Shaw Books

The Riddles of Epsilon was amazing! It has an intriguing plot, and makes you think. You have to work out the riddles and who is on who's side to fully understand it. I'm not going to include the summary, because I'm not good at writing those, but I highly recommend the book.

the Riddles of Epsilon is a great book, and i really enjoyed it. Suspenseful, inspiring, exciting...it is all these and more! it is about a girl, who finds herself caught up in an ancient legend that is taking effect today. if she fails, her mom is a goner. loved the book soooo much that i bought it. you'll love it too.

This is a really good book. Once I picked it up, I couldn't stop reading it. I finished it all in one night. I have read a lot of books, and they all fell into patterns except for some. This one just woke me up. If you are an avid reader and need something refreshing, read this. I recommend it.

This is a really good book. Once I picked it up, I couldn't stop reading it. I finished it all in one night. I have read a lot of books, and they all fell into patterns except for some. This one just woke me up. If you are an avid reader and need something refreshing, read this. I recommend it.

When she gets into some trouble at school, Jess's parents think they have the perfect solution: they'll move to Lume, an island in the middle of nowhere. She thinks there is absolutely nothing interesting about Lume--until she discovers a derelict old cottage. There's something creepy about the cottage--some sort of presence that Jess can't describe. It turns even weirder and scarier when that same presence shows up in her instant message conversations--with no record of it on her computer.

This ghostly being, whatever he is, is soon revealed to be the owner of the cottage. He calls himself Epsilon, and he is leading Jess on a dark sort of treasure hunt--where the treasure, if she solves his riddles properly, will be saving her mother.

The eerie quest mirrors that of Sebastian Wren, a boy who lived in the same house, and faced the same dangers, a hundred years ago. Can Jess succeed where Sebastian did not?

This supernatural mystery/fantasy is certainly a suspenseful page-turner, but, in the end, it is quite forgettable. It's a nice way to pass an afternoon. The best part of the story is the heart-pounding suspense! It's great for that, and it'll have you checking nervously over your shoulder at times. It's even good enough for me to want to look for more by Christine Morton-Shaw, but I might check it out of the library first rather than buying it.

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

This was my first Robert Goddard novel, and after reading this book in less than 24 hours I can certainly be considered a new fan.

I simply could not put this book down. It did what every good thriller should be able to do -- transfix you and make you want to turn the page to see what happens next. It was the twists that kept me reading this book. However, they are not so frequent that you expect a twist at the end of every chapter. There are just enough thrown in to make you reconsider every time you think you've sorted out what is really going on.

Reading the other reviews posted here, I was a little concerned about all the flashbacks that this novel uses. But upon reading the book I found it no problem at all. It is not overdone and they are all contexualised with modern day events. One will have no problem at all keeping track of things.

I was glued to this novel for the better part of a day, reading it in very quick time. I simply had to find out what was going to happen next! If you like that in a thriller, then you will greatly enjoy this novel.

Goddard follows in that fine English tradition of crafting intense mysteries that are, prehaps, more refined than their American counterparts. This book was recommended to me by a British friend as being 'very British' and indeed it is so. For those who wish there was one more Agatha Christie novel.

This was my first Goddard book and I was pleased with the excellent plot and how he weaves the characters together. Is a tad bit dry and loses the supsense because the book starts out in current time and the rest is flashbacks until the end. Too many flashbacks used as well -- you find yourself having to organize yourself. A family tree would have helped too so that you can keep all the characters straight.

This was an interesting story with not much suspense. The prose flows seamlessly, however, and you find yourself continuing your read, even though you're a bit bored.

The writing is good, but I was never captivated. It is easy to put down and take up again--no angst about how late it's getting--"I bet I can read one more chapter and get up 10 minutes later..." This book would be worth reading if you're a Goddard fan. If you're not, this is not the way to discover him!

This was my first Robert Goddard book and I was pleasantly surprised. Goddard's writing evokes a sense of place almost as strong as those created by P.D. James. I don't think all of Goddard's characters are as well drawn as they might have been, but he does a good job with the Great Uncle, Christian, and Nicky. "Simone" is over the top at times, and her character stretched my suspension of disbelief pretty taut.

The plot reminded me of LeCarre's "Perfect Spy" or Deborah Crombie's "Kissed a Sad Goodbye" with it's the twists and turns and links between the present action and the events of the past. I found it a challenge to keep things straight at times, but I anticipated almost every plot twist before it happened with a few exceptions, so either I'm pretty good at deciphering mysteries, or the plot isn't as confusing as some critics have suggested. I also think it helped to read the book in a 24 hour period.

I recommend this book. It's head and shoulders above many other mysteries I've read lately by "famous" authors.

I work in Professional Politics, and I absolutely love this book! It gives you a vast amount practical advice about running a political campaign. I describe it in my listmania list as "Pure Gold." Goes over everything you need to know about a local election. Even good a primer when working on a federal level race.

This book has been invaluable to me while serving as campaign manager for a mayoral candidate. I'd never run any kind of campaign before and this book was a great tool to help me do a better job. This book also talks about running an issue campaign. I highly recommend it!

Must of us have no clue at all what it means and what is involved in the organization of a political campaign. This book is a bible to run a campaign or to be a manager for one. It goes from the initial thinking that needs to be done before a candidate even considers running to what are the final steps when the campaign is through. Every step of the process is covered. It is really an amazing book. The only caveat that I would point out it is its strong focus on US campaigns, thus if you are not American and are thinking about campaigns outside the US this book will not cover foreign issues and also it may bias you. I.E. In other countries politicians do not raise funds in events where people go to hear them, on the contrary, many politicians especially in Latina America try to provide incentives for people to go to their speeches (of course this is controversial) and the book for example goes into this kinds of fundraising, that do not happen outside the US. In general however, it provides an excellent framework for a very organized and focused campaign.

Catherine M. Shaw provides a plethora of information on running a campaign for local office. I have read four or five books on the subject, and this one is probably the best - certainly the most thorough! There are two flaws, however: 1) Ms. Shaw's recommendations are very low-tech. She advises you to set up various notecard systems, etc., that could be much more easily handled with computer software. Using the web, blogs, etc. isn't really mentioned at all. 2) From my experience, Ms. Shaw's expectations for masses of volunteers is a little (LOT!) more than the average candidate can really hope for. Maybe if you live in a politially astute area of the country like Portland, but for us folks in the mid-west, getting even two or three volunteers for a state house campaign (of an incumbent!) is quite an accomplishment. Her recommendations assume you'll have an unpaid staff of 10, 20 or more. Still, even with these flaws in mind, this is a pretty good guide. I recommend it.

As a rookie campaign manager for a tax levy that was already defeated once, I needed to learn and learn fast. That's what this book helped me do. I've practically worn out some sections refering back to them time and time again. We are just entering the actual campaign, but I feel very confident with my campaign plan, and I am ready.

I highly recomend this book to any rookies out there!

George Harbo and Frank Samuelson are drawn to each other as Norwegian immigrants to late 19th Century America, both by their shared background and their common love for the sea on which they make their living. It's a spare living at best, though, despite the opportunities the U.S. offers that Norway does not. After years of trying to build financially successful lives, George finds himself separated from his growing family because his wife is better able to care for their children by returning to Norway; and Frank worries over his younger siblings who arrive in New York expecting to find miracles there. The friends come up with a plan to win fame, and with it (hopefully) fortune, by setting a world record. Under the sponsorship of a New York tabloid, they will row across the Atlantic Ocean. No one's ever done that before; and as New York prepares to see them off, just about everyone else seems sure they're heading to their deaths.

This clearly wasn't an easy story to tell engagingly, and I give its author plenty of credit for handling it as well as he did. The first chapters, which provide the background for the crossing itself, presented a bit of a slog for me; but the crossing was harrowing reading, the kind that kept me turning pages because knowing the ending already did nothing to allay the suspense. The tale is based solidly on documentation, despite the author's use of dialog that had to be fabricated, and the historical context provided goes a long way toward making the voyage's ironic aftermath both understandable and touching. Not the best written true adventure I've read, but a pretty good one overall.

In 1997, my cousin Jerry Bryant wrote a wonderful sea shanty/folksong simply titled "The Ballad of Harbo and Samuelson - a tribute to these two remarkable men after Jerry had completed a lot of research (but not as much as Mr. Shaw). "We'll see you in France or we'll see you in heaven, cried Harbo and Samuelson out on the bay" goes the chorus. After hearing this song, I began looking for more on this voyage, that as one previous reviewer of this book said, "has been kept a remarkable secret". And I found it in this book. Anyone with a thirst for doing the impossible, with a taste for adventure, and an amazement at the human spirit, will enjoy this book immensely - I read it in one night.

