Burton Books

real rating 3 1/2 - for Burton students a 5!

I think Patterson has done the 4th way world both a great service and at the same time perpetuated a serius misunderstanding with this book. First the good:

Burton and his bogus 4th Way school have long been in need of a serious de-bunking. It was/is a sham school with undoubtedly a lot of serious students making the best of a bad situation [my brother in law was one for quite a few years] They have none of the movement or meditative practices handed down by any real 4th way groups and have substituted the real goods w/ watered down and poorly digested Ouspensky. And a playing card typology thrown in for good measure!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

As regards the Enneagram material. My first real experience w/ it was in an obscure 4th way school in St. Pete Fl. in the mid-80's.

The Teacher there had observed that our False Personality really only had 9 pairs of reactions. And that our type was better seen through the matrix of the law of 7 [real personality], the laws of 4 and 5 [being] and the Law of 3 [essence]. The typology successfully integrated Ayurvedic Doshas [ Law of 3], Western 4 Element, Chinese 5 Elements and Gurdjieff's 7 Centers.

It was an extremely creative and practical synthesis that is as equally verifiable as anything else in the world of 4th way Psychology. I mention all this only as a background for where the enneagram typologies go wrong, and that Patterson misses this much more [imo] crucial point.
The realtionships of the 9 types to the Centers/Stories is essentially 'off by one'.

The most glaring case is that point 8 [or the si note/ higher intellectual center] is seen as physical, not supramental. This distorts much of the underlying basis of the profile.

Several others points have to a lesser degree been divorced from their real manifestations in G's Centers. The Do note/Sex energy types depicted are replaced w/ a fuzzy mixture of attributions in point 9.

By failing to see the relationship to the centers the enneagram types are in some cases weakened, in others something of a mess.

Patterson is either unaware of all this or more concerned w/ the politics and lineages of Ichazo, Naranjo, Palmer and Co.

That being said several of the types are to my mind presented very accurately despite being divorced from their relationships to the centers and the essence types of Physical, Psychological and Supramental. And I am sure thousands of people have a much better understanding of themselves as a result. Again Patterson seems only to see negatives.

Which points to a curious division in the work. Those who want to keep the 'real teachings' 1/2 hidden, and those like Bennett who spent much their lives trying to spread the ideas publicaly and openly. If Gurdjieff schools w/ an accurate typology had published their information first, the enneagram material out there might be far less mixed in it's value.
-----------------------------------------------------------
As regards the Amiss/Orthodox 4th way connection; I am convinced that Mouravieff understood neither Orthodoxy or the 4thway well.

Their are relationships and discords there and they are worthy of serious study. But while Amiss and Mouravieff are determined to whitewash anything that contradicts their theories. So what one gets from 'Gnosis' vols 1-3 is neither fish nor fowl.

Patterson on the other hand seems, for all his gift as a writer and historical journalist to have taken G's once mentioned line of The 4th way being "independent of all other traditions and hitherto unknown", as a real line of the gospel. I think that saying needs to be put in the context of who he was talking to [in Russia] at the time. Mostly a lot of people who had investigated Theosophy {A true mish-mash likely to lead anyone following it to a cul-de-sac of the lower astral and fully caught by one's own personality}. G. was exaggerating [as he was want to do] to draw a line in the sand for his pupils - between all they had studied before and what he was teaching. As he said later " not necessary when speaking to be exact, just indicate the essence".

Henri Tracol I think is on the right track to evaluating the 4th ways relationship to the Traditional paths saying: "I would like to get rid of this idea that G's teaching sets itself apart from, or in opposition to traditional teachings. In fact he refers to what he calls the 4th way and the 4th way exists in Christianity, in Hinduism, in Islam as well as any other traditional way, Taoist or other which has as its aim to awaken man to the conciousness of his real destiny." [from 'the taste for things which are true' p.93].



One reviewer noted here that: "Amiss is taken to task in a systematic manner in which he compared G's teachings to Eastern Orthodox material. Replete with references he demolishes Amiss's claims. BTW all anyone needs to do is get a copy of O's "In Search of the Mircaluous" a copy of the Philokalia or Theophans works and compare them. You'l see that there is no place for a householder in serious myticism. It's for monks only. St. Theophan was a hermit and monk - hardly someone who understood the way of the householder."

I beg to differ on several points, and while my treatment will take a bit to go through I believe it answers many of the fundamental points Patterson confuses. I use St. Theophan as my sole reference for Orthodoxy only becase as I hope to show he was a primary source for G's worldview. Essentially the framework from which everything would be built and modified from.

