Bryan Books

I must say -truthfully- that that is the best political biography I've ever read (and there have been many).

I accidentally happened into discovering William Jennings Bryan. He is a figure who is given only a brief mention in any grade or high school history book, and that is a shame. While reading a biography of William McKinley (Bryan's rival for the presidency during the election of 1896) I found myself wondering, "Who is this man Bryan?" I wanted to know more. How did a man rise to the head of his party and lead three unsuccessful bids for the presidency? He had to have been a considerable figure. Only Grover Cleveland (who won the popular vote in three elections) and later Franklin D. Roosevelt held such a command over their party. Bryan had to have been just as dynamic.

Thankfully, the author, Mr. Kazin, provides his readers with a deep, very well-researched and enjoyable account of Bryan. Turns out that Bryan WAS a considerable figure. Though he might seem very distant and certainly out-of-place when seen in the context of current events and attitudes, William Jennings Bryan was a perfect fit for the times...someone who could -without apology- campaign for the highest office as a common man of deep faith, extolling the romance "of Jefferson and Jesus." One is left to question what it would have been like had Bryan attained the Presidency of the United States.

The events covered in the pages of this book occurred during the late 1800s/early 1900s...right around the time when many students in their history classes begin to daydream with heavy eyes. (The tariff debate of the 1890s for example, can't possibly hold as much interest as say the question of secession leading up to the Civil War during the 1860s). It would take a pretty determined writer, then, to engage his audience into discovering William Jennings Bryan. Michael Kazin proves to be such a writer.

I can't be sure whether it was Mr. Kazin's strong writing, which given the subject matter could have been very plodding and boring in lesser hands, or the subject himself (Bryan deserves to be remembered for the role he played in our nation's history, even if he did fail to acheive the Presidency)...but I enjoyed the hell out of this book. And that is saying something.

If you want to know more about William Jennings Bryan, this is the book for you.

Very well done!

There isn't much of substance that I can add to the many excellent reviews already posted here. But perhaps I can provide some comments in minimalist fashion that can get this important book into the hands of "a wider audience." I think there is much we 21st century Americans can learn from William Jennings Bryan. I will divide my comments into two sections: the first dealing with the literary value of the book and the second noting things we can learn from Bryan's life.

The Book -
1. The organization and pacing is excellent. Nine of the twelve chapters are divided into discreet time periods that correspond to the various political episodes of his life, which was largely defined by his participation in the political life of America. The other three chapters - his early years, his career on the Chautauqua public speaking circuit, and the response of his political admirers - work very well, never losing the focus of the book, politics and evangelical Christianity.

2. This is a good read. The level of diction and writing style is just right for a popular audience. Best of all, Kazin does not "get in the way" of his subject, Bryan. Some academics seem to want to display ALL their knowledge, whether it fits into the narrative or not (are you listening, Joseph Ellis?), but Kazin resists the temptation. I am quite certain that Kazin knows a lot more about Bryan and his times, but, thank God, he is keeping it to himself. I read a lot of history and biography and this effort would have to be in my top 10% in terms of its literary value.

William Jennings Bryan -
1. He is a very important figure for the history of the Democratic Party, but I am not sure why, even after reading this biography. Certainly, he was an important figure in the Democratic Party during an era when they transformed themselves from the conservative laissez-faire era of Grover Cleveland into the liberal activist times of FDR. If you can overlook his racism and support of prohibition (more on that below), almost all of his positions would be cheered by 21st century liberals. Was Bryan responsible for helping the party make this remarkable transition, or was he simply in the "right place at the right time", fortuitously carried along by other leaders or social forces beyond his control? In either case, he is far more important in the making of modern America than historians have heretofore recognized.

2. He is important for evangelicals who want to be engaged in politics(Self-disclosure: I am an evangelical who is vitally interested in American politics). I think he lived an exemplary life, one that other evangelicals could emulate, but what does that look like for me? It seems to me that 19th century evangelicals generally favored an activist government, working for reforms like abolition, temperance, education, care of the mentally ill, etc, yet that seemed to die after Bryan left the scene. The social gospel seemed to suck them into a new paradigm of seeking "salvation" only in this world and ignoring the next. They turned formerly evangelical denominations - Presbyterian, Methodist, American Baptist, Evangelical Lutheran, etc. into sects that seemed to downplay Christ's gospel for the social gospel. Personally, I am disappointed in their religious direction, yet I am also disappointed in the path taken by those who stayed "true" to evangelical principals. They largely abandoned politics until the abortion controversy of the 1970s and since then, have all too often been used by economic conservatives for purely electoral purposes. I think there is a "third way", in which one defends the gospel in spiritual matters, yet also sets an independent course in political matters, all the while using scriptures as the guide to best "love your neighbor."

