Allen Books

Western and Eastern Mysteries (Key of It All) Comparative Cultural Numerology Mysteries Encyclopedia will connect those who are still searching for the complete comparative "opus," which is the backbone of the numerology mysteries.

Chapter 13 of the English Language numerology, in the "Western Mysteries," is the door through which one can enter, to complete the key through which universal understanding and connection can be earned. Through translating (words) tongues into the English language alphabet words, and further, into their simple English numbers, the inner eye expands its understanding.

The serious numbers student, through the simple numbers method, mentioned in Chapter 13, of Western Mysteries, can further verify their own destiny through their name and birthdate numbers, by further understanding that there is a nine-year cycle for each letter of one's name. Each nine-year name-alphabet letter number will be the individual "law of attraction," by attracting to one experiences.

Hulse confirmed his experiences through "alphabet numbers." Which you can do as well. The secret for positive experiences is to use positive words and their numerological correlation.

Further, within the 9-year cycle, Each person has "tri-mester numbers," which can be verified through the numerology of names, addresses, and experiences correlating in a particular period with synchonistic numbers.

As Hulse has stated in "Western Mysteries," the English language and its simple numbers from 1-9, allows the serious student to develop the inner eye to verify and see how it is that the macro and micro metaphysics connect with the physics of macro and micro experiences.

Both Western and Eastern Mysteries (The Key to It All), provides the connection the earnest student of numbers wisdom has earned.

I've got both the "Eastern" and "Western" mysteries and while I won't pretend to understand half of what was written in each, both are outstanding reference books that one can grasp even if one doesn't have much knowledge of the occult.

I found it useful for looking up symbols and seeing more similarities between cultures than I had previously thought.

Definitely a "must-have," whether novice or expert.

This book and its companion: "The Eastern Mysteries" provide a wonderful compendium of cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary information. They make it possible to understand the deep connections between all peoples of the world.

This is an excellent book, both for reading and as a resource. Hulse gives an incredible amount of information in an easy to understand format. This book is invaluable in helping to understand the connections between various cultures and their methods.

Great insight to what goes on around the Cup. Of course, visiting the Cup live is the best option but this books allows you the appreciation of seeing her live and knowing who touched it and where she traveled to or in.
A must for any hockey fan. It gives some fun topic to chat about with your buddy's over some beers.

What do hockey players do with the Stanley Cup after winning the most cherished trophy ? That's what author Kevin Allen wrote about in the book Why is the Stanley Cup in Mario Lemieux's Swimming Pool?: How Winners Celebrate With the World's Most Famous Cup. With each player getting twenty-four hours to spend with Lord Stanley's Cup the cup comes back with a lot of bizarre memories.
The book takes you through the long journeys that they Stanley Cup endures. It takes you to many foreign countries like Russia and Canada, to the pool of Mario Lemieux or even to Cornell with Joe Nieuwendyk to visit his blind college professor. The book describes how meaningful winning the Stanley Cup is to hockey players. Long after the final game the players still have the same emotions with the Stanley Cup as they did the day they raised it over their heads. The book includes many players stories of when they won the Cup from the likes of Maurice Richard to more recently Brett Hull.
I highly recommend to those hockey fanatics who just can't get enough hockey. This book defiantly makes you want to keep reading and once you start you will not be able to put it down. Every time I see the precious trophy I always think back to this book and all the unusual things that the athletes did with the Stanley Cup.

this book was pretty funny to hear all the stories of the stanley cup it makes you laugh when you see people drink out of it to it also makes you think what you would do if you ever won the cup its great

This is one of the coolest books I have ever read. Being a hockey nut, I just ate these stories up like no tomorrow. You don't need to be a crazy fan like myself to enjoy the stories though. The Stanley Cup is definately the most well traveled hunk of silver around and its story is still being written. The Cup means so much more that just winning and this book illustrates just how important it is to people and just how uncontrollably happy they can become when they raise it over their heads. One of these days, when I get my day with the Stanley Cup, I hope to be featured in a book just like this.
In general, this book is a unique collection of fascinating stories that have been compiled for over one hundred years. No hockey fan should be without this and I highly recommend it too anyone who is looking for an easy going and enjoyable book.