Firstly, before St. Theophan became a recluse he was a Bishop, and one intimately concerned w/ the prayer life of his flock [see his brilliant 'the path of prayer' written specifically for lay people]. He was far from a monastic in a cave w/ no clue as to how Orthodox spiritual practices were to be practiced by layman.
St. Theophan's "The Spiritual Life" [perhaps his most accessible and enduring original work] was written to a 16 year old girl who was simply a pious 'layperson'. Orthodox Christianity and the Prayer of the Heart are not for monastics only. This is nonsense. St. Theophan begins in his first letter with," We will not concern ourselves with abstractions or draw up plans or theories; instead our conversation will be on life's everyday occurrences." [Spiritual Life p. 35]
Of course that the deeper levels and teaching of Orthodox spiritual practices has flowered most obviously within monastic life is hardly suprising, much of G's teachings came from monastaries [Buddhist, Sufi, Orthodox Christian and Sarmoung] as well!
I am convinced G. himself read St. Theophan's Spiritual Life as a youth, [he states in his 'Bio' 'Meetings w/ Remarkable Men' something to the effect that he 'studied all the current scientific, religious and psychological books of his day. In Kars, going to a Russian Orthodox School, St. Theophan would have been the bestselling spiritual author around.

Just a few quotes from 'the Spiritual Life [and how to be attuned to it]' should, I think convince all but the most unconvincable that G. not only read St. Theophan but... took it very deeply to heart and became a cornerstone of his world view. And indeed a stepping stone to his burning question.

from p. 44
"Outwardly behave like everyone else, but inwardly guard your heaert from sympathy and attractions" this finds it's echo's in G's , "Outwardly it must be what is best for her and me...internally one should free from considering" [views from the real world]

Again St. Theophan:
Human Life is complex and multi-faceted It has physical, mental and spiritual aspects, Each aspects has it's powers, needs and modes and the exercise and satisfaction of them. But when only all of our powers are in motion and all of our are satisfied does a man live. But when only small number of his powers are in motion...this life is not life. [p. 38 ibid.]

This obviously echoes a cornerstone of the 4th way. Even down to calling one centered life 'not life'.

I wil give one last example of what I belive to be St. Theophans direct and profound impression on G. that I alluded to above.

on page 67 we read from the Recluse: 'For example we know what man is from observations of him, generalizations about him and conclusions we have made. Not being content with this we come up with the question, " What is the significance of man in the sum of creation?" In trying to discover this, one person decides man is the head and crown of creation...' sound familiar?

See again G. in Views p. 42. The parallels are beyond coincidence imo.


All this is to say, that what is unique to G. probably comes from the Sarmoung and his application of Hypnosis on many 'guinea pigs' curing them of their addictions in as a cover for his researches. The rest is more or less common esoteric currency of every tradition to be found from Greece to China. Organized in a unique way albeit, but other than the sacred laws and specific terminology it is a cut and paste job of a very high and special order.

St. Theophan does the same thing, but relying on Orthodox sources almost exclusively. Patterson misses almost all of this in his quest to debunk Amiss. Where Amiss and his teacher go astray is taking G's 'esoteric Chritianity' too seriously [in the same way Patterson has w/ the uniqueness of the 4th way].

The 4th way [unfortunately to my mind] parts company with Traditional Christianity on several points:
The end of the World. No 4th wayers seem willing to take much of the Book of Revelation seriously, all of the 'practicing' Orthodox Christians I have met do. Despite the ever more swiftly-descending octave humanity is in, and despite the many prophecies that have already been fulfilled. Anti-Christ is simply not on the 4th way radar.

G. accepts Islam as being divinely inspired. Orthodox see it as being satanically inspired. It is the only major tradition to come into being AFTER Christianity. G. was a sort of 'proto-ecumenist'.

Christ in the gospels specifically instituted baptism of 'every living creature'. This is understood as a ritual that restores the connection of our fallen spirit with the Holy Spirit.

This is hardly seen as essential in the 4th way.

Their are a few other major points, such as what happens to the soul after death, and some of G's students [Bennett in particualr] have gone some way to reconciling the discrepancies there.

In general though while the goals are similar, many of the techniques are similar, the main difference [as it is w/ all of the major traditions] is what the saints and teachers see in heaven and how they relate these differences to the world. This is where no amount of massaging and esoteric 'explanations' can hide the major differences. Either Islam or Christianity has a record of a bogus Archangel Gabriel fooling someone about Christ's divinity.

No Christian has seen Muhammed in Heaven, No Buddhist has seen Christ. They are it seems going to a different a 'heaven'. They are experiencing a different God, with often contradictory revelations.

Patterson again is focused on the intrigue between Ouspensky, Mouravieff and Amiss. And Amiss poor grasp of both Orthodoxy and the 4th way.

If this review seems excessively long, I can only agree, but hopefully it will be of some real use to someone and dispel a bit of the fog created around the relationship of the Enneagram and G. and far more importantly of Orthodox Christianity and Gurdjieff.

