Living History Books

Fans of Living TV's Most Haunted will enjoy this book immensely. An engaging companion work, it provides that extra "fix" of detail we all crave following an episode of this amazing British paranormal investigation documentary series (now seen in the States on the Travel Channel).

This work is not a scholarly treatment, but an informal and familiar behind-the-scenes look at the filming of all the spooky and ghoulish goings on at the Most Haunted locations. In which episode did make up artist Cath pee her pants in fear? What crystals did David provide all crew members for grounding? What terrifying events happened to Richard at Craig Y Nos before the filming even started? Just what do the shows mediums see in their minds eyes? All of these and more are answered in Most Haunted Behind the Scenes Guide. Those interested in a more academic treatment of the locations can eagerly anticipate the imminent release of Richard Felix's series of books in the fall of 2005.

Sit back, enjoy, and "Sleep Tight"!

I have become a big fan of LivingTV's show "Most Haunted", so when I saw this book on the shelves at a bookstore in the UK, I picked it up without hesitation. After all, it promised to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the series as well as tips to discover your own medium inside yourself!

For the most part, I did find the book interesting. However, I felt that there were a few things that took away from the experience. First of all, I'm one of those people who don't like endings spoiled, and in this book there were a lot of re-caps about specific events that occurred on specific locations (a passage about Derek being possessed by someone evil at location X for example). So you might want to skip certain sections if that bothers you.

Second, some of the 'behind-the-scenes' interviews and such that the book highlighted were actually just transcripts of what the people had said on the diary camera when the show aired.

Third, I found the section on discovering how to become a medium a bit disappointing, although I guess I don't know what I was really expecting from one chapter. Basically, it just said if you hear voices in your head, listen to them, or try and visualize what might be behind a door before you open it. Not exactly earth shattering stuff.

I probably sounds like I'm complaining, but overall I did enjoy the book. I think that the word 'companion' to the TV series is accurate, is it can be fun to read over the crew's descriptions of what happened during your favorite episodes and some of the information is new and interesting. I think it's still worth a read if you're a fan of the series, but just don't expect it to move mountains.

I was a bit disappointed in this book which seems to take somewhat of a critical perspective of the Midrash. Their companion book on the Talmud suffers somewhat from the same general malady. In other words, the Midrash is inspirational, and inspired, stories but that is about it. That was my impression. However, in fairness to the authors this is one of the few books that even attempts to make the Midrash accessible to the average non-Yeshiva reader. Be aware though, that this book very much oversimplifies the concept and sometimes shows a shallowness of scholarly understanding. A book which I prefer is linked from here: Learning to Read Midrash is a better book for my money but certainly more challenging. Learning to Read Midrash

The Oral Torah was handed down for generations from Moses. It is the complement to the Written Torah. Keep in mind that the original Torah was written without vowels or punctuation; the implication being that there had to be an oral Torah to understand the written one. Midrash refers to stories and details from the Oral Torah that clarify and add to stories in the Torah. The Oral Torah wasn't codified in the Talmud until about a millennium ago when anti-Semitism was so intense it appeared that the Oral Torah would be lost to posterity.

This book is presented in an easy concise format. The authors explain all of the Hebrew words that are used. The actual Biblical texts are juxtaposed with the Midrashic texts for easy comparison. Then each is followed by a D'rash, a short commentary. The root word of d'rash means to investigate. A lot of Christians tend to shy away from Jewish commentaries and such books are rarely sold in Christian books stores, even though Christians believe in the Hebrew Bible, the so called Old Testament. This is unfortunate because they are really missing out on a lot. Very few Christian ministers were able to answer my questions pertaining to the Hebrew Bible. A couple of ministers I consulted had never even heard of the story of Tamar and Judah in Genesis 38. The Jewish people are named for Judah/Yehuda.

This book would be good for people thinking about getting a sugar glider or maybe even beginners. The book tells about basic care and what could go wrong. This book is not very detailed.

