Arthur Books

If you enjoy the intrigue of Sherlock Holmes, you are in for a real treat listening to David Davies vibrant and incredible rendition. Looking forward to future "readings" by D. Davies. You will too, once you've experience this exciting reading.

Dave Davies dramatic rendition of this Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes classic tale is well worth a listen. Dave's obvious talent for dramatic reading comes through beautifully and the production quality is excellent. Hopefully David will not stop with just this one but will continue right through the entire cannon. If you like listening to "a good read" Silver Blaze is highly recommended.

SILVER BLAZE is a great story by Arthur Conan Doyle and may have been considered one of his favorites. A brilliant horse which was a favorite with the racing public goes missing and the worse is feared. Where was the first favorite for the Wessex cup? Coupled with the beloved horse's unknown whereabouts was evidence of a drugged stable boy and a murdered trainer. What happened to the horse, how did the stable boy get drugged and who killed the trainer?

This is a great story and is delivered admirably. Holmes even shows humility in this story which is certainly not a quality that he was well known for. He says to Watson: "Because I made a blunder, my dear Watson - which is, I am afraid, a more common occurrence than anyone would think who only knew me through your memoirs."

This story also shows Holmes to have his own moral compass and has him playing a "Robin Hood" of sorts in determining who should be exonerated and given amnesty. We see Holmes has his own unique sense of right from wrong!

As Kyle Freeman wrote in his Introduction to Volume I of the Sherlock Holmes anthology, " The first in the series, "Silver Blaze," pleased Conan Doyle so much that he bet his wife a shilling she couldn't solve the mystery. The story has some of the most brilliant writing in the Holmes Canon, particularly what is probably
the most famous of all Holmes's deductions: "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time", which has come to be known by the prosaic phrase "the dog that didn't bark." In polls of various Holmes Societies around the world, it regularly rates as one of the top ten stories."

I recommend this story highly.

Rating: B+

Bentley/2008
Silver Blaze and Other Stories (Macmillan Reader)Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (Large Print Edition): includes Silver Blaze The yellow face The stock-broker's clerk The "Gloria Scott" The Musgrave ritual ... The naval treaty The final problemCases Of Sherlock Holmes No. 12 Mar "The Adventure of Silver Blaze"Stories of Sherlock Holmes Silver Blaze (Swc 1240)Silver Blazes and Other Stories: Elementary Level (Heinemann Guided Readers)Sherlock Holmes : The Norwood Builder / Disappearance of Silver BlazeSherlock Holmes: Silver BlazeThe Return of Sherlock Holmes, Vol. 4 - The Devil's Foot / Silver Blaze / The Bruce Partington PlansSign of the Four & Silver Blaze; Sherlock Holmes Double FeatureThe Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

"To call this CD only a 'reading' of the classic Sherlock Holmes story of 'Silver Blaze' would be to devalue the beauty of this performance. Although you may have heard recordings of the Sherlock Holmes work read before with distance and haughty affectation, none of that is present in Mr. Davies storytelling performance. This CD features one man, many voices and a hefty portion of talent. This performance is fresh, approachable and inviting." -Storyteller.net Reviews

This is a handy book providing quick inspiration and positive encouragement, filled with engaging anecdotes and memorable phrases. It's easy to read, direct and straightforward. The simple steps affirmed so personally by the author are empowering in their uncomplicated directness. Caliandro's style enables the reader to embrace kindness and stillness as the simple, yet profound, values they are and can be in our lives. Even if you do not savor every word of this book, there are bound to be several offerings to meet your need.

I was introduced to Dr. Caliandro by way of Marble Collegiate Church in NYC, an inclusive Christian community that he leads. Before reading "Simple Things" I read a number of his sermons and articles, drawn by his consistent voice of love and encouragement. I found "Simple Steps" to be equally inspiring; reading it is like having a best friend and cheerleader by your side.

Dr. Caliandro's message is a simple one of happiness, freedom, and personal growth; the fulfillment of our birthright. However, the real power of his words is in putting them into action; like other worthy endeavors, it's not easy, goes slow at times, but is ultimately rewarding. In other words, he provides a great map for the journey that is ours to take.

This is a great book to read through quickly (like a story book), then open up again to absorb and practice the 10 simple steps.

In style, you can hear/feel the influence of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, his predecessor. And like Peale, Caliandro's voice rings with energy, inspiration and great love. Though not a religious book per se, the principles of various religious beliefs are apparent.

