Associations Books

evrey thing was right it got me $999,999,999,.99!

This book was exactly what I needed to round out my education on Greyhound racing. The first few chapters cover the basics -- how racing works, what to expect, and how the percentages pay. It is fairly elementary for someone who has been at the track a few times but there were a few lingering questions I had that this book answered.

The crux of the book is McBride's system for long-term profit making at the track. From his numbers, one would guess it would work. In short, his strategy is to take a months' races and categorize them. By doing an analysis on the post position, early leader, class changes, late speed and maneuvering ability, one can see which patterns becoming more distinct. Knowing that early speed racers, for instance, do well at a particular track would be a definite advantage. Each track has its own advantages and disadvantages.

I noted some of the mistakes that I was making and some of the knowledge I had picked up the hard way (by losing). However, McBride's system doesn't really appear to be for the casual gamer. It appears it would take at least an hour before a race to score a guide and just generating the 30 races worth of data could be time consuming (at least an hour or two an evening). The math behind the grading process is very simple and could easily be done by a computer program. Also, McBride's system is not for the "cheap" gambler. He advocates betting a 4 or 5 (around $12 - $24 a race) box trifecta for maximum winnings. His experience and samples indicate this is the highest pay off percentage.

This book is crafty and must be read with a clear head. I recommend it to anyone; gambler or not . I contains a slice of something about living in America. Rarely will we find these types of books in the future. I suggest sportsmen and sports-ladies take a copy and preserve it.

This book covers 98% of all you need to know about the races, handicapping, betting, and scoring dog races. Probably the best value in greyhound racing books.

I read the Book by Mr. McBride and I must tell those out there who have the chance to get a hold of a copy of this fine book to do so. The book pretty much entails all the knowledge you need whether you are a novice, or an expert player or handicapper. If you have played the greyhounds for a long time, it will aid you in polishing up your skills in the racing game. Overall, this is an excellent book and value.

An outstanding book! When you need comprehensive information, tips, and techniques that you can use to cope with various common conditions, this book is a wealth of information. Conditions covered include evergthing from AIDS and Allergies to Pain, Parkinson's Disease and Sleep Disorders. The information Dr. Clark offers ranges from explaining the condition, identifying risk factors, telling how the disease is diagnosed, stating the usual traditional treatments, and, most importantly, detailing self-care measures that you can take to help yourself regain health.
Dr. Clark writes with a clarity and authority that make this book a "must-have" reference book for anyone who faces a chronic illness and wants to both understand the disease and help themselves overcome their medical problem.

An excellent reference book for people who have a cronic condition and want additional advice broader than what most doctors recommend. My Dr. told me I needed surgery for my gallstones and I received no other info. This book gave me alternatives and also explained the down-side of removing my gallbladder. I highly recomend this book.

An outstanding book! When you need comprehensive information, tips, and techniques that you can use to cope with various common conditions, this book is a wealth of information. Conditions covered include evergthing from AIDS and Allergies to Pain, Parkinson's Disease and Sleep Disorders. The information Dr. Clark offers ranges from explaining the condition, identifying risk factors, telling how the disease is diagnosed, stating the usual traditional treatments, and, most importantly, detailing self-care measures that you can take to help yourself regain health.
Dr. Clark writes with a clarity and authority that make this book a "must-have" reference book for anyone who faces a chronic illness and wants to both understand the disease and help themselves overcome their medical problem.

What a wonderful book! Dr. Clark has provided information on easing distress and unwelcome symptoms from a wide-ranging group of ailments. She addresses common problems such as pain, allergies, and obesity, but does not hesitate to tackle even the heavy hitters of illness: AIDS, Alzheimer's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and many more. Her writing is pleasant and easy to read, and her advice is simple to follow. I recommend this book to anyone who suffers from chronic conditions or has a loved one who could use some care. Thanks Dr. Clark!

