Barry Books

Bruce Di Marsico presents wonderful ideas about how we are the creator of our own personal happiness. The beliefs we hold determine the feelings we experience in any given situation. This tape explains the Option Method - a simple, non-judgmental questioning of your beliefs and whether or not they support your happiness. A simple and insightful tape. Thank you, Bruce! And, thank you, Debbie..

For most of us this is the first opportunity to hear the voice of Bruce Di Marsico, developer of the Option Method. The Option Method is a process using a handful of questions to examine our beliefs, more particularly those beliefs we have about why we are `unhappy' (letting that word stand for any emotional state we don't like). On this tape, Bruce Di Marsico speaks about what might be called the Option philosophy lying behind the Method. The radical suggestion is that, on examination, we can find no valid reasons for being unhappy. Yes, put like that it may sound a bit glib. That's one reason it's a delight to hear the case being made in Bruce Di Marsico's voice, a voice which conveys an inherent reasonableness, as if it were the voice of what common-sense ought to be.

This tape is a rare and beautiful example of the legacy of Bruce Di Marsico. His gentle, kind demeanor, his tone of genuine feeling as he offers almost humbly the incredibly liberating message of his creation, the Option Method: these are treasures that I can only recommend with all of my heart. I had the opportunity to study with Bruce and was blessed to hear his words and be the object of his loving questions. That experience transformed my life. So, to have this tape available is exciting because I know that others will be drawn to look more closely at what the Option Method might have to offer for them. Fortunately, a book of Bruce's writings will soon be available. Those who would like more information can look at my books at amazon.com or those of Mandy Evans, to get an understanding of what the Option Method is all about.

Certainly worth listening to and sharing with others. The best part is that Bruce doesn't deliver a big spiel, telling us how we should go about reorganizing our lives, but instead shares some simple (as in not over-the-head philosophy) observations and musings.

As Bruce himself puts it, what he really wanted to do was leave us with a question, "Is our unhappiness really necessary?" (once again, the nice thing is it is the question he wants to share, not the answer). If one stops and think about it, as he obviously did, it's a very profound question. I hope you have enjoy it as much as I did.

This tape can be the key to opening up a whole new happy life for anyone who wants it. That is exactly what it did for me when I learned the Option Method 17 years ago. On this great intro to the Option Method, Bruce DiMarsico dispells the mystique around unhappiness by exposing the notion that the experience of unhappiness is always based on what someone believes... often erroneously. Questioning the belief(or judgement or assumption) can effectively vaporize the unhappy conclussion. Hearing one of Bruce's original lectures on Option rekindles the fire in me to spread the word to other happiness-seekers. Do yourself a favor... get this tape and let yourself out of YOUR prison of unhappiness. If I can do it, anyone can!

After appearing to die on its feet the series had gone through a re-birth thanks to fresh blood. Barry Sadler passed away in 1989 and the Casca series could have died with it but someone kept it going. The problem was they hired the worst writer in the world to carry on and we got two terrible books in the Liberator and Defiant.

Now thankfully someone pushed the right buttons and along comes someone who knows the series and character and how to return the series back on track. The other reviews that came before mine all agree, and for that we are grateful. This is what we've been missing all these years, an action Casca, a man who fights instead of thinks, a man aware of his weaknesses and strengths, not some cliche-ridden cut-out.

I hope this is the start of a renewal of the series as I'd hate it to die off in a whimper. If this is any indication of what's to come we're in for a great revival. More, please!

I loved the early Sadler stories and felt he lost something of his originality later in the series. When another author took over some time back he made a real mess of it. Thankfully now the Casca guys have gotten someone who knows Casca and can write much in the style Sadler did early on. There are some spelling mistakes and an editor should tighten things up a bit but you can see a future here for this series after the garbage that came before.

Casca is in the States and protects some Irish girls from a brothel owner, but gets in over his head with the Brotherhood on his tail and the bad guys from the brothel wanting revenge. So he joins the US army and when war with Mexico comes he gets involved with the war. I like the battle descriptions as it showed me what happened in a war I knew little about, and its sure better choice of subject first time for this writer than it was for the last one.

After leaving the Casca series for many years. I have recently purchased this latest in the saga by Tony Roberts. While the editor/publisher seemed clueless as to the dismal cover art, Tonys' writing was not diminished. It was a solid book and reminiscent of the stories that first brought me to Casca. From the first paragraph of the prologue to the last page, Tony packed as much action and drama as could be packed in the 240 pages without becoming unbelievable. His use of history did not bore the reader but gave him a better understanding of the story and helped to define a brief period in time.
I bought two of the books and would highly recommend the same for everyone. One to keep and one to give to a friend. Your friends will not be disappointed and they will look forward to Johny Reb, the next in the series. Halls of Montezuma gets 5 stars as a story and 4 overall for the book though, no fault of the author
Greg Brantley, Texas.

I want to see these coming out at a pace of at least 4 a year. I want a movie and a TV series. This is one of my favorite titles of all time. It is an idea worthy of quality pursuit. It is a wonderful mix of action, supernatural intrigue and, above all else...history. You can enjoy a fun, action packed, thought provoking read and walk away smarter for it. This has got to continue. Let's get this ball rolling again!

While not quite as good as the original series by Barry Sadler it was pretty close and I could see Tony Roberts growing into the role of Casca author. At any rate it was significantly better than the Paul Dengelegi versions (I couldn't even finish reading those). But both the Dengelegi and Roberts books suffer from the same ailment, lack of editing. Note to the publisher: Hire a good editor. Using the spell-check tool does not qualify as editing. The book is rife with grammatical errors and other passages that a good editor would be able to eliminate or smooth out. With that said I'm glad to see that someone competent has picked up the torch and the Casca series will continue to live.

I came into the possession of this book, an autographed copy, from a friend of Charlies'; Danny Park of Philadelphia, PA. Danny had talked incessently about his travels and conversations with Charlie and insisted that I read his most recent book, 'Charlie's Thoughts'. Well, being an avid reader,and always enjoying autobiographical writing, I was up for the challenge. What I discovered was a book that I couldn't put down. The story of Charlie's life and all the challenges, failures and amazing accomplishements kept me riveted. It is the rare book that keeps me up at night, not wanting to turn off the light until I'm finished. 'Charlie's Thoughts' is just that type of book. One that will keep you up until the last page turns and leave you with the constant reminder that your life, and success, is for you to make.

An inspired book from an inspired man.

I wanted to first say that Charles Butland is not only an entrepeneur and now author, he is first and foremost my uncle. He sent me the soft cover version of his book and then just recently the hard cover when it went to final copy. He called me the other day to tell me that I could see the rating for his book at Amazon.com.

I have read through the book and found it funny and thought provoking. Most of the things are just distant memories that come bouncing back after seeing them in print. I loved walking down memory lane, and am proud to be associated with the man who wrote this fine book.

Debbie (Butland) Bernier

charlie seems like a real person writting from the heart. the music reflects his thoughts very good. i think there is alot of good ideas in this book. i also found that the stories very very real to life in general.

Down to earth, and very real... "Charlie's Thoughts" had me seriously reflecting on life one moment and laughing out loud the next. He touches on life, love, relationships, childhood and business. And while there really is something for everyone, entrepreneurs will find some of Charlie's stories especially humorous and inspirational. There are anecdotes of wisdom sprinkled throughout the book and I'm sure, like me, you'll pick a handful that will stay with you for the rest of your life. (And what a cool idea! The book comes with a music CD!)

"Charlie's Thoughts" is a remarkable book. Not only is it filled with wisdom and inspirational, uplifting anecdotes, it is also one of the most honest and personal biographies I've ever read from the heart of a true, spiritual, couragous human being in every sense. And what's more, the book is really exciting too! Charlie Butland is an extraordinary person, living an extraordinary life. His attitude is based on a deep love and understanding of life in all respects, his "never giving up" mind ever so inspiring, his "making the best out of all situations" remarkable, his "I am responsible for my own life" attitude showing the deepest understanding of the truth. Charlie's own life is a great example, "Charlie's Thoughts" deserves a big, worldwide audience! Give yourself a treat, read and enjoy "Charlie's Thought's" - it is food for your soul! And the music CD - just enjoy! What's more, this is a great gift to those you care for!

