Bernard Books

I was a life-long resident of St Bernard Parish who longed to know what exactly happened to my hometown. From learning the details about the destruction, to reading about the Fire Department's courage and faithfulness, I've been left in awe. Anyone who calls or called "the Parish" home must read this book.

I read this book and it was one of the best books I have ever read. And I don't really read that much but I couldn't put this book down. I was born and raised in Chalmette and finally there is a book about my people and what they went through. My family and I did evacuate and later my Dad passed away in the hotel. I lost a home and a Dad. I did eventually move away after 6 months of trying to live there again. Every time I went to my house I got disgusted. But anyway, I think it was a fantastic book and recommend anyone who is interested in it to buy it immediately. I will cherish this book the same way I cherish the few items I saved from my home. Everyone who was involved with helping people that day will forever be Heroes to me.

A must read for anyone who lived or has lived in St. Bernard Parish. I read this book in one day. Could not put it down. Brings back memories like it happend yesterday.

Michelle Buuck did an unbelievable job captivating The St. Bernard Fire Departments heroic actions. I started to read the book and 2 days later I was finished. It was very hard to put down once I began to read about the men who were responsible for saving an entire Parish of people; especially without any State or Federal assistance. The personal day by day trials & tribulations of each St. Bernard Fireman is a must read by all. Hurricane Katrina, the World's largest natural disaster, made History along with the Fireman in this book. All are & always will be Heros that will never be forgottten.

MS Buuck has captured the events of this untold story in riveting detail through interviews with the men who were there. These stories of dedication, unselfish acts and heroism, while faced with the greatest natural disaster to hit our nation are a must read. While St Bernard, just minutes from downtown New Orleans, was basically ignored by the press, federal, and state government these men did what firefighters do - get the job done under the most adverse of conditions. Thank you SBFD for doing what you've done and Ms. Buuck for capturing and telling the story.

This book is fantastic for people who live in the San Juans. Amazingly clear photographs make identifying marine life easy.

For someone who was new in this area, this wonderful book was a great help. Especially invertebrates ae very well descripted. The shots from the animals are very impressive.

This book is one of the most amazing publishing accomplishments I have seen. The authors and their friends have accumulated 1700 superb photographs of marine life, especially the tiny and obscure invertebrates that almost no one has even seen or suspected, let alone photographed. (Where else are you going to find photos of neon sea-fleas and parasitic copepods in the wild?) Many of the animals herein are not even described scientifically. I studied fisheries development for years and thought I knew something about marine life, but I never knew there were so many worms and snails and tunicates out there, let alone did I ever see them or photos of them. Everyone interested in nature or biology should have this book, or at least look at it, just to see what amazing things there are in the world. It is of interest far beyond the narrow confines of Northwest Coast shores.

so I'm no expert on marine life, but I'm very interested in the subject. I got this book and had high expectations that were more than met. The photography is excellent, the organization is excellent, and the contents extensive. I really like how they tell you both the common and the scientific names, and how they have some short descriptions of behaviors or charactoristics. I actually got it for my boyfriend because he wants to study to be a marine biologist and i saw the other reviews by people who were in related fields, and they made it sound like a book that would be useful even to an expert but not only useful to an expert. And it is. He loves the book (says its one of the best gifts he has ever gotten) and was very impressed by the quality of the contents, he uses it all the time. Bottom line the book is awesome i would reccommend it to ANYONE who loves ocean life.

This book is a blessing for us tidepool/beach explorers in the Pacific Northwest because of its wonderful, clear photographs. It saves us many hours of tedious and frustrating puzzling over technical jargon trying to figure out the identity of whatever amazing creature has captured our hearts. The volunteers at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington have already practically worn out their first copy from looking up critters and plants that show up in the tanks via the flow-through seawater system. Many mysteries have been solved, and many fascinating tidbits of natural history gleaned to share with the visitors to the exhibits. Books like this will open the eyes of a society blind to our own environment, like the Peterson guides did a couple generations ago.
All praises and cliches apply: "a picture is worth a thousand words", "greatly needed and long over-do"... Consider this a definite rave review for a timely book. Now all we need is a waterproof edition!

this page turner should be made into a movie. it would be every bit as intense as "lorenzo's oil" or "awakenings".

I literally could not put this book down until I was done with it. It's easy to dismiss books by little-heard-of publishers, but this one could easily convince me that there might be thousands of excellent titles that just don't get the marketing of the New York Times bestsellers.

There is enough detail to interest a scientist, enough plot to keep most anyone reading, and enough moral ambiguity to really engage your mind. The real world isn't black and white, and this plot sure isn't either.

A worthy read, and better than many better-known titles!

Quia Imperfectum (Imperfect Things) is a terrific read for both those in the medical profession and those not, of which I am one. An extremely well written, true story about medical research, L-DOPA, Parkinson's disease, the ideology and thrust of renowned scientist, Dr. George Cozias, and his associates, and serendipity of some of the findings. The book is written by and through the eyes, experiences and observations of a then young Columbia University medical student, Bernard M. Patten, now Dr. Patten, MD, an esteemed neurologist. Dr. Cotzias was Dr. Patten's mentor. In addition to the depicting research and its researchers, part of the book's facinating interest lies in the US politically using Dr. Cotzias L-DOPA, Parkinson's disease work to treat China's ailing Chairman Mao. With all of this, the book portrays, with no punches pulled, the interrelationships, intimacy, multiple dimensions, and conduct of the people directly and indirectly involved in the story. Cover to cover, it is a great story with true-life surprises and a book you will have gained by reading.

Absolutely loved the book. A true story written in a novel fashion by a legendary neurologist, a graduate with honors from Columbia University. He starts his account as a young ambitious medical student who by a stroke of luck gets to work with a research scientist, the mad type. A break through discovery is made to alleviate a devastating disease. The US goverment funds the research because Mao, the China leader of the '60 desperately needs the new medicine and the US desperately needs to control China's nuclear bombs.
Beware, the writing has a great sense of humor, you won't be able to put the book down.

Stressed mice in a maze make the same mistakes repeatedly. Those who are terrorized, whether it be a real or imaginary fear, find themselves locked into patterns of thinking and behaving ... often very destructive. Creativity cannot exist within these environments resulting from unknown or unpredictable fears. In these times of "terror" it is easy to rely on old reliable ways of power becoming frustrated when these ways are not successful in resolving anxiety. The author of this book was my doctor for many years. I have an incurable disase and he gave me no false hope. But he did give me hope and a sense of empowerment by providing a sense of control I desparately needed through symptom management and medical support when other doctors told me there was nothing they could do ... to "go home and live with it." Again, Dr. Patten points us in a direction of power that has very little to do with traditional wars. It is the hand that reaches out for the drowning ... the hand no one would turn down at such a moment.

Sex, drugs, scandal, breakdown, pigeons... an alternate universe altogether. This is so far out there is is best taken with burbon. If you are a Hiiasan, Barry, Hunter S fan this book can't steer you wrong. Valerie F. de Daulles must write more! Very strong, hilarious and anomalous content.

The fun never ends when reading Velkro. The author Valerie has quite the imagination. This is a book that once you pick it up you can't put it down till you have completed it. Mitzi is the woman every woman wants to be and Hugh Jorgen is the man every man wants to be. Reading this book I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I was so sorry to have finished it. I wanted it to go on forever.

Sex (& sex change), drugs, scandal, breakdown, pigeons... What more could you ask for! A fun, quick read follows the event-filled life of Mitzi St. Bernard from her lowly start in Boston's West End red-light district to zombie cult-queen climaxing with her own(?) funky funeral. Along the way we travel with a host of other off-beat characters - human and winged! - who add all the color, perversion and dementia one could possibly handle in a single life. Ms. de Daulles takes the reader through this romp with gusto, just as Mitzi lived her life - no rest for the weary here. My visualization of Nisi's "water-bed" will stay with me for a very long time! Go ahead "doll", take a ride on the wild side!!

