F Books

I'm so glad I finally found this book. I was beginning to think I dreamed reading this story and that there never was such a book! Now I have my answer as to the difficulty in findng this book--it's out of print. What a shame! Thank goodness for used book sellers.
I read this book while I was in high school about 10 years ago and absolutely loved this book. Susannah, a southerner, contends with the problems associated with living in the South during the Civil War. Amidst all the tragedies--near starvation, losing loved ones, leaving her home, she finds love in the least likely of places--a yankee and Union soldier named Caine Harding. Of course, in the end, they are able to be together, but the story and romance along the way is a lovely tale for anyone wanting some enjoyable reading... I'm saving this one for my daughter when she is old enough. (Much better for character building than stories about frivlous mall shopping, etc.)

I remember seeing this book in the back of my french class back in 8th grade. Someone had left it there so I had to pick it up. Looking at the cover, I didn't think I was going to like it because romance novels aren't my type of things, but as I read it, I grew to love it. Throughout high school, I checked it out at least ten times if not more. It made me want to read more of the Sunfires. ( I now own 14 of the books and am still collecting the whole series! )

Since I am a history and Civil War buff, I was glad to see that the book was true to the historical time period especially with how things were in the South compared to the North. Susannah is a girl I wish I could be. She's strong and has a lot of character strength, especially when she is faced with all the hardships she is faced with. I always read this book when I feel down in the dumps. Even at the age of 19, I enjoy this story just as much as I did the first time I picked it up, literally.

The Sunfire books were some of my best loved books when I was a young adult reader, and Susannah was my favorite. An exciting, touching, vivid portrayal of the Civil War south seen through the eyes of a young woman. It's a shame these books are out of print; I hate to think that young readers are being deprived of them.

This wasn't the best Sunfire I've read. Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful book. It's an accurate picture of the life of a young girl during the Civil War. It was more emotional then exciting, which is alright. It kind of leaves you in a gloomy state. Usually in those books, the end is cheerful, and all the problems have been fixed, etc. But in the end, the war is still going on leaving me with a curiosity of how there life worked out for them. But all things considered, Susannah is a strong girl, who is aware of her strengths and weaknesses. How she took control of things was quite admirable. It really was an emotional roller coaster, at times I got so mad at her beau's sister I wanted to throw the book. Then the next minute I was near tears, then the next happy that she was in love. I think it was a good book, but I wouldn't suggest it to just anyone. You really has to be a romantic to enjoy this book. But if you are, then it's a great book.

Despite the image on the back cover, Susannah isn't Scarlett. She's a resiliant, strong girl who doesn't wallow in melodrama. War is not romanticized in this book - not only is the loss of life unflinchingly told, but the terrible price that those on the homefront faced - poverty, starvation, and a generally unsettled life. But this isn't a grim story, because of the romance between Susannah and Caine, a Union soldier, offers such hope and promise. When I was fifteen I was half in love with Caine myself... the ending is a compromise and feels realisitic - Susannah realizes that the home of her childhood is gone forever. A moving story of the Civil War, a wonderful romance, all told in Ransom's usual descriptive style. Ms. Ransom, I believe, makes her home in Virginia, and her love for the area is reflected in Susannah.

Now that I've finished "To Serve Them All My Days" I feel that I've lost an old friend. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, savoring it and rationing my reading so as not to finish it too quickly. A must read for those interested in teaching, education in general, and in understanding children. This story is a study in the trials and tribulations life offers us, and how one person not only overcame these setbacks but also flourished in spite of them. Although I watched and enjoyed the Masterpiece Theatre series on TV in the early 80's I did not really appreciate it then, as I would now if it were to be rebroadcast. I have exhausted all possibilities in trying to obtain a copy of a WGBH tape of this series. If anyone knows how to obtain a tape please let me know. I highly recommend this book.

This is one of my favorite books, too. You may purchase a copy of the DVD from "Deep Discount DVD" which has a web page
http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/index.cfm ..the price is $49 but
no shipping charges. I just finished viewing all 4 disks (rented from Netflix) .. good luck

Now that I've finished "To Serve Them All My Days" I feel that I've lost an old friend. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, savoring it and rationing my reading so as not to finish it too quickly. A must read for those interested in teaching, education in general, and in understanding children. This story is a study in the trials and tribulations life offers us, and how one person not only overcame these setbacks but also flourished in spite of them. Although I watched and enjoyed the Masterpiece Theatre series on TV in the early 80's I did not really appreciate it then, as I would now if it were to be rebroadcast. I have exhausted all possibilities in trying to obtain a copy of a WGBH tape of this series. If anyone knows how to obtain a tape please let me know. I highly recommend this book.