3. He is important for today's Democrats. He was obviously deeply committed to many issues that 21st century Dems feel are important, yet he came at these concerns from a Christians perspective. Can Dems allow this type of person to have an important place at their "table"? I'm not talking about phony rhetoric. That will not work because it will be obvious that it is not sincere. I am talking about being serious about making people of faith feel welcome in the Democrat Party. For example, could a Pro-Life Democrat ever be allowed by party bosses to run for President? Not in the past, but perhaps in the future. Secularists and secularism has controlled the party for many, many years. I feel it hurts the party very much in "fly-over" land.

4. A word about his racism and silence about the KKK. Indefensible in our day, but in his? Wilson was certainly racist, and did much to deepen Jim Crow. Why is he given a pass? (For that matter, why is Sen. Robert Byrd of West Va., former KKK organizer, given a pass on his embarrassing past?)Most people were very racist in Bryan's times, including most of the Democratic Party. So why is he singled out for censure? I think a lot has to do with his evangelical identity, and his role in the Scopes trial. Some secularists loathe evangelicals and, I think, have trouble thinking in a balanced way about someone like Bryan. Take a look at the ridiculous review of this book by Publishers Weekly on this site. How does someone read this book and produce that review?

Why read a book about a politician who lost the US presidential election three times in a row, and was a white racist to boot?

More than just retelling an American history story, Kazin's masterpiece of US political history does an excellent job of bringing back to life a political scene that has long since passed and mostly forgotten. I burned through this book in one sitting.
There has not been a WJB biography of this magnitude for quite some time.

Kazin himself in the introduction admits mixed feelings about his protagonist, and there are certainly warts to Bryan's character seen through our 21st century lens. He does an excellent job pointing these issues out, despite the title of the book that makes Bryan sound like a saint. He wasn't - he profited impressively from his public speaking, and like many of his party, was a racist.

What makes Bryan's life worth studying is one sees the start of the 20th century Democratic party in terms of their economic issues. Additionally, one also sees echoes of Bryan's religious bent to politics in modern politics today (think: what recent presidents have invoked the name of God repeatedly, and managed to win overwhelming majorities in rural areas? hmm). No wonder many politicians like him, at least pieces of him...

William Jennings Bryan is somewhat of an enigmatic figure in American history. Many of his contempories saw him as a dangerous radical while today he is often seen as a fundamentalist reactionary. How in the world can one man be thought of in such vastly differing ways? In this book Michael Kazin has attempted to answer this question and at the same time he has gone a long way toward clearing the reputation of this great man.

To be sure, Bryan had his flaws and Kazin does not try to gloss over them at all. As a product of his time Bryan was not a friend of African-Americans but how many politicians of his time were? Bryan was also had a terrible problem ever admitting that he was wrong as did his fellow progressive Woodrow Wilson and both men ran into trouble because of it. Still though, when one looks at his entire career Bryan looms as a very large presence in the history of the reform movements of early twentieth century America.

Of course the biggest thing that Bryan is remembered and reviled for is the famous Monkey Trail in Dayton Tennessee. It is all too easy to look at this episode and see a reactionary rather than a progressive thinker but even on the issue of Darwinism this book shows that in some ways Bryan was very much ahead of his time. Bryan critics often fail to mention that many of the early proponents of Darwinism used Darwin's theory to justify eugenics, which is the idea of taking the weakest people out of society so that only the strongest genes will be passed on. Bryan foresaw the serious implications of this idea and it was one of the key reasons that he fought Darwinism so fervently. It was almost as if Bryan could already see Hitler and Stalin with their death camps and this aspect of Bryan's stance on this issue should never be forgotten.

Mr. Kazin has with this book given us the most balanced biography of William Jennings Bryan that I have ever come across. His close association with race bating bigots like Ben Tillman and Tom Watson is not the least bit whitewashed but then again neither are his accomplishments. This book shows us the Bryan who had his warts but who also fought long and bitter fights to gain equal rights for women, to see that free enterprise run amuck would not trample the rights of the average wage earner, and who is as responsible as anybody for the adoption current Federal Reserve System. People all over America owe Bryan a debt of gratitude every time they get their Social Security check and every time that they go to the bank feeling secure because their money is insured. Yes, this author points out Bryan's flaws but he also takes pains to remind the reader of all the positive good that Bryan did and he does so in a very pleasing way. There is not in fact a single boring page in this book. The author's arguments are clear and well defended, his writing style and research are superb and most importantly he has taken up this project with an open mind and because of this he has turned out what I consider the authoritative biography of William Jennings Bryan.

My Grandmother died on May 27th and since then my son who is just shy of 4 has been asking so many questions. We've always used books as a tool for our discussions to help us explain things to him. I bought several books and even though they were good, this book was just the perfect fit for a 4 year old. It's matter of fact, simple to understand- no hidden meanings or euphemisms. Now when he asks why a bug died we can say, "That was HIS lifetime" or when he gets upset and asks when our cat is going to die we can say, "He's still living in-between" and he just gets it. I run an assisted living facility and am ordering it for my resource library so that the resident's families can borrow it if necessary.

We used this book in every classroom discussion in our elementary school when we had a death among our faculty. It was very helpful

As advertised - great pictures, nice text, very use-able especially with pre-school kids -

This is a really great book to get for children and to read to children. It explains life from birth to death on a level kids can relate to. When you are at a loss for words trying to figure out how to make a child understand, you need to read this book .

After introducing the subject of death with "Remember the Butterflies," I answered my daughter's question, "What does 'die' mean?" with this book. Unlike the other books we read to process her grandfather's death, she never wanted this one again, but it was very useful for answering that question. Its repeated message that everything alive dies, I think, gently but firmly leads to acceptance of this sad truth.

After the somewhat letdown of a second volume (that's only in comparison to the stellar book one), Fables is back in full force with the best volume yet. It's also the thickest, clocking in at eight issues; that is three more than either of the previous volumes. It has two one-shots, a two issue story arc, and an entire four issue story arc. The one-shots give awesome backstory, and the longer arcs push the story forward in exciting and surprising directions.

The first one-shot gives us a glimpse into earlier days, when the Fables were still new to the New World (our "mundy" dimension). It features Jack as the main character, who fights as a Confederate soldier in the Civil War and deals--literally--with death. The story was quite a captivating read, and one of the best issues yet. I'll skip to the end of this volume, which also features a one-shot. This is a more traditional Fable, and features Bigby telling Flycatcher the tale of a how a certain thumb-sized Fable (not who you're thinking, but she plays a part in it as well) came to become a thief and a hero. That one was a bit of a 'meh' ending after so many awesome things happened in the middle, but without considering its place in this book, it was a solid enough issue.

The two story arcs, however, are the meat and potatoes of this collection. The first has the Fables (minus Snow White, who is still getting over the events of Animal Farm) dealing with a large threat; a journalist who has come to realize what they are... and he plans on outing them to the public. The only thing is, he thinks they're vampires. Funny as this is, it turns into a very dark tale that really brings out the contrast between Bigby and the increasingly villainous Bluebeard, who have very different ideas about how this journalist should be handled. Both of the characters are very fleshed out, and a lot of tension is left unsolved... until the very next story arc. In the four issue story arc, the titular "Storybook Love," the status quo flips. One of the characters graduates from possible threat to major villain, romance blossoms between some cool cats, and Prince Charming (easily one of my favorite characters) surprises everyone with his actions. This is easily the best long form story arc so far.

Not everything is sunshine, though. I have a major issue with how penciller Mark Buckingham suddenly--and drastically--changed the structure of Bigby's face. He once has a very chiseled jaw and well defined features... but now, I suppose to highlight his wolf nature, he looks like he has a very loose mask of melting flesh hanging from his bones. Odd choice. All in all, however, it was a thoroughly entertaining read.

8/10

This third Fables trade paperback collects issues #11-18 of the Bill Willingham series. I'll presume anyone reading this is already familiar with the series and direct those unfamiliar to reviews for the excellent Volume 1 and 2 TPBs. For new fans, the first two pages of Volume 3 feature capsules off the main characters and summaries of the first two story arcs.
The two-part caper "A Sharp Operation", penciled by Lan Medina, shows a tabloid journalist about to expose the secrets of Fabletown. The title story arc, penciled by Bryan Talbot, spans issues #14-17 and focuses on Bluebeard's and Goldilocks' deadly conspiracy against Bigby and Snow. Both of these plotlines feature outstanding development of the characters from the first ten issues.
This TPB is bookended by a pair of lesser one-shots featuring (respectively) Jack in the post Civil War American South and a flashback to the legend of the Lilliputians. The artwork in the former includes some finely detailed scenes but that of the latter tended toward the cartoonish. Overall, the cover price offers good value for an eight issue collection, especially considering Amazon's discount.

This third volume in the excellent FABLES series is even better than the first two. The primary storyline picks up where Animal Farm left off, with Snow White recovering from her normally life-ending wound and Goldilocks on the run. All seems to be peaceful after the episode at the Farm, until a nosey journalist shows up threatening to reveal what he guesses to be the Fables' colony of vampires. From there, the pace of the story remains very intense, with accomplished and attempted murders, coerced and freely-given sex flings, and high drama throughout. There are also two background stories included in this volume: An explicit tale of Jack's exploits during the Civil War, and A more fairy tale-like story of the beginnings of Smalltown.

