recommended to buffs of history and alternate history
Andy Nunez
Editor, Against the Odds Magazine

This is another great about. A good old "What if". I didn't realize this would be a series of books when I purchased it, can't wait for the other books. Well worth your money.

Peter Tsouras provides the reader with a fascinating look at "what could have been" during the American Civil War in his latest book "Britannia's Fist". His true mastery is the identification of events and characters from today's footnotes to history that could have had profound influences on history if only the winds of fate had blown differently. Most importantly, Tsouras' gift as a storyteller makes this book a fantastic read.

As a responsible historian, Tsouras provides the reader with the actual historic accounting of events. He identifies the two points where America and Britain came dangerously close to armed conflict - the Trent Affair and the open construction of the Laird Rams, two ironclad commerce raiders destined for the Confederacy. Cooler heads prevailed in both instances ensuring the two nations would not begin open hostilities. Tsouras' story pivots on the question of what would have happened if the English government did not stop the trial runs of the two Laird Rams?

Tsouras cleverly intertwines historically accurate technology development, international relations policy, and actual events with the story of what could have happened. The story is told so well only historians will be able to discern where history and fiction diverge.

The main plot begins by centering on the events leading up to the release of the Laird Rams. President Lincoln, anticipating their escape during their sea trials, sends an adventurous young officer to intercept them before the ships can be married with their Confederate crews and weaponry. The intercept takes place in British international waters, instigating the implementation of the British warplans for a ground invasion from Canada and blue water naval operations. Tsouras also explores the opportunistic possibilities of two other world powers after the initiation of hostilities.

The one major sub-plot not fully developed in this story revolves around the Copperhead movement. Tsouras creates "Big Jim" Smoke as the fictional leader of the Copperhead movement in Indiana, who among other things leads a prison break at Camp Morton. The overall concept of a massive Copperhead uprising in the mid-West is visited often, but never fully developed. It looks to play a much larger role in subsequent books of the trilogy.

Leaving no detail unturned, Tsouras includes historic references for both the actual events and he creates fictitious references for documents that most likely would have been written if events had turned out differently. They are clearly marked to prevent the curious readers from pursuing non-existent documents.

This book is an absolute page-turner. I greatly anticipate the next book in the series.

Anyone that loves Bush as much as I do will enjoy reading this book. It is really informative to when they were young to how they are now. Not to mention the interesting chapter where Jasmine speaks about her time with Gavin. There might not be that many pics but the words that he speaks makes up more than enough. In one of the lines he says it is like the eye in the calm of the storm. How poetic. Just "Brilliant"

i have this book, along with all of the books about BUSH, and i found this book to be really really cool and entertaining. it has rare facts about the band, and it even has really cute baby pics of everyone.

If you're a diehard Bush fan, you'll have no problem with this bio... but if you're a sometimes Bush fan, you might find it hard to get through... I know it's a bio, but it needs more pictures! Excellent reference for Bush webmasters...

Jennifer Nine is a goddess to Bush fans evrywhere! At last someone gives Bush the credit they deserve. And with such an emotional power! Read it, listen to bush, read it again, listen to more bush, read it....

Finally, a book that is simple enough to follow, yet with generous room for variability. Unlike most books involving movement--such as books on say pain relief, running or athletics--the lessons contained in The Busy Person's Guide to Easier Movement continue to unfold in front of you so that you, the reader, have the option of going back time after time and actually getting more each time you try the same lesson. This is because no lesson is actually the same if you heed the instructions in the beginning, which include using your imagination, being comfortable and going slowly. Done this way, the lessons guide you not only toward more flexibility, strength and comfort, but greater creativity and independence! The book may claim to be about "easier movement," but be forewarned, it is much deeper than that. You could discover possibilities in living that you had never imagined.

I found this book after years of chronic pain and headaches. I had tried chiropractic, massage, and prescription medication, but these only took the edge off my pain. I got this book after a friend recomended the feldenkrais method, and have had wonderful improvement after a month. I saw improvement after the first two lessons. It is easy enough to understand without any help if you will take the time to do the lessons, and if you have the ability to visualize what is happening in your body as you move. I would recomend buying the DVD "The Alexander Technique" first as an introduction to the concepts in the book.

The Feldenkrais Method is possibly the most innovative educational/therapeutic method in existence. It can help both body and mind to function more efficiently.

However, having been developed by a physicist with a profound knowledge of kinetics and neurophysiology, neither the practice nor theory is particularly accessible. This book remedies the situation, simplifying the entry point without losing the essential flavour. The author, Frank Wildman, is a genius practitioner. I have personally witnessed him achieve the seemingly miraculous with a number of people suffering severe difficulties.

