482e0f75-07e4-478f-bf67-f3c6ee7ed4f8TrueNewShip19BordenAmazonLargeBooksreviewrank26482650425175065http://www.amazon.com/Death-Dances-Reggae-Beat-Borden/dp/0425175065%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D04251750651138559http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G818MH5TL._SL75_.jpg7546http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G818MH5TL._SL160_.jpg16097http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G818MH5TL.jpg475289Kate BordenPaperback813.549780425175064400425175065BerkleyEnglishEnglishEnglish660599USD$5.99Berkley1262Book2000-06-01Berkley2000-06-12Berkley50410898USD$8.981USD$0.0152400003.07204251750654002008-09-07

don't break de lime m' son.

St.Chris, St. Croix, whatever. I lived on the island in my early twenties, and kate captured the essence of life as a transplant from stateside. I had fun reading her story as fluffy as it was yet at the same time recalling wonderful memories of life in C'sted. Looking forward to reading the next two books. Now I know where I'm going to spend my next summer vacation. 04251750652002008-08-24

Carribean Island Mystery

Kelly, the main character, lives on a fictional Carribean island, St. Chris. She works at the radio station as an announcer. She has a full life with lots of friends and a cat. Someone is found dead. Kelly, in the end, solves the mystery of the death. <br /> <br />I found this book boring. I got so tired of hearing about the Carribean history; I felt too much was told about that. I also was annoyed by Michael calling Kelly 'Mama'. I just got couldn't get into this book. I felt it just rambled on. <br /> <br />I didn't find the attempted humor to be funny. I also got bored with the boating and parasailing. <br /> <br />Being on a Carribean island, I felt this book did have potential. But life on this Carribean island felt mundane to me, rather than exotic. I kept hoping this book would get better, but it didn't. <br /> <br />There were, however, a few things I did like, such as the turtle walks. I really enjoyed "walking" on the beach at night looking for turtles. That was fun. <br /> <br />I also enjoyed Kelly going out to dine with her friends. <br /> <br />I didn't really enjoy this book. It was hard for me to finish.04251750653002004-12-29

Descriptions of Virgin Islands: 5 stars; mystery, 2 stars

I had the killer in my detective cross hairs early on, and I had the motive about halfway through the book. I was shocked that it was so obvious -- surely I must be following a red herring? But no, the plotting was that simplistic. <br /> <br />But -- I'm ready to move to St. Croix! I enjoyed the book for its description of island life -- how soon can I emigrate? It sounds like a lovely way of life -- so much sitting around outside with friends over food and/or drinks, feeling the sea breeze, and enjoying sunny weather so much of the time (thanks to air conditioning, and she doesn't say anything about occasional hurricanes). <br /> <br />The plot involves a truly annoying woman who is found dead on a beach early in the book -- but we've seen enough of her to know that some people will be kind of relieved rather than sorry to see her dead. The detective-heroine is manager of the "St. Chris's Island" (St. Croix?) radio station, and the deceased was on a committee she is chairing -- and besides, the radio-station-manager is the one who finds the body. Before long, it's clear that someone is angry with her -- very angry. But is it about the murdered woman or something else? And can she find out who is threatening her? <br /> <br />This was a pleasant read, good for an airplane or vacation (dare I say a beach read?) but people who like to try to solve mysteries as they read them will probably find this one a bit too easy. If you don't read a lot of mysteries, this would be a good start because there are lots of clues in this plot. I can't say much without revealing too much, but the author needed to do her research on certain occupations a little more carefully, because it couldn't happen that way in real life. 04251750654882001-07-26

A good beach read - literally and figuratively

Kelly Ryan is living the island life. She's general manager for the island's radio station, participates in the local effort to help nesting turtles and has a nice guy in life. Then things start to go wrong. She inherits the chairmanship of the local parade committee. Her boyfriend goes skiing and never comes back. Then the most obnoxious member of her committee, a recent arrival and know-it-all, is found murdered on the turtle's nesting beach. Kelly isn't planning to investigate a murder but curiosity gets the best of her.<p>While this is not classic literature, it is a fun and light departure for the genre. It even managed nominations for best first novel from both the Agatha and MacCavity folks. It also garnished an Anthony best paperback nomination. I enjoyed the setting which Grilley uses well with only a couple of boring tourist lectures. She gives us "continentals" a vicarous insight into really living on an island. The plot is so-so at best with too few real contenders for the killer (tho the reason for the killing is pretty clever).<p>Bottom-line: a tropical cozy for your beach or poolside reading OR save it for a snowstorm when you need a mental vacation.04251750653222001-07-04

Good Story Exotic Background

Kelly Ryan is a transplanted Chicagoan living on an island in the Caribbean. She runs the island's radio station and has the annual island birthday parade dumped on her. It doesn't help, that her boyfriend dumps her and her ex-husband is getting married again. A tourist with a know it all attitude ends up getting murdered and Kelly finds herself trying to find out who did it.<p>I enjoyed this book. It makes a wonderful beach book, and the author has left plenty of plot lines dangling for sequels.Kelly Ryan has just moved to the Caribbean island of St. Chris to run a top-rated radio station. She knew that her new life would be full of adventure--but she never expected murder....0425179303042518549404251948920425204464042519946010129Contemporary17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books713365011General AAS17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books10480Women Sleuths10457Mystery18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books10466General10457Mystery18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books713462011General AAS10457Mystery18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books605116General18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books713437011General AAS18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155Books4PILM37C77SMMore mysteries I liked1NAI2EZWXWCZFMysterious DebutsB04QJL184AXONoteworthy Crime Fiction2S5MTY6HPXFMGSexy Series Starters1B408J8T55U9TFrom Short Mystery Fiction Society Authors0687043719http://www.amazon.com/Hit-Bullseye-Denominations-Congregations-Convergence/dp/0687043719%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D068704371977719http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21873KQ62WL._SL75_.jpg7548http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21873KQ62WL._SL160_.jpg14089http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21873KQ62WL.jpg14089Paul D. BordenPaperback262.00179780687043712400687043719Abingdon PressEnglishEnglishEnglish8301850USD$18.50Abingdon Press1144Book2003-07Abingdon PressAbingdon Press455401045USD$10.451073USD$10.731980011ATVPDKIKX0DERhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/home.html?seller=ATVPDKIKX0DERNewnewMvBzcAOk36T9urc2NEkd4lFPzD5n%2BaGJFHLhQ7W6UohpQjpeWpFVqzMgWLL6ihayUVsp84hegJDJ9E2rWQPRSg%3D%3D1258USD$12.58Usually ships in 24 hours3.06206870437191232008-06-09

