Burroughs Books

Margarets' writings are truly a gift from God!!!
"Reflections of a Queen" demonstrates there is healing for the 'Soul' one encouraging word at time...

Be blessed my sister and I encourage you to continue to allow God's words of healing to flow through you...

Shelia Haywood

Margaret, is an awesome writter. She speaks to your heart and soul. Very uplifting and powerful. Looking forward to future writings by this great author. A definet gift for any woman at any stage of her life. I hope to get my book autographed one day.

Burroughs's book is a wonderful tale of exploration into the dense, winding, wonderful Waccamaw River in SC, and into the mostly forgotten past of his native Horry County. His marvelous sense of detail, poetic sensibility, and grand sympathies with all things natural and human make this a memoroble book indeed. I know Prof. Burroughs might hoot at the comparison, but I enjoyed this book as much as anything I've read in Thoreau.

A human life, I think, should be well rooted in some spot of native land, where it may get the love of tender kinship for the face of the earth, for the labors men go forth to, for the sounds and accents that haunt it, for whatever will give that early home a familiar, unmistakable difference amidst the future widening of knowledge: a spot where the definiteness of early memories may be inwrought with affection, and kindly acquaintance with all neighbors, even to dogs and donkeys, may spread not by sentimental effort and reflection, but as a sweet habit of the blood. -George Eliot (Daniel Deronda)

This sentiment and the chance discovery of Nathaniel Holmes Bishop's The Voyage of the Paper Canoe (1878), detailing a canoe trip down the East Coast which included a side trip on the Waccamaw River, were the twin impulses that lead Burroughs to return to his native Horry County, SC and make his own trip down the Waccamaw. Burroughs, a professor at Bowdoin, published a terrific collection of essays Billy Watson's Croker Sack in 1991 (it even made Mr. Doggett's Suggested Summer Reading List for Students) and this book is every bit as good.

Whether he's detailing the history of the county, the river and his own family or relating his encounters with the river's unique residents or describing the wildlife he encounters, Burroughs has a sharp eye, a sympathetic ear and a silver tongue. Here is his description of one bird he meets:

Yesterday a red-shouldered hawk had called the day to order, and got its business underway. Today it was a pileated woodpecker: a staccato drum-burst against a hollow tree, then the bird itself. It flew across in front of me, with its peculiar alternation of flap, swoop, and collapse, and its last swoop fetched it up against the trunk of a cypress. It clung there a moment, cocked and primed, a perfectly congruous mixture of Woody Woodpecker, frock-coated nineteenth-century deacon and pterodactyl. Then it gave the tree an abrupt, jackhammer strafing, rolled out its lordly call, and swooped away, leaving the day to its own devices.

If you've ever seen one, you know that a pileated woodpecker has never been described better and if you haven't you must almost feel that now you have.

This is a wonderful bucolic look at the history and nature of the Waccamaw, which will leave you wishing that you too had such a place coursing through your blood.

GRADE: A

Of the many books available on this modern era Indian saint, this one is the cream on top. It contains many of the essential selections from the overly repetitive "Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna". There are many "illuminations" or explanatory notes throughout, making it the perfect introduction to this great spiritual Master's life and teachings. More than a century after his death, Ramakrishna's influence continues to grow as a valuable bridge between eastern and western spirituality and philosophy. The Vedanta Society is flourishing in America and around the world still disseminating these great spiritual teachings of Ramakrishna: That we are ultimately all one, that we are one with God, and that God can be known by our own direct experience. This book will endure as a great spiritual classic and will be treasured by the reader interested in Eastern Wisdom or anyone simply interested in experiencing ultimate Truth for oneself.

In my experience Kendra Crossen Burroughs is one of the best editors in the field of Eastern spiritual literature and texts. As well as working freelance, she has been a long term editor on the staff of Shambhala Publications, and I was happy to have her involved in a book that I had published by Shambhala, although not a book in Eastern thought.

Following her publication of the Skylight Paths edition of the Bhagavad Gita, I was most eager to read her next work, which is the one reviewed here.

Besides Burroughs'own brilliant annotations, Skylight has done an innovative and equally brilliant job of format, where the annotations are on one page, and the reference text on the facing page, so that the reader has the annotations right at hand, and does not have to thumb through to the back of the book or chapter to look them up. The only problem that I encountered with this was my own idiosyncratic one of whether to read the text page through and then turn to the annotations alongside it, or read each annotation as it is referred to in the text. I never completely settled this for myself. Other readers may want to read the annotation page first, and then read the facing page of the text on Ramakrishna next.