All of the stories presented here are very entertaining, making this book a hard one to put down. Only one high profile Fable is introduced here. Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty) plays a prominent role in the efforts to silence the misguided reporter, and is sure to have a place in future tales. Prince Charming plays a major role in this one, developing some surprisingly large ambitions that will unfold in upcoming issues. The title of this volume comes primarily from the strange relationship between Bigby and Snow, but could loosely connect with any of the individual stories within. My advice, take this one slowly to make it last. You'll be tempted to read it all in one sitting, but delaying gratification will prolong your experience and heighten your enjoyment. Remember, there are only 13 Fables titles to date, you don't want to rush through them too quickly.

A story focusing on the ramifications of the attack on Snow White by Goldilocks, in the main.

That main arc is bookended by two stand-alone issues, one of Jack Horner and his time from the civil war, and the last is Bigby Wolf recounting a story about little Fables and the quest for barleycorn girls.

The important story involves, Goldilocks, Bluebeard, Prince Charming, who is proving himself a bit of a spymaster, and a plot to have Bigby and Snow killed.

Quite good again, as Fables continues to be well done, particularly as the whole fair tale character thing is not something I am disposed to like in the main, but this urban transportation of these characters is good stuff.

For Big Bad Wolf fans, there is some gold awaiting.

This volume collects issues 11-16 of the monthly comics. The first and last issues each tell self-contained stories tangential to the main Fable world. The central two-thirds of this book moves the general story arc along with the precision of a physics lesson: as the pressures increase within this little community, the situations heat up.

Prince Charming is charming only in name - his womanizing takes a notably non-mythical turn. Goldilocks still dates out of her species (not that I have anything against other species, mind you, but I'm not sure I'd want my sister to marry one). Briar Rose takes a nap. Snow White and Bigby end up on a hot date - neither has memories from it, but one has something else.

The Fable mythos updates many of our childhood fairy tales, in a world of distant warfare and urban exile. If you've followed the story since volume 1 of the collections, you'll know that my plot hints say just about nothing - there's always another twist to the creativity that brings these characters to new life. The artwork doesn't blaze new trails and people looking for BamPow super heroes will find only a little, very little, to cling to. The art team is strong and competent, though, and the scripting creates characters that you really want to like (or to dislike, trust your judgement). Also - I'm not sure this is wholly a good thing - the series grows on you. I'll be back for more, and in proper story order for once in my life.

-- wiredweird

Simply put, this is a handy writing guide for lawyers. Just casually flipping through this book for a few minutes will make you a better writer. For example, I especially like the lists, which give you substitutes for legalese or summarize styles that Judges like. Briefly reading through this book taught me more than I learned in an entire semester of Legal Research & Writing. I highly recommend it.

This reference book is a great tool for prompting the editing of your own work. Often I will write something and after I have edited it then I will take a look at a few random sections of this book and make sure that my writing is in line with what this master wordsmith suggests. A bit of an erratic method of editing, but it serves a purpose of making me seriously think about if something applies or not to my work. However random, I am often surprised by the things that I turn up via this method.

In striving to be a better writer, complacency and comfort are your enemies. Garner has helped me break out of my self-made box. I gave it four out of five stars because there are times I am left wanting more from a few of the sections in this book. If there was a 4.5 star rating, then this book would have my vote.

The book is excellent. It teaches you everything about legal writing: design, grammar, persuasive writing, organized ideas and punctuation. Don't forget the exercises. They will help you to recognize your weaknesses in writing.

The book was everything i wanted. Very helpful, intricate, detailed, and just what i needed for my legal writing class. I highly recommend this book for those students pursung legal studies, and paralegal work.

Garner's book helps to answer the many lawyer questions you get asked when trying to write legal documents or multiple-user documents in Plain Talk. Garner's approach reinforces Plain Talk and shows ways around the mountains of "What if?" and "How can we say it without risk?" issues. Because of its publication date, it lacks the most recent changes in punctuation as found in The Gregg Reference Manual. Also, some courts want things written according to their own "Red/Green" book standards. Even with these detractors, the book provides excellent advice, examples, and exercises.

This book has already gotten rave reviews, but I'll add in my two-cents worth. It's been years since I've had a formal course in marketing, and even then, I wouldn't have learned about persuasive writing for the web. So this book was great for me, and I highly recommend it for anyone who is developing a personal or business website.

The whole book is a series of two- to three-page articles that can be read systematically. The authors are witty and passionate about teaching you how to write copy that converts visitors toward an action.