PS - I also watched the video, "Simple Steps: Ten Things You Can Do to Create an Exceptional Life" which was a good compliment to this book. If you're not ready or willing to commit to both, check your local library and preview before you buy. Whatever you decide, it's time --and money -- well spent.

This well written book is chock full of wisdom! Life affirming stories with lots of great advice. This is great to read straight through or to be savored a little at a time.

I found this book to be a wonderful companion on a recent airline flight. It is full of great advice and suggestions on improving the quality of one's life and changing negative attitudes. The book is organized in such a way that you can read it in short segments and still get a lot out of it. The stories are great. I find myself returning to this book in order to remind myself of what is truly important!

i first spied some photgraphs of david sprigle's works from 'snap at nerve.com. sooo beautiful, i couldn't take my eyes off the screen!

his use of polaroids is vastly different from the norm, his colour balance is very warm and almost moist...just brilliant, almost indiscribe-able...makes you wanna crawl in there with the beautiful bodies....

and now i'm gushing...just wish i was half the photograph he is...

"David Sprigle's unique images in SNAP, are the most experimental and abstract published by FotoFactory Press. Using a 'ordinary' Polaroid camera, Sprigle captures everyday people in everyday situations. These are not famous people or perfect models, but regular folk engaging in daily rituals from waking up to making love to sharing a cigarette. Images of women are included here.

"'Sprigle's images are extremely intimate and the dark lighting, the flaws and the blurred images of motion being captured, adds a multitude of dimension to his images. Sprigle's work cannot be glanced over like mush of the eye candy around. Rather one has to stare long at these images and creep under the layers to get at the heart of these images. And rough as these photos seem, there is a luminescent beauty to them as they celebrate the daily minutia of living as part of the human species.'--Kaizaad Kotwal

"Longtime friend and fellow photographer Arthur Tress introduces this 96-page clothbound volume which also includes a provocative essay on Sprigle's cultural significance by filmmaker Stephen Patrick Foery."

49 Color Plates

In the post-modern art world, a cheap Polaroid camera is all one needs to become a master photographer. Well, that and people who are willing to take off their clothes and move around while you're shooting them.

In "Snap," David Sprigle's very interesting collection of such photos, the subjects gleefully strip and masturbate, strip and jump up and down, strip and move doing almost anything while they are the focus of Sprigle's lens. The often blurry results are sometimes erotic (which works) and sometimes hard to comprehend (which doesn't always). But that is only the critical first judgment of the eye - take a second, less critical approach, and comparisons to Impressionism and oil paintings can be made.

Like all unposed photography, "Snap" captures the raw, unselfconscious moments of human behavior so convincingly and beautifully that it raises voyeurism to the level of art. Whether is an image of a man sitting on a toilet or the rather large genitalia of an anonymous subject swinging between his legs, the moments captured by Sprigle are real and unguarded. His models unabashedly perform seemingly mundane tasks, like lighting a cigarette, and with Sprigle's artistry, the act is elevated to a new level.

Though Sprigle's work may be influenced by our "instant culture," these images and their beauty recall older art forms like Impressionism, but the grainy Polaroid film (and burgeoning erections) tinge them with a modern quality.

The inner jacket of the book features a quote by Brassai: "Beauty is not the intent of creation, but the reward." It's a perfect statement to represent this collection by Sprigle, in which art comes first, and the results are a secondary concern. Happily, the results in this case are quite rewarding.

I think my attraction to impressionistic oil paintings was the main reason I was drawn to this exciting book of Polaroid photos of mostly male nude models (a few females are included) by David Sprigle. In viewing impressionistic paintings, there is always that feeling of visual discovery when you back away from the landscape/portrait and realize the clarity that is taking place in front of your very eyes. The blurred becomes the beautiful image. Well, that's certainly true in this exciting book of instant photos David has taken of his subjects, people who are not celebrities but everyday men and women, whom he has asked to have some fun in front of his camera by jumping up and down, posing, and intimately touching their bodies. What you get as a result is not just a candid photo but an image that is almost like an impressionistic painting. It's simply beautiful and pleasing to the eye. These are bold images of excited models that demand your complete attention.