Dr. Clark has done it again! COMMON CHRONIC CONDITIONS is packed with information for anyone with a chronic conditions or anyone who just wants to increase their level of wellness. For each condition, there is a section on what causes it and how the doctor diagnoses and treats it. This is followed by self-care steps you can take to help yourself. They fit in perfectly with the doctor's prescriptions. I've been sharing the information with my family. My uncle, who has arthritis, has changed the way he eats and started exercising based on what's in this book. My mother, who is recovering from breast cancer, told me she found out a lot of things she can do to prevent it from coming back. I have a friend at work in the early stages of AIDS. He says that some of the stuff about supplements and herbs that he's trying has really increased his energy level. I never knew castor oil packs were good for so many conditions. Get this book if you want to learn the latest research-backed ways to take care of yourself!

A holistic nurse in Florida

This is a good book for those who are starting a Yoga practice, or for Yogi or Yogini, wanting to assist new students.

This book is appreciated for the over 50 crowd, who are looking for the sdafe and gentle way to move into and continue with yoga. The facts, as well as the insights, are stated right to the point!!

The book is easy to follow and offers different variations of poses for gentle yoga and for those who have limitations due to health issues and who may need to do yoga seated in a chair.

As a Yoga teacher I frequently review yoga books for ideas and new information. I am very excited about Easy Does It Yoga! Could it be that finally Yoga has come of age? This book might just persuade the Yoga doubters to view Yoga as an acceptable exercise that truly will benefit the mind, body and spirit in the present and on into aging. The author, Alice Christensen, has written a comprehensive and compassionate book on Yoga and its tremendous health benefits for the older person, and indeed, anyone physically challenged by bad health, addictions and inertia. The various disciplines of yoga are discussed and benefits illustrated by case examples. The exercises are well detailed in words and pictures. Nutrition is covered in a reader friendly style that lists detailed menus of wholesome foods. Easy Does It Yoga should be required reading for any business involved in the health care needs of today's older population.

I am a yoga instructor but am used of teaching moderate/vigourous vinyasa flow. I wanted some further input into designing yoga classes - very gentle yoga classes as I have a mother with a stiff neck and a mother in law with a compression fracture of her spine...both of which require PT. In any case, I found this book very helpful, it provides chair modifications for many postures and brings awareness to simple asanas/stretches that can be extremely beneficial. It is not a flashy book and the pictures are dated - think old people in 70s sweat suits - but if you can get over that the information is, for the most part, very helpful.

This book gave me the next steps to what I needed to make winning commitments. I knew all the analytical information to promote myself and business but I was lacking a way to engage the heart and spirits of my prospect. This book has helped me move in that direction.

We enjoy well organized books that get to the point: this is one of them. In a nutshell, the work, based on interviews with leaders, offers practical wisdom and highlights 10 essential competencies of effective leaders: 1) seeing what is, in a new way; 2) vision; 3) storytelling (conveying a compelling message); 4) fostering hope (creating a sense of the possible through optimism); 5) rendering significance (connecting vision with each person's life goals); 6) mobilizing (encouraging right actions, setting high expectations, letting go, encouraging the best in others); 7) self awareness; 8) emotional engagement (empathic connection); 9) enacting beliefs; and 10) centering (developing centering consciousness and improvising). These highlights don't do justice to the book. In its content-rich pages, it delivers an abundance of insights about the meaning of leadership, as well as revealing an inspiring spirit.

To be an effective leader, one must inspire a broad and deep genuine commitment to a team's mission, vision, desired results, and members. A number of books have been written on ways to get people to sign on, to agree, to perform. Applying the principles they promote will generate performance, adherence, and a certain degree of loyalty. Full commitment is a different issue.

Richards presents an approach that is balanced between intellectual commitment, emotional commitment, and spiritual commitment. Emphasizing the art of leadership, he shows how leaders can craft deeper relationships that generate genuine commitment to produce meaningful achievement and fulfilling satisfaction.

In the area of intellectual commitment, four chapters present the elements of insight, vision, storytelling, and mobilizing. Under emotional commitment, the chapters address self-awareness, emotional engagement, and fostering hope. Rendering significance, enacting beliefs, and centering build the understanding of spiritual commitment. The wrap-up chapter is titled Towering Conclusions and Further Strategies. A brief list of resources (interviewees and websites) and an index complement the text. Each chapter concludes with a handful of questions to stimulate contemplation.

