Robertson Books

There are two great things to say about this book: First, Doug has done some truly unique research into the information processing capacity of previous civilizations. This is eye-opening in and of itself. But, second, Doug explains how these increases in information processing capacity lead to abrupt "phase changes" -- transitions in the fundamental structure of civilization. For example the transition from monarchy to democracy -- only possible with the printing press, and not before, or the scientific revolution, and the industrial revolution, again not possible before the invention of the printing press. He uses this to predict a "phase change" in the future as a result of the computer revolution -- that's why he says the invention computer is the beginning of (a new) civilization. He doesn't speculate much on what this future will look like, only saying the world after previous "phase changes" was impossible based on what came before, and this one should be no different. I give the book "4" stars because he goes off on quite a few pointless tangents -- his writing style improves noticably in his second book, "Phase Change". But even though Doug's books were not bestsellers, I belive everyone in the futurist community should read this book and "Phase Change" (which basically expands the chapters on the future of math and science into another whole book). I say futurists should read these books because futurists talk endlessly about Moore's Law and exponential change and exponential "progress" -- but "progress" does not occur as a smooth curve, exponential or otherwise. Instead, information processing capacity increases "in the background", but every so to cause an abrupt "phase change" to explode out of nowhere and utterly restructure society. Historians almost never mention the role of information technology in these revolutions. Doug's book is the first I've seen to zero in on this concept and convince you that it really happens. After reading Doug's book you will stop expecting the future to be a smooth extrapolation of the present (either linear or exponential, as promulgated by futurists such as Ray Kurzweil), and instead start thinking about what discontinuities/ruptures/surprises future "phase changes" might bring -- how civilization could be restructured into something unrecognizable from the world we live in today. I believe this is an important shift in perspective. Doug's thinking style is highly influenced by mathematics, so if you enjoy math and thinking in a logical, rigorous manner, you will enjoy Doug's books.

As a nonscientist who is deeply interested in how computers will advance our ability to lead productive, meaningful, and rewarding lives, I found this book to be very provocative and helpful. Instead of looking only at business or computer science, the author extends in many different directions to consider how computers could change the potential, fabric, and value of our lives. Not being knowledgeable in some of the fields, I found it helpful to have a tour guide who could explain what remains to be done in terms of problem solving and creating better mouse traps. While no one person can be expected to anticipate such an exciting and unpredictable future very well, the author does a great job of referring to many of my favorite works on how computer technology can transform the way we do things like education, entertainment, and so forth. Anyone who has ever enjoyed reading science fiction to help imagine what could come in the future will find this book rewarding. I found the work solid except with regard to population growth, where the author failed to put two and two together. The rise of education and income has a very depressing effect on the birth rate, so much so that demographers argue that the economically developed countries should have declining populations by the middle of next century. Eventually, this trend will spread more broadly to the rest of the world, and should be complete before the end of the next century. But I leave that for you to consider. I strongly urge you to read and enjoy this outstanding book. The excerpt that you can access by clicking on the excerpt button above on the left of this page on Amazon.com is well worth your time, and you will want to read the whole book after you have looked at that chapter. I thought that this exerpted chapter was the best multidisciplinary description of the implications of computers compared to past information explosions that I have seen. One of the strengths of this book is that it points to the untapped potential of computers rather than just focusing on what the best practices of the past have been. The woods are full of the later, and they are dated by the time they are published -- especially most of the Internet books. You have a real treat in front of you, which should inspire you to make more practical use of computers to advance what you care about.

To a majority of executives in organizations, Robertson offers a remarkably well-organized and well-written "briefing" on computer technologies which can help them to formulate appropriate strategies and tactics to compete more effectively. I do not damn with faint praise when pointing out that very little of the material in the book is new, earth-shaking, etc. But it is rock-solid. Robertson examines the evolution of language, the accumulation and evaluation of information enabled by language, modes of communication by which to share that information, and new technologies which create almost unlimited opportunities to communicate with almost anyone, anywhere, and at any time. My strong suggestion to those who purchase this book is that they read it in combination with Borgmann's Holding On to Reality and Pinker's The Language Instinct and How the Mind Works.

To live at the beginning of a new era is exciting; to do so and understand what is happening is a rare privilege. Douglas Robertson offers to share this privilege with us by presenting his vision of a world transformed by computers in the not-too-distant future. It is an upbeat peek at the future, devoid of the gloomy forecasts of some "future shock" science fiction adventures. As with all penetrating portrayals of the future, The New Renaissance is provocative and draws controversial conclusions. I often found myself arguing with the book -- and not always winning, as I read the elaboration of one of the book's more surprising assertions. For example, I could accept "synthespians" figuring importantly in future entertainment (p 157), but I could not believe they would be an acceptable replacement for athletes. Yet, what if the real competition were at a different level, and the synthespian athletes were used to provide visualization?