This book is moderately informative for those interested in studying the esoteric and the 4th Way, BUT...it is essentially a polemic written by a Gurdjieff purist. There is room in the world for polemics, but what makes this one particularly annoying is its criticism for individuals and groups for not being connected to the "authentic" traditions of Gurdjieff and his school. Any study of these "traditions" by someone who is not committed to accept them as authentic from the beginning reveals them to contain the same "validity" as the teachings that Blavatsky "discovered" in Tibet, or Heindel encountered in Germany, or countless other examples.

There is something almost comical about criticisms of groups for not being linked to an authentic tradition when there is no historical evidence that Gurdjieff was connected to these himself. There is definitely something comical about these groups being referred to as "personality cults." If there is ever an example of a personality cult in the history of modern esoteric movements, the "classic" 4th Way is it. Gurdjieff left behind a nearly indecipherable body of teachings, much of which reads like gibberish, and a tiny remnant of followers who excused his often abusive and capricious behavior by explaining that he was "testing" them.

In the end, it makes little difference if any person or group is authentically connected to teachings that were derived from a man who Colin Wilson included in his study of "self-proclaimed" teachers. These groups have just as much of a right to cobble together teachings from assorted estoteric sources and claim them as their own, or as Gurdjieff's true teachings, as he did. That's the beauty of secret, oral traditions, they're beyond criticism in terms of proof of historical lineage.

Taking with the Left Hand for any spiritual seeker is a must read. When one is seeking a spiritual path there are many "ways" that one may find and many essence-thieves are waiting for their opportunity to take their advantage. There are people who have invested many years into false teachings, one that has been made up of parts of one teaching and a dash of other teachings then mixing in their own projections and misunderstandings to complete their "way." Mr. Patterson has created a book that can be used as a lifeboat when one is drowning in the pool of false teachers.

William Patrick Patterson's first book, 'Eating The 'I'', made one heck of an impression on me back in '92. The true account of an ordinary guy grappling tooth-and-bloody-nail to apply the ideas of a powerful esoteric teaching to his life, it was almost painfully candid, invaluably enlightening and beautifully written. I immediately subscribed to his fledgling journal 'Telos' (now 'The Gurdjieff Journal') and eagerly snapped up each new book he wrote. While each successive book has explored a worthy and interesting subject from Patterson's 'Work'-informed perspective, I've detected with some dismay a growing attitude of orthodoxy creeping into his writings. It's as if he's on a personal crusade to take to task those he feels have missed the mark (sinned?) in some way.

'Taking With The Left Hand,' Patterson's third book, provides a good case in point. It's a curiously conservative offering from a man who, in 'Eating The 'I,'' casually referred to himself as a "maverick." The book consists of three essays, each first serialized in Telos.

In the first essay, 'How the Enneagram Came to Market,' the author traces the backgrounds of the various people instrumental in developing and popularizing the "Enneagram of Personality Types:" Oscar Ichazo, Claudio Naranjo, Helen Palmer, et al - none of whom, Patterson wants us to know, has ever had any connection to the authentic lineage of Gurdjieff's oral tradition. And if one hasn't been taught by either Gurdjieff himself, or by anyone Gurdjieff appointed to teach, in Patterson's view they are incapable of advancing in The Work, and still less of contributing anything to it.

'Enneagram' is well written, and the biographical material is well-researched and revealing. The main problem is that the author has failed to actually grapple with the typology which informs his subject. Granted, the essay's title doesn't promise a critical evaluation of the Ennea-types. But consider the implications if Patterson *were* to study the topic and find it valid: He would then have to reconsider his central contention that personality-mapping represents an unauthorized and *therefore* invalid misappropriation of the Enneagram. Instead, he sidesteps the typology itself in favor of an ad hominem campaign of discrediting its proponents.

Consider, however, that long before the "Enneagram craze," a couple of books appeared which attempted to show Enneagrammatic dynamics at work in various processes - cooking a meal, for instance. Not only were these approaches not critically damned, they seemed accepted by the Gurdjieffian mainstream. I've studied both approaches, and found character analysis via the Enneagram to be at least as effective as - and often more practical than - other uses. Could the controversy here really be that Ennea-typing has become too commercial, and its subject is (false-) personality, which typing is believed to reinforce? Or is it merely an example of a growing trend of orthodoxy in the official Gurdjieff Work today, which tends to resist / dismiss any sort of innovation? Need we remind them that Gurdjieff himself was a great innovator, his teachings of unknown provenance?

In the book's second and perhaps strongest essay, 'The People of the Bookmark,' Patterson takes on the 'Fellowship of Friends' (F.O.F.), a Fourth Way school, and its controversial founder and leader, Robert Earl Burton. While I clearly disagree with Patterson's belief that Burton's lack of experience in an "authentic" Fourth Way group *automatically* vitiates any possibility of his having any deeper knowledge, Burton has always seemed as close to the textbook profile of "charismatic cult leader" as it's possible to get, which makes it hard to give him the benefit of the doubt; and then there's F.O.F., with its excruciatingly "refined" sensibilities, studied preciousness and bogus elitism. Critically dismantling such an entity would not be much of a challenge.