If, like them, you've been there and done that, yet still feel there must be something more, this could be it. The trick with this method is learning to do less, not more. It took me years to learn and I'm a practitioner!

Do give this book a try. It will at least make you question some commonly held assumptions about health and well-being. It may even change your life!

That's 33 cents per excersise, quite a value. Actually each lesson has more than one movement, 5 to 15 movements per lesson so it's like 10 times 50 which is 500 divided by the price, pennies per exercise. This is a no nonsense guide that promises and delivers, the title says it all. The lessons take 5 to 15 minutes. The directions are easy to follow, the drawings are good. It helps to vocally record some of lessons on tape of course. The only thing I personally can compare this book to is relaxercise and I like this better. I bought it I'm happy! I got all the excersises. I don't need no weights, I don't need to stretch, I don't need to sit cross legged with some freak telling me to breathe. I don't need no big beach balls, and rubber bands. I can get there faster. My ligaments feel great, my muscles are smarter. My mind is stronger. My bones are alive. I can walk forever. I can rest in peace. My connective tissue is new. It's ok I cheated, I did try some of Anat's tapes before.

If you have time to read only one book on Immigration in the Trans-Mississippi West this classic by Stewart is the one. Filled with characters and anecdotes it started me on a long and large collection of books on the Old West. Many published in small numbers have been excellent investments.

Stewart tells us a splendid story. In 1840, California was there to be settled, but how to cross the deserts and mountains to reach it? Beginning with the Bartelson Party in 1841, pioneers blazed ever-better trails that avoided deserts, followed water, and crossed the mountains, especially the forbidding peaks of the Sierras. But even though trails improved, they were still treacherous, as shown by the doomed Donner Party in 1846. We get a fascinating picture of the West, and Stewart even takes on a trip along the California Trail, from Independence, Missouri to Sacramento via Fort Laramie, Wyoming's South Pass, Nevada's Humboldt River, and over Donner Pass. If you enjoy travel or American history, you can spend many, pleasant hours with this book.

The old West is a subject that has been poorly served by Hollywood and the current crop of academic writers eager to show that the US is a rogue nation fit only for extinction. Reading Stewart's book will change all that.

In 1957 I talked with a 96 year-old gentleman in Golden, CO, who was then living in a rooming house next to one of my college buddies. He claimed to have been the sheriff of Central City (CO) in the 1880s, which I later found to have been true. He talked about how the "fanners" (gunmen who fanned the hammers of their pistols with their non-gun hand) held no danger for him. He simply took careful aim with his pistol and shot them dead. He also favored using a shotgun in close quarters, and always shot first if his opponent started to draw his pistol. Myths like those he debunked and others like Indians circling wagon trains and shooting from horseback at men under cover need to be refuted.

This book is a reprint of the 1962 edition, and author Stewart, who also wrote the fine novels "Fire" and "Storm", writes in a style that seems somewhat enthusiastic to contemporary readers. Nor does he compare the subject period of 1840 to 1858 to current times and moralize against Bush, imperialism or the emmigrants' treatment of Indians. If you want to find fault with America, this book is not for you, but conversely, if you want to know what made America great, this is required reading.

There are many heroes here in Stewart's presentation, all with flaws, but most with outstanding physical and moral courage. American democracy was at its best in the emmigrant parties, who expected no help of any kind from their government and whose loyalties descending from family to friend to party to others in the same endeavor were evident to all. Indeed, these parties had no backing from government, corporations, or any other organizations, and the free enterprise ethic presented in such stark definition will be almost unrecognizable by those raised on improving the governmental nanny-state, or requiring free education, tenure, social security, unemployment, disability and health insurance (and cell phones) to make it through another day.

When decisions were made in the emmigrant parties the most risky option was usually chosen, and it needs to be emphasized that the lives of the decision-makers were what was at risk. This led to amazing feats and great suffering, experiences almost universally remembered by the participants as much less difficult than was actually the case, and even exciting and pleasant. Where was post-traumatic stress syndrome? Relief parties were organized by men sometimes at great expense and their own peril, yet expecting no reward or payment of any kind. It is sometimes said that adversity brings out the best in people -- if so, it was here in abundance.

Although the Donner party figures prominently in this book, it is only one of many parties whose experiences are presented in detail, and the only one that came to grief in the Sierras. The reader is treated to other epics such as Chiles's return to Missouri in 1842 starting from present-day Sacramento in April, crossing the Sierras through Tejon Pass north of Los Angeles, then up the east side of the Sierras to the Humbolt sink in Nevada, then east to Fort Hall in Idaho and Fort Bridger in Wyoming, south through Colorado to Santa Fe, and finally east to Independence, arriving on September 9th. One would search far and wide to find this story in an American history book. It must be remembered that history is not what happened, but what was recorded and how it is presented by writers and teachers who often change history to fit their own predilections. There is none of that here in Stewart.