Though this story would have been exciting as a work of non-fiction, author Shaw's choice of fictionalizing the first transatlantic rowboat voyage gave him license to paint a couple of truly appealing characters and a picture of being on the ocean that left me feeling wet, tired, cold, and exhilarated after finally making port. You can't ask for more than that from a book printed on paper truly meant to be thrown away after one reading...

David W. Shaw captures the taste of salt in this well written and researched book. It is a page turner not only because of the subject matter but the author obviously knows what the sea is capable of with first hand knowledge. The reader can taste the salt and viscerally feel the ordeal these men went through. It is sad that these men were so soon forgotten and wonderful that Shaw has brought this story back to life.

Two intrepid men set out to row across the Atlantic, at a time when new exploits were filling the news. The two men thought their feat, if successful, would bring them fame and fortune. Being life long watermen, they were well suited to the daunting task, and it was a near-deadly challenge! David Shaw masterfully captures the dangers of storms at sea and the physical and emotional challenges involved. The men were Norwegian immigrants to the US and were having a difficult time earning a living in the 1890s. The idea of rowing across the Atlantic seemed to be within their capabilities and might possiblty be a path toward 'real money'. Against all odds, in an open, small row-boat, they succeeded. But they never excited the imagination of the public and their gains never materialized. If you like adventures and challenge writing, or if you like sea stories, this is for you.

I chose to read this book because it was recommended to me by my best friend. I found it to be a very good book. It has bad and good parts, but the good part by far outweigh the bad ones.
The beginning drags a little and you feel like you're getting nowhere. Just keep reading and the book gets to be very interesting after a while. It's hard to write down a prologue for the book without telling the whole thing, which is probably why the book doesn't have one.
Something I really liked about the book is that the bad guy, Nunn isn't all powerful, the book reveals his weaknesses too.
In the book, all of the neighbors at Chestnut Circle get pulled into another world by "The Dragon" who is supposedly the most powerful thing there is that controls all. Then, Nunn's soldiers capture them, kill "old man Sayre" and attempt to bring them to him. They are met up on the way by Raven and the Oomgosh. Four of the villagers kids gather up enough courage to run away from the soldiers. Soon everyone is caught up in a hunt for the dragon eyes, gems that give a person some of "The Dragon's" power. It is believed, that if you have all seven of the eyes you can control "The Dragon" and rule the Seven Islands. Obar, the good wizard is determined to get the dragon eyes, use them to destroy Nunn and prevent the dragon's wrath. Nunn however wants to rule the seven islands. It's an incredible race to get the jewels and it's so big that it's a three book series. I am hoping to read the other two books fairly soon.
I would recommend this book to mature people 12 and up. Any younger and it's probably not that good to read. It has a whole lot of blood, gore and swears. Still, if you like books with action and magic, you'll like Craig Shaw's "Dragon Sleeping." I give this book five big stars.

I read the book Dragon Sleeping. When I started this book, I had no clue that it was a series. Dragon Sleeping was written by Craig Shaw Gardener. The book was exciting, and I really loved it. When I came to the end, it left me hanging. Luckily, I found out that it was a series.
The book was about a street that was sent back in time. Everyone on the street had to fight their way throughout the book. My favorite character was Nick. Nick's sword was awesome. The way it needed to draw blood was so cool. I wonder what is going to become of Charlie.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dragons. This book is better than most books that I have read.

I started reading the Dragon Circle books in grade seven. I've read all three of the trilogy about twelve times, literally.
I found that all characters are well developed and each serves a purpose, whether it be small or large. Craig Shaw Gardner gives background information on a few characters like Todd and Mary Lou.
The plot was excellent and the book was based around a dragon but did not resolve around a dragon, if you understand me.
Those of you against Mary Sues and Marty Stus will enjoy this book the most. No character in these books is perfect, each has flaws.
What I loved most about this book is the fact that Gardner was able to put himself in the place of his teenage characters and capture their spirit almost perfectly. He was also able to understand the problems that may occur within a household.
Personally, my favorite character was Nunn, the main antagonist. Nunn gave the certain spice that each book should have. I found Nunn to be fresh and lively and unpredictable.
In this book there is really no one main character. In short these are my favorite books and I, as an eighth grade student, found them better than Harry Potter.
Craig Shaw Gardner is a truley unique writer. I've never read any books like the Dragon Circle Trilogy and hope to read more of his books. They are well written and always provide entertainment. This is truley a book that you cannot put down, no matter how many times you've read it.