If you are a fan of hockey, this is a must! I couldn't put it down. One story after another, after another. Next time you see the Cup, you'll think back to all of the hilarious things the Cup's been through. Five star, double thumbs up!

This book clearly outlines the steps needed to write queries and proposals. I would recommend this to anyone just starting out who needs to find good information.

This book helped me get an assignment to write an article on speculation with my first response to a query. Using Ms. Allen's advice, I decided to try freelance writing and sent out 7 queries. My first two responses arrived on the same day--the assignment and a form rejection letter; her book prepared me for both!

Her concrete examples, understanding of what editors look for, and detailed explanation of query construction were invaluable. This is a great book!

With chapters on everything from Fiction Proposals to selling your Syndicate Column, this book will be a big help to anyone seeking to inprove their chances of getting published. The book has 23 chapters, one which deals with succeeding in a scheduled online chat, another with tips for international writers. There are many sample queries, a full sample fiction synopsis, anatomy of a synopsis, etc. I found this book very helpful and highly recommend it.

I found Moira Allen's book on "Queries, Pitches & Proposals" to be very inspiring and helpful in my quest to become a published author. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking publication!

Moira Allen's well-written and attractively-presented guidebook hits time and again on a central theme: follow the rules.

Allen succeeds in communicating the editor's task in facing an enormous quantity of queries and proposals. The quantity of work gives an edge to the proposer who has respected his intended publisher sufficiently to find out just how they want the proposal and then to follow those guidelines. There is more here, but staying between the lines is a recurring bit of wisdom. The good news: it's not hard advice to follow.

Though Allen authors most of this reference guide's 23 chapters, she has the good sense to call in expert help when addressing various niche markets. Each contributor's work is well edited and so fits helpfully into Allen's established format.

A substantial introduction outlines ten steps to writing the perfect pitch. The remaining chapters are grouped in five sections: `Querying periodicals', `Columns and syndication', `Selling a nonfiction book', `The fiction proposal', and `Other opportunities'.

`Querying periodicals' (Section 1) establishes Allen's method. She not only tells you how to do things correctly. She also provides examples of queries that worked, and then indicates her familiarity with her topic by offering sage counsel on tactics that backfire or simply fall like duds. Finally, she offers a wealth of contacts, some of them inevitably outdated five years from publication but many of them suggestive of others that have taken their place.

By the time you finish the four chapters of section one, you know a lot more about the topic than when you started, almost without feeling the effort you expended. Allen and her contributors facilitate the task with crisp writing that respects its reader. This also provides a sense of solidity that permeates the book. That is, Allen is more than a How-To Queen. She actually knows how to write.

Allen and Company carry this method forward to their various topics with agreeable consistency. They also throw in some items that you might not expect to find in a book like this (speaking opportunities, chat opportunities) and a delightful paragraph entitled `When to give up" (`As long as you find satisfaction in your work, the answer is, never.')

There is a healthy number of books in this category on offer. Allen's is one of the smartest, most in the know, and most satisfying of them. Buy it first.

This book covers every detail you can think of and those you can't think of. You can tell the author has experience and she offers great advice about contracts and financial matters. Something that I think tends to get overlooked in the whirlwind of wedding dreams. She also walks you through the entire planning process and combines all the sections at the end to form a flow plan for the day of the wedding.

Your wedding vision is the starting point in Your Stress Free Wedding Planner - Expert's Best Secrets to Creating the Wedding of Your Dreams by Judy Allen. After couples complete an independent questionnaire, they will have a better understanding of their thoughts and dreams about creating a custom wedding. This planner gives careful attention to all wedding tasks, therefore, leaving no assignment unaccomplished. The only drawback for this planner would be difficulty removing the pages from its spiral binding as the planner recommends for copymaking.

I bought this book/organizer because I can be a little [...] retentive with details and I wasn't sure exactly where to start since I'm the first in my family to plan a wedding in the last 20 years. it has been extremely helpful in both information and organization. It does work! Plus, there are a ton of worksheets in it that think of things I would normally have forgotten about until it was too late. Very helpful!

