Barry Books

This book is so simple and so powerful.

Full of exercises to help you to remember to observe yourself.

Don't be a mindless zombie. Pay attention.

Observe yourself:

Physically (breathing scanning the body),

Emotionally (impressions assumptions excuses justifications reactions judgements),

In stillness,

In simple movement (walking eating talking thinking),

Doing what you enjoy and that at which you are good (efficient effortless thoughtless alert responsive)

This is an awesome book. The lessons are easy to read and follow. Just reading through it made me feel at peace. I like the Ten Lessons layout and being able to read it and apply!

A Barry Long reader, listener, and viewer for well over a decade now, this is the book I have suggested people start with and have also given away the most. It's an excellent introduction to the teaching, practical and user-friendly. Just working with each brief lesson a day over ten days and repeating the cycle over and over until the "tools" are integrated is transformational. And if only a few of the lessons speak to you, then work with those. It's the same with all of his teaching. You come back later and more speaks to you. Sometimes it's as if you've never even heard it before. And as "meditation" has become a loaded word with all of its Eastern implications, and not to put that down, the would-be reader needs to know that this is a meditation book for Westerners, addressing the particular needs of stilling an incessant mind that feeds emotions which creates all of our problems. I write with much gratitude.

A really solid introduction to meditation and self-discovery. My thanks to the author.

What I really liked about this book is that is written in such practical, down to earth language. i have spent years getting into meditation through eastern practices, after reading this I have suddenly gone so much deeper! It's definitely because Barry is a westerner and speaks from the experience of living in this culture. the book's exercises are clearly written and really work in the way they are meant to, ie clearing the unnecessary clutter in the mind and dropping through to the stillness beyond it that is always there. I've never read a better book on meditation, and I've read a lot of them! Anyone who meditates or would like to should read this book.

This book deserves 10 stars! I am not overweight but bought this book in the interest of good health after reading Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. Prior to that, I was one of the many people out there who had totally bought into the popular notions of what constitutes a "healthy diet". I thought low-carb was a gimmicky fad. No more! This book is not a diet but a way of eating for life. Not only is Dr. Groves extremely knowledgeable and qualified, but he has a true gift for explaining the science in easy-to-understand English. It was tough to abandon my fears and pre-conceived notions about fats, but I must say that after following his recommendations I feel much better. I used to have lots of problems with hypoglycemia, snacking between meals (I just never felt full), and even a little extra flab around my middle. Now, the ups and downs are gone, I eat three solid (high fat) meals a day and have lost that belly fat. This is truly a fantastic book. His web site is also fabulous and contains more in-depth information on many of the concepts covered in the book.

In a world where every "nutritionist" seems out to make a quick buck ("Lose 20 lbs in 20 days!!"), Barry Groves REALLY knows his stuff, biologically and practically speaking. It's clear that this man has spent most of his life studying nutrition and biology. He can produce study after study after study and explain its what they mean. The guy even goes back to studying prehistoric man and archaeological finds re: nutrition. This book is nothing if not THOROUGH. I've made nutrition a hobby (studying it, as well as practical application of course!!) and read many books and textbooks on biology and nutrition, and this book is one few that I would actually recommend to anyone. You won't just learn about how to lose weight, but about how your body really works, and how to be healthy for life. I'm not interested in Atkins or Southbeach or some other commercialized "diet".... and this really isn't like that at all. You'll learn a lot, and the truth shall set you free.