I love this book. It has been quite a long time since I've read a book with such depth and realistic characters. The people in this book ARE REAL. I am having trouble putting into words how much I loved this book. It made me laugh and cry, and I was very depressed when I had finished it. If you like Dickens, I think you will enjoy this author's style.
The mini-series is now out on DVD. I will be getting it soon, and it is hard for me to think about much else. I can't wait to see it; eleven hours! Excellent.

I ran across this book by chance in a hospital lending library, and it was just the thing to read during a tedious recouperation. This is an enobling book, it reminded me of how people can rise to wonderful levels of caring and integrity, it showed a person wounded in body and spirit who found that concentrating on the details of teaching the schoolboys under his care was, in a sense, a healing meditation. I am slightly sceptical that anyone can be that free of ignoble impulses; it seemed that none of the characters in the book did anything at odds with their personality or with a base motive. However, I don't care: I'd RATHER that people's best selves were always visible. And I'd like to believe that the everyday world can be a healing place, and that I too can go forward with courage, confident that I would be able to show the truest part of my personality. -- In addition, I appreciated the book's description of the changing political mood in England during the two world wars.

We are constantly reading this book not for the recpies but for the knowledge and history of different foods that we comonly use. We are lucky enough to be able to enjoy Zingerman's Deli anytime we want and they are top quality just like in the book.

Finally I understand why sea salt is so good; and how to choose olive oil. And I now know a few good brands to look for on my gourmet items. This has really helped me shop for excellent ingredients. And the recipes, esp the roasted beet salad, are delicious and simple, relying on the very best ingredients for flavor instead of complicated instructions.

For anyone who knows the name Zingerman's, chances are they know the name is synonomous with amazing food of the highest quality. For anyone interested in food, particularly imported, specialty and artisanal foods, check out this book and their website. You won't be disappointed.

I really enjoyed this book. As a lover of food, I was elated to discover this book. He includes history and just an over all knowledge of fine foods and how you can tell when you get your hands on them! The commercialization of fine foods (like balsamic vinegar) often times loses the art. I appreciate the art of creating fine foods and am grateful to now have a little extra "Zing" and knowledge when I'm shopping for them.

When it comes to food and cooking, this is one of my top 3 favorite and most used books. Though this has recipes, that is not where its value lies. This book is a guide to understanding and appreciating quality in your food. Some of the foods covered are olive oils, vinegars (balsamic and others), cheese, bread, pasta, chocolate, etc. Each section tells you what makes for quality and recommends brands to try. If you love good food, this is a MUST HAVE!

As an expert on creativity, I am very excited about this book as it easily guides parents into nurturing parenting by teaching them to honor the individuality of each child and encourage unique self-expression. By fortifying a child's self-esteem and acknowledging their natural gifts and abilities, parents can have a powerful impact on this next generation of "litle souls" ensuring that they become who they are truly meant to be.

This book caught me by surprise, with the warmth that infuses its writing, the penetrating insightfulness of its principles, and the ability to integrate its ideas into the everydayness of life. It elevated my focus from the intensity of life's details to touch base with matters of the heart. I began to reflect with renewed clarity on the sense of family and values that I impart daily to my children ages 5 and 7. While other books out there have tried to copy this message, this book clearly has become the classic in its field. What a tremendous service to us moms!

Giving children the best possible start in life includes fostering their spiritual development. In our fast paced, result-driven world, our emotional and spiritual needs can be overlooked. The principles highlighted in this book give invaluable guidance for parents wishing to assist their children in developing values and coping skills that will take them through the challenges of life.

As a therapist, I am happy to recommend this book to my clients who are parents. The best legacy we can leave to our children is a world that is gentler and more compassionate. The only route is through individual accountability - this book is an instrument to that end.

Mrs. Doe is such an inspiration. She is my second mother, and I love her!
Even more so, she is such an amazing author. She continues to inspire my life and my familial relationship through her writing.
Thank you Mrs. Doe.

EVERYONE BUY THIS BOOK.

It will change your life.

Unlike many other 'parenting books' (full of psychological recipies which make you feel bad if you don't follow their particular recommendations, each one of course holding the absolute and only truth), this one is simply wonderful, refreshing, full of practical tips and freely inspiring. I was a bit skeptical when I read in a previous review that it could also be a spiritual book even without being a parent, but yes, it is definitely full of ideas to develop spirituality into one's life, being or not a parent. I'm sixth month pregnant, finishing the book, and now I feel completely reassured about the parenting adventure which awaits me. Thank you!

Like one previous reviewer, I discovered this amazing book when I was in junior high. I read an enthusiastic Time magazine review of Jones' surrealist coming-of-age saga in 1974, but didn't actually buy a copy 'til the following year.

Like two previous reviewers, I was struck by the Huck Finn parallels, or anti-parallels. I actually wrote a paper for a high school English class detailing how I felt Jones had used Huck Finn as a starting point, then turned certain aspects of Twain's allegory on end. It was a public high school, so my insights -- indeed my entire topic selection! -- were poorly received. It's just as well that I resisted my initial urge to drag James Dickey's novel/screenplay 'Deliverance,' another allegorical mid-'70s river voyage, into the analysis.