Sri Ramakrishna was the Indian spiritual master (1836-1886) whom many take to be a Sadguru, a perfect Master, or completely enlightened human being. He was the teacher and inspirer of Swami Vivekananda who, after Ramakrishna's death, came to the U.S. and caused a great stir at the famous Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. _The Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna_ was the on the scene recorded notes and observations of another disciple of the master, referred to simply as "M," or Mahendranath Gupta. Although not well know at all, this original text is, as Burroughs correctly notes, one of the spiritual classics of the twentieth century (it was first published in English in 1942). In an age of extreme skepticism and rampant materialism, both philosophical and cultural, to have a book like this, which is a modern record of spiritual enlightenment, is of inestimable value.

As Burroughs' annotations and explanations note, at the beginning of Ramakrishna's visions and experiences, there was the opinion that he may have been just a madman. Several scholars and experts were brought in to examine and evaluate him, and they pronounced him to be genuine. One of them said, as Burroughs quotes, "I am fully convinced that you are that Mine of spiritual power, only a small fraction of which descends on earth, from time to time, in the form of an incarnation. ... I feel it in my heart and have the Scriptures on my side. I am ready to prove it to any one who challenges me." Burroughs continues, "Ramakrishna greeted the pronouncement with childlike indifference, saying, 'Well, I am glad to learn that after all it is not a disease.'"

Throughout the text, Ramakrishna says that spiritual aspirants and seekers have to be wary of "women and gold." This looks both sexist and rigid. Burroughs' annotation illuminates the significant and real meaning, which is neither. The English "women and gold" is actually a translation of Ramakrishna's Bengali expression, "kamini-kanchan." Kamini implies a seductress, which does not in general mean women. When Ramakrishna addressed his female devotees, of which there were many, he used the phrase, "man and gold." Kamini-kanchan was his shorthand way of referring to the entire conventional world, and its misguiding allurements. As Burroughs explains, "he actually revered women as sacred representatives of the Goddess and taught that a man should treat every woman with the same reverence with which Hindus traditionally regard their own mothers."

Another of my favorite annotations, which, besides the clarification of meaning, demonstrates the subtle light touch with which Burroughs approaches her annotative work, is the following. In the text, Ramakrishna refers to devotees meditating on "the lotus feet of God," a classic Indian expression. Burroughs explains, "The lotus symbolizes purity and detachment, for the plant has its roots in the mud, while its floating blossoms and leaves remain untouched by water or earth." Then she goes on to say, "Modern science confirms the purity of the lotus leaf, which has a 'self-cleaning' microstructure observed in the 1970s by Botanist Wilhelm Barthlott at the University of Bonn."

Other annotations are not about specifically spiritual terms, but rather explain mundane cultural references or objects, without which we might not clearly understand what Ramakrishna is saying. So, he gives this image, "One can see God only if He turns His light toward His own face. The police sergeant goes his rounds in the dark of night with a lantern in his hand. No one sees his face, but with the help of that light the sergeant sees everybody's face, and others, too, can see one another. If you want to see the sergeant, however, you must pray to him: Sir, please turn the light on your own face. Let me see you." Burroughs provides this annotation for the word "lantern" in Ramakrishna's metaphor: "This type of lantern had dark glass on three sides." Ah, now I see. Thank you Kendra for shedding light on the light.

One of the most important meanings conveyed to me in the text, along with the annotations, relates to a problem that has occupied me of how the "infinite within" can be reached and attained despite the fact that the individual consciousness is so finite. Ramakrishna gives several helpful images. In one of them a person goes to the Ganges river and touches its water. Ramakrishna: "He will then say, 'Yes, I have seen and touched the Ganges. To say this it is not necessary for him to touch the whole length of the river from Hardwar to Gangasagar (laughter)." So, by touching just a drop of the water of infinity, one has it all. I also like M's touch of noting the laughter, which calls our attention to the humor implied in Ramakrishna's explanation, which we might not readily appreciate in the bare translation of his words.

This is an immensely valuable book for the spiritual seeker, of whatever path or persuasion. It brings to the English speaking reader unparalleled access to one of the great living spiritual resources of modern times, and opens up for us the rest of the literature available on this human wonder.

Not only will you pass page after page with ease, but you will learn a great many things!! Burroughs will become a close friend and teacher (of language, ecology, nature, people, and life in general) of the highest order. His work is phenomenal! I cant recommend it highly enough!!

Read everything you can from him, it should definitely be required! Also give it to your children. The preface of this book is by a teacher in Chicago that tells of the remarkable learning and enthusiasm she found in her pupils, upon reading Burroughs. I can't help but feel the same enthusiasm!!

Do enjoy!

Charlotte Walker, a professor of English at the State University of New York at Oneonta, has assembled the first anthology of critical essays on the naturalist, literary critic, poet, and philosopher John Burroughs (1837-1921). This is an extraordinary collection. Walker includes a wide array of voices, many of them (including my own) from outside academia. All have important things to say about Burroughs, who once towered above the American literary landscape but whose reputation has been eroded by time. A renewal of interest in the work of the Catskill-born Burroughs is underway, and this book is both a product of that movement and a light to lead the way. As the author of a concise biography and appreciation of John Burroughs ("The World of John Burroughs," published by Sierra Club Books), I congratulate Walker on a job brilliantly done.

