Freeman Books

As a student at Carleton College in the 70's, I took a seminar called Science and Society co-led by professors from the chemistry and religion departments. That class informed my entire life on the ethical dilemmas posed by "technological advances".
Reading Nuclear Witnesses revives my commitment to questioning the wisdom of modern scientific advances. This twenty year old book is especially vital to the realization that 20/20 hindsight is not a luxury humanity can afford when it comes to nuclear power.
As mankind continues to put material wealth and power over environmental health and spiritual values, it is even more important that we baby boomers and those coming of age study the recent past and maintain perspective on the promotion of the next panacea that will permit the persistence of the Western civilization's excess. New threats to our environment are extant with Bush II's repudiation of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and his cavalier attitude to the environment (Kyoto Protocols, and Alaskan drilling)
What is so compelling about Nuclear Witnesses is the first person account of those close to the nuclear industry--the Navaho who mined uranium, the U.S. Army serviceman who witnessed atmospheric atomic tests, the carpenter and millwright who built defective nuclear plants and the scientists who were pressured and sometimes physically threatened to falsify their findings.
These real time first person accounts are even more frightening read in retrospect as we have lived through more peacetime nuclear scares since Three Mile Island and witnessed the arrogant accumulation of nuclear arms in non signatory nations (and non-nations, -Al Qaeda?) in under-developed parts of the world.
Read this 1982 book with 2002 eyes against the backdrop of military exercises conducted by two Third World nations with nuclear capability-India and Pakistan.
Read it and weep.

History is more than dates, politicians and battles. History is the story of how people dealt with everyday challenges and struggles. This book shows how our ancestors overcame problems with commonsense solutions. Building upon earlier inventions or thoughts, our grandfathers and grandmothers built a system of industry that eased our everyday burdens and lead to more and grander living. I've had the pleasure of re-reading this book several time, and intend to do so again.

Odyssey of the Heart is a wonderful book that follows every process of a love relationship. From meeting someone, to challenges, loss of a loved one and the preservation of relationsips over time. Not your typical self-help book, it presents a lot of intresting cases (short ones) to support the different beliefs. The author does not impose his point of view, he displays the array of beliefs found out there and leaves it up to the reader to take what is valuable. Each chapter is introduced by a quote relevant to it's content, most of these quotes have a strong impact, as my favorite: "People change, and forget to tell each other". This is the type of book that you don't have to read in order. The type of "bible-book" you can go back to time after time to consult. It also provides a lot of interesting bibliographical references that are worth checking out. A wonderful book to have and count on.

This collection of Benchley's writings, appearing in magazines prior to 1920 or so, pleases the reader on several levels. There are articles whose humor hasn't faded in the 80 or more years since they were written such as "Coffee, Megg and Ilk," or "The Passing of the Orthodox Paradox," containing a nice parody of Oscar Wilde's plays. I think these are as funny to us as they were to the readers when they were written. There are others, such as "Lesson Number One," that tells about learning to drive at a time when an automobile was as exotic a possession as, say, a home computer in the early 1990s. These are funny in a different way, and I enjoyed reading them even though the things they laugh at are decades out of date.

Anyone who has suffered through learning to play bridge will enjoy "Not According to Hoyle," and those who sympathize with the record number of Americans finding it hard to pay all their bills will delight in "Turning Over a New Ledger Leaf." Those who read old literature will get a kick out of his pastiche of annotated Shakespeare in "Shakespeare Explained," and anybody who has read a novel in which the plot is advanced by letters exchanged between two viewpoint characters will laugh at "When Genius Remained Your Humble Servant."

All in all, an excellent collection of humor writings not available elsewhere.

James Dillet Freeman is a poet, an essayist, a philosopher, a teacher, and this book is a beautifully arranged collection of his writings. From the very beginning, he lifts the reader up into a spiritual plane. Each essay in this collection is bound to touch some individual's heart. I have several favorites that especially touched me.

"You Are Not Alone" is such a loving reaching out to anybody presently in any kind of pain, an article to give the feeling of oneness with God.

"The Evolution of the God Idea" is theology, maybe, but at it's most personal and poetic level.

"A Conversation with a Mayfly" is Freeman at his best, using a gentle humor and fancy in a very deeply philosophical discussion between the poet and the mayfly.

"The Seed and the Harvest" is one of several of his writings, taken from his love for gardening, and finding Truth in his beloved garden.

"Because He Is Love" is a help to feeling a truly personal relationship with the being of God.

"If Your Heart Condemn You" has much to help one who has trouble forgiving the self for past error.

"The Four Causes of Health" is for he who needs any form of healing, in any area of life.

"Hymn For A Sunrise Service" is a celebration of life.

The last piece in the book, "Today Is Forever, Forever Today" concludes with the beautiful story of the little saint, a story also told on Freeman's audiotape, "Angels Sing In Me" (which I have reviewed.

These are all beautiful pieces to touch heart and soul.

Suzanne Freeman has delivered a great first outing in her novella, "Omnibo." Addressing contemporary issues with humor and wit, Freeman excels in character development - it is likely you have met the characters in her book; they might be living across your back fence. Addressing genetic manipulation, the current food chain and the interaction between people and their pets, this book will hit home with many readers. There are few books that leave me laughing out loud - "Omnibo" is one of them. I can't recommend this book highly enough for a quick read on touchy issues.

-Greg Forest, gregforestmedia.com

Neil Freeman has taken what all actors and theatre professionals do and put it together in one book (or three!). He's put the modern version of speeches & soliloquies and placed them side-by-side with the folio versions. He's also added insightful commentary on the changes and highlighted important aspects. Shakespeare was meant to be performed (not read) and you can't perform his plays without examing the folio for clues to character and inspirational guidelines. This book makes streamlines this process. Now if only someone would publish all of the plays like this!

This is a wonderful book for any aspiring actor or theatre student. It contains so many different possibilities, that anyone can find what they are in need for when it comes to auditions. The backgrounds to each speech is wonderful as well. This book specifically focuses on tragedies, but comedies and histories are found in separate volumes. I look forward to using these monologues!

I read this and understand it, which is a miracle for textbooks ESPECIALLY CHEM! ;-) It's geared mainly for people entering allied health professions, which I am not (music/botany nerd here, folks), but it's still interesting to know why all the stuff in our bodies happens. I actually had fun reading the Lipid chapter and thanks to it I was able to pose for a portrait without getting bored. :-)

The Organization by T. Freeman Jr takes place in the 70s when Camden, New Jersey saw a drastic decline in population and industry workers. This tale intertwines Dominicans and African Americans in a fight to see who is the most popular in the drug game.

The Organization was the city's most powerful drug ring that touched the lowest of the low to the Mayor of the city. This no-holds-bar story told the tale of how urban youngsters made their money, fighting street wars and trying to stay out of jail. This graphically descriptive account will hold your attention from the beginning to the end, anticipating the grueling outcome.

Meet Simon "Gato" Gonzales Jr.; he is the newest kid on the set, and trying to make a name for himself without having to fall back on his grandfather's fame. Simon goes through life's biggest struggles at an early age from being abandoned by his mom to falling under the street pressures to sell drugs. Simon takes us through the streets of New Jersey through his eyes and you will not believe what you see.

With drugs being a cut throat industry, we bear witness to the grimy street ways of fellow hustlers' trying to make a name for themselves and keeping their corner intact. This book is filled with shady characters, devious cops, gold-digging women and murderous men who will stop at nothing to take over the drug game.

I recommend this book to readers of street lit. I loved it and anticipate Mr. Freeman's next book.

Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub