Arthur Books

This book is one in Time Life Books' The Enchanted World series. Each of these books covers a different aspect of folklore and mythology, and they are an excellent set. They tell stories in a similar format and complement each other well without repeating the content. Each is about 140 pages. Together the series makes a good fun coverage of mythology. This volume stands well on its own. You can get more detailed books about Arthurian legend. This one has detailed information but is easy to read throughout. This is a beautifully illustrated well printed volume

There is a chapter on each of the major characters in the legend: Arthur, Morgause, Guinevere, Morgan, Lancelot, Mordred and Gawain. There is enough scholarship and reference here that this can be used as an academic resource, but it is written so that it is easy to read. Often more detailed information is presented in smaller sections with pictures and captions in the margins to the chapter.

This is a beautifully bound and printed book. The binding is just cloth to collectors, but it is printed to look like a wizard's book. The cover shows a dragon holding a picture of a King Arthur brooding on his throne. I think it was the cover that got me reading this when I was child.

This is a well researched nicely produced series. For me one book in the series had me hooked. If you are interested in mythology and all things magic then it is definitely worth trying out the series. High school and middle school libraries should consider the series and especially this book since it stands alone well.

There are few who don't know the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. However, this version is a bit different than the one you might be use to. For example, it's Arthur's sister Morgause that bares his son Mordred, not Morgana Le Fay. Arthur wields the sword Caliburn, not Excalibur.

This book divides the legend of Arthur into seven chapters, each spotlighting a different character. It's a fun, visually exciting way to present the story. Though out the book are woven with haunting, alluring paining and sketches, making this a feast for your eyes.

Be warned, there is sexual content, but not much. Still, I recommend this book for those 14 and older.

Just a side bar, if you buy this book and do like it, it's one of a series called "Enchanted World", so make sure you look up it's 19 siblings!

Jacob Asch is about as close to Marlowe as it gets. When I read crime fiction (especially first-person stories about private investigators set in LA!), I'm continually making comparisons with Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe. So far, I've found two worthy successors to Chandler: Crumley and Lyons.

Lyons' execution is nearly flawless. The story never sags, from its opening in which a new client is found dead in Asch's office. The pursuit of the truth about the client, his prostitute girlfriend and junkie crime-partner is wound into a tight, elegant ball of a plot, surrounded by a host of LA police detectives... some cooperative and some downright suspicious of Asch's motives.

I encountered and read this book by accident. I will hunt down the other Asch novels for the simple reason that this book is an entertaining, nearly flawless example of LA PI fiction.

Reporter turned private detective Jacob Asch agrees to meet a man on short notice--anything to take Asch from the ennui of tracking down elderly people for conservatorship actions. The man says he suspects his wife of being unfaithful, and Asch takes the case. After a fruitless day of following the woman, Asch returns to his office to find his client murdered. Asch is further confused when the man turns out not to be who he claimed to be. The police are not confused, though. Asch is promptly jailed.

When the police verify Asch's whereabouts during the day, they finally release Asch, who vows to solve the mystery of the murdered client. When each lead seems to leave to a corpse, Asch finds himself involved in an even larger mystery and a growing cast of suspects. He finds himself growing increasingly suspicious as he falls into the arms of a gorgeous blonde homicide detective. But can he trust her, her alcoholic partner, the self-centered reporter who did the story on police corruption, the widow of a slain cop, the mechanic who dabbles as a pimp, or any of the other people in the story?

"False Pretenses" is a hard-boiled detective story for the '90s, true to the genre's pioneers without being an anachronism. Jacob Asch may not be Sam Spade, but he is not too far removed. The result is a very enjoyable novel.

This book is fun and also offers some excellent insight into the ways wizards think and how they would confront the problem of dangerous creatures and also why they find the less dangerous animals beautiful. There is also a lot of information on classifying the different species of magical creatures, as well as a distinction between a magical "being" and a magical "beast." The opening of the book, a forward by Newt Scamander is also exciting, as he explains what drew him towards the subject of magical creatures and his travels around the world. Whenever I read this book I feel close to Harry's world of witches and wizards. As Dumbledore's says, if you refuse to buy this book because you don't think charity is signigicant enough, I can only hope that when you meet a manticore along the way, a wizard is feeling charitable enough to help you!