What's the single most important factor in getting your prospects to convert? Be relevant. "Relevance is a measure of how closely search results match the search request." If you follow the techniques the authors describe, your words won't waste the readers' time and will have impact.

The chapter, "Writing in Review" is a super-condensed Strunk and White's for the corporate writer. It covers all the basics. The authors conclude, "Stellar writing begs to be read. There is an urgency to the writing that keeps the reader going, even when that reader might be pressed for time."

Who isn't pressed for time? People on the internet are in a hurry. They need to find out a piece of information quickly. If your site is too flashy, slow to download, or your words don't make any sense, you'll lose their interest. They can go someplace else. This is what you DON'T want to happen.

The authors include great examples of site makeovers, showing you what works and what doesn't. For me, it was a great introduction to Nick Usborne, and I've gone on to read his book, NET WORDS. They also pointed me toward Ogilvy, another master of advertising.

I especially enjoyed the chapter on using poetic techniques to improve copy. "You won't snag or woo your customers with drabness; you'll woo them with skillful wordsmithing that penetrates their souls..." What follows includes techniques such as frosting, franking, seussing, and frameline magnetism; also, how to develop pace, rhythm, and poetic meter.

It's a short read, but full of insight. For anyone who ever wondered how business communication could be seen as a satisfying creative outlet, look no further than this book. (As you sing and dance your way merrily to the bank.)

--Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester

This book scores a triple play! Its three authors unite to create a book that will help anyone turn their writing and Web site into a winner. It is packed full of valuable information that is presented in an easy to read fashion. The authors have a unique writing style that is witty and humorous and keeps you entertained even when explaining about something as boring as online conversions. This book would be great for students in a Web site writing class or for someone who wants to make a Web site that is more user and reader friendly. I personally did know anything about Web writing before reading the book, but it has really inspired me to learn more and improve my skills. I have definitely been persuaded!

I found this book by browsing on Amazon, and it has been an incredible find. I am currently developing a website from scratch. I have bought all kinds of books to help me with this and this one is probably THE most useful. It contains many, many key ideas regarding what most matters in the content of a website. This is a book I keep reading and re-reading - A big thanks to the authors!

Persuasive Copywriting is a great companion to Call to Action, also by Bryan and Jeffrey Eisenberg. Portions of the information in this book were repeated in Action, but that does not make Persuasive any less valuable to web site owners and online marketers alike.

Much like my reading of Call, I have exhausted a highlighter underscoring important sections of information throughout the book. With sections covering writing considerations, techniques and writing for the web medium, Persuasive provides substantial tips and recommendations to make your copy stand out above the rest, and more importantly, be an effective sales tool.

As a bonus, there is an entire 50 page "afterword" all about understanding online conversion, which will help you better understand the conversion process, while providing useful tips on how to improve your site's conversion rates.

Anyone responsible for the content of their website should read this book and keep it close by. As the author's state, writing for your website is not a one-time process, but is all about tweaking and testing different formulas. Persuasive makes a great reference manual for the process of getting the most out of your web page content and squeezing out higher conversion rates from your visitors.

Before reading this book I considered myself a decent copyrighter, not excellent by any means, but decent. After reading this book (and their other book: Call to Action) I realized that I have no idea what I'm doing. Now I refer to each book on a weekly basis to be sure that I'm getting it right as I build websites for my clients. Reading these books has opened my eyes; referencing them keeps them open. Using just a few examples in these books I have been able to increase my registrations on several websites in just a few weeks.

This is a very straightforward and logically clear exposition of the author's and/or therapist's experience of providing past life therapy. I read it a little while ago, but just heard the Art Bell interview from 2002 in the Coast to Coast "classics" section.

I particularly like his matter of fact treatment of areas some might get misty eyed and abstruse about. His work adds well to my reading and experience with Brian Weiss, Sylvia Brown, Edith Fiore, Edith Wambauch, Rabbi Gershom, Bruce Goldberg, Dick Sutphen, Roger J. Woolger, Ian Stevenson, and Denise Linn as well as all the others!

My husband had experienced past-life regression therapy years ago via hypnosis, then Bryan's book was recommended to us by a friend. We found it informative, interesting and a fast read. I then made the decision to be regressed by Bryan to work on some phobias affecting me in this lifetime, and was amazed how long (many lives) I'd been carting these experiences around! Once faced and released, they are GONE and my life is freer because of Bryan and his non-hypnotic method. I recommend the book (which is not a "self-help" book) to anyone who wonders about the possibility of past lives, or has curiosity about healing and moving forward. It helps to answer a lot of questions, and provides insight into this fascinating topic!

