Alternative Books

Rober K. C Forman is the foremost philosopher of mysticism (mysticist) of our time. In Mysticism, Mind and Consciousness, Forman discusses the pure consciousness event (PCE), a new model of pure consciousness, and what Forman calls the "dualistic mystical state" (DMS). The pure consciousness event is a state of awareness wherein the mystic experiences nothing. There is no thinking, no willing, no sensing, no remembering. The mystic has no sense of the self or the world. There is no sense of place or of time passing. But the mystic is not asleep or unconscious. The mystic is aware that they are aware throughout the event. Accounts of pure consciousness events are found in all religious traditions. The PCE is a frequent concomitant of meditative practices. But it needn't be. Sometimes non-religious people experience pure consciousness events. I am aware of one person, for example. who experienced a PCE as a result of concentrating on her breathing. To account for how the mystic is aware of the PCE, Forman proposes a new model of pure consciousness. Foreman says that the mind of the mystic is reflexively aware of itself, even when there is no content to the consciousness. Although this may sound strange, it is what mystics report. Mystics know that they have been aware throughout the pure consciousness event, even though there has been no sense of self or the world. After a PCE, a mystic is often at a loss in how to understand the event and express it to others. A PCE doesn't link well to language, as it has no content. So what does one say about it? An experience of nothing is ineffable. All the same, mystics often place interpretative categories on what they have experienced. They may say that they have experienced the presence of God, or the ground of being (the Tao) or a silence within or their self-nature. A mystic might say that they have experienced a level of themselves wherein they are most real. Irregardless of how a mystic interprets a PCE, the language used to talk about it should be taken as figurative at best. The language is not the experience and can only point to it. Some mystics go on from the experience of the PCE, to have a continuing sense of the experience during ordinary, wakeful consciouness. Forman calls this the dualistic mystical state (DMS). A person might have a sense of the "silence within", for example, at the same time that they are going about their ordinary daily routines. A person might have a sense of the "self-nature " that they experienced during the PCE, at the same time that they see themselves as a person having roles, responsibilities, activities and so on. As a result of this, mystics often feel less attached to themselves and the things of the world. They are enlightened. As a philosopher of mysticism, Forman describes the dualistic mystical state (DMS) as one where two distinct epistemiological modalities are operating at the same time. In this state, the mystic has a sense of the experience of the PCE - awareness per se (awareness without content) and, at the same time, the mystic is aware of themselves and the world. Forman refers to this as a new modus operandi of human living. Mysticism, Mind and Consciousness is essential reading for all students of mysticism.

In this ambitious study, Professor Forman attempts to provide a philosophical basis for mysticism. He tries to show that mystical experience is not simply a product of the time, place, and background of the individuals claiming such experience. Those holding that mystical experiences are the product of such considerations are called "constructivists". Their philosophical ancestor, for Professor Forman, is Kant. In opposition to constructivism, Professor Forman argues that mysticism in its most basic form is a "pure consciousness event" (PCE) -- the mind knowing itself in a nonlinguistic manner involving pure awareness of mind as such.

Professor Forman relies in large part on reports of the mystical experience from people far removed from each other in terms of time and culture. He discusses his own experiences, those of contemporary Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist mystics,and ancient texts by Buddhist and Hindu contemplatives reporting on the mystical experience. He states that he has been greatly influenced by the transcendental meditation of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Ram Dass, and Meister Eckhart; and the first and third of these are discussed in the book. In addition to Eckhart, Professor Forman's book is also heavily influenced, I find, by William James's "Varieties of Religious Experience" and by Jean Paul Sartre.

In addition to discussing and attempting to describe the nature of the mystical experience (no small task in itself), Professor Forman takes issue with philosophers such as Kant, Husserl and a contemporary writer on mysticism, Steven Katz, who see the mystical experience as conditioned by language. (The constructivists are juxtaposed against the "perennialists" who, we learn, have no sensitivity to the nuances of language, time, and place.)

The philosophic argument of the book is found in a dense discussion in chapter 4 "Non-Linguistic Mediation" which is a critique of the philosophy of Kant. Although Professor Forman allows the nonphilosophically inclined to skip this chapter it is pivotal to his philosophical argument. I was unable, at any rate, to agree with Professor Forman's description of the Kantian philosophy or with its critique. It turns on an argument that Kant's Transcendental Aesthetic was not intended to apply to mystical experience and that the restrictions it would place on human knowledge do not apply to the mystical experience. Unfortunately, I found that this argument does not meet Kant's argument which was squarely directed against unmediated experience as well as unmediated philosophizing.