The entire text stimulates contemplation. Using a wide range of people and their experiences and philosophies, Richards engages the reader in an introspective and educational journey. In chapter after chapter, I found myself inspired and enlightened, motivated to apply what I was learning in my work.

You will find this book to be a sort of combination of a walk in the woods, a comfortable soak in a hot tub, and time in a classroom with an energetic professor scribbling concepts rapidly across a white board while his writing hand struggles to keep up with his mind. Plan on reading this book twice; you won't get it all the first time. Margaret Thatcher's quote will help you understand that opportunity.

I had always viewed myself as a pretty successful leader, but the insights I gained from reading this book have caused me to step back and review aspects of my leadership style that have evolved over a 25 year period. This excellent book calls on leaders to honestly assess the way they lead and communicate with their people in areas that for some are in uncharted waters - i.e., the emotional and spiritual dimensions. The book is not only insightful but is written so clearly and simply that its messages are very easy to grasp. I recommend this book for any leader who wants to raise her or his performance to the next level.

So much business literature is mind-numbingly and illogically recursive, suggesting that breakthroughs for your business will stem from imitating the techniques of other business people.

In a departure from this tired and arguably broken premise, consultant and coach Dick Richards provides lessons from leaders operating outside of corporations: in not-for-profits, the arts, sports, religion, education, government...

In drawing insights from his interviews with these leaders, Richards argues that leaders succeed by securing follower commitment. He posits that this happens when leaders work on, if not master, ten competencies in four interrelated domains: political, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual (defined as, "the sense of a calling from some source larger than one's self").

When a leader's capabilities coalesce in these four main areas of competence, she becomes, in essence, a fuller, richer human being. As a result, others positively respond to the improved leader by choosing to invest more of themselves in pursuing the leader's mission.

~~~ Familiar but..., Soft but... ~~~
In this framework, Richards proffers a cogent, integrated way of *thinking* about your own leadership. Drawing on historical and personal anecdotes, quoting philosophers, researchers and leaders, Richards both echoes and transcends conventional business literature (including the recent spate championing "emotional intelligence").

It would be fair to argue that there is little new here. But that would be off the mark. As Dick Richards himself candidly points out, there is more than plenty of literature and seminars traversing the broad, overly worn leadership field. Fortunately, the intriguing whole that Richards has woven is more than the amalgam of its recognizable threads.

Likewise, it would be patently unfair (to both reader and author) to dismiss this thoughtful, occasionally lyrical work as too soft, too philosophical, or too New Age-y. By moving past the sterile Insert Tab-A into Slot-B mentality that underpins so much prescriptive management literature, Richards elevates his readers, helping them to transcend the heartless transactional world so many work in. (Still, while there's more than a modicum of practicum in the book, readers probably will want more guidance on how to translate the principles into action. Perhaps Richards is at work on a "field guide.")

Dick Richards proudly writes, as his title suggests, of the *Art* of leading. One senses that Richards thinks as an artist, a world-savvy poet reflecting on leadership. One could mistake the book for a wizened corporate shaman's love letter to meaning-starved managers.

~~~ Bottom Line ~~~
Dick Richards' THE ART OF WINNING COMMITMENT is more gestalt than how-to, more fresh synthesis of the known than breakthrough. It should ignite your little gray cells, kindle your interest in self-development, inflame your own commitment to fostering commitment in your colleagues. And help you become a better person in the process.

Don Blohowiak, Lead Well® Institute; editor, The Leader's Letter

I lost my husband suddenly and tragically, - a widow at age 26 -- having lost my high-shool sweetheart, my first and only love, my best friend, my center of gravity - my world......
My mother gave me this book in the hopes it might bring me out of my severe depression.......
While I found myself greatly upset by the fact it focuses on losing a child, - and not your life companion, I felt bitter as I read it.... but because it was so well written and such and lovely book, - and because regardless of our losses being so very different, - I could still very much relate to much of her emotions, her questions, her fears..... - and my sincere heartache for this woman having lost her young child, then seeing how she managed to find hope, healing, gratitude, and so much more --- even way she was able to view this loss as a blessing -- in that her precious child blessed her by teaching her what was important, and encouraged her to make much needed changes in her life, change her focus, recognize the signifigance in all things and take nothing for granted --- it was so very touching, so inspiring, - so beautifully written. Even though it did not relate to my own grief or personal tribulations, being so very different to lose a husband than to lose a child, -- still, -- I must give this book five stars -- And I hope that anyone who is grieving the loss of their child will consider this empowering, comforting, and inspiring book above all others. I promise you, no matter how deeply you ache or how great the abyss in your heart -- this book will indeed sow the seed to begin mending your broken spirit and to heal your heart.

Lost in my own tragedy, the passages and lessons in the book gave me hope for the future. It reconnected me with the world and put life and death in perspective.

The book consolidates the many readings available on the afterlife into to one concise easy read. Dr. Geller leaves you aligned with a higher spiritual power and life purpose.

This book is a rare gem. A book about dealing with the tragedy of death that offers comfort and hope and maybe some kind of answer for the bereaved. So many of these books have the author wallowoing in sorrow for the 150 pages and do nothing to ease the pain. But this book is different-it brings comfort to the bereaved. What an achievement! Thank you for this book. It it meant to be read over and over again and to passed on and recommended to other people in pain.

This an excellent book combining the many facets of our spirituality, validating many of my own conclusions. I especially enjoyed the chapters on pre-birth experiences and near death experiences. Each chapter flowed into the next relevant topic. I also liked the way Dr. Geller looks at different belief systems as "costumes". I have believed this for many years.
I recommend this book to anyone with questions about one's past, future, or anyone who has witnessed death or lost a loved one. I could not put this book down and am looking forward to reading some of the referenced books.

After loosing my sister three short years ago, I have read many books and been confused, upset or lost with a great deal of them. Dr. Geller gives you an outline, if you will, of her own loss and then describes the feelings and emotions of dealing with such devistation. Through this journey together the reader begins to empathize with her and learns from her emotions and spiritual guidance. Not guidance as these are the steps to mourning but more the spiritual enlightenment you can open yourself up to be guided by.
I found her spiritual growth to be a relief and a light at the end of the tunnel. Well written and easy to follow.

This book gives you a great understanding of Billy and Ruth Graham's sincere contribution to Christianity and their faith in God.

I loved this book. It was an inspiring and delightful time spent viewing the photos and reading about this man's life. I ended the book with the feeling it was more than just a book about Billy Graham - it was a book of history. Mr. Graham has touched the lives of countless people, but has also had the opportunity to meet with more heads of state and influential people than most public officials. The pictures and commentary were indeed a trip through history. Billy Graham is a true public servant as well as a preacher. What a great gift has been given to this man of God!

For many years through all his dedication in giving his life for Jesus Christ and helping others, Billy Graham is truly God's Ambassador. Tehabi Books in conjunction with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has organized and produced the story of the man with a lifelong mission of giving hope to the world. The book is lavishly covered with black-and-white and full color photos from the archives of eyewitness photographer Russ Busby. Busby had spent most of his life documenting Billy Graham's ministry around the world. In just half a century, Billy Graham has traveled the world to preach the Gospel to millions of people across the globe-more than anyone in history.

The book captures public and private moments from his humble beginning as a dairy farmer's son in Charlotte, North Carolina to one of the most influential evangelist of the 20th century. 'Billy Graham: God's Ambassador' includes comments, quotes and personal reflections mostly from the words of Billy Graham himself and those who have been closest to him. This insightful book looks at Graham as the advocate and preacher of human rights and world peace, Counselor with Presidents, world leaders and celebrities, inspired a positive influence in times of conflict and discord and at home with his family he was husband and father. This is an intimate and unique portrait of a man who dedicated his life to the Gospel and the world's most prominent figure of this century. Quoting from Daniel Webster-"If we work on marble, it will perish; if on brass, time will efface it; if we rear up temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and the love of our fellow men, we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten to all eternity."