This is a very special book because it features a new style and type of photography of the male nude. There are over 50 pages of instant color photos in this book. There is a creative introduction by Arthur Tress that is quite interesting. This book is beautifully bound, and printed by Fotofactory Press, a company that David started back in 1990. As a avid collector of male nude photography books, I know that each and every book carefully selected and published by FotoFactory is of high quality, perfectly bound and printed on quality paper. Highly Recommended! Be sure to check out these other FotoFactory Press male nude photography books; California Boys, The Wild Ones, Male of the Species, and the Anthology Series, Volume 1-4, featuring many different photographs of this genre.

Soup is food for the soul, and this book proves it. The recipes are easy to follow, and produce the most wonderful experiences with soup you will ever have. I have had this book for two years, and it is the only cook book that I have used weekly, especially during winter. I highly suggest adding this book to your library, and I promise your family will thank you time and time again.

Arthur Schwarts makes my moth water each time I read his supper ideas in "Soup Suppers...". However, making his recipes calls for more committment.

This isn't a book of elaborate recipies, just a book thats not for working couples who come home exhausted at the end of the day. That said, each recipe I have made from this book has turned out fantastic, a dish I would be proud to serve for company along with the many accompanyments he suggests.

If you have the time to make a nicer meal and the time to shop for good ingredients, or if you just want a book with fantastic meal ideas for when you are going to have company, this book is for you. If you are looking for a day-to-day cookbook and are too busy to make elaborate meals, then I would recommend Schwartz's earlier book, "What to Cook When You Think There's Nothing in the House to Eat" instead.

I adore this book.... each recipe I've tried is a treasure. When I'm creating one of Arthur Schwartz' soups for my own family, I feel warm & fuzzy....like I'm cooking next to grandma! His recipe for Garbure, a fabulous, hearty French peasant soup, is one of the finest things one could eat on a cold winter day. Arthur's Polish Creamed Mushroom Barley Soup is also fantastic. I collect cookbooks, & this is easily one of my favorites.

I am this author's biggest fan! I have given his "What to Cook When There's Nothing in the House to Eat" book to many people over the years as bridal shower and new home presents. This book is the perfect companion for the soup lover who already owns the other book. I remember when Mr. Schwartz was the food editor at the NY Daily News newspaper (early 1990's I think) and I used to eagerly await his articles on Wednesdays and Sundays. For those who know what I'm talking about, his recipes are a lot like his articles - yummy and informative! This cookbook not only contains soup recipes (his cream of broccoli is a family favorite) but Mr. Schwartz includes recipes for items to serve with it - breads, appetizers and delicious salads, as well as desserts for after!

This is a book that will speak to your current situation or need. Sometimes when we are struggling, it is hard to just go and crack open the Bible. It feels overwhelming. We don't know where to start. This is excellent! You look up a subject that closest describes how you are feeling and it gives you a great place to start. Sometimes more than one will be relevant to what we are going through. There are many of these types of books but none that has ever really spoken to me the way this one does. I hope that she comes out with another!

Another great devotional by Kay is, "I Give You This Day". Both would make great gifts! I don't usually like these types of books (devotional)...so this is really saying something! Every day I open it whatever she is speaking on seems to be just for me that day. I got one for a friend and she says the same thing. It is amazing!

Having a hard time? Seeking some comfort and strength through literature? If yes, then buy this book today. I purchased it years ago when I was down in the dumps and it helped to lift my spirits. I have purchased copies for a number of friends and know that I will be buying this book as gifts forever. Everyone I have blessed with this book have benefited from it. It speaks to your heart in an easy and direct manner as if you are in conversation with a friend who tells it to you straight. I love this book and I think you will also.

Bible teacher Kay Arthur writes, "Meekness is accepting everything as coming from God without murmuring, disputing, or retaliating..." It is with that attitude that one humbles himself before God. God's very presence releases tension. When we walk in His ways, as contrasted with our own, we replace the negative with the positive, i.e., frustration, confusion, distortion, despair, and destruction are eliminated from our thoughts. In His presence we learn His ways.

The times and seasons of our lives are in His hands. She tells us to approach God with the spirit of "whatever you want is what I want." God opens and closes doors as is appropriate.

Reading this book helps you to gain a perspective on truth. It helps you to see beyond the temporary to the more ever-lasting meaning of circumstances. It will encourage you if you read it.

