Grant Books

I read this book in 1977 during a trip to the US. As I see the book here and I read some superficial opinions coming from Randi's admirers(!), I feel compelled to comment. Arigo was a well known healer in Brazil, his healing work through surgery, allways free of charge, went on for many years, hundreds of people a day, till he died in a car accident in 1971. John Fuller's book, writen after his visit to Brazil with Dr. Andrija Puharich to meet, talk to Arigo and see personally what was happening around that healer work is a very good piece of research, well documented. Anyone who is interested in phenomena that shows facts that science is far from explaining, will get a precious source of information from John Fuller's book. Even though skepticism comes about when we face cases like Arigo, there is an unending source of documentation about his life and the authenticity of his work. Scientists, politicians, wealthy people as well hundreds of thousands of simple people were operated by him. Superficial opinions from anyone who hasn't a clue about what they are talking will not invalidate cases so extensively proven true like Arigo. John G. Fuller's book is more than worth reading. Healers like Arigo exist, spread all over Brazil, anyone with time, will and interest can do what Mr. Fuller did so well, research and write about them.

I first read this book about 25 years ago and to this day it remains one of the most significant books I've read.

It is well enough written, but the value is in the stunning details of Arigo's activities, so expertly and overwhelmingly documented that you would have to be a real fool to doubt the truth of it, and yet that is what that part of your awareness still susceptible to conventional science would have you do.
Therein lies the importance of this book.

Never have I been confronted with information so difficult to believe, yet so convincingly documented.

I don't remember ever seeing any reference to Arigo in the North American press, yet he was second only to Pelee, the soccer star, in Brazilian newspapers until his death.

The Brazilian Medical Association was after him for practicing medicine without a licence, but they were thwarted by the facts that 1] he never accepted payment and 2] they couldn't find one case where the patient's condition was apparently worsened by Arigo's treatment.

When he was jailed, they had to jail him in a nearby village, not his own, and even then the jailers would not lock his cell door, but left it open so Arigo could minister to all the local villagers.

Tha Catholic Church was also after him, but apparently gave up - Arigo's assistant was a member of the clergy sent to investigate him who stayed to help.

The drugs prescribed were unusual in that they were administered in unusually large doses and ranged from the very recently discovered to the long out of use. This gives some credence to the information (learned while Arigo was under hypnosis) that the doctor guiding Arigo was a German surgeon who had died some time earlier, before he had the opportunity to right some wrong he felt he had committed during his life.

You really should read this unique story.

According to this book and other information available on the Web:

Arigo was a Brazilian peasant, with no formal medical training, or other schooling past 3rd grade. He was able to diagnose and cure virtually any malady. He did diagnosis at a glance and prescribed modern pharmaceuticals -- often in combinations and doses that made no sense in conventional terms, but which worked in virtually all cases where this could be followed up by investigators. Arigo performed operations of kinds which have apparently never been duplicated by conventional physicians. For example, he commonly excised even those metastatic tumors that extensively infiltrated vital organs, amid blood vessels and nerves. He regularly removed cataracts with a kitchen knife by scraping the cornea and removing the lens -- and his patients were able to see well afterwards. Most operations were done within 5 to 60 seconds, without anesthesia or antiseptics, yet without pain or damage or infection to patients. He commonly treated up to 300 patients/day.

This sounds like a fairy tale, but was extensively documented by highly respected physicians and other scientists from America (led by Henry Puharich) and Brazil. They made detailed films, and performed on-the-spot diagnoses and examination of patients before and after treatment by Arigo. His "instant" diagnoses agreed with their diagnoses at least 96% of the time.

This is not only among the best-documented records of psychic healing, but among the most intruiging sets of evidence for psychic phenomena in general. Instead of just rehashing the same o same o notions of telepathy, clairvoyance, etc. it opens up entire new phenomena. In particular, it suggests a radically new perspective on the nature of disease and healing.

Granted, this perspective has something in common with notions of the so-called etheric body and how it can be operated on -- an approach common in Brazil, where physicians commonly combine so-called spiritist practices with modern medicine. (But Arigo's skill and the intelligence underlying it went far far beyond that of his peers.)

