Marshall Books

Run don't walk..... before the impending marathon of onslaught writing before the election this is the power bar.

I just finished this book and felt the need to review it (something I almost never do) because I not only did I find it profoundly illuminating but also really, really, really enjoyed reading it!

As both a personal and public narrative it is an extremely fun and entertaining read despite the fact that often deals with complex, multifaceted issues. Admittedly, I'm far from an expert on many of the themes and subjects within, however my sense is even if you are, even if you are a political historian or life long liberal this book will tell you things you didn't know and/or provide a prospective totally absent in the mainstream and alternative medias.

Wolves does not seek to provide answers to our political woes, but it does ask all the right questions (of all the right people), a fact which I think proves Marshall's desire to find genuine solutions to the socio-economic mess America finds itself in.

I highly recommend picking it up!

Very interesting, well written, and disturbing.

Read it, then talk about the elections.

I feared that by exposing the Democrats as faux liberals, Stephen Marshall would bring me into even a deeper state of despair. As I read, I found myself in just the opposite state -- happily taking in every page with new hope that there exists here in America this level of awareness and acuity and most importantly, passion. If this man understands society on this level, there is the possibility of nurturing and spreading this wisdom. I find I have someone to follow. If you need something to believe in, read this book.

This is the story of the death of American Liberalism, told by some of the very people who helped kill it. Far from the typical liberal claptrap or conservative diatribe, Marshall's fiercely independant examination of the left's rightward drift is a unique, character driven narrative that keeps you turning pages.

It's a great book-cd combination for a people who like to study how to chant, then to impress others people.

This book is well laid-out and easy to follow. For the first time in 40 years I can actually read and chant Torah using the trope marks. I am not especially good at reading Hebrew, and have tried unsuccessfully many times to learn trope, but after two weeks with this book and the CD, I was astounded to find myself chanting properly right out of the Tanach! Highly recommended.

This book & CD combination is perfect for the motivated self-teacher. Having both male and female voices in the examples makes it easier to find your own voice. However, motivation is important, as in any self-teaching. I started learning trop from this book several times in the past, and couldn't stick with it. This is not a fault of the book, rather the fault of being motivated. Once I finally set the goal of chanting Torah 2 months hence, I found it much easier to stick with the book.

Possibly one of the best parts of the book is the last few pages, that actually show the musical notation for the trope marks. This is what most other sources are lacking, but it's immensely valuable to those of us who can read music. Once we've heard the trope a few times, we don't have to turn on the CD in order to be reminded -- just turn to the back of the book, or even just carry around a photocopy of those 3-4 pages.

Much as I enjoyed this workbook and its accompanying CD, I find making the time or finding the self-discpline to be the hard part. If you are a person who needs "babysitting," I doubt if this self-help book will be good for you.

The chants are sung in a comfortable mid-range, as opposed to a soprano or a bass.

I studied for 6 months with this book/CD combo and mastered the trope (Reform version) well enough to have chanted Torah for my synagogue twice in the last couple of months and am preparing for a 3rd parsha. You won't find every possible combination of cantillation marks here, but you will find 95+ % of what you'll ever run into in the Torah (including special sections for High Holidays, Song of the Seas and the Ten Commandments.)

The only thing better would be to combine this with the availability of a trained cantor. Highly recommended for anyone in a Reform schul.

I am a clinician very much interested in using meditation as an adjunct therapy for some of my patients. I read this book in detail, culling through for clinical evidence and potential clinical application. I was pleasantly surprised. The book is practical but with sufficient theoretical background to fufill my expectations. I strongly recommend, "Beyond the Breath".

"It's been said that we learn more from our mistakes than our successes - and I think that's true - but only if we eventually have success; otherwise we just keep making the same mistakes over and over." ~Marshall Glickman

Learning to take care of our bodies by eating correctly and exercising seems a true journey all on its own. When you decide to incorporate a style of meditation into your life then a whole-body Vipassana might bring you more peace of mind. It is a sensation-based style of meditation.

Marshall Glickman has a beautiful writing style and his ideas connect perfectly with the modern reader who may or may not be familiar with meditation. His ideas are presented in a way that makes meditation come alive. I used to think meditation was complete stillness and lack of thought, but there are ways to focus on sensation that bring you to a deeper understanding of yourself. Some of the intellectually intriguing aspects of this work include:

The Power and Pleasure Principle
The Biochemical Basics of Pleasure
The Neurochemistry of Karma

There are chapters filled with instructions on how to meditate, but the real highlights of this book are the insights into living life effectively and understanding how our bodies function on the chemical level.

"Focusing on sensations puts us more directly in touch with what's motivating us, while at the same time helping to free us from the storylines which tend to obscure our feelings. In this way, greater awareness to our sensations increases our emotional sensitivity." ~Marshall Glickman

If you have trouble settling into a meditation session, do yoga first. It helps your body to work out all the extra energy that might keep you from sitting still. You can also meditate while reclining in bed or while sitting in a chair. You don't have to meditate in a guru-style seated position. I normally meditate while laying flat on my back after an invigorating yoga practice. Some of the most blissful happy places I've ever been have been after doing a Chakra Yoga workout. I finally understood the place meditation could take you. I like imagining colors inside my body and working with sensations and the release of negative thoughts. I've noticed that when I do meditate I think more clearly and can solve problems more effectively. When I don't meditate, chaos creeps into my life.

After reading this work, you may also enjoy Tobin Blake's "The Power of Stillness: Learn Meditation in 30 Days."

~The Rebecca Review

I have read several books by S.N. Geonka and his followers, but none really gave me insights into the actual technique. It is explained in detail here. I understood it,applied it in my practice and it has definitely given me new insights into this particular style of Vipassanna meditation. It was intense, a lot of emotions materialized and my sensitivity to bodily sensations is makedly increased. I've have been practicing "noting" as well as "just sitting" for a while. Both techniques have been effective also, but this Vipassana technique is more refined.

The book stated a strong case for practicing the precepts of Buddhism in addition to just meditation. The explanation and tie in to the laws of attraction and Kharma were very clear and well thought out.

Any one interested in Vipassana should try this book. Anyone interested in integrating meditation and Buddhism into their lives, but have yet to make the jump, should also try it.

"Beyond the Breath" is written by a fellow baby-boomer in a style and vernacular completely comprehensible to those of us in the West. As such, Marshall Glickman fills a modern Buddhism explanation niche.

For example, the First Noble Truth of Buddhism is, "LIFE IS SUFFERING" I'm sure sounds completely dismal and off-putting to the average Westerner - a real hindrance to investigating Buddhism further. Most people I know would probably respond with, "Well, isn't life basically good? Isn't life what you make it?" This is hardly something that Tony Robbins or Dale Carnegie would say. So I suspect that to the average Westerner, "Life is SUFFERING" is an exceedingly negative premise.

The author, however, puts a subtle spin on the First Noble Truth which, in my opinion makes Buddhism a lot more appealing. The author suggests, "Something is always a bit off," or "Things are never just right." I prefer, "Life is good and we can make it better." This is positive marketing and is good for Buddhism.

Marshall supports traditional Buddhist notions on materialism by citing a study that found that the pleasure we get from owning things hinges on one-upmanship - hardly a source of lastly fulfillment or happiness. There is also an interesting section on the experiences of organ transplant recipients that dramatically demonstrates the body-mind connection.

Another powerful distinction I learned from the book is that true detachment is accepting what is not dissociating from or ignoring what is. So paradoxically, acceptance leads to detachment.

Like the author, I too have completed several 10-Day Vipassana courses as taught by S.N. Goenka. As a result, I can truly say that "Beyond the Breath" is especially helpful in that it points the reader towards a powerful and personal experience of transformation, which is the essence of Buddha's message. You can read a book about swimming while sitting comfortably in a deckchair and then making up a story about it, or you can read a book swimming and then jump into the pool.

"Beyond the Breath" is an excellent resource for anyone interested in improving the quality of their life using the proven, non-sectarian, and ancient technique of Vipassana meditation. The information in this book will undoubtedly result in many more people "jumping into the pool". Highly recommended!

This is a practical and insightful guide to meditation as a practice
and mindfulness as a way of being. There is also abundant theory in the form of a spritual and psychological approach to life.
This is a very clear, personable and well written book which offers a diverse array of insightful quotes from many interesting sources.
My only complaint is the picture of buddha on the cover because I believe that this image limits the very universal and secular insights that are presented so well in this book.

Romance novels are supposed to be fluff, but so many are out there that a romance author has to be really good to stand out from all the rest.

In Cat's Masquerade, author Marshall offers the reader more than just good writing and the usual "loves me, loves me not" story. She's done her homework and it shows in the details - of dress, social behavior and politics of the time. Best of all, this is not one of those romance novels that is pornography in disguise.

Cat's Masquerade is a fun read and an engaging one. I truly enjoyed it and recommend this book to anyone who wnats more from a romance novel than fluff.

Thea Marshall's book grabs you and holds you from Page 1. In the tradition of the great romantic historical novels of England such as Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice, it brings you into the mind of an idealistic and independent and spirited young woman and then throws you into the wild whirlwind of her adventures in the formal and ritualized society of Napoleonic England. Ms. Marshall is a quintessential historian. Her meticulous research brings richness and life to the scenery and events of the day and one feels that one has learned a lot of history even while indulging in the fun of an engaging drama and comedy of errors. The book starts with a major incorrect assumption by our impetuous heroine, which is indulged and fostered by the hero who takes a godlike bemused stance in order to enjoy watching a major entertainment unfold, all in the service of allowing his heroine - and his beloved - to realize her full potential and hopefully fall into true love with him. The exquisite tension and the subtleties of desire and repressed emotions lure the reader into hunger for more. The amazing over-the-top ending presents images which are unforgettable and are bound to make a smashing movie! Read this book!

This period of time is not usually the genre of reading I prefer, but of course so many of our basic human emotions transcends time. Ms. Marshall managed to capture, hold and captivate me throughout the whole book. It was hard to put the book down once I started reading. Needless to say I didn't get much work done during this time!

I am not a romance reader. But I enjoyed this book writen by a friend. I am a mystrey reader and enjoyed the mystrey. I also enjoy history and loved the background.

Ms. Marshall's novel presents an enjoyable romp through British society in the Nepolianic era. As much an historical novel as a romance novel, it brings the times alive and one learns a lot about the cultural milieu of the times as one is entertained at the same time by the engaging story and characters. I am not an habitual reader of romance novels, but I found Cat's Masquerade extremely enjoyable. At the end of each chapter, I was kept wondering what would happen next. I hope there will be more from this author in the near future!

I've never been to Hungary or had much experience with anyone from Hungary, however I've recently become very interested in this lovely country. This book sounded like a fun and interesting introduction into the social aspect of Hungary (as opposed to architecture and history). The author has a lively and easy-to-read writing style. I would recommend this book and will seek out other books from the "Culture Shock" series.

Seldom does a book that is written for a narrow readership, in this case tourists and businessmen, become a success beyond its intended audience. What elevates "CULTURE SHOCK! HUNGARY" above the level of a Traveller's Guide Series is both the quality of the writing and the intimate knowledge of what overdrives this nation of 10 million restless souls. It is like a firmly held mirror, an unflinching but affectionate insight into the character of a nation.
If you are lucky enough to witness Zsuzsanna Ardo's meticulous undressing of Hungarians and their culture, you realize that she leaves very little mystery for any self-respecting Magyar to hide behind. To the embarrassment, or if you will to the delight of a native, who believes that he or she is comfortable with all the intricate layers of social interactions, the language and the "unpredictable excitement and character building" Hungarian history, even for them the "CULTURE SHOCK! HUNGARY" is full of fresh and original information that provokes conventional wisdom. With her warm satire she is experiencing life head-on in Budapest and the relentless and unavoidable hospitality of the countryside and its people. Whether it be a late evening stroll on the banks of the Danube or on the Margit bridge, challenging snow and ice on the hills of Rozsadomb, or a hot summer swim in Lake Balaton, her eye is always sharp and correct.
"...while surfers get hooked on the gentle waves and brisk breeze in the glaringly corny sunset, complete with golden-red reflections across the calm waters of the lake. No picture postcard of Lake Balaton can be such perfect kitsch as reality itself.."
Most enjoyable are her repeated journeys into the Hungarian psyche which explain and become the basis for all the advice and experiences she provides so abundantly. Her street wise comments on the personal and impersonal ways of greeting someone, the telltale handshakes, the persistent eye contact, the formality of kisses wherever they may land, the invitations and/or the un-invitations to a visit... are like a hilarious anthropological study.
"Some argue that laboring on building and nurturing and consensus-based love relationship with a Hungarian is, overall, like teaching a raven to fly underwater. This is grossly unfair... to the ravens. There is consensus all right as long as you consent to whatever your hero desires..."
"...status markers in social relations (are) a rather sophisticated system for keeping and reducing psychological distance, imposing and refusing hierarchy or intimacy."
Obviously she is afflicted by the same genes of passion, humor and unbridled need to inform and/or set things straight, as the people she is writing about.
"Whenever it is momentarily blue, manic, or depressive, the admirable lack of self-irony with which some Hungarian egos indulge themselves by fits and starts guarantee the heavy-duty nature of their state of mind. ...their oscillations between euphoric drives to get ahead and melodramatic soul-tearing driven by paranoid fatalism are sizzling and spectacular."
Ouch! She exposes universally and correctly the Hungarian nerve; it is up to the reader to differentiate among the joys and obstacles and to decide if he or she is adventurous enough to visit or even to stay in this very hospitable country, better yet, to befriend a "demonstratively woe-stricken... mega-sensitive" Hungarian! Her view is compassionate but sobering of a society where fantasies of even the possibility of grandeur, sentimentality and "an intensely vague discomfort or inarticulate ethnocentricity", is the norm; as if she would say, "I love the place and all of you guys, but you are so..." It is a well deserved roasting. And when she is in her more somber mood, a well deserved warning. Noticing the heavy drinking and smoking and a "decidedly non PC diet" she muses: "Traditionally, many Hungarians embrace premature death with gusto."
"Hungarians eat just about everything that you are not supposed to, prepared in the way it shouldn't be, and consumed in deadly quantities. Naturally, they enjoy it tremendously. And they want to make it sure their visitors enjoy it too."
But her satire is not just idle remarks of society's shortcomings and idiosyncrasies. She admirably provides a long list of agencies and social services where Hungarians, visiting businessmen and tourists can turn to, to redeem themselves.
With her academic background in Linguistics and Literature, Ardo's casual introduction to the Hungarian language, that is difficult by any standard, is like a friendly persuasion. Her unusual but well researched approach is a very convincing short course in Etymology. Surprisingly revealing even for those who think they can speak Hungarian.
Page after page Zsuzsanna Ardo, who was born in Hungary but presently is a British citizen, proves an important point, that only from a safe distance, preferably from as far as possible, can one truly look at his or her homeland objectively.
I would recommend the book to anyone who wishes to have a less bumpy ride through this little country in the Danube basin. It is unfortunate that the book is available only in English, because "CULTURE SHOCK! HUNGARY" should be a must, a specially required and liberating reading for all Hungarians too.
Kid from Pataj, Steven Domonkos.

Zsuzsanna Ardó's well written guide to the customs and etiquette of Hungarian people holds relevant information for anyone traveling or doing business there.
I assist English teachers at a primary school in Hungary and am looking forward to incorporating the many tips provided on business and general communication when speaking with my colleagues at school.
I also appreciated the abundance of Hungarian proverbs and sayings written out in both languages. These are fun to bring up with Hungarian friends and since they often don't translate literally, I'd not have been able to sort them out just using my translation dictionary. The insight into history's role in modern Hungarian thinking was fascinating for me as well.
A "cultural quiz" rounds out the book. It was a fun
and, I thought, a perfect way to tie the information together. The author's sense of humor throughout made it a most enjoyable read!
As Hungary's entry into the EU should spur an increase in business and tourism--I noticed some new billboards promoting travel to Hungary when I was changing planes in Frankfurt last week--the relevance and importance of this book should likewise
increase!
--written May, 2004

"Culture Shock! Hungary" is a golden child in the Culture Shock! family of books. Ardo's text is extremely readable and functional. Part history and language lesson, part culinary and travel guide, and more, "Culture Shock! Hungary" is chock full of interesting trivia and applicable knowledge. Ardo's work is highly recommended to anyone hoping or planning on visiting Hungary. The book is compact and would also be well worth rereading on one's trip to Budapest, Balaton or the Hortobagy. This mini-masterpiece of hints and humor would also be useful for someone interested in better understanding the burning minds, yo-yo moods and often mysterious ways of Hungarian friends, colleagues or even love interests. And of course, this text is an especially good read for anyone, in the U.S. or Canada with Magyar ancestry who is trying to learn more, or read commentary on Hungarian heritage. "Culture Shock! Hungary" is a thoroughly relevant and entertaining read.

In preparing for my initial vacation trip to Hungary in August 2003, I read the usual travel guides, Frommer's, The Green Guide, Lonely Planet and best of all, Andras Torok's "Budapest-A Critical Guide". While these books describe the where, Culture Shock-Hungary supplies the who, what, why and how of the magnificent Magyars.

The 2003 New Expanded edition is a joy to read. It's fast paced and lively- a real page turner. It made me laugh out loud several times. The last time I laughed so much while reading a book was when I read "Confederacy of Dunces" some twenty years ago. If this book wasn't part of the Culture Shock series, it may well have been called A Confederacy of Magyars. Read and delight in the sections on Traditions and Values and Image and Self Image to find out.

For a foreigner, the part on the Hungarian language, Magyarul, is especially interesting. Having studied Hungarian for a year when I was in the Army and let it slip away because of non-use, the language section rekindled old memories. The study of the enigmatic Hungarian language could well prove to be a lifelong task although it is said that Sissi(emperor Franz Joseph's wife) learned it in no time flat and became the darling of the Hungarians. This book should be a favorite of Magyarphiles everywhere.

If you are planning a vacation trip to Hungary or do business there ( there is a whole section devoted to business etiquette and customs), read this book to understand what makes Hungary tick.

Most of us understand far too little about Indonesia and yet surely this is a nation that very much matters and does warrant understanding. Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population and in fact is the 3rd most populous country in the world. It is rich in natural resources and in history and mostly well justifies it's National motto "Unity in diversity."

Three years ago a then pertinent - and perhaps today even more important and timely book was published - A very readible biography, but more than that, a book that tells the story of this nation, built about the eventful life and perceptiveness of its last founding father, H Roeslan Abdulgani.

"A Fading Dream" is full of anecdotes and first person observations that likely could only have been written by its author, Retnowati Abdulgani - Knapp, one of the daughters of this outstanding 20th century figure. The author is an investment banker, law graduate and business women who well understood her father and the context of events in the time in which he lived and acted. You know quickly that this is no desultory narritive. Rather, "A Fading Dream" is a comprehensive socio political survey that considers the period from Dutch colonial rule virtually to the present.

Dr. Abdulgani, who passed away age 91 in July, 2005, was very much an insider and a key player in Indonesi's so called "old order" and even before. He remained a principal advisor throughout Sukarno's tummultuous years and by the late 1960s he was his country's window to / from the UN at the start of the so-called "new order" under Suharto. Since then for a further generation and then for yet another generation, he was very much listened to as a wise man and a political authority during a period that was characterised by some as a time of "no order".

Dr. Abdulgani (Roeslan) was there at the creation of modern Indonesia and remained a respected part of his country's leadership for three generations and more. At his deathbed in Jakarta, tributes came from all the leaders of his nation including Suharto and the current leadership.

Roeslan was one of the very few to successfully bridge the Sukarno and Suharto regimes by positioning himself as a somehow non political politician, as a wise man in both administrations, no mean feat for Sukarno's Minister of Information charged with responsibility for the development of a revolutionary spirit among the people of Indonesia. Later he was to be Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Bandung Conference of non Aligned Countries, Indonesia's UN Ambassador and counselor to all of his countries governments.

In his daughter's most readible book, Roeslan comes through as a man of reason and vision even more than as the revolutionary fighter that he had been as well. He is portrayed as someone who grew with grace and who always celebrated life. Everyone trusted him, perhaps since,as was recently said of him, "he never spoke ill of anyone."

From post war 1945 to post Bali 2002, we can now look back through his memories as related to his daughter and at her well presented contextual commentary. The sadly aptly named biography and history, "A Fading Dream", presents a well organized, personal look at the amazing shifts in the attitudes and choices taken by this country's leaders, of which Roeslan Abdulgani most certainly was one.

Like Javanese shadow puppet plays, Wati Abuldugani's biography of her father, Roeslan Abdulgani, should be viewed at many levels.

It is the life of an exceptional man, and his wife, who despite the travails and personal risks rose to the circumstances of their time to make a positive, and important impact on their country. It is the story of the birth of a modern nation, its struggle to free itself from colonialism, both European and Asian, and to become part of the community of nations. Dispersed throughout the book are insights in the social mores of Indonesia, and in particular of the Javanese, helping to provide a frame of reference for both the new and old student of Indonesia.

It is a timely book for reflection at this time of political, social and economic uncertainty in Indonesia. The concerns the writer and Roeslan Abdulgani express for Indonesia, is evident in the scope of the first chapter, which deals with the present rather than the past: Urging the current leaders to put aside personal gain for the benefit of the country, and the need for a strong leader to lead the country in the new millennium.

As a 20th century story of Indonesia, this book should not only be a required reading in Indonesian schools and universities, but also for students of Asia politics and culture.

Dr H.Roeslan Abdulgani, as he was known when I first met him, as Minister for Information, was a man whose clear-thinking views and wonderful personal demeanor were as consistent in 1965 as they were for any of the years straddling 1945 to 2003.

When Indonesia was in turmoil, Ruslan was taciturn and cool, delivering clear messages of support and elucidation. When Indonesia faced financial turmoil, Ruslan shared the trials of the poor. And when cycles of great economic prosperity arrived, Ruslan Abdulgani was one of the few who maintained his economic, simple lifestyle.

Western observors and diplomats never ceased to be amazed by his work ethnic, his tirelss writing and speaking agendas and his unfailing good manners and sense of humour.

A Fading Dream includes some wonderful surprises for even experienced Ruslan watchers. The stories of his early years in Surabaya, his anguish that Arab and Chinese traders, supported by the Colonial Dutch, were given unfair advantages, and the pen sketches of his role in early nationalist movements, are delightfully told. The book is highly recommended for those interested in Indonesia and Asian History.

review by Pat Price
> University of Indonesia Fellowship student in 1965
> Observer and student of Indonesian politics in the modern era.

A Fading Dream is not only about a great man, Roeslan Abdulgani, who is the only surviving founding father of Indonesia, but is also about Indonesia's political and cultural history, including that of recent years.
Dr. Abdulgani's daughter, Retnowati, has written a fascinating, incisive, and intimate picture of Indonesia through a combination of biography, history, political science, anecdotes, observation, and opinion.
If you were to read only one book on Indonesia, this is the one I wholeheartedly recommend.

This is a very important book by one of Indonesia's most influential, level-headed, ardent Republicans. As the years roll out, Roeslan Abdulgani's works over the past sixty years will be seen in historic context as indispensable and fundamental to the nation's survival.

It is more than the story of Roeslan Abdulgani, written by his daughter Retnowati. The early chapters discuss modern problems in Roeslan's friendly but forthright manner.

Roeslan is not the only voice now raising concerns about the Republic's wishy-washy leadership, but he is a man whom history may record as the nation's greatest Republican, even greater than founding President Soekarno, with whom Roeslan worked side-by-side to keep the young Republic afloat, to keep the diverse ethnic and geographic forces abound into a single nation with a single language and an agreed philosophy.

In October, 1965, when the Republic faced its greatest challenge from a rising, Chinese-backed Communist party, it was Roeslan's voice which clearly defined the actions of 30 September (in a
radio broadcast from Bandung, where this writer was present) as a coup d'etat, an illegal act that must be overturned. For days the nation had waited for a clear signal from other leaders, including Soekarno himself, but none came.

And now it is Roeslan who is reminding the nation that clear thinking leads to strong leadership, yet he occasionally despairs that clear thinking seems absent.

In my student days (1962-63), Ruslan's 1958 book "Pantjasila" (today written Pancasila) was the indespensable text for all young people wishing to know how and why their nation came into
being, and why Indonesia's founding fathers wisely decided Indonesia was never to become an Islamic state. (You can do an amazon search for Roeslan Abdulgani to find this and other of his books)

The wisest minds studied the constitutions of those states who chose Islam as their operating philosophy: Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen and Lebanon, and later
Pakistan. None of the above examples were considered successful (and the case persists today) as social or economic successes.

"The ideology of Islam (strongly rooted in our society) has not succeeded in solving the problems of a modern society...

"In the economic field, too, we (Indonesian leaders) have not come across an example where a country which has adopted Islam as its basis has succeeded in spreading justice and prosperity

evenly among the people."

Thus Rouslan and the founding fathers saw the dangers of alienating the entire Hindu-Balinese populations of Bali and Lombok, the Protestant Christians of the Moluccan Islands, the Catholic Christians of Flores, as well as random pockets of both Christian, Buddhist, Pagan and local religious followers.

Roeslan is arguing that to abandon the founding principles of Pancasila, the world would be a less colourful, less richly cultured and less peaceful world if Arabist sects were to be allowed - through shilly-shally leadership - to take a greater foothold within Indonesian society.

What a stark, moonscape would Indonesia be without the Borobodor and Prambanan Balinese temples,the diverse colourful arts, literature, architecture, sculpture, the fascinating regional
traditional dress. Impossible? One may have thought so until madmen got control of Cambodia and Afghanistan, sending their nations and their societies back into the Iron Age.

Roeslan Abdulgani is trying, with all his living breath, to infuse strength and clarity into an Indonesia whose leadership he feels has lost its way, whose youth has drifted from their
historic and social moorings, and whose citified bureaucrats and business people have too often crossed the line between honour and corruption, self and state interest.

And on current issues: "Just as the West maintains a distorted view of Muslim society, so too are Western values misread by our society...the mixed bag of impressions about the West, especially those obtained through American soap operas and films, bear little relation to what life is really like in the West."

Sadly, one of the greatest of Indonesia's founding fathers, is depressed as he assesses modern Indonesia. There are 50 laws and ordinances deemed discriminatoryon the grounds of ethnicity on
the books, with no move to lift them. The new leadership's inaction on acting to aid the poor during and after the disastrous 2002 floods became a symbol of the government's incompetence and corruption and the meagre share of export revenues given the provinces surely will spell trouble in Aceh, Irian Jaya and the Moluccan Islands for decades to come.

Roeslan remains deeply concerned that the officer class still has in its ranks officers who have political ambitions, refusing to take their proper place as a servant of the people.

Thus A Fading Dream is an apt title as a reflection of this important leader's state of mind as he watches his beloved Republic attempt to cope with problems of over-population, diverse and self-interests, poor infrastructure and corruption.

But perhaps more importantly, a leadership he feels has forgotten the advice of the founding fathers, leaders who do not use the compasses bequeathed them to find their way to stability and harmony, and social justice.

A very important book, A Fading Dream was not intended as literature, and is so diverse in its coverage that readers will want to know more of Ruslan's life and his thinking. History will treat kindly both the man and his work.

ends Review

Review by Frank Palmos, senior Jakarta based news correspondent 1964-1972.
> President and founder of the Jakarta Foreign Press Club.
> Opened the West's first permanent newspaper bureau (1964) for the Melbourne Herald-Sun Sydney Morning Herald group. >Contributing to The New York Times, Asahi Shimbun, the Times, the Economist, Groene Amsterdammer, the Washington Post, Vrij Nederland.

The story behind the music... Marshall Chapman can write, sing, play guitar, and keep a person thoroughly entertained.

Not sure how I've lived in the same region all these years and been a fan of underground country, but hadn't heard of Marshall Chapman! Now I'll be on the look-out! I definitely enjoyed the book and think it's great that she has been able to share all these stories with us. She's lived a very colorful life and it's interesting enough to be enjoyable to others. She gets a little side-tracked at times, but I don't think we expect her to be an award-winning author. Great read!

Marhall Chapman's account of her song by song journey to becoming one of the most innovative and thrilling country rock songwriter-singers is as funny and poignant a book as I've read in some time. From the trouble she got into in grade school for channeling Elvis in the hall to her defiance of Nashville songwriting formulae she kept raising the question, "Why Can't I Be Like Other Girls?" Thank the lord that was the only thing she couldn't do because she sure did everything else. Each chapter of this memoir tells the story of the experience underlying one of her songs so the songs record her life in more ways than one. And some life it is, sometimes on the edge, sometimes ecstatic (when these were not one and the same), never boring. A reader who does not live through it with Marshall is missing something about the South, something about country rock music and something about life.

Marshall Chapman's book is like her music: funny, tough, poignant, real, alive and searingly honest. For those of us who grew up in the south in the 50's and 60's, it's a fond reminder of all that we experienced; for everyone else it's just a darn good read.

Marshall has written a fantastic account of how songs come to be, framing the incredible cast of characters which has surrounded her for all her years in Nashville. The photos of Andy Warhol, Arnold Schwarznegger et al really bring everything to life even more. on the must-have list for anyone interested in the triupmph of rock and roll over good breeding!

I've been using this book to make toys for children for 15 years and find the drawings and instructions clear and easy to follow. I like how all the projects are designed around stock lumber. One reviewer mentioned that the drawings are on grids for easy scaling. I should note that only items that are odd shaped and can't be drawn full scale in the book are on grids, but that is all that is needed. The only toy that I would have liked to have been included is a dump truck, but I designed my own once I got the hang of how his trucks are designed.

This book is great for making fun, easy projects that make great gifts. I have made a total of four trucks from this book. This book is a great way to introduce woodworking to kids. I would reccomend this book to anyone.

Since I purchased this book I have madea Model T Ford and am now making a Stearman biplane.
The instructions are generally clear with good illustrations. Most of the projects are not for beginners and most require a table or radial arm saw, a band saw and a power drum/belt sander. The author's suggestion to use knotty pine is economical but most of this wood in my local home improvement stores is warped, bowed and generally a pain to work with. Spend a little more and use clear pine or better yet, poplar which in my area is available in many different sizes and thicknesses. Also, the author may love resawing wood to get the sizes that he recommends but it would be a lot easier to scale the projects so that they require standard thicknesses.

I bought this book a few years ago when I started making wooden toys.
I loved the designs in this book. They ranged from simple to more complext to suit differing levels of skill. Of course as your own level of skill increases, you can confidently tackle some of the tougher projects, although even the toughest of them was not overly difficult.
I began selling the toys I was making from these plans at craft shows. They went like hot cakes! I could not make enough of them. Seems I wasn't the only one who thought these toys were neat.
But for the Toymaker, whether you are a hobbyist, or looking to make a living with them, these toys are easy to make, great looking, and popular!

I echo what the other reviewers have already said. Excellent intro to wood toy making provided you have or can get access to tools. Good step by step instructions. This book is a good way to develop your woodworking skills without being overwhelmed.

This book provides a useful look into leadership theory primarily as it relates to transformational leadership. A key responsibility of any leader looking to improve their career longevity is to understand how to embrace change management as a key success metric. In my book Leadership Matters...The CEO Survival Manual: WHAT IT TAKES TO REACH THE C-SUITE AND STAY THERE I spend a great deal of time addressing leadership as it relates to change, innovation and performance. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in deepening their understanding of leading change.

In a world of quick fix leadership books touting the latest fad du jour, the Sashkin's have provided a series of leadership lessons that work. Unlike other fad books they have grounded this approach in both theory and thorough research. More important, they have done this in a direct, easy to understand style and structure that lends itself to action. If you want to
know the current leadership fads so you can hold your own at a cocktail party, this book is not for you. If you want to lead in a dynamic environment and build a culture that thrives on change, this is the book for you.

Dr. Brad Lafferty
Synergy Inc. Washington DC

I am a doctoral student organizational leadership and have thus read many books on leadership as well as current academic literature, so I know the difference between a fadish popular leadership book and one that is well grounded and sound. This is the latter. Yet, it is still very accesible to non-academics. I assigned this book for an undergraduate class on leadership and the students absolutely loved it. The authors have not broken any new theoretical ground with this book. Sashkin and Sashkin are great synthesizers; they have taken the best of current transformational leadership theory and have combined it into a workable and cohesive approach to leadership that is grounded in the current leadership literature and is easy to read (not an easy task). This book only slightly works as an overview of leadership studies in general. They leave out in depth discussions of too many other current important leadership ideas. Instead they focus primarily on the transformational leadership approaches, and support it well with many theoretical strands. For a comprehensive and more systemative overview of leadership theory, try Peter Northouse: "Leadership Theory and Practice" or Gary Yukl: "Organizational Leadership." For a good one-stop approach and synthesis of TL, get this. While not groundbreaking, it is practical and useful for leaders and thus I recommend it.

This book is great! Feedback from my Advanced Leadership Studies graduate students at the Johns Hopkins University was unanimous. The mostly MBA students felt it was easy to read and understand, without a lot of jargon. The text presents a sound research base, yet many students described it as a good "how-to" book that includes clear methods for putting leadership concepts into practice in the workplace. Students gained helpful strategies for becoming and helping others become transformational leaders.

This book presents an excellent synthesis of the major theories that have defined the framework within which leadership is currently explored and practiced. Furthermore, it offers a clear and well defined stream of logic that will provide readers the opportunity to identify and implement some changes in their lives that could make a difference in the way they lead and follow. The crisp and concise presentation, the smooth flow, and the nice balance of theory and practice embedded within its content makes this book a valuable resource for students, researchers, consultants, and managers alike - as well as anyone else who would like to enhance and broaden their views on leaders and leadership.

My mom had the original of this book from when she was a child and she read it to me when I was young. It is almost impossible to find a copy of the original these days so I was thrilled that there is a new version available. I wish it were not abridged, but it still tells the wonderful tale of the Little Squeegy Bug, Lamplighter of the Skies. My daughter will grow up with this treasure as well.

We got this book from the library and ever since my daughter read it for the first time she has been talking about Squeegy Bugs continually. The illustrations are wonderful, and the story is very simple and nice (and my daughter said to add this..."cats!" In other words, the only thing that this book is missing for my young daughter is cats. Also check out the website for the publisher. It is fabulous. It has a fun couple of games based on the book. Very nicely done.

This is such a great book. The story is so cute about a little bug trying to find who he is. I think it helps teach kids that everyone is different and special. The illistrations are wonderful as well. I think it's a very captivating book for all ages. My daughter is only 2 and she enjoys listening to it and looking at the neat pictures. And of course it caputred my heart, why else would I write a great review!? :O)

The Little Squeegy Bug is a children's picture book collaboratively written by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson, and with colorful illustrations by Patrick Corrigan featuring soft, muted hues around a theme of deep blue evening sky. This charming and entertaining tale for young readers is about a courageous little squeegy bug who doesn't know what type of insect he is or where he came from; he is looking for something special to distinguish himself from the other insects, until his quest leads him to wise spider, who gives the squeegy bug a starlight and gives him the name Firefly. The Little Squeegy Bug is a heartwarming, highly enjoyable story to read aloud to young children right before bedtime.

The little squeegy bug didn't know who or what he was. He wasn't an ant or a cricket or even a flea and he wanted to find his purpose in life. When he met Buzzer the Bumblebee, he decided he wanted to be special, just like him. But how could he find a pair of silver wings and a stinger? Buzzer tells Squeegy he'll have to touch the sky to get a beautiful pair of silver wings like his. So that's just what he tried to do. He spent three days climbing the tallest thing he knew of, a cattail, certain it must touch the sky. But on the third evening, he was caught in a terrible storm and saved from certain disaster by a very nice caterpillar, who took him in and gave him a place to sleep. The next morning, the two travel to the web at the very end of the cattail and consult with the all-knowing, Haunchy the Spider. Haunchy weaves Squeegy a beautiful pair of silver wings for his back. But there is no stinger. Instead, Haunchy reaches up and grabs the brightest star in the night sky, attaches it to Squeegy's bottom and names him Squeegy the Firefly, the Lamplighter of the Sky..... Originally published in 1946, Bill Martin Jr, Michael Sampson and Pat Corrigan have teamed up to create this new version of a timeless classic. Their gentle, magical, understated text is enhanced by their high-tech geometric illustrations and together they've authored an innovative and creative story that will mesmerize youngsters with its simple message and bright, bold, textured artwork. Perfect for kids 4-8, The Little Squeegy Bug is an uplifting treasure to read and share again and again, and pass down from one generation to the next.