"Speak to My heart, God" is a devotional, although not in the conventional sense of having dates on top, and a reading for every day of the year. Instead, there are just slightly more than 60 individual readings. While one of my favourite devotionals is "Morning and Evening" by Spurgeon, this book by Kay Arthur is a balm for the troubled soul. What stands out is that almost all 60 readings are directed at the downcast, troubled, anxious, fearful soul. Have you ever walked through the valley? I am currently battling fear and anxiety, and it is clear to me that these emotions don't simply go away by a quick prayer. Sometimes, we have to daily battle them, with the armour of God, and the sword of the spirit, praying continuously. This book by Kay Arthur, which is divided into "Words of Faith", "Words of Obedience", "Words of Trust", "Words of Grace" is particularly directed at the disquiet in our souls when all is not well. Since as Christians, we don't have mountaintop experiences all the time, it is a handy companion and truly a soothing balm in time of need.

A fine book of wisdom with clear text and honest concepts.

...and I spent hours trying to find the exact same translation online.

The effort was worth it. I've seen many other translations, but none did as wonderful a job in both translating the meaning of this work in an intuitively understandable manner and in continuing to make it read with the beautiful lyricism I've become accustomed to.

I don't know how you found this particular edition of this book (since there are so many inferior ones listed), but now that you've found it, wishlist it or buy it before you lose the link! And then buy it; it's well worth twice the price.

I have attempted to learn about the Dao for a quite awhile. I have even studied Classical Chinese in an attempt to learn more about it.
This without a doubt is the best translation I have ever found. The style used does not push any agenda other than Daoist as the author does not try to tell the reader what it means.
The Dao is something that each person needs to discover on her or his own, Lao Zi understood that and so does Arthur Waley. Other translations of this book that I have seen really pale in comparison, like drinking tepid tap water on a hot day.

This translation is simple and lucid. Footnotes at the bottom of each page help to explain choice of language and meaning of metaphors. Arthur Waley has a clear understanding of the text and is able to represent it in English in a meaningful way, allowing the reader to easily digest concepts and put them into practice.

This is one of the "original" "self-help books" written by a great thinker. You will benefit by reading this book. Recommended. boland7214@aol.

hey, i'm the first reviewer! ahem, imho, this book helps buddhists to understand the reasons for the Mahayana 'split' from the Theravada tradition. This is the best brief popular-level discussion of this i have seen yet. prof Burtt divides the book evenly into selections from Theravada and Mahayana and has an essay in the middle on the causes and motivations for the split. Someone familiar with Theravadan sources looking for an introduction to Mahayana sources would benefit from this book, as well as vice versa. Too often, contemporary Buddhist books tend to blur the distinction and beginners cant be sure which tradition references come from. Anyway, many key selections are included in this book, from the Dhammapada to the Lotus Sutra. It would make a nice source book for group study, as well as being a good source for devotional study. namaste!

Originally published in 1955, E. A. Burtt's "Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha" remains in print nearly half a century later for a very simple reason - it is a concise yet comprehensive introduction to Buddhist thought.

The book is divided into two sections:

Book One - The Early Scriptures of Buddhism

Book Two - Buddhist Thought Through Later Centuries

Book one includes basic doctrines such as the sermon at Benares (in which Gautama Buddha expounds for the first time upon the "Four Noble Truths" and the "Eightfold Path") and selections from the treasure that is "The Dhammapada" ("Way of the Truth").

The remaining thirty odd pages of this section contain material from the Therevada (or "Lesser Vehicle") school of Buddhism, which claims to follow the uncorrupted tradition of Buddha himself, focusing upon clearing of the mind and attainment of Nirvana.

Book two concerns itself with the Mahayana (or "Greater Vehicle") ideal, the core of which holds that since "all are one", universal salvation is the goal of Buddhist practice - as opposed to the Therevada notion of individual pursuit of Nirvana. Among other things, you will find here materials from the Chinese and Japanese Pure Land and Meditation (Zen) schools.

Both sections consist of translations (Burtt used the best he could find at the time) of actual Buddhist texts (such as the above mentioned "Dhammapada", "The Lotus Sutra", various philosophical and devotional treaties, etc.) so that the reader is receiving information more or less directly from the source. Also included is a helpful and illuminating introduction by Mr. Burtt in which he provides an analysis of the religious impulse in general and an overview of the Indian traditions from which Buddhism sprang and which it altered. In fact, Mr. Burtt provides commentary throughout the book, clarifying the distinctions between the Therevada and Mahayana schools and generally shining an erudite light on the various texts.

