Ohio Books

This is a brilliant piece of work by one of the most advanced thinkers of our time. If you are interested and knowledgeable in the field of consciousness studies and you have not read this book, you absolutely must read it. If you are not knowledgeable in this area but are still interested, I strongly suggest you read, "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato. It explains some of these ideas in language everyone can understand. It is also a brilliant book! Happy reading!

Jean Gebser does not get the same kind of exposure as Heidegger or Jung, but his thinking belongs to, and organically evolves out of, the tradition of German thinking that began with Goethe and Kant and continues right down through Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Rudolf Steiner, Oswald Spengler and others. And what this tradition of thought has common to it is the notion that there is no such thing as an object that is not conditioned by the phenomenological faculties of the subject. Kant, Schopenhauer, Husserl and Heidegger resolve this problem in various ways, but with each of them, it is the subject, not the object, that is of overriding philosophical importance in our experience of the world around us.

What Gebser tried to do in this book was to give a kind of phenomenological grounding to the human being's experience of the world not in terms of Kantian categories, but in terms of various evolutionarily derived structures of conscious which the human bears within itself. That is to say, earlier consciousness structures, such as those of tribal man or literate man of the high Bronze Age civilizations, do not just disappear, but sleep latently within the psyche as valid experiential modes unto themselves. Certain life experiences will activate and call forth these modalities, and once the consciousness structure has been activated, it actually changes the very physics of the experiences which the subject has. In the Magical consciousness structure, for example, space and time are a point-like unity in which there are no dimensions, since the world is intricately interconnected through magical pathways like the songlines of aboriginal Australia. Magic actually, really does work when this consciousness is activated (hence the reality of synchronicities and the like). The rational consciousness structure has its own laws, too, and the structure of its interior is that of a three dimensional world in which time and space are radically distinct from one another, and in which the subject and the object are locked into a fierce opposition. Magic is invalidated within this highly differentiated structure, which is evolutionarily late, since this consciousness is something that always evolves in late phases of culture or in the history of civilization generally speaking, just as the intellect does not function fully in accordance with its own powers until one reaches maturity.

Gebser's philosophy is a wonderful antidote to Jungian typology and formulae, since he creates a kind of philosophical architecture out of the collective unconscious, while leaving the theory of archetypes behind. Gebser, however, is no Jungian, and despite his having taught at the Jung Institute in Switzerland, never was one.

Gebser's philosophy also evolved as a kind of antidote to the pessimism of Spengler's vision in The Decline of the West. What Spengler missed was the advent of the aperspectival epoch that began to emerge during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Whereas Spengler experienced the decline of European culture forms--such as the abolishment of perspective in painting, or the leaving behind of Newtonian physics in Einstein--Gebser realized that what was really going on was the transcendence of the Rational consciousness structure and the emergence of a supra- (not ir- or non-) rational consciousness in which the laws of the Mental structure were in process of being relativized to a specific experiential domain, just as Einstein's physics relativized the applicability of Newtonian laws to a specific domain of validity. Thus, the Decline of the West is really about the Decline of the perspectival (i.e. late rational) consciousness structure, and this is where Gebser's philosophy begins. (Perhaps not coincidentally, it is also where Marshall McLuhan saw a shift into the electric modality of culture; indeed, McLuhan and Gebser have a great deal in common when one looks closely at their ideas.)

In short, if you are interested in the development of Western, and particularly Germanic philosophy, then you cannot afford to ignore Gebser. Academics may do so for some time to come, since the spiritual implications of his Integral structure makes them uneasy. And what also repels academics about Gebser is the fact that he has been taken up by New Agers like Ken Wilber (who, as is so often the case with Wilber, thoroughly misunderstands him) and Richard Tarnas, with whom academics want absolutely nothing to do. And who can blame them? The New Age kitsch of such "thinkers" is a mediocratization of philosophy and all it does is sully the image of such true geniuses as Rudolf Steiner and Jean Gebser in the public's perception.