Charles Scheffel joined the army at the outbreak of World War Two knowing he wanted to be in the fight. When presented with a more academic line of military service he declined knowing full well he would become an officer in the infantry. This is his story.

Basden's book does a fantastic job of describing the initial campaign against the Germans in North Africa. In fact, it's one of only a few books I know that deals with North Africa at all. It also covers Scheffel's efforts in Sicily, and Normandy. Of particular interest are his actions involving Operation Cobra, close air support, acting as a forward observer, and the Falaise Gap.

There are plenty of serious moments found in this book. His descriptions of close artillery support are particularly brutal. But a few light hearted moments too. I particularly enjoyed reading about how the Army faced with "battle causalities" combated the STD issue in Africa.

Crack and thump is a classic account of an infantry officer in World War Two. It reminds me of Company Commander by Charles B. MacDonald and If You Survive by George Wilson. It is very well written and easy to read. This book is a real joy to have in a collection and a first rate example of command at a company level.

Don't let this one go by.

Crack! and Thump With a Combat Infantry Officer in World War II is a stark memoir of an American combat infantry officer surviving the terror, fatigue and strain of the European Theater of World War II. From brutal battles under fire to the liberation of France, witnessing French revenge on those of its own people who collaborated with the Nazis, and having to take cold-blooded killers prisoner while their victims called for their immediate execution, and much more, Crack! and Thump brings the war experience to unforgettable life. A bluntly honest account, neither glorifying nor undermining America's role in turning back a horrific worldwide threat, and a welcome addition to military memoir shelves.

I had the privilege of meeting Cpt. Scheffel at the 61st reunion for the 9th Infantry Division. Cpt. Scheffel brought with him some "teaser" pages of the book and lucky for me, he gave me a few chapters to sample. I could not put them down and then could not wait for the book to be published. When I finally got my copy, I could not put it down. It was not your typical war book in that it told the truth, what he and his men were really feeling. I felt as though I was there with him and his men. After reading it, I called my grandfather, who served under Cpt. Scheffel, to thank him again for the sacrifices they made. Then I called Cpt. Scheffel to thank him for sharing his story with the world.

Charlie's combat experience becomes as real for the reader as it was for the combat soldier so long ago. Basden's love of history, and Charlie's desire to share his experience, paints a unique look at how war impacted one man and affected his life forever.

The book is truthful and graphic. Charlie doesn't view the war or himself through rose colored glasses. He remains critical of choices he made, sharing shame along with the moments of which he is most proud.

You'll feel like a photographer following Charlie along the frontlines. Basden makes sure you hear the flies, taste the grit, and smell fear mingled with the compassion, generosity and strength of Charlie and his men.

This is a book about the strength of the human spirit as much as about war, maybe more so. Well worth the read.

Tom Brokaw told us people like Charles Scheffel were members of the "Greatest Generation," and, when you read this story of the young man who worked his way out of the Depression and through college, you'll understand why. Barry Basden has done historians a huge favor in his effort to tell Charlie's story of fighting through North Africa, Sicily, and Europe as an infantry officer. This isn't Hollywood. This is cold, mud, rain, dirt, monotony, confusion, blood, death, and all the other things that turn war into hell ... that caught up the men and women born in the first quarter of the 20th Century and forced them into a global war to preserve democracy and human liberty. Read this book, but don't expect glamor. Expect to learn the truth, and then say a prayer of thanks.

"Disabled and Challenged" is a well-written personal account of Terry's successful struggle with a severe disability. As Terry and Dr. Cohen so aptly put it, Terry is a person with a disability, not a disabled person. Terry's medical problems do not define "who he is", but rather, Terry defines who he is by how he deals with his disabilites and, like all of us, seeks fulfillment and happiness in life. A great read, I couldn't put it down.
Gerald M. Groe, Ph.D.