'Blood Sport' is a brutally honest but infallibly entertaining depiction of [male] human nature and the human condition, and it's the last word on what guys are all about. Metrosexuals won't like 'Blood Sport' at all.

Exploring the Hassayampa headwaters is about more than just growing up; indeed, growing up is about more than just growing up! The thematic linchpin of Blood Sport is exposed during Ratnose's discussion of the second law of thermodynamics: Life itself is rebellion, he argues, against the second law, which dictates that energy in a high state tends to become energy in a lower state, all the way down to the inert ...

A terrifically entertaining read. As a military man, hunter and Deadhead (different sides of myself I've often found hard to reconcile) it was a real treat to find a book that included elements of outdoorsmanship, combat, and the absurd (in extrema).

What a great book!! An excellent piece of surrealistic fiction. If you are a hunter, a fisherman or just an old-style libertarian hippie (Your modern tree hugging, gun-phobic, quiche-eating hippie won't like it.), I highly recommend this book.

This novel is without a doubt a classic, grizzly account of manhood and survival, transformation and change. Perhaps if you are one who believes that the spirit of the bear resides inside of you, pick this book up and read it all the way through. It is a magnificent story full of gritty, earthly imagery that will thicken your skin. From gunfights to hemp-laiden philosophy, from sensitivity to utter insanity... Stand up and play the hand god has dealt. Play fair but play to win.

Where's the sequel, Jones?

So glad to see this amazing novel back in print. I read a Dell paperback (with a beautiful full-color cover) when I was in junior high (middle school to you youngsters) back in '75 or so. Blew the top of my head clean off. Broke a bunch of rules and made up some new ones in the process. After I read this I graduated directly to Vonnegut, Brautigan and Castaneda. Blood Sport changed the way I look at writers and writing, and it deserves a spot on the same shelf as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Heart of Darkness and Deliverance. The chapter listing "27 Things I Learned About Ratnose" is itself worth the cover price. Long live R.F. Jones. He has written a true adventure classic.

"The Cactus Family" is a handsome and impressive publication which lists 1810 species of cacti. The first chapter, Distinctive Features of Cacti, considers what identifies the cactus. Chapter Two: Ethnobotany of Cacti, describes the various practical, religious and recreational uses of a number of cacti. Chapter Three considers the Conservation of Cacti and Chapter Four, the Cultivation of Cacti. Chapter Five discusses the Classification of Cacti. The alphabetically listing the The Cacti commences on page 105 and runs to page 681. The book concludes with Appendix One: MAPS, and Appendix Two: Botanic Gardens and Herbaria with Significant Collections of Cacti; a Glossary; Literature Cited; Index of Scientific Names and Index of Common Names.

The main section The Cacti lists the plants alphabetically by Genera and then species. Each Genera has a general introduction discussing its characteristics, habitat, taxonomy and discovery. The listing for each species includes its date of finding, common names and synonyms, a botanical description and additional relevant information such as comments regarding variation, uses or habitat. Many of the species are illustrated with the illustrations appearing on the same page spread, the majority seem to be of plants in their habitat. The size of the illustrations varies from about 5cm x 8cm (2" x 3") up to half-page. There are over 1,000 colour photographs in The Cacti section in addition to the many photographs of cacti and their associations in the other chapters.

The presentation is excellent, it is well laid out and the typography adds much to the clarity and understanding of the information; the result is a page which looks appealing and invites reading. The introductory chapters make interesting and informative reading. I was a little surprised that the chapter on cultivation is somewhat brief and prescriptive, and that it does not consider different growing environments enthusiasts have to contend with or availability of materials which must inevitably apply locally; it is nonetheless informative.

The obvious up to date comparison for "The Cactus Family" must be "The New Cactus Lexicon" complied and edited by members of the International Cactaceae Systematics Group. While the latter two volume work does not pretend to be more than a descriptive list of cacti, their being nothing to compare with the first five chapters of "the Cactus Family" it does boast more than twice the number of illustrations, again mostly in habitat. The two publications do not agree 100%; "The New Cactus Lexicon" lists 124 Genera, 1816 species, "The Cactus Family" 125 Genera and 1810 species; and the difference is probably greater as the latter lists some as a separate species which the former considers merely as a form of one variable species. However "The Cactus Family" is the more accessible and certainly the better typographically, "The New Cactus Lexicon" text pages are unappealing and confusing by comparison.

On its own or in comparison, this is a splendid tome and indispensable for any serious collector.

Wow !! What happened to this book .. a great cactus book gone out of print and now being offered at $280. used ?? Cactus are not the only things that bite .. the cactus sharks are out !!