Try Gebser. You'll like him. But you shouldn't try reading around him with "substitute" works by Georg Feurstein or Ken Wilber. These thinkers are not good representatives of Gebser's thought, since they bring their own private agendas to bear upon him, and end up distorting his ideas. To really experience the dazzling brilliance of this man's mind, you must read his dense prose for yourself. Preferably with a strong cup of coffee in hand.
--John David Ebert,
author of Celluloid Heroes & Mechanical Dragons: Film as the Mythology of Electronic Society

Hans Gruenig has given an excellent overview of Gebser's monumental work. My review offers a sort of color commentary to augment Gruenig's words. The Ever-Present Origin, which has a generic-looking cover, is an extraordinarily rich survey of art, science, culture, and symbolism from an author who achieved more than scholarly excellence. In a letter written to Georg Feuerstein, Gebser acknowledged achieving satori (see the Feuerstein book cited by Gruenig). A transcendent consciousness shines through this book. One of its highlights is Gebser's scholarly survey of the evolution of soul. Gebser's vision was formed in part through his friendship and acquaintence with many of the leading people of his time, including Einstein, Picasso, and Jung. Although he taught for awhile at the C. G. Jung Institute in Zurich, he asserts an independent vision. An essential Gebserian contribution is his subsuming of the scientific worldview. That worldview crystallized with the linear perspective geometry of the Italian Renaissance, a drawing technique that artificially separated subject and object. Gebser convincingly demonstrates the emergence of an integral consciousness where the time and space of "objectivity" no longer offer an adequate description of our world or personal experience. This book is a masterpiece, written in simple, somewhat repetitive language. It is quite readable, though a bit awkward in translation.

This book is not a light read. However it is a fascinating read penned by one of Europe's hidden philosophical treasures: Jean Gebser. The Ever-Present Origin is a translation of _Ursprung und Gegenwart_, a book which was published in German in two parts around 1949 and 1953. The central contribution of this book is Gebser's analysis of the history of culture -- mainly but not exclusively Western culture -- in terms of the predominance of different modes of consciousness. Gebser details five structures of consciousness: the archaic, the magical, the mythical, the mental, and the integral (or aperspectival). His theory seems to be that these structures unfold in a sequential but non-linear fashion (i.e. in quantum increases in the self-transparency of consciousness), and have different kinds of characteristic ways of experiencing self, other, and world. With each leap, the previous structures of consciousness are superceded and yet retained in a subordinate fashion. Meanwhile, the other structures lie largely latent and untapped. VERY briefly, the archaic is instinctual and primitive. The magical is tribal and involves participation mystique. The mythical is imaginative and often involves seeing through complementary polarities (darkness and light, good and evil). The mental is analytical, dualistic, and skeptical of the other structures of consciousness. And the integral structure allows for a re-membering of all of the structures of consciousness without the problematic reification of their respective "worlds". The integral or aperspectival structure additionally involves going beyond the previous four structures in something akin to Buddhist or Christian (a la Meister Eckhart) enlightenment as understood in terms of the perennial philosophy. If you're looking for an easier read, Georg Feuerstein's introduction to Gebser (titled _Structures of Consciousness: The Genius of Jean Gebser_) is a good place to start. If you're looking for a place to continue similar explorations, much of Ken Wilbur's work is largely based on synthesizing Gebser's theory of structures of consciousness with other developmental models. [I give Wilbur and A for effort, but I am very skeptical about a number of his syntheses.]

I sent Financial Basics with my nephew to college. It's a very practical money-management guide for students that generously uses student stories to illustrate the author's points. Most impressive to me is the section that reminds students that their credit rating, good or bad, will follow them after college graduation. She provides contact information for credit rating companies so students can view their own credit history.

I'm a graduate student, and I got "Financial Basics" as a resource for a project I did last quarter. My project centered around measuring college students' financial awareness and proactiveness.

Book was an easy, non-threatening read. I started and finished "Financial Basics" during a 2.5 hour plane ride.

Great thing about the book is that you don't necessarily have to be a student (or former student) to benefit from the advice Knox presents. Everyone interviewed for the book had differing financial situations and education--from the financially clueless to the overly stingy and everywhere in between. Instead of trying to fit everyone into one black-and-white financial solution, she gave easy-to-follow, general tips on money management, credit card responsibility, and savings.

