News Books

I bought this book because of E. Tolle's recommendation and I find it to be very inpirational and well written. It covers much of the same material as Tolle but in a different way that enriches and deepens the ideas. It is a book to read and reread.

I am now reading Passionate Presence for the second time, savouring the language, the feeling and the freshness of the author's approach. I strongly recommend this book to all who agree in principle about living in the 'now' but for whom the experience is elusive at best. This is authentic, well crafted and a joy to read.

This lovely book shares the wisdom of a teacher of silent meditation and Dharma Dialogues on awakened awareness. It is truly food for the soul.

Catherine Ingram describes her personal experiences in seeking and finding peace in the Now. While mindfulness meditation was a major path, a spiritual teacher catalyzed major shifts in her consciousness. Ingram now teaches mindfulness, through silence, through shared lessons, and (even through the pages of this book) through her personal centeredness.

Seven topics are highlighted: Silence, Tenderness, Embodiment, Genuineness, Discernment, Delight and Wonder. Each is illustrated with lovely stories of Ingram and other seekers on the Path.

Particularly helpful for healing are suggestions for acknowledging the presence of an inner observer who is detached even in the midst of crisis and suffering; for treasuring each present moment rather than living in the past or future; and for accepting that we need not torture ourselves with guilt and remorse because each of us has a lifetime of lessons to learn - and each experience offers us opportunities to develop deeper compassion for others who have their own lessons and make mistakes that may impact negatively on us. We can fester in negative reactions to life that is past or in our anxieties about our future life - or we might just let go of the negativity and move on to the ever-present Now.

I was surprised to discover this book was immediately helpful in finding a stronger connection with my own center of quiet awareness.

There is also a pleasant current of practical advice.

I warmly recommend this book for a good read and re-read.

After reading Passionate Presence, I realized that living in the past & future was such a waste of energy! Catherine's straight-forward advise is something so obvious, but something most of us miss....live in the present. You can't go back and change the past and you spend needless time worrying about the future and what might or might not be instead of enjoying what is right in front of us. I do know that I will spend less time worrying and more time enjoying what this wonderful world has to offer and not take things for granted. Thank you Catherine for providing such a simple but honest eye-opener.

When I think about the teachings in Passionate Presence, the word that comes to me is RELIEF: Relief from the burdening belief that one must make a prodigious effort in order to live an awakened life; relief from the burden of ideas of what an "enlightened" person should be like; and relief from the burden of believing one's "I" stories. Once the reader understands the concept of letting go of beliefs, explained so artfully in early chapters, the qualities and experiences that are described in the rest of Passionate Presence are immediately available.
Catherine Ingram's lovely images and stories entice the reader back to the awareness of the moment. She has crafted an artful companion for one who desires to live in the mystery and beauty of an awakened life.

If you are thinking of self-publishing a book, this is a valuable resource in explaining the do-it-yourself or print-on-demand option.

The book was published in 2004 and provides a good foundation for those just entering of the field.

If you are looking at publishing as a business, then is especially valuable in that the author shows you the economics of pod publishing versus a traditional press.

You also get a case-study of the authors experience with one of his books over the course of the year.

Keep in mind that the marketplace is driven by technology and constantly changing, so the book is beginning to show a little bit of age.

Although Morris Rosenthal's book is entitled PRINT-ON-DEMAND BOOK PUBLISHING, this title does not completely describe the book's contents. The book includes much, much more than an illumination of POD publishing. In a chapter entitled "Trade Publishing," for example, Morris takes you through the ordeals you will face should you choose to publish with a traditional publisher. In chapters entitled "Publisher Basics" and "Author Basics," he writes about copyrights and the pros and cons of registering them. He describes the roles of agents and lawyers and tells you how to decide whether or not you need them. And, he discusses what you need to know about publishing contracts.

In chapters entitled "Print-On-Demand" and "Self-Publishing," Morris finally gives a cursory review of essentials related to his book's title. But he's not yet finished. Chapters on numerous methods of marketing books and advice on how to do market research offer valuable insights. Then a chapter on "Book Design" offers a number of tips that are useful for overall book design, but these tips do not cover the actual layout and formatting of pages and book covers on a computer. The author then concludes his book with chapters on "Internet Marketing" and "Website Design."

Although this book offers an amazingly broad survey of the entire publishing industry, some readers may find less content than expected on the actual nuts and bolts of getting their manuscripts into a form acceptable by POD presses. I believe that the only thing wrong with this book is that its title does not suggest its true content. With a title such as "A Survey of the Book-Publishing Industry" or "An Introduction to Book Publishing," the book would likely attract fewer buyers, but they would know more about what they were getting.

Even so, I am giving this book a five-star rating for its very useful content.

Edwin Scroggins is author of How to Self-Publish Your Book with BookSurge for $99, 2nd Edition: A Step-by-Step Guide for Designing & Formatting Your Microsoft Word Book to PDF & POD Press Specifications

The author speaks from experience as he steps you through the choices you must make and the hurdles you must clear if you want to publish your own book. One point of emphasis is on the economics of self publishing, and he uses actual data from his own self-published books to make his case. At the same time, the discussion is presented in a down-to-earth, easy-to-digest manner. Because he had previously been published "professionally", that is, by a trade publisher, he is able to speak definitively about contract issues and royalty issues - and compare them to the self-published alternatives. A great introductory book on the subject.

I have one book out on CD rom...and am an artist that teachers painting. Someone suggested I look into POD options...but I knew so little I went with the first good book recommendation. The book is okay, but so no one commits my error....if you are looking to write a how-to which would include good images, printing with POD is a toner method and images are not good. Save yourself time and money...

In these days of saving the environment, we must all do our bit. I have done mine by saving several trees' worth of stamps thanks to Morris Rosenthal's 'Print on Demand Book Publishing'.

Print on Demand (POD); only print a book if someone demands it.
POD means no more posting hundreds of copies of your manuscript to hard-boiled agents, no more giving your long-suffering postie a sore back and laying waste to acres of forest only for the jaded publishers to drop it into their wastepaper bins because they did not see a bestseller after two pages. With POD you can bypass the industry, produce and publish your book, show it to the world and let the public decide for themselves. As Shakespeare nearly soliliquised, to buy or not to buy.
Print on Demand. What an idea! How simple, how obvious, how come?

This is where Morris Rosenthal comes in. 'POD Book Publishing' tells you not only that it can be done, but that it can be done by you. And how to go about it.

In straightforward approachable English, Morris demonstrates that POD is the future of publishing. Soon people will marvel that publishers once spent a fortune producing thousands of books to clutter up their warehouses while rejecting most of their potential clients.
This is a practical manual and Morris shows you how to turn your writing dreams into reality. Starting with nothing but your work and ambition, you can make it real.

Before I discovered Morris's book I was just another author wannaby, hoping that if I sacrificed enough trees to make stamps and manuscripts, a publisher might recognise my genius and make with the contract. Me and a million others. Maybe, I thought, if I rework the opening chapters a few more times It will persuade a drowning agent to clutch at it. Maybe I should compromise my work.

Today? I have published three books of my own with more in the pipeline, and am about to publish books for others (but only because I think they are good enough - I make the decisions now). Do I compromise my work? Why should I? Why should you?

If you want to metamorphose from being an author wannaby into a successful published writer with a bank manager who opens the door for you, check out this book.

And save those trees!

I have many of Steve Murray Reiki DVDs, and they are the best. The Reiki DVDs do pass the Reiki Attunements very well. And the Reiki Books are very informative and easy to understand. I love the photos and drawings in the books because it makes what he explains very easy to comprehend.

From reading the reviews of the few people who do not like him because of his books and DVDs, it looks like to me these are the Reiki people he writes about in his Reiki False Beliefs Exposed for all. LOL no wonder they dislike him and his work. He has exposed them and they are angry. It is this small group of people who only want you to learn Reiki their way, because they think their way is the only way, and they are always right. And by coincidence it's usually the most expensive way to learn Reiki, and with them giving classes.

The big difference between Mr. Murray and his detractors is that he teaches you can learn Reiki many ways and his teachings are one option; just make your own decision with learning Reiki with what works the best for you. Every person has Reiki naturally. What books, DVDs and classes show you is how to use it for yourself and others. In fact some people use Reiki successfully without any guidance or teachings. Most of Mr. Murray's critics do not want you to know this either.

From reading a few of Mr. Murray's reviews it seems he has changed people's lives around the world, so he is doing a good thing. Mr. Murray's Reiki teachings are not for all, but at least he is open minded to know this, and would never tell you his Reiki path is the only correct one.

Light to All

wm

You edited this post
P. Elfelt says:
As a Reikimaster I agree that although Reiki secrets should not be kept secret, they are still sacred and Steve Murray does a horrible job with his Reiki false beliefs. Having read his ultimate guide he is obviously not a first class Reiki teacher and although students may gain from his books and CD's they are in the market to make money as they are not good quality or proper Reiki training - that ensures that Reiki survives. His books may help some people get into Reiki, but they are certainly not equivalent to in class training from a certified and qualified Reikimaster teacher. Even some of his exposed symbols are wrong. So let us punctuate some of HIS own false beliefs.

Reiki is not unique and different from other healing energy modalities WRONG Usui the founder of Reiki said there is nothing like Reiki in the world. "The Usui Reiki Therapy is something no one before has discovered and bears comparison with no other treatment in the world......"
The Founder of Reiki, Usui Sensei

Is Steve Murray an Usui Reikimaster or conceived Reikimaster then with no respect and knowledge of Usuis teachings?

Non-healers cannot use Reiki Symbols False Belief - Wrong - The symbols have to be activated to work properly - why else would he try to attune people?

- Reiki Symbols have a power of their own False Belief WRONG - The symbols carry innate frequencies (they do have an affect on non-healers as well)

- Reiki lineage is important False Belief - YES AND NO - If you are very in tune with the universal force from which Reiki comes - lineage is irrelevant, but all teachers have to start somewhere - and there is a lot of knowledge and experience to be gained from acknowledging the good teachers that have gone before you. Steve Murray must have disrespect for his own teachers then. Did he teach himself? Did God?

A Reiki Attunement is needed to become a Healer False Belief WRONG Attunements are necessary because one cannot access the higher frequencies that are innate to the Reiki levels unless one is already at that frequency level. Vibrational level varies from one student to another. Steve Murray needs to check his own Reikimaster manual on attunements!!!!!!

It takes years to become a Reiki Master False Belief -WRONG although you can become a Reikimaster in a weekend, that only means that you can teach Reiki to other people, but what is your spiritual and healing knowledge? It takes years to become a proficient and highly qualified Reikimaster teacher capable of teaching all aspects of Reiki. Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual for proper enlightenment and healing purposes.

Other than that his false beliefs are ok, but only false because there are not enough good reiki teachers and the standard of Reiki training has been declining tremendously over the past 5-10 years so that students don't know enough about how to use Reiki.

Steve Murray is doing an excellent job in lowering the standards and spreading further false beliefs with his 4th bestseller on Reiki false beliefs

P.S. Is he taking his royalty money straight to the bank?
Or will some of it go into supporting the Reiki community?

I have purchased Steve Murray's Books, DVD's, CD's and Stones. I review them frequently and every time I do, my experience travels deeper. I have recently performed Reiki on people in New Hampshire, Alaska, California and Pennsylvania. I have also performed Reiki on a client from Aftganistan, I was raised Catholic. The Universal Power has unlimited power, unlike we think here on Earth.

Cheryl Ploetner
Jasper, Indiana

No holds barred in this book, Steve Murray blasts through preconceived notions and myths to bring truth and fairness to everyone for a level Reiki playing field.

This book clearly shows that Steve's mission statement "To make Reiki knowledge, guidance, and attunements available to everyone that seeks them. To make Reiki 1st, 2nd, and Master Level Attunements affordable for everyone, so healing can be spread throughout the world" is borne out in his empowering books.

Mr. Murray doesn't believe in playing "keep away", which we encountered on numerous occasions with other people and classes. This book is NOT welcomed by "traditional" Reiki practitioners that have spent HUGE amounts of money on other courses. Even people we know tried to pooh pooh this and propagate some of the myths, but we know the truth, thanks to Steve Murray! This book is highly recommended for the Reiki seekers.

Though Mr. Murry does present the truth on several reiki misconceptions, he's still incorrect on MANY of the false beleifs he stated. For one, Mrs. Takata DID revive two people, but The Creator used her to do this (basically, she didn't use the power of reiki to do this). Also, symbols are definitely NOT needed in Usui reiki. They may help a reiki practitioner to concentrate on what he/she is doing, but there's no need for them and they won't increase reiki power. Mr. Murray needs to work on some of his assumptions. Overall, I still find him to be a good healer. I've read his books and watched his DVDs.

This book is one of the best books about the fire service I have ever read. I hung onto each and every word. It was though I was there sometimes.

During the tumultuous period of the 60s when author Dennis Smith wrote Report From Engine Company 82, the book was a cry for help from exhausted, frustrated men. Men who cleaned up in the aftermath of other exhausted and frustrated inhabitants of a society stretched to the breaking point.

As I type this, a younger firefighter in a comfortable, air-conditioned fire station among a population that by-and-large respects my profession, it's easy to forget the sacrifice of our past brothers who unceasingly fought fires, city hall and the population they served, until they had forged the modern fire service.

It's an important book for new firefighters to learn how the iron men of old did the job. And for the general reader it's a testament to both a volatile period in our nation's history, and to the timeless strength and courage by which good men have always worked to keep back the chaos of barbarism and destruction.

I spent 10 years in the fire service in both engine and truck companys. While I have many memories and stories to tell, the author, Dennis Smith, sums up the life of a fire fighter in an urban environment about as well as can be possibly told. Trying to balance the unpleasantries and sadness against the satisfaction of saving a life or helping a family overcome one of life's most agonizing moments is very well portrayed in this book. This is what a fire fighter's life is about folks. There is no other book that I can remember that tells it any better than this. If you're thinking of a career in a big city fire department or for that matter, if you're even thinking of becoming a volunteer fire fighter this book is a must!

I first read this book 20+ years ago, when I was under 20 years of age myself but streetwise from being the "wheels" (with a driver's license and a car) for various escapades all over Chicago in my raucous, hard-partying and utterly politically incorrect youth. Many aspects of "Report From Engine Co. 82" stuck with me through the years, and I've re-read it several times. Now I'm 40 and an ER RN in a Chicago hospital where we see more than our share of the extraordinarily dysfunctional lives of the people who live in poverty in the neighborhoods that surround our hospital -- the type of job and environment Smith portrays so well in "Report From Engine Co. 82."

"Report From Engine Co. 82." tells truths about the nearly inescapable poverty and illiteracy of people scraping by in lives that are marginalized in every possible way because they don't -- can't -- really care for themselves appropriately because they don't even know how. Poverty isn't what it used to be -- but it's still as screwed up as it was in Smith's first book. Most of our ER visits aren't really emergencies, just as most of the calls Company 82 responded to weren't emergencies, either. Nowadays, people call 911; when "Report" was written, that 911 system didn't exist yet. But not much has changed since then, in terms of what the firefighters/paramedics respond to and bring to the ER.

Most of the "emergencies" he sees are not emergencies. The non-emergencies, combined with the real emergencies, portray the dangerous and unthinking way poor people live through a combination of lack of resources, lack of experience with the "straight" world, lack of common sense, and minute-by-minute survival thinking. Most of these emergencies and non-emergencies are easily prevented -- if people had common sense, proper parenting, and a normal instinct for self-preservation.

These qualities, however, are surprisingly hard to come by in poverty, and this is what Smith dramatizes. The heroin overdoses. The stupid kids doing stupid things because they are constantly left unattended and to their own devices. Kids who shoot themselves in the thigh or foot -- or worse -- "playing" with guns. Fires that kill children because space heaters provide the heat slumlords refuse to provide in their code-violating buildings. The incipient hatred and distrust poor minority neighborhoods have of the white emergency personnel and firefighters who respond to their calls. The huge cultural gaps that make true communication and understanding so difficult -- even when you're both the same race and both speaking English.

What Smith accurately portrays is the way poverty-stricken people "live in the now" -- people whose entire lives are spent with no real financial or material stability or security. These are people for whom the concept of saving money for the future is impossible, either as a concept or a reality. People for whom making an appointment days or weeks in the future, and actually remembering to get to the appointment, is nearly impossible. Their main mode of thought is: what do I need to do now, what do I want to do now, what do I need or want to do in the next five minutes. This inability to think about and plan for the future is endemic, as is the inability to prioritize that which really matters -- one suspects because most of these people realize on some level they have no future that truly matters to the rest of society, and they're incapable of living as the rest of the "straight" world lives because they never have, didn't grow up with it, and don't know the language of living that life, let alone the mindset.

These are the people and children who have no insurance, no health care, no glasses when their vision is bad, no braces or dental care when their teeth are bad; who never use birth control (to prevent pregnancy OR to prevent disease transmission). People who don't understand why it's inappropriate to come to the ER with an upper respiratory infection and get pissed off when they wait hours for care while higher priority, higher-acuity patients (in respiratory distress, cardiac arrest, heart attacks, asthma attacks, and overdose, etc.) are taken before they are.

Conversely, these are also the people who shun health care until they are so sick they can no longer avoid it, and discover they have cancer... Cancer that could have been prevented or at least treated, often saving their lives, had they ever had regular health care -- but who are now consigned to an inevitable death they will blame on the healthcare providers who couldn't save them because they were at a stage beyond saving or treating in any way other than palliative.

Smith's New York is NOT the New York of Sex And The City. This is the New York of the infants whose welfare mothers don't immunize them, but have the latest, most expensive coats and boots because conspicuous consumption is how they live: you show how much money you have by wearing all that your money has bought you (rather than doing the far less glamorous but sensible things more responsible people, whose children were WANTED rather than accidental, do). The New York of the kids having kids who have kids, all of whom have never known proper parenting, nutrition, or health care. The overdoses. The children who come in with accidental poisonings or burns from household chemicals because no one was watching them. The attempted suicides with anything and everything -- cold medicine, knives, guns, illegal drugs. The kids raised by siblings because the parent is completely incapable, if they're even around, with or without the additional problems of substance use/abuse, addiction, or domestic abuse. The families which are largely single-parent families -- and where the parental figure may be an elder sibling, aunt or cousin who cares more for the children than their biological parent(s) does or is capable of doing.

This is also the world of the terrified illegal immigrants who wait so long to call for help because they're afraid of INS (now ICE) and deportation; by the time they do, they're often too sick to save. The penniless old people whose pensions don't cover their living expenses and who don't call for help because they're terrified of being discharged from the hospital to a nursing home and losing what little autonomy and material security they have left. The fractured families (with utterly dysfunctional dynamics) who interfere with the paramedics' jobs -- as well as the tight-knit families who are rich only in love for one another. The people who refuse help they desperately need because they fear and distrust the paramedics and firemen trying to help them, and because their healthcare illiteracy is such that they have no idea what is necessary to save their lives, and so refuse or avoid medical treatment that could stop problems in stages when they're still treatable. The mothers who speak no English, who superstitiously fear that emergency treatment will kill their children, yet who are so desperate to save their babies, they don't know what else to do, because all home remedies have now failed. The endless numbers of people who let their prescriptions run out or try to save money by taking less than the prescribed doses and then have severe health problems that wouldn't happen if they bought and took their meds as prescribed -- but who, for multiple reasons, can't and/or don't. The people who beg not to be brought to the hospital because "people DIE in the hospital" -- people who don't understand that their neighbors and family members who died in the hospital, died because they waited far too long to call for help, and were therefore were beyond saving when they finally got to a hospital.

Anyone who works in public service as a fireman, cop, nurse, social worker, or psych intake worker in a big city -- and in poverty-stricken, crime- and drug-infested suburbs and rural communities -- can relate to Smith's book. For everyone who majored in something else, this book opens a door and exposes the lives of people you don't even know exist, people you don't acknowledge when you're forced to share a bus or train with them during rush hour (or who you intentionally avoid by driving in your own car, despite the expense of gas, insurance, and time spent on the commute): the people who don't work, or the people who work wage-slave jobs like janitor, maid, fast-food worker, security guard, who can barely pay their bills or care for their children with what little they make -- or who blow it all on liquor and/or drugs and/or gambling (or all three) to escape the miserable hopelessness of their lives. The kids who have the latest "stuff" -- whether it's the shiny ten speed bicycles Smith writes about, or today's video games and cell phone/mp3 player/cameras -- but whose parents can't or won't give them what they really need: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a stable environment from which to emerge every day to deal with the life-endangering risks of walking to and attending public schools that do little more than babysit and warehouse kids whose futures include teen pregnancy (and the late-term, life-threatening miscarriages that go with total lack of prenatal care, with or without drug use), repeated incarceration, and shorter-than-average lifespans due to the daily likelihood of violence in their communities and their lives.

Smith's portrayal of this kind of poverty is not pretty but it is not unsympathetic -- there are glimpses of beauty and hope, mostly in the young women and children who haven't yet been ruined by their surroundings. Smith tempers it all with a matter-of-fact acceptance that although it is his job to care for these people, he may never really understand them because he's now too removed from that life, and he takes on faith that they possess human qualities they often fail to demonstrate. But some do show their humanity, and those are the people he does it for.

Smith does an excellent job of portraying the paradox that the job of these firefighters and paramedics is to help and save these people, which by its nature includes finding them WORTH helping and saving, at the same time as they move and live as far away from these neighborhoods and the associated poverty, crime and drug problems as they possibly can. This is not merely a racial difference. There are plenty of black and Latino paramedics, cops, firefighters, nurses and doctors who straddle the gulf (some might say 'minefield') between their class and the class of the people they help, in circumstances that are at best trying and at worst nearly impossible to help them transcend for any sustained length of time.

Smith portrays the sympathetic detachment required to know that this is what you do, all day, every day you work, with only the hope that one or two out of ten people will actually genuinely and sincerely thank you for what you do or have done for them -- which is that elusive reward you get, one that can make it all seem worth it when it happens -- and to hope that when you show up and give this of yourself on every shift, there might be one kid or teen who sees what you're doing, who still has enough time ahead of them to see this glimpse into another world... A world it is just *barely* possible for them to enter given enough determination, education, mentoring and drive, and sadly also given enough instinct to discard much of what they learn in their families about how they THINK the world works, versus how the world REALLY works for the more educated and better-off people who run it.

The fact that Smith can show all this without denigrating an entire class of people -- does, in fact, portray them with humanity and the grace one occasionally sees in these circumstances -- is because he also recognizes that he is not that far removed from the kind of poverty he sees on the job (he grew up poor, too). He recognizes and accepts that he is that kid who admired firemen as a boy and saw a different world -- he is that kid who made the leap to the next class up, to the working class and blue collar as opposed to poverty-stricken. He understands the dysfunction -- the drinking, the drugs, the abuse -- that occurs in the neighborhoods Co. 82 responds to because it occurred in his neighborhood, his family, his poverty, while he was growing up.

This understanding that few "get out" -- and that he was one of the lucky few -- underscores with sympathy his otherwise stark portrayal of the job of a NYC fireman in the 70s when NYC was not a desirable place to live and people did their best to escape "the city" as soon as their financial circumstances permitted it.

The uncensored version of this book (which is the one I've read multiple times) also shows the bizarre split someone who works as a fireman/paramedic, nurse, or doctor must negotiate within themselves -- the intimate knowledge you have of the bodies of the people you must save, which is merely part of your job but which you can't really talk about to any family member or lover who isn't in one of these fields. I don't mean merely intimacy with people's genitals -- though there is that, such as the way the Smith describes heroin overdoses getting icebags put under their testicles (negative stimulus, designed to bring unresponsive, unconscious people back to responsiveness and consciousness). I mean the intimacy of seeing people stripped of their modesty and dignity, voluntarily (prostitutes) or involuntarily (the terribly sick), whose personal space and body integrity you must necessarily invade, often in less-than-respectful or diplomatic ways because there is no time for those niceties when someone is dying and you're trying to save them. People who don't work in these fields can never really understand how you can be unaffected by the nudity, exposure and/or intimate knowledge you have of these total strangers, and the disinterest or casual attitude with which you greet what would shock most everyone else.

And, of course, you're not unaffected by this knowledge. Sometimes you're disturbed, or someone or something sticks in your mind -- the things you've seen or had to do -- and is recalled in inappropriate moments with your loved ones. You're not unaffected, you're just emotionally calloused or you compartmentalize it, in order to repeatedly perpetrate and endure this violation of the boundaries between strangers and its inherent power imbalance: you, as the emergency personnel, never have to reveal any of these intimacies to your patients... but they must necessarily, willingly or not, reveal them to you. This includes the mentally ill and the hopelessly drug-addled or dopesick (or both, combined) -- sometimes the most disturbing intimacy of all: the insides of their heads and their distorted, sometimes frighteningly unhinged, perceptions of the world around them.

Before anyone decides to dedicate their lives to becoming a firefighter, they would be wise to start their research here. Some 30+ years after it was first published, this book still shows remarkable insight into the lives, struggles, and emotions of a professional firefighter. When I started on the road to becoming a firefighter, being a volunteer and reading Dennis Smith books asserted in my mind that my life would be wasted doing anything else. For others, this may convince you that the job is not for you. It isn't for everyone. Either way, this is a very enjoyable read and worth the time and money for anyone, not just firemen and wannabe's.

I recently visited the Hawaiian Islands. The moment I stepped off the aircraft and the air hit my face I felt the magic. I started researching and reading everything I could get my hands on to discover the secrets of the islands. Pila's book was the most helpful in explaining the incredible energy of Hawaii. His book is not only a guide to the magical places you can visit, it is also a guide to connecting with spirit and healing your life. A wonderful book that I highly recommend. Although it was written over ten years ago, it is even more relevent as we watch our world rapidly changing. Mahalo Pila!

There are a couple of places where the author veers off a bit but for the most part he draws the reader into the mystical side of Hawaii that captivates the imagination and adds a new layer of "must do" items for ones next visit to the big island.

I particularly enjoyed the parts where he explores the subtleties expressed in the Hawaiian language and how they relate to place names and metaphysical practices and experiences. I think the author does a good job of connecting modern places and practices to traditional Hawaiian belief and faith practices. His chapter on the Big Island's place of refuge is exceptional in this regard.

The book is written in an easy to read fashion... But don't be fooled! Even if you gobble the words down like a good meal.. there is much more you will me digesting...
The essence remembering Joy is something that will forever remain in my heart..!