The dragon sleeps
Under earth, beneath
The world of men,
Waking some, a time when
Storms rip the sky.
Still, it has yet to fly.
But when it does, the dragon
Will destroy all before it, once again.

A great storm transforms Nick's world. His street, Chestnut Circle, is closed off from the world. Overnight everything changes. Hundreds of trees are where they shouldn't be, ivy is already over-running the houses, and then the brown-clothed men come. Nick and his group of neighbors are herded into a strange world, where two wizards, brothers no less, dwell. One seems evil, the other good, yet both are strange. And the wizards are searching for someone special, someone who is in all probability NOT Nick. But first, they have to somehow manage to keep all of the neighbors in the same place at once, a task more difficult than first thought.

This book is, without a doubt, one of the greatest fantasies I have ever read. Imaginative, exciting, compelling, Gardner creates a world that is unlike anything I have met in mainstream fantasy. The characters are real, and their own stories all surface in the midst of this complex story; it is amazing that Gardner is able to maintain the underlying story throughout the series, while still keeping you interested in each character's ordeal.
Fantasy stand-bys, such as dragons and wizards, are used in the story, but only in an archetypal fashion. The wizards are closer to polititians than sorcerors, and the Dragon is more of a diety, a destructive god.
I have read and reread this series, and each time I come away with more than I had the previous time; it has become more like an old friend, than an old story. If you are a fantasy reader, this series is a MUST READ. Pity that it's no longer in print . . .

This book is helpful in understanding how to develop a painting, but the author's color mixtures are surprisingly awful. Well over half the paintings in this book show us EXTREMELY dull and chalky skies and landscapes. The author appears to have no understanding that watercolor paints have different qualities--nonstaining, staining, and opaque. Mixing and glazing these colors without understanding these differences result in the mud paintings throughout most of this book. If you compare these paintings to other watercolor books, such as those by Dobie, Carbonnetti, Nechis, Speckman, and many others, you'll see a huge difference. Jim Kosvanec's "Transparent Watercolor Wheel" [this is a book, not just a color wheel] is extremely helful in bringing out the most in watercolor.

Great book for learing to paint. Good examples and explanations for techniques. I recommend it.

This book provided step by step progessions and explanations that were easy to follow. Great for beginner or intermediate painter.

This book is one to read through to learn -- not just do the practice paintings. Being a newbie to watercolor, this book has really helped me to view nature through a different set of eyes. He helps you see the "what do I want this picture to focus on" instead of microdetailing every possible detail in view. I am now finding myself looking at nature figuring out the details and what would I want to paint as the focus. I think this book goes very well with Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Watercolor by Marian Appellof -- good pair with minimal redundancy.

By profession I am a scientist, but I have always had an interest in the visual arts. Only in the last few years have I had much time to devote to such endeavors and even then it has been rather catch as catch can. My main interest in art is in the capture of natural images (I took scientific illustration in college), but I appreciate the fact that art and stark realism may express somewhat different truths about the subject. As a rank amateur in watercolor art I also appreciate deeply such roadmap-like guide books as Ferdinand Petrie's "The Big Book of Painting Nature in Watercolor." At first the title turned me off, but in perusing a copy (and later acquiring it) I found it to be an excellent guide to capturing the essence of a natural scene in one of the most difficult of all media- watercolor (only pen and ink may be more demanding from my experience!)

The coupling of Petrie's step by step paintings and the exquisite photographs of John Shaw has produced a book that is both visually beautiful and informative. Using the techniques described and with one's own reference photos in hand (or under an open sky direct from nature) a novice painter can slowly gain the knowledge and skill necessary to succeed in producing credible paintings.

A while back a scientist colleague of mine asked me why make a painting or drawing when you can photograph any subject with clarity. As a person who takes my own reference photos and enjoys doing so I can say he has a point, but reality does not necessarily come only from an exact replication of a scene. In the process of painting from nature (or from a reference photograph) you often notice more complex details, even in apparently simple subjects, then you would ordinarily notice in a photograph by itself. Petrie has emphasized the observation of these complex details and their interpretation in watercolor. If nothing else the instructions that point the artist toward this close observation of complexity in nature are worth the price of the book.