As a biography, "Billy Graham: God's Ambassador" is not as good as Graham's own autobiography, "Just As I Am". However as a coffee table book it is excellent. The photography is superb. The text is eye catching. The layout exceptional. This is a much better book for public display than most of the books I come across.

This book covered everything I could hope for on this man who has been voted one of the most admired and influentuel men of the last century.I loved the photos as well as the commentary by himself and from so many other sources. It was inspiring and informative. My husband and I were competing for our chance to enjoy the book. Should have bought two copies!

Book is a necessary reference for therapists dealing with Bipolar I and II patients. The material is well presented and provides the therapist with source data usable in sessions with Dx patients.

This is an excellent book about cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder. It's a little newer than Basco's book on the same subject- both books are excellent and the reader could consult either or both to learn more about the subject. This book may have been written for psychiatrists and therapists, but I think it's well within reach for the layman, and so can be read by bipolar persons and their families as well. The writing is excellent and book is well organized too. Highly recommended. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

A complement to recent "encyclopedias" on the subject, this is an outstanding guide for the layman. More writing of this kind will be necessary to help understand this plague of our times. But this is basic, core material. This layman highly recommends it.

The authors, most of who are eminently respected in the field of cognitive therapy, have offered a compassionate and highly useful guide to working with individuals who suffer from manic depression. Their emphasis on respecting the dignity of each person and addressing the significant hopelessness and stigma that often accompany this condition is much needed. Rather than focusing exclusively on the psychopharmacological regimens that are part of the treatment of this disorder, the authors help to explicate the compounding variables such as drug and alcohol abuse, psychosocial and identity issues that complicate treatment. They address important issues such as self-disclosure and bipolar disorder in the practicing clinician, which are usually not mentioned in books about this condition. Their descriptions of the phenomenology of bipolar disorder are helpful and enlightening. All in all, I found this a useful, compassionate and long overdue guide for therapists who work with individuals struggling with this condition.

A compilation of the work of some of the most experienced people in the field, this book is intended to provide clinicians with a rich toolbox of therapeutic interventions including excellent checklists, case studies and counsel. For this subject matter, this book is as good as it gets.

This is a must have for the US Military Arms collector. It goes into great detail about the development of what became the .30 caliber, US Rifle, M1, otherwise known as the M1 Garand. It is a fascinating behind the scenes journey telling what is involved in developing a new class of rifle. It emphasizes that there is a lot more to developing a rifle than merely putting the appropriate sized barrel onto a new receiver.

The book describes the use and abuse testing that goes into qualifying the rifle for use by the troops. It also mentions the many occasions when particular versions of a promising rifle were issued to the troops for actual field testing. The M1 Garand also underwent a grueling series of tests with three other rifles, the Johnson and Winchester semi-automatic rifles and the venerable Model of 1903 Springfield. All chambered the same 30'06 cartridge.

Chambering and surviving the pressures produced by the 30'06 cartridge was the major challenge to be overcome in developing a semi-automatic battle rifle within the size and weight constraints for the average infantryman. There had been semi-automatic rifles before the M1 Garand but they were primarily using lower pressure ammunition. Many semi-automatic rifle inventors submitted designs but they were either too heavy, fell apart during firing, or both. Many inventors submitted rifles with parts looking more at home in a typewriter than in battle-field ready rifle.

John C. Garand came from the machine tool design industry. He thought that he could do a better job than many of the current weapons designers. He designed his rifles with a primary focus on how the parts would be easily manufactured with the machine tools then available.

The book describes the path that he followed that led to his employment at the Federal Government's Springfield Armory [it was disbanded in about 1968 after a long history of service] designing what became the M1.

The M-1 Garand was adopted by the US Army in 1936. Springfield Armory began tooling up to produce the new rifle. Winchester Repeating Arms was also given an initial "educational order" for 65,000 M-1's so they could begin tooling up to produce the rifle. When World War II began for the United States on December 7th, 1941, there weren't enough Garands to equip even a fraction of the troops.