Professor Forman also is critical of the arguments of Edmund Husserl on the intentional nature of consciousness, finding in Husserl a restatement of the constructivist claim of Kant. I am not sure if Professor Forman is correct in considering Husserl a constuctivist. Much of Husserl's phenomenology, which focuses as I understand it on a description of experience (bracketed to avoid causual questions such as those Professor Forman addresses) is useful in an attempt to understand the nature of the mystical experience -- recognized by Professor Forman in a backhanded way, I think.

As a philosophical critique, the book is less than successful. As a description of the mystical experience and as a statement of why such experiences may be valuable and important it does much better. The subject richly deserves attention, as does the nature of the spiritual life and Professor Forman has much to say.

I think the problem at bottom as the mysticism is not by its nature susceptible to philosophical analysis or justification. As the Buddha for one insisted it is experiential in character and can't be reached by philosophical argument. Again, Husserl and William James are helpful here. One must look and see for oneself If one engages in a contemplative practice and looks and sees, the nature of the path becomes opened by the process and practice. The issue of "constuctivism" is irrelevant one way or the other to the nature of the experience. Both the "constructivist" approach and Professor Forman's critique are off the mark in that they both attempt to put in words what is undescribable and experiential.

The word "mysticism" means different things todifferent people. To many it connotes heightened sensory or cognitiveexperiences such as visions, voices or revelations. To others, mystical experiences are silent fusings of the conscious self with eternity, infinity, oneness, unbounded awareness. In this book Dr. Forman, a professor of religion at Hunter College, carefully restricts his use to the latter type of mysticism--consciousness events not describable in terms of the senses. Of these he distinguishes two stages: the short-lasting "pure consciousness event" and the longer-lasting or permanent "dualistic mystical state."

The two opening chapters define the "pure consciousness event" (PCE) in detail. The author describes his own PCE experiences (strictly speaking they are not subject-object experiences at all but simple periods of awareness without thought) and cites accounts of similar experiences by contemporary, medieval and ancient writers. The thesis he will develop is that the PCE is universal and the same for everyone, an innate ability analogous to the experience of hot or cold, light or dark and not the product of a person's previous experience, culture, or expectations--a model called "constructivism" that pervades today's academic world.

Chapters 3-5 explore the philosophical basis of constructivism and show convincingly that constructivist models, no matter how valuable in explaining ordinary subject-object experience, cannot account for pure consciousness events. Although the arguments are rigorous, Forman's style is lively and readable. Chapter 4 deals with the epistemology of Kant, Brentano and Husserl. Here the going is somewhat tough and the author gives the less philosophically inclined reader permission to skip ahead. Chapter 5 examines the writings of Paramartha, a 9th century Buddhist thinker who invoked constructivist models similar to those of contemporary writers to explain ordinary experiences, but rejected them as unsuitable for mystical (pure consciousness) phenomena.

Having dealt with the constructivists, Forman explains in Chapters 6-7 that mystical phenomena are actually products of "de-construction"--of letting go, forgetting, "unknowing," and introduces the principle of "knowledge by identity" whereby the mystic knows his state not through concepts, words or transitory acquaintance but by direct unmediated experience.

Now comes the most interesting part. Moving beyond simple "pure consciousness events" Forman discusses the more significant "dualistic mystical state" (DMS). Unlike the short-lived PCE, the DMS is a long-lasting or permanent state in which pure consciousness persists along with ordinary relative consciousness. Some have described it as a great silence within, a void, a cosmic vastness that persists in the midst of ordinary day-to-day life. Others feel it as loss of ego or personal self that is sometimes distressing. This paradoxical state has been experienced and lived by mystics throughout the ages, but no western writers (although Bernadette Roberts, Franklin Merrell-Wolff, and Suzanne Segal come close) have analyzed it as formally and clearly as the present author.

He knows whereof he speaks; in Chapter 8 Dr. Forman quietly tells us that he has lived the dualistic mystical state since his twenties when it came upon him during an extended meditation retreat. It has never left. Deep conscious inner silence, he writes, persists during daily activity and even during sleep. This book, then, is the result of his attempts over the years to make philosophical sense of the mystical (some would say "contemplative") state that is now his everyday reality.

In his final chapters Forman examines the nature of consciousness itself in light of the PCE and DMS, drawing on Sartre and the Zen philosopher Hui Neng to buttress his conclusions that pure consciousness is non-linguistic, non-intentional and "utterly translucent," a "pure watching presence" that "can tie things--and itself--together through time." "One knows it only because one is it," he writes. The book ends with the suggestion that "this nonverbal presence has a great deal to teach about the nature of human life and intelligence."