Even though I respect C. Weinstein's comments about John Shaw's amazing book "Focus on Nature" in that I agree that you cannot inherently teach "creativity"
(something it sounds like Mr. Weinstein was looking for), I am glad he didn't overdo such comments.
After capturing very beautiful nature photography myself for many years, I can say that having owned, read and studied John Shaw's "Focus on Nature" helped put me into a higher
level of expertise. John's extraordinary work gives readers a glimpse into the mind of a truly great photographic visionary. One may understand exposure, focal lengths, aperture/shutter speed
relationships, neutral density filtration, the zone system and all the latest digital wizardry, but still may not be able to "see" what other truly great photographic artists can. Indeed, it
is that very essence which the book provided, and helped me greatly improve "seeing" as an artist, and therefore (in my case) DID teach me creativity or at least unleashed that part of my mind and
has allowed me to improve. Shaw's book, and Art Wolfe's wonderful "The Art of Photographing Nature," are the two TOP books I recommend to any upcoming nature photographer on how to improve their
composition. And any great photographer worth his or her salt knows that composition is the most difficult area to learn. Thank you John Shaw for such a wonderful look into your mind's eye.
J.Singley, Pro Photographer

This book focuses more on the why and how he took a photo than the technical stuff. Makes a great companion to his field guide.

All of John Shaw's books are great. There is some overlap between them as he goes over the basics but they are all worth a read for any aspiring nature photographer.

This book has everything you expect in a John Shaw book and more.

While there are beautiful shots and a detailed descriptions of the equipment, location and the time of that the photos where taken. The book is really more about the thought process that goes into the shot, the hardware involved, lighting, lens focusing, filters types, framing and composition.

The book also details the environment weather it's a desert conditions or lush landscape, time of day and time of season and how to handle lighting, exposure and what types of filters to use based on this.

He reminds us that sometimes there will be a good shot but patience will turn it into a great shot if you a willing to wait for light conditions to change. Look at your framing and composition and deciding what elements to emphasize and what to leave out or minimize. Practicing good stewardship of the environment and making sure to leave things as you found them.

The photography in Focus on nature is breath taking as always. While the book pre-dates digital media it does not detract in any from the book because with the exception of the discussion of film everything else is applicable to the digital and film photographer.

The book cover to cover is hi-gloss paper and all photos are in color and oh-so vibrant.

I own several of Johns books and I would have to say that alll are outstanding and this is no exception.

5 stars and then some.

I was not impressed with this book.

Very little technical data, no data on many of the excellent images in the book.

The writting was flowery and arty rather than concise with information to convey.

If your looking for a book to teach you something, I would not recommend this book.

John Shaw's Nature Photography book is, however, outstanding.

All of John Shaws books are thoughtfull, well written and aesthetically valuable. This one is specifically oriented towards Shaws photographic values, i.e. what is his view of how to photograph nature. What I took away from reading "Focus on Nature" was the abstract sense of how Shaw dedicates his techniques to achieving high quality photographs. This book does not teach creativity however. That is up to the individual.

My wife and I were nervous about negotiation on our first home purchase, but Home Buying by the Experts gave us the confidence we needed to get a GREAT deal. We also learned some great tax-saving tips!

This book "Home Buying by the Experts" has been completely helpful to me. Taking tips from the experts has been a great source of information as I am in the process of purchasing my first home! Thank you Brian Yui and Lori Shaw-Cohen for making a home buying experience a great one!

Marinel

This book is terrific. It helps you navigate your way through buying a home. When you consider how costly errors can be in the entire process, this book is well worth the money.

The book is very well organized and extremely well written. It's the nuisance of the process that can make or break your investment and the entire process is accurately and simply defined in the book. Definitely worth the time if you are purchasing a home.

Bill E.

"Home Buying by the Experts--The Pros make your dream home a reality" is a very misleading title of what is essentially a 'tips' book. Just like another reviewer mentioned, don't make this the only home buying book that you read. This is strickly supplimental information, not any way a walk-thru of the home buying process.

The information provided is a mixed bag with eight contributors. Each author gives their favorite 'tips' for buying. There are a few good chapters on tax advanges & closing, and a lot of 'fluff' chapters on 'no money down' and 'moving'.

The reason I bought the book was because Bob Bruss had a part in it and he has a great syndicated column in newspapers. His contribution was not enough to make "Home Buying by the Experts" worthwhile. I would advise to skip this one and buy 'Home Buying for Dummies".