However, Patterson goes much deeper in his criticism of Burton than merely objecting to his cultic manifestations: He goes right to the meat of some of 'the teacher's' central tenets and practices, spending some time critiquing his deceptively profound book 'Self Remembering.' For example, he carefully exposes the fallacy of the "divided attention = self-remembering" equation by tracing the phenomenological relationship between "attention" and the "self" in which it moves; and also by pointing out how this practice of "dividing attention" can tend to reify the act of observing, thereby unduly reinforcing the observer. This is a good example of why Patterson is at his best when he drops the dogmatism and speaks simply from his own experience and wisdom.

In 'The Mouravieff Phenomenon,' the book's final essay, the author makes the case that Boris Mouravieff - Russian aristocrat, esotericist, and associate of both Ouspensky and Gurdjieff - was guilty of p lagiarizing Ouspensky's 'In Search of the Miraculous' in his own magnum opus, the three-volume 'Gnosis;' that he fashioned an esoteric hybrid by fusing the ideas of the Fourth Way with those of the Eastern Orthodox Church; and that his understanding of the Fourth Way is derived not from Gurdjieff but from Ouspensky, who was "merely" Gurdjieff's estranged disciple.

Here again we see Patterson not so much as judge and jury, but perhaps as prosecuting attorney: methodically building up his case, making an impassioned - but eminently reasonable - closing statement to the jury, but leaving out the essential fact that he doesn't really know any more about Mouravieff than the jury does. Indeed, this is the least thoroughly researched essay of the bunch, and even after reading it, one has very little sense of who Boris Mouravieff was and on what he might have based his claim to being "authorized" by some esoteric brotherhood to expound what seems like a hybrid of Fourth Way and Eastern Orthodox teachings.

At times Patterson comes on like a politician on a smear campaign, as he impugns the assorted figures in the shadowy hinterland of the Fourth Way fringes. It seems that the erstwhile maverick is a neo-traditionalist who believes the Gurdjieff lineage has become dangerously contaminated by the wiseacrings of psuedo-Gurdjieffian posers and opportunists, while he himself bears the responsibility of crusading to keep the path pure.

Actual rating: 2-1/2 stars.

Patterson does a good job of exposing those who have cobbled together a successful business dealing in the remnants of the Gurdjieff work. What I found missing though, was any sort of discussion about the effectiveness or results of those group's methods that might explain their success. His assesment amounted mostly to something along the lines of, "they aren't genuine so they can't do any good". I might have found a nobler purpose in the book if he could have named at least one genuine 4th Way School that is active today and is successful in getting results and describe how one evaluates such a school. That would have given the book a more practical reason to be read.

There are those who say that 'the 4th Way is dead' and at this point I am inclined to agree with them. So what if a few religions or philosophies have been put together from the remnants of Gurdjieff's work? It is about as consequential as a few buzzards picking at the corpse of a jackrabbit in the middle of the desert.

What difference does it make now?

This is a very large book & not a light read. Sir Francis Burton is one of history's more interesting people but after reading this book I don't think he was someone that was easy to get along with. He was a brave & determined man & most people just wouldn't want to do the things he did. Also the things he did are incredible but the writing isn't as gripping as the things he did.

Richard Francis Burton was a very unique individual even when compared to the Victorian age when it seems Britain had an abundance of eccentric Englishman making world-shaking contributions for the benefit of their Empire or mankind. Burton had a knack for picking up other languages and dressing in native costume, so much so, that in a matter of months he could pass as a native. He exploited this gift throughout the Indian subcontinent and the Arabic speaking world. From an army to a Foreign Service diplomatic career, Burton did not spend his time idly. He led explorations in East and West Africa. Burton's name should be as famous as Stanley's or Livingston's except for happenstance. He explored various Arab speaking areas for the Royal Geographical Society and frequently passed himself off as a local by speaking Arabic fluently. He received Islamic religious training, enough to be the first or second Westerner to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca and obtain entrance into the Kabbkah. As an Author, his books of his exploits never sold well. The author of this book concludes because of the haphazard method of relating information to the reader. Burton was not good at organizing his expeditionary note, but they are full of curious facts that show his sharp scientific mind. The author of this book does an admirable job relating Burton's life to the reader. The book's quoting various diary entries and newspaper articles shows it was well researched, especially his turbulent public life. As Richard Francis Burton grew older he used his language skills to translate various books of Middle Eastern tales and poetry into English. He is perhaps best known for translating the classic A Thousand and One Nights.
This was a very rewarding book, This reader plans to read some of the books still in print by Richard Francis Burton.

I have never even heard of anyone like Richard Burton. He is one of those people that certainly took advantage of life. I often wonder how he had the time to accomplish all of those feats. This particular biography is a very balanced portrayal of Burton and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you want to be entertained then read this book.