I was lucky enough to meet Bryan in person, twice in fact. His book had an effect on everyone who reads it. Now that he's passed into spirit, I want people to know what an exceptional author and person he really was. He genuinely cared about people, and his writing shows it. Because of his book, he cured my husband of a life-long problem with night-terrors through past life regression. Something modern medicine couldn't begin to do. We will miss him, but his writing lives on. He was (is), a wonder soul, who clearly deserves recognition.

A fascinating, humorous and educational book, it was very difficult to put this one down. Bryan Jameison shares his life work and case histories as a past-life regressionist with us as if we were good friends talking over coffee. In reading the case histories, we can feel just how much more this life is, than what our ordinary minds experience. Anyone who has asked the question `why' about life events, or ways in which they react to life events should read this book. Bryan Jameison shares his insights about life in a real and gentle manner that is obviously gained from a life rich with personal experience. A chapter near the end of the book gives us information on how our decisions have lasting effects in our lives and how making more conscious decisions can bring us our truest desires. Adventures In Reincarnation stands alone as a fascinating read for anyone interested in past lives. More importantly though, I found this book to be an encouragment to live my current life with authenticity and clarity so as not to carry alot of `stuff' into my next life...an advantage that earlier `generations' did not have without the brilliant research and exposure of past-life experiences as shared by Bryan in this ground breaking book.

I just finished reading THE SEARCH FOR PAST LIVES. Would it be a good idea, as part of the high school experience just after graduation, when a student takes his SAT's and before he/she reaches 20-years of age; that they receive at least one regression session to unload any baggage from past lives and better understand why they made certain choices during adolescence?

Had I had read this book and been regressed once or twice before I was 20-years old in 1962, I could have made better choices in college and later business and career moves. While I have had a successful marriage of 30-years and reared three stable well balanced children, I still wonder what life would have been like if I had of unloaded a bit of emotional baggage and better understood why to this day I am still unable to accomplish certain things, i.e., understand the works of the English poet Milton, and learn advanced mathematics beyond geometry. Yet since a very young age, I have had a fascination and intuitive understanding of steam locomotives and the construction and maintenance of railroads.

These are not major life changing issues, but they do give me reason to pause and think.

Your book is a good read and I have recommended it to all my immediate family, friends, and acquaintances - those that will listen for a minute and keep an open mind. Yes, I have been shut down in mid-sentence when trying to talk about this book work. This is generally someone who wants to changes the subject to golf or women or anything away from the topic of past life exploration. I always find this moment very interesting as have others sitting at the table...

First off, I liked this Brian Kest workout better than his others (I also have his PowerYoga multi-CD set, which I just might sell) simply because I (1) already have a pretty decent set of yoga DVDs, and (2) because as purely a verbal class, I can take it with me when I travel on business, or need some 'me' time and can therefore use it literally in my backyard or spare room away from the family.

I downloaded (almost the entire) program into my Ipod, take my sticky mat and water bottle, and rejuvenate for almost 2 hours. You will need this time, since the exercises flow well. The only step I did not download is the super-intense 10-minute Sitting Forward Bend.

One thing that I did learn from this program is that it is important to not force your body into any pose; it will slowly, in its own time, 'flow' into the pose. Very important for those of us who stop and start exercising, and get upset when we have trouble touching our toes.

As for his voice...yep, can be annoying, especially all the sighing and growning - however, it may be on purpose since it is a verbal course, and it could be a way to keep you from dosing off.

I have several Bryan Kest DVDs and audio recordings (MP3s from his website and Long, Slow, Deep from Amazon). You absolutely cannot find a better, more complete workout than what he gives you. If you are into chanting, OM'ing and hitting a gong, forget it. If you want to stretch, get strong, sweat and generally feel awesome then buy his stuff. Personally, I find his language refreshing. He makes it funny. I greatly prefer his description of the poses (yes, even "crotch asana") to these long Sanskrit names that are hard to remember. He makes yoga totally accessible by describing the poses in detail, in English, so I don't have to make learning Sanskrit part of my practice. It's too bad he isn't greedy, I would love to see this form of yoga franchised out, it's amazing.

I just finished the most amazing yoga practice ever...which is saying a lot, because I have been practicing for about 5 years now and have loved every minute. I am definitely a fan of Bryan, but he even outdid himself on this one. Yes, he talks a lot. But I like what he says, and I like to be reminded of certain "life truths" now and then, because it is so easy for me to get wrapped up and frustrated with the challenges life presents. His reminders ground me, calm me, and really complement the practice (without be too spiritual). I also don't think he was "bootcampy" as another reviewer mentioned, because he always says you can come out if you need to; rather, he is trying to encourage us to face challenges head-on rather than running away because we are scared or not use to it. After all, you cannot run away from all the challenges of life, right? This is a good time as ever to practice remaining calm.