This is the so-called intellectual Karcec school of medicine, and is reputedly practiced by hundreds if not thousands of physicians who have graduated from top ranking medical schools [including American and European schools] and who publish regularly in professional journals.

The Kardec approach involves consultation with spirit physicians -- discarnate beings that were allegedly once alive on Earth -- through mediums. Arigo was unusual in that he was his own medium. His spirit helpers either gave him advice or used him like a puppet to perform treatments -- at which time he was in a trance.

Although this sounds extraordinarily far fetched, the documentation is good enough to warrant serious thought. Alas, Arigo was killed in a car wreck before his work could be studied in enough detail for his methods to be passed on to other healers. Many healers aspire to emulate him, but apparently none has equalled his prowess and gentleness.

This is the kind of book I've been waiting for for 30 years. I only wish that the films and detailed medical records were available too.

This book needs to be made into a serious full length movie on the order of "Gandhi".

According to James (The Amazing) Randi, most if not all of what Arigo accomplished was mere sleigh of hand (magic) tricks with perhaps some of the placebo effect involved (people's expectations being met). While I tend to agree, I am puzzled as to some things which can't be explained away such as the thoracic surgery performed on Senator Betancourt, some leukemia cures on babies, and Arigo's use of the German language.

I am currently working as a computer hardware design engineer. I have always been looking for new software methodology to improve my hardware design flow. Prolog, and especially its presentation in this book, shows me an interesting and powerful view of how computer programming should be.

Overall, I am a true believer in Prolog and logic programming after reading this book.

If you have previous programming experience, Prolog will be quite a challenge. Logic programming is very different from functional or imperative, and will definitely be a major culture shock.

The first part of the book introduces the concepts of logic programming at the right pace, giving you time to assimilate everything. The second part contains several applications of Prolog.

This is a great first book on Prolog and will certainly help you `getting it'.

This, to me, is one of the 4 best books on computer programming. Unfortunately, it is hard. Not because the book is poorly written - it is like a wonderful story, but because understanding how to think declaratively after being taught something like C or Java is like someone giving you a pair of wings when you're a mudfish.

Thinking declaratively changes how you think about problems and how you write code. It's a career changing experience. This book leads the way.

Top 4:
* Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (Sussman, Abelson)
* The Art of Prolog by Sterling/Shapiro
* Introduction to Algorithms by Cormen, etc.
* Concepts, Techniques, and Models of Computer Programming by Van Roy and Haridi

Admittedly, this one tends to be a bit pricey. But, the content is pure gold for any programmer. Nowhere is the Prolog paradigm better conveyed than here. And, it is of little value to you if you attempt to learn prolog with a mindset of some other language. Prolog is unique and demands a unique way of looking at computer programming in general. It is dated a bit in that it does not cover all the latest developments in Prolog/AI research but no other Prolog books provide the foundational understanding that it does. Get this one for a solid foundation and then build on it with others. See my listmania list of AI Language books for suggestions of followup titles.

This book is a must for anyone starting to program in Prolog or interested in logic programming.

A downsize of the book (if any) can be that it could have detailed more in the respect of Prolog's applications. The pleasant style of the authors would have made a wonderful introduction into these fields.

A real pleasure to read.

I've read a lot of spiritual warfare books, and also Eastern warrior philosophy. What is different about this book is that it draws from all sides of the issue. The Eastern discipline is here, and the best of Sun Tzu, Lao Tzu, Buddha, and the others, but you can definitely see Schnarr's Christian leanings about the battle against the "dark forces" and about the conflict between devils and angels. What this does is instead of alienating one side or the other, the book appeals to the best in all. Whether it's the Holy War of Islam, the conquering of self of Eastern philosophy, or the bold fight against the forces of evil in Judeo-Christian terms, it's all there, and all are called to battle. I also like that the battle starts with the individual, and is not some sort of call to change the world and forget about your own problems. He says if you want to change the world, begin with yourself. It's the best book on spiritual warfare I have ever read.