This thin little volume is an excellent supplement to the popular Harry Potter series. All of the magical species mentioned in the series are covered in this book, along with many more. Each animal is described physically, with notes on its temperament and magical ability. Also included are "Beings" such as Merpeople.

The book is arranged alphabetically. Each creature is also classified by the level of danger that it brings: Expert Wizard Needed, Competent Wizard Should Cope, etc. Harry's notes, handwritten of course, pepper the pages. Example: On the page where Chaemera eggs are mentioned as being an Untradable Good, Harry notes that "Hagrid'll be getting some next."

All in all, a worthwhile purchase.

This is a fine introduction to popular Russian fairy tales, including the story of the little snow girl (a childless couple builds a daughter out of snow) and "Frost" (cruel stepmother sends girl out to freeze in the snow, but Frost sees her kindness and spares her-- the nasty stepsisters are not so lucky). The similarity between some of the Russian tales and our own English fairy tales is interesting (why is the stepmother always the evil one?). This introductory collection leaves one wanting to learn more Russian tales.

This is a fantastic collection of stories that have been a part of the Russian culture for centuries. Anyone growing up in Russia has heard these stories, and now so can you! Kids will appreciate the characters and adventures. Parents will appreciate the values and lessons. Everyone will appreciate the timeless tales of fantasy, magic, and talking animals.

Primary grade scientists will study all about the wind and how it's made when hot and cold air interact, and how the wind can be harnessed to help us and how it can wear down even the strongest rocks by erosion.

Simple directions for making a weather vane are also included. (Younger children will require assistance.)

Young readers will adore this book.

"Feel the Wind" is a great tool for teaching children about the wind and the weather. Arthur Dorros defines wind and its uses in a way that children can easily understand. The book includes the causes of wind, ways wind is used by man and nature, and easy directions for making a weather vane. This book is a must for any young meterorologist.

For those who suffer chronic pain, chronic illnesses, fatigue, migraines, acid indigestion or other medical issues, this book may help you.

In Feeling Better: A 6-week Mind-Body Program to Ease Your Chronic Symptoms, the authors offer a comprehensive program to help chronic pain sufferers.


PART TWO: Feeling Better: The Six-Week Program to Stop Being Your Symptoms and Start Being Yourself

CHAPTER THREE: WEEK 1 - SHIFT FOCUS FROM YOUR SYMPTOMS TO YOURSELF

CHAPTER FOUR: WEEK 2 - LEARN HOW TO RETHINK YOUR SYMPTOMS

CHAPTER FIVE: WEEK 3 - CHANGE THE SITUATION, LESSEN YOUR SYMPTOM

CHAPTER SIX: WEEK 4 - UNDO THE DAMAGE OF UNPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIORS

CHAPTER SEVEN: WEEK 5 - BRIGHTEN THE MOOD, HELP THE SYMPTOM

CHAPTER EIGHT: WEEK 6 - LESSONS IN COPING WELL



* * *

PART THREE: General Principles for Living and Coping Well
CHAPTER NINE: LIVING WELL THROUGH NUTRITION AND EXERCISE

CHAPTER TEN: FOUR FINAL PRINCIPLES.



Looks good to me, and as someone who once lived with chronic pain for 10 years, I would have appreciated this book, a few years ago.

As someone who finally recovered from chronic pain, I still appreciate the tips and recognize the wisdom of the words herein.

When a person is in the grips of chronic pain, it can be difficult to 'stop being your symptom' - all we ever think and feel are our symptoms, our pain. It seems as if we cannot stop thinking about it.

But here's a tip from the book: Distract yourself from the pain. Do not focus on it. If you suffer from dizziness, take note of the times when you stand up and do NOT feel dizzy.

Lead as productive a life as possible and you will feel better.

The authors note that the profit motive, the mass media, increased medicalization of our symptoms and the basic condition of life all contributes to the seeming contradiction of 'doing better but feeling worse' - we live longer but often suffer chronic illnesses we did not have decades ago.

Decades ago, people usually did not live long enough to develop some of the medical conditions that now disable us. So we are 'doing better' in that we live longer, but it is the quality of our lives that is at issue. We want to live longer and live with quality of life.

I have noticed way too much advertising for drugs and medical conditions that really may not need treatment, that are really a part of life. I am talking about 'restless legs' and 'overactive bladder.' Drugs can be helpful but they are powerful and can have side effects, which can add up over time and which may decrease our ability to function in other ways.