I have been overly stressed for the past...6 months or more, especially over the last few weeks. Today I went over the edge, and needed a major calm-down, de-stress session. I tried this CD for the first time, and although I am certainly not the most "advanced" yogi, I definitely benefited. HIGHLY recommended for anyone!

I do have 2 critiques: First of all, this is definitely not 90 minutes. It is almost 2 hours, which was fine for me, but it is nice to know in advance. Also, while I don't mind Bryan's talking or groaning at all, I didn't like how the microphone was being turned on and off constantly. I kept thinking the CD was broken or stopped suddenly! I am sure I will grow accustomed to it, though, and it is hardly a major issue. :-)

I have attended Bryan's yoga classes for years, but traveling on business every week has made it more difficult to attend. With these CD's it's nice to hear a familiar voice taking me through the steps to a true "spiritual" experience. The workbook is easy to follow if you are new to yoga. Even the dog in the pictures is relaxed. Guaranteed to touch you both physically and mentally. Love it.

First a few words about myself to make it easier for you to judge wether my opinion might be helpful to you or not. I'm a Power Yoga Teacher with my own studio in Germany. I own a lot of good Yoga DVDs to use for training and inspiration. Since I'm german my english spelling is pretty bad. Please excuse that!
I liked Bryans first DVD Set on Power Yoga a lot. Then I purchased one DVD of his newer series and was very dissapointed. I gave this DVD a pretty bad review here on amazon, for some as I think pretty strong reasons. So I'm not one of the true Bryan Kest Fans who like everything he brings out.
This having said I want to state that this CD (as well as his Advanced CD2)is really great. Bravo Bryan! The Flow on the CD is very well rounded. It is not one of the typical fast moving Power Yoga Flows. You wont find many Vinyasas here. This one's about patience and about moving into stillness. It wont make you sweat quite as much but it will challange your calm mind and your elasticity like never before. This truely is an advanced Flow. It's not suitably for those who use Yoga just as a workout.
But as another Yoga Teacher ones statet, using Yoga without adressing the mind is like going to wimbledon with a tabletennis rakett. So this workout might be more for intermediate to advanced people, because it goes more into the depth of Yoga.
It is a great Flow for those days where you don't want to work so hard on physical strength and cardio but still want to have a strong practice. To me this one is a must have.
Bryan talks a lot on this CD but in contrary to the DVD I was talking about in the beginning he does it in a calm and encouraging way. The things he says are really good advice and I like his sence of humor. Some might be distracted by his loud sighs from time to time, but I understand that he is just trying to make his students relax, to show them the right direction. I personally wouldn't do it this way in my class for it isn't my style of teaching, but I think it is very apropriate and it doesn't bother me at all.
I hope this was helpfull to you! Let me know. And ones again, excuse my poor spelling!
Check out my Listmania List on all the Power Yoga DVDs I recommend. The List is constantly evolving.
Namasté!

Kai

Christ Centered Preaching has had an enormous impact on my day to day life as a pastor, specifically with regard to the preparation and delivery of sermons. As a guy who has been trained in and through the local church, this shrink-wrapped seminary class on homiletics is much appreciated and highly esteemed.

I like what RC Sproul said in his endorsement of this book:

"This is an outstanding tool for students of homiletics. It is the best I have seen on this subject. The book crystallizes the essence of expository preaching and presents clear, transferable principles for preaching effectively. The book itself is structured in a lucid, readable format."

Author Bryan Chapell is the president of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO. His style of writing is very much geared toward the seminary student but that does not negate the tremendously practical aspect of his instruction. This is definitely a book that will be revisited by pastors who aim to find by encouragement and instruction in the practice of expository preaching.

Chapell hits everything from prayer, to building an outline, to establishing a principle statement, to making application and appropriate illustrations. He also deals with such things as dress and hand jestures in a thoughtfully biblical manner.

I want to highlight just a few of the immediately helpful items that Chapell focuses on.

The 3am Test: Chapell asks the hypothetical question as to whether or not you would be able to concisely and clearly answer someone who wakes you up at 3 am on Sunday morning, questioning what you are going to preach on. Until you can do so, clearly and concisely, you are probably not that clear on your main point.

The Fallen Condition Focus (FCF): Before you are ready to preach, says Chapell, you must identify and understand: (1) What does the text say? (2) What spiritual concern(s) did the text address (in its context)? (3) What spiritual concerns do listeners share in common with those to (or about) whom the text was written? Chapell writes, "By identifying listeners' mutual condition with the biblical writer, subject and/or audience, we determine why the text was written, not just for biblical times but also for our time."