Mysticism, Mind, Consciousness is a groundbreaking book that could well become a classic in the field--vital reading for anyone interested in the twin phenomena of consciousness and mysticism. Those looking for warm New Age fuzzies however, might be disappointed; Forman is a scholar writing primarily for other scholars (although he keeps lay readers in mind throughout). His thoughts and carefully reasoned arguments, drawing on a wide variety of thinkers both ancient and modern, take the mystery out of mysticsm and establish the PCE and DMS as valid subjects for further inquiry and research.

This short book (214 pages, 36 of which are notes and bibliography) raises many questions. Why do mystical experiences come easily to a few people and not to most others? Is there a physiological basis to these states? (Forman details some interesting physical sensations associated with his transition.) Could pure consciousness phenomena perhaps be verified by brain wave patterns? What is "enlightenment"? (Forman suggests that the DMS represents a beginning stage to it.) Many mystics claim that pure consciousness phenomena are "salvific"; why does Forman disagree? What type of meditation did he practice that brought him to the dualistic mystical state? ("Neo-Advaitan" is all he will say.) What did he learn from spiritual teachers Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Ram Dass (both briefly acknowledged in the Preface but scarcely mentioned thereafter)? What is the relationship between religion and mysticism? Hopefully we will hear more from Dr. Forman on these questions in the near future.

Meanwhile, if you are at all interested in the topics of mysticism, mind or consciousness, pick up a copy of this book. You will probably want to read it several times.

This is one of the very best books written in recent decades. It is a book on mysticism by a mystic. If we're going to read a book about France, we'll probably learn more from an author who has left Kansas. The book also addresses the issues that have arisen in the academic discussion of mysticism. Forman very patiently answers the arguments of the constructivists. This book is some very welcomed sunshine through the contemporary intellectual fog.

I watched Katie Couric today, January 16, 2001, on NBC at 8:00 am news talkng about ADD and ADHD. It broght a shadow of sadness in me when I saw some of those children under Ritalin going through unlimited struggle to lead a normal life and I decided to write this article. Most people do not know that their children suffer from ADD due to food and environmental allergies. If they stayed away from allergens, they may not have to be depending on Ritalin to live.
A friend gave me this book "SAy Goodbye To ADD and ADHD" by Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad. I stayed whole night and read the book. Tears began rolling down my cheeks as I was getting to the end of the book. After all, there is cure for my child's problem! Immediately I made an appointment for my child. Yes, he took almost two years' of NAET. But he is absolutely free of ADD today. Thank You Dr. Devi, for creating NAET. We owe our lives to you. This book will show the reader to make your or your child's journey easy if you suffer from ADD or ADHD. I like to inform parents of other children with ADHD that it is worth reading this book if you have someone woith ADD. Whenever I see articles and negatives comments written on ADD/ADHD saying that it is an incurable disorder and/ or one has to be on medication forever, etc, my heart hurts. When I see many ADD children suffer from the pangs of this illness, and when they end up being ADD adults and lead miserable lives as adults (I know many of them in my circle: school, college, friends, etc.), I feel the urge to shout out to them that "you don't have to live with ADD or ADHD. You have a way out within your reach. If there is a need, there is a way. It is true. Just read this book. Your life will change. You need to get NAET treatments and you won't be the same again." NAET has transformed my child into a normal human being. I am sure if these parents found NAET, many of their children could become normal too. Children are our future. If we could help our children get healthy, we would have a healthy future.

I

My son was on Ritalin for over three years. After about the 12th treatment by the NAET practitioner, he told us he didn't want to take the ritalin any more. He just graduated from High School with honors, sans ritalin.

This book was a great help in convincing his mother to allow him to be treated. For my story, see my review under Say Goodbye to Illness.

NAET works.

This is a great book to help children with ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, learning disabilities, autism, etc. I have seen some dramatic changes happen in children with these disorders in Dr. Devi's office. These NAET treatments work well on these children. Because they all have the same common problem: ALLERGIES.

This book gives good description about the signs and symptoms of ADD and ADHD. According to Dr. Devi, the cause of ADD and ADHD disorder is "ALLERGIES." There are many self-help tips given in this book for the parents to help their children. Overall this is a very useful book for the parents. I highly recommend this book if you have a child with ADD or ADHD.