RARELY do I laugh-out-loud when I am reading a novel... but I did so more than once when reading this remarkable debut novel from Ms. de Daulles. This book has everything.... scandal, intrigue, murder, drugs, incest, zombies, spaceships (yes... spaceships), trains falling from overpasses (just try not to think about THAT the next time you drive under one), cross-dressing, an evil twin, and, of course, "raw, jackhammer" sex. Oh... and did I mention there is a surprise ending. Well there is!! Ms. de Daulles has created a cast of characters so vivid, so memorable, so funny, you will come to think of them as the family you WISH you were born into! Read this book!!! And enjoy the ride!! Congratulations Ms. deDaulles... Jacqueline Susann would be proud!!

Mitzi St. Bernard has to be one of the most fascinating entertainers that ever lived. She has all the sensitivity of Marilyn Monroe with the stunning features of Bettie Page. Granted, I've never seen or heard this stunning beauty but the way Ms de Daulles describes her, I fell immediately in love. Just as I thought I knew how the story was going to materialize, it continued to twist and turn until the final page. Mitzi's life was filled with heartache and tradgedy but she somehow always manged to triumph. Long live Mitzi and long live Valerie F. de Daulles and I can't wait for the next book!!!!

Shaw has packed many high-level topics into this play, while at the same time keeping long portions of the dialogue fairly low-level. Two topics jump out most frequently: hell and enjoyment. His take on each respective topic is fresh, seemingly from an entirely new perspective.

In the third act, the characters' conversation stands out in a couple ways. The explanation of hell from Don Juan, the Statue, and The Devil's point of view is unique. From a Judeo-Christian standpoint, it reeks of blasphemy, twisting around the traditional views to show things as they really are: The devil finally gets to tell his side of the story; heaven is boring; anyone can go between the two afterlives whenever they please. What is interesting is that Shaw's hell can fit with the Judeo-Christian/Biblical facts, something that the blasphemy police certainly will not give any credence to or spend any time investigating. His idea that heaven and hell are created for those who are going there matches perfectly with Biblical theology. A person not living in the grace of Jesus would hate heaven just as much as a person living in his grace would hate hell. Biblical theologians would not agree (if one could get them to listen) that people can choose their own eternity, nor would they agree with the concept of non-believers enjoying themselves in hell, even if one could get them to voice their belief that they will be given over to all the desires of their flesh.

What is fascinating about Shaw's hell is just that idea - that if life is about your passions and enjoyment (namely, the flesh) then your afterlife will be personal to those same passions and enjoyment. At this point, the conservative Judeo-Christians would be sharpening their inquisition equipment in a fervent rage because much of the play speaks to that idea of personal enjoyment during life, specifically the English. Don Juan says that humans live to try to understand life more but later adds to that idea by saying that understanding only helps us to know that we are enjoying ourselves. Life then becomes the pursuit of enjoyment, and hell mimics that pursuit as a sort of eternal amusement park. In a statement that seems like a pre-response to his opponent's case, Don Juan then says that although he spent his whole life looking for pleasure, he never found it. If it could ever happen, it is that response which could appease the frantic theologians. The devil, being the father of lies has pulled the eternal wool over everyone's eyes, both the living and the dead, and has gotten them to abandon their real purpose.

Shaw's flirtation with both sides of the controversy is what allows this play such success. He angers both the proponents and opponents of Christian "myths" and then offers possible solutions to appease both sides.

Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

In this title, G.B. Shaw outdoes himself. Not only does he manage to turn up with a Don Juan play in our modern day and age, which is full of cynicism, and doesn't give in to 'medieval' codes of behaviour, but he even manages to turn around the table. Here, the hunter becomes the hunted, forced to flee from his pursued/pursuer. Shaw includes in this play an ingenious conversation between the original 15th century characters, which not only explains about Don Juan's philosophy, but shines a new light upon our own lives, here and today.