I am a professional financial advisor and have had the opportunity to work with many clients in their 40's and beyond who haven't mastered the basics presented here by Knox. How I wish they had this book 20 years earlier to get them started on the right path - the time lost really hurts. The money management lessons are timeless, straightforward and essential for everyone, especially young adults striking out on their own. The writing is special - stories that help students relate (and make them want to keep reading). The lessons are doled out gently and casually, not more preaching. All-in-all, an excellent resource. I plan to give it to my clients' kids as they hit high school.

Also available in a hardcover edition (0814290785, $39.95), Financial Basics: A Money-Management Guide For Students by certified public account, financial planner, and former university administrator and teacher Susan Knox shares hard-learned lessons about managing money when in college. Practical solutions to common money problems faced by students and family, as well as flexible money-management tips, tricks, and techniques for readers accustomed to handling their money in any of a variety of styles fill this solid, information-packed resource. An absolute must-have for any young adult entering the complex world of financial matters, especially when attending school far away from home.

At long last, Elmer Sulzer's definitive work on abandoned railroads of Indiana has been reprinted. While not updated, and much of the original errors and ommisions still remain, this book still remains as THE reference for anyone interested in railroads that disappeared in the Hoosier State from the beginning to 1970. Full of photos many never before seen and maps to show you the way, I suggest you buy this book while it is still available...the originals fetch $200-$300...if you can find one. If this is your interest area, don't miss out!

This is a high-quality reprint of a scarce title which has been out-of-print for years. Sulzer's writing style can be a little disjointed at times, but there's a wealth of good information in this book. It sits on my shelf right beside Simons and Parker's book, Railroads of Indiana; they complement each other very well.

Material about the late 1800's and turn of the century railroading as well as early 1900's is difficult if not impossible to come by. Sulzer provides rare and extremely useful photos and commentary about Indiana RRs. A must for modelers of the turn-of-the-century.

At long last, Elmer Sulzer's definitive work on abandoned railroads of Indiana has been reprinted. While not updated, and much of the original errors and ommisions still remain, this book still remains as THE reference for anyone interested in railroads that disappeared in the Hoosier State from the beginning to 1970. Full of photos many never before seen and maps to show you the way, I suggest you buy this book while it is still available...the originals fetch $200-$300...if you can find one. If this is your interest area, don't miss out!

"Good Roots" is a lovely read, and you don't even have to be from Ohio to appreciate it! Ohio's far-flung natives recall their childhoods in bucolic times. This book will bring back memories for anyone from anyplace that they look back on with love.

I happened to see this book while checking in a pile of books the other day at the library and since I love anything that has to do with Ohio history, I thought this one would be a good read. I wasn't wrong. It is one of the most delightful gems I have read this year. Too bad there aren't any writers from the Lima/Defiance area as that is where I grew up.

The one big question I have for writers that grew up in Ohio ~~ why aren't you back home in your home state?

The essays themselves are wonderful ~~ and so true of Ohioans. In spite of what people might say about Ohio, Ohio really is a beautiful state. It doesn't have an ocean (I know that Lake Erie doesn't really count) or mountains ~~ but it is full of peaceful rolling hills, farm lands, forests (especially in southeastern Ohio) and it is where my family have lived for over 200 years.

I don't know if I have a favorite essay or not but the ones that I do like a lot are PJ O'Rourke's ~~ he cracked me up especially with his use of sarcasm. I also enjoyed Dan Cryer's essay about growing up in Findlay. Mark Winegardner's essay about growing up in Bryan is also a good one. I am familiar with both of those towns and can definitely relate to the mindset of the people there.

This isn't just all essays ~~ there are poems in there too. This is such a delightful book that every serious reader should have a copy of in his/her library. It represents the best of what Ohio has to offer ~~ and I can honestly say, I am proud to be a Buckeye girl.

11-9-07

This book will make you proud to be from Ohio, if you are an Ohioan. For non-Ohioans, this book is still a great read--you probably have more in common with fly-over country than you think you do. The selections and genres are widely varied, so if you don't like one, read a different one. There's something in this book for everyone. My personal favorites are P.J. O'Rourke's piece, and Mike Winegardner's afterword.