The book hits the problem on the head, conventional thinking on this suject has been "dope'm and forget about it".
Dr. Devi as she is called should get a nobel prize for her work in this field and on allergies.

Truly a blessing! Now I finally understand why I have heartburn - it isn't a deficiency of Prilosec that's for sure. Had I known sooner, I could have solved the real problem and spared myself not only a lot of expense but also have avoided the side effects of the drug. Contains lots of helpful health and nutrition advice too. Easy read. Because it lists so many scientific studies, I'm giving this book to my doctor who was as frustrated as I was.

I've been listening to Martie's radio show for years and years. Her style and wit really come through in this book. She's got a keen ability to translate what can be complicated subjects into a readable and easy-to-understand format. Thanks Martie, this book will help a lot of people. I'm giving one to my neighbor and my father!

I wish I'd had this book years ago. It was easy to understand and was backed up with scientific studies. Why didn't my doctor tell me about this. No more Tums for me.

Easy to read with understandable and practical cost effective ways to relieve heartburn and acid reflux.

This is a great book and I love all of Diane Stein's material but this is a lot of the same stuff that Dr. Wendell Belfield was teaching in the late 70's when I first started breeding German Shepherds. It is a well kept secret among breeders all over the world.

I have used the Mega C Plus and the Mega C drops from his company for my breeding dogs and have never had one bit of hip trouble. His link is http://www.belfield.com/about.php to get the best nutritional suppliments possible for your dog and cat!

(four and a half stars)
Diane draws upon a lot of other people's work, mostly a good thing. Diet, massage, accupressure, accupuncture, herbs, flower essences are presented in a common sense and practical way. She tackles some complex issues with simplicity, though unfortunatly some of the information I find personally to linger a bit, and some which isnt really necessary to include, though I think most books are like this. On the other hand, bold, enlightening and informative statements are present throughout. This book is not just for animals...Dianes experience in other fields shows, it improves oneself too.

This book is infused (mostly) with passion, and kindles a relationship with animals and the earth that I all too often forget and all too many people don't know or understand, which is ashame because it is an absolutely beautiful thing. I feel closer to and more aware of my pet cat and dog, respect them more, and as a result have a much more beneficial and empowering relationship with them.

This book is not overly practical, it needs more recipies and some of the table information like herbs and vitamins needs to be freed from all the text and categorized better. A little information is also a bit unclear, so requires extra research.

I've read a few nasty comments about Diane Stein and her 'feminist' bias. She does not belong to such a category, she is aware of the differences between males and females, and holds a very traditional and timeless, yet unfortunately dying persepctive, which you can investigate in futher detail in the article "REVOLT AGAINST THE FEMINISTS: The Traditional Woman According To Julius Evola by Troy Southgate", which is freely available on the interent. Her personal experience is conveyed very strongly throughout the book, unfortunately she does come across as a bit disdaining towards males. It is up to everyone to accept and understand her, rather than just criticize.

I love this book. I enjoyed reading it and I use it as an occasional reference. I particularly like the Reiki healing and Flower Essence sections. The section on pet death was very beautiful. Unfortunately, when I tried to share this book with my husband, his masculinity was threatened by the exclusive use of the female pronouns and the references to The Patriarchy. Women are used to reading books with only male pronouns and with insults to women, but many men may be unable to read this book. Also, this book will appeal to the intuitively inclined, rather than to the scientific or literal minded. Diane Stein's book The Natural Remedy Book for Dogs and Cats covers many of the same topics in more detail, and written in a more universal style.

looking for a book that will tell you what you need to know about anything going on with your pet? A-Z ....This book as well as Dr. Pitcarn's book are two books you must have if you love your pet like a family member!

It's about time someone put together a clear and concise guide to the numerous alternative veterinary treatments available. Dr. Schwartz gives us a path to greater involvement in our pets' care, while stating clearly when to consult a health care professional. As an obedience instructor for over 20 years, I recommend this book highly to all owners of dogs and cats!

This is a fun book, especially for the beginner.
The drawing are wonderful!

This beautifully illustrated, colorful, spiralbound hardcover book would make a great gift for the dog or cat lover with an interest in natural remedies for animals. Of course it's nowhere near as thorough as Dr. Schwartz' excellent "Four Paws, Five Directions," but this A-Z guide to dozens of ailments (from abscesses and arthritis to worms and yawning) is nonetheless a solid reference for those who prefer to tackle health problems with nutrition, herbs, homeopathy, and massage instead of drugs and chemical insecticides. Don't expect elaborate treatment plans and diagnosis techniques from this little book -- just safe and natural remedies you can try at home. And yes, Dr. Schwartz does take care to point out when it's a good idea to see a professional for diagnosis/treatment.