This is one of the greatest resources regarding MMD that we have found so far. Hearing Terry's challenges and his positive attitude about the cards he has been dealt have been a great inspiration to myself and my son, who also has MMD. Terry's positive attitude and ability to always find the good in every situation really encourages my son, and would appeal to anyone with any type of disability. We would be interested in any future books the author may write as well. This book is very easy to read and understand as well. We have read it many times.

This book brings courage, heart and wisdom to living with disabilities and challenge' and reminds everyone to do so with their own lives. Terry shares his story, his thinking, and feelings profoundly and so offers a real perspective on what impacts disabilities may have. And his strategies, realistic thinking, and commitment to live his dream are inspiring. A great collaboration of father and son.

I am a kid living with a disability. I am learning how to deal with it. This book showed me that when I am tired, it is ok to stop and rest.

As a teacher and a tutor of challenged students, I feel as if many of my questions have been answered. I have always made an effort to walk in the footsteps of my students ,and the Cohen Family has invited me to do so in DISABLED & CHALLENGED .I applaud you for your sincere honesty in sharing the rewards and challenges of your lives. I highly recommend this deep and heartfelt book .It is a gift to be shared among all .My sincere thanks and hopes that one day we will meet . YOU Terry Cohen, use your abilities to the fullest . One day ,I will shake your hand !
Sincerely, Judie Curry

Buy this - try it out. Ever wanted to make sure that your children know exactly why you feel the way you do about something or someone? This book will show you how to put all of your values on paper - you need this.

Dr. Barry Baines provides a thoughtful explanation of ethical wills, describing for readers the historical context of the practice and outlining how people today can leave a lasting legacy for their loved ones by putting their values on paper. The guidance he provides in this handbook makes it possible for anyone to write an ethical will, whether they've just learned of the practice or grown up reading ethical legacies of their ancestors. This is an excellent guide.

I purchased Barry K. Baines, Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper, at the suggestion of a friend who had read it and been inspired to write an ethical will for her children. It seemed like a good idea to me. We cannot help but relay our values and beliefs to our children--they pick them up by osmosis. I think, though, that we seldom sit down and think through what we would LIKE to convey to our children, including ways in which we have not lived up to our values or would like them to do better than we.

At the same time that I bought Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper, I also bought Rachael Freed's Women's Lives, Women's Legacies: Passing Your Beliefs & Blessings to Future Generations. I prefered this book. It may be that I prefered the second book because, as a woman, it spoke more to my concerns, but I think not. Dr. Baines focuses on his work with the terminally ill, and the healing power of putting our thoughts on paper. Many of the examples he gives read like old Polonius's hipocritical, "Neither a barrower nor a lender be...," platitudes that most in this culture would accept. Ms. Freed takes us on a journey of discovery--discovery of ourselves. Whether done in a group, as Ms. Freed suggests, or independently, as I would most likely tackle such personal writing, her topics are likely to bring us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and enable us to create a more personal document for our loved ones.

Ethical Wills is a must read for each and everyone of us! Not only is it fascinating to learn about the history behind such wills, but the workbook he provides the readers with is such an valuable tool.
We all need to be concerned about writing an ethical will while we are still able to communicate our wishes. My late mother had Alzheimer's and it was so very devastating and frightening to see her no longer able to communicate her wishes. Thankfully, we had spoken about what she wanted her last wishes to be long before Alzheimer's destroyed her mind.
I do not know if I, too, will one day suffer her same fate so I am taking all of the necessary steps NOW while I am still able to communicate to make my final wishes known. This book has been an invaluable help to me as well as another wonderful new publication by Renata Marie Vestevich. "Grant Me My Final Wish: A personal journal to simplify life's inevitable journey." This book is a wonderful companion to Dr. Baine's book. While his book is a workbook of sorts, Ms. Vestevich's book is a beautifully bound journal that you can write in whenever you have time. These two books work beautifully together. Ms. Vestevich's book leads you gently through the process of making your final wishes known to your loved ones. She guides you through the process of making that ethical will in a very compassionate manner. There is even a place within the journal for you to place beloved pictures and write down special memories.
None of us likes to dwell upon our eventual death. However, having seen my mother destroyed by Alzheimer's and her being no longer able to communicate even the simplest of wishes, I strongly urge all of you to take steps now to make your last wishes known!
These two superbly written books...each very special in their very own way..will help you do just that.

Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper provides a terrific introduction to ethical wills, with historical background, specific guidelines for writing an ethical will, and a variety of samples. With its reader-friendly tone and clear suggestions, Ethical Wills makes a useful handbook for anyone interested in creating such a document. I especially appreciated the sample wills to show a range of approaches.
This book was a great help to me when I started writing ethical wills. As a member of the Association of Personal Historians, I help others record their own ethical wills and family stories. I keep this book in my professional library and recommend it often.
My only beef? It's too short! I wanted more samples and more history. Guess I'll have to wait for Dr. Baines' next book.

Some peopel specialise in one area of insect study and tiger beetles area popular choice. This book gives area information etc, somewhat like a bird book. Now you can start hunting for yourself.

A wonderful guide with at least one picture of each beetle!! I haven't seen a comprehensive photographic fieldguide to tiger beetles as nice as this one. Definately worth the price!

This is a very good book to help with the identification of tiger beetles. I use the information presented in other chapters every day in my pursuit of tiger beetles.

As a 4-H entomology leader it was pretty frustrating not being able to help my kids find what kind of tiger beetle they found. Unless we got lucky, species IDs were almost impossible without a trip to the University of Michigan libraries. With Pearson's work, I no longer have those problems. Although scientific in its presentation, it's still accessible enough for my 10-year-olds to figure and use. Beautiful scale photos and illustrations. Thanks !

As an entomologist, I have seen and used many a field guide. This guide is one of the best. Color plates are not cluttered, and each has a scale bar. Distribution maps are crisp and easy to understand. Keys are excellent, with plenty of illustrations. Checklist is included, and the sections on ecology/behavior and conservation are well done. This is a must-buy for any Cicindelid enthusiast!

I really enjoyed reading Barry Hickey's novel. The characters are so real and the story so unique. I loved the lessons Barry teaches and I especially enjoyed reading about Colorado Springs. I teach middle school and will recommend this book to my students. They will enjoy getting to know the characters and feel excited to read a story set in their own locale.

Wow! What a literal treat this book was for me. After I read the first chapter I finished the book within 24 hours. It spoke very loud to me about a number of things, Booze, Prison, Love, Growing up and Growing Old, Dying and Living Life. Amazing what one person can do to change not only their own but others lives.

I really liked being able to benefit from some of Barry's knowledge. His love of history and Colordao Springs, about teaching children and in general about life and how difficult it can be for young and old alike.

Bravo! Very well done!!

Author Barry Hickey created The Five Pearls with characters most people would never even waist there time on.The story is compelling and curious to the end. The Five Pearls passes through everyones life.Some never even buy a ticket to go through their experiences. Or it would seem that way. Some people reveal a secret others choose not to. As you all know we all have SECRETS.Some choose to be silent some come to life or maybe even death. This novel emotionally moves you to pay it forward in your own life! Share this great novel experience with any and all ages.

Barry Hickey is my American Honore de Balzac. He creates characters no one would, at first sight, sympathize with: a guy leaving jail after 15 years? A bunch of immature teenagers dropping out? A sarcastic school principal? An old lady living in an old house? The author then imbues his characters with a magic formula, using acute observation of the human condition, sensitivity, honesty, imagination, love and hope. The result is a wonderful story, with timely revelations. I closed the book wanting to be part of it.

This is a great book for teens and young adults! It is a fun read with a strong message about angst, growing up, and making it through. The characters come to life on every page. Grab it!