I was highly impressed with this book, and no doubt it is compelling reading. Above all, it is very accessible to the average reader who wants to dig deep into the "whys" and "wherefores" of low carb eating, all while absorbing an amazing array of detail. Mr. Groves appears to be under ratings attack on the net, and like Atkins and other revolutionary thinkers in the arena of low carb/high fat eating, the medical community still shuns these concepts. But medical credentials don't mean everything, and I'd say Barry Groves with his 40 years of study and personal experimentation and observation knows more on this subject than a hundred doctors collectively know. (Read: most doctors know virtually nothing about nutrition). While reading this book you can't help but be convinced by his very sound arguments for this way of eating. It all makes sense when you look at the data and examples he presents. I myself haven't yet implemented his precise recommendations, but I can say that my previous experience doing Atkins for about 6 weeks was amazing: I felt better than I'd ever felt (no grains, no dairy, no sugar) and I dropped weight effortlessly. There is something to this, no doubt about it. The only thing that still frightens me is the idea of possibly raising cholesterol etc. to higher levels. I guess I have a bit of trouble banishing my final degree of skepticism which I hold for all books on weight loss....Mr. Groves' ideas really do fly against the current thinking of most of the medical community, most of whom are sadly "in the dark" about nutritional issues beyond a very rudimentary level. Why should I believe anything they say? Look at the food pyramid! In any case, this really is one of the most fascinating books I have yet read in this subject area and I will be reading it more than once to absorb everything. Particularly if you are already committed to the idea of low carb eating as a way of life, this book greatly adds to your knowledge on the subject and will definitely strengthen your resolve to continue with this sort of diet for a lifetime of maintaining a healthy weight.

Another of the very few loud voices speaking out on behalf of a high-fat, low-carb diet in the UK is Dr. Barry Groves. With Dr. Atkins no longer with us, Dr. Groves has taken up the torch and carried it boldly and proudly for all the world to see. He's convinced that fat is not the source of our weight and health troubles--CARBOHYDRATES ARE! That's the underlying conclusion he shares in his book Natural Health & Weight Loss.

After years of researching, studying, writing, lecturing, and, most importantly, LIVING the low-carb lifestyle, Dr. Groves has a lifetime of experiences to share about how eating fat to replace carbohydrate in our diet will keep your body healthy, fit, and lean when a high-carb, low-fat diet fails you. He says people should eat more real food if they want to ward off the diseases that afflict so many people these days, namely obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Of course, all of his claims are backed up by the research and his more than four decades of personal and professional experience. In fact, you can even check out a thread at my LowCarbDiscussion.com forum dedicated to people following Dr. Barry Groves for lots of support and assistance as you implement these principles into your life. Dr. Groves has even been known to pop in to make comments and answer questions from time to time, too. Natural Health & Weight Loss is a book that you'll be proud to own and I cannot encourage you enough to get it, love it, and then LIVE IT!

Having lived the low-carb lifestyle for five years myself, I found this book to be enlightening, informative, researched, and brilliant. This book contained no disappointments. Barry Groves is a fantastic author, presents the low-carb lifestyle with ease and simplicity. I recommend this be added to the library of anyone who is interested in, or lives the low-carb lifestyle.

Most people would rather be right than happy. Too bad.

For those people (which of course includes me, far more often than I would like), I recommend this book, which teaches ways to defuse stress and thrive with all of life's challenges.

Barry Neil Kaufman, therapist, author, motivational speaker, and co-founder of the Option Institute, observes that - despite disappointments, illnesses, and physical and emotional problems - we can all be happy. He shows us how to change our lives without pain (the only overlooked major point is that it does require focus and repetition to change how our brains work).

I read hundreds of books every year but, if I were forced to choose just one, this would probably be it. It created such a positive impact on the quality of my life! Only quibble - this is the book that should have been called "Happiness is a Choice" but Kaufman had already used this title for a previous book.

Kaufman explains in clear and simple language how we come to acquire beliefs that can undermine our happiness and effectiveness. Remarkably, these beliefs were taught and adopted with the best of intentions, to protect and guide us. When we lack the necessary awareness, though, we can not see the harm these beliefs do in our lives.

Kaufman introduces a set of attitudes to consider along with a simple system of inquiry which he calls the Option Process. He presents many actual dialogues he has had using the Option Process with a variety of individuals beset by a wide range of serious challenges. The dialogues are a powerful way of identifying beliefs which do not serve us, or upon conscious examination, do not seem to make sense. In reading through these dialogues, I was amazed at how quickly many of these individuals were able to emerge from their stuck states, let go of beliefs that did not serve them, and move on to more constructive perspectives and actions. While participants no doubt benefited from Kaufman's questions, the process can also be practiced on one's own.