In this title, G.B. Shaw outdoes himself. Not only does he manage to turn up with a Don Juan play in our modern day and age, which is full of cynicism, and doesn't give in to 'medieval' codes of behaviour, but he even manages to turn around the table. Here, the hunter becomes the hunted, forced to flee from his pursued/pursuer. Shaw includes in this play an ingenious conversation between the original 15th century characters, which not only explains about Don Juan's philosophy, but shines a new light upon our own lives, here and today.

The writings of Bernard Shaw in this particulat play, invites to you use your mind to understand life and philosphy. It has such great insight into many aspects of human nature and at the same time is exteremely funny and really takes you into it's pages. The writing has impecable style and this is truly a classic play.

George Bernard Shaw was called, with good reason, the "English Nietzsche". Though Nietzsche was an aristocrat and Shaw a socialist, both cherished the dream of the superman and looked forward to the day when he would be realised. Both, however, were characterised by their mordant wit and intellectual cynicism, in which "Man and Superman" abounds. Shaw manages to compress a number of disparate themes into a relatively taut dramatic format, even throwing in a scene in which Don Juan, the Devil and a gang of anarchist brigands make an appearance. The central event of the plot involves the wealthy Tanner, a member of the "Idle Rich Class" making himself subservient to the Life Force and seeking the perfect woman to marry, who would guarantee him a very special offspring, his ideal, the superman himself. Though Shaw was not known to have read the works of Bergson at that time, nor to have been conversant with his vitalist doctrine of the Life Force, his use of the Life Force motif and the philosophical underpinnings of the play attest to a pure Bergsonism. The most delightful part, however, is the "Revolutionist's Handbook" at the end, which contains Shaw's most scandalous anti-Establishment jibes. For instance, "Do not do unto others as you would them do unto you. They might not have the same taste."

We love this book! It is great for an older sibling to read aloud and not feel guilty about laughing along! Don't limit yourself by age! This is too fun to miss! For all ages!

My daughter is 2 years old and we've had this book two days. She listens very intently as I read it. The story has just the right amount of repetition to reel her in and allow her to "catch on". I'm sure this will be a book which she requests often.
So, why only four stars? It really is monotonous for a parent who reads books to their children often. Parents who find themselves drained by the end of repetitive books should simply not introduce this one until the child can read on his/her own.
To sum it up...this book is captivating, humorous, and easy to read if you are 2 - 5 years old. Above that, you may find yourself feeling guilty about hiding it.

This is a wonderful book! Children and adults alike enjoy the silliness and the repetition. Similar to The Mitten, but lots more fun!

We borrowed this book from the library for my 3 1/2 year old daughter. My daughter has now memorized most of the book, and she loves to "read" it to the rest of the family. She laughes the whole way through it, and she actually looks forward to bedtime when the whole family sits down and reads it together. We will definately be adding it to our home library.

WE BORROWED THIS BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY. THE FIRST OF WABERS BOOKS. I READ IT TO MY 8, 5, AND 4 YEAR OLD. WE ALL LAUGHED AND LAUGHED. FUN TO READ!! I IMMEDIATLY ORDERED TWO, ONE FOR US AND ONE FOR MY NEICES! IT WAS REFRESHING TO READ A CHILDS BOOK THAT EVERYONE ENJOYS. SO MANY BOOKS AND SO FEW GREAT ONES. IT WILL BECOME A FAVORITE IN OUR PERSONAL LIBRARY.

This book is great, written with crystal clarity and well paced. It is a must for anyone reviewing the questions of what is knowledge and what are we really trying to teach in school and associated probes. It seems best for someone with a math or science backgrounds but I would be interested in the opinions of those with other backgrounds; a theologian recommended it to me. It is long but one doesn't have to target reading the entirety, certainly not by any date certain. Excellent anyway.

As far as I have read this book, it is very informative and indepth study.