Good Roots is good stuff; it is a collection of over 20 essays and poems about growing up in Ohio by writers who grew up in places like Toledo, Findlay, Shaker Heights and Athens, to name just a few. On page 148, one of the writers Anthony Doerr writes, "You bury your childhood everywhere you go. It just waits for you, all your life to come dig it back up." Good Roots is about growing up in Ohio, but you don't have to be from there to enjoy this charming collection. You just have to be from somewhere because that is where it will take you. Although places that I grew up in the northeast might be different from Maple Heights or Portage County, Ohio, universal truths abound. P.J. O'Rourke writes about one on page 44 when he cites an example of what he refers to as Toledo teen critique: "There's nothing to do around here. Nothing ever happens." But not all truths in Good Roots are universal. For instance, in Andrea Louie's piece on page 151 she begins, "I used to castrate sheep." I must admit that as a teen I was often bored but castrating sheep was never an option.

In her introduction the editor of Good Roots Lisa Watts speaks of "a pervasive lack of pretension" that can be found in many of these Ohio towns, a feature that "strengthens creative souls." I suspect that there is a little of that small-town-America-feel in all of us wherever we are from. I highly recommend that you read Good Roots. Don't be surprised to find your way back to long-forgotten childhood memories or to discover your "inner Ohio."

THIS IS A DEF. READ!!! I read this and couldnt put it down! Parents get up and go get this book because you'll love it and your kids will too. I want my kids to read something thats not about sex and bad things so i got this and i loved it and so did my kids so i would say that you should go get it!!

What are you gonna do if your mother wants to wreck your life? She's "searching for herself" in the faraway commune, so Frances gets to spend the summer with her weird nerdy aunt Blue. But somewhere along the way, her good intentions toward Everett, her little brother who had to go with mom, turn to crisis when the money she sent him becomes his getaway stash. Terrific writing that will inspire you to write, great characters, this one should be a perennial read aloud for end of the year 6th graders.

When I first started reading the Grass Angel, which I had purchased earlier in the day for my grandson, I was lying in bed late at night and figured I would just check it out before falling off to dreamland. I started turning the page, and another page, and another. After a while I wasn't aware of anything but the story spinning off...to where? Yes, the tale was one that would grab and delight a sixth grader, but there was a complexity that was so real, so thick with emotion and confusion and... I was totally with this kid, wondering what kind of a parent would take off like that. Uh, oh. Didn't my wife and I leave our oldest son on his own at probably the same age. But not with an aunt who was so bizarre, so dysfunctional, so totally unsympathetic. Then the transformations. The daughter...the mom...and that wizard of an aunt. Hey, this was not just a kid's book. This was a book to delight any adult and to educate us all to the power of possibility and change.

Washington Post (4/18/04): Book of the Week:

Perhaps this has happened to you. Your parents say they are going somewhere. You
don't want to go. They say that doesn't matter, you're going. You say they can't make you. They say, okay, they'll go without you! Usually one of you gives in. But not 11-year-old Frances Cressen... Nothing about the summer, or her life, is turning out like aunt, not her mother, not even herself. With everything falling apart, the question is whether she and her family will find the wisdom, and the love, that it will take to put it all back together.

Chris put a lot of hard work in to this book (as well as her others, I know because I know her personally. And the result of her hard work is a well written, entertaining book, that has brought her success. I suggest that everyone buy it - it's great for around the camp fire, or those long road trips, or when you just want a nice book to read at night.

If you like true ghost stories, you can't miss this book! All of the Haunted Ohio series are great, but this one is my favorite. Chilling stuff like a haunted covered-over swimming pool at Stivers Middle School (gulp!), the many ghosts of Dayton's USAF museum, and a strange drum with something rustling inside (sure, it sounds harmless enough, but wait till you read the story). Plus time warps, poltergiests and just about any type of haunted building you can think of! Not to mention some great stories of unknown creatures. I usually don't find bigfoot stories very scary, but two in this book -- "Buckeye Bigfoots" and "Bigfoot in Greene County"-- really gave me a major case of the willies! And if you can sleep after reading the "Harmful Haunts" chapter ... well, you've either got ice water in your veins or else (gasp!) you're already a ghost yourself! Buy this book today -- you're guaranteed to lose some sleep!