The title of my review says it all--this is an essential collection for anyone serious about sound art/theory/poetry or avant-garde music. The CD is a very nice bonus, full of unbelievable rarities as well.

By focusing on "earplay" in texts by James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and other modern writers, this collection's twelve essays investigates the relationship between acoustical technologies and 20th-century experimental poetics. The accompanying CD offers soundtracks of early radio sounds, poetry readings, Dada cabaret performances, jazzoetry, audio-poems and contemporary Caribbean DJ dub poetry.

I'm collecting ALL the The Super Short Amazing Stories. The vibrant pictures are sure to please youngsters of all ages. I'm glad there are positive and creative books like these to inspire everyone with stories from the Bible.

This is a great book with creative writing, illustrations and an inspiring message. The writers and illustrator have stayed true to the story in the Bible and have come up with a new and creative way to communicate the message of God's protection to children and adults of all ages. Definetely one to add to you collection!

Wonderful story, I lve it. The fact that every one knows who Tarzan is speaks to the greatness of this tale.

Like the Title asks, why are these books(Leonaur Ltd)so expensive? The rest of the titles are closer to $30 or more???

I'd like to get the series again as I read them growing up, but this seems a bit too high imo

Maybe I'm just cheap ;)

Great stories by a fantastic author though! (i rated the series 5 stars not the price)

Regards,

SW

A book such as this would scarcely be attempted in our day. Another title for the book could be 'The Nature and Enticements of Worldliness'. This book will probably not have a wide readership and that is sad. R.C.Sproul makes an observation in the the introduction that the content of this book is too alien to modern Christianity,and I think that assessment is right on target. Should a book such as this be overlooked or ignored in our day? Is its content Biblical and relevant enough to warrant a larger audience? Jeremiah Burroughs exposes many of the evils and dangers of being earthly minded. One of the evils brought out by the author is that earthly mindedness is the root of apostasy. He cites the example of Demas. Demas became an apostate,Why? The apostle Paul said that Demas forsook him because he loved this present world. Are there not any Christians in our day in danger of becoming apostates because they have an inordinate love for this world? If the answer is no to that question then this book would be irrelevant for today. You could probably put on a blindfold and point to almost any part of this treatise and you would find something that needs to be shouted from the rooftops in this generation. I did not use the blindfold method but I would like to give this example from p.2"This is the great difference between a wicked man and a godly man :one minds earthly things,and the other has its conversation in heaven. " Comments such as this are quite foreign to Christianity in this present age. What our generation needs is not only many that would be interested in reading and absorbing a book like this ,but that God would be pleased to raise up those who could write a book that has such great spiritual weight.

Sproul's rather unpromising foreword to this book begins, "my guess is that few people will ever pick up this book and read it." The sad thing is, he's right: "Its theme and content are too alien to modern Christianity to evoke much interest". When was the last time you ever saw a book written to address the problem of worldliness?

Burroughs book is nonetheless a real gem. Out of print from 1649 until now, its message needs to be read again in an age where worldliness abounds in the professing church. There are actually three treatises in one book here: the first is "A Treatise of Earthly-mindedness", the second is "A heavenly Conversation", the third is "On walking with God". Each call the believer to focus not on earthly things but on heaven. Burroughs exposes the emptiness of worldly pleasures in favor of the heavenly vision that we all should have, and in good Puritan fashion, manages to lucidly address a hundred other essential topics in passing.

The unbeliever will be left confused by this book. It will make little sense to him. Sadly, many believers will also take one look at the title and find its message too convicting for comfort. If you are ensnared by the materialism of the world, this will be good medicine for your soul.

It is not an exaggeration to say that there is more solid content in one page of Burroughs than in an entire volume by many a contemporary Christian author.

This collection is what motivated me to buy the Kindle in the first place. I grew up a fan of ERB...read many of his books as an early teenager. How wonderful it is to have all these great books in a single device. MobileReference is doing a great service...I have bought several of their collections. How nice it is to have easy access to hundreds of books for a very low cost. My favorite, of course, is this ERB collection. I wish they would put together collections of more writers, including Asimov, Robert E Howard, etc.

Works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Huge collection. (40 Works) FREE Author's biography and stories in the trial version.

A comprehensive collection of works by Edgar Rice Burroughs - Tarzan's creator.

This is a wonderful book that chronicles one of the last coastwise schooners on the East coast and her captain, Zeb Tilton of Martha's Vineyard, a real person, whose exploits and humor take him into the realm of folk lore. Great archival pictures and extensive research make this an enjoyble read for novice to maritime scholar.

This is a wonderful book about an amazing person... a giant, crosseyed sea captain who could tell where he was by the smell of the water. Women just loved him. You'll just have to read the book to see what I mean.