The author brings to this work the unusual combination of scientist-technologist and historian-philosopher. His future-world view is upliftingly optimistic about the triumph of the human spirit. By virtue of his education, Dr. Robertson is comfortable with a professional mathematical approach to problem solving. But he keeps this well in the background, using only high-school mathematics in the discussion, and even that quite sparingly. In an engaging and accessible style, he examines several aspects of the human enterprise and projects their restructure based on the emerging ability of ordinary people and specialists alike to access and manipulate vast amounts of information with ease. The restructuring he describes is deep and pervasive, yielding a world as different from ours as was the previous turn of the millennium. He uses historical precedent to motivate and justify his vision of the immensity of the changes he sees coming.

In the final chapter, Robertson rejects the notion put forth by others -- some quite prominent, whom he names -- that we will run out of frontiers. He puts the case in historical perspective and then makes a logical argument about a future in which humans have universal freedom from "tedious and mindless labor" and are able to spend their lives exploring the marvels of the universe, the arts, mathematics, and science. He calls this a minimal list; to it I would add philosophy, sports, adventure, and possibly new classes of activities not yet dreamt of in our transitional world. This portion alone of Robertson's vision of the future makes the book worth reading. For the totality of his projection, the book is an important experience for any open minded person.

A significant amount of the material in this fascinating new look at a historical-revolution-in-the-making was used in a course that Dr. Robertson and I taught to beginning, non-mathematical students here at the University of Colorado. It quickly became apparent that one of the students favorite parts of the course was the material upon which Dr. Robertson lectured, primarily because the students could clearly see his main points in their evaluations of the world around them. As the Director of the Colorado Center for Chaos & Complexity, I am certainly persueded that the advent of the computer may well mark a turning point in human history, the likes of which we have not seen before. As the invention of language and writing in ancient times heralded the onset of human culture, and in Bronowski's words, "the ascent of man", so too did the printing press allow the dissemination of information to a far wider audience than had then been possible. And now comes the computer, combining far more efficient communication, information archival and processing, together with perhaps the beginnings of true artificial intelligence. We can only begin to speculate at the impact these developments will have on future history -- surely they will be of major importance. I have personally recommended this book to a number of my colleagues and friends who are interested in the impact that computers are having on contemporary society.

I loved what this book represented - a large variety of voices from many walks of life in the African American community to address a disease that has been silent within the community. Each piece was short as well as engaging and held my attention. I feel that the format can be useful for engaging many ages and gender within the community. It lends itself to be a great tool for educating the community.
Pamela Payne Foster, author of "is there a balm in Black America?"

Have you ever heard an unpleasant story or watched a horrific event on the TV newscast and thought "Oh no, not me?" Most of us have at one time or another. "Not in my Family," a collection of observations by various African Americans, examines this response in the context of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and HIV infection. Edited by journalist Gil L. Robertson IV, contributors to this compilation include celebrities such as Mo'nique and Hill Harper, activists such as Reverend Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson, and ordinary folk whose names we would not recognize. Each contributor shares with the reader his or her perception of AIDS and HIV infection, usually through an essay, but sometimes through a poem or a speech.
[...] This is enough to make one sit up and take notice. Although the book contains much statistical data on AIDS and HIV, it also contains many stories of individuals who are living with this disease or have personally felt its impact. Some of the contributors share their stories of how they contracted HIV, and the manner in which they or their families coped. Others share how they first became conscious of the disease when it first came to the fore in the early 1980's.
The book examines many of the deep seated prejudices we hold about HIV and AIDS, and the way these prejudices have aided the escalation of the disease in the African American community. The issues most frequently discussed were people's perception of HIV/AIDS as a "gay" disease, and the still widely held belief that one can be infected by casual contact such as a hug or a handshake. Since HIV/AIDS is sexually transmitted, the issue of sex also looms large throughout the book.
For me, the most poignant story was that of a [...]Many contributors to the book discuss society's perceptions of "the kind of people" that contract the disease, and the factors in our community which have most impact on its spread. Among the factors discussed is the "down low" phenomenon, and the black church's position regarding homosexuality and sex outside of marriage.
Be warned! Although the book is well written and well edited, it sometimes contains adult language as the editor apparently sought to maintain the authenticity of the contributors' feelings and expressions. The "in your face" language of some of the contributors seems geared to shock. It seems their justification for this is to rouse the reader out of complacency into at least awareness if not activism.
Overall, the book will cause you to examine your attitudes toward the disease and toward people who are living with the disease. For example, one contributor questions, would you date someone who was HIV positive? Well, would you? It will also make you pay more attention to the impact the disease is having on our people here in the United States as well as in the Diaspora. The views expressed by the contributors range from conservative to ultra liberal, from conspiracy theory to punishment by the almighty for too much free love. One thing on which all of the contributors seem to agree is that a cure must be found, and it must be found very soon.
I highly recommend this book because it is bound to heighten awareness and empathy with regard to HIV/AIDS and its victims. It is also quite likely to raise levels of awareness of the impact this disease has been having on black women in particular. It certainly did that for me.