I bought my copy at about $100. and it is a great work on cactus family but it is however not the most detailed work .. Lyman Benson's work is still by far the template for a true classic botanical work.

Unlike Benson's work this book cover all cactii and unlike Benson's work it does not have taxonomic keys which I feel limit this work from becoming a true classic.

It does have lots of color photographs but all to often the images lack taxonomic detail to make a solid identification .. looking for an unknown taxa is a bit of a task. At least a key to the genus level would of been much appreciated. Although photos are abundant detailed drawings are lacking. This puts this book in a semi pro classification .. in my humble opinion.

The index is well done .. the listing of synonyms is very useful but the binding of the book is a bit cheap .. my copy seems to be getting a bit old before it's time.

In general it's a great book at the original asking price of $100.. At $280. .. well it's to bad if you have to pay that much .. use the library copy and hope that Mr. Anderson is working on a true complete classic.

I do so hope that happens in my life time.

It's just not worth $280..

This is considered the 'Bible' for cactus collectors and researchers alike. Well worth the money for the information and photos.

I can start with the old line "I I had only one book on cacti....." Well, this would certainly be the one. I spend a great amount of time traveling and photographing flowering and interesting plants, cactus being among them. I also collect this type of plant. I have found this work to be almost absolutely necessary for identification purposes and it certainly enhances by hobby of collecting and attempting to raise. As one reviewer points out, this is not a simple book of pretty plants. This is the real thing. There is absolutely a wealth of information here. I never travel area where cacti grow without it. The text is quite readable. There are indeed many, many wonderful color plates. It makes by hobby much more interesting and enjoyable. Recommend this one highly.

Where do you start with a book of this magnitude? (well I had to borrow a review copy from an editor friend of mine, unfortunately he wanted it back). The author a Senior Research Botanist spent most of his lifetime amassing the information that forms this book and then sadly died only two weeks after publication. This is a book for the serious hobbyist. If you are looking for nice photographs of plants in pots, this is probably not the book for you. Having said that there are enough photographs in this book to satisfy even the most avid plant spotter (1016 colour plates.) "Is this plant an Acanthocalycium or an Echinopsis?" This book will give you the answer. In one form or another the book covers most of the Cactaceae family. It is certainly one of the first books to use the nomenclature of the IOS Consensus group. This is a big book 776 pages, "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested" Francis Bacon 1561-1625. This book certainly falls into the latter category and it is a great shame that the author is not with us to take the acclaim he surely deserved, but what a legacy he has left. I would love to own this book and it will be one of the first things I order from Amazon after I've sorted everyone elses Christmas presents out.

I gave this book four stars because it's not Pulitzer material. But it's an excellent novel. The story unfolds with enough background to allow us to begin immediately to feel involved, and builds on the basic information with just the right amount of well-timed exposition. Each character "unfolds" exceptionally well so that the reader definitely experiences "getting to know" them moments. It's a skill to be able to do that well, and Debbie Lee Wesselmann is a skilled story-teller.

The basics of the story have been outlined well by other reviewers so I won't recap those. What I will say is that the book is one to be savored because the themes the author offers us are worthy of careful consideration. As I savored this book, I realized that it's not just about the "captivity" of the primates... or, rather, it IS about the captivity of ALL of the primates, including the human ones. And the careful reader will be fascinated by how each handles their "imprisonment" and if or how each escapes.

And, in the meantime, reading about ape behavior is fascinating and great fun. And you may also enjoy the irony of learning about how university boards and funding committees can behave.

Good book. I recommend it.

Debbie Lee Wesselmann provides a spell binding novel which sheds light on the precarious plight of chimpanzees which are raised in captivity and after having served the purpose of humans ... their lives are left in limbo. In a world concerned with saving our planet by going green, decreasing carbon dioxide emissions from gas-guzzling automobiles to keep our air cleaner and prevent global warming from destroying everything - here is another cause which deserves our attention and support with economic resources. The book is written with sensitivity, compassion, and knowledge about the lives of chimpanzees in captivity. It is a superbly written highly original novel which combines adventure, romance, and human interest, maintaining the reader's attention from start to finish.

Essentially, the book is about the scientist, Dr. Dana Armstrong, Director of the South Carolina Primate Project and her attempts to keep afloat the sanctuary which serves as home to chimpanzees who have been discarded after being involuntary participants in scientific experiments at labs or residents at zoos which have closed. The major problem she is facing is how to convince the Unviersity president and a major donor that her facility is a safe place for the animals and is not a threat to the neighborhood. Unfortunately, there was a break-in at the sanctuary and the animals were freed ... someone obtained a key and simply opened up the cages, letting the animals roam about the offices, sanctuary and beyond, into the nearby family neighborhood.