Pila of Hawaii takes you on a journey through paradise, all around the Big Island, but also through paradiscal realms within us all, while also sharing with us some of his own amazing journey. Pila opens the door to the little known esoteric world of Hawaiian spirituality, making it accessible to anyone willing to take to look and to open themselves. And he does all this in a style that is easy and fun to read. He leads the way joyously with a descriptive style that has you humming along as you follow his courageous. Thanks Pila. Whenever I get homesick for the islands, I just pick of the "red book" and I am back home again.

After reading many amazing books on Hawaiian Philosophy and more specifically Huna and Kahuna teachings, I must say - this is one of my favourite books. This book is so much fun to read and has many, many secrets to share.

I once wished that there was a grown-up version of the Girl Scouts for well-meaning women, like myself, who needed only a little guidance to get started. I purchased this book for my 81 year old mother and borrowed it soon after. I will now have to go back to the bookstore and buy more. I feel compelled to share this book with women I know and love. Knowing that the author died on United Flight 93 adds unbelievable weight to her words. It reminds me that no woman knows how much time she has left. I'm going to use this book to help me live, live, live!

You Can Do It! was an idea Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas had for a year before she died on September 11, 2001, on her way home from her grandmother's funeral aboard United Flight 93. Whether it was learning to cook, garden or scuba dive, Lauren was always trying something new. She is remembered by her friends and family as their personal coach and champion. It is a fine tribute to Lauren's memory that they completed this project on her behalf.

Lauren, a former Girl Scout, structured the book around sixty "badge activities." Mentors for each chapter become a cheerleading team, encouraging women to make our dreams a reality. In order to earn a badge, you need to follow the "badge steps." The badges are full-color stickers created by Toronto illustrator Julia Breckenreid.

The first chapter I turned to in the "Create" section was "Be an Author." I always love to see what other writers have to say about the writing life. In this one, poet and novelist Laurie Henry explains what she does (writes books including The Novelist's Notebook) and why she does it ("it's an engrossing challenge"). For "extra credit," there's some advice on "Getting Published." The chapter touches on every aspect of the writing life, such as what to do when you're not writing (read). Or to keep the momentum going, meet with other writers. Every chapter has an extensive list of resources as suggested by the chapter's mentor.

No dream is too big or too small the author reminds us. So readers can check out firewalking, beading or sewing. Practical advice is included on the subject of money, and inspiration is included for our inner lives through such activities as meditation. Maybe you don't know what it is you need mentoring for. As you browse through the book, you'll remember, "Oh, yes, that's the dream I put on hold." At the end of the book, you are invited to dream up your own badge.

I found the book's design, by Debbie Berne of Herter Studio in San Francisco, attractive as well as practical. An innovative approach to the table of contents, for instance, is a checkerboard in greens, white and black. It's visually appealing and reminds us there are many moves we can make as we dare, create, learn, play, deal, connect and dream--all headings for the sections of the book.

The book made me feel like an excited kid again. But this time my kid has a team of mentors to encourage me. You Can Do It! is an inspiring and encouraging springboard for girls of all ages. Young girls can learn of all the many possibilities, and mid-life women (or beyond mid-life like me) can be affirmed in knowing they still have a chance to learn something new.

The accompanying You Can Do It! Workbook is a place to Dream It, Write It, Do It, and it reminds you to turn your to-do lists upside down. That means your want-to-do's will be on top. The workbook has lots of space, guided exercises, roomy pockets for brochures, an address book for your support network. The inspirational quotes throughout were like the voice of a coach as I made my daily journal entries.

Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas pursued a career in marketing and advertising, had her own consulting company in Northern California and, most recently, served as account executive for Good Housekeeping. As the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States reported, "The nation owes a debt to the passengers of United 93. Their actions saved the lives of countless others and may have saved either the U.S. Capitol or the White House from destruction." Lauren's legacy lives on in the dreams and aspirations of women of all ages. The proceeds from You Can Do It! go to the Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation to support charitable causes that were of interest to Lauren.

by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
www.storycirclebookreviewsorg
reviewing books by, for, and about women

I ordered several copies of this book for my mothers' group to use during our summer session.The book has been great to get us talking about both what we need to do and what we want to do for ourselves. Some members are working on more practical badges, like organization, while others are working on beading, knitting etc.--and all of us are giving ourselves credit for hard things we've already accomplished but not thoroughly acknowledged, like childbirth and potty training kids!

We were surprised at some topics that were missing--scrapbooking isn't in there, for example--but this was a minor drawback.

A wonderful self help book for women who, after setting aside personal dreams and aspirations for the sake of others, seek to reconnect with their own unique dreams in life. Based upon the Girl Scout Model of the Merit Badge, Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas' book defines a step by step approach for a variety of accomplishments, big and small. Menors who are experts in the field provide guidance and advice.

For those who do not know, the author, Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, tragically died on United Flight 93. She had (and has still) a special gift for mentoring and encouraging other women. Very refreshing for today. Proceeds from the book, which was finished by her two sisters, goes to Lauren's favorite charities.

This is a very touching book through which the spirit of a vibrant, compassionate woman lives on.

I love to do things. I love doing new things! From arts & crafts (etching glass, and blacksmithing), to unusual sports (like sailing or bungee jumping), I am passionate about learning new things.

However, this book - while chalk full of ideas - is very skimpy on actual direction. While other resources are listed (usually another book that you should buy, or a website you need to visit) - I was hoping for a book that not only had great ideas --- but had information on how to actually DO the activity (and what skills I might need to have before-hand before starting).

