Bridges Books

This is an easy to read, highly inspirational memoir. The old adage, "I cried because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet", comes to life in this true story. This is a must read for anyone who has ever felt that all hope is lost.

This is the inspiring story of an African-American plantation worker, seriously disabled in youth, who nevertheless - challenged by his very handicap - rises to a distinguished career in government and the church. What makes this book particularly remarkable is the splendid style in which it is written.

Covers of play via example for each technique. Each example is to the point with minimum verbiage. Range is encyclopedic. Good reference.

Originally published in France in 2005, The Encyclopedia of Card Play Techniques at Bridge is an in-depth guide to the card game of bridge featuring over 800 deals and diagrams. The Encyclopedia of Card Play Techniques at Bridge is not intended for beginners, but rather intermediate to advanced bridge players seeking to improve their skills. The step-by-step, play-by-play discussions are sure to offer insights to even the most veteran gamers, in this absolute "must-have" resource for bridge enthusiasts.

The DC Universe contains thousands of quality characters. Unfortunately, only a small fraction are used to even half of their potential. Every so often, an author will dust off one of these forgotten gems and make readers take notice, such as George Pratt did with Hans von Hammer, the Enemy Ace, in this book. A true graphic novel, not a trade collection, this story is a beautiful piece of work. It's an interesting exploration of what makes a soldier, told in a series of flashbacks brought on through an aged Hammer's interview by a Vietnam vet.

Actually, I would rather give it 9 of 10 stars, due to the art. Pratt's painted pages are great, but they're not very detailed, so it's hard to decipher exactly what's occurring at times. Still, it's a minor problem. DC should put it back in print.

Being an aviation buff and military reenactor I have grown to recognize that war is a sickness that has plagued mankind for eons past. George Pratt brings the meaning of war and the emotional scars it leaves on it's victims, the survivors, to life in characters who are generations apart but who suffer from the same endless mental anguish for the rest of their lives. Each being left to wrestle with their own mental demons long after the war(s) are over. This is a very emotional novel that left me to ponder the fate of all those who tasted combat. My heart goes out to those poor souls whose respective governments left them alone to deal with their personal horrors once the smoke has cleared. I'm not afraid to admit to shedding a tear at the end of this wonderful novel. This book, like "All Quiet on the Western Front" should be required reading by anyone who is contemplating joining the military or better yet, those at the "top" who wantonly send their children away to be slaughtered.

This is a great tutorial- even if you are already a knowledgable PS user, you can glean great tidbits from this well organized, thorough program.

Nowhere else can you find such in depth instruction on navigating CS2 from a photographer's perspective. There is a wealth of information for the advanced photoshop user, yet Chris's teaching style conveys these concepts with such ease even a beginner will not feel lost. If you've ever had the pleasure of seeing Chris Orwig speak, these tutorials are a real treat.

"Entering the School of Your Experience" is the first of eight booklets in the "Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton" series edited by Merton scholars Jonathan Montaldo and Robert G. Toth. Themes are based on key principals from Merton's thought including (1) our everyday life is our spiritual life, (2) spiritual formation is grounded in the experience of relationships and community, and (3) personal transformation is the foundation for societal and cultural transformation.

The series is designed for adult Christians in committed small groups, but is also appropriate for individual use. Each of the eight sessions consists of four to five pages containing excerpts on the given topic from two "voices," Merton's and that of another spiritual leader; a psalm; an introduction to the readings; and questions for reflection and dialogue. In addition, optional concluding prayers and a facilitator's guide are provided.

As shown in the following examples from the Contemplative Dialogue session of "Entering the School" the material is broad enough to address the needs of those wishing to begin, reinvigorate, or deepen their spiritual lives. From the introduction to the texts: "Our natural urge is to be heard, and therefore we are often not fully present to one another when communicating." From Merton's voice: "Silence...can at times be the response of a greater love, and of a love that does not endanger truth..." From the voice of Eckhart Tolle: "Most people don't know how to listen because the major part of their attention is taken up by their thinking." From reflect and dialogue: "What value do we place on silence in our culture and our everyday lives?"

This book - the first in a series - is a wonderful tool that I can see used in many faith-based groups. As a springboard for the exploration of Thomas Merton's work, it also serves as a conversation starter for faith-sharing and similar endeavors. I did not find that this book was very conducive for individual reflection nor would I recommend this for someone looking for a preliminary survey of the work of Thomas Merton alone. There are many other sources for both cases.

This is excellent for parish, campus ministry and small-group based discussion.

I have read literally hundreds of self-improvement books, trying to really become the 'best person I can be.' Most of the time though I would start a program, or follow advice, for a short period of time before I would fall back into my own comfortable routines.

Through the ethics part of the booklet, I really identified my own stops and barriers to self betterment, and then with the conditions program - it laid out all of the steps for any situation I was in, so that I could always get out, and even better, stay in a high, operating condition in life.