Dana, Andy, the vet for the animals, Mary one of the research associates and graduate students helped round up the missing animals - all except one - the most dangerous, named Benji. Benji had been owned by a cruel animal trainer and had unpredicatable behavior as a result. Dana had to call the local sheriff to help find him and she had to admit Benji could be dangerous. Sadly, when Benji was found - he was dead, having been hit by a car. It caused Dana much grief because it reminded her of Annie, a chimp with whom she was raised as a child. The chimp came into their household as an experiment by her psychologist father, who wanted it treated as a family member. Annie was taken away after an unfortunate incident occurred to Dana ... Annie was supposed to have gone to a lab for experiments but the trail as to what really happened to her led to a dead-end. No one knows whether Annie was alive or dead. No one knows what kind of experiments were performed on Annie. This incident haunted Dana ...

Unexpectedly, a free lance reporter Sam Wendt entered Dana's life. He threw her world upside down. Initially, he asked questions about the experiment led by her father, regarding teaching chimps the use of language. Later, after learning about the break-in and delving deeply into the politics of animal research and competition for funding, Sam became a willing accomplice in her quest to save the chimps and discover who was behind this disastrous event. The author deftly connects a haunting past event in Dana's life to her present predicament, where her qualifications to lead and direct this sanctuary are being seriously questioned ... The reader will learn much about the sad circumstances which surround the lives of these most endearing animals, chimpanzees. Most readers will empathize with their condition and be hooked on this story where the goal is to keep this non-threatening primate sanctuary thriving and maintain the safety of its residents. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]

The real-life background of "Captivity" is the often-unwittingly callous experimentation done during the Seventies, when baby chimpanzees were raised as human children, in human households, and taught sign language and human mannerisms--only to be inhumanely discarded when the research was completed. Most famous were the Nim Chimpsky and Washoe projects, done partly in response to Noam Chomsky's thesis that language is a uniquely human attribute.

Fast forward three decades and Dana, one of the children in the experiments, now a primatologist, has assumed responsibility for a sanctuary for chimpanzee survivors of HIV testing and ill-kempt zoos and behavior modification. The center is confronted by a public-relations disaster when the chimps are released in the dead of night, endangering themselves and the tranquility of the surrounding neighborhood--and unleashing the always-latent NIMBY currents unique to American suburbia. Complicating things are Dana's brother, Zack, approaching middle age and clinging to adolescence; animal rights activists who are ambivalent and confused about the sanctuary's purpose; a well-meaning journalist writing a follow-up story about children who were raised with chimps; and an unscrupulous psychologist, a longtime family enemy, who hopes to wrest control of the primate sanctuary from his colleagues in anthropology.

The sanctuary's chimpanzees, credibly portrayed, often steal the scenes. Yet the author, wisely, avoids spinning an anthropomorphic tale of human-chimp interaction; you won't find here the literary fiction equivalent of "The Secret of NIMH." True, "Captivity" does examine the ways in which our species projects its attributes (and foibles) on the animals with which we grudgingly share the earth and, more specifically, it imagines the psychological trauma suffered by two adults who, as involuntary children-subjects in simian experiments, lost a family member they believed to be more a sibling than a pet.

But the novel establishes its story on a broader stage than the confines of the sanctuary might suggest; it is a compelling, empathetic drama about a truly dysfunctional family. While the story of Dana and Zack would seem to prove Tolstoy's aphorism that every unhappy family is unhappy for its own reason, the loss and betrayal endured by this hapless pair, as well as their paths to self-discovery, are common to us all.

Born to a middle-class academic family, Dana Armstrong might have expected to lead a sedate life. She had loving parents, a younger brother, Zack, and a "sister" - Annie. Interacting with loving care to each other, they seemed the ideal family. But there was a discontinuity - Annie was a chimpanzee. The trio was part of an experiment by Dana's father Reginald. Primate researchers in the 1960s were eager to learn if human-chimp communications could be achieved. Living with a human family continuously instead of in a labatory facility seemed the best opportunity. Wesselmann, in a finely wrought tale of the experiment and its consequences has provided us with a stirring, yet sensitive tale.

She opens with Dana well along in her life. She's gained a PhD in Primatology, following her father's path, and operates a sanctuary for chimps that have been subjected to a range of medical experiments, including being given AIDS. Her South Carolina site seems ideal, isolated, well protected to reduce outsider concerns, and supplied by caring donors. She's on the local university staff, keeping her academic foundation sound. Yet, somebody has gained access to the site, releasing the chimps. In the course of recovering them, one of the chimps is struck by a car and killed. The facility is hardly a secret, but the community rises in protest. It also garners the attention of somebody Dana had been trying to forget - Prof. Richard Lamier. Complicating her circumstances yet further, a new element enters her life in the person of Sam Wendt. Just what she doesn't need now is a critical journalist writing to an already hostile community. But Sam says magic words about her childhood with Annie. He's not to be summarily dismissed.