A trek of 2,000 miles in a single season over a wilderness with few trails and without information on conditions ahead by unoutfitted parties was essentially a unique feat in the annals of mankind. The questions naturally become: "Who were they, why did they do it, how did they do it, and what enabled them to do it?"

Stewart answers all these questions, and his treatise should be read by all who would like to understand Americans and their basic ideas on self-reliance and freedom rather than change them.

Because my family also migrated to California (albiet in 1993) I have been interested in the history of the settling of the American west. This book was wonderfully informative but also very compelling reading. It chronicles the annual human migrations from the Missouri to California, including the ill-fated Donner party (in 1845)and the famous "49ers". The author did a very good job comparing the immigrants mode of travel, unique difficulties faced during each of these migration years, route finding and heroes and villans, and the sweat and tears progress which lead to the wider opening and settlement of the west.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of the settlement of the west or anyone who just wants to read a good old-fashioned adventure story based in historical fact.

I think one of the best things about this book is that it is very encouraging to the patient. Not only is there hope for surviving cancer, but there are also reassuring words for those who face death after alternative therapies have failed. The author also discusses the impact of the patient's emotional life on getting & healing cancer.

This book is a current, objective, and informative source of information on conventional and alternative cancer treatment. I came across this book as my sister and I desperatly tried to find helpful information about treating cancer. This book impressed me as being the perfect book for anyone who is suddenly confronted with the disease for the first time and needs to get informed. They couldn't have picked a more fitting title.

In my opinion, a combo approach is the best bet at increasing your survival if you have been diagnosed with cancer. The information given here gives you a number of ways you can go about getting that combination therapy. When family members were researching alternative treatments for my grandmother's cancer, we explored this book along with a number of others. This one gave some good information that wasn't presented in other books. We also found a site, iHerb, that offered a variety of cancer fighting supplements along with additional documentation of their abilities. iHerb is a good source if you are seeking the alternatives Bognar mentions in this book.

David Bogner (and Walter Cronkite in the accompanying 4 hr. PBS videotape special) present a balanced introduction that allows someone recently diagnosed with cancer to get an overview of their treatment options. Without favoring a single approach, Bogner covers conventioal treatments, alternative treatments, psychoimmunity and spiritual approaches. Each of these sections presents a wealth of references where additional information can be obtained. Bogner points out that cancer and its course is a very individual matter and that those who do best are often those most informed about their options. Rather than advocating a particular approach, Bogner suggests that different approaches work best together. The book contains all the information presented in the video tape and then some, but the video tapes done by Walter Cronkite are very warm and reassuring. When Bogner's wife got cancer it took him some time to learn about the options. He wrote this book and produced the PBS special so that others faced with cancer could obtain this information more quickly and easily. He has succeeded in providing an excellent generic overview of treatment options. I can't think of a better, non-partisan basic source of information on cancer treatment than this very inexpensive book. It will not give you all the details about your type of cancer, but it will show you in broad outline the various approaches that are available and where to get more information on them.

In my six years of research on alternative cancer treatment, this book gave me more information than any other. It is artfully arranged with helpful sidebars (key points, definitions, etc.) and anecdotal stories to reinforce the subject. It is wonderfully documented with a great index and 27 pages of endnotes (references for each chapter).

From treating your teeth to detoxifying to herbs to effective tests to immune system rebuilding, I found nothing in this book to disagree with. This is unusual, because many of the topics they discuss are quite controversial. This is simply a tribute to Dr. Diamond, Dr. Cowden and Burton Goldberg and their comprehensive research and writing skill.

Use this book to give you a comprehensive overview of your cancer and your options. Then, update it with some research on the Internet. I learn something new about cancer treatment every day, so no book can be complete. This one comes closest to being the "bedside reader" that every cancer patient needs.

W. John Diamond, M.D., a board-certified pathologist and alternative medicine expert, and W. Lee Cowden, M.D., who is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and clinical nutrition, joined forces with Burton Goldberg, author of numerous books on alternative medicine, to write Cancer Diagnosis: What To Do Next.

Many people don't know where to turn for information when diagnosed with cancer. And the answers they often get from medical professionals include few options. Lack of knowledge causes many people to undergo treatments they don't want.
Goldberg says that "there is no single magic bullet cure for cancer. Many factors contribute to the development of cancer and many modalities and substances must be used to reverse it."