When you live this way, you become happier, more confident, and know that you have at your finger tips the answers to how you cope and survive and flourish in life.

This is a very underestimated booklet, and worth far more content wise than its cost. Make the investment in yourself, and get the knowledge you need to really improve your self.

I am amazed that such a small book has ideas in it that are so different and sensible and logical. I think you could change any situation, like a company that was having trouble or just some part of your own life, and make it better.

I just had an opportunity to read this book (someone loaned me their copy)and was fascinated. It's quite possibly the best book on librarianship that I've ever read. It is so interesting to read about how people deal with their lives as librarians. It's also great on practical tips. Having worked in academic libraries for over 40 years I think I know libraries and it's clear that the writers and editor really know what they're talking about. I had read some of the articles written by the editor, Karl Bridges, in American Libraries and elsewhere, but didn't realize what a great writer he was until I read this book. This book is something that every working librarian should read. In fact, I have a niece who is thinking about becoming a librarian and I plan to buy her a copy. I just wish I had had something like this when I started working as a librarian.

I just had a chance to finish this book this weekend. This is a wonderful book! The editor has put together a fascinating collection of essays from librarians all over in all different kinds of libraries. They talk about their lives, how they do their jobs, and the challenges that they face moving into a new era.
This is a must-read for anyone who is interested in how librarians work now. It gives both philosophical insights as well as practical tips of value to both working librarians and those aspiring to be librarians. It's not valuable just for librarians, but for anyone interested in understanding the changing nature of work in America.
The writing is clear, crisp, and entertaining. The book is also well organized and edited with a useful index. Besides librarians this book would also be useful for any place that is doing career guidance -- one of the best overviews of what it means to work as a librarian that I have ever seen.
The only bad part about this book is the cost... I hope that they do a ... paperback version of this as soon as possible since it deserves to be on every librarian's bookshelf. There's nothing even remotely comparable to this book available. A real contribution to the literature!

As a fellow Northern Californian I really enjoyed reading both of Ms. West's stories. I met her at a book signing and I preferred to read Eye of the Bear first as it is a prequel to The river of red gold. I live in the area that the books are mainly set in. (Sacramento) I have been to most of the areas and it really makes it more interesting to visualize the home of the Mi-wok's. The Sloughhouse Inn in the book is still there (although closed at the moment-2006-due to ownership problems. Both Eye and River of Red Gold are 5 star reads.

This book is as excellent and finely constructed as is Ms. West's prior book, "River of Red Gold", which follows "Eye of the Bear" in time. Her obvious extensive research is paid off in a compelling tale of pre-gold-rush (1820's) California, and the conflict between and among the Native Americans, the Spanish/Mexican secular rulers, and the religious zealots of the early California Missions. Interweaving historical characters with fictional representations of the time, "Eye of the Bear" draws the reader into a starkly believable environment. The story is painted with well-developed characters, engaged in love, hatred, empathy and war. I'm sorry these two books weren't written (and would recommend that they be read) in reverse order -- nonetheless, I hope another volume, perhaps continuing the same story but set in POST-gold-rush days, will follow. The book is long (over 600 pages), but I couldn't put it down until I came...sadly...to it's ending.

One of the best books on psycholgy and society in the last fifty years. Great food for thought and better understanding. I can not suggest this work enough for the positive developement of the mind.
Mr. Charny is years ahead of the pack in his thinking and insight, a humanist head and shoulders above the rest.

Five plus stars.

This is a significant book. Charny outlines the differences between fascist thinking, which leads to unproductive overcertainties in one's personal life and society, and democratic thinking, which centers around respect for others and the understanding that life is complex and often ambiguous, and that we cannot always get the answers when and where we want or need.

Democratic thinking leads to opportunities for growth and humility and fascist thinking leads to repressive totalitarianism. His focus is not so much on the social side, since we all know how that plays out, instead he emphasizes personal responsibility for being democratic with others and with ourselves. he teaches how to overcome our own fascist tendencies, since we all default to them on occasion.

This book is fascinating and built on his experience as a shrink and a genocide scholar. If you are interested in psychology, spirituality, politics,sociology or anthropology this is an excellent choice.

This Book has help me so much with fasting. Altough I've fast before I wanted to have my fasting not be in vain. This book answered a lot of questions that I had. It reviewd different eras in fasting. I wanted to start a study on prayer but God lead me to this book. It is not hard to read or filled with un-necessary college degree words. Both babes in Christ and more mature Christains will be blessed by this book.

I've studied fasting for several years, but have never seen an informative and clear work dealing with Biblical methods. The author not only presents fasting as a historical action, but also relates a number of modern fasts that resulted in miracles. This text is highly recommended for those who wish to be inspired and motivated, whether they be religious or not.