Principle Statements: Chapell emphasizes that statements of principle in the sermon must include both the truth of the passage as well as the call to action. To avoid one or the other is to not give a statement of principle.

I have heard some folks voice concern over his chapters on redemptive preaching. Personally I did not witness any fouls. I thought Chapell qualified his terms and did enough leg work in the book to make his goal clear of preaching the text within a context so as to not warrant raised eyebrows, even from premillennialists.

The book is flat out loaded. I have been shamelessly pushing it on other pastors and teachers throughout this year. If you want to encourage your pastor or Sunday school teacher, get him this book.

It is hard back so it costs a little more. Think seminary text book.

I bought this for a class and upon reading wanted to throw it across the room as the author does not believe women should be in the pulpit. I trudged through it, and it really did have some good points about preparation. It may not be for everyone, but when one is learning, one can glean from lots of places.

This book is a must have for anyone who is studying to be a preacher. It is clearly and thoughtfully written and deals with the subject of Expository Preaching in the most helpful way so that a student can get the help he needs in mastering the art and skill of expository preaching. It is written from an evangelical point of view and holds high the authority of the Scripture. I heartily recommend it without reservation.

I love this book! It is by far the best book I have ever read on preaching, Chapell explains expository preaching in a light that few authors can. He puts all of the focus on Christ and how the audience needs to hear about Jesus. If you are looking for a book to revive your preaching look no further.

Bryan Chapell has provided an outstanding model for seminarians, and lay-people alike. This work is robust and qualifies for its faithfulness to the truth, and the preaching thereof.

Reformed and sound, it has emphasized the correct Godspell-motive: to preach Christ and Him crucified.

An wholesome portrayal and balanced representation, spiced with important and trustworthy 'preachers' as biblical examples to emulate.

'By stating what a text means, placing that truth where it originates in the text, and proving how the text establishes the truth, you fulfill the fundamental obligations of an expositor.' pg 126

*For an equally inspiring book on preaching, get:
Tongues Aflame by Roger Wagner

Rather than a continuous narrative, this volume is a collection of short pieces with distinctly different artistic treatments. The frame story is that there's an inn just outside space and time, where travelers just might find themselves marooned for awhile when a reality story hits. There not being much else to do, they take turns telling stories, Canterbury-style. Some, like "Cluracan's Tale" and "The Golden Boy," are quite good. Others, like "Hob's Leviathan," are just kind of pointless. For me, this is one of the less satisfying entries in an excellent series.

A reality storm causes a group of travellers, all afflicted by actual storms in their own realities to be transported elsewhere, nearby to the Inn at World's End. They all take shelter there, heal injuries, and pass the time on the piss and doing some telling of stories. One of the travellers is Cluracan of Faery, having been on a diplomatic mission, and two are humans from different time periods.

The Saga of Morpheus continues in this Graphic Novel. Gaiman is the best. A co-worker's 18 y.o. son is reading the series and he is blown away.

From a previous review, the following quote exists:
fans of Gaiman will note that "A Tale of Two Cities" borrows heavily from the essay he wrote for the SIMCITY 2000 game

As a point of accuracy, it's the other way around, The Tale of Two Cities came before the SimCity 2000 Game.

This is still my favorite collection of Sandman Stories. The Sea Witch Story is one I occasionally dream about.

Are Sandman fans such because they love the characters (Dream, Delirium, etc.) or because they love the writings of Neil Gaiman?

I'd imagine that there are both types, and that most of us are somewhere on a continuum in-between.

I mention this, because those of you who are closer to the "love Gaiman" pole, like myself, will doubtless love this collection of short stories, set in the Sandman universe. On the otherhand, those who are closer to the characters pole might well be disappointed, as they are almost non-existent, here.

Worlds' End concerns a group of travellers, taking shelter from a very strange storm at a pan-dimensional inn, who while away the hours telling stories, a la The Canterbury Tales, The Decameron, Hyperion, etc. While we *could* say that this is a tired cliche, or device, or any number of things that would be unfairly unflattering of Mr. Gaiman, I think, rather, that he's using this structure to make a point. In fact, *within* one of these stories, there is a character who gets into a group that starts telling stories to pass the time. The tale, itself, is a narration of a story being told. And, lest we forget, the whole comic is a story being told from Gaiman to us. Stories, within stories, within stories, within stories, within stories...

I think that, here, Gaiman wants to reflect in part on the role that stories play in our lives. Sandman, here, isn't Dream, but is the Master of Stories (which is pointed out in this volume).

And so, if you're comfortable with the fact that cutie Death will only put in a cameo or two, the question becomes: are these stories any good?

My answer--yes, they're good.

Another strong book in an amazing series. Five stars.