Even though this book was written a number of years ago (1977), it in no way comes across as dated. In a number of respects, it reminds me of the process subsequently and independently developed by Byron Katie known as the Work. For this reader, though, the Option Process is much more accessible and straightforward.

For information about other books and programs, visit the website of the Option Institute at www.option.org/

This wonderful book provides a lot of useful approaches to improving one's life. The author is plainly a very loving and empathetic person who has taken his life experiences and used them as teaching tools for others. Mere words do not do this book justice. It is something I would recommend highly to everyone.

Just reading this book will certainly improve your life. It is a step to take in making some empowering life decisions.

Every part was helpful. The explanations gave me the background to understand the new ideas. The dialogue sections were easy and fun to read, and made each section crystal clear. The part I liked best, however, was the lists of "unhappy" beliefs that many people hold. I found many of my own beliefs on those lists and chose to change them. This one is my favorite of Kaufman's books.

The ideas in this book changed my life! It's the only approach to life I've ever seen that says we don't need to be unhappy. Period. We don't need anger, guilt, depression, sorrow or any of that to live a great life. We don't need negative emotions to motivate us or others. Amazing!

My first English Ring was Andrew Porter's "singable" translation. It was my introduction to a world of sound-rhymes that is difficult to render even in German (a running joke in Bayreuth was that singers were asked to first translate the text to German, before starting work!!!). When my focus turned to meaning of words and sentences, I've discovered the Spencer translation, the most up-to-date version available in English. Besides an annotated text (with alternate endings included - previous versions of course...), comparing word roots with Wagner's own sources, we are also presented with introductory essays by Wagner scholars, filled with insight and devoid of one-sidedness so common in music scholarship. For everyone looking for THE version of Der Ring in English.

This is a very useful set of libretti and translations. The introductory material and the synopses are also of great use.

Thank you, Mr. Spencer. You have given us something very special. You have given us a complete English translation of Der Ring Des Nibelungen, and it's possibly the most Wagnerian translation ever put on paper. You have given us more knowledge about the Ring Cycle by giving us commentaries about Wagner and his mission to change the way we look at operas. You have also given us B & W pictures of recent renderings of the Ring Cycle, from the Bayreuth Festival to the New York Metropolitan Opera. And for that, we are very grateful. A+

I studied "The Nibelungenlied" in college and was so mesmerized by the story that I had a linden leaf tattooed on my back. Since then, I have read Nordic sagas of the Siegfried legend. This was my first read of Wagner's comprehensive version. It was breathtaking.

Wagner draws from all versions of the legend. In addition to "The Nibelungenlied," he uses "The Saga of the Volsungs" and other Nordic versions such as the prose and poetic "Edda."

Wagner's ambitious work was composed under the nationalistic fervour of 19th Century Germany. He believed "The Nibelungenlied" to be for Germany what "The Iliad" was for Greece or "The Aeneid" was for Rome. Thus he populates his German forests and rivers with mythological gods and faeries, and his human heroes are imbued with heroic courage and strength reminiscent of Achilles and Aeneas.

In his poetry, Wagner proves himself a genius. Like other masters of language, he deftly balances storytelling, emotion, and philosophy. Stewart Spencer's translation is excellent, especially in capturing Wagner's emphasis on alliteration.

See also Wagner's libretto for "Tristan and Isolde," another brilliantly written opera based on a medieval german text (by Gottfried von Straussberg).

I highly recommend this book. There are seldom times a book will give me chills, and it happened several times when reading this book. And if you are interested in the Siegfried saga, check out The Nibelungenlied.

This book would be an excellent addition to anyone interesting in Wagner's Ring cycle for a number of reasons.

First, the translation, which takes up three quarters of the book, is well done, with German and English directly compared on a line by line basis, complete with alternate or discarded or rejected versions of the libretto included in an appendix. The translation itself seems outstanding; some of Wagner's phrasing is difficult or impossible to directly translate into English, but even in the most convoluted or confusing cases the result is clear and compelling.