But for those who suffer such conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (my late mother-in-law had RA and Diabetes), the issue is trying to live WITH the condition and its symptoms but while LIVING a LIFE DESPITE the condition.


The authors give the example of two patients with RA - one who continued to live her life as productively as possible despite the difficulty or inability to perform many routine tasks such as opening jars - and another patient, who pretty much had given up on her symptoms and let them control her.

Relaxation exercises and deep breathing can help lessen pain, the authors note.

People who are isolated or who live with negative psychological or social factors are likely to feel worse than those who live with more positive influences in their lives.

Getting out as much as possible and being with people helps. Online communities such as Gather is part of this.

It may surprise you to know that about 68 percent of people who live with disabling conditions report being satisfied or fairly satisfied with their lives.

I consider this to be a good number!

An excellent book for anyone who does not feel well or who has not felt well, at some point in their life.

How our mind interprets chronic and annoying (non-life threatening) symptoms is a topic that has recently gained much research and respect in the medical field. Through their successful 6-Week Program, Dr's Barsky and Deans tackle many of the annoying and often debilitating issues facing a very large, stressed and overworked human population.

If any of the following symptoms sound familiar to you: anxiety, migraines, headaches, stress, depression, fatigue, arthritis, lower back pain, insomnia, indigestion and you have not found relief from your medical provider, I highly recommend reading and following Barsky and Deans "6-Week Mind-Body Program to ease your Chronic Symptoms."

Through their step-by-step plan you will slowly change the way you perceive your symptoms and the way you approach life. You will spend time reflecting, journaling, becoming more active "in life," finding and using stress reducing activities on a regular basis, concentrating on better nutrition and discovering an exercise program that will work for you.

In addition to examples and strategies, real-life stories and examples are provided for the reader. This is the type of self-help book that should be read more than once to gain the full benefit and to reinforce positive thinking and goal attainment over a period of time. I challenge you to resolve to "Feeling Better" in the New Year.

This book was very hard to put down! Following Dr. Steven Mallory's journey to the surprising conclusion was a treat. Mr. Wray weaves a complex tale of science and mysticism into an enjoyable read without bogging his story down in arcane details. The characters very real and one can relate to them very easily. Their paths in the story seem to travel in different directions, yet are neatly (and effectively) interwoven at the end. Enjoy!

This is a very good book. It is fairly easy to read, some education in physics would help, but otherwise you can read it clear through. Ross gives us a history of philosphy and science and shows how they strayed from theology. He also shows very clearly how modern science and the bible are in agreement, not in disagreement. This book is for anyone interested in science and the bible, and if they both are in agreement or not.
The only complaint I have is the end of the book where Ross attempts to explain evil and suffering in light of a loving and good God. He gives the usual C.S. Lewis answers that are unnceccesarily focused on a weak view of our human wills and the idea that the Creator would never dare comprise that will. Here I think Ross has left his area of expertise and attempted to explain what is better explained by exegetes and theologians, or better yet a skilled Christian philosopher.
But that aside, I enjoyed the book and found it to be very well documented for testing the validity of it. I challenge the skeptic and believer alike to read this book, and see for themselves - that God is very real, and very obviously the Creator of our existence.

Author Barry has a winner in this first novel.Whether or not you have ever spent time on the Gulf Coast of Florida,you'll be drawn into The Fireproof Hotel's quick-paced action,vivid descriptions,and real-life characters. I look forward to his next one.

Alongside the glitz and glamour of Florida's gold coast lies another world: one of shady characters, corruption, sleeze, and violence. Barry paints an indelibile picture of this ominous demi-monde, as he tells a riveting story of crooked cops, corrupt public officials, and a mixed bag of marginal characters simply trying to get by. In the tradition of the great French novelist Emile Zola, Barry depicts a society that for all its surface civility is rotten to the core.

This contains Nahuatl, some Spanish translations, and all translated to English. It is very useful for me as examples of the survivors of Toltec Moral behaviour.

Many scholars such as Garibay and Miguel Leon-Portillo praise Sahagun's works as one of the primary sources for pre-columbian knowledge and without a doubt this books relates the rethoric and ancient Mexican thinking in a fabulous way. It includes the original text in Nahuatl and an English translation.