This is the definitive text of Bernard Lonergan's most important work, Insight, with over 130 revisions, based on the meticulous labor of comparing three texts, line by line, word by word! All students of Lonergan's thought owe a great debt to Frs. Frederick E. Crowe and Robert M. Doran for having executed their task with such thoughtfulness, perfection and devotion. Corresponding pages to the second edition of Insight, which has been the standard one, are given in brackets. My previous review was based on the second edition.

If somebody loves you authentically so much so that you become better person than before, you can't help loving him dearly. It happens. And it can happen even through a book! In this incredable book called "insight", you are invited to a wonderland of a higly diffentiated intelligence, only to find that it is no other than your real self. At first you wonder, you ask, you think hard, and you get it! For the first time you come to know what is understanding. You begin to doubt, you reflect, and finally you judge that you are a knower! Now you are changed. Now you know you are consciously operating in your experiencing, understanding, judging, and deciding. Now you know what knowledge is, what it means to you, and how it means to you. You become a living, knowing, acting subject. And you come to love Lonergan, since he introduced you to yourself. To "read" Insight may take a long time, years or decades. However when you finish it, you will begin to take another long trip to yourself, where no one had gone before...

Lonergan, a Thomistic philosopher,tries to explain the procedures of human mind,discerning a transcendental method capable to establish a fundamental pattern of every operation present in cognitional action."What am I doing when I am knowing?",that's the previous question Lonergan attempts to answer.This is possible integrating the operations "experiencing","understanding" and "judging",an INSIGTH which brings a startling unity to knowledge and to the pursuit of understanding in every field.

I loved this slim volume. Once the story gathered momentum, I coudn't put it down. It's a beautifully crafted tale, rich and excitng. It might be aimed at adolescents, but this 58 year old would recommend it to people of all ages.

In addition to its engaging story, it has many life lessons to teach--about following the crowd or being your own person, about owning up after you've blown it, about being a team player or a lone star, about staying in the process versus focusing on the outcome, about how to treat a friend.


I'd also recommend it as a gift for a pre-adolescent child or grandchild, since it combines some good tips on basketball with some equally good tips on growing up--all wrapped in an exciting story

Dharma Demons is a fantastic book and spins a story to which many can relate. It has many sides, dealing with sports and action, the wit of youth, and most importantly growing up. It's a fun book to read, its neither too long nor too short, and leaves a mark- for the better- on any who reads it. I would recommend this book to anyone.

As a substitute teacher, this was my savior! The kids were taken with the story line and characters instantly. Each time I'd begin the book with a new group of children, I'd have to leave my copy in the classroom so the students could take turns finishing it. The story is an excellent read-aloud for the younger ones in lower school, as well as for the enjoyment of young teens---

This is a really cool basketball book. Lots of exciting games and some good tips on playing too. Except I hate the part about the girl playing better than the boys.

Richard

The book is so good. I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
-Tori, 4th grade

I bought this book for my ten year old son who has many fears...I thought it might help him. But both of us were absolutely captivated by it. The author has a gift for stating his fears in such a charming, natural and absolutely right-on-the-nose way. My son felt really good that there was another person who had some of the same thoughts as he. I would buy this book for anyone who likes to read, who is curious about life in general, has irrational (or so they think) fears, has children or who is charmed by refreshingly open honesty.

You will miss out if you don't read this aloud. For some reason, hearing it, even if you read it to yourself, is critical - some people say this about poetry. I heard a portion of it read on NPR and I was so moved I had to pull the car over and wait till the reader stopped before driving again. I assume some of the proceeds go to the non-profit where the author goes regularly, so that makes me feel even better about buying this book for friends.

I heard a piece of this book read on "this american life" it was awesome. I found it online & received it as a birthday gift. I was expecting it to be a little photocopied zine type book, to my surprise it was hardbound book with good quality paper. This book is awesome...in content and presentation. I highly recommend it.

This is a delightful book - full of fears most of us are too afraid to articulate. The list is a poignant portrayal of the traits that make us human - not just about fear - but love, longing, and the value of human connection. A quick read and a must read.....I gave this book to my holiday A-list, and all loved it.