Not only is this a great book, but Dr. Cheryl is a wonderful veterinarian!! She is incredibly intuitive and knowledgeable and my animals (cats, dogs, and horses) have been in the best of health since being under her care -- and I had some rather difficult cases.

This book gives great hope to people with schizophrenia and those around them wanting to lessen the need for strong drugs with side effects. Suggested are many different models for healing with helpful addresses and phone numbers of clinicians. The most pragmatic book I have read yet.

This is a wonderful book in the series of Marohn's healthy mind guides. I write this as a mental health professional who has experience with holistic modalities and also with populations of severely impaired mental patients, schizophrenics included. The author looks at a broad spectrum of natural approaches to healing schizophrenia (not managing/maintaining the condition like conventional psychiatry does). Other than the confirmation of diagnostic criteria and prevalency data about mental illness, this book contradicts much of what professionals and the public are usually taught about the topic. The normal approach to schizophrenia is shown to be to a great extent counterproductive, as natural methods are shown from clinical and empirical reports to often help those diagnosed with schizophrenia recover and live drug-free. Natural biochemical therapies, homeopathic treatments, family systems, shamanic healing, osteopathy, and mind-body approaches such as Dr. Hamer's psychosomatic new medicine are described. The book works its way from the outside in as it explores the levels of healing that may be addressed to heal illness. Interesting clinical accounts are presented and readers are given clear evidence that schizophrenics can recover and that there are a variety of resources available to help this occur, ultimately being less expensive than a lifetime of mind-numbing drugs and additional medical expenses of the side effects of those drugs. The mental health system could be a much more ethical and humane institution of society if people were reading books like this instead of blindly accepting pharmaceutical pseudoscience - and people who actually understand and respect the scientific method will recognize how dubious are the claims of the pharmaceutical establishment and their followers. I commend this book's author for not being afraid to point out that drug therapies are more likely to impede recovery than foster recovery, including stats from World Health Organization research. It's about time that some people in the mental health field are shaken out of denial!

Finding this book was a godsend. Acting on many of the therapies described by Ms Marohn, I can now say that my son has been cured of schizophrenia. My "aha" moment came when I read that if schizophrenia is not healed at the level of vitamins, the problem may lie in the realm of beliefs and the unconscious. It is a travesty that people are routinely told by the medical/pharmaceutical lobby that schizophrenia is something inherently wrong with the brain. Ms Marohn has done an incredible service for anyone who doesn't want their loved one to live a life of wasted potential. This book changed my life.

This title is an excellent review of supplemental therapies to tackle the mountain that is schizophrenia. Well written, organized, and referenced.

A wonderful guide. Not preachy. Gives you a sense of how effective and/or risky the recommended remedies are. Lots of footnotes to scholarly articles, if you want to read more about a particular condition or remedy. Covers vitamins, herbs & homeopathy. If you don't know your lysine from your licorice, or you have a medical condition that isn't responding to anything, this is a great place to look.

This is a great starter book for people who are interested in natural remedies for common ailments. It is very easy to use, easy to read, and unintimidating. For every ailment or illness, it gives the usual natural remedies I have found in other books. And it has a pretty good list of vitamins, herbs and homeopathic remedies. However, it isn't the most comprehensive book I've seen. There are some herbs that I couldn't find. But overall, if you want a basic guide, this is a good one to start with.

Walk into a bookstore and you can be overwhelmed with the HEALTH information thrown at you . . . particularly if you are interested in understanding how you can play a more active role in your own prevention, treatment and cure of disease. The Natural Pharmacy gives you just the right balance of useful information without insulting your intelligence or burying you in biochemistry. The book is organized around health concerns - in English, not medical-ese, the authors provide you with dietary & lifestyle changes that maybe helpful before they tell you about other approaches - including nutritional supplements and herbs. They cover side effects and interactions as well. They also provide a tremendous resource for insomniacs by listing more than 3,500 references! You can also look up specific nutritional supplements, herbs and homeopathic remedies as well. A nicely done work!

Wonderful book that explains all those pills you hear about on the news and in magazines. No hype - just great information. This book ROCKS for people who want info on what the heck all those vitamin/pill things are at the grocery store.

I've read a ton of herbal books and own about that many times two but this is the one herbal that stands out on the shelf. It's readable, informative and contains information not found in other books. Beautifully illustrated, this small book is worth the price. I go to it often and enjoy reading it time and again.