I believe that I have read all of the Burton biographies - all of them available on Amazon, that is, except Rage to Live, which I am reading now. It started as a keen interest in the subject, and is now just a matter of completing the task. Rice's treatment not only seems to be very correct but is free from editorial. Many other authors feel the need to second-guess the history without the means to do so, or to make him a hero or a villain. For example, his pederastic forays in Hindustan are stated matter-of-factly, with the helpful insight that there is no suggestion he never went back to it. His portrayal of a certain negress royal harem slopping up banana beer, sow-like, on all fours as his own death sentence was imminent can only be called Burtonesque - complete with a lengthy quote from the master himself. If you can only read one, this is it.

Of the Burton biographies I have read, this is quite by far the best. The research is great, and for a history book, this is a true page turner. I found it fascintating, that while reading this work, I had to keep reminding myself that this guy, Sir Richard Burton, was a real person, and was not some figment of a writer's imagination. Richard Burton led a fascinating life during a fascinating time in our history. The author captures both the time and the man. I highly recommend you read this one, if at all interested in this man and his time and further recommend you add it to your library as you will probably want to give it more than one read.

Burton on Burton is a great read for anyone who loves Tim's movies and who would like a glimpse into how movies are made. I've always connected to Burton's films because they're unusual and full of heart. I loved walking around in Tim's head for a few days.

I absolutely love Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, so when I saw that the book was about Tim Burton and there was an introduction by Johnny Depp, I had to buy it! The book includes the first foreword Johnny wrote for this book and it also includes the more recent foreword he wrote.

With regards to the wonderful Mr. Burton, this book is a compilation of interviews put together to draw an intensely intimate portrait of him! No website or five minute interview can get more information in it than this book does. The best part about this book is that the words belong to Tim Burton; there are no assumptions of who he is and what he believes according to the writer. "Burton on Burton" chapters are broken up into the movies Tim Burton has created but it also examines what he was doing at the time, how he felt, and what he was thinking when he was in the process of creating his films. Being able to get into the mindset of Tim Burton enhances the enjoyment one acquires while watching his movies. In any case, while I believed some symbols he uses often meant one thing, Tim Burton stresses that they meant something completely beyond the metaphorical condition(s) an audience has set.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone willing to understand Tim Burton and his breathtaking talents. This book is enchantingly captivating and makes you feel as though you truly know Tim Burton by the end of the book. Mark Salisbury (the editor) has surpassed his job in this book and stays true to Tim Burtons words. If you read this book and enjoy it, I would also recommend the more recent, "Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," written by Mark Salisbury and Tim Burton. Everything created by Tim Burton is truly magnificent and this book will allow you to view a more personal side of Tim Burton through the thing(s) he does best: art.

bought this for my son, who's a burton fan. he liked that it's a window into burton's thoughts, but would have liked more illustrations/pics.

This book covers everything. It's a serious must for film students. I got a complete idea of how to put ideas on the screen and how it affects peoples views. This book never covers up anything. I enjoyed it and it's worth the money

I've Only been living for a little more than 12 years but i can tell tou how great of a director Tim Burton is.
i havnt read the book yet but i know for sure its gona be good.
think about it this way, tim burton has made all these great movies, like Edward Scissorhands(my personal favorite), the nightmare before christmas, corps bride, and a lot more so if he made all those awesome movies, its gona be good

When I tell people I'm reading a graphic novel adaptation of a Mozart opera, they tend to think I'm nuts. However, this was a really cool book. I was unfamiliar with the opera upon which this book was based when I started reading it, but the story is a wonderful work of fantasy with fun characters and a great message. The artwork is fantastic as well, and it really drew me into the story. I highly recommend this book to lovers of fantasy graphic novels with an open mind.

I bought this book because recently I recorded The Magic Flute opera from PBS (TV station), performed by The Metropolitan Opera New York (MET) in English. The channel was in high-definition. I'm dissapointed with the book because there was no English translation at all in the book but it didn't mean I could not enjoy the book. Because I have the book, I notice the English opera version (perform by MET) contains removed parts. For example, the overture was cut by half. Maybe it is to shorted the performance.

This is a great opera introduction for kids. The story is really easy to follow and the CD is a great addition. I highly recommend this for anyone.

This was a wonderful story well written for a young audience. We bought it for our six-year-old son who began studying violin a year ago, and this was his one-year anniversary present. Mozart's Eine Kleine Nacht Musik was his inspiration to learn the violin, and he has since taken interest in other Mozart music. The illustrations are also very beautiful.