Second, there is a thematic guide to many of the most important leitmotifs Wagner developed (67 in this case), and in the translation of the libretto the authors have noted where these occur on a line by line, or sequential basis. This is of tremendous help as a reference for further study when listening and relistening to the music.

Third, while there is only little commentary on the operas and on Wagner's compositional journey through the Ring, there are a few photos from past performances, comparing vastly different sets for the same scenes, which are interesting. There could have been quite a bit more of this.

Finally, the glossary of character names could be useful to the student.

Overall, this is an excellent resource and reference to use while listening to the Ring, and for analyzing Wagner's libretto itself.

This book begins with a musical score in Beethoven's own hand. The end papers are an actual photograph of Beethoven's working manuscript for the Grosse Fuge in B flat major, Op. 134.

Jonah Winter recounts the story of Beethoven's pianos and the thirty-nine apartments where he lived in Vienna. So often children's "non-fiction" blurs the line between fact and speculation. Not so in this book. Winter clearly identifies what is fact and what is conjecture and does so with great humor.

Diaries, eviction notices, physical evidence and piano movers' notes are used as a basis for the story he tells. Why did Ludwig change apartments so frequently? Well, there is some evidence to suggest the neighbors complained. As Beethoven moves from place to place, Winter chronicles the music that was composed there. An author's note at the end gives additional information about his deafness and the amazing fact that he composed his magnificent Ninth Symphony after he had completely lost his hearing.

Barry Blitt's illustrations lift the story to a new level. We first see Beethoven as a baby crying in Gothic letters, "wha wha wha WHA." He accurately and humorously depicts the difficulties and incredible logistics involved in moving pianos to the new apartments, over rooftops, through windows and through walls. The composer's effect on his neighbors is depicted in a cross-section where we see the neighbors living above, below and next door to him reacting to the noise coming from his apartment in the middle. Babies cry, dogs bark and people pound on the floor, ceiling and walls as Beethoven plays.

This book is a must have for music teachers, piano teachers and students of music. What a treat!

I teach middle school music and use this book to introduce the video "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" to my students. The text and illustrations wonderfully depict for students some of the idiosyncracies of the great composer. Much of the same ideas are then shown in the video through the eyes of a boy their same age. This book is a wonderful addition to anyone, young or old, wanting to learn insights about Ludwig vanBeethoven.

What a great and witty book. Great for K-2 Music Teachers. Excellent.

This is such a creatively well-done book. The words and illustrations are top drawer. Through the mystery of moving 39 times five pianos, children learn the story of Beethoven. Winter's underhanded humor is shown throughout making it a joy to read. I guarantee my kids won't forget who he is and what he did. The author's note in the back gives a nice lesson after the fun. My kids were enthralled through the entire book.

It's hard to easily categorize this: based on a little-known fact about Beethoven's habit of moving frequently, it offers up a fun story of how he not only moved, but moved all five of his pianos from place to place. The hilarious tale of and why he moved, followed by all those pianos, creates a very different kind of story youngsters will relish.

I bought this partly because it is by one of my favorite authors but also because it is about the Appalachia people of whom you see very little written. I think Cynthia Rylant has such a wonderful way of describing people and capturing their true essence. Her descriptives touch my heart as well as my 8 year old daughter's. I am especially fond of the way Rylant describes the people in this book and moves the reader past the stereotypes to get to know the real people of Appalachia. SHe does it in an almost poetic way. We love this one.

A lovely book which captures the essence of Appalachian life. Cynthia Rylant writes skillfully with knowledge, sensitivity, and compassion--her descriptions painting pictures as vividly as those produced by Barry Moser's brush. Together they've produced a powerful yet warm portrait of Appalachia.

For those of us who've experienced life in the Appalachian Mountains, this is as true as it gets. It's a world filled with ruggedness and determination, yet with so much serenity and warmth at the same time. Rylant has done a masterful job bringing this to life for her readers.

I'd suggest that anyone studying the many cultures of America add this to their reading list.