This book is a great introduction to herbal medicine. Straightforward and packed with information, this sampler really hits the mark - few others can provide this level of detail in such a readable way. This book will make any reader want to learn more about the historical uses (and the pharmacology!) of herbs.

This book is a terrific sampler for anyone interested in herbal medicine. It's loaded with great information and is very consumer-friendly. The authors strike a nice balance in their presentation of historical information and the pharmacology of the herbs profiled; not too much science, but more than enough to pique a reader's interest. I hope they write more of these!

I picked this book up in a health food store and started reading it on my way home. The authors achieve their purpose of drawing readers into the field of herbal medicine by using practical language, interesting scientific and medical facts and folk myths and legends. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think all readers will find it a valuable addition to their personal libraries.

Dr. Brown has written an in depth view of the healthcare profession, creating a decision making tool to allow lay persons to select the best medical care. In a highly readable style, he gives insights to physician training, and why and how to communicate with your doctor to be a partner in your healthcare. He also includes tips for selecting the right physician, ways to evaluate media hype and scares, including internet information, natural medicines, fad diets and new treatment options. Dr. Brown also included scriptural references to allow the Christian reader to put the content in context with Biblical principles. This is must reading for all on how to take charge of your own healthcare, and how to evaluate the care you receive.

You can't get any better medical advice, and cheap only $14.99. Dr Brown does a wonderful job at making the complicated science of medicine readable, interesting and understandable. His explanation of alternative medicines and treatments alone are worth the weight of this one. A rare look at healthcare from the Christian perspective is a valuable bonus to this helpful book. Buy more than one- you will need to be passing this one on.

Lead Your Way to Better Healthcare: Help Doctors Help You
Dr. Brown provides a wonderful balanced perspective on several aspects of healthcare. The two that stand out for me are: 1) Evaluating the use of "alternative therapies" because we self-prescibe and do not know what we are doing to our bodies or our health when we do. It is a topic few MDs have been willing to shed light on in an unbiased way. 2) Dealing with the emotional aspects of illness. I'd love to have him for my doctor. Throughout the book, he examines the issues both practitioners and patients face and gives us a rare look inside the medical world in a way that helps us learn how to obtain better care. He answers a lot of questions we may not think to ask. Questions we should be asking. His "Christian Perspective" inserts add valuable context to each topic and do help us put things in True perspective.

Dr. Brown has accomplished his goal, at long last bringing some common sense to the all-too-maze-like world of medicine. This book is highly readable and offers viewpoints from both the patient's and the doctor's perspective. As a bonus, the reader is offered bridges to traverse that provide insight as to the Christian principles behind the advice he offers. I will recommend this book to my entire family.

i am a diehard cure fan since about 1985, but this book told me so much info i really feel like i did my homework! excellent stories, amazing detailed, fairly balanced on controversial issues, great photos. if you wish you'd been in on the cure during their teenage years, this book will fill you in to a serioius level. truly entertaining read.

i'd recommend this highly...but please avoid In Between Days: An Armchair Guide to the Cure unless you really just want to read discographical info.

This book was absolutely amazing. I have been a serious Cure fan for over 25 years and I must say this book was a fantastic read. The author really did his research. Its definitely a must read for anybody who wants to know the whole story or at least all that the author could get out of the boys.I'll probly read it again there was so much info. The behind the scenes of a band whose career has spanned over 30 years in detail like you can't imagine.....

A Great!! GREAT! Book. Starting from when Lol Tolhurst, Mike Dempsey, Simon Gallup, and Robert Smith joined and from other band join ins and outs. Talks an awful lot of Robert Smiths life as a child with his childhood friend and former bandmate Lol Tolhurst. Incredible book!! There is alot more tho that I would have wanted to see. THe author cut off at some songs when introducing an album to speed up the book. Alot of songs were left unspoken of which kinda ticked me off but other than that I LOVED it!!

For Cure fans alike this book is a MUST read!!! It's great! Don't hesitate, buy it!! You will love it!!

It's nice to have a Cure biography and there is a heck of a lot of history to go through. In a way it's nice to have the book to make sense of all the different line-ups, who did what when, and how and why everyone came to be in the band.

Also the story in the beginning about Robert's brother taking him to the Isle of Wight festival is priceless. I won't say anymore here so that you'll go get the book!

It probably could be better but there's still enough good info in there for Cure fans that they won't be dissapointed. Another important thing to mention is that he interviewed Lol Tolhurst, and some other former members, so you get more than one perspective on the old days, which is cool.