This AIDS awareness books is a great way for people to learn about the horrors of AIDS what they can do to help stop this epidemic. Robertson calls on many African American figures like Patti LaBelle, Mo'Nique, and Al Sharpton and others. There were stories from everyday figures and I could honestly feel their pain. There was a poem from a poet in the beginning of the book and it was well fit to open this kind of book. Kudos to Gil for this effort, we need to support!!

Not in My Family: AIDS in the African American Community grips its readers form the opening words. This collection of personal essay by numerous celebrities including Mo'Nique, Byron Cage, Patti LaBelle and Sheryl Lee Ralph, Randall Robison, Omar Tyree, Hill Harper, Jasmine Guy and Rev. Al Sharpton is edited by Gil L. Robertson IV and explores the debilitating disease that has quietly ravage countless families in the black community.

This candid compilation pokes its head into the darkest corners of the African-American psyche and experience. A black woman faced with the infection of her beloved drug-abusing bisexual husband and a swinging corporate America nephew recalls the connection, crisis and journey of those within his own family. The account of Mr. Marcus,, the highly popular adult film star, who feel compelled to have sex on camera after being recruited in Las Vegas, reveals the historical wounds that his family's legacy inflicted upon him.

Robertson weaves personal and heart-wrenching experiences that shed light on the dire need that exists throughout the African Diaspora. This anthology should be "used to stop the enemy in his tracks," as Robertson prescribes. Not in My Family is a guide and an icebreaker. It is thought provoking, sincere and heartfelt. It is necessary.

"Black America, we have a problem.
HIV/AIDS is running rampant through our communities. Many of us are sick and dying and living in fear and shame, and many of us who aren't afflicted are living in denial, detachment, ignorant, and glass houses. Worse yet, too many people in our communities act as if they are immune to the problem altogether.
`Not me.' `Not in my family!' And that's the problem.
Not in My Family is a weapon of warfare, a tool of empowerment, and a manual on friendship. It includes lessons before dying, lessons on living, lessons on love, and lessons on letting go. It is a collection of colorful stories, hard truths, and differing opinions from people of various lifestyles strung together to teach us not only how to survive, but how to thrive in the face of HIV and AIDS.
It is a dose of truth to our community. And hopefully, the truth will make us free."
-- Excerpted from the Introduction

In the United States, AIDS is increasingly an African-American epidemic, taking a disproportionate toll on the black community where someone is ten times as likely to contract the disease as in a white neighborhood. According to Gil Robertson, many factors have contributed to the explosion of this frightening phenomenon, including "dysfunction, fear, poverty, and lack of information." In fact, he suggests, that upon close inspection, we find the causes to be almost as plentiful as the number of individuals infected.
For this reason, Robertson, decided to edit an anthology of essays by folks touched by the disease, whether they might having a loved one coping with the ailment, be personally infected, on the front lines as an activist, or modestly ministering to patients. In Gil's case, his brother, Jeffrey, was diagnosed as HIV-positive over 20 years ago, and the fallout visited upon the family in the form of "shock, fear and regret" has taken the Robertsons years to overcome.
Fortunately, Gil, a gifted, syndicated journalist whose work has appeared in Essence, Billboard, Black Enterprise and The Los Angeles Times, had the wherewithal to channel his energy positively in terms of tackling a subject which has heretofore been left woefully unaddressed. For AIDS is a scourge likely to ravage the black community exponentially unless it wakes up and faces the fact that Silence = Death.
Thus, Not in My Family: AIDS in the African-American Family is an urgent, informative, groundbreaking book because it takes AIDS out of the inner-city closet by initiating an intelligent dialogue designed to shake both brothers and sisters out of their complacency and thereby inspire everyone to action. Among the sixty or so contributors to this timely text are entertainers, such as Patti LaBelle, Jasmine Guy, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Mo'Nique and Hill Harper; physicians, including Dr. Donna Christensen, DR. James Benton and Dr. Joycelyn Elders; AIDS activists Phill Wilson and Christopher Cathcart; ministers, like Reverend Al Sharpton and Calvin Butts; best-selling authors, such as Randall Robinson and Omar Tyree; and Congressmen Barbara Lee, Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Gregory Meeks.
But just as moving as the clarion call sounded by any of these celebs, are the heartfelt stories related by relative unknowns with out any pedigree. For instance, 22 year-old Marvelyn Brown talks about how having AIDS has taught her the true meaning of friendship. Jaded judge Ivory Brown waxes poetic about her late friend and hairdresser who, before he expired, inspired her to overhaul her life by seizing the day.
Dena Gray starts her chapter with an entry from her diary which describes December 20, 1991 as "the worst day of my life," because "I found out today that I'm HIV-positive." Such a powerfully simple, straightforward, and sobering statement can't help but halt a reader in his or her tracks. Shawna Ervin, meanwhile, recounts how she reacted, at the tender age of 11, to learning that her best friend had contracted the illness via a blood transfusion, and how they remained close, in spite of the stigma, till Andrea's demise ten years later.
Filled to overflowing with such almost sacred moments, Not in My Family is a must read, but not merely as a heart-wrenching collection of moving AIDS memoirs. For perhaps more significantly, this seminal work simultaneously serves as the means of kickstarting candid dialogue about an array of pressing, collateral topics, ranging from homophobia to incarceration to brothers on the down low to low self-esteem to the use of condoms to the role of the Church in combating this virtually-invisible genocide quietly claiming African-Americana.