Michael Bernard Loggins sat down one day and wrote out everything he was afraid of. Through his work at Creativity Explored (an art program for developmentally disabled adults), his Fears of Your Life was chosen to be part of an exhibition at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. They were painted on the wall of the stairwell in his handwriting. Fears such as "Fear of Hospitals and Needles", "Fear of Heights", "Fear of being different" were there beside "Fear of Dragon", "Fear of Pirates" "Fear of something that you think that could be in the closet that might be scary is scary", and my personal favorite: "Feared that if you Put too much of toilet Paper in the toilet Bowl it will run over and get all over the Floor and on you and on someone else too. It would leak from up stairs to the Next Floor Below." "What is Fear? what does Fear tells you about a stranger? Does Fear makes you clever or Does it warns you that you and your Friends needs to Protect yourselves From Danger!" is there right next to "I better not stick my Feet out in the side of my bed or the monsters will bite me or wanting to eat me so I better stay Foot. That's Fear for you!!" All throughout the exhibition an amazing number of people could be seen each day sitting on the stairs and reading the Fears from start to finish. There was something amazingly freeing about it - as if we all were realizing just how petty those fears that we have within us really are. YBCA is a non-collecting institution that changes it's exhibitions quarterly, but for some reason it took around two years for the Visual Arts department to get around repainting that wall where the Fears were. Even when our galleries were borrowed for the DeYoung Museum's presentation of the Impressionists touring show, the Fears of Your Life remained - and people who came to see the Impressionist show would find themselves seated on the stairs, staring at the Fears with a fascinated look on their faces.

When the Fears were finally painted over, many of those of us who worked at YBCA felt like we had lost a friend. I am delighted to find out that the Fears of Your Life have been published as a book that I can now share with friends. (I've already purchased four copies!)

I was curious about the nearly unanimous 5-star rating given this book by other reviewers. After picking up a copy from Amazon and reading it, let me join the chorus with my own 5-star rating! What a find! Murstein seems to cover nearly everything you would want to know about the market in a succinct and humorous manner, remarkable for a volume of only 350 pages. Of particular and topical interest: it has been published recently enough to discuss the impact of the Enron scandal and how investors should approach the market in these times. It is scholarly without being stodgy. Murstein evaluates the great variety of strategies, schemes, systems and newsletters out there with a very critical eye. He names names and doesn't pull any punches. While the book is oriented mainly toward the individual securities investor, he does have a useful section on mutual funds (my special interest). There's one outstanding chapter near the end (alone worth the price of the book) called "Maxims, Adages and Suggestions" - over 70 of these, many of which are very useful. One last word: I'm familiar with and rely on the Lynch and Zweig investment books; the Murstein volume beats them both hands down!

This book is a must for every serious investor. It is informative and based on research findings, but humorous and easy to read. I especially liked the chapters showing that serious individual investors can outperform professional money managers, and how to do it.

I REALLY enjoyed the history of investing in the introduction.

Afterward, I found certain sections to be particularly illuminating with regard to my personal efforts to increase my assets via the markets, but the numerous graphs often left me, neither a psychologist nor a financial professional, wondering.

SO, I've given a copy of this book to my broker, and I hope that SHE will use it to enrich us both.

Getting Psyched For Wall Street: A Rational Approach To An Irrational Market by psychology and behavioral finance expert Bernard Murstein is a superb blend of psychology and finance. Specifically written to help ordinary investors of all background better understand the interaction between human psychology and the ups and downs of Wall Street, Getting Psyched For Wall Street covers everything from why so many people were blind to Enron's problems to why stocks sometimes go up on bad news and down on good news. Getting Psyched For Wall Street is a unique, inherently fascinating, "reader friendly", practical work that should be read by any investor seeking to understand how market forces function and are influenced.

Finally! A book every individual investor can understand and use immediately. Murstein is both lucid and witty. His analyses are scholarly but clearly presented. Practical? Check his chapter on a rational approach to selecting stocks. My own investment strategies will never be the same. Professor Murstein, where were you when we needed you at the beginning of our investment rollercoaster?