This book has a wonderful concept, but it would have been even better if it had more details and information on how to actually DO things.

NOTE: the forward written by the author's sister is heartbreaking...and bumped this book from a 1-star to 2-stars, just based on that letter.

This book has been Good for my soul. It presents examples of daily trials we face and offers ways that we can respond in peaceful ways. There is balance in this book.

I was raised Baptist. This book was recommended by a Catholic friend who had been given the book by a Catholic priest.

The reading of this book takes me to a place where I am in my best spiritual state.

This is early Thich Nhat Hanh at his freshest. Compelling stories of coming to see the world from a more awakened perspective are mixed with very accessible instructions for mindfulness meditations. Anyone of Buddhist inclination will profit from visiting or revisiting this book, and if you want to introduce someone else (or yourself) to Buddhist thought and practice in an inviting way, you could scarcely do better than this. (The other "best first book" which stands up to repeated readings is Shunryu Suzuki's Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. Both are likely to become your lifetime companions.)

The demands of a job and daily life seem to keep us from spirituality and peace. The Book: Being Peace, offers that pause in life to reflect and renew. This is a very good read.

Thich Nhat Hanh is a beautiful being, writing in very simple words and from the heart, and showing us how to be at Peace, in Peace, so as to create Peace in our World. Good book. Likely to be re-red many times.

I like this authors books that is why I bought this one on a friends recommendation. I struggled through it but dont find it easy to read or understand and I usually like this guys books. I found it choppy, hard to follow and I didnt find it peaceful reading. A few nuggets here but didnt work for me this time.

This little book is a gem! It is concise and direct to the point. In addition it is simple. Author Day has written this small book that far outshines The Secret and simplifies all the other 'get rich' books. Esoteric teachings and metaphysical teachings have been teaching this for eons. It takes a deep desire to change and in order to create a new reality, one must practice, practice, until the camera of the mind has the perfect picture. For wishes to come true, one must not allow doubt or fear creep in. Bettye Johnson, award-winning author, Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls.

The Circle is life changing. It provides the "how to" missing from publications like "The Secret". This book is an easy read, but if the reader is willing to commit to the work -- WATCH OUT. Your life will never be the same.

Awesome.

The author focuses on a series of universal philosophical
concepts to assist us in defining and implementing things which we value most. The process is set forth in a dozen or so steps. i.e.

o Embodiment forces us to visualize what we want.
o Awareness involves living our dream in the real world.
o Sacred status means praying for something or contemplating it.
o Synchronicity means identifying matter in relation to other things.
o Effectiveness means recording coincidences and obstacles.
o Space relates to the object in relationship to the Universe.
o Transformation relates to the energy fields surrounding the wish.
o Coherence refers to the embodiment of something.
o Right action deals with conflict resolution.
o Mastery refers to a singular goal for directing all energies.
o Intuition refers to the experiential domain.
o Healing refers to betterment and not energy channeling.
o Connectivity involves getting others to complement our energy.

Overall, the book is a good first start on running the full circle
to define our passions. For some, the book may be too theoretical
to comprehend in day-to-day application. The acquisition is worthy
for contemplative readers willing to thing carefully about the
contents. This book is not for the 60 second manager.

Too often, books that promise life transformation say that if you change the way you think, your life will change. Many of us have tried that method and failed in the long run, thinking we were doing something wrong. This book reads easily, but contains within its pages a very practical, realistic and holistic approach to changing your life that goes above and beyond positive thinking and affirmations. As with anything, the process brings up your blocks, but what you learn and integrate along the way just enriches your life and makes life more joyful and fun. I heartily recommend this book for anyone seeking a heartfelt wish that they'd love to see come true. What I also love about this book is that there is a community that supports each other on the web([...]).

One wish ... that is all you need ... to work your energy like a laser to make it come true. The Circle explains the phenomenon once considered magic or metaphysics. This is a book on what do you from the inside out to get out of your own way and recalibrate your system towards a chosen reality. When you subconcious and conscious mind blend together ... it creates the kind of focus you need to direct all your energy into the life you truly desire. No woo-woo, no wizardry, no magical thinking, just plain old intention, action, and healthy surrender.

All these books about Stand Up can not produce one good joke. Some of the techniques might come in handy when in front of an audience but laughter they will not bring. For that, one must be inspired and have a particular view of the world to attract people and share in a funny manner. Bought several books and fine and dandy to hear anecdotes and comedians in all kinds of situations but in the end, if you are really interested in pursuing Stand Up Comedy, a person must be willing to put themselves on the line. Attempt and fail, over and over, until one is recognized as a true comedian and has developed hers or his particular style of comedy. Taking an acting class might be beneficial for so many aspects of stand up comedy can be affected by theatrics. Kind of like wanting to play poker and become rich. You can read all the books you want but until you become one of the players you will not really know wether you are good enough or not. Practice makes perfect, theory does not accomplishes the same thing.

The first part of the book was very informative. It offers many tips and knowledge about stand-up comedy. They seem relevant to many types of comedy. I was worried when I saw all the reviews that it was just filler and they would be pointless. However, the author asks great questions. The interviews are a thrill to read. I could not put this book down and read it from start to finish in a couple days. I reccomend it to anyone interested in any kind of comedy or who want to be funnier.

Ajaye gives great insight to the aspiring comedian in this concise read. I have never been on stage but this book has helped tremendously in the writing process and my eventual presentation. The many interviews he conducts show a wide variety of approaches and thought processes. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone that is thinking of taking it to the stage.