"Manhandling Church"

Make no mistake about it. Hit The Bullseye by Ken Borden is not about getting closer to God or even ascertaining what is God's direction for churches that are in decline. Had it been about answering these questions, there would have been some biblical exegesis on the subject and the case studies describing church growth would demonstrate God's providential work rather than man's ability to fill the pews. <br /> <br />Ultimately, Borden proposes that we rely on ourselves to re-create what is the Holy Spirit's province. He assumes there is no reason American churches are in decline other than their unwillingness to succeed (defined purely in terms of numbers) and that God is simply waiting for them to say yes. There's more to it than that. [Rev.3:14-22] Here are some of Borden's unquestioned assumptions: <br /> <br />1. That God is more interested in results than relationship; <br />2. That the Great Commission takes priority over the Greatest Commandment; <br /> <br />3. That man can replicate what the Holy Spirit created on the Day of Pentecost; and <br /> <br />4. That we can skip the parts about repentance, deliverance and sanctification and just start doing. <br /> <br />What Hit The Bullseye shows is that man can -if he so desires-- organize and grow "churches" on his own. But of course we knew that. [Isaiah 17:9-11; Jer. 2:13, 10:20-21, 8:11-17; Amos 6:14; Luke 13:6-9; Rev. 2:1-6, 3:1-4] Borden tempts us to manage on our own, but our efforts will not put us in relationship with the Living God. We don't need another "how to" book on doing church. It's all right there in Holy Writ --if we're willing to read it. 06870437195132007-09-26

A Must Read

I have never written a review on Amazon before, but the negative feedback this book is getting needs to be overcome. This book is a must read for any denominational worker. Paul Borden's leadership has resulted in the only denominational entity in this century that has "turned around" a majority of plateaued and declining churches. The uniqueness of this accomplishment makes this a must read. As a Ph.D. and church consultant for over twenty years, this book makes a significant contribution to the field of church growth. To get a better insight into how the denomination helped these churches, read the trilogy--this book, "Direct Hit" by Paul Borden and "Winning on Purpose" by John Kaiser. 06870437191592006-11-15

Not helpful

This book is repetitive and poorly edited. I had a hard time getting past the lack of agreement of verb and subject, lack of parallel structure, sentence fragments and incorrectly spelled words. If there were two editors, as indicated on the cover, I can only wonder what they were editing for, certainly not ease in reading which is fostered by flowing sentences and good punctuation. <br />The author is very limited in his idea of what the church is and what it is for. By throwing out old metaphors, he thinks the church can turn from dysfunctional behaviors and be renewed. Where is Scripture in the solutions he promotes? What about the Scriptural description of the body where ALL parts are needed and we cannot say to one part, "I have no need of you."? He says that his solutions focus on the congregations and then describes a very hierarchical, corporate, quantitatively driven structure. <br />There are some good descriptions of places where the church has failed and needs to reform, especially the area of accountability. But in the wordy, wandering text, it's hard to isolate a lot more about this book that I find helpful in my context as part of the Reformed tradition.06870437194002006-09-21

Narrow Audience

This book has a very narrowly defined audience - those who are in church governance. For that audience it is a very challenging book and worth reading. It is not perfect but it could be a critical tool for those who are seeking to renew the old mainline denominations that have long been on the sidelines.0687043719425282005-10-15

Almost Misses the Target

It will be hard for anyone to suggest whether or not another person should read this book. At some points I thought it was great and offered fresh, valuable ideas. At other points I wanted to toss it in the trash and suggest no one read it. The best I can do in this review is offer you a few of my "perceived" pros and cons and let you decide for yourselves. I am not an expert in this subject, but in my 29 years of ministry experience I have served 5 churches, 4 of which showed growth. I have also served in what Borden might call judicatory leadership in another denomination. <br /> <br />PROS: <br /> <br />At last someone offers a paradigm in which denominational leadership leaves the boring offices of bureaucracy and enters the field of consultation to come along side pastors in local churches! Everyone always says it's all about the local church, but leadership seldom seems to act like it. Three cheers for this proposed paradigm. <br /> <br />Thankfully Borden raises the bar on pastoral expectations, at least in the area of productivity. Too many pastors are hired who should never be behind the pulpit and once the mistake is discovered, too few are out counseled into other areas of service. I think Borden's style is a little strong and in reality there are reasons other than leadership incompetence that can cause churches not to grow. Some reasons are beyond control. Still, raising the bar doesn't hurt, if done thoughtfully, and is sorely needed. <br /> <br />I applaud the effort to help churches become missional. Too many churches routinely go too many years with no conversions. This is a mark of ill health. <br /> <br />Borden writes from personal experience. Who can help but be emotionally moved to see the churches of a large geographical area revitalized and brought back to life? May this story happen again and again across the country and in many denominations. <br /> <br />I also am impressed with Borden's ability to create a large intricate movement. His ability to cover all details, his passion, his strong personality, and his recruitment techniques would make it hard to fail. <br /> <br />CONS: <br /> <br />First, Borden routinely writes about community and church "family" as if the communal nature of church detracts from mission. To be Christian is to be in community. This is not just organizational community (i.e. an employee at Wal Mart), but spiritual community. If I must place community on the back burner to build the church, I sacrifice too much. The church is the assembly of those who have been called out of the world (ecclesia) and the fellowship of those who have been called together (koinonia) in the name of Christ. The mission of the church is to lead souls to Christ, but this is not the only reason for the church's existence. The church, the Bride of Christ, will still be in existence long after heaven and earth pass away and there are no more souls to lead to Christ. <br /> <br />Second, Borden speaks as if leading people to Christ is everything, or at least the most important thing. I once believed like that. We lead people to Christ, so we can train them to lead others to Christ, so they in turn can lead others to Christ, and we will build up the church and someday those who were saved can be with Him in heaven. One day I thought, "What are we doing here?" We are peddling our product like a pyramid marketing scheme! Christ is more than that. We are so concerned with bringing people to Christ that few are taking the time to be with Christ right now! The kingdom of heaven isn't just someday. It's at hand here and now. There is more to salvation than many evangelicals stop to dwell on. When a bride and groom consummate their relationship children are born. When the Church (Bride of Christ) comes together with the groom (Christ) spiritual babies are the natural result. There is nothing about community or spiritual formation that should detract from evangelism. <br /> <br />Finally, how about a little fair play here? Borden repeatedly gives his employees and pastors timetables for performance or their jobs are at risk. But he also asks them to promise that they'll stick with the program a certain amount of time to work through the hard times. In the early portions of the book he equates the church to an athletic team. If a player doesn't produce, the player is traded. No hard feelings, that's just the way it works. True, but this also creates a system of free agency and a mentality of players who go to the highest bidder. He wrestles with this by using 2 million from the judicatory's funds to recruit and train leadership. He also negotiates with local churches for pastors' salaries. Leadership recruitment is a big hurdle. This worked well for the five years it was studied. What will happen over the next decade? <br /> <br />MY RECOMMENDATION: <br /> <br />Get the book. Read it. Discuss how it can be beneficial to you. Don't throw away the baby with the bath water. There's some good stuff here. On the other hand don't swallow everything that's thrown your way. There are some gaps that need to be addressed, perhaps in a sequel? <br /> <br /> <br />0687331943068749502406876417560805443908082981759X491438Christianity468234Religious Studies468206Humanities465600New & Used Textbooks251254011Custom Stores44258011Specialty Stores283155Books712994011General AAS468234Religious Studies468206Humanities465600New & Used Textbooks251254011Custom Stores44258011Specialty Stores283155Books712982011General AAS465600New & Used Textbooks251254011Custom Stores44258011Specialty Stores283155Books713014011General AAS319654011Qualifying Textbooks251254011Custom Stores44258011Specialty Stores283155Books12341General12333Christian Living12290Christianity22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books713629011General AAS12333Christian Living12290Christianity22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books12361Church Administration12360Ministry & Church Leadership12290Christianity22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books12364Ministry12360Ministry & Church Leadership12290Christianity22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books12368Preaching12360Ministry & Church Leadership12290Christianity22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books171116Ecclesiology12449Theology12290Christianity22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books12504General22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books713609011General AAS22Religion & Spirituality1000Subjects283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155BooksB0006WP8RMhttp://www.amazon.com/Great-unsolved-crimes-Louis-Solomon/dp/B0006WP8RM%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0006WP8RM4982554Louis SolomonUnknown BindingScholastic Book ServicesEnglishEnglishScholastic Book Services154Book1976Scholastic Book ServicesScholastic Book Services99USD$0.990500003.051B0006WP8RM2002008-03-30

Interesting crimes, the telling is long and lacking

While the crimes chronicled in this book are certainly great and unsolved, the descriptions lack power of delivery. They also go on much too long, the same message could have been delivered with far fewer words. The crimes discussed are: <br /> <br />*) The skyjacking by the man known only as D. B. Cooper <br />*) The murder of Serge Rubinstein <br />*) The theft of artworks from the Brooklyn museum <br />*) The kidnapping of Charlie Brewster Ross, supposedly the first kidnapping ever done in the United States. <br />*) The lost archeological find known as "The Peking Man." <br />*) The Borden axe murders. <br /> <br />If you are interested in unsolved crimes in general and these in particular, you will be better served by looking elsewhere. <br />B0006WP8RM4002006-07-25

Some Forgotten Mysteries

This book tells about six famous unsolved crimes, now long forgotten. It is an easy reading book that does not tell why these crimes were selected. "The Great Free Fall Robbery" is about the hijacking of an airliner by "D.B. Cooper". "Murder on Fifth Avenue" is about the death of Serge Rubinstein in 1955. He was an "international financier". "The Ten Hot Old Masters" tells about the 1933 theft from the Brooklyn Museum. "The Man with the Monkey Nose" is about the first kidnapping in 1874 America. Charley Ross was kidnapped and never found even after the ransom money was paid. "The Vanishing Bones" tells about the bones of "Peking Man" which disappeared during the turmoil of World War II. <br /> <br />"The Ma and Pa Murders" covers the murder of Abby and Andrew Borden in 1892 Fall River Massachusetts. After Lizzie Borden was acquitted, self-appointed amateur investigators began trying to reverse the verdict. Many people today have the idea she was guilty! Besides Lizzie and their maid Bridget, there was a strange young man hanging around the Borden house that morning who was never identified or found. Andrew Borden was a self-made millionaire who operated just within the letter of the law. He was hated by the small businessmen he had ruined, the mill hands he exploited, the tenants he evicted, and the debtors who had to pay usurious interest rates. Abby was little known and had no known enemies. Lizzie was known as a "warm, kind, and loving person" who did church welfare work. A real estate deal in 1887 put a house in Abby's name. <br /> <br />August 4, 1892 was another ordinary day, but a heat wave was hitting Fall River. Andrew left home after 9 AM to go downtown to his bank, then returned around 10:40. Bridget saw Andrew resting on the couch when she went upstairs to her third floor attic bedroom. Bridget came down just after 11 AM when Lizzie screamed for her. Lizzie said she had gone out to the backyard, to the barn, to the loft in the barn before she returned to find Andrew dead. No one else was known to be in the house. Later Abby was found, killed almost two hours before Andrew. Lizzie said "it wasn't Bridget or anyone who worked for Father"! So Lizzie was the logical suspect. She had given conflicting statements at the inquest. <br /> <br />The legend of a dutiful daughter slaughtering her parents seemed to fill some void in the psychology of people, so they believe this. Public opinion favored Lizzie; her pastor, associates in the YMCA, WCTU, suffragettes, and women's rights supported her defense. Lizzie's statements at the inquest were banned from the trial (no Miranda warning). People believed the police were trying to frame Lizzie because they could not solve the crime. Did a five year old real estate transfer cause Lizzie to suddenly snap? Could Lizzie be both a cunning criminal and a blundering idiot? The jury quickly found her 'not guilty'. Lizzie and Emma bought a bigger house and lived together for 12 years. Then Emma moved away to live in seclusion in New Hampshire. Lizzie lived well until her death in 1927. Emma died two weeks later. This case has never been lifted "above passion and excited feeling, into ... reason and law". [David Kent's "40 Whacks" presents a more complete story of this case.] <br />B0006WP8RM3222003-07-28