This is my go-to wedding organizer. It is comprehensive and full of worksheets and checklists so that you do not forget a thing when it comes to planning and orchestrating your wedding. The author is experienced in planning large-scale events so some of the tips may not apply to your wedding. However, since I had no idea where to even start planning when I got engaged, this book has been a lifesaver. I use this book with theknot.com planning checklist as well as a checklist from realsimple.com in order to make sure nothing is overlooked.

This gift has given a great deal of well deserved advice to a very special bride-to-be!

I found Allen E. Fishman's book to be extremely informative and beneficial even to a "non-family business" person. Allen provided detailed and practical information that any person could benefit from. I think what makes his book different from other authors is how he effectively related his "own family" personal experiences to help the reader visualize his thoughts. This is definitely a book that I will use as a frequent reference and recommend to colleagues and family members.
Robyn Weilbacher

I didn't read this book to address my needs as a family business owner or a family member employee. Instead, as someone who has often worked as a non-family member employee in a family business, I wanted to better understand exactly what goes on---and why. My first job at age 15 was for a family-owned restaurant. I loved the job, but even back then I felt confused, and yes, annoyed, by dynamics I found unfair to those of us not "in the family." And that confusion (and annoyance) has followed me every time I worked for a family-owned business.

I finally get it! And if this book had been around 30 years ago when I was 15, and I had been smart enough to read it, my future working life would have been a lot different--- and my blood pressure would have faced far fewer challenges.

I love the close knit feeling a family company provides. But sometimes stuff goes on that makes no sense; at least not to me. Like when a family member gets promoted to a position I don't think he or she has the experience to carry, compensation issues, and being pushed and pulled by the conflicting pressures of bosses that also happen to be a husband and wife, siblings, cousins, whatever the relationship. This book hits on all these scenarios and more.

I truly believe that tolerance for issues that challenge me comes from understanding. Allen Fishman's book has given me the understanding I need to push these issues aside. I may not like every single thing that goes on in a family business, but now that I know why it happens, I don't have to waste any more time thinking about it. Allen speaks in real terms that everyone can understand, and he doesn't dodge the tough issues; he calls the shots just as they are, even when they aren't pretty. And that's impressive coming from someone who is a family business owner himself. And how cool that Allen credits his daughter for her help in writing the book; talk about authenticity!

Any one who works for a family business, who isn't part of the family, needs to read this book. And family business leaders, or FBL's as they are called in the book, listen up--- get a couple copies of this book and spread it around to your Non FME's. Encourage them to read it, and then talk to them about any questions they might have. I promise, you'll get a more productive- and happier- non family workforce for making the effort.

Family businesses are a special challenge. Allen begins with reality; that parents, children and siblings will never cease to interact in those roles, and that the functions of the business must accommodate that reality. He then gives us a step by step look at how to make the added complexities of family ownership, authority and responsibility work together in a successful enterprise.

Allen Fishman's book should be required reading for anyone leading or working in a family business. Filled with real life stories from family businesses, this book is a practical guide that shows you how to have more fulfilling relationships with your family members, both inside and outside of your family business.

Allen Fishman is the Family Business Leader of a successful family business. His real-life experiences the many experiences of leading family business coaches from around the globe, makes this book distinctive. It's real time/real life stuff that everyone involved in a family business can relate to and immediately put into practice.

Ray Brun, Small Business Coach Fairfield, CA

I was lucky enough to have gone to three poetry readings held in Harvard Square, Boston, Massachusetts in the late 1970's. The last one I recorded "Contest of the Bards" and Allen requested a copy of it, of which I sent it to him promptly the next day. Allen Ginsberg is an excellent 'orator' and new age poet lauriat of his age and the future ages. He certainly does not have to read like and to sound like previous poets in their delivery style nor in any other 'academically' trained style of delivering 'speak-a-forth-the-naked-truth' enumerations from within, soul strength held. I love this collection and the poet for his strength and style and what he adds to those of us who love the english language.

A new years present to myself and I've listened through three times already. Inspiring, makes me want to write and move to California or New York or Europe. Well-packaged, though some typos, and great booklet, 60 pages, with interesting design. Recommended. It's creepy to hear Ginsberg's voice, knowing this was his last major reading of his works. Very good CDs.

great listening. every poem inspires a new poem to be written. could listen to this for hours and hours. beautifully packaged too, a testament. very inspiring.