I am delighted this book has been reprinted and therefore placed within the reach of many eager to know its contents. Unlike the other reviewer, I would not puff on about the book's merits. I would rather point out its great significance in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.

First of all, though Alcoholics Anonymous did have some of its roots in the Oxford Group, the Oxford Group had far more influence on Bill Wilson's 1939 Big Book writings and Twelve Steps than it did on the A.A. program that began in Akron in 1935. Thus, to give balance to a search for the history and roots of A.A., one has to do what most historians have not done. One must realize that in Akron, the program came primarily from the principles and practices of United Christian Endeavor Society (a society in which Dr. Bob was active as a youth. Hence if you are researching the Oxford Group's impact, your direction is toward the program Bill Wilson fashioned when he wrote the Big Book in 1938 and published it in 1939.

Second, there is no "Oxford Group Book" as the cover of the reprint suggests. Nor is For Sinners Only of great importance as far as "God Calling" is concerned, as the first reviewer suggests. Russell merely wrote the Foreword.

Third, when it comes to the Oxford Group literature, For Sinners Only is an extremely important resource. The book was highly recommended for reading by AAs by Dr. Bob and also in his wife's journal which was read to early AAs. The details are discussed in my titles, "Dr. Bob and His Library", "The Books Early AAs Read for Spiritual Growth, 7th ed.," and "Anne Smith's Journal, 1933-1939." The particular value for AAs is that they read a number of life-changing books, most considered part of the Oxford Group's recommended books. These included Stephen Foot's Life Began Yesterday, Russell's For Sinners Only, Shoemaker's Children of the Second Birth, and Begbie's Twice Born Men. In other words, the Oxford Group's "life changing" program was incorporated almost verbatim in the Twelve Steps. Hence its life-changing literature brings the details to light.

Fourth, as I explain in my title The Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous, there were a number of separate life-changing ideas from the Oxford Group that impacted on early Alcoholics Anonymous. Each group had an explanatory source book. Thus Begbie's Life Changers was an early exposition of the Oxford Group activists of the 1920's. Howard Walter's 1919 Soul Surgery detailed the so-called "Five C.'s"--Confidence, Confession, Conviction, Conversion, and Continuance--which formed the heart of A.A.'s later Steps. Henry Wright's The Will of God and a Man's Lifework expanded on the "Four Absolute" standards of the Oxford Group--Honesty, Purity, Unselfishness, and Love. Howard Rose's The Quiet Time laid out that facet of the life changing process. Sherwood Day's The Principles of the Oxford Group laid out the Biblical origins of the ideas. What is The Oxford Group? covered several of the Oxford Group principles and spelled out the "restitution" or amends part of the process. Books by Oxford Group founder Dr. Frank N.D. Buchman such as Remaking the World and by Oxford Group leader Rev. Sam Shoemaker spelled out the phrases "spiritual experience" and "spiritual awakening" that became the end objective of the life-change. See my title New Light on Alcoholism.

Fifth, now back to For Sinners Only. A.J. Russell was a reporter. And when his book appeared in 1934, the Oxford Group was at its height in popularity and was about to become the unknowing springboard for Bill Wilson's recovery ideas. Russell does a delightful job of describing both the personalities and the ideas of the Oxford Group people. Sam Shoemaker was a leader, and Russell gives Sam his due. Russell also reports on the Four Absolutes, Restitution, Quiet Time, and the rest. Hence For Sinners Only should be regarded not as the Oxford Group "Bible," but rather as a report on the Oxford Group at 15 years. It is easy reading, narrative in form, and rich in content.

For those who are willing to take the plunge into the complicated roots of New York's A.A. program, For Sinners Only is an important resource. Forget all the hype about Russell's connection with "God Calling" and the later "Twenty Four Hour" book. You'd think Russell was their author, and he wasn't. He was just a famous reporter who did a great job of popularizing the Oxford Group as it was growing to the height of its successes in the 1930's.

This is the book that prompted the "Two Listeners" to write "God Calling". It's a must for all the millions of people who have bought "God Calling" (and if you haven't - do it now - $3.97 from Amazon last I looked)

The message is as fresh and relevant today as it was 70 years ago, with the power to change individuals and the whole world for the better.

There is no greater adventure on this Earth.