Brief Stories Make you Wonder

I read this book rather quickly.The brief accounts of what happened leaves you wondering why the author left out details.I believe this book is better suited for the young adult reader catergory.<br>One chapter about a kidnapping is very drawn out and is hard to read because it seems like the writer has no idea what to right.It drags on with very detailed descriptions of everything that is unimportant.<br>If you have a interest in Mystery and just want something Quick to read this book is perfect and most of the Chapters are interesting and worth reading.B0006WP8RM3012003-07-28

Brief Sories Make you Wonder

I read this book rather quickly.The brief accounts of what happened leaves you wondering why the author left out details.I believe this book is better suited for the young adult reader catergory.<br>One chapter about a kidnapping is very drawn out and is hard to read because it seems like the writer has no idea what to right.It drags on with very detailed descriptions of everything that is unimportant.<br>If you have a interest in Mystery and just want something Quick to read this book is perfect and most of the Chapters are interesting and worth reading.B0006WP8RM3002000-02-11

Good themes, not the greatest writing

I think the author in this book did not make the most of the excellent stories, which, if properly written, would have made this an excellent book.713469011General AAS11003Crime & Criminals53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155BooksB0007FAR8Shttp://www.amazon.com/history-magic-Including-exposition-procedure/dp/B0007FAR8S%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0007FAR8SEliphas LéviUnknown BindingBordenEnglishEnglishBorden384Book1963BordenBorden0000003.051B0007FAR8S3152006-12-30

Sheshebazar

The part about India being described as "the Mother of all heresies" where the reviewer above writes that this is: "[laughable, were it not so pathetic an example of judeochristian resentiment]" is actually right on the money from the perspective of a Western Esotericist and Esoteric Christian who is aware that the entire Pantheistic Diaspora of Indian deities are one and the same with the 200 Fallen Angels of Christianity. B0007FAR8S217452002-12-25

Weakly steeped in 19th century ignorance.

We are all intruigued by the mysteries of magic. But this book makes the most preposterous claims about magic, ritual, history and god knows what else, that I have ever seen. Far from the claim (in a review below) of his "empiricism," Levi does not seem to have been in the least informed by the sciences of his day. The real mystery is why the great esotericsit A.E. Waite bothered to translate it from the French at all. Need an example? India is described as "the Mother of all heresies" [laughable, were it not so pathetic an example of judeochristian resentiment]. And he seriously believes that the the books of the Old Testament describe the literal anthropology & history of the peoples of the Mideast, Ishmael=Islam and all the rest [fundamentalism so naive it would make a Trent Lott blush!]. The book's organization reflects the author's romance with Quaballah, but the chapters themselves are random collections of "ideas" on topics unrelated to the chapter titles [a stream-of-consciousness style the anticipated the great Joyce by half a century, albeit to no effect, aesthetic or otherwise]. The single high point of the book is Levi's description of spiritual love: "The true man elevates himself not by trying to possess the object of his desire but by raising himself to Her through devotion" [its a pity he didn't know anything about Sufism or the key difference between magic and devotion]. Try Israel Regardie instead, who is at least steeped in Renaissance memory training, neo-Platonism and other worthies. Remember that it is but a small (backwards) step that separates dog from god.B0007FAR8S526282001-07-15

the Bane of Scholars is the Occultist's Reward!

Eliphas Levi's "History of Magic" is probably the most singularly beautiful, profoundly romantic and Personal rendering of the history of Magic ever penned. It is as much a sourcebook for the Symbolist/Decadent fin-de-siecle generation as is Baudelaire's Flowers of Evil & Paris Spleen, and ironically, Levi collaborated with Baudelaire on the work entitled:"Les Mysteres Galants".(webb. Occult Underground,266) It is essential to grasp when involved in such a historical treatise as this, that in Occultism, as in religious thought: EXPERIENCE TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER DOCTRINE. If one is seeking verifiable facts given in chronological order that is simple to digest and retain, look elsewhere. For Levi is speaking of history in relation to his own private researches, to which he had dedicated his life since entering the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church at the age of twelve. His is also a history of magic with literary antecedents; to the likes of Aurthur Rimbaud for instance, this work of Levi/Constant's was a veritable bible, whose symbolism permeates works such as "A Season In Hell" to a deliriant degree. There is perhaps not one writer or Artist regardless of medium between the years 1860-1930 who was not at least familiar with Levi/Constant; this fact extends from his own friends, such as Balzac, de Nerval, Victor Hugo, Dumas- to Breton, Crowley, Bataille, Meyrink, Henry Miller and innumerable others! The names cover from Western to Eastern Europe, as well as North America; and it is Levi who established what we define, in its cultural sense, as "Occultism" today. It is also largely because of his pioneering Occult works that the "19th century Occult Revival" merged with the Arts of the day, giving birth to the idea of "Art as Religion, & the Artist as Priest/magician". It was in the Occult that the Artist(spelled for the 1st time with a capital)found a definition of his own position, and most granted the highest respect and admiration to the Rabelaisian personage of Alphonse Louis Constant, which is Levi's real name. Aleister Crowley's lifework was centered around Eliphas's dream of a reconciliation between the arts of science & religion, for which he laboured and set down all that was required in his Occult as well as religious and revolutionary tomes, comprising together at least 20 works. The essential question in Levi's History Of Magic is NOT the accuracy of his scholarly objectivity, but his system's origins, structure, goals, and the benefits it bestows and light shined upon the Occultist's understanding of Magic in relation to the history of magic; that Levi's historical system differs from other interpretations is due to the fact that he was not so much interested in the historical facts as much as how the history and the knowledge it produced could benefit the modern-day Occultist operating in the world today. In this respect the text is given over to interpretation of all variety of magical personages, events, accomplishments, inventions, and works. Also essential to know is that it is thanks to the genius of the Philosopher/mathmetician Hoene Wronski and his CaBalistic insights that Levi gleaned much in his Philosophical approach. One may benefit also by disregarding any facts pseudo-scholar Waite provides on Constant's background as he had at the time of writing his prefaces' not one single work in regards to the life of Levi; his critical insights however are as valid as any, and for all his seeming hostility he in reality is truly, next to Crowley, perhaps Levi's biggest fan! waite is also to be commended for providing the bibliographical sources for those seeking "established facts"( which merely means some few people agree upon what they themselves only know from yet another source of questionable reliability) It is quite evident from a philosophical standpoint that the Occultist's rewards reaped from their experience outweighs in practical value what is the scholar's bane regardless of any amount of scholarly exactitude. In this sense, as much as in the exquisitely-toned bardic prose of Levi, he has created a historical work that will outlast innumerable others, standing as it does on the merits of great literature as well as being universally regarded as a pioneering classic of Occultism.B0007FAR8S114272000-01-26