I found this book to be an excellent follow up companion to the author's (Ed Jaworowski) other book on fly-casting - "The Cast".
Both of these titles compliment each other very well and could very well have been combined into a single volume.
If you are looking to learn or improve your fly-casting skills, do yourself a favour and get hold of both. There are many fly-casting books available but none are better.

Ed Jaworowski has written a very user-friendly book on how to diagnose and correct common fly-casting problems. He explains problems and how to correct them in terms that even a beginner can understand. He also assures us that we do not have to have a "model" casting technique. I take Ed's book with me when I go on fly fishing trips to use as a resource if I am having problems. I highly recommend his books.

Rick Wolf
Ft Worth, TX

Ed Jaworowski's "Troubleshooting the Cast" is the most valuable (and nearly the least expensive) book in my rather substantial collection of flyfishing books. Since I bought it a few years ago I've advised everyone who has asked me about flyfishing to buy this book the same day they buy their first flyrod - or sooner. Even the most impatient person in The Republic would cherish this book because - whatever is going wrong with your cast - you can find it and fix it with this book in a matter of minutes. Once the flyboy (or flygirl) has used this book enough they will be able to "read the line" and knowing what's falling apart and how to correct it starts to become second-nature. Jaworowski's book makes it downright EASY.

It's too bad that a book like this has to be written. Ed teaches the best method of fly casting there is, so if you read the first four pages and -> practice <- what he teaches, you'll rarely experience the 32 problems that he writes about in the rest of the book.

If you insist on using an inferior casting method and are having problems, this book is the next best thing to Ed being at your side showing what's wrong and teaching what's right.

This was just the book I was looking for when I had been fly fishing for a while but started running into problems with my cast. This book anticipated all of them and provides easy solutions. Some casting books make it difficult to picture what they're doing with the rod, even with pictures. "Troubleshooting the Cast" lays it out clearly. Highly recommended.

Acorns of Love and Wisdom is a delightful book -- charming, insightful, poignant. Read it in one sitting or prolong the joy by savoring a few poems/pages a day. In addition, it makes a fabulous gift.

In no way does Steve Robertson, at 6'4: tall a"d 255 lb., fit the stereotypical image of the sensitive, soft-spoken poet. In fact, there's nothing delicate about the rugged, hulking frame of the coach/athlete, educator/author, except his heart. The compassion in Steve's heart is reflected in his poetry and his art. In "Acorns of Love and Wisdom," a lifetime of experience is described in words of beauty, wonder tragedy and triumph. With threads of love, humor, irony and elegance, Steve weaves a spellbinding tapestry of life.
Susan D. Brandenburg, Journalist

Steve Robertson, in his first poetry collection, presents an assortment of poems that speak to the heart.

Poems about family and friends, as well as the time-honored subject of love, come to the reader in a beautifully illustrated book. Steve Robertson is an accomplished illustrator, and his poems show that this man who is talented in art also has capability in the world of words.

His book of poetry offers a ready welcome mat to the reader, and the poems are very accessible, with emphasis on confessional and narrative offerings. The book offers an opportunity for those reflective moments that only the genre of poetry can provide.

Truely remakable prose written in a style that all peoples of every day life can relate to. There is something here for everyone, be it reflections of ones years gone by, or hopes for the years to come. If after a tired day at the office or long day with the kids, simply sit down and open this little book and I promise you that within a short time the burdens of life will seem as distant as the Milky way. Michael Strickland

Acorns of Love and Wisdom is a delightful book -- charming, insightful, poignant. Read it in one sitting or prolong the joy by savoring a few poems a day. In addition, it makes a fabulous gift.

Blinky Bill was first introduced to Australian children in the 1930s. Dorothy Wall wrote a series of books about Blinky and his friends and his irresistible appeal as a likeable, witty and rebellious child hero quickly endeared him to children and adults alike.

He has certainly been a perennial favourite for at least three generations in my own family.

Blinky Bill is a true Australian larrikin: fiercely independent, eternally mischievous and extraordinarily brave. His capacity to get into (and out of scrapes) is unparalled. Blinky Bill's friends include an assortment of Australian animals: who generally interact as children would like to but usually within some recognisable boundaries of their own species.

The Adventures of Blinky Bill have never been out of print, and were adapted for television in the 1980s.

I recommend this book to all readers. Those with small children can read the stories with them, older children will enjoy exploring the adventures of Blinky Bill for themselves and adults can discover (or rediscover) a wonderful childhood experience.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

A children's story, of course, this is the adventures or a mischievous koala. Definitely fun.

Bill gets up to the usual sort of things that kids get up to around the parents, but he takes it a bit further, in a Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn kind of level of mucking around.

10 years or so ago, I bought a copy of the Blinky Bill kids stories during a trip to Australia. I basically walked into a bookshop with a reasonably good children's section and asked them to steer me in the direction of the most popular kids book for 3 to 5 year olds. Blinky Bill was the answer. I bought it as a present for a nephew. He loved it, so did his sisters and so do my kids when they get a chance to have my brother read them a story.

The tale of a baby Koala (Blinky Bill) separated from his mother due to his curiosity and naughtiness. We join Blinky as he encounters various Australian bush creatures (Angelina Wallaby, Mrs Snake and others) and his inevitable run-in with humans.

The illustrations are delightful, the characterisations are superb and the story is really good fun for 2 - 6 year olds. Older readers will enjoy reading this story to someone younger!

The issues of habitat destruction, hunting and extinction are dealt with seriously but in a way that children can relate to. It should be noted that this story was first published in 1939 - long before there was public awareness of these problems.

This is always in print in Australia and just about every child has a copy bought for them. Clearly the relevance for American children would not be as great, however it is well worth reading to them anyway if you're after something different.

Blinky is just like most children, sometimes naughty, sometimes sweet, and always up to something. I picked up a copy in Australia a long time ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult. I have read it time and again to my daughter (age 5), and she never tires of hearing of the adventures of Blinky, Snubby, Nutsy and all the others. I think this is a book that, even though about Australian creatures and the bush, transcends that to appeal to all children about the kinds of escapades children experience. I highly recommend it.

I don't understand why so many science texts are overwrought and redundant. Worst of all, you end up paying premium prices for poor content, circuitous writing, and an inefficient organization of topics. The real coup de grace comes about when instructors recommend student companion texts with a sly wink and a nudge.

Fortunately, resources like the 'Color Atlas of Biochemistry' are as affordable as they are efficient and useful. It will prove to be an invaluable reference, study aid, and a more adequate companion text than those offered by the more popular publishers.

Far be it from me to suggest that you hurt your instructor's coffers by using this book as a primary source, but it would certainly be a great addition to your library.

This book is perfect for teaching new Takeda reps the biochemsitry of diabetes and insulin resistance. This book isn't just for SWOTs wither! Join in the fun...get this book now!

This book is perfect for teaching new Takeda reps the biochemsitry of diabetes and insulin resistance. This book isn't just for SWOTs either! Join in the fun...get this book now! Steve...thanks for being such an inspiration!

I've recommended this book to my closest friends. You all are included.

I wish I had this book when I started my studies. It makes an excellent companion for reading with Voet & Voet. The illustrations are superb, worth memorizing, and supplement the excellent illustrations in Voet. Very easy to follow. The overview diagrams bring a great deal of information together visually.

I was given the "Color Atlas of Biochemistry" as a gift midway through my undergraduate career. It has been an invaluable study aid--the illustraions are plentiful and very clear and the text is well organized and packed full of useful information. It's perfect for when you want to just get down to the critical information instead of having to dig for it in a bloated textbook. I have gotten more use out of this book than any other during my studies. Even for a graduate student, this book is perfect for refreshing your memory on subjects you haven't studied in a while. Highly recommended.

The recipes in "The Country Gourmet" spin a tale of comfort as well as good eats. The remembrances of the author's mama and her love of food and life does more than feed the reader's soul, it gives the reader hope that there is truly more to life than getting out of bed each day; there are wonderful dishes to prepare and delicious people to get to know and break bread together with. TWO THUMBS way up for this amazingly inspiring cookbook/biography chronicling a daughter's love for her mother and her mother's cooking.

This isn't just another cook book. From its paperback form to its wonderful stories this is a great novel. This is the type of book that you curl up with. You read and cry; read and drool. This book isn't just about great food; but it is also about a family that experienced the wonderful South and lived to write about it. These people were happy with their cornbread dressing and gumbo. They didn't need fancy foods to be happy. This book makes you think of your own experiences in life and helps you to remember what a wonderful thing food is. I recently made Cornbread Dressing and Sweet Potatoe Suffle and got many compliments on it. There wasn't enough they could say about it. I enjoyed just curling up with this heart-warming book of memories and great food.

The `Country Gourmet Book' authored by Margie Robertson Toone is a collection of recipes and poignant childhood memories combined to make a interesting read. Ah, the Southern life style sure sounds appetizing. Just reading the vividly described moments in time and imagining the smells of foods added pounds to my ever expanding rear compartment. Imagining the toasty kitchen, hearing the sounds of bacon frying and the smell of breads baking took me back to my Grandma's little log cabin in the hills of West Virginia. The recipes are simple and easy to prepare in contrast to other recipe books that require one to travel to foreign lands to search for unusual spices or where one has to take out a second mortgage to afford the ingredients. The Country Gourmet is a MUST HAVE for those cooks who just want to serve a good UNCOMPLICATED and appealing meal for their family and friends while making memories that last a lifetime! T. Y. Green, Author

"The Country Gourmet" is a textbook for the Culinary Artist whose heart has never left mama's kitchen. Any cookbook would be a rare find, indeed, if it can lure me away from my 48 oz, yellow and blue Bisquick box, send me scrambling through fridge and cupboard for scratch ingredients, many of which are in boxes, layered with the dust of disuse -all this for the promise of a true country biscuit. They took me about 10 minutes longer to prepare, but hey! I give that up to the Zen-like experience of its preparation. In fact, for all us in this fast-food, microwaveable, just-add-water-and-bake generation, an enterprising author should write a book called "Zen and the Art of Biscuit Making." The theme would be "slow down and enjoy the process."

But wait! Someone has! Margie Robinson-Toone (the name itself suggests a Zen koan) with her "The Country Gourmet" has written the definitive cookbook whose theme could easily be: "Tomorrow, of itself, will come... so today, enjoy the moment. Savor the food on the plate before you. Whether you prepared it, or someone prepared it for you... it was prepared with love."

At the risk of being anti-climactic there is more: While the bacon is sizzling in the cast iron skillet, and the eggs are a-scrambling, what better to do while occasionally glancing at the biscuits' progress than read one or two of the anecdotal yarns that are peppered throughout this delightful cookbook. And what better one to read while watching the oven than a tale about what some mischievous children, years ago, did with some uncooked biscuits and some old boots. No, I won't spoil the punch-line, but I will tell you it will leave you chuckling long after your last biscuit has sopped up what's left of the gravy on your plate.

Above all, remember that life is short. So enjoy the experience of it.

Margie Robertson-Toone's, The Country Gourmet, is so much more than a regular country cookbook. Filled with tales of her childhood and family, it's an open invitation to sit a spell with her and enjoy some of the finest home-cookin' in the United States. The recipes are easy to follow and delicious. Not to be missed are her Thanksgiving Turkey, Cornbread Dressing, and Turkey Gravy. All the recipes in the book are filled with comfort and great taste.

Altogether, this is one of the best cookbooks I've ever read. Definitely a must-have in every kitchen.

We Are One In Spirit
Describe in words the New World Symphony so that I can have the experience of it. That is the task Jon Robertson offers as a challenge equal to that of attempting to help people experience the Creative Spirit by using words to do so. In making this comparison, he is confessing that he realizes that his intentions for writing his book, Fire and Light: An Off-Road Search for the Spirit of God (Celestial Arts) will be difficult to achieve. When asked questions about spiritual matters, I've regularly used the silent motto, "spirit unites, words divide," worried that a verbal answer will most likely lead to confusion or distraction rather than to enlightenment. For a person who makes a living with words, I often wish, when coming up on stage to give a "talk," that I could serenade the audience instead. Aesthetic experiences, rather than intellectual ones, seem to be a more natural doorway to the spiritual.
Jon, a professional writer and editor, handles this challenge first by demonstrating just how universal is the experience of spirit, regardless of its name. Quotations from the world's religious and spiritual literature offer proof that Spirit does not pay attention to theology. Jon shares his own stories, and the stories of many others who've had realizations of Spirit in their lives. Such stories exemplify Cayce's attitude that we do a better service to others when we share of our experiences than when we preach from things we've read. Stories invite empathy, explanations invite thought.
Shortly after being introduced to Edgar Cayce, I had a dream in which a white dove comes down out of the sky and nestles in my chest, letting me know I am loved. In the inaugural issue of Venture Inward magazine, I wrote about that dream and how it led to my spiritual recovery from alcoholism. Years later, as Spirit continues to have its way with me, I've become a "recovering intellectual," developing more trust in other ways of knowing, even it sometimes means sacrificing understanding. I had a dream, for example, where I am at a circus arcade attempting to "win" the white dove by throwing a lapis lazuli stone at it. As I ready my swing, the dove flies up into the air and lands on my shoulder, showing that you can't win what is a gift. Sometimes the attempt to understand is an attempt to win control. There's the paradox to spirituality. As a spiritual being having a human experience, the human strives to attain what is already present. "Be still," quit trying to understand, but "know, I am God."
It's easier said than done. Jon identifies the qualities of Spirit--immortality, the "I am" awareness, inwardness, unity, creativity, freedom, love and the male/female dynamic--and he explores what we might refer to as the "technology of spirit," such as the Golden Rule, kindness, service, patience, etc. The dilemma arises because even though following the Golden Rule helps make our actions consistent with Spirit, following the rules isn't the same as being inspired. It depends upon "who" is following the rules.
After my conversion from active alcoholism to being a recovering alcoholic, my way of being in the world changed, from envisioning myself as a powerful motor boat to being a sailboat, a shift from the illusion of "self-reliance," to an appreciation for learning the skill that allows one to flow with the wind. It was a shift from being a race car driver, so proud of the impressions one can make upon the audience, to being a humble chauffeur, serving a higher power whose intentions were my driving instructions.
"Less and less of me, more and more of God" is a universal spiritual prayer. The paradox is that the more effort we put into it, the stronger becomes the "me" who is making the effort. Maybe the solution is to let Spirit to the work.
Spirit is universally envisioned in the breath. Meditating upon the breath would seem to be a natural way to experience the activity of Spirit, both within oneself, and also among us all, for we breathe that same air, propelled by that same force of life. Yet I've found that even within the "mindfulness meditation" tradition," which uses the breath as a focus, there seems to be no receptivity to the Spirit within the breath itself. Instead the breath is used primarily as a mental anchor in the attempt to "hold on to awareness." Holding on is hard work.
Here is the prayer for meditation that the Spirit within the breath has taught me: "I can be aware of the breathing and at the same time let it be. I can let go of the breathing and let Spirit breathe me. I trust the inspiration and am grateful for this gift of life. Spirit breathes me and gives me love to share. Thank you. Thank you." With such a meditation, I can retire from having myself as a "job," from having the responsibility to create a spiritual "makeover" of myself. Henry Reed henry@henryreed.com

I am enjoying the book and agree with his major thesis that the Spirit is around and in us. It's an intellectual explanation of something that is beyond intellectual and resides in experiences, so it can help those who turn off works of the Spirit because they can't intellectually believe it.

Fire & Light expresses a personal approach to experiencing the divine. The book links people of various centuries, regions, religions, and lifestyles through individualized but simultaneously universal experiences of divine spirit. Though the author incorporates plenty of historical context and facts, it is the unpretentious, honest, and open way that Robertson's theories and ideas are presented that make this book stand out. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in a down to earth, modern perspective of a timeless topic.

Jon Robertson has provided a universal, nondenominational path to follow if your longing is to know Spirit, answering the questions you may have about how it has moved throughout history and how it is moving perhaps even more powerfully today. Many of us feel a wave of Spirit crossing the world at this time, whispering to open hearts and minds everywhere: "Awaken, awaken. It is time." Perhaps you are also feeling the call to turn to Spirit.

This beautifully written book--filled with inspiring stories, wisdom, and very practical advice; by turns intimate, warm, and funny--is for those who want to find or deepen their relationship with the Spirit or Presence of God, which is everywhere, in all times, and in all people, guiding, inspiring, helping. Before you have even finished it, you will trust--if you don't already--in both the reality of Spirit (through the dozens of stories of people like you and me) and in the complete availability of its presence in your life.

If you are ready to find or deepen your oneness with the Spirit and are looking for a guidebook, Jon's will serve you better than any other I have seen. He and the Spirit have together brought forth a book of living water.

Stuart Dean

I found Jon Robertson's Fire and Light very comforting. It was familiar territory to me since I, too, have been searching for the spirit throughout my life. His research was so in depth and his many interviews served to heighten the sense of human unity. Some of Jon's conclusions felt like old friends; some were brilliantly new and obviously inspired by the Spirit. His style was journalistic in that it was extremely fair, even loving to every possible point of view. Bravo!

Since I am a BBQ'er, I appreciated this video and book. It is packed with useful information and takes a hands-on approach that is great. The host actually shows how to make his food, and gives some great ideas on how to market and save money. The only thing I would ask for is an explaination on how to price items.

The videos are excellent, it's as if a friend was showing you how to do the business and be successful. Even if you are not planning to do a BBQ concession this package will show you "tricks of the trade" on marketing, operations and using ready-made products with your own twist.
Thanks to the author I learned a lot.