As an introduction to Buddhism this collection is ideal. As a refresher or reference for those already acquainted with Buddhist thought, this book is a valuable addition to any would be arhat's or bhikshu's library.

This is a comprehensive primer on Buddhist thought. Simple, but informative. Burtt begins with an excellent synopsis on the nature of religion and religious thought in general. It covers the two main branches of Buddhism- Hinayana (or Theravada) and Mahayana. It seems to be that the Theravadins are the followers of more conventional Buddhism with an orthodox canon, whereas the Mahaynas are more universal in their ideas and use later basic writings.Using the Tathagata's words, other things are argued e.g. taking on the life of a monk. The parables are very helfpful, and the one sticking to me most is the one about the acceptance of death. (mustard seed) There is less coverage pertaining to the Theravada school. These ideas of the Mahayanans I find more attracted to, except in some work from the later centuries where they start to argue for things like subjective idealism. The Mahayana religious ideal I do advocate however [pp. 124] 'The central idea in Buddhist teaching is the gospel of universal salvation based on the idea of the fundamental oneness of all beings."

No amount of superlatives can do this book justice. The marvelous thing about it is that it addresses a huge range of topics - no stone is left unturned as Peacocke sticks very close to his purpose and analyzes what today's science means for theology. Topics discussed include sociobiology and morality, multiverses and imaginary time, philosophy of mind and science, theories of divine action, attributes of God, virgin birth, resurrection, Christology (incl. divinity of Christ), theories of atonement (he is sympathetic to Abelard's moral influence theory).

Let me reiterate that the strength of the book is that it leaves no stone unturned and provides a complete, coherent Christian worldview. I have read many books that only deal with, say, evolution or morality or philosophy of mind, but never all at the same time. As a result, my worldview was rather shaky, with some strong coherent parts but other views from traditional theology that are untenable in a scientific age. Peacocke addressed it all, from a basic argument for God to a precise analysis of the human problem (sin) and how Christ atones. It likely averted a crisis of faith.

One note: this same virtue means that many of your traditional beliefs will be challenged. I was very shocked and angry at times as *inter alia* (a favorite phrase of Peacocke, BTW; means "among other things") many miracles, the virgin birth, a literal adam and eve and thus a "paradisical" perfect state, an intrinsically immortal soul, and God's direct communication (not mediated by natural means) were all confronted head on, scientifically dismantled, and shown to be incoherent. However, Peacocke does not stop there but instead shows how science provides a new take on these and often enriches our views of such issues in a way that traditional theology is deficient.

I could go on and on about this book, but let me end with one thought: this is the book Christianity needs to stay intellectually relevant. There is so much antagonism directed toward Christianity because of some of its adherents' refusal to come to terms with science. Peacocke shows this need not be so; he accepts science fully and composes an intellectually rigorous and coherent worldview in this book. I have full confidence that this book would end the ridiculous "creation vs. evolution debate" and "science disproves god and religion (just a medieval fairy tale anyway)" movement going on right now if people would just read it.

So, in closing:
For believers: "There's no need to go out and buy another sensational "you can beweeve da Biible and evowution too!!!" book. Peacocke integrates science and theology in a logically coherent whole.

For the unbeliever: Take a look at this book. It's a thought-provoking read that shows that Christianity doesn't require checking your brains at the door and can be an intellectually honest, scientifically rigorous view of the world.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I found this book to be very engaging and full of ideas that either confirmed many things I had been thinking for years or stretched me further along. I highly recommend it to those interested in an intellectually compelling development of a scientifically-informed theology. My only criticism of the book is that I found it a bit laborious to read, as Peacocke's writing style is, to me, overly wordy, and the language is somewhat stilted. Nevertheless, it is definitely a volume worth reading and thinking about.

Peacocke's basic premise is that theology, for it to remain alive and relevant, cannot ignore the knowledge generated by science and must find ways to embrace it and incorporate it into its concepts of God and its understanding of the meaning of the life of Jesus Christ. Peacocke's approach requires that the integrity of scientific knowledge be preserved in theology. He sees the orderliness of how the physical universe operates as a characteristic of God that is to be revered. This also, however, makes it necessary to be careful in understanding miracles and not to accept the breaking of normal physical laws naïvely or literally. He calls his approach "critical realism".