For experts on the subject only

A.E. Waite could have spend his time better than translating this "French masterpiece". As always Eliphas Levi is ill-informed and doesn't care much about facts. The book is full of factual errors and Alphonse Louis Constant shapes history as it suits him. This doubtful "History of Magic" is therefore only interesting for uncritical followers of the master, reseachers who specialize in the history of occultism in the nineteenth century or for experts on the history of magic in general who can make distinctions between facts and non-sense. It is more or less misleading to rate this book five stars.B0007FAR8S521251999-12-28

An excellent exposition of the existence of Magick!

This is the single greatest book on the history of the Spiritual Art and Science of Magick. My only two complaints about the book are that it's written in a rather biased view, from a purely Christian perspective (not that any other religion's perspective would be any better!) and the translator/editor, Arthur Edward Waite, once again sees fit to make some useless and innacurate remarks here and there. But still read his footnotes! He makes some legitimate points in this book!First published in 1913, this classic text is an invaluable source book on the history and practice of magic and occultism. The contents include: Magic of the Magi, Magic in Ancient Greece, the Kabalah, Primitive Symbolism, Mysticism, Oracles, Magical Monuments, Magic and Christianity, Pagan Magic, Kabalistic Paintings and Sacred Emblems, Sorcerers, Magic and Freemasonry, the Illuminati, and more. Illustrated.087728079708772807890877289409143440106508925410671000Subjects1Arts & Photography2Biographies & Memoirs3Business & Investing4Children's Books4366Comics & Graphic Novels5Computers & Internet6Cooking, Food & Wine86Entertainment301889Gay & Lesbian10Health, Mind & Body9History48Home & Garden10777Law17Literature & Fiction13996Medicine18Mystery & Thrillers53Nonfiction290060Outdoors & Nature20Parenting & Families173507Professional & Technical21Reference22Religion & Spirituality23Romance75Science25Science Fiction & Fantasy26Sports28Teens27Travel283155Books1859734936http://www.amazon.com/Skateboarding-Space-City-Architecture-Body/dp/1859734936%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D185973493691435http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BPSASRNEL._SL75_.jpg7547http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BPSASRNEL._SL160_.jpg160100http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BPSASRNEL.jpg500314Iain BordenPaperback796.229781859734933701859734936Berg PublishersEnglishEnglishEnglish9103695USD$36.95Berg Publishers1320Book2001-05Berg PublishersBerg Publishers906102764USD$27.642400USD$24.001450011ATVPDKIKX0DERhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/home.html?seller=ATVPDKIKX0DERNewnew2E2Jb5T9dLJN237GvuG957sIh2W8%2B7mZ0toESd%2B7SIBK03XcbRu98jfuascWiv3U5xhC3u6eo5JkoaA6s%2FZzoQ%3D%3D3132USD$31.32Usually ships in 6 to 11 days3.03118597349364222006-03-09

Production of Space

This book is an informative look into Ian Bordens extensive research into the history and culture of skateboarding, which illustrates alternative issues of architecture and production of space. <br /> <br />The beginning chapters are heavy reading and heavily referenced, but worth the time and effort. The later chapters go into an in depth and detailed look at skateboarding development and cultural issues. <br /> <br />He challenges readers to change their perception of architecture and spaces, and to look at how our own actions affect the space we occupy, by looking at skateboarding and its culture. He references Lefebvre who said, "Surely it is the supreme illusion to defer to architects, urbanists or planners as being experts or ultimate authorities in matters relation to space." He then goes on to talk about how the interaction addresses the physical architecture, yet responds with a dynamic presence not another physical object. Skateboarding produces space, but also time and the self. This book addresses how, architecture as a set of flows, as a set of experience and reproductions, can be embedded in the practices of architectural history - for as architecture is not itself a space, but only a way of looking at space. The rest of the book is a thoroughly researched look at skateboarding. <br /> <br />Its worthwhile noting that his is not a skateboarding magazine and is written in the academic tongue so is not easy to read. But worthwhile reading if you are interested in this field.18597349364002005-03-21