Consequently the Marines went ashore on Guadalcanal with M1903 Springfield rifles in August of 1942. When US Army infantrymen began arriving around November 1942 Marines began acquiring their M-1 Garands by trading booty, stealing or following Infantrymen of patrol so they could pickup their Garands if they were wounded or killed.

Hatcher describes this and far more in great detail. Far more than I can describe in a small review. It is a fascinating read.

At a macro level it shows how just a relatively small cadre of people can develop a completely new and innovative rifle. Contrast that with today's Pentagon where it takes many Generals to oversee and screwup the development of a new weapon [I spent more than 30 years in the Military-Government-Industrial complex and have first hand experience]. Contrast how the Pentagon develops new weapons with the development of Special Operations Command's 6.8mm SPC conversion for the M-16/AR-15/M-4 semi- and automatic rifles/carbines. Search the internet for "6.8 SPC" and read how top Generals are trying to kill it even though it is getting rave reviews from soldiers in the field.

If there is anything in the world you want to know about the M1 Garand, this is the book. If you have a Garand, this book is a must.

Any modern day gun-bug reading Julian S. Hatcher's resume can hardly help but drool. This dude lived during what had to have been the golden age of military small arms development, and seemed to always land a job involving some fascinating aspect of the rapidly advancing technology. No wonder he stayed in the military so long. I can't think of any modern writer that even comes close to the experience and technical background he had.

This book gives very complete information about the development, functioning, and use of the Garand rifle up to the end of World War 2. Of course there were more changes made to the gun around the Korean War and even up through the 1960's that Hatcher could not foresee, but those would mainly be of interest to the more meticulous collector types anyway. Hatcher gives an insider's account of the long struggle to find a good semi-automatic rifle, and touches on many other interesting designs that were cast aside along the way.

As a former reviewer said, "If you have a Garand, this book is a must."

Major General Julian S. Hatcher is not just another author writing about just another rifle. He is talking about the rifle designed by John C. Garand (pronounced with a hard 'g', as in 'go,' with the accent on the first syllable, to rhyme with parent.) The rifle's name, however, is usually pronounced 'guh-RAND' by the men who used it.

And General Hatcher was in on the development of the famous old (WWII and Korea) rifle from the beginning.

This is the rifle to which General George S. Patton referred, when he said, "The greatest battle implement ever devised by man!"

During the Second World War, the United States Army and the U.S. Marines (except in the very beginning, in the Philippines) were equipped with this rifle, and thus were the only combatants on either side equipped with a semi-automatic main battle rifle. With it, they could fire eight rounds of .30-'06 ammunition as fast as they could pull the trigger. When the ammunition in the clip was exhausted, the clip popped clear with a 'tinny' sound, and they simply shoved another in, and kept firing.

For a time, their enemies though they were all equipped with machine guns. And, the rifle was accurate and rugged. It would take punishment, and keep right on shooting.

Everything you could conceivably need to know about the "U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1" is in this book: the history of its development and trials, general description, the sights, the operation, care and cleaning, disassembly and assembly, malfunctions and stoppages, ammunition, its use in World War Two, its use as a match rifle, and detailed photographs and drawings of its component parts.

I own one. I earned the right to buy a Garand from the givernment by competing in a sanctioned rifle match, going through an FBI investigation and clearance, and filling out a bunch of government paperwork. Then I purchased it from the Department of Civilian Marksmanship, and the postman delivered it to my door.

Before I got it, I bought this book.

You can get one too, the same way I did, from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (a government program, run by civilians, out of Port Clinton, Ohio.) See your local gun club for details.

Joseph Pierre,
Author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

The development process of the M1 Garand rifle is detailed in this book. The problems of developing a reliable semi-auto full power military rifle are detailed. The attempts, the failures, the successes, the problems, the solutions, all are there. The book gives insights into inventor John Garand's genius and the manufacturing/military process. The result is what Patton called "The greatest battle implement ever developed." A must for collectors and afficiando's. See also Scott Duff's books on collecting this rifle.