I put off getting this book for it was not reviewed.but my other options on SG were not up to date..this is a Wonderful book that covers all the important information about Sugargliders..its 2007.....and its 120 pages all full of information.this is not a one evening read..it has all the diets listed that are a must..it has a lot of information about the care and breeding of SG..and then the care given to a SM..and a distress signal that is sounded that one never wants to hear..This from my point of view is the Best Most complete book on SG other than the lists forums on the internet..the pictures are in black and white and not all are good quality..but if your even considering getting a SG or have one and dont have an up to date manual...your hunt is over...My apprects go out to the author for getting the most important information out there in print.youve done a great service to these little ones..and to anyone thinking about adding them as part of your family..they are very very specialized and a lot of $$ and knowledge has to go into them for them to survive happily...B.W.

Good Book

Taking Sides is a great way to find out more about contraversial issues from the period of Reconstructin to the Present. It dives into issues such as whether or not women of the nineteenth-century overcame the hardships of the west; if Booker T. Washington's philosophy and actions betray the interests of Afican-Americans; if the 1950's were America's "happy days", and much more. This great book reveals both sides to the issues. Your stand is not suede, but you are able to make your own decision.

Don't miss this book. Pascal Bruckner, along with Alain Finkielkraut and Andre Glucksmann, is one of the foremost French intellectuals. They are controversial in that they are not the typical anti-US, hip multicultural, thinkers. They go deeper than that. They question the post-modern way of living, thinking and behaving.
This book by Bruckner is stunning, and its study of modern man's malaise is fascinating and thought provoking. Many of the ideas which are being discussed right now politically and philosophically, Bruckner addresses in this book, which he wrote a while ago.
If you want to go deep into some of the deepest troubles facing the Western World, pick this up now! You will not regret it.

Good thoughts, bad editing (too many errors), uneven writing, clumsy translation (does not even say who did it, my feeling is, the author himself). It is really a collection of essays than a book with a consistent line of thought. On a good side, lots of detailed references and interesting, unorthodox ideas. It is still worth reading but could and should have been better.

The main themes, infantilism and victimization of modern man have been circumscribed but not elaborated.
It feels like Bruckner is broadly painting the surrounding areas and lets us divine the substance of his thoughts.
And despite the title, there is very little word in the book about the entitlement, the malaise from which Europe, even more than US
definitely suffers today.

Had I not expected more, maybe it would have been a 4 star book...

"I can think of no other time in history where the name of Jesus has been so frequently mentioned and the content of His life and teaching so thoroughly ignored". - Brennan Manning, Lion and Lamb

The teachings of Jesus Christ shook the traditions that had arisen during the four hundred years between the testaments and He fulfilled the Law in a way that few had ever anticipated. To follow Him requires the utmost, yet those who do so find that they gain the abundant life that Jesus came to give.

In practice, discipleship was arguably the most difficult teaching of Jesus. In this book Mark Bailey explores what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. He finds seven distinct characteristics that must be found in the life of anyone who ventures to "take up his cross" and follow Christ. I have listed them below with a few of the Scripture references that Bailey used to support them (so you can study their impact for yourself):

Supreme and incomparable love for Jesus - Matt. 10:35-37. Regular study and devotion to God's Word - Jn. 8:31-32; Heb. 5:11-14 Renunciation of yourselves as the authority and focus of our lives - Matt. 16:24; James 1:23-25; Gal. 5:16-25 A life of submission and sacrifice to the cross - Matt. 16:24; Rom. 6:1-14; 1 Cor. 3:3; 2 Cor. 4:11; Gal 2:20. Allegiance to Christ's compelling leadership -1 Kings 19:19-62; Matt. 4:18-22; Lk. 9:57,59,61,62. Recognition of the true ownership of our possessions - Lk. 14:28-33; 1 Cor. 6:19,20. Reflection of Christ's love in our attitudes and actions toward others - John 13:34-35; Jn. 15:1-17; 1 Tim. 1:5.

This is just the skeleton of the book and it already looks convicting. Well, it is...and it should be. Bailey has grabbed a very unpopular teaching from Jesus and placed it in a society of Christians that desperately need it. He comments on Matt. 16:24 by saying "if Jesus were extending that call today, He might say, `If any of you wishes to follow me, wire your own electric chair, then buckle yourself in, and follow Me. Drop the cyanide capsule into the solution to start up the gas chamber, and follow Me.'" (p.85).