Denise Hillman Moynahan
The Great Cavern of the Winds: Tales from Backbone Mountain

I started crying when I read this book. It is so beautiful and true, from the free hounddogs to the shy contemplaters and those of us who left home and can't quite figure out why there is an invisible rope pulling us back.

Author Cynthia Rylant and illustrator Barry Moser were both reared in Appalachia, and they are completely in sync on this book. The calm, clear-eyed text and the evocative watercolor paintings balance and enhance each other beautifully.

Rylant doesn't shy away from the harder truths of Appalachian living. About coal mining, she writes, "Many [Appalachians] are coal miners because the mountains in Appalachia are full of coal which people want and if you are brave enough to travel two miles down into solid dark earth to get it, somebody will pay you money for your trouble." On the facing page from this plainspoken truth is a haunting Barry Moser watercolor of a green-clad coal miner, his eyes weary and his skin gritty with coal dust, his lunchpail resting beside him.

The beauties come through, too. Rylant writes, "Morning in these houses in Appalachia is quiet and full of light and the mountains out the window look new, like God just made them that day." Throughout the book is a sense of quiet and purpose and appreciation for a way of life most of us will never know. It's a moving and transfixing read.

Cynthia Rylant has once again captured the true spirit of the Appalachian culture. Her descriptions are right on target. Many of us, who live in this wild and wonderful country, know folks just like those she introduces to us in all of her stories. The significance of this book, for me, is to keep alive the warm, wonderful spirit of this amazing culture she so colorfully shares with readers. I'm giving this book to children and adults as well.

i thought this book was going to be good, but i didn't know it would be this good. each well-known childrens' book writer/illustrator writes about their lives, influences and inspirations.

included are ealry photos, first drawings and a full page self-portrait.

so thoughtfully put together. a beautiful book to browse through and inspire you and your children to pick up a tool and draw, paint and create.

I think this is a wonderful book for children to understand that art is really an emotional, personal thing. I think it's a book EVERY teacher in the elementary should have.

This is a charming book to be enjoyed by all;young children, who will enjoy having this read to them, to aspiring artists, to older fans. Early work of these illustrators and pictures of some of them as children along with their stories give a picture of their development.This may also offer an introduction to new books and illustrators. Great for teachers and librarians when presenting a story.

This a wonderful book for inspiring budding young artists. Wonderfully illustrated with examples from all the artists (including fold-outs). A great way to learn about their lives and work.

I love this book. I had gotten it with my children in mind but being an artist myself, found great joy in reading it.

How smart this dynamic author/illustrator duo was to disguise learning as pure reading fun. Love the story, wish I'd written it myself!

This is a remarkably original and highly educational book. Kids will greatly enjoy the witty dialogue, and learn new vocabulary.

Boris Ate a Thesaurus is so cute my 9 month old laughed out loud when I read him all of the synonyms in the book. The story is fun, the illustrations simple and engaging and overall the story is educational while being entertaining to read. It is a witty approach to children's books that is entertaining for parents too. I bought one for all of my nieces and nephews and highly recommend it!

Boris Ate a Thesaurus is a children's picturebook about a young boy who happens to eat a thesaurus - and suddenly starts talking in synonyms! His fame and popularity increase, and he is even invited to meet the President and deliver a big, giant, huge speech to all of America. But is one boy up to giving a great speech, or will his grand words suddenly disappear, evaporate, vanish? He discovers the answer in the Library of Congress: "All the words in the world are right here in these books. The secret to remember is that books are for reading, not for eating. Every time you read, you discover new words that last a lifetime." Playful illustrations by artists Barry M. Chung round out this friendly picturebook ideal for encouraging young people to read more.

This is one of the most original stories I have read in a long time (and I have read alot of stories!) My boys were so captivated by the exciting adventure that they didn't even realize that they were learning an important lesson regarding synonyms at the same time. In addition to the clever story the illustrations are superb! I would highly recommend this book for all 1st-4th graders. This book would make a great birthday and/or holiday gift. It is sure to become an all time classic!