Wesselmann builds her story and her characters with seemingly effortless grace. It is only as event progress and interaction builds that the power of her prose emerges. The pace is swift and furious - this is not a book easily set aside - but nothing is forced or contrived. Dana is beset by many foils - Lamier emerges with increasing presence from the background, but it's her own brother Zack on whom much of this story hinges. He's a wastrel, an emotional nomad, and a constant pressure on her goodwill and energy. There's a hint that he may have had something to do with releasing the chimps, although motivation seems lacking. The chimp release leads to widespread implications with the future of the sanctuary and Dana's own career hanging over an abyss. She has little but her own resources of strength and cunning to draw on. Can that possibly be enough with all that's arrayed against her?

The author's account goes beyond prose skills. Clearly this work rests on a solid research base. It's easy to believe Wesselmann was at the side of more than one primatologist, likely in a refuge such as the one depicted here. Chimp behaviours - including one young one obviously brought up among humans, who insists on clothes and a potty, are too vividly depicted and explained to be fabricated. Her research points up the underlying importance of the subjects in this tale - can we justify what we do in experimenting on animals. Especially our closest living cousins [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

"There are no boring stories. There are only boring writers."

These were the words of my first newspaper editor, words conveyed to me after I had turned in an excrutiatingly dull story about a mechanical engineering conference. A good writer can take any subject, no matter how mundane, and make it an exceptional read. Take primatology, for example; while certainly a topic of interest to some, it's not a theme one would expect for a novel. My interest in primate studies/behavior was nominal, which is why I picked up Debbie Lee Wesselmann's latest novel with some trepidation. My fears were for naught; Wesselmann delivers a fast-paced, informative tale of intrigue and political posturing in her novel CAPTIVITY.

Make no mistake: This is a novel far removed from Wesselmann's earlier title, "Trudor & The Balloonist." CAPTIVITY demonstrates how much the author has progressed as a novelist; the descriptions of primate captivity and behavior and human interaction were fascinating, and indicative this author really did her homework. Furthermore, the narrative was strong, compelling, and thoroughly character-driven. Here's but one example:

"He followed her gaze and found he, too, was mesmerized by the proximity of the drug. The lull of it. The scratch of it that now clawed inside his veins, begging for release. The happiness that lay there, if only brief and illusory. The duality of freedom and enslavement. This he could share with Becca; they could fall down the abyss together and enjoy the free fall like kids on a roller coaster who did not know the track would end suddenly, midair.
Yes, he thought. Yes."

That's good stuff.

This is a novel that examines the dynamic of trying to keep a university primate sanctuary afloat (amidst never-ending political posturing) while Dana Armstrong, the protagonist, tries to juggle a relationship with a most dysfunctional brother. I had no idea of the politics involved--all the behind the scenes machinations--in the field of primatology, so this novel informs as it entertains. Plus, a freelance journalist, for once, is presented in a favorable light, and that's a good thing. Primatology may not be your cup of tea, but Debbie Lee Wesselmann definitely makes it palatable; CAPTIVITY is a page-turner, an enlightening and pleasurable read.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning

I found this book very satisfying. It is clear and elucidates Jung's concept of the Self better than anything I have encountered hitherto. The illustrations come from the great sources of Western Civilation and world art so they provide an illuminating frame of reference for the multiple facets of the main concepts of the book. The writer obviously is a master of the subject and everything he says and uses contributes vitally to the work. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I read Edinger's work in the late 70s after an intense spiritual awakening which was first expressed in Christian fundamentalism in the early 70s. During a time of study at the C.G. Jung Foundation and the New School (New York City) I began to discover the spiritual meaning and personal potential of the Christian myth. The work continues to this day, and I am thankful to Edinger and others (Neumann, Jacobi, Von Franz, Whitmont) who extended the insights of Jung for pioneers along the path of individuation.

After seeing all the positive reviews on here I had to try this book. I can tell you they are all true.

When I first started reading I wasn't too sure considering much of the first chapter I was familiar with. However as to be expected Ego and Archetype proved to be enlightening and inspiring. If at any point you have studied Jung and was interested in the process of Individuation. Or if you are looking for a guide to living a healthy meaningful life this book should help.

While this book could easily be considered a self help book it should be not confused with most books out there. The information in this text makes Ego and Archetype worth more then its mass in gold.

I would like to suggest that before reading this text however (if you are new to Jungian Psychology) to read at least "Man and His Symbols" and if you can "The Undiscovered Self" as well. These will at the least give you a basic understanding of where Edward Edinger is coming from.

A must read for anyone who feels abandoned, thinks they know it all, are a spiritualist, or religious.

I can only wish I had been graced with the knowledge in this text sooner.

This is the best interpretation of the Scriptures according to Jungian psychoanalysis. It is recommended to everybody who has doubts in the dogmaic Chrisitan way to read the Bible and it is a source for individual wholeness for those who try to find it in the Scriptures.