The Christian life should be a radical breach from the life of our culture, but it is the highest life. It is to this life that we were created, to live and enjoy. It is this life that will flourish in the kingdom when Jesus returns to rule over it Himself. The difficulty of the task lies in the fact that He wants us to exemplify it here and now and represent Him to the world through our lives as His children. What an awesome privilege and responsibility.

Mark Bailey has written To Follow Him in an easy to read style and is even a bit conversational at times. Each chapter is filled with potent illustrations, mostly from his own life, and vivid descriptions of the biblical passages in consideration. Each chapter is followed by discussion questions to provoke the reader's thinking and readiness to follow the example of the Master. This book is obviously the product of William MacDonald's book, True Discipleship, which was published in 1975. I could have only wished for a more exhaustive treatment of this supremely important teaching. In summary, this contemporary book will help Christians who read it to understand and live out true biblical discipleship.

Building on the work of William MacDonald, (True Discipleship, Kettrick Press, 1961), the author illuminates the meaning of Jesus' seven "discipleship sayings" with a liberal selection of cogent personal anecdotes. This volume, which omits the substantive exegetical work for which the author is known, was clearly edited for the layman. This lucid volume will help unlock Jesus' command to "go and make disciples." There is one unfortunate shortcoming. Although each chapter includes questions intended to help the reader interact with the material, more help answering the "So what?" question would have been helpful.

I wrote a nice a really nice review about this book earlier, but wasn't able to save it and now I don't have time to re-write it. So, I just want to say that this book is great. It contains lots of information, resources and ideas to live in happiness with yourself, others and nature. It's my daily guide.

Sun Bear gives his advice freely and compassionatly. He combines his knowledge of the earth as a native american indian and his knowledge as an american living in todays modern world. Working together, these two worlds combine to make sense. Sun Bear helps you learn that you and every living being in its own right was created for a reason and is special in their own way. There are no'big' terms used in this book. It was written in a very simple straightforward manner.

Reading this book is akin to reading the "rural happenings" column in every city's local paper. If you go in knowing this and want little more than a local "bite" with breakfast each morning - fine - this is the book for you. But don't expect to snuggle down in front of the fire with a gripping read, because that it ain't. Curiously the photographs (local folks, local produce, local folks holding local produce - you get the picture) seem oddly out of place in this book format. This is a quait compilation of clippings, no more - no less.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was easy for me to enjoy it though because Mary Ellen Pourchat talks about people that live right in my area. She really captured the essence of day to day living in rural communities. For anyone that enjoys a quieter way of life, enjoys family and community and enjoys nature you will find this book very easy to read and relate to.

This is a pretty good book for those who were not paying attention to Asia during the 1990's. It is quite similar to Asian Eclipse by Backman. Indeed Vines even quotes Backman in 'Years'.
Vines has compiled lots of humourous anecdotes, but which will already be very familiar to those with any Asia experience.
Two areas which are weak: a few factual errors when Vines gets into the specifics of characters, esp. in areas he is obviously less familiar with, ie. Thailand. Also the book often contrasts 'bad' Asia with 'good' Japan, indicating that perhaps Vines could do with spending a bit more time studying Japan. Its not all good...

But a good overview of a very interesting period in a fascinating region of the world.

In The Years Of Living Dangerously, Stephen Vines puts into perspective the events which propelled Asia's economies into an unprecedented period of growth, and authoritatively exposes the myth the notion that foreign investors were primarily responsible for the massive capital flight that precipitated the crash of the Asian markets and economies. Rather the responsibility lay with governmental excesses, nepotism, corruption, ignorance, and ideological inflexibility. A highly recommended addition to professional and academic economic studies and international studies reading lists, The Years Of Living Dangerously is a superbly written, wide-ranging analysis, and presents an ideal introduction to, and explanation of, recent and continuing Asian economic woes.

I bought this book hoping to find info about the algerian writers mentioned on the back cover, what I found was more interesting.. detailed info about the turbulance in algeria, personal experiences,stories and very important history of a sister country our arab jounalism failed to report and/or bring to us. I was happy to have bought the book.