American Girl Series

Are you looking for a book that takes you on adventures? Well if you are, the American Girl series is a great place to start!
The books are about nine to eleven year old girls. They take you back in time as late as the 1700s. They let you learn about different cultures and about what a girl's life was like back then. If you are dieing for a great book, choose a book from the American Girl series.

Rebecca, 9
Cunniff Elementary School
Watertown, MA

Kaya is a Nez Perce Native American girl growing up around Oregon. This book introduces you to her, and tells you about the way her people do things. There are also a few pages in the back of the book that tell you about the Nez Perce and show real photographs of Nez Perce people and their things. The best words to describe Kaya would be brave, adventurous, curious, and loving. Kaya is also a little cocky, but is learning to bite her tongue when she feels herself bragging. Actually, it is bragging that gets her into a mess and earns her a bothersome nickname. There isn't very much action in this book, but that's okay, because I love hearing about the Nez Perce people and their ways. The art in the book is very colorful, and the writing is very descriptive and makes Kaya's world easy to imagine.

I would recommend this book to you if you like American Girl, are learning about the Nez Perce, or want a good series to read about a Native American girl. I would not recommend this book to you if you are looking for a book about magic, or the typical school-story type of book.

This is the only book from the American Girl Collection that I have read. It is about Kaya, an adventurous Nez Perce girl who finds it hard not to boast about her horse, Steps High. Kaya wants to be the best horsewoman in the villiage. The boasting ends up putting her, her horse, and twin brothers in danger. Kaya (and her friends) are then given a punishment for Kaya's deed. She is then given a terrible nickname and wonders when she will ever live it down.
I really enjoyed learning about Kaya's life and the Nez Perce Indians. This book collection would be a great way to get girls / students interested in American history. Because the Nimiipuu speak the Nez Perce language, you will see Nez Perce words in the book. The pronunciations and meansing (also pictures) of these words are found in the glossary. My favorite part was the "Looking Back, A Peek Into the Past" sectino. This gives the reader actual history of the Nez Perce Indians and where they are today.

The title says it all. This book introduces you to the newest American Girl, Kaya! She's brave, adventurous...and a little conceited. But she's working to make herself a better, and more reliable person. Her heart is with her beautiful horse, Steps High, who continually brings her so much happiness! The book basically tells you about Kaya and her friends and family. There aren't any especially exciting parts, except a few small moments. The author beautfully describes Kaya's world, and the artwork in the book is wonderful. I've almost finished this series, and would recommend it to every girl who loves to read!

Meet Kaya" is about a nine-year-old Nez Perce indian girl who takes a trip with her family to Salmon River for the annual salmon harvest. Kaya is supposed to be baby-sitting her little brothers when a pesky boy starts making fun of Kaya's horse, saying that it is skittish and probably can't run. Kaya is furious and agrees to race her horse against his, leaving her blind friend, Speaking Rain, to take care of the little boys. Of course, the little boys run away and Speaking Rain runs into danger while looking for them. Can Kaya find the boys and save Speaking Rain from a watery grave?

I didn't like this book as much as the other books in the American Girls Collection series because it felt too short and Kaya was hard to identify with. Some of her motives are unclear and she seems a little too prickly and mad in most of the scenes. Parts of the story are VERY unrealistic, particularly the climax. However, the plot never felt forced or random, which I liked. And a council made of of tribal elders and historians worked on the whole Kaya series to authenticate the books, which I found really fascinating. Overall a great addition to the American Girls Collection!

... First of all in severial pictures, his grip was incorrect. Secondly, the text disagreed with the pictures. For example, the text stated to go down on the right knee first and in the picture he was on his left. No the picture wasn't reveresed. I checked the sword was in the propper place. Speaking of the sword. When he placed the sword with in the Obi, he used his left hand with the right hand on the belt. As I have been taught and all of the other books on the subject have shown and stated, you use the left thumb to hook the belt and the right hand slides the sword home. His terminology was correct, but that was about it. ... As far as the spiritual part of the book, it was good, however that does not make up for the errors of the sword. For the record, I have studied Iaido and Isshin-ryu Karate for about four years. Now if someone is interested in books on Zen or Iaido, I would suggest. Zen and the Sword, Flashing Steel, and Iaido: the art of the Japanese Sword. To name just a few of the good books on the subject.

Thank you for your time

A Martial Artist.