Chris Woodyard always has such intriguing introductions to her books. In Haunted Ohio she talked about second sight running in her family. Now in the II volume she talks about being haunted herself as she collected the stories and about readers she's met and their experiences after reading her first book. I think she should write an entire book of these stories alone.

In the chapter Things That Go Bump in the Night, she explores the poltergeist phenomenon. Woodyard says, "Poltergeists rarely produce apparitions or a spirit with "personality." It's been my experience that a noisy apparition is a ghost not a poltergeist so I disagree with that statement especially since other spirits can become attracted to the released energy.

Many of the places the author went to personally and records her impressions along with those of her interview subject. I found this book as scary and well written as Woodyard's last. I label Haunted Ohio II a spook-tacular read!

I love to read books. As soon as I am done with one, I have to get another, and I had been eyeing Haunted Ohio in the bookstore at the mall, and my curiosity got the better of me. And I am glad it did! I loved the book! It really struck home with me. It also put a fright into me! I found that I could only read it during the daylight hours, or I would lose some sleep!! The book was wonderful, and my mother thought so to, she called me everyday to see if I was done reading it so that she could borrow it! And now that she is half-way through, she calls asking if I bought the next one yet because she wants to borrow that one too!!!

Once again Chris Woodyard has put together a compendium of hauntingly scary and thrilling tales! Though the main focus of her books is ghosts, she always delves a bit into other types of paranormal phenomena. Her prologue story "The Flames", about a very vivid premonition complete with scent stimuli, was particularly nightmarish.

Woodyard says that denial "makes people crazy-not necessarily living with ghosts, but denying that anything unusual is going on." I couldn't agree more! If the state of Ohio is looked at as a case study, one realizes just how widespread this phenomenon is.

The Haunted Ohio series are great reads to increase your adrenalin output, whether on you're own or shared with friends, on a chilly October night. I'm proud to say that I own an autographed copy of this book! I'll definitely be ordering volume IV!

in saying I got lucky and have the chance of meeting Chris Woodyard. in fact I got a signed copy of this book and I don't think I'll ever part with it. I love her style, and the fact that she's researched so much of these tales so close to home it's great!

I would love to account for the input of the ghost of Sansbury Hall at Ohio Dominican College in Columbus, Oh. I have experienced the ghost and what she does and would like to talk to chris personally about it. I can give a more up to date account of what has been going on at ODC. THIS tale is REAL and FREAKY. Chris, ples e-mail me to find out more on the story. (I am not sure as to which of your books this story about the college appeared, sorry.)

Another winner in Chris's fantastic Haunted Ohio series! Inside you'll find haunted houses, cemetaries, workplaces, hospitals, etc. Plus the many ghosts of Cleveland's Franklin Castle and lots of haunted objects (you may never buy antiques again!). Be sure not to miss "The Web of Fear" and "Many Mansions" (creepy stuff!!). The "Highways to Hell" chapter will give you a few bad nights! There's even an appendix of "mini" ghosts stories that will intrigue you for sure. You can't beat the Haunted Ohio series!

How much of what you choose to do and say is influenced by your interior life? Most of us smuggle the contraband of our dreams in our pockets, existing part-time in an isolating underground that no one ever sees, as do the characters in _High Times in Fabulous Toledo_.

Lily James' people live parallel lives that only intersect when a ludicrously botched kidnapping forces them to confront the glaring difference between what they have imagined their lives and themselves to be, and who they really are.

This story is a hilariously tragic fable that pierces the truth of our fantasy lives. Lily James shows us how our imaginary identities both shape our authentic selves, and isolate us from one another. A fast, funny romp that left me hoping for more from this young and brilliant author.

I want Lily James to write about my kidnapping! ... or at least about my hometown!
This is one quirky tale about a kidnapping gone very wrong. Two parts love, one part terror, added to a heavy dose of comedic BRILLIANCE and you've got a book you'll want to read again and again.
Lily James' ability to crawl beneath the skin of her characters and drag you along with her is uncanny and terrific - not to mention terrifying and exhilerating.
This is a Hal Hartley film waiting to be made. Hear that HAL HARTLEY?? You need to make this movie!!
This and _The Great Taste of Straight People_ make me a permanent member of the Lily James fan club.