Just picked up a copy of this from a publishing friend, topnotch CDs, great package as well. The CDs have drawings by Ginsberg printed onto them, and the cardboard sleeve has filmstills from the readings these are taken from at the Knitting Factory. The booklet is lengthy and detailed, with some short pieces by different writers, but they're rather short. One apparently read with Ginsberg these nights; would like to have read more, perhaps? But a great pleasure, to hear these poems in order, great sound quality. Listening to it right now.

A wonderful recording, with Ginsberg's voice loud and clear for all those who ever heard him, or missed his readings. A chronological recording of his major works, spread out across three CDs, which really works as a format: put one on, then the next, then the final, and get a tour of Ginsberg's poetic works over nearly half a century. The progression is noticeable. A great document of American literature, really pleasurable to hear. Comes with a massive booklet, 70 pages or so, with the poems all printed out so you can read along or just skim through it without the CD, including some musical notations. A nice little essay by Stephen Taylor explains the reading format, and another by Geoff Manaugh, who read with Ginsberg during these nights, gives a nice feel for the evenings these were recorded. Each worth reading; each adds to the intimacy of the recordings, I think, hearing from Ginsberg's friends. Could have used more of that, in fact, but that's a minor quibble. An introduction by Bob Rosenthal, as well, who works for the Allen Ginsberg Foundation. They apparently put this out.
Recommended. America's bard still lives...

MAYA ANGELOU opens this moviebook with truth. The answer to why our story must be retold over and over again. The shocking truth that a black man's skin could be cut into a postage stamp size flap and sold as souvenirs by his racist white murderers. The generational truth that Cinque's remarkable, chilling story lives on beyond the relic flap of that lynching. America today is the reason AMISTAD must live another generation in hopes that we try to do better.

In the palpable words of Debbie Allen, the inhumanity of slavery in America was put on trial. When Joseph Cinque courageously and unselfishly challenged America's Declaration of Independence, its Constitution, its President of the United States, its abolitionists, its Supreme Court, and the Queen of Spain, the entire world watched. The truth about America's slave system was revealed. That truth must continue to be discussed and explored and remembered from one generation to the next. AMISTAD, therefore, should never die on a bookshelf or in history. AMISTAD forces Joseph Cinque's story into eternity. The pictures and quotes in this fine moviebook should continue to shame and inspire all of us today to paint a better existence for all mankind.

Ask a man of extraordinary intellectual power who is equally creative such as Steven Spielberg to define "truth" and he will show you it in living color page after page, clip after clip. You will beg to discover it over and over again because AMISTAD commands that type of loyalty to tell our story repeatedly to our children, black and white. Readers will gain a different perspective on "Give Us Free" each time. You will cry your own script to the young and help keep Cinque's purpose alive to make life better. The truth not only sets us all free, it keeps us free. AMISTAD is indeed truth.

The post list of additional reading resources about Amistad for both the young and the old are an integral part of this masterpiece.

Reviewed by Swaggie Coleman
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

The intercut of the church & prison was strange yet wonderful. The abolitionists gave Yomba an illustrated Bible and he gave his heart to Jesus[alternate version]. Cinque was the man who subsequently gave his life for his clan...Yomba was the informer who died beside Cinque in remorse. Cinque did what he did because he had to.

Just like his film on it, Steven Spielberg's work on this book, "Amistad: 'Give Us Free'", was well-executed. It reminds one of Alex Haley's "Roots". Both stir emotions. Every bit of the story shows how cruel a man can be to his fellow man. And, I disagree with all those who term this true story "a story of illegally enslaved Africans", (Mr Spielberg didn't). We are shying away from the truth, which is that no African, (not even one), was a legal slave. There is nothing that made one slave legal, and the other illegal. There is no legality in slavery. Absolutely! That treacherous and heartless people overpowered, kidnapped, and transported, (in the most inhumane manner), their fellow human beings to America and other places does not, in any way, make those victims of inhumanity "legal slaves". Regardless of all the face-saving tales that those who defiled our lands with the innocent blood, tears, and sweat of millions of Africans will like us to believe, the truth is that not even a single African volunteered to become a slave in any circumstance. They were all forced into it: with no option but death. Those who ripped and enjoyed the bloodied fruits of slavery merely sought cheap excuses in order to justify what they did. But we know that there is nothing legal in kidnapping and subjecting human beings to such a horrible condition.
'La Amistad' tells a soul-eroding story. Cinque and his cohorts are true heroes. They are heroes of freedom, heroes of justice, and heroes of human rights. Songs have been composed about them. Books have been written about them. Films have been made about them. And, history will forever appreciate their gallantry.