I was a young well educated military aerospace engineer and a devout right-wing Christian when a senior engineer handed me this book and asked me if I listened to the content of my dreams.

I would have never thought this man, an "engineer's engineer," was interested in anything outside of the scientific reality taught to us in engineering school, let alone the psychology of human beings and especially one's dreams.

I have read this book through at least three times, each time marking-up new insights I learn with a different color pen, just as I had done in analyzing my scriptures. It took awhile to learn the language of psychology, but once mastered I was able to have revealed to me the wonders of the human psyche and for that I thank Edinger for producing this masterpiece.

Edinger attracts his audience by revealing the genius of the teachings of the New Testament biographers of Jesus and other biblical writers. He shows how the Beatitudes taught by Jesus form the foundations of depth psychology, 2000 years before the field develops. He opens up a whole new interpretation of the story of Job, ties in the teachings of Jesus as regarding the process of Individuation, touches on Alchemy and metaphysics, and discusses the symbology found in the Christian religions, especially the Trinity. He includes wonderful related classic artworks along the way.

Edinger teaches the processes of Jungian psychology throughout the text. This introduced me to the field of psychology and the major contributions of Carl Jung.

The transformations I went through occurred during each reading of this book. While painful, my level of self-awareness has risen to new levels I feel not achievable had I relied on my religious teachings alone.

I now describe myself as a liberal agnostic college educator that seeks spirituality from where Jesus said it lies: the human heart. Thank you Dr. Edinger.

I read this book after visiting Arcata this summer. While there, I went on a BLM ranger-guided hike into the Headwaters, the "lush, mysterious, ancient, holy" (p. 82) subject of Dunning's book. I wanted to see for myself what all of the protesting was about. Enjoy this book, then experience the Headwaters' redwoods.

Dunning's book is about many things. Trees. Community. Redwood politics. Bearing witness. The destruction of "one of the most magnificent ecosystems on Earth" (p. 3). Saying "enough!" Non-violent civil disobedience. Protecting America the beautiful. It is also about Dunning's personal journey, or "metamorphosis" as she calls it (p. 239), from naturalist to activist. "What is an 'environmentalist'," she reflects, "but simply a citizen who has shed denial, who has opened his or her eyes and said, 'it does matter nature does not have an infinite capacity to heal herself, himself, itself . . . I am responsible'" (p.228).

Dunning's book reads like an insightful journal, in which she sets out to tell it like it is. "This book is not about happiness," she warns her reader on the first page. Rather, it is about "yielding to conscience. It is about a forest, and it is about us" (p. 1). She reveals that the destruction of old-growth forests like the Headwaters isn't someone else's problem, but our own. Dunning reports that in 500 years, we have destroyed more than ninety percent of our country's ancient forests, leaving only 3.5 percent to protect (p. 263). By saving the redwoods, we save ourselves. Dunning writes, "I want nothing more than to dissolve the polarity that plagues this county and this country, to bring us all back to center--the owls and the pussycats, the loggers and the environmentalists, the business community, everyone--to put us all in the same life raft, which is our Earth" (p. 61).

Dunning also reports that redwood civil disobedience is nothing new. We learn, for instance, on November 19, 1929, Laura Perrott Mahan (1867-1937) lay down in the area now known as Founder's Grove in California's Avenue of the Giants to halt redwood logging. Dunning also writes, and her collaborator, Doug Thron's photographs show that clear-cutting "is an act of violence that affects trees, rivers, air, water, earth, and every person, owl, toad, or human who lives there" (p. 88). "Our whole earth is suffering from the cumulative effects of a million minute daily actions" (p. 240).

Although much of Dunning's book is downright depressing, her real message is this: "Find a corner of the world and fix it" (p. 240). Turn your driveway into a garden. "For each of us," Dunning says, "regardless of where we live, there is a valley, a mountain range, a beach, a whale, a peregrine, a gnatcatcher, that if we merely give our time as a witness to the loss, will gradually unite the being of its existence with our own, will ground us by putting us in touch with what is wild and speechless, will empower us when we speak out in defense of the powerless" (pp. 14-15). (Those interested in how each of us can make a difference might also enjoy Thomas Berry's, THE GREAT WORK (2000), which I also recommend as one of my favorite books.)

In addition to Thron's amazing color photographs (note the cover photo), Dunning's book is also illustrated with her own drawings of redwoods (p. 17), salamanders (pp. 25, 174, 179, 260), a banana slug (p. 41), flying squirrels (p. 56), frogs (pp. 67, 187) and an owl (p. 103), among other subjects.

In our world of "Cars. Cars. Cars." (p. 124), Dunning's book triumphs in showing the value of silent, "dark, dripping, ancient" (p. 37) redwood forests, that tell us to "Be still." For its insights, photographs, and drawings, this book about the wonders of tall trees should not be missed.