This is a book which I :
(i) looked forward to reading (after reading the favorable reviews),
(ii) wasn't sure about the quality of the book half-way through reading it, but
(iii) was convinced that it is an important book upon finishing the final chapter.
Broadly, it is a book about Thai Buddhism in a historical and cultural context. It attempts to relate what Thai Buddhism was like before state-led reformations (which began during the rule of King Mongkut, 1851-68) changed the institution. The story told is very subtle - it discusses, amongst others, the role that monks played in the local Thai society during this period. The method that the author employs is very peculiar - the book reads like a personal narrative that is sourced from personal interviews (with senior surviving monks), written recollections by monks as well as 'farang' diarists. This approach, which I thought was almost akin to an oral history is, I think, inevitable given the form and availability of the information on the subject. This approach also makes the book very readeable and appealing as it manages to impart to the reader the feeling of how the past feels like. Stories surrounding the sometimes supernatural feats of monks wandering in forests adds a 'folklore' dimension to Buddhism as practised by Thais that I think is not often conveyed. The stories about individual monks were the ones I enjoyed reading the most. I cared less about 'farang' writings even though their observations sometimes proved informative. Not all the book is centered around Thai Buddhism. For example, the author discusses views on the status of women in Thai society towards the end of the book (chapter 43). The book is partly a social commentary about how Thai Buddhism and society have changed. I sense a tinge of sadness about these changes but the author does not quite say it outright whether the past reforms were mistakes. This is quite understandable, given the sensitivity of the issue due to the exalted status and high esteem in which past and present Thai kings are held. One of my favourite chapter is the last one - the tale of a Dutchman who stole a jade Buddha statue from a forest, only to return it later and to ultimately find the true meaning of life (as a Buddhist monk). The last few words of this chapter (uttered by the Dutchman) was, for me, very memorable: "All our European haste and disquiet has fallen away from me. I have come to realize that quite equanimity is the highest good that we can achieve in this life". Tiyavanich certainly knows how to choose her words very well. This is a book which I read and savoured slowly - one to two chapters daily, every night, before I slid into pleasant dreams. Tonight, upon finishing the book, I lament the fact that I will need to find another good read tomorrow night.

This is a book which I :
(i) looked forward to reading (after reading the favorable reviews),
(ii) wasn't sure about the quality of the book half-way through reading it, but
(iii) was convinced that it is an important book upon finishing the final chapter.
Broadly, it is a book about Thai Buddhism in a historical and cultural context. It attempts to relate what Thai Buddhism was like before state-led reformations (which began during the rule of King Mongkut, 1851-68) changed the institution. The story told is very subtle - it discusses, amongst others, the role that monks played in the local Thai society during this period. The method that the author employs is very peculiar - the book reads like a personal narrative that is sourced from personal interviews (with senior surviving monks), written recollections by monks as well as 'farang' diarists. This approach, which I thought was almost akin to an oral history is, I think, inevitable given the form and availability of the information on the subject. This approach also makes the book very readeable and appealing as it manages to impart to the reader the feeling of how the past feels like. Stories surrounding the sometimes supernatural feats of monks wandering in forests adds a 'folklore' dimension to Buddhism as practised by Thais that I think is not often conveyed. The stories about individual monks were the ones I enjoyed reading the most. I cared less about 'farang' writings even though their observations sometimes proved informative. Not all the book is centered around Thai Buddhism. For example, the author discusses views on the status of women in Thai society towards the end of the book (chapter 43). The book is partly a social commentary about how Thai Buddhism and society have changed. I sense a tinge of sadness about these changes but the author does not quite say it outright whether the past reforms were mistakes. This is quite understandable, given the sensitivity of the issue due to the exalted status and high esteem in which past and present Thai kings are held. One of my favourite chapter is the last one - the tale of a Dutchman who stole a jade Buddha statue from a forest, only to return it later and to ultimately find the true meaning of life (as a Buddhist monk). The last few words of this chapter (uttered by the Dutchman) was, for me, very memorable: "All our European haste and disquiet has fallen away from me. I have come to realize that quite equanimity is the highest good that we can achieve in this life". Tiyavanich certainly knows how to choose her words very well. This is a book which I read and savoured slowly - one to two chapters daily, every night, before I slid into pleasant dreams. Tonight, upon finishing the book, I lament the fact that I will need to find another good read tomorrow night.