Appropriate This! Urban Space

Unmistakably and in so many ways, Iain Borden thinks that skateboarding is RAD! This sentiment comes through in nearly every one of his 267 pages on the subject, a sort of tribute to the urban arts of skateboarding. This is scholarship as panegyric ... but don't get me wrong, I'm largely with Borden in his readings and estimation of the radical nature and content and potential of skateboarding: it's RAD! <br /> <br />In this monograph, Borden's archive is largely skateboarding magazines. He talks some about zines and almost none about films, and the way he reads mags is simply (and a bit disappointingly) to quote from the alphabetic portions of those texts. This is not to say that this book is not replete with images, because it is -- photos, magazine pages, more photos, including even one of Borden in a pool at a skate park! love that moment in the text -- it's just that Borden is not a discourse analyst, so he doesn't break down and close read in the ways I might have wanted him too. But dude, he sure is an architectural theorist, and so what this book is is Borden dumping piles and piles of Lefebvre onto skateboarding in order to redefine architecture and make sophisticated sense of what might otherwise be considered a "mere" hobby. <br /> <br />That's right: Borden more or less erects a massive half pipe of Lefebvre's work on space and the city, rhythmanalysis, bodies, and the modern city, and then skates skateboarding and the spaces/landscapes that skateboarding takes place and shape in and around in RIGHT THROUGH that theoretical halfpipe. It makes for a yummy ride, if a bit of a repetetive one -- back and forth we go for all of those 267 pages largely riding on the simulacral wave that is the half pipe made out of Lefebvre. But since I dig Lefebvre, I was into the book. <br /> <br />Okay, but this is what Borden SAYS in this book, and what he claims, and what he ardently works to prove. He's mainly trying to say (aside from the statement that "Skateboarding is RAD!" which comes through on every page of this book, even though it is never expressly said) is that <br /> <br />*** get this *** Architecture is not buildings, and objects in our cities and lives are not texts, but that architecture is a sort of result of interactions of bodies in space. So the skater in the halfpipe makes something in excess of the pipe when he (and it usually is a he, Borden concedes; hot skater dudes populate this text while skate-grrls are few) goes for an arial, or does something unexpected with his body-board continuum. Skateboarding is just one way, and a very specific one, that space in the city is made and remade and created out of interactions of the skating kind. <br /> <br />Okay, so that seems to be his main idea, as I repeat it with flaws of all kinds, no doubt. He begins with chapters on wheels and boards, then moves to the skateparks (less interesting) and the urban appropriation of space/architecture by rampaging skater dudes (more interesting). This is where skating is radical, unlawful, wild ... RAD! Borden does a few other funny things: like saying skating is the parole to the lange of the boring everyday, or something like that. He's all theory-crazed, looking for any way he possibly can to see skateboarding as RAD! And he does. And it works. <br /> <br />I guess the main limitation of this book for me, and there were few, is the lack of critique. Borden doesn't see skateboarding as being nearly as commodified and caught up on "what's cool" and even a sort of coopted critique and radicalism as I see it to be. I think it's RAD, I guess, but in ways I wished he would have explored the commodification of it more, the rage and anger and ways that skating is perhaps misplaced and thus safe aggression and critique. I wanted it to be read not so much as RAD, but as a patterning with more facets, at least a few of them LAME. Without, it becomes some kind of cure-all activity, beyond human.185973493613132004-08-18

a major disapointment

Yes, I said it, and I stand behind it. I really had my hopes up for this one. There is so much that can be done, the title alone suggests creativity utilizing the imagination. Does it deliver? No. The book, wich I expected to be full of photography and articles showing how skateboarders use the surrounding architecture for creativity, is really just a sad piece that goes on to tell the history of skateboarding, with very little interesting photography at all. The written content itself is hard to keep your interest, even for a long time skateboarder as myself. Dont get me wrong, I am all for the history of skateboarding, hell, I lived most of it. But that should be and has been put in books and editorials that were labled as such. This was, as I said, a disapointment. I can only hope that someone will see this and spark the idea to do it right, unless I do it first that is. <DIV>Skateboarders are an increasingly common feature of the urban environment - recent estimates total 40 million world-wide. We are all aware of their often extraordinary talent and manoeuvres on the city streets. This book is the first detailed study of the urban phenomenon of skateboarding. It looks at skateboarding history from the surf-beaches of California in the 1950s, through the purpose-built skateparks of the 1970s, to the street-skating of the present day and shows how skateboarders experience and understand the city through their sport. Dismissive of authority and convention, skateboarders suggest that the city is not just a place for working and shopping but a true pleasure-ground, a place where the human body, emotions and energy can be expressed to the full.The huge skateboarding subculture that revolves around graphically-designed clothes and boards, music, slang and moves provides a rich resource for exploring issues of gender, race, class, sexuality and the family. As the author demonstrates, street-style skateboarding, especially characteristic of recent decades, conducts a performative critique of architecture, the city and capitalism. Anyone interested in the history and sociology of sport, urban geography or architecture will find this book riveting.</div>08021394501894020545063118177615540700151568987102713015011General AAS1Arts & Photography1000Subjects283155Books11235Cultural11233Anthropology11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books11272Human Geography11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books4556Popular Culture11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books11296Urban11288Sociology11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books11289General11288Sociology11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books713503011General AAS11288Sociology11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books11268General11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books713494011General AAS11232Social Sciences53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books15991761General11324Urban Planning & Development53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books713510011General AAS11324Urban Planning & Development53Nonfiction1000Subjects283155Books720868Urban & Land Use Planning173508Architecture173507Professional & Technical1000Subjects283155Books1005General173508Architecture173507Professional & Technical1000Subjects283155Books713537011General AAS173508Architecture173507Professional & Technical1000Subjects283155Books11086921General26Sports1000Subjects283155Books713751011General AAS26Sports1000Subjects283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155Books3RASJ1HOFGIW9Skateboarding neccesity1LEQNLEBOT2Vblahblkahbdsagdf0425185494http://www.amazon.com/Death-Lurks-Bush-Kate-Borden/dp/0425185494%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0425185494697959http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514G1RAK19L._SL75_.jpg7545http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514G1RAK19L._SL160_.jpg16097http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514G1RAK19L.jpg500302Kate BordenPaperback8139780425185490800425185494BerkleyEnglishEnglishEnglish650599USD$5.99Berkley1224Book2002-07-02Berkley2002-07-02Berkley25400450USD$4.501USD$0.011000USD$10.0023020003.02104251854943122004-06-21

Fun, quick read; little side trip to the islands

Mama! (That's what protagonist Kelly Ryan is called by her current queeze, Michael, the double agent!) And, Mama, this is a fine little escape read. Not deep, but a relaxing, quick beach read, or anything to keep one at a relaxed, cool, summertime state.<p>Picked this one up at The Dollar Tree on the chance that I would like it, and I did.<p>Now, I will enjoy Kate Grilley's other little books in the series, again as nice little escapes. <p>Must admit that her book makes me long to tour St. Croix, where I understand that the author lives and writes. <p>Nice set up this, running a classical music station in fictional St. Chris, hobnobbing with the island locals around lots of cooling island drinks. Kelly Ryan can't be very old to imbibe so much and still know what she's doing. Nice connections to the community, the colonial heritage and the tourist trade. Very nice connections to the island "royalty" of elderly Miss Lucinda, once the love of the Prince of Wales, or David. And so nice to know the remaining Danish citizen, Miss Maude, the retired island school teacher, the revered link to the coming visit of the Queen and King of the Danes.<p>I do recommend this little escape and if you can find it at a bargain, so much the better, eh, Mama?04251854943222002-07-19

