Floyd Books

As is often the case with John M. Floyd's stories, everything isn't always what it seems. This intriguing story is told from the viewpoints of three different characters. Patrick Finley is minding his own business when Marco Tursi walks into his pub. Marco immediately becomes suspicious of Patrick which, in a twisted way, leads him to Eddie. Eddie is minding his own business, but he has a secret and some time to kill. Eddie has decided to kill time at Finley's bar, but that's not the only thing that might end up getting killed. In this topsy turvy story anything might just happen. Hold onto your hat and prepare for a phrenetic good time. Also try out John M. Floyd's other Amazon Shorts. I highly recommend "Midnight".

Reading this book has helped me understand the motives behind Perestroika. For years I had been told and convinced that the Communists could not be trusted. Through this book I saw that Michael and Raisa Gorbachev used the Communist system to educate themselves and put themselves in a position of power in order to implement the changes and improvements they saw necessary for the survival and happiness of the Russian people. Both Michael and Raisa Gorbachev have God given qualities and talents that they used to accomplish their goals. I was also impressed by their marriage relationship. How she maintained her position as her husband's help mate. Though very educated and accomplished Raisa did not seek to compete with her husband, only to support him. Also how Michael Gorbachev is a respector of people and women. I was impressed how he always shared with his wife, how he respected her and declared his admiration and love for her. How he valued her strength of character and her wisdom by his side. This book changed the stereotype ideas I had about the Russian leaders. Very easy book to read.

This book is a concise introduction to Indian music for middle-school readers. The text is very clearly written and highly informative. It includes chapters on Indian culture, styles of Indian music, Indian music theory (ragas and talas), Indian instruments, and Indian music history. Each topic is covered in one or two pages, followed by a short list of questions, and a musical activity or suggestion for further research. The book is filled with photographs and illustrations (all in black and white). There is a short list of further references at the back, and apparently an accompanying cassette can be purchased separately. The book is designed to be used for formal study; it could easily be used by interested homeschoolers or by any curious youngster.

Overall, I found the book quite engaging. However, I was a bit disappointed with the superficiality of the summary questions, which were little more than reading comprehension questions, requiring no synthesis or analysis. The musical activities were well done, but I was quite surprised to see that the Indian names of the notes, Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ni, were never mentioned anywhere in the text, and this is a very serious omission in an introduction to Indian music. (On the other hand, the basic rhythmic syllables on the tabla are covered). Maps of India in the book consistently omit the easternmost states- -whoops. The section on music theory also covers only Northern classical music, and does not include any examples from other areas.

This is a very interesting book, exploring the history of Floyd, Virginia and it's people. It offers a very important glipse into the past. I would highly recommend this wonderful book for anyone interested in Americana. I especially love the cover photograph of my Grandfather!

The Last Horizon: Feminine Sexuality and The Class System is a book which can explain all the horrible things that happened to you in junior high. It will also explain how the social pecking order that ruled your life as an adolescent still exists in your adult life, affecting your romances, your probable political affiliation, and most likely the car that you drive.

The author presents a theory of American social development which he suspects is unique in human history, born of a culture which is celebrity-adoring and consumer-driven and has not had to fear any major calamities since the end of the last World War. Floyd M. Orr is a straight-talking individual and he is not afraid to bluntly state the truth that we all know but don't say out loud. Your status in your peer group depends on your family background, your economic and educational status, but above all else--your physical attractiveness. Yes, Mr. Orr brings that dirty little fact out into the open. In our society, what you look like counts more than anything you know.

The Last Horizon describes a class system based on social status that is unrelated to your economic level. Focusing entirely on the middle class, Mr. Orr explains the pecking order in our society and the behavioral patterns at each level. In particular, he zeroes in on the dating rituals of our society and why women complain so often that they cannot find a good man. He suggests they are looking on the wrong rung of the social ladder.

Partly a dating manual for the woman who wants to break a pattern of bad relationships, and partly a biting commentary on the mores of our society, The Last Horizon is a fascinating read for anyone who wants to better understand how a social system that revolves around sexual attractiveness has been running our society, controlling our decisions, and limiting our success.

Dianne Salerni
Reviewing for POD Book Reviews & More

Please note that this review refers to an earlier edition of this book (1993). The original title for this book was "Father make us one", which was a more appropriate title for the book, because "Learning to love people you don't like" implies the book is discussing relationships between people who may or may not be within the Christian community.

Upon reading the book, I found most of the research was oriented this way. "Father make us one" gives us the understanding that the book solely discusses relationships within the body of Christ, so many questions the reader may have about how to love unbelievers we don't particularly like remain unanswered.

In this era when pride has crept into the church to such a degree that we find fellowships splitting as a result of peripheral matters, a book such as this one by a member of Youth With A Mission, who are so thirsty for souls, will put those unimportant matters into proper perspective as we unite in the one goal of winning others for Christ.

In the early 60's in a bank I worked for in Colorado, I met one of our customers, Lone Eagle. The name was certainly interesting, and the fact that it was attached to a balding white man in a white tee shirt, khaki slacks and moccasins was even more interesting. Then, he spoke at our local coin club meeting where he briefly told his fascinating story as a son of missionary parents from the East Coast who ended up as the son of a Sioux Indian chief. He mentioned that, as a Sioux, he ate a lot of wild game and that he missed eating the foods he was accustomed to as a child. Who among us doesn't reminisce about their favorite food from their childhood? Such a unique hankering happened to be right up my alley, as my husband and I were game hunters and had a freezer full of trout, wild duck, deer, and antelope and even bear meat. An alliance was formed. I delivered wild game to the connoisseur and, in trade; he regaled me with stories about his colorful life. Unfortunately I moved from Colorado to New York and lost touch with him. This book is a great Indian story about a white man. You will love it.

I found this book to be very helpful in making a good marriage. There is nothing new in this book but it is the obvious we sometimes overlook. The book covers so many different areas that are pertinent to having a good, lasting marriage. It is written in an interesting format with many couples being interviewed about their marriages. The interviews are very truthful and not sugar-coated. This is a thought-provoking, helpful, informative and encouraging book. I believe most people would gain some information from this book to improve their marriage.

The book may be viewed as a manual for the unfoldment of the individual and the society. It is more complex than an earlier book "Paths to Power". The author explains why man's potential is limitless. Man's potential is directly linked to an infinite universal source of which man has full and complete access.

This access is often impeded by religious dogmas, which instill mental limits i.e. "thou shall not". According to the author, where man harmonizes himself with the vibrations of the universe (god force), he finds himself on a higher level of evolution. At this level, universal love operates not as a weakness but as a force. Likewise, work is not drudgery (slavery), but a divine mission,which unfolds the individual and the society.

The chapter on the Christ Principle outlines four biblical ages 1) The child life of the Adam age and mind over matter; 2) early youth of Moses and external rules; 3) the David age of relationships for families and communities; and 4) the Isaiah/Jeremiah age of intuition with its boundless energy, through which the door is opened for Jesus and the emergence of the Christ Principle in man. The author says, the Christ principle is not a part of the blood sacrifices "Christ died for our sins" ,which he attributes to Zoroastrian influences. The author is also critical of the doctrine of atonement.

Today the book would be classified as "new thought". The underlying principle is the power of the mind and the oneness of all reality. From another perspective the book explains how to achieve conscience union with the god force, or true god consciousness.

The book is superior to most contempory metaphysical books on the subject. It is very clear and logical from start to finish.