This is a fascinating book for those interested in Buddhism or Thailand or just a good read. It is a wonderful collection of accounts of Thai monks in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their encounters with ghosts, elephants and snakes, and all manner of people provide a slice of rural life in times past. The views of Westerners in Siam at the time provide additional perspectives. Old photographs, engravings, and maps complement the stories. Highly recommended.

...."I recommend this book to anyone who harbors one of more of the following persona: The historian who enjoys pouring over colonial memoirs which detail exotic places and scenes of west-meets-east-for-the-first time;the ethnographer tracking wisdom traditions as expressed in lifestyles of rural villagers; the armchair thrill-seeker who longs for hair-raising jungle adventures; and the spiritual aspirant hoping to meet realized practitioners who are the living embodiment of the Buddha's teachings."

Dr. Kamala Tiyavanich's latest book,"The Buddha in the Jungle," is a wonderful collection of fascinating tales, rich in the exotic beauty and mystery of 19th century Buddhist Thailand. From the horrors of the charnel grounds to the quiet serenity of tropical forest shrines, Dr. Tiyavanich's stories of Buddhist practioners and saints will captivate, inspire and teach the reader. A native of Thailand and a Buddhist practitioner in the Thai Theravada trdition, Dr. Tiyavanich writes in her characteristic style of detail and clarity, making this scholarly work fresh, exciting and easily accessible to every reader. I found this book to be a joy to read and I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Bhuddism.

Great book! The exercises really force you to think and clarify the who, what, why and how of yourself and the group you are creating or trying to improve. I highly recomend this one.

With great insight and honesty Michael Jacoby Brown has drawn on his extensive experience to produce a practical and inspiring resource. This book is a must for anyone wishing to organize a group to work for social change or anyone who is part of a community organization which needs to rejuvenate or rediscover its purpose. It is beautiful in its simplicity, addressing its issues in a way everyone can understand, and broad in its scope, addressing every aspect involved in successful community organizing. "Building Powerful Community Organizations" demands engagement by the reader. It contains exercises and the reader gains best value from the book by engaging in the exercises at the point they are presented.

This book should be required reading for hospitals, foundations, public health agencies and people working on any form of community improvement. Michael has documented his learnings with stories and tools that can equip those willing to learn to build powerful community organization, as the title says. There are lots of various community organizing guides but this one mixes stories and tools in an easy to read, nicely laid out style. His wisdom comes from years of community organizing and translates here into practical, easy to access advice. This is the best handbook I have seen in a long time! The author makes himself available with info on how to reach him as well as a website with blog that makes him more than a distant author; he is approachable and willing to extend his teachings beyond the pages of his book. Not may authors do this.

Written by Michael Jacoby Brown, who has more than thirty years' experience in building community organizations, Building Powerful Community Organizations: A Personal Guide to Creating Groups that Can Solve Problems and Change the World is a handy step-by-step guide to creating, strengthening, and revitalizing grass-roots organizations for bringing about social change to solve problems in the community or workplace. From how to effectively recruit (learning to "listen not sell", when short or long visits are appropriate, and how to turn success into momentum) to how to mobilize resources and raise money to the steps for setting change into motion and more, Building Powerful Community Organizations walks the reader through the necessary skills and processes while warning against common obstacles and pitfalls. Enthusiastically recommended for anyone looking to harness communal effort and make a lasting difference.

Author Michael Jacoby Brown has created a book with very detailed information on how to organize, create, and lead a community organization. In it he clearly explains all the steps necessary to create an effective organization that can resolve problems. The various areas discussed include the theory of how a group should work, the chemistry involved, the seven basic steps for building an organization, developing a mission statement, goals, and objectives, designing the organization to last, recruiting others, mobilizing, raising money and taking action. Throughout the book are case studies and exercises to help you not only understand how it all works but also to help you work through developing your organization correctly. If you want to change the world and know you need help to do it then you will appreciate this book. Building Powerful Community Organizations is easily the best book on the market today on this subject.