I've been a professional animator for over 10 years and I found this to be a valuable resource. It's written by some very talented people over at Animax Entertainment, who have tons of production experience. It offers great organizational tips and tricks for building and animating your characters. It also gives so much insight from the perspective of working on a larger productive team. Sure it's easy to develop your own ways of working when you work by yourself, but the suggestions in this book are a very smart and efficient approach for working on any sized project. They also give you a list of plugins that will help... and even describe how to make them work for you. And the information on how to make use of After Effects is just fantastic. I've adopted so many time-saving ways to work... things I never knew about in all of my years using Flash! I am using this book constantly for reference as I work on my new cartoon project. Thanks guys!

I found very helpful the guides given by the authors. I was trying to figure out how develop a short cartoon animation in a correct way and after I read this book I found the answers. Thanks!

If you're looking for a book that teaches you how to draw in Flash, this is not the book for you. It will, however, teach you the nuts and bolts of animation, the technical information necessary to make animation less time consuming, which is a must-have imo.

This book is a must for everyone who is tired of animating on paper and wishes to digitalize their work completely in Flash or After Effects. The book covers many great aspects including; making shortcuts of your workflow with user made extensions, brilliant tips & tricks and personal advices how to make life easier for the animators.

This book is also amazing for those who already have knowledge of Flash or After Effects, but wish to enhance their skills or take their production to the next level.

After reading this book, my animation workflow and quality improved.

Best recommendations from here.


-Alex Volkov (Flash Animator)

There are many books about cartoon animation in Flash. What sets this book apart from the rest is the approach the authors have taken to make this book much more than just another step-by-step book about drawing and animating characters. Foundation Flash Cartoon Animation is for the animator who needs to stretch beyond the mechanics of the Flash tools and perfect the decision-making process necessary to become a productive animator. One of the biggest questions that is answered in this book is when to use Flash and how to use it most efficiently. The next question is what tasks are beyond Flash's capabilities and when to turn to another software such as After Effects.

The authors assume that the reader has a basic knowledge of Flash and the principles of animation. Because of this, you will find only a few step-by-step examples. What they do cover thoroughly is every phase of the production process for cartoon animation from planning, storyboards and animatics to post-production and delivery. The approach for this book is to examine working examples which can be downloaded from the publisher's website.

If you have ever created a complex character animation including lip synching and facial expressions, then you know that your character must be divided into a large number of individual animated parts. This is why the authors dedicate a whole chapter to organization and using the Flash library system to build character libraries. As you progress through the process from head comps and onward, the authors show when it is best to draw from scratch and when to use Flash symbols. Storyboards and animatics are next in the production process and the book covers several decisions that must be made such as choosing between traditional, hand-drawn storyboards and the digital method in Flash.

Moving from the planning stages to character creation, the authors discuss the technical and organizational issues such as Flash file structures and project architecture. They take a look at several working examples to give the reader a comprehensive overview of this topic. One of the most helpful aspects of this book is how the authors help you decide when Flash is not enough to get the job done and how to expand Flash's capabilities with plug-ins. They discuss several of their favorites, how to find more on the web and when to make your own.

One of the most important decisions that an animator will need to make is the choice between traditional frame by frame animation and tweening. The authors share their four step process for frame by frame animation and then discuss tweening and how to avoid common mistakes.

I mentioned earlier that the authors discuss the use of a dedicated motion graphic software such as After Effects to take your Flash project to a higher level of quality and sophistication. They discuss some of the advantages to using After Effects for editing and composition such as complex camera movements and 3D effects.

Flash has been plagued by one major drawback since its conception a decade ago and that is the extreme "digital" look of the vector artwork created in Flash. The authors share several tips and suggestions for enhancing your Flash project to achieve a more "hand-drawn" appearance to your animation including line styles and color choices. They also cover the digital equivalents for traditionally hand-drawn special effects such as distortion, drag, fade in/out and blurs.