Peacocke accepts evolution as God's way of creating life and very meaningfully depicts the ongoing nature of this process as God's continuing interaction with creation. He calls this divine "becoming", as contrasted with God's nature or "being". He conceives God's interaction with the world as a top-down causation, but this does not interfere with the orderly functioning of physical processes or with human free will.

In light of this, the biblical story of the Garden of Eden and The Fall can no longer be regarded as literally true (which is not to denigrate its metaphorical meaningfulness). That is, most pertinently, there never was an original state of moral perfection from which humanity fell, that introduced sin into human character, and that initiated biological death. Peacocke rather conceptualizes what is typically called sin as a sense of alienation or being a misfit, and biological death is an integral part of the creative evolutionary process.

Without The Fall, atonement theories regarding the significance of the life of Jesus Christ that are based on the idea of redemptive sacrifice no longer can be supported. Instead, he embraces the theory of Abelard and expands on it -- that the life of Jesus was an act of love, Jesus is an embodiment of God, and Jesus is our model for lifestyle.

There are many more intriguing ideas throughout the book. As a scientist myself, I found Peacocke's approach to be both scientifically and intellectually honest as well as morally inspiring. His high regard for Jesus Christ as a model for our lives is a lesson for us all, whether one is a Christian or not.

_Theology for a Scientific Age_ is easily one of the most rigorous, thorough, and wide-ranging attempts to engage historic Christian theology in light of recent advances in the sciences. As the subtitle suggests, the major thread which runs throughout the entire work is the transition from a static to a dynamic ontology -- substance vs. process, Being vs. Becoming. This fundamental philosophical shift has impacted every corner of theological thinking, and Peacocke takes great pains to elucidate the changes with rigor and detail.

Of particular note are the discussions regarding cognitive science and information theory. He suggests a model of top-down information input to describe God's activity in the physical universe -- not capriciously intervening and breaking the laws of nature, but respecting those laws and working within them to accomplish his purposes. The relationship between mind and brain is thoroughly explored, and applied by analogy to this model of divine action in the world. Even the thorny issue of the divinity of Christ is illuminated in a way that is deeply respectful of historic Christianity, while moving beyond the superstitions of popular piety. The discussion of St. John's logos as Meaning and Person is truly profound, deeply challenging to biblical literalists and scientific materialists alike.

Highly recommended.

Genesis vs. Geology? Creationism vs. Darwinism? Religious ["spiritual'] people who accept Evolution do not have a dog in this fight. The ultimate encompassing Mystery beyond the reach of strict scientific tools seems to be using the chance and selection of evolution to progress to more desirable forms of being. [Rather be pig, paramecium, or person?] If you are interested is seeing how someone who rejects both dogmatic fundamentalisms--Biblical Literalism and Materialist metaphysics masquerading as pure science--can relate science and religion in what Ian Barbour calls creative dialogue and integration, this is a book for you.

Peacocke--trained scientist and theologian--shows the limitations of reductive scientism [scientific imperialism] and its inability to answer questions which arise at the limiting edges of legitimate scientific inquiry [e.g.: What was going on before the "Big Bang"? How do minds influence brains and bodies?] He suggests the clue to the nature of God's causal relation to the World is the mind-body relation in human persons. In both we have "top-down [rather than "bottom-up"] causation at work. More complex wholes exercise constraints upon simpler parts. He illuminates, but does not quite explain, what he calls the 'causal joint' between minds and bodies, and between God and the World. He finds panentheism helpful, but not altogether convincing. The fulfillment of human life is to participate with God in our sacramental universe [pp.342-45].

Is it "impostor" or "imposter"?--that is the question that nagged me while I read The Three Impostors. Which spelling is correct, and which is the imposter/or? The lexicographers need to come down hard on this issue!!

That aside, The Three Impostors is a black diamond of a little dark fantasy, told in hypnotic descriptive prose. The book is structured as a series of stories within a frame story, much like the Decameron or Canterbury Tales, only the frame story has its own plot and is the most interesting of all in The Three Impostors. The sub-stories range from the strange to the macabre, to the frankly paranormal, each entertaining in its own right besides what it contributes to the whole. Moreover, Machen's style glitters with curious flights of thought and characterizations, well nigh as enertaining as the story itself.

What struck me most of all about The Three Impostors is how panoramically influential this short book is, as if it were the whole nine muses of twentieth century literature! The Maltese Falcon owes an obvious debt to the Gold Tiberius. I think the Novel of the Dark Valley is a clear precursor to The Trial, and obviously, Lovecraft derived his whole schtick from the Adventure of the Missing Brother. Machen himself must have been influenced by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, published about 10 years earlier, but Machen amplifies and enhances the original, rather than narrowing it.