Grant Schnarr is someone who has experienced addictions and has had many spiritual battles of his own. He is now a Swedenborgian minister, and uses the lessons of his spiritual battles to help his readers understand ways to make more spiritual progress. In The Art of Spiritual Warfare, he draws on 13 selected readings from Sun Tzu's, The Art of War (often a source for thinking about business strategy), as the base for pursuing our own spiritual journeys. Candor about his own life and thoughts make this book more appealing and useful.

If you are not familiar with Sun Tzu, he was a profound thinker about the strategy of warfare who lived in China about 2,000 years ago. He is best known for the book that is the basis of this one. That description makes it sound like he was some kind of militant war-monger. Actually, Sun Tzu was more of what I would call a "judo" thinker -- use your enemy's strengths and weaknesses to avoid battle and retain the upper hand. "Those who win every battle are not really skillful -- those who render others' armies helpless without fighting are the best of all . . . ." He especially counseled on the importance of spies to help you understand the enemy and advance thinking to select the ground for confrontation in a way that would give you an overwhelming advantage that would discourage the enemy from attacking. So, long before Freud, Sun Tzu was really looking at the nature of human psychology to appreciate how to influence it positively for yourself in the very dangerous business of military preparations and battle.

The strength of this book is that Grant Schnarr is very effective in translating Sun Tzu's principles into insights about how to know yourself better and make spiritual progress easier and more certain. The book is simple, clear, and well-written.

For example, in chapter 4, he cites Sun Tzu as saying "In ancient times skillful warriors first made themselves invincible and then watched for vulnerability in their opponents . . . ." Mr. Schnarr interprets that meaning that we need to focus on ourselves, to "become strong in areas that are weak, seek health where there is spiritual sickness, and build upon the moral and spiritual strengths which already exist within." To do this, he proposes using spiritually guided meditation to prepare stronger defenses against one's own negative feelings. You will still have the negative feelings, but you learn to control them before acting on them. You are then able to step outside the passion of the moment and see yourself objectively, and select the action (or inaction) that best serves your spiritual needs.

There were several useful insights that I received from this book that had never occurred to me before. Perhaps they will help you, too. First, if you find negative thoughts and actions are associated with a given situation . . . stay out of that situation. He tells the story about a woman who fought with her son every morning about getting ready for school on time. This was tearing their relationship apart and making both of them feel terrible all day. Mr. Schnarr recommended that she ask her husband to handle this with their son, instead. The father and son had few problems, and the mother was able to stay in bed. Everyone was much better off.

Second, if you are finding a given spiritual conflict too difficult, retreat and work on an easier one. For example, if you cannot control your anger, but can control your overeating, work on the latter. The spiritual strength that you gain from making progress where you are strong enough to do so will serve you well in those areas where you are not. Eventually, you can return to working on your anger and expect to be more successful because your spiritual capability has grown.

Third, get a better understanding of when you are at your best and worst spiritually. Then use those understandings to week out the former circumstances and avoid the latter. Also, learn to change the way you think in the latter situations. To me, this is a most valuable concept for introspection.

Last year, I attended a discussion of spirituality that left me feeling quite challenged. The speaker, a rabbi, proposed that the correct spiritual standard was to have no thought of doing the wrong thing spiritually or physically. That seemed impossible and unattainable. But Mr. Schnarr's advice helped me see that by organizing my life correctly, I could spend more time in circumstances and thoughts that would leave me with no such temptations. Thank you for these insights!

The book is organized so that each chapter begins with a quotation from Sun Tzu. Frequently, that quotation is also used as part of the text of the chapter. Then you will find examples of spiritual battles, and how Sun Tzu's principle can be applied to them. Next is a brief section called "Further Applications" that looks specifically at one or two examples. Finally, there are tasks (usually three) at the end of each chapter to help you apply what you have just learned. Often these tasks involve introspection and meditation. I found the tasks to be very helpful. In an appendix, there is a guide for using these materials in a workshop if you wish to teach them to others. This is perfect for a mountain retreat type of conference.

After you have finished the book and applied its lessons, I have another task for you. Think of a book that has profoundly influenced you for the better. Write down the 10 most important lessons that you learned from that book. Then, spell out how to apply those lessons to improving the spiritual lives of those you care most about. After you have done that, repeat the process with another influential book. This will keep you on the spiritual offensive and help you become stronger spiritually.

May health, happiness, peace, and prosperity follow you all the days of your life!

Grant Schnarr has successfully interpreted and applied Sun Tzu's ancient military teachings to our own individual spiritual lives and battles.

This book is a well written and easily readable resource for anyone pursuing a journey of self-improvement and spiritual growth. It is unique in its application of ancient Chinese wisdom in a modern spiritual context. Already embraced by leaders of the men's movement, I predict this book will reach far beyond any one movement or group of people.

As a physician, who is also a martial arts student and someone interested in spiritual development, I find this book to be very useful and entertaining.

Mr. Schnarr is to be congratulated on writing a book that brings together ideas from ancient Chinese thought, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity and other religions. He forms a cohesive vision of spiritual development and growth that encompasses all people who have a sincere interest in spiritual growth. By growing ourselves we help others.

As Mr. Sncharr writes towards the end of the book; "...by walking with intention and nobility, as a true spiritual warrior, you make this world a better place for all of us."

This book is so effective because it teaches us how to honestly evaluate our thoughts and behavior. It inspires us to want to change for our own happiness and for the sake of others, without self-condemnation. Tackling destructive thoughts and behavior becomes exciting work. It teaches us how to look to a higher power to do this. Because of the universal truths involved in spiritual battle as described by Grant Schnarr, we can use the book and still feel true to our personal religious faiths. It also will greatly appeal to readers for whom traditional religions haven't worked. Anyone who feels something is missing in their life, who feels disconnected from others by depression, anxiety, or boredom or who needs a fresh approach to personal growth will love this book. I see it as especially useful for young men because it engages the masculine mind to do spiritual battle in a way that inspires the best that is within them. This, in turn, brings a sense of connectedness to other people, fulfillment and a sense of peace. It can be very effective for everyone, but I think this book is ground breaking for men who have been looking for the right approach--creative and active--to personal growth.

A Guide to Inner Peace based on Sun Tzu's Art of War? Well think about it--this is a world of paradoxes. What is the biggest obstacle to achieving inner peace? Perhaps it is our own self. What if we waged a war against our inner negativity, our doubts and our fears? Could we use the optimal book on war to conquer our inner demons and establish a beachhead for a state of personal bliss? This book gives detailed advice on how to view your internal dialogues as potential enemies and allies and finding peace. Remaining always aware and alert to how we think and believe is great advice. The book realigned how I view my personal commitment to self improvement.

Michael Peter Langevin Publisher of Magical Blend Magazine Issue # 73 through Nov. 2000

Black Flash had me not wanting to stop reading. I have not been much of a book reader, but after reading this, I have contacted Grant through his website http://www.michaeljamesgrant.com for suggestions of other books to entertain me with a similar style! His other book "The Reunion" was just awesome, different than Black Flash...but just as good! I very much look forward to his next book!

Very cleverly written thriller. I started out trying to get a better feel for these characters and in the end, the disconnect of the central characters was crucial to the plot. This one does have movie written all over it!

Black Flash, Wow, I couldn't put it down. A thriller! I was captured by the characters , cared for them and feared for them. I began looking behind my back! A journey to the unknown and the familiar that kept me intrigued. Did someone say a movie, absolutly. Im looking forward to Michael J. Grants next book.

Black Flash had me riveted from beginning to end. I couldn't put the book down. A very well written thriller, the description and style of writing was so vivid that I felt like I could see the action happening on the page.

Michael James Grant's second book, 'Black Flash,' is an invigorating ride. This thrilling story about a group of strangers who find out they have a lot in common is brilliantly constructed. The pace of this dynamic, unpredictable story is exhilarating and was impossible to put down. Very few books keep me on the edge of my seat like this one.

I would highly recommend 'Black Flash' to anyone looking to escape into an exciting world of action and mystery.

I've wanted to know how to carve these beautiful animals since I was a teenager. This is the book. The techniques and "how tos" are very useful: from making patterns, to proper technique and tools, this is one of THE TWO books on the topic that will get you started.

Also, the author runs a "school" for carving. Horsin' Around. I think it runs for two weeks and is in the 1K plus range, but if you're serious about carving one of these magical creatures, then Bud Ellis is the man to see.

This book is a real insiders look at a contemporary top of the line carving school. Worth the price for the photographs alone, it's a nice plus that the information inspires dreams. I can not speak to its usefulness as a carving project guide as I bought it primarily because it is about carousels and I collect carousel books. Carousel Animal Carving is an excellent new edition to a carousel book library.

This is the best book to date on the subject of carving carousel animals. I recommend the purchase of this book even if you have Bud's first great book on the subject, as I do. This new book contains additional valuable tips and detailed instructions.

This book guided me through one of the greatest challenges in my woodcarving experience. After a couple of readings to become familiar with the process and sequence of operations, I began a project which has brought me more pride, and sense of accomplishment than anything I've ever undertaken. From the design stage through materials and tool selection, technique of workmanship, to the final painting and displaying of the project, instructions are clear and include many tips and tricks of the trade. Professional results are assured. For the first time carver, no clearer and concise guide is now available in my opinion. My interest in Carousel Carving encouraged me to gather many books on the subject. After reading them all, I return to this book for its store of relevant information and instructions on carving an Animal. My daughter is the proud owner of an authentic hand-carved Carousel Horse thanks to Bud Ellis and Rhonda Hoeckley's efforts in creating this fine instruction manual. An excellent companion to this book is the "Atlas of Animal Anatomy" by W. Ellenberger et al.

If you cannot get to the Horsin' Around Carousel Carving School yourself, this is the next best thing! Bud is a retired art teacher with a gift for helping you understand what needs to be done! The book has every element and every step needed to complete a carousel animal from start to finish. Lots of pictures. A must for the aspiring carver and excellent for the experienced carver as well. There are traditional patterns included, and information to customize your own animal. Whether you want to carve a horse, goat, zebra, rabbit, or something of your own design, this book is a great resource!

If you're only going to read five books on the Civil War - which is like saying, only eat one french fry - make this one of them. Grant's autobiography, written under excruciating conditions of financial pressure and failing health in the late 1880's, is one of the most unforgettable reads available about the American Civil War.
Terse, simple, and almost painfully modest, Grant takes us through his life - the schooling at West Point (he was too retiring to point out they'd got his middle name wrong at registration, and was mistakenly given the name Ulysses SIMPSON Grant which he used for the rest of his life). The bravery and initiative of the Mexican War. The long, lonely postings in the early '50's to California, a continent away from his wife and beloved young children. The depression, leaving the Army, trying to make it in civilian life, failing at almost everything he tried. Then the war begins in 1861 when Lincoln calls for volunteers. It's typical of Grant that he goes to a little midwest recruiting post and modestly says he might take command of something very small - a company, perhaps? This, for a West Point graduate. From then on the book ceases being merely very interesting and starts becoming a can't-put-down.
The simple and good-hearted soul of the man just shines through his words, and he doesn't get caught up badly in the mid-century Victorian fustery of so much Civil War writing. He tells you what happened and what he thought about it; I remember about Lee at Appomatox, he said that he felt like anything in world after Lee's surrender except gloating over so brave an army as Lee's who had fought so nobly for a cause - even though he also thought it was one of the worst causes for which men had ever fought. His prose just flows through the extraordinary events he helped channel - Shiloh, Vicksburg, The Battle of the Wilderness, the surrender, and all points in between. It's an irreplaceable and wonderful resource and you end up falling big-time for Ulysses S. Grant. Don't miss it.

I first read U.S. Grant's memoirs when I was a college student during the Vietnam War. It helped me a great deal to appreciate how horrific war was and still is and that it should only be suffered when the cause is truly worthwhile. It was in the American Civil War and World War II. It was not in the Vietnam War. It was not our finest hour.

But this book also got me hooked on the history of the American Civil War. It is in my judgment, after more than fifty years and reading perhaps a thousand volumes about this watershed event in our nation's history, the single best written and brutally honest work on that event. Especially so in that it was written first-hand by one of the principal characters in that national and human tragedy.

For those of you really interested in becoming a student of the American Civil War, I recommend it highly, after you read the American Heritage History of the Civil War and before you read Lee's Lieutenants by Douglas Southhall Freeman and the four book series by Bruce Catton.

If by that time you're not hooked and become a Civil War junkie, you never will be.

Not only was U.S. Grant a superb general, but the man could write as well. He was known for being simple and direct, and this trait comes througgh in his writing style. Grant keeps his narrative moving along at a brisk pace, sticking to the facts as he knew them to be. One also gets a sense of the politics of Army life back in the 1860s, and one can learn more about the nature of the times in the careful wording Grant uses in some parts of his story so as to avoid offfending his fellow veterans of lesser stature. These added dimensions bring his chronicle of the Civil War to life in a way no modern author ever could. This book is a "must" for any armchair historian of the U.S. Civil War.

General Grant wrote this book while dying of throat cancer. He had been swindled by a dishonest Wall Street Broker and his trophies and possessions were stripped from him to satisfy the demands of his debtors. Bankrupt, suffering from a terminal illness and never passing a moment without acute pain, he produced this magnificent monument to his greatness. Those who denigrate Grant as a drunkard, butcher or bumbling President need to read this book in order to correct these errant assumptions. It is impossible to read this book and not realize that Grant was an inordinately intelligent man and one hell of a writer.

Grant's Memoirs are a deserved classic in American literature and considered the greatest military Memoirs ever penned, exceeding Caesar's Commentaries. Grant wrote as he lived: with clear, concise statements, unembellished with trivialities or frivolities. The only "criticism" the reader might have is that Grant bent over backwards not to wound the feelings of people in the book. He takes swipes at Joe Hooker and Jeff Davis, but what he left unsaid would have been far more interesting. A compelling and logical reason why Grant was so spare in his comments was because he was involved in a race with death. He didn't know how long he could live and therefore, "cut to the chase."

Grant's assessments of Lincoln, Sherman, Sheridan and other military leaders are brilliant and engrossing. His style, like the man himself, was inimitable and couldn't be copied. In everyday life, Grant was a very funny man, who liked to listen to jokes and tell them himself. His sense of the absurd was acute. It's no accident that he loved Mark Twain and the two hitched together very well. Twain and Grant shared a similar sense of humor, and Grant's witicisms in the Memoirs are frequent, unexpected and welcome. There are portions where you will literally laugh out loud.

Though Grant's Memoirs were written 119 years ago, they remain fresh, vibrant and an intensely good read. I have read them many times in my life and I never weary of the style and language that Grant employed. He was a military genius to be sure, but he was also a writer of supreme gifts, and these gifts shine through on every page of this testament to his greatness. All Americans should read this book and realize what we owe to Grant: he preserved the union with his decisive brilliance. In his honor, we should be eternally grateful.

Written more as a military memoir than a personal, Grant proves to be an outstanding author as well as a General. Reading this set me off to find more about the General's personal life. I highly recommend to anyone interested in the Civil War, you won't be disappointed.

The book starts out with a nice section on Mr. Collier's great grandfather Joseph then moves on into a little section on Colorado history (I assume all of the old photos were done by Joseph Collier). That's interesting stuff, and it's followed by the bulk of the book which seems to be several sections covering, for the most part, several Colorado mining towns. For each town you get some history and at least one then (1870's-1880's)and one now (1990's-2000 or so) photo, each of these is captioned. The pictures are pretty clear and usually very well positioned matched (Grant Collier makes note of one where he couldn't get the right spot)which can be hard to do.
About the only complaint I can come up with is that I'd like to have had more town and scenic photos to look at, this is a nice book.

This is a great mix of old photos, new photos, and history. It makes a great companion piece to the more popular "Colorado 1870 - 2000" and in some ways it is superior to that book. For one thing, "Colorado Yesterday and Today" costs half as much as the Jackson/Fielder book. Also, Collier takes the time to talk about each and every place that is featured in his collection of photographs, something which is sorely missing in the other book.

Collier's re-shoots are right on the money, and when they are not, he tells us (access issues pop up from time to time). The connection to his great-great-grandfather is touching. Most importantly, this is a book that you can read and enjoy. It is not a ponderous 'picture book' that won't fit in your bookcase.

Although most people who live in Colorado have a vague idea of how much the state has changed in the past century, to see it shown so starkly in beautiful photographs like this is fascinating. Grant Collier has created an amazing testimonial to the march of history and the turbulent growth of the Centennial State. Collier's love of his subject is obvious on every page and the reader can't help but be drawn into a story, not only of Colorado, but of Collier's search to understand his stoic great-grandfather, the famous pioneer photographer Joseph Collier. Buy it!

Grant Collier's 'Colorado, Yesterday and Today' is an exceptional work in an exceptional period of time. Not often have I seen such dedication to detail. This dedication is evident in Grant Collier's testamonial to his great grand-father Joseph. What a piece of work this book is! Not only are the photographs accurately re-taken, but Grant also provides short details that accompany each section. I find this attention to detail quite refeshing. Not like other related books on the market. I am recommending this book to all of my friends. I do not wish to bore you any further with my writing. Just buy Grant Collier's book(s) and let him show you what he is capable of.

This is an outstanding book for those of us who are fascinated with what time can do to buildings or even whole towns. I have already read this fascinating book 3 times and each time I find something interesting that I missed the first time. Buy this book,you won't be sorry.

Well-written, fast paced. Captured the dignity of the victims of this toxin and the subsequent bureacratic cover up. And to think this happened within the past 55 years!! It would be interesting to know if there have been similar outbreaks since and how they were handled.

I won't go over the story, as other reviewers already have. I am actually still in the middle of the book and wanted to find out more information about it online. This book pulls you in immediately. Wonderfully written - historically intriguing - with facinating detail. A refreshing read, even though it was written over 40 years ago.

This book caught my eye in the college library while I was researching the topic. I didn't put it down for the two days it took me to read it. It covers not only "historical ergotism" (which has been deemed the culprit of the Salem Witch trials and other witch hunts by some) but also the case of the 1950's Pt. St. Esprit poisoning in France, which was attributed by the local authorities to a mercury pesticide. Read it, be absolutely amazed, not only at the events, but at the "official judgement" and subsequent injustice of the later rulings towards the poisoned survivors of that fateful night. I also recommend Mary Matossion's Poisons of the Past for more info on historical ergotism.

This is an amazing book. The historical account is fascinating. I am also floored by how well Fuller wove in a multitude of personal stories, gave a rich account of a very complex incident, then beautifully encapsulated the 15-year legal tragedy that followed the original tragedy. You don't come across stories like this every day, and you certainly don't often come across treatments of them that are this good.

It's not written at a sixth-grade level -- a plus for me -- but nowadays I doubt an editor would let Fuller get away with all the French phrases and excerpts he put in the book. Back then I suppose authors could assume they had a more sophisticated readership. I liked the sprinkling of French, sometimes even original letters (translated to English, of course), but if you don't know any French at all, you might want to read this with a dictionary at hand.

This is an extensive analysis by a journalist of the outbreak of ergot poisoning in Pont St.Esprit, France (Provence) in 1951. It is based on personal interviews and documents, as well as on discussions with the doctors involved. It is perhaps the most complete case study of mass ergot poisoning in literature. It is very valuable to any historian wishing to understand one of the most feared and puzzling diseases of the Middle Ages.

I found this book VERY helpful. In fact, I was so fascinated with it, I couldn't put it down. It was like a good novel. I immediately changed some of my thank you letters and re-did my Corporate request for funding letter. I will continue to use it's suggestions. The book is well written and not full of 'filler info', but very solid recommendations that one can put to use right away.