The lone negative review is so off it's beyond belief. This is, in part, my defending a book which I found to be the most helpful of the 3 I own (the other two being Judy Carter's) and challenges the negative points in the bad review.
The author's introduction includes the information that he found law school disinteresting, which is a fact that cohesively brings him to his self-admitted bumpy first night at stand-up comedy. His analysis of comics was fresh information to me. I am relatively new to stand-up (one year) and never thought to specify what makes my comedic heros funny. This advice is tailored to the individual as a road to slowly find one's footing in this world of comedy, a full introduction.
The author does not simply state "tap into your own life experiences". What he does suggest is for the beginning comic to try and find their own voice, whatever that may be, i.e. what we are truly passionate about, as opposed to what we think we should write about. And he writes about this in great detail.
The "third eye" is explained in great detail. I was stumped when sitting down to my notebook to write jokes. I thought to myself "if only I could get to that 'zone' in which I'm on a roll with my friends, making them laugh". The author is urging the reader to expand on his/her own self-awareness as to when and why people respond to him with laughter, as well as asking them to stay aware to one's surroundings and environment. If you're funny or geared towards comedy, your original take on life will guide you, over time, to better writing. That's "third eye" in a nutshell. I'm not an author, nor an expert, but I feel compelled to offer just a tiny explanation of the in-depth book discussion so dismissed above on "third eye".
Lastly, I was at first concerned with the seemingly small portion of the book before the interviews. First of all, those pages offer so much more than previous, now dated books (i.e. Judy Carter) in less space; Secondly, the interviews are truly the most informative part of the book. Trust me. Most of the subjects are so humble and truthful about their beginnings. (I write most as there was one comic who I found egomaniacal, and that in its own way was informative about that world). Hearing their stories and different methods is priceless.
This book rocks.

Excellent looking book. Well organized information on the inside. Franklin Ajaye may not be a household name in stand up, but he's written a book that definitely makes him a household name in my life. I would one day like to make my living as a stand up comedian, and after much searching and perusing, I decided that out of the many books on stand up I would pick this one up first. The big selling point for me was all of the interviews. Once I saw all those names of comedians that I had watched for years I knew I had to read this book.


I have to say that this book was extremely encouraging. I consider myself a funny person, and judging by their reactions to me, I would say that my friends and coworkers think I'm funny as well. My big question was, "how do I turn being a funny person, which I think most people are, into a stand up career?" The first section of this book is a how to guide for doing exactly what I wanted to accomplish. I don't think an aspiring stand up could read this part of the book too much.


The interviews section contained the meat and potatoes that I was most looking forward too. I wasn't let down with any of these chapters, and Ajaye is a really good interviewer. The subjects of the interviews were a diverse group of stand ups and there is tons of methodical insight and stories from the road to be digested from each of them. Frequently, the comedian being interviewed will describe their style of writing and/or performing, and it will be a contrast to what Ajaye suggests beginners do in the beginning of this book. I like how this highlights that there is no formula for stand up, and it encourages one to be experimental and innovative in developing their own funny style.


The final section was also very helpful for someone in my position. It was a set of interviews with what I would call behind the scenes characters that are very important to a stand up comedian. What an entertaining read for aspiring comedians, people who want to be funnier, or just those who are fans of stand up comedy.

I have found this book to be an extremely valuable tool and guide!
I gladly recommend it to artist, teachers, therapists and all those interested in expressive arts and inner journeying.

This is a powerful and practical, hands-on workbook, guiding us to expand and deepen our creative process.

The authors generously share their deep personal experiences, stories and wisdom, and ancient practices from many different traditions.

Through their personal stories, guided imagery, meditation, journaling and maskmaking, we are guided to give voice and expression to our inner connection.

A great gift is being offered in this book ... a gift to learn and pass on to others!

This wonderful book has helped me come in contact with my personal spirit guides and has helped me evaluate who I am at the depths of my true self. From the artfully crafted suggestions/visualizations (guided imagery) to the in-depth coverage on Eastern acupressure and somatic energy meridians; I love reading every page and savoring every articulation. The stories and examples in the book about how many people have explored their Totem Animals and Ancestors is spectacular and inspiring. Has only helped me on my journey as a hypnotherapist to teach and learn more about the Whole self through transpersonal activities and experiences. Thank you Kaleo and Elise for this treasure of golden and numinous wisdom.

This book is truly a gift! Perfect for teachers looking for a step by step guide for their class or perfect for groups looking for a tool to truly delve into theirselves. Therapists looking for alternative tools to help clients reach thier core, should also be pleased. This is healing art at its best! For a really phenomenal gift, check out one of Kaleo and Elise's maskmaking classes.

This is a very inspiring book. It offers a wonderful journey into your inner world. Simple and easy to follow guided imageries lead you to explore and connect deeply to your soul. A great book for your spiritual healing and transformation!

"Amazing! Thank you for the gift! Your book has given me a deeper and better understanding of the creative process and its power to heal the inner soul.I am starting a practice of mask making and body casting for healing. I am trying to bring together workshops for both...body casts for women who are breast cancer survivors. I have a degree in Expressive Art Therapy working with traum clients using art as a therapeutic tool and I need and want to start doing my art in a deeper more meaningful way. Your book gives so many wonderful and necessary spiritual guidelines and guided image exercises to weave into my practice. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. This is a spiritual path we are on."