The Queen is coming to St. Chris

Miss Maude's old friend, the Queen of Denmark is coming to St. Chris for a visit and the island is in a tizzy. It hasn't been so Danish since their independence in the early part of the 20th century. Miss Maude has planned a special dinner for her Queen and invites her friends for a taste testing party. Everyone ends up ill, much to the horror of Miss Maude. Then her old friend Miss Lucinda dies suddenly, as does the doctor who does her autopsy. Who is behind this, and is the security for the royal visit in jeopardy?<p>This was a quick and enjoyable read, full of decriptions of life on a tropical island. The mystery was very easy to solve, but the story worth reading.An ingenious heroine and a tropical Caribbean setting make for an exciting combination in this acclaimed mystery series. <br><br> "Grab a pi&ntildea colada and sit back."(<i>Mystery Reader</i>)0425179303042517506504251948920425204464042519946010129Contemporary17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books713365011General AAS17Literature & Fiction1000Subjects283155Books10466General10457Mystery18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books713462011General AAS10457Mystery18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books605116General18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books713437011General AAS18Mystery & Thrillers1000Subjects283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155Books23BITJYEMAK6FTropical Murders0738531553http://www.amazon.com/Detroits-Paradise-Valley-Images-America/dp/0738531553%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D07385315531433145http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510NZSTYW1L._SL75_.jpg7552http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510NZSTYW1L._SL160_.jpg160112http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510NZSTYW1L.jpg475332Ernest H. BordenPaperback977.4349780738531557350738531553Arcadia PublishingEnglishEnglishEnglish8661999USD$19.99Arcadia Publishing1128Book2003-08-02Arcadia PublishingArcadia Publishing677081227USD$12.27999USD$9.991870011ATVPDKIKX0DERhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/home.html?seller=ATVPDKIKX0DERNewnewJrrjq86PYdh69sQ9rfqXndzvRY%2BdyCKY3f51G8bdwjCgFeHpMSY0MYAwaXymYPngCmJp0mOff9uvRP7tnmkZzw%3D%3D1619USD$16.19Usually ships in 24 hours3.02107385315531222007-01-29

A Bitter Disappointment

I was really disappointed in this book. I am from Detroit and I have heard stories about Paradise Valley over the years. When I saw this book, I was thinking to myself 'Great, now I can get the real story on this place that no longer exists.' Boy was I wrong. I thought this book was going to have pictures of places that existed in Paradise Valley and pictures of residents who used to live in this community. Maybe some comments from the actual residents that are still alive and can talk about where everything was and what was happening during those years. No!This book is filled with nothing but the author's pictures and stories of his uncle's hotel and his uncle. Almost every page has a picture of this man and it talks about his hotel. Okay, I understand that this is the author's uncle and he was a successful black businessman for that time but not every page in the book should have been concentrated on him. The book didn't even tell you where Paradise Valley began and ended or that it was destroyed to make way for the freeway I-75. No pictures of other places that were within Paradise Valley. Nothing that makes me say 'WOW this is Paradise Valley.' <br /> <br />This book has a misleading title. Instead of being called Paradise Valley, it should be called Gotham Hotel within Paradise Valley. If I didn't know a little history, this book would make you think that the Gotham Hotel was Paradise Valley and nothing or no one else existed.07385315535332003-10-24

Paradise Valley

Outstanding, comprehensive discourse on the Paradise Valley, Sugar Hill, and Black Bottom sections of Downtown Detroit, told through words and an abundance of pictures. Especially informative regarding the symbiotic development of entertainment (jazz, theatre, culinary, and sports) industry, manufacturing, international immigration, and political movement, in the post-slavery pre-civil rights era, with a focus the history of one of the richest nuclei of Black culture in the United States. The area covered is one of the final stops on the Underground Railroad--this book describes the evolution in cooperation in tradition and community among the various races and cultures of which Detroit is comprised. Though the buildings themselves are gone, the cultural mark of Paradise Valley on the Detroit area, Southeastern Michigan, and the world, is still powerfully felt. Essential and enjoyable reading for anyone interested in the history, development, and future of this culturally rich and diverse area, by one of the individuals best-equipped to tell the story. Highly recommended.One of the most prominent and dynamic African-American neighborhoods in U.S. history, Paradise Valley served as a social and cultural mecca for Detroitís black community from the 1920s through the 1950s. Now the site of stadiums and freeways, the area was once home to places like the Gotham Hotel and the Surf Club, and welcomed the likes of Billie Holiday, Joe Louis, and Sammy Davis Jr. This book uses more than 200 previously unpublished photographs to take readers on a rare tour of the entertainers, entrepreneurs, businesses, and events that made the now-lost Paradise Valley legendary. ÝÝ073852033007385015060472067656B000JMK6IKB000NIVJF42100General2099United States2087Travel2020Photography1Arts & Photography1000Subjects283155Books2102Midwest2099United States2087Travel2020Photography1Arts & Photography1000Subjects283155Books4872General14278871State & Local4853United States4808Americas9History1000Subjects283155Books14279091Michigan14278871State & Local4853United States4808Americas9History1000Subjects283155Books4870General4853United States4808Americas9History1000Subjects283155Books713299011General AAS4853United States4808Americas9History1000Subjects283155Books713290011General AAS9History1000Subjects283155Books67502Detroit17343Michigan17263States17227United States27Travel1000Subjects283155Books67501General17343Michigan17263States17227United States27Travel1000Subjects283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155BooksR51UKI1JVCAXRBooks About Detroit0685855961http://www.amazon.com/Drawings-Toulouse-Lautrec-Stephen-Longstreet/dp/0685855961%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D06858559616427798HardcoverStephen Longstreet9780685855966750685855961Borden Pub CoEnglishEnglish12751095USD$10.95Borden Pub CoBook1966-06Borden Pub CoBorden Pub Co1409750000003.02106858559613002007-12-17

Not what I expected, but a good reference nonetheless...

This book is old. First printing was in the 1960s, and the printing technology reflects it. All images are black and white, and there aren't that many of them in comparison with newer titles on Toulouse-Lautrec. <br /> <br />In its favor, however, there were some drawings and sketches in this book that I have yet to see anywhere else. So although the amount of content is modest, it is a useful reference. <br /> <br />I wouldn't pay more than $5 for this book.06858559613002007-04-30

Neat...

This isn't exactly what I thought it was, but it is interesting. I do like it. It's just a picture book, there isn't really much info in it other than the little bio in the front. The paper stock is nice and for what it is, I thnk it was worth the money.087505165008750516340875051596087505203708750518121000Subjects1Arts & Photography2Biographies & Memoirs3Business & Investing4Children's Books4366Comics & Graphic Novels5Computers & Internet6Cooking, Food & Wine86Entertainment301889Gay & Lesbian10Health, Mind & Body9History48Home & Garden10777Law17Literature & Fiction13996Medicine18Mystery & Thrillers53Nonfiction290060Outdoors & Nature20Parenting & Families173507Professional & Technical21Reference22Religion & Spirituality23Romance75Science25Science Fiction & Fantasy26Sports28Teens27Travel283155Books394181011Hardcover394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155Books0875050891http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Dwellers-Return-Phylos-Thibetan/dp/0875050891%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0875050891959851http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51K614PGH7L._SL75_.jpg7549http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51K614PGH7L._SL160_.jpg160104http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51K614PGH7L.jpg500325Phylos the ThibetanPaperback97808750508981100875050891Borden Pub CoEnglishEnglishEnglish8101500USD$15.00Borden Pub CoBook1940-01Borden Pub CoBorden Pub Co1355401500USD$15.001495USD$14.95310011ATVPDKIKX0DERhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/home.html?seller=ATVPDKIKX0DERNewnewk6GN210xaEdtGu%2BzbpwQWYavF%2B0F%2BFMcEaq8C%2F4tq1OIc0WkS1oyW0NkiCMx5sWHOL%2BYHpLnhViKkfItiX02Jw%3D%3D1500USD$15.00Usually ships in 24 hours3.02108750508911242007-06-07

Probably a fake

This is supposed to be the sequel to "A Dweller on Two Planets" by Phylos the Thibetan. We're talking about channeled material and, while no one could easily doubt the authenticity of the first book, I cannot say the same about this one.08750508915782007-02-19

Truth as a parable

In this extension of Phylos the Thibetans' treaties on the soul progression of Mainin, we find dialog between the Higher spirit and the more carnal earthly self of Mainin. A dialog filled with truths and examples retraced many times in other texts. That life is an overcoming of SELF, and service to others is the example of all spiritual adepts and the Christ. This is another in a line of books and iconic personalities of the late nineteenth century so full of spiritualism and exploration. Edgar Cacye, Madam Blatavatsky, and Carl Jung. Read, digest, and decide for yourself where it fits in this grand scheme we call life. As sometimes the movie "The Matix" seems an apt example of the illusion presented to us in life, and reincarnation explains alot about the souls progression toward an exceptable level of achievment before being presented before the almighty. Would that we had the "Sons of the Solitude" and the "Mount Shasta" school to guide our steps more carefully.087505088307387039741602063117188756043209328137391000Subjects1Arts & Photography2Biographies & Memoirs3Business & Investing4Children's Books4366Comics & Graphic Novels5Computers & Internet6Cooking, Food & Wine86Entertainment301889Gay & Lesbian10Health, Mind & Body9History48Home & Garden10777Law17Literature & Fiction13996Medicine18Mystery & Thrillers53Nonfiction290060Outdoors & Nature20Parenting & Families173507Professional & Technical21Reference22Religion & Spirituality23Romance75Science25Science Fiction & Fantasy26Sports28Teens27Travel283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155Books0528661035http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Eleven-Greatest-Presidents-Morton/dp/0528661035%3FSubscriptionId%3D05ERXYTS89KFGEPQR5G2%26tag%3Dthebookrevi0b-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D05286610354221675PaperbackMorton Borden97805286610370528661035Rand McNally & Co ,U.S.EnglishEnglish695USD$6.95Rand McNally & Co ,U.S.269Book1971-12Rand McNally & Co ,U.S.Rand McNally & Co ,U.S.21USD$0.210800003.01105286610353002000-05-20

Serves as an Introduction to Eleven Presidents

In this edition, Morton Borden has updated his earlier work, "American's ten greatest presidents." Borden acts as the editor while each president is covered by a separate historian. Presumably both the historians and the presidents have been selected by Borden. At times certain historians may seem to ramble, but overall the writing flows well and doesn't vary too widely from chapter to chapter. Nothing new seems to have been put into the original ten chapters/presidents, and the work's sole addition is a chapter on Truman written by Richard Kirkendall. Other presidents covered are Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Jackson, Polk, Lincoln, Cleveland, T. Roosevelt, Wilson, and Franklin Roosevelt. <p>Overall this work, and the early edition, serve as worthwhile overviews of the presidencies and presidents covered. But this book is NOT a factual reserve to be used for heavy-duty reference. It's much more aptly considered as an INTRODUCTION to eleven US presidents. I used it, along with other titles, to study for the AP US History exam. For that goal it is useful, and thus I gave it 3 stars (3 stars is "useful"; I am a 'hard grader'). I haven't read many other books like it, though, and cannot compare it to other like-minded titles-- so there may well be a more modern resource better suited to an individual's scholarly needs. You'd have to browse around on Amazon.com and check that out.<p>Sidenote: I liked the initial three chapters on Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. Since they all served in a row (1888-1808), the three chapters read in a row really convey a sense of the period (which may be lacking as the book later skips ahead 20 or 30 years to reach the new president). I especially remember the efforts to which all three presidents went to keep us out of foreign entanglements. Great presidents indeed.1000Subjects1Arts & Photography2Biographies & Memoirs3Business & Investing4Children's Books4366Comics & Graphic Novels5Computers & Internet6Cooking, Food & Wine86Entertainment301889Gay & Lesbian10Health, Mind & Body9History48Home & Garden10777Law17Literature & Fiction13996Medicine18Mystery & Thrillers53Nonfiction290060Outdoors & Nature20Parenting & Families173507Professional & Technical21Reference22Religion & Spirituality23Romance75Science25Science Fiction & Fantasy26Sports28Teens27Travel283155Books400272011Paperback394184011Mass Market401237011Trade394174011Binding (binding)388186011Refinements283155Books618083011Printed Books618072011Format (feature_browse-bin)388186011Refinements283155Books