I'm usually dismissive of most Die Zauberflotes because I find the overall quality of the singers and recording lacking. Then I came upon this recording...I have to say that it is simply the most amazing Die Zauberflote I've ever heard! The orchestrations to the singers to the conductor himself...everything is mind-blowing! I'm not a Mozart person, but if I really like a recording of his I will buy it. This is an excellent way to introduce yourself to the Flute, especially since there is such a wonderful introduction accompanying this extremely famous opera. And the Queen of the Night-Edda Moser!!! Amazing! Simply amazing! No other Queen has conveyed that much drama into her singing. This is the Flute. I would suggest Marriner's version if I hadn't seen this one, but then here is a Flute with all the greats in it! Get it now!

We have three of the authors cookbooks and we love them all. What I really like is that I know I can count on Dreena when there are kids or omni guests to feed. I also like the element of simplicity she keeps while creating some really unusual and delicious dishes.

Lots of good ideas for the beginning vegan. Good info on organizing your vegan pantry.

The Everyday Vegan is a great cookbook. It contains lots of versatile recipes that are for the most part easy to make and not time-consuming. I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for many years, but I'm new to being vegan and I've found this cookbook informative. I also appreciate that she is health conscious and avoids partially hydrogenated food items.

There are some amazing recipes in this book!
You have to try "Wild Rice and Mushroom stew";fast becoming a weekly favorite!

I use this book quite often. I find the recipes to be reliable (this is an issue these days) and excellent. As a cane sugare-free vegan, I look for cookie recipes that use fruit or agave nectar as the sweetening source. "Bill's Cookies" are absolutely delicious. But all the recipes I tried are very good and I highly recommend this book to all vegans, just beginning and experienced.

I'm 41 years old. This was my favorite book as a child and I just bought another copy. It's absolutely precious.

Katy is the name of the very strong and indefatigable snowplow who saves the town. I was surprised that my 2.5 y.o daughter enjoyed this because the pictures are not very colorful, but love it she did! When seeing a snowplow in a storm not long after she pointed yelling "It's Katie!"

This a good book--especially if your child loves trucks and construction equipment as mine does. We first ordered the classic Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel and then got this book because of it's similarities. Its old-school illustrations are a nice change of pace from some of the newer books we read to our son.

Discovered this book at our doctor's office. My oldest baby did not want to put it down. I told him we would go home and order it on the computer. Each day he looked out the window to see if "KATY" was there yet. Needless to say, he loves this book. It has an incredible map. And it's clear this will be a book we value for many years.

I have fond memories of this book as a child, so I wanted to share it with my three year old daughter. To my surprise, it was not quite as interesting to me now as it was in my memories. My daughter loves it, however, and we read it together often! It is a simple story of a mess being cleaned up, and maybe that simplicity is what appeals to her.

One of the world's great authors kicked off his real career with two gripping novels; this one and "Eugénie Grandet". Though it contains much 19th century melodrama and Balzac could not resist lecturing readers on life's travails and included many of those romantic soliloquies so favored in his times, PÈRE GORIOT introduces us to the Paris of that period (early 19th century) with all its color and sordid social niceties. A mock headline could read "Balzac to Readers: Paris is a Pit of Passion". As in several other Balzac novels, the title character is not necessarily the main one. In this case, the author describes the ups and downs of an ambitious youth from the sticks, Eugene de Rastignac, as he makes his way into high society, seeking his fortune. Social climbing and grabbing the attention of materialistic, idle society engrosses the lad. He learns that the clothes and carriage make the man, that whom you know is everything, and the right invitations are a must. Père Goriot is a retired pasta maker living in the same boarding house where everyone is under the thumb of the penny-pinching, nosy Madame Vauquer. The old man has two daughters who have married into the Parisian upper crust and are now ashamed of their humble origins. As Rastignac slowly discovers, through his involvement with both daughters, their father is a martyr to his own children. They manage to squander his immense fortune while shunning him completely.

An interesting combination of romanticism and cynicism like many of Balzac's novels, PÈRE GORIOT explores the different sides of passion or `loves'---Père Goriot's love of his children, Vautrin (a jovial but wily, powerful criminal boss) and his love of power, and many characters' love of money, style, and social position. Balzac, as usual, lovingly explores the many aspects of annuities, stock transfers, bonds and landed estates, on the realistic grounds that money was the focus of French society at the time. A few people in the story actually love those with whom they are involved, but such individuals are rare. It's not a Harlequin romance after all ! The novel provides a number of unexpected twists and turns and some very clever dialogues. PÈRE GORIOT is one of the best novels in Balzac's vast series of books in which he attempted to describe French society in his times. If you have never read Balzac, you should remedy that situation forthwith; he is certainly one of the greatest novelists who ever lived.

When Balzac ins't wooing me with his beautiful descriptions, his dialogue reads like a play. Some scenes are genuinely funny, and the characters are memorable. The ending is too drawn out, but very much worth the read. Short and sweet. I loved it. Quote it in your English class to earn kudos from the professor. They love Balzac.