This book was a joint effort of several authors. Tim Jones is an Emmy Award-winning producer and writer and head of production at ANIMAX Entertainment. Barry J. Kelly is an Emmy Award-winning editor and artist and is also a member of ANIMAX Entertainment. Allan S. Rosson is animation director at ANIMAX Entertainment and has over twenty years experience as an animator. David Wolfe was an animator at ANIMAX Entertainment and is now with Cartoon Network Studios.

Does God give us clues about what Heaven will be like? In Heaven Observed, Barry Morrow explains how common everyday events and activites illustrate or foreshadow what we can anticipate in Heaven. He addresses our work and play, pleasures and joys, pain and suffering, film and literature, the daily grind, our sense of alienation, and our universal unhappiness.

"The main emotion of the adult American who has had all the advantages of wealth, education, and culture is disappointment."

"Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play, and to play at their worship."

Throughout the Scriptures, a number of metaphors and other figures of speech are employed to describe Heaven. While much remains a mystery, beyond our comprehension, we still have a number of longings that Heaven will surely satisfy. A few of these are peace and tranquility, rest and comfort, protection and security.

A well reasoned, scholarly, yet readable account about clues in this mortal life that point to Heaven, Morrow has done a masterful job of inviting the reader to see the "glimpses" that he sees. A must read if you plan to go there and stay for a while.

Never has Heaven looked so appealing as when the author portrays the fallacies of life (a-la-Ecclesiastes) as glamorous examples of God's presence. Most refreshing, is to see our own daily experiences being woven into a theme of "Glimpsing Transcendence" as God pulls us to Him. This in turn, elevates our yearn for Heaven to a new level not unlike a skyrocket!
Being entertained is one thing, but equally impressive is the broad range of references utilized. It is inconceivable how the author puts forth such a variety of information quoting the intellectual reasoning power of such greats as C.S. Lewis, Pascal, and many others. He then emphasizes again his point quoting such as Mark Twain, Woody Allen, Steve Martin, etc. etc....... Can you believe that?
Theological and philosophical concepts abound to reinforce the message of "Heaven Observed." This approach should appeal to a wide assortment of intellectual levels as the focus is maintained with such a variety of examples. One does not feel forced, but finds this concept easily acceptable to widen his personal views. I guarantee one's yearning for Heaven as a better place than planet Earth will never be the same!

Finally, a book that explores the concept and reality of heaven in a fascinating and intellectually stimulating way.

I've never been particularly interested in the usual pie in the sky, floating on clouds view of heaven. This book kept me glued to a new way of looking at it.

Thanks, Barry Morrow, wherever you are... I hope not in heaven, yet! I'd like to see some more books from you.

With keen insight into both history and contemporary culture, with a firm grasp of both theology and the human condition, and with an engaging style that is alternately thought-provoking and amusing, Barry Morrow has taken a sprawling, ethereal subject and written a wise and--most importantly--down-to-earth book.

Far too many books like this are preachy and predictable. Not so with Heaven Observed. It is accessible to both skeptics and seekers. But whether you are a "believer" or "unbeliever," be forewarned that Morrow's book is not for the squeamish. It is an arresting, jarring, but ultimately reassuring piece of writing. When you're done, you won't soon forget this powerful study of the human longing IN this life for purpose and meaning BEYOND this life.

A sign of the times: books about heaven and angels and the like used to always start with the question: Does such a thing exist? Barry Morrow, in Heaven Observed, begins with the implied question, "Does it really matter if there is a heaven?" and goes on to explain, with ample input from all sides, that, well... yes, it does! Why else would we try to attain it here? Morrow gently shows us that heaven is not just a reward for living well or making certain choices. Instead it is a fulfillment of longings and incompleteness that were never meant to be-and cannot be-fulfilled here on earth. Even the best things leave us unsatisfied, and point us to a place and time of ultimate satisfaction. David Jenkins once said, "As I get older, I seem to believe less and less, and yet to believe what I do believe more and more." Barry Morrow has done an excellent job of reminding me-in my cynical middle-age years-why I believe in heaven, and why that gives me hope-today.