This is an excellent textbook and reference book on fundraising for non-profits. I recently joined the board of a non-profit and knew nothing about fundraising, but this book got me up to speed very quickly. The author treats you like a reasonably intelligent person, in contrast to some other primers that are too cutesy, and she writes in plain English and avoids jargon. It's packed with information, web sites, references, real-world examples, and recommendations. And it's up-to-date. If you're working for or with a non-profit, you need this book.

This guide to fundraising for non profits covers the newest strategy and grand writing plans that are needed in the future.

Just as money is the life-blood of governments and private enterprise corporations, so it is essential to carrying out the mandates of non-profit organizations as well. Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded second edition, Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits: Real-World Strategies That Work" by Ilona Bray draws upon her years of experience and expertise serving a variety of nonprofit agencies in every managerial capacity from development director and staff attorney to department manager and advisory council member to create a 496-page compendium of superbly organized and presented information, jargon-free advice, case examples, and illustrative comments from more than forty experienced and successful fund raisers who work in the non-profit sector. An ideal guide, readers will learn how to work with individual donors, plan special fund raising events, successfully compete in the solicitation of grants from foundations and corporations, obtain and exploit media coverage, utilize the Internet as a fundraising tool, start side businesses to create additional revenue streams, develop effective print materials (brochures, newsletters, annual reports), and a great deal more. Of special note are the eleven appendices offering fundraising worksheets for everything from sample cost analysis to press release templates. "Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits" should be a core reference work and a part of every community library and non-profit agency collection, and is an especially recommended study for non-specialist general readers having a responsibility to raise funds for their particular non-profit group.

Highly recommend reading this book. It has great real-life examples and useful tips. Very easy to read and follow. I love how it allows you to be creative and realistic at the same time.

I found this book by accident and it has become a personal favorite. I casually opened it while standing at the counter in my kitchen and found myself still standing until it was finished. Have given it to all my children and most of my friends. Poignant without being overly sentimental, the poetry evokes tender feelings and allows us to ponder anew the experiences we have had in our own lives, and those yet to come. Some books come and go...this one is a keeper...can't lend this one as I read it everyday.

Reading this book is like sitting down with a comfortable friend who knows all the poems you'd like to hear and many more that you've never come across, but should have. Here's a friend who doesn't mind sharing all sorts of interesting tidbits of knowledge about the poet and the art, but is never didactic. Dr. Hardy has chosen well, selecting poems that span both millennia and miles. The book includes poems that cover the great range of familial relationships, and the resulting interesting and complex emotions. His concise comments on the poets and their circumstances enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of the material, though all these poems can stand alone. A great read for the glancer-througher and for the serious reader alike. Highly recommended.

Grant Hardy's collection of poems, some of which he translated from the Chinese, gave me comfort and perspective at a crucial time in my life; I read them in a hospital awaiting exploratory cardiac surgery. I had read many of the poets before, but only one of the poems, so there was a freshness to the experience. Mr. Hardy's biographical insights are printed on the same page as the poems, providing interesting connections between poet and poem. The experience led me to look back and forward on my life and prepared me for whatever the future held.

I was so moved by the poems in this collection. Because of his obvious knowledge of the Chinese language, he brought forth poems that I would never have had access to before. Having experienced the birth of a child and the loss of the loved one in the same year, it was a wonderful experience to read the poems relating to those life changes. It is so wonderful to read poems compiled by an author who values family!

Janice Johnson

Grant Hardy has created a collection of poetry that is accessible for the casual reader of poetry, while being a pleasure for the serious student of literature as well. Through his tasteful selection of poems, Mr. Hardy captures the beautiful and sometimes painful gamut of emotion that family life can entail, without lapsing into sentimentality. Mr. Hardy's helpful footnotes give insight into the poetry, and more importantly, into the lives of the poets themselves. The effect is a book that I continually read for wisdom, perspective, and enjoyment. I have given it to family members and friends of all ages, since the poems cover all different stages of family life, so there will always be a topic that one finds pertinent. This book will be a cherished volume in anyone's library.