Balzac. Maybe it's the harsh sound of his name. Like Nietzsche or Exxon, it congers up big, tough, impenetrable. Truth is, he's none of those things. Nor is he a hopeless romantic. If Pere Goriot is an example, Balzac is simply an observer. You might not like what he sees, but it is difficult to deny its accuracy. Take the central character Pere Goriot. You can say that Balzac uses him to prove that no good deed shall go unpunished. Oft referred to as Balzac's King Lear, Goriot's troubles begin when he parcels out his fortune to his social climbing daughters; like Lear's girls, Goriot's bitches dump the old man when his money runs out. Sound familiar? Indeed, there's a lot of Shakespeare in Balzac. In King Lear, we hear "The art of necessities is strange, that can make vile things precious". Those words fit perfectly Goriot's fast learning young friend Eugene. As we see Eugene evolving from adamantine idealist to player, you can also imagine him mouthing from Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale: "I am a feather for each wind that blows". So, is Balzac a cynic that sees no intrinsic good in humankind, or is saying we are merely products of our environment? Is Balzac a pessimistic Nietzsche who dismisses morality as the herd instinct in the individual? Or, is he an optimistic Helen Keller observing that tolerance is the highest result of education? You decide. But, please, please, please keep it real. For Balzac's sake, keep it real.

My French was in its infantile stages when I read this book, but opening a dictionary once, twice, or many times per page was a small price to pay for the stimulation I got from reading this book. The pure artistry of the writing not only inspired me to keep reading, but to have French as a double major. When you read this book, you are there.

I'm going to go ahead and ruin something for you, the potential reader, about Honoré de Balzac. It's nothing to do with plot or character, so you can rest assured that you're safe to get a fresh read from Père Goriot; instead it centers on the author himself. It's something you're going to pick up on as you read through this book.

You see, Honoré de Balzac is your best friend.

This sounds funny, I realize that, but it's the simple truth. You can feel it in the way that the man writes- He doesn't tell the story to you, so much as he explains it. It's like listening to one of those old men you find in a bar; you're so certain that you're going to laugh at him as he recounts his tale, you're so certain that when he tells you that it's a sad one, that you've heard that statement enough before to know it's a falsity...but then as things progress you begin to realize that you can trust him. You can feel the hand of Balzac on your back, guiding you forward. You begin to trust him...and it's all because he's talking to you as though you were an old friend.

Indeed, Père Goriot is a sad tale. Without giving away any more than the back of the book already does, I can say that it encompasses the tale of a man who has sacrificed of himself for his children's sake, as laid out in contrast to the story of a man who asks of his own family that they sacrifice for him. It is the study of both sides of that equation, all tied together through a boardinghouse where every boarder has a story to tell, where every turn and twist is an obstacle for some, an opportunity for others, and an escape for none. All are tied into this Paris that lives and breathes on the page.

Balzac was a character writer. He tells you about the person, all the intimate little details that seem so trivial but that build up the image of the person in your mind. You can see Vautrin, the mysterious all-knowing boarder as he watches young Rastignac, the young law student, struggle inside of himself as he wrestles his way into an unforgiving society. In the process of doing so, you watch sometimes in horror, sometimes in fascination, listening to the man deliver speech upon speech, some of which seem to bear an eerie early foreboding to Dostoevsky's `The Grand Inquisitor' for it's sheer, unflinching look at some point of society. Like that writer, Balzac builds the man, then lets him be himself on the page, summoning only those talents that are necessary in a writer to get out of the way and allow the story to tell itself.

Is this book worth reading? Absolutely. Who should read it? Anyone who enjoys a tale with action, honor, and ethical, internal struggles. There are criminal men, unscrupulous women, love affairs, dedication, a betrayal...there are all the elements of the modern novel, told in an engaging and playful style that you come to trust and respect and that, in the end, leaves you with a mighty hunger for more...

Henry Reed does a great translation as well. His afterword helps to place the novel in the series that it belongs, putting into proper perspective in Balzac's La Comedie humaine, a series of novels and stories built around Paris during a certain time period. Balzac was a very dedicated writer, putting himself to the task sometimes for hours on end (up to 18 by some accounts). His works contain in them many characters that repeat into other works, as in the two that I mentioned above (Rastignac in particular).

Bottom line: I cannot highly enough recommend this book to anyone. It is fantastic and easily enjoyable.

-LP

This is a very well put together resource: well researched, well written, and completely useful as a point of reference and source of information. I highly, highly recommend this publication.

I AM SOO VERY ANGRY, I AM BEING CHARGED FOR ITEMS THAT NEVER GOT TO THE PERSON I WAS SENDING C.D.'S AND BOOKS TOO!!!! I ALSO RECEIVED A LATE CHARGE!!!!! I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME CUSTOMER AND I AM FURIOUS!!! I PAID FOR ALL THE ITEMS MY FRIEND DID NOT RECEIVE AND I WILL NOT ORDER FROM YOU AGAIN!!!!

a VERY COMPLETE, INFORMATIVE REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE RELATED TO ALL TYPES OF ILLNESSES OR HEALTH PROBLEMS. I WAS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN THE SECTION ON CANCER, AND FOUND IT IMMENSELY INFORMATIVE. FULL OF ADDITIONAL REFERENCES, ADDRESSES OF EXPERTS ON VARIOUS HEALTH CONCERNS, ETC.

I WOULD SAY IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD THICK BOOK ON THIS SUBJECT YOU NEED TO GET THIS ONE. VERY INFORMATIONAL. OVER 1000 PAGES. IT'S IN MY TOP
10 BOOKS ON NATURAL MEDICINE. THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK I GRAB WHEN LOOKING UP A CONDITION. I EVENTUALLY ORDERED 1 FOR MY MOM AND A FRIEND.

My dentist had this book in his office. After reading through many of the topic headings, I just had to get it. Now that I have it, I can't put it down. This book explains the difference between traditional and alternative med. as well as the different approaches to alternative medicine. It also directs you where to get more information on the subject you are look at.

It is the most comprehensive book on the subject, I have found so far. If you want to learn more about alternative medicine, this book will be a good pick.

Co-owner Betsy Burton has captured the store's own story in her book, The King's English. Complete with book lists, this hardback is loaded with tales of author signings gone wrong, success stories, and hardships. With so few independent booksellers still holding on in a land of giants, The King's English tells of a time both readers and writers long for.

I highly recommend a visit to The King's English bookstore, but if you can't make the distance, the book of the same title is the next best alternative.

After reading "The King's English", I decided it would have to live on my bedside table indefinitely as a resource for all things readable. The only thing that would be better is a second edition!

I'm a lover of books and bookstores, but for all of the author's enthusiasm, she didn't turn me into an unqualified supporter of the independent bookstore. If anything, I came away with a negative attitude. I found the book overly preachy, and the positions not fully explained. I did enjoy the entertaining stories about various author visits. And the descriptions of the authors that Burton likes were enlightening. I do admire her devotion to the business - the unfathomable amounts of money she must have sunk into it over the years, and the determination she has to keep it going. But much of the book rubbed me the wrong way, culminating with the Harry Potter book release story: Buying up the chains' stock to sell at their own store sounds like an unseemly business practice to me.

Betsy Burton writes a lively, humorous book about her experiences as an independent bookseller. You are there when Isabel Allende talks to her audience; you feel Betsy's humiliation when John Mortimer arrives and she has some problems with "Mum's car." She also writes about serious topics such as censorship and competition with chains and superstores. The one criticism I have is that there isn't an index with a listing for all the authors she writes about. If you've never been to a bookstore to meet an author, you will after reading this book.

This book is a delight. Passionate, strong-willed, full of love for literature and liberty --especially for our First and Fourth Amendments -- Betsy Burton gives an account of her first twenty-five years as one of the owners of The King's English, an independent bookstore in Utah's Salt Lake City.

For the person who wants to learn more about the book industry, you'll learn about sales reps and what goes into getting on to various bestseller lists. For the person concerned about protecting our rights, you'll learn about some of the threats that have been made to bookstores, from both individuals and the government. For the person who simply adores reading, you'll learn a bit about how your precious books make it into your hands, and if you took the process for granted, you will take it for granted no longer.

You'll also learn some of the pitfalls of opening a business with little (or no) experience, how to deal (or perhaps how not to deal) with the press, and how to work (or not work) with partners and employees, and last, but not least, how to maintain conviction in the face of cut-throat competition (where the competition is likewise mysteriously cutting its own throat).

Finally, you will enjoy Betsy Burton, and the way she barrels down on problems. I laughed out loud when I read about how she could not get a key to open the trunk of a car (a problem I have also experienced - glad to see I'm not alone) and how she dealt with a Harry Potter crisis.

Well worth reading!

Thank God my man is not this stupid and dim witted - and if yours is you should search for a better one.

This book insists that all men are complete morons and unable to deal with more than one emotion or one concern at one time - and you better hope that they never have to deal with emotions and problems in the same moment or their heads might explode.

Also ensure they aren't hungry, tired, or stressed if you wish to have a meaningful conversation with them - they don't function under these conditions!

"Join the real world and stop copping out" was my response to this book - totally useless, and not even that funny...

A fun book but with really straight forward, easy to understand, insights that all of us guys & gals should know but don't.

To know your Pig is to love your Pig. This book is Fun, easy and insightful. Great read. Thanks

Witty, wise and eye-opening, this book offers a refreshing perspective that ... it's never too late to start understanding and appreciating the Pig in your life !!!

I read this, then gave it to my wife to read. It should be a user guide for newly weds, or newly dating! The guys who wrote this must be gender challenged or they had great insight from their spouses in order to know how to position us to the Venus crowd.