This was by far the best purchase I made on amazon this year. I enjoyed watching the DVD's that covered far more than I expected.

I have always wanted to have my own restaurant, but never have been able to get it together. The trailer food business is more my thing, as I can leave it parked in my backyard when I don't want to sell. I had trouble finding information on the subject of mobile food vending and I wish I would have seen this course earlier. It has taught me a lot about this business. The film showed interesting background info and a lot of food being prepared for resale. The ribs looked delicious and I now always cook my ribs this way. Watching the procedure is like being there and much better than just reading about it...

The book is easy to follow and covers pretty much everything I needed to know. I am not much of a chef, but people were all impressed by the food I prepared the way it is described in the book. I fed over 300 people in one day by myself at our block party and made good money doing it. This guide was very helpful to me in my rural area. It also made me feel like I can actually put a business like this together in my spare time.

I originally bought this for my husband and ended up watching the DVD's with him. They are really packed with a lot of information and with valuable tips from a real professional.

Now BBQ became our first choice of foods to sell. The recipes in the film are truly wonderful and turned out well the first time we tried them. We also will focus on Tex-Mex foods that are very popular in our area.

The book gave us lots of good ideas that we will use in our own business. The author is right: cooking for fun is one thing- cooking for money is another! It was good to watch someone else do it first. Probably saved me from making lots of mistakes!

Overall, I am extremely happy with this purchase and I am glad I found it!

To address some of the questions that the reader might have:

* This course is very easy to digest but will take about 4-5 hours of your time.
* It covers a great deal of many different subjects related to concession sales.
* Previous experience in this field is not necessary.
* The Dvd's give several good menu suggestions next to full instructions on preparing a variety of barbecue meals.
* Mr. Robertson shows a lot of experience and enthusiasm in his field.
* There is an Index of links as well as recipes towards the end of the book.

The author did an excellent job at describing ways how to get started in your own concession vending business. I have been operating a ball game concessions stand for over 8 years, next to my day job as a teacher and I have become quite experienced in this field. I know that there is a lot of money to be made with food sales. At sports events, the food and drinks are an essential part of the whole fun, no matter how pricey they are. The only drawbacks are the ever increasing concession fees to set up at the games. This is yet another reason, why owning a business as an independent operator makes a lot of sense.

After reviewing this course, I was able to learn a great deal more about concession sales. If you are thinking about starting out in this field, I can highly recommend it!

As a retired, long-term public school educator and former librarian, I was extremely impressed with Journey to a Free Land. Theda Robertson makes history come to life by re-creating the story of her own personal encounter with an elder in the neighborhood who taught the community's children about their brave and honorable legacy. She weaves a historical tale about newly-freed slaves with a lesson for us all in a way that is engaging, entertaining, and educational all at the same time. And as one who has always believed that children must be exposed to an extensive vocabulary, I must say that the glossary in the back is excellent! I highly recommend this book.

It was a thrill finally to be able to read Mrs. Robertson's book on Nicodemus, KS. The story is a compelling one, especially for children learning more about what made the USA what it is today. A special commentary on a treasured aspect of black history. The illustrations are appropriate, colorful and in a few cases, poignant.
Thank you for making this available to your public.

This is a beautifully written story of the first black town west of the Mississippi-- Nicodemus. Its characterizations of the people and the times are so vivid it makes you feel like you are sitting at your grandmother's knee and listening to your family history. When you read it to young children, you not only have the aid of the beautiful illustrations but a glossary to help explain the unfamiliar words or concepts that have been italicized in the text.

Theta Robertson sets the stage within the first few pages and captures the reader's attention throughout. This historical account of the first black settlement of former slaves west of the Mississippi, works well as a "read aloud" book for elementary and middle school children as well as for independent reading. One can't help but feel the excitement of little Sally as she enjoys all the fun a carnival can bring to a small country town. The reader can identify with Sally and reflect back at how excited they were when stories were read to them by a person who seemed larger than life with a "glint" in their eye, just like Mrs. Goins. Certain key words that may not be part of a young persons' vocabulary are written in italics and lets the reader know that further attention and explanation is needed and will follow. The glossary is very informative and provides further incite into the context. The research information, including websites and bibliography provide authenticity to the story and perhaps could be explored before or immediately after reading this historical tale. As a Library Media Specialist for over 30 years I know that this story is a much needed addition to African American historical collections for young people.

A story told with historical facts that are interesting.
After reading this story you want to travel to Nicodemus to meet
the characters. The glossary, people and places at the end of the
book are features that teachers and students will appreciate.

Mrs. Robertson tells the story as if the characters are/were personal
friends of hers and her family. This book should be read by
all elementary and middle school students.

It tells the story of the hardships, friendships and resources needed to
build a town from scratch.