Put yourself in the shoes of the victims of slavery. Allow yourself to really, really feel what it would be like to have every aspect of your culture, values, language stripped from you. Imagine having to sit by while someone rapes your wife, mother, 11 year old daughter. Imagine having to eat an animal which you have been taught is poison. Imagine not having freedom to marry and having to watch your baby being driven away in a wagon, never being seen again, because one man has taken it upon himself the right to sell another. Sit there, close your eyes and then you will be brought into a deeper understanding of the people of the Amistad.

"THE BEST!", Its inspiring on one's will to keep himself and other Africans from the early slave trade which destroyed many families in America. Exciting effort to fight in a foreign country without knowing its language or laws. Very forth right in telling truth of American's untold "ugly" slave trade and what slave traders were willing to do just to keep it alive. Amistad's truth about slavery was very emotional, determined to express the will of any free man who's fighting williness to remain a free soul. A Heartfelt story about a lone struggle for Africans coming to America for the first time and having to face the ugliness of slavery, this was not right and should not have happened. All wasn't lost in the end and my true thanks to the many allies: former President - John Q. Adams, Mr(s) Baldwin, Gibbs, and former slave Joadson for their unyeilding efforts to abolish this ugly sore(slavery) which infested deep within America. I truely loved this story, because it was simply "THE BEST!" Also, thanks to Alex Pate and Steven Spielberg and the many others for bring out this ugly hidden part of America's history, I never knew this happened. This could have been me and I cried when I saw the movie. "THE BEST...."

I was born in Rockport, yet learned more about my hometown from reading this book! I never knew my grandparents, as they died many years before I was born, but through this book I got to know them a bit better...and I received insight into my father's role when he was County Judge for Aransas County (he never talked about his job). A wonderful read.

I have been visiting the Gulf Coast/Aransas Pass area for 9 years now. Every time I go I am intrigued by everything I see. The history that resides there is amazing. I stay at a house on Fulton Beach Road that is filled with history. It has been in my friends family for over one hundred years. The house is actually mentioned in the book. This book is an amazing look at an amazing time in an amazing place. If you are interested in the history of the Texas Coastal Bend then this the book for you.

Thanks, John Conner San Jose, CA

I was suprised to find a lot of information that I did knew little about. The Notes and Sources could be another book in its self. VERY GOOD

Growing up in San Antonio, my family frequently traveled to Rockport for the weekend. We would fish at night and go sightseeing by day. As a child I was always fascinated by the area and I grew so did this curiosity.
Four years ago I read in the Rockport Pilot's Visitor Guide that this book existed. That very day I was dragging my wife around looking for it, finally found it at the Art Museum by the beach. The entire weekend was spent skimming and reading this wonderful book. Since I have got the book I have read and re-read it many many times.
Today I enjoy visiting Rockport as often as I can. While driving around I try to picture what it was like at the turn of the century when the Aransas Hotel was still stood and the Baily Pavillion was THE place to be. Who would have thought that the little towns of Rockport and Fulton would have such a deep history?

As a resident of Rockport, in Aransas Co., Texas, but not a native, I was interested in the history of this part of the state. When Sue Taylor and Bill Allen's book, ARANSAS, A Tale of a Texas Coastal County, was published, I was among many who lined up for Sue's signature on my copy.

It was a thick book, I put it aside until I had time to go through it. I've just had 10 days off, and that was among my reading activities.

I assumed it would be historical; so I did not anticipate reading it as I do some novels. But I started. To my surprise, it caught my attention and imagination right away.

Also, to my surprise, I lingered over the words because they painted pictures I wanted to enjoy. I took much longer to read this book, because I was captivated by the words themselves.

The story moved along like an adventure tale, which the history of Texas actually is. It was dangerous, scary, wild, and took courageous and foolhardy men and women to survive. Texas had citizens with those characteristics on both sides of the Rio Grande.