This is a very good book. I think what Scott Shaw does a great job integrating the spirituality inherent in Bushido into the modern practice of swordsmanship. This is inspiring and proivdes an element to the martial arts which few people in the west are exposed to. I try to do this at my own Dojo. Westerners have a hard time understanding.I think Samurai Zen really conveys Zen Buddhism in a exceptional manner.

Though the shaw focuses on Japan and Iaido. This book would benefit all practioners who wish to know more about Zen Buddhism.

This book should be in everyone's library who wants to understand the foundations of the Japanese Samurai and who wish to bring Zen into their everyday life.

This is an excellent book. What I find most appealing about Samurai Zen is how the meditation techniques presented within its pages are so accessible. They are detailed in a manner that they can be practiced by everyone.

I have read over the Amazon.com reviews on Samurai Zen and I believe that they are all enlightening and present a unique perspective from the point of view of each reviewer. Though these reviews each present an interesting appraisal of the book, there is a serious problem with the review placed here on November 11, 2003. This review must be addressed as it presents untrue and incorrect facts about Master Scott Shaw and his book Samurai Zen. Not only does the reviewer make a completely false statement, which he has no basis for, about the training background of Master Shaw, but he also states incorrect facts about the book. These falsehoods must be addressed.

First of all, certainlly Dr. Scott Shaw is best known for his involvement and long list of published works on the Korean martial arts. This being stated, he lives much of every year in Japan, and has done so for the past twenty-five years. Not only did he train in the Japanese arts, from the late 1970's forward, but he has long held training seminars in Japan and the West on, not only the Korean martial arts, but the Japanese martial arts, as well. Furthermore, as anyone who has studied the historic evolution of the modern Korean martial arts understands, these arts were born from the Japanese arts. Thus, the two can never be seperated.

I find that it is often the case that a martial artist is so locked into their particular system of training that they believe that it is the only true style. From this, some of these practitioners falsely attack others who present a different approach to the martial arts. This is obviously the case with this particular reviewer. He clearly states that he has only studied Iaido for four years. That is no comparsion to the four decades of training possessed by Master Shaw. Furthermore, as anyone who has studied the sword arts understands, there are numerous Ryu or schools that teach varying methods of sword play. So, to say one person is wrong by the style of technique they demonstrate, clearly illustrates a complete lack of understanding, as there exists a plethora of schools on the sword arts: Japanese, Korean, and otherwise.

In closing, to read this book as soley a book on Iaido is completely missing the point. Only a very small porition of this book is focused on the physical techniques of the martial arts, This book is about the subtle realms of the martial arts and how they can cause the practitioner to raise themselves to the higher mind. In other words, to understand this book, you must step beyond the obvious realms of physical techniques and read it as a manual for meditation, the way, I am sure, Dr. Shaw had hoped it would be received.

In the modern Western philosophy we are very much concerned with the destination rather then the journey. Every aspect of our lives depends on what happens next rather than on how we are going to get there. A lot of times when we accomplish something, we are not sure if we are happy with the result, because the goal has been reached and now there is nothing to shoot for. A lot of times if we do not reach our goal we give up, because it takes longer then we expected.

We should enjoy the process of getting there without worrying about the length of the process. We should stop and think about the present moment in time without worrying about what tomorrow will bring. Planning for next day makes us miss the beauty of the time in the present. Time is short, enjoy life and stop worrying about how long something lasts, because before you know it, it will be the destination and you have missed the entire journey. That is how you can reach the highest awareness and accomplish a true act of Zen. That is the only way you can prolong your task and your life, by enjoying every moment and concentrating on it no matter how unimportant the moment may seem.

From all of the books I have read and going to read on the subject, I can truly say that this one will be one of the greatest books on Zen. I will definitely have to read it again someday to understand it even better. Whether it is your first book on Zen or not, this book makes you learn the concept of Zen relatively easy or understand it in even greater depth.

By reading this book I finally can distinguish between Zen and Ki much more then I did previously. I understand the process and how to get there. The book also has very useful information on various meditation techniques and exercises. They are very easy to understand and to follow. There is a whole bunch of meditations to be able to recognize your Ki and special breathing, concentration exercises to get into the state of mind of sub-conscious consciousness. There is a small section on the sword and sword meditations but if you are not interested in that, there is still plenty of information in this book for you. Samurai Zen is great for everyone. It is not about fighting and not about samurais, it is about healing, relaxing and learning how to properly prepare yourself for various situations. I strongly recommend it.