Lily James is as fearless a writer as anybody on the planet. She does things with her narrative that I've never seen done before, and does it in a way that is thoroughly entertaining and readable. This is a difficult book to describe, because it doesn't really fit into any one genre. I should say that I didn't come to this book as an unbiased reader, since Lily and I both belong to the same e-mail list for writers. I wouldn't have bought it, though, if I didn't like the way Lily wrote in general; and I wouldn't be writing this review if I didn't genuinely love the book. So buy it, read it, and enjoy Lily's unique way of telling a story. You won't be disappointed.

"High Drama in Fabulous Toledo" is a funny, readable, delightful novel from an author I will be watching. If you like women's fiction but long for something truly original and fresh, THIS IS IT. Her writing style just carries you along - it's a compelling and new way of getting to know a character - which makes it one of those books you can't wait to get back to. Adventure and philosophy, sociology and brain studies fans will find much to think about here, all in the form of an entertaining read.

I have been to Holmes County before, and this book accuratly and beautifully shows the Amish of Ohio! I would (and have!) reccomend this book to anyone who loves beautiful photograhy, the Amish, and Holmes County! I couldn't put it down! I would LOVE to own this book!

A wonderfully done pictoral of Holmes County, Ohio. After visiting there, it's a lovely reminder of the people and places. The pictures and stories capture the beauty and simplicity of the Amish/Mennonite communities in Holmes County. This book brings back wonderful memories.

A 2003 Independent Publisher award finalist, and winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award of the Publishers Marketing Association, Holmespun: An Intimate Port-rait Of An Amish And Mennonite Community is a lavishly presented portrait of life in Amish and Mennonite communities. Photographers Amanda Lumry and Loren Wengerd effectively collaborate to produce a thoroughly fascinating and visually wonderful presentation filled with captivating color photographs which are complemented by an informed and absorbing text written by Laura Hurwitz and describing the events of daily life. Holmespun is a simply wonderful addition to personal photography book collections and recommended for community library collections seeking to include commendable materials for readers seeking information on Amish and Mennonite lifestyles and communities.

This book is truly amazing! In this day and age, you would never know that a community of that nature still existed. With the hustle and bustle of my daily routine (I consider my family an "Average American Family"), it really makes you want to live the life of the Amish and Mennonite families. I live in the suburbs of Sacramento and their lifestyle is completely foreign to me. After looking at all of the wonderful photographs, I immediately wanted to cook a home cooked meal and a pie from scratch. I would truly love to visit Holmes County one day and see these kind, hard-working people firsthand. I am going to give this book as a gift to my mother, both of my sisters and my close friends. I know they will enjoy it as much as I have.

first read this in 1979-80. truly an experience that stays with you. only one other book has had a lasting effect on the depths of my being: robert pirsigs'zen & the art of motorcycle maintanence'. every 'man' needs to explore Frank Waters gift. every 'man' needs to give this to his 'son'.

In this book, Martiniano, the main character, struggles to achieve a homeostasis amongst confining to the laws of the whites while still keeping the values, norms, and beliefs of his older Native American culture. There are a few sublots involving a religious sight that all come together to make a compelling conclusion to a beautifully written novel. The imagery involved within the piece make The MAn Who Killed The Deer a defined and rather extraordinary novel. It is a timeless claassic which should be read and enjoyed by all who still care about making themselves better persons.

This is a subtle, poignant novel which explores cultural conflicts and personal struggles for identity and interbeing. It concludes with an awareness of the inevitable oneness of all people within the rhythms of the earth. The novel made me contemplate my own values and relationships. It moved me to tears and quiet joy. It gave me a strong sense of my place as a human being in the web of life. I did not want the book to end. Martiniano, the man who killed the deer, is a vivd, honest character who will remain in my mind

It helps to have visited the village of Taos to appreciate this novel dealing with the tribes sacred Blue Lake and metaphysical power. Given the circumstances of the plot, its unfolding has intense meaning to all who seek their souls true identy. The narrative insidiously leads from one attitude to another, from what was learned to what is felt. Going "back to the blanket" is an imperceptible reunion with the customs of the past that moves man to become what he really is and/or wants to be. The beauty of the idea can affect deeply readers searching for their own unincumbered identity and peace.