The saga of many real families unfolded. Reading ARANSAS was like looking at a photograph album of one's grandparents--or great-grandparents. You never met them, but through this book you do know them. They became real people, with real personalities.

I did not know of the participation of Aransas County in both the Texas Revolution and the Civil War. It was a port to be conquered by the "other" side in both wars--a strategic military outpost. Other history books refer to the importance of Copano Bay.

Throughout the book the authors give geographic locations of homes or stores or hotels or fishing or cattle wharfs. In the back the references are detailed. We can still visit these places. That's my next goal--to find where history happened, and is still going on.

Frances Mayo

Schoenberg's music gets treated at times like no more than a necessary intellectual evil: "Ok! Ok! Tonal centers aren't the only musical expressive form! We get it! Now can we please get back to beautiful life-affirming melodies and harmonies?!?!" The music often gets treated from only a theoretical viewpoint, and many people read about Schoenberg, or worse, read opinions about his music, before really experiencing the music itself. In this sense the music doesn't get a chance to live and breathe on its own without an angorra-thick layer of theory and sometimes obscure and opaque musicology heaped over it. The author of this book states this idea very eloquently in the introduction: "...it is not entirely in a spirit of facetiousness that I have said to friends that I feel perhaps Schoenberg's work deserves a more superficial treatment than it has hitherto received." This theme runs throughout the book, and the reader actually has a chance to get to know Schoenberg's biography and how that biography potentially related to his music without being subjected to stifling theory.

The book as a whole is made up of short chapters some of which contain mostly biography and others of which contain mostly descriptions and reflections on some of Schoenberg's major works (there are chapters completely dedicated to the following works: Verklärte Nacht, Gurre-Lieder, Brettl-Lieder (from Schoenberg's suprising tenure with Berlin cabarets in 1901-1902), Five Pieces For Orchestra, Erwartung, Pierrot Lunaire, Die glückliche Hand, Moses Und Aron, and the String Trio). This book doesn't just cover his music, though. One chapter gets devoted to his very literary treatise on harmony, "Harmonielehre". Another chapter discusses Schoenberg's paintings (some of which Gustave Mahler purchased to help support his financially struggling colleague). Two interesting later chapters deal with his propensity to create games and practical inventions, and even a reflection on being short (a trait that the author confesses to share; Schoenberg himself was under 5'4" which ranks him heightwise beneath Napolean).

Some of the most fascinating biographical episodes involve the audience and critical reactions to Schoenberg's works (at a performance of Pierrot Lunaire an audience member supposedly pointed at Schoenberg and yelled "Shoot him! Shoot him!" other concerts prompted his friends to shield him from projectiles thrown by the audience, or to evacuate him from the theater, and many performances were literally shouted down - the vocalist at the premiere of his Second String Quartet apparently left the stage in tears). An entire chapter also gets dedicated to Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique (often derogatorily subsumed as "overly intellectualist"); a technique he followed in his later works (most notably in "Music for a Film Scene", Op. 34, and the famous Piano Concerto, Op. 42).

Schoenberg also lived through major world events: World War I (in which he took a part) and World War II (which forced him to flee Germany and Austria in the rising tide of 1930s Anti-Semitism; "Ode To Napolean Bonaparte", Op. 41, stands as Schoenberg's musical lashing out at Hitler's tyranny). He also tried to help Jews in europe during Hitler's rise; he took anti-semitism as a given (one could arguably make the depressingly bizarre claim that anti-semitism was almost "fashionable" in the early part of the twentieth-century) and advocated a Jewish homeland.

Schoenberg's skills as a teacher (his most reliable source of income throughout his life) receives notice here, too. His pedogogical style apparently didn't encourage devoteeism. Some of his most famous students included Alban Berg, Anton Webern, and John Cage. All followed their own distinct directions following Schoenberg's instruction.

This book brings Schoenberg to life for those who know little about him. Those who have not heard any of Schoenberg's music should seek it out before reading this book. After all, the message of this book relates to finding meaning through active listening to, not intellectualizing about, the music of Schoenberg. Some passages might get a little thick for those with no musical background. And some contain actual musical notation. Nonetheless, a music theory background is not required to read or even to enjoy this book (though admittedly it would be helpful). The book overall opens up the expressive possibilities of Schoenberg's music to those whose spines curl at the mere mention of his name.