I first read this myself and then read it to my 2 1/2 year old. It is a wonderfully funny adventure of the potatoes at a state fair as they escape from a chef who is cooking up a pot of soup. While some of the vocabulary is above the heads of toddlers, the story line is not lost on them and the illustrations are quite fun. This is a book to have in your library and will be read by your kids for many years to come.

A fresh and zany adventure (something all too rare in children's literature these days), full of delightful rhythms, rhymes and fun. Root's bright pictures complement Speed's delicious language. Our whole family loved it!

What a delightful book. Full of imaginative ideas and pictures.

A great book for kids of any age. My daughter wants to take this book wherever we go.

My 4 year old daughter grabbed this book off the library shelf at random two weeks ago and now it is our favorite book to read. When this book goes back to the library, our own copy will grace her bookshelf. Our daughter has memorized the entire story and recites it with enthusiasm. Her favorite part is the last page of verse, coupled with the final picture of the chef. "Closed, Gone Fishing"-- it gets a laugh every time. The only trouble is, I think she wants to be a potato when she grows up! A great book.

The author of this books is truly a genius: she makes the words sing with wild abandon and fun. Who else writes like this except maybe Carl Sandburg! This and her previous Two Cool Cows are among the most inventive children's books in years. Read this book to a child and watch them laugh at the delicious sound of the words and the story: I did. A truly blue winner, this book.

A must read for EVERY American!

Just as the great electrical genius and inventor Nikola Tesla was truly light-years ahead of his time with his discoveries, Dr. Raymond Rife was light-years ahead of his time with his dicoveries in the cure for cancer as well as other technology that the medical field still uses today, including modern microscopes. And, sadly, just as Tesla was stamped out by the greedy elements of this world because he wanted to give the world free energy, Rife was stamped out because he wanted to give the world his discovery of the cure for all diseases, including cancer. (There are other sources that mention that Rife even built towers, like Tesla did, and transmitted his frequency therapy in order to eradicate diseases in nearby towns, which the government quickly put a stop to). I highly recommend any source that deals with both of these two fascinating geniuses and how much they gave the world, only to get trampled on by greedy captital interests at the great cost of the populace.

If you or a loved one have cancer and you still have doubts about pursuing "alterantive" cancer treatment, this book should erase them. In exquisite detail, Barry Lynes documents the suppression of many cancer treatments and the collusion that made that possible.

Today, with the Internet, cancer patients have much more information available than we did 14 years ago when my former wife and I began our battle with her cancer. Books like Barry's would have saved her life. She was a victim of the conventional cancer treatment "system." Don't let this happen to a loved one of yours. This book is a great place to start your study of today's medical "establishment."

The book deals with the medical and drug company collusion in the United States. But this same dangerous collusion is worldwide. Fortunately, the majority of people recognize this and are turning to "alternative" treatments (actually they should be the primary treatment). In 2002, the number of patient visits to alternative practitioners exceeded those to conventional doctors. Keep giving people truthful information, Barry. It's working.

Lynes does a solid job of looking at the history of allopathic medical racketeering in the USA, focusing on cancer treatments that have been suppressed because they are safe, natural, cheap, and effective. The history of Royal Rife is impressive and well documented, and his proven electromagnetic treatments remain suppressed, with practitioners persecuted by the established allopathic medical cartel and their allies. Lynes documents his research well, and offers enlightenment to those seeking to understand the history of the bogus war on cancer and medical racketeering. The only major aspect of the topic not discussed is evidence that certain elements of global oligarchic powers see allopatic medical control and practices as a means of population control or population reduction.

This book has changed my life. If you have cancer, or know someone who does, I recommend this book to you. The knowledge you will gain about Royal Rife's cancer cures will stun you. The chapters exposing the truth behind the dangers of mammographies and the drug Tamoxifen are something all women (and men!) should know about. Too often we are led blindly into making medical decisions we feel we have to make, and we trust our doctors too willingly. Please educate yourself to other options and alternatives. There is a whole world out there of cancer therapies that have wonderful success. Author Barry Lynes not only exposes medical crimes and tells you the true story of a scientific genius who cured cancer--but it also can get you started to finding health alternatives to treat cancer, and other diseases, too.