The authors emphasize that never giving up hope is a critical first step in cancer treatment, no matter what therapy is chosen. They then outline some positive steps that patients can take that will help them chose the therapy that's best for them. Included in this section is a simple test that reveals whether a tumor will respond to chemotherapy, and if so, what the smallest effective dosage is.

They also discuss the causes of cancer, and offer suggestions for prevention and early detection. They provide complete information about testing methods used by alternative practitioners that aid in developing effective treatment plans.

Nutrition plays a big role both in prevention and treatment of cancer, and the authors explain how to choose the best diet for you. They also explain the role of supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, in strengthening the body.

Herbs and other nontoxic therapies can be very helpful for many people. All the details are included, as well as complete information on techniques for stimulating the immune system. Detoxification and energy therapies are also explained.
Detoxification is especially important because of all the pollutants in our air, water, and food. According to the authors, "most conventional doctors do not take these factors into consideration when treating cancer."

Each chapter includes "Quick Definitions," which are explanations of medical terms, in the margins, making it easy to understand the text. Whenever a special test or procedure is discussed, contact information is provided.

"Alternative medicine has established the causes of cancer--from radiation and dietary factors and pesticide residues to stress and dental factors and free radicals--and has safe, nontoxic, and effective therapies that can address each one." Cancer Diagnosis gathers all this information into one easy-to-use book. It's an essential reference for anyone desiring full information on treatment options.

Cancer Diagnosis: What To Do Next is an indispensable guide to alternative medical approaches to treating cancer, choosing a physician and a course of treatment, the role of sophisticated diagnostic equipment in mapping out a treatment plan, the role of energy in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, non-toxic alternatives to chemotherapy, innovative techniques that fight cancer by boosting the immune system, the role of diet and nutritional supplements in fighting cancer, and the importance of maintaining a hopeful attitude during treatment and recovery from cancer. Cancer Diagnosis: What To Do Next is essential, life-saving, quality-of-life enhancing reading for anyone with the diagnosis of any type of cancer.

This book tells the truth on what is available in the fight against cancer. After speaking to doctors who gave my loved one NO HOPE and said "there is nothing to be done", when they should have said WE DONT know what to do. This book is the American way. Bravo! Shame on the medical industry.

Max Gerson M.D. cured more than a few terminal cancer patients with food. Some people who were supposed to die 50 years ago are still alive. This is probably the most important book on medicine published during this century

This is a book that America's "cancer industry" would like to keep under wraps. Within the pages of this technical treatise, you'll find complete how-to details that thousands of seriously ill cancer patients have used over the years to give their bodies the power to heal their cancers. Using a powerful juice therapy and natural diet of organic fruits and vegetables, the Gerson therapy has saved the lives of men and women that traditional medical establishment called "terminal." Even if you're not sick, this book belongs on the shelf of every serious health seeker

I have heard Charlotte Gerson speak and have read many of the testimonies of healing in this book. I am convinced that raw foods and juicing, plus elimination of toxic foods are essential in maintaining good health and healing from all disease. It makes so much sense that our diets are killing us, but I have heard so many doctors say that it doesn't matter what we are eating. Listen to Max Gerson and what his patients have to say!!!

This book is an excellent weapon in our fight against cancer. One of the alternate therapies to put in the powder keg in the battle against cancer is diet. The author of this book has been called a genius by many. Diet can be a powerful weapon against cancer because of diet's effect on our immune system.

I want to say that the author did an excellent job in making a very tough subject look hopeful. I would highly recommend this book to individuals that are suffering with cancer. I have found the information valuable and I am aware of some individuals who are receiving treatment at Dr. Catanzaro's clinic that are having promising results. He also discusses the emotional and spiritual aspects of cancer and gives some very hopeful insight that can certainly offer encouragement.

This book is well organized and easy to read. It provides useful information on prevention and early detection of cancer as well as an overview of the many treatments available - both traditional and non-traditional. If you have cancer, or you know someone who has cancer, then this book is for you.

Dr. Catanzaro's book is an easy to use reference resource. He explains the therapy in simple language. The book is organized into sections that not only talk about cancer and treatment but also include some valuable spiritual insight. I believe that this book is a must for people who want to offer family members or friends hopeful information about combining alternative and conventional therapy. Well done!

Cancer, An Integrative Approach provides a complete summary of cancer treatments currently available, both conventional and alternative. Unlike many other authors and physicians who specialize in cancer treatment, Dr. Catanzaro is well versed in traditional, conventional, and state of the art therapies. His book covers the causes, detection, and treatment of cancer. Treatments include conventional (chemotherapy, radiation) and alternative (herbs, immunotherapy, IV therapy, nutrition). Spiritual aspects of healing are also addressed. I would recommend this book to physicians who treat cancer, pateints who have cancer, and anyone who wants to prevent cancer.