Allen Shawn's book is clearly a labor of love. This is remarkable, given that Schoenberg is notoriously difficult to love! I strongly recommend the book to anyone interested in one of the most influential composers of all time. Shawn is a composer, and presents careful treatments of several major compositions, complete with excerpts from the scores. He includes some fascinating biographical information, but the focus is the music. Schoenberg pioneered "atonal" music in the years right around 1910 parallel to Kandinsky's pioneering abstract painting, and in fact the two were friends and collaborators. Here is an amazing quote from Schoenberg:

"It has never been the purpose and effect of new art to suppress the old, its predecessor, certainly not to destroy it. ... The appearance of the new can far better be compared with the flowering of a tree: it is the natural growth of the tree of life. But if there were trees that had an interest in preventing the flowering, then they would surely call it revolution. And conservatives of winter would fight against each spring. ... Short memory and meager insight suffice to confuse growth with overthrow." (p. 141)

I don't understand musical notation, but when Mr. Shawn goes into detail, his inspiration is transmitted to me, and I want to go hear the work.

Schoenberg is tough, true. But I hope people will read this book and see he was human and passionate.

It's really silly that I haven't had the opportunity to hear one of the greatest composer's music in concert. Will that change?

With more advocates such as Mr. Shawn, I can hope so.

Thank you, Allen Shawn, for putting Arnold Schoenberg in the light that he deserves to be viewed in.

This marvellous book evoked the sense of excitement/bemusement at encountering Schoenberg's music for the first time but also prompted me to investigate works which in the past i'd not given sufficent attention.
Here's a few scattered quotes of what he has to say about 'Die Gluckliche Hand':
'that the representation of the unattainable is embodied in music that is itself dense and tangled is no accident.Although it is beautifully imagined and so headlong in its progress that it seems shorter than it is......yet it is precise in its intricacy,and the orchestration is lush and full of colour' pg.158

The moments of analyis are always free of technical jargon and i like the attention given to Schoenberg's painting as a means of illumination.Altogether a compelling read and well illustrated.

The possible drawbacks are minor:
for my liking,there are too many references to Robert Craft, and i don't understand what Shawn means when he describes Wagner as being earthbound in comparison with early Schoenberg(the prelude to Parsifal being one of the most weightless pieces of music i know).Also,i have a special affection for that most ravishing of choral works 'Friede auf Erden' op.13 so was sad to find no reference to this little gem.

But please,go out and buy this book.It's got just the right tone of voice.Supplement with Rosen's more dense but equally thoughtful book.

My knowledge of English just isn't good enough to do justice to this artist and this book. Robert Bateman translated into paintings all the enchantment I have felt for nature since I was a child. Wish I was much younger to try to follow his footsteps!! Marvellous book!

To see a Robert Bateman work is to glimpse a moment in Nature's time when an elk treks across a vast winter landscape of snow, conifers & mountains; or a stream bank where tender green plants glow against the moist earth & a minute bird perches; or a trumpeting bull elephant confronts you in a storm of dust. Roger Tory Peterson has written an expressive introduction & Ramsay Derry's profile of the artist makes good reading - especially as he's included a history of who Robert Bateman is; where he's lived; several works-in-progress sketches; photos of the artist in action & on location. A worthy addition to your library.

This book, together with "The World of Robert Bateman" is one of the best wildlife art books ever published, and truly shows Bateman at his best. The later collections (especially the very last ones) don't even come close to the beauty of the paintings in these two books. In most paintings the animal is just one character, sometimes not even the main one, while the landscape and the surroundings (depicted in marvelous and maddening detail) almost always plays a central role. Here Bateman shows to be a master of the techniques he uses, and creates pictures of stunning beauty who truly come to life. Both books are highly highly recommended if you life "realistic" wildlife art.

I have 3 Bateman books all are special ,a book for everyone to enjoy

THE ART OF ROBERT BATEMAN appears in its 25th anniversary edition to include text by Ramsay Derry and an introduction by noted ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson himself as it provides a stunning blend of full-page color wildlife images and accompanying artist profile. This was the artist's first book and cemented his career: its re-appearance is perfect for collections who either don't have the original or find their lending copies worn.