Altogether, The Three Impostors, however you spell it, was well worth the 150 pages of reading time. Dyson and Phillipps are my new literary heroes! I would recommend the edition from Chaosium, since this includes several other good Machen works for about the same price as the other editions.

This little book is an unexpected but welcome surprise in the world of literature. Jorge Luis Borges wrote the introduction in the Spanish edition that I own. And he was right, few people know the existence of this great mistery novel, otherwise it would be already a classic.

In has the flavour of Dickens and the imagination and dexterity of Agatha Christie.

His name is Arthur Machen.

Arthur Machen can easily be described as one of the writers who provided the foundation to the 20th century fantasy and horror literature. This one is a great collection of horror stories, most of which has a quite Lovecraftian style. If you are new to Machen, and/or like stories with a tinge of "Mythos Horror" in them, you'll definetely like this one.

Horror master Arthur Machen's crowning achievement, a still shocking compendium of interwoven short horror tales. In late 19th century London, a scientist and an unpublished writer join forces as amateur detectives in an attempt to solve a minor but puzzling mystery which ultimately leads to the discovery of a truly diabolical conspiracy. In the course of their investigations, the two men find themselves repeatedly surrendering their attention to a series of seemingly outlandish tales spun by an assortment of eccentric story tellers. The stories, which all deal with imposture of some kind, are only tangentially related to each other, yet offer the somewhat bumbling sleuths important clues to the mystery at hand. Machen builds suspense slowly and methodically, masterfully leading the reader on to a completely unexpected, gruesome climax. Comical, tragic, sophisticated, violent, horrific, and even downright disgusting, THE THREE IMPOSTORS is a classic horror novel of sly deception and wit.

The 1995 Everyman paperback is the only critical edition of this remarkably rich book released to date, offering a scholarly introduction (by editor David Trotter) that carefully details Machen's main influences (chiefly Robert Louis Stevenson) and themes (imposture of various kinds, also derived from Stevenson). A short text summary nicely encapsulates the narrative's various twists and turns. Finally, a section entitled "Machen and His Critics" provides a welcome offering of mostly contemporaneous critical responses to this remarkable book; while many of these reviews were laudatory, quite a few passionately outraged quotes reveal just how shocking THE THREE IMPOSTORS must truly have been in its time.

Mr. Arthur Waley has proven that a good work can stand the test of time. First published almost 60 years ago this work does a wonderful jobof explianing the differences between various schools of thought not just in China but in the rest of Asia.

The differences between the teachings of Chuang Tzu, Mencius and The realists may not seem like much to us westerners but these three groups have all done a lot to shape Asia.

The thing I like most about this book is that it is short and broken up into three parts. Therefore your mind doesn't do a blowout trying to digest all the material and you can study each school indivudally.

Overall-Great book, most of the stories are very deep and will hold some meaning for everyone if you are just willing to listen.

Three Ways of Thought in Ancient China is a book that opens the door to Chinese philosophy. Some of the writing may be familiar, such as Confucius while other lagalist writing sounds more Machiavellian. A good book for an introduction to Chinese philosophy, much of it reads like poetry.

This work is one of the very few great English language classics in the exposition of traditional Chinese thought. It is delightful reading. Its author, Arthur Waley, remains long after his death the premier translator of traditional Chinese and Japanese literature. The pleasure of reading this book for the first time, years ago, influenced me in great measure to complete a doctorate in Far Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Today, it is the first book I recommend that my students read as an introduction to traditional Chinese thought; the book gives a clear glimpse of the value systems of people in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore right down to today. Three Ways of Thought in Ancient China, by Arthur Waley, is a book not to be missed by any educated person. Enjoy!

It's easy to give short shrift to a book that hopes to summarize three major traditions of philosophy in just over 200 pages. What makes this brilliant is Waley's assembling views of Daoist, Confucist and Realist thinking in the form of imaginary colloquia between the various philosophers.
The result is an introduction, for the Western reader, to the rich and highly conflicted intellectual background of Chinese civilization.

As China becomes more of a world power, this little book, even without mention of Maoist thought and legacy will remain a good, short introduction to the foundations of that world.

Lynn Hoffman, author of bang BANG