G. Merritt

I learned so much by reading this book. Joan Dunning has a way of tackling difficult, cumbersome and emotionally charged subject matter and making it easily digestible. It's a compelling read and the photography by Doug Thron is extraordinary.

No book has ever moved me the way this one has, I have tears in my eyes as I write this. I've just read many of the other reviews, and I don't have the way with words that some do, but they tell it like it is. Joan tells it like it is. Books don't get any better, and this one will change your life, like someone said it isn't all about happiness, and I have become informed and aware of too much to not so something about what is being done to our Redwood Forests, and what is being allowed to be done to our envirnment and watersheds. It's a true story, happening right now, this book documents it succinctly with amazing one of a kind pictures. It will open your eyes. Something needs to be done about Charles Hurwitz from Houston, Texas and his company MAXXAM. He is savaging The last of the Virgin Redwood Rainforest in California. I cannot beleive the CDF and the department of Forestry are "letting him get away with it." Not to mention the way he "aquired" the land, which is explained in the book. Please read this book. This book will light a fire in you, and like me you will have to do something. There are several websites listed in the back to point you in the right direction. I beleive this book is THE BEST one on the subject and if you plan on reading only one this should definitely be it. It has the most facts, information, and insight and is so well written, I couldn't say enough. And 57 pages of priceless color pictures! I am buying used copies for people, I would give one to EVERYONE if I could, and I have only said that about 2 books, and I read alot. The book is priceless. Thank You Joan

I had the opportunity to listen to Joan read from this book. It touched my soul, and I have started to give it to some of my friends to read.

This book explains in simple terms the descruction that P.L unloads on our earth. We are all suffering from the greed of hurwitz. When they "take" a tree alongside a stream, the sun hits the water. Then the water becomes silted, and the water heats up. Then the salmon do not come anymore. Then the eagles have nothing to eat, so they leave. With no trees, no air is cleansed, and with bad air we die. Somone else needs to leave.

Just thought I would redo my previous review. The main reason I got this book was because I got interested in Tom Green after watching Freddy got fingered. I think that film is possibly one of the funniest movies ever made, although I know quite a lot of people disagree with me on that one.

In my previous review I kind of referenced Howard Stern's private parts. In a sense they are somewhat similar. Both books deal with the theme of a somewhat ordinary guy rising to fame in a funny and lighthearted style. Green's book is a bit more personal though, dealing with both his illness, marriage and fall from grace.

There are some insider tidbits about other celebrities, although it is mostly nice stuff. The celebrities being painted the worst are probably Martin Short and Courtney Love. There is a segment about Courtney heckling Green's father during his speech at the Barrymore-Green wedding. I guess no-one would really contest the validity of that happening.

I don't think the parts pertaining Drew Barrymore are at all negative nor ill intended. Green's namedropping seem to not really be trying to capitalize off certain people's fame.

I think even people, even the ones that detested Green's other works, will find the book interesting. Especially if they would like to get an inside look at the Hollywood-elite's society. And the fans get an inside look at how some of the classic moments like i.e the moose humping and the bum bum song got created.

I couldn't be more pleased with the book, there's so much more depth to this man then most people realize. If you're even a casual fan of Tom Green's, this book is well worth picking up.

If you like Tom Green, read this book. If you hate Tom Green, read this book. Tom is a genuine talent. Amazing. I was riveted by Tom's story. I read this in one day.

Wow, this is now my favorite book, (Although that isn't saying much, I rarely read) It is a funny, but also serious book about Tom Green's life. I read this book in 1 day (I got home from a friend's house a 12 AM and read until 5 AM, went to sleep, then woke up and finished it) I just couldn't stop reading it. This is a great book whether you are a fan of Tom Green or not.

I was never a huge Tom Green fan, as I was a few years too old to appreciate his MTV show. I was intrigued by his story, which as I'd heard was that he was a small town Canadian boy who struck it big with gross-out humor and MTV.
After reading his biography, I have definitely changed any and all assumptions about him and his work. The insane rollercoaster of the best and worst luck in the world he experienced within a few years would be unbelievable were it not true. The decade of persistence that preceeded those huge years is in itself impressive. The anecdotes about giving a speech, a night with a rather wild woman, having and making use of a cell phone before cell phones were everywhere, plus so much more all adds up to one of the most interesting and captivating books I've ever read. Another point to mention is that in a world of gossip and salacious tales, Green gives more information and personal feelings than I expected, but never, not even once, uses the book to criticize anyone else or to try to make himself look like a hero. He shows a lot of appreciation and humility, and reveals an immense depth of character. I had intended to read this book over a period of time and started reading it on a four hour flight. As the plane landed I was only 30 pages away from the end. I exited the plane only to sit in the boarding gate and reopen it because I couldn't wait to finish the final little bit. It was that good. I highly recommend this book to fans, non-fans, and everyone else.