Stanley Books

everything you could ever need to know in an easy to follow format, dvd actually is useful

This book is a decent text however it's not an easy read. I had to reread some parts to totally get the concept. It's not the worst textbook I have ever been assigned thought.

Free shipping, got it on time, and way cheaper than what I paid at the school bookstore!

This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone learning to administer local anesthesia (dental fields)!! The author really knows his stuff!!

I believe this is an excellent review about this subject, especially for students. its graphics and pictures are very educational.

Introducing the Orthodox Church is a fast but comprehensive read of contemporary orthodoxy. As an Evangelical, I find myself many times in a Christian quandry as to the state of the current church. Evangelicals have a pot pouiree of choices from which to choose to experience their faith. I grew up in the United Church of Christ, became a Missouri Synod Lutheran after marriage, went to an Evangelical Free Church, but I am Charismatic (EV Free is not)so I went looking elsewhere, attending 5-10 differnt churches over the last 20-25 years. Seeker sensitive, Emerging church, nondenominational, mainline denominations, charismatic, fundmentalist, dispensational, reformed, as an evangelical maybe I detect a problem here?

The question needs to be "what is Gods will?" I have read through the entire Catholic Catechism but in many points it just did not "ring true" even though I was praying to seek if this is where the Lord may lead me.

In contrast Coniaris has written a book which is designed to acquaint people with Orthodoxy and was written for use in an adult membership or converts class.

He breaks the book down into chapters which cover What We Believe about the Nicene Creed, Jesus, The Holy Trinity, Salvation, The Divine Liturgy. Other chapters cover Who were the Church Fathers, What We Believe about Saints and Theotokos, Life After Death, The Bible, Icons, Praying for the Dead and a chapter on the Sacraments and what they are and their purpose.

It is a very simple but comprehensive book. It will probably answer most questions that one might have concerning Orthodox Christianity.

One chapter describing the icons and the physical layout of an Orthodox church was very insightful to me. I have been to only 2 or 3 Orthodox churches over the past 10 years but now I realize all the meaning behind what I saw.

Explaining the liturgy and the role of the preists put an entirely different spin on church hierarchy as opposed to Roman Cahtolic.

Frankly put, I agreed with about 90-95% of what I read. I still have many questions such as the deification process. Is this different than Evangelical sanctification? They have a more accurate view of Mary in my opinion than the Catholics.

I found that the Orthodox and Evangelicals are much closer than say Evangelicals and Catholics or even Orthodox and Catholics.

The Church I attend right now is a Vineyard and the Lord is present in the Holy spirit. I wonder what it would be like if the Holy Spirit of the Charismatic/Evangelical chruch was united with the forms and the vast history of the Orthodox Church?

Perhaps this is something in the future to fulfill the Lords prayer "That they may be one as I and the Father are on."

This book is recommended to anyone but especially Evangelicals and Protestants.

Coniaris has written what is perhaps the best primer on Orthodoxy. As an Anglican, I have often considered becoming Orthodox as our communion becomes beset with problems. Whenever I have a theological question, particularly a sacramental one, I usually consult this book first. It is highly detailed, yet simple and easily understood. A caption in the front of the book suggests it is for those curious about the Orthodox faith, and for confirmation classes, and I think it is excellent for both.

Some of the topics include The Church, Jesus, the Nicene Creed, Icons, Sacraments (i.e. mysteries), Prayer, and the Bible. Coniaris' tone is non-polemical, and he does not condemn others as he lauds the Orthodox faith. This is in contrast to Frank Schaeffer's writings, which are also intended for those discovering Orthodoxy. In some ways all 215 pages of this book read like a historical Christian commentary on major themes, because the writings and wisdom of the ancient Church are generously quoted. However, Coniaris does keep the discussion current as well. He uses many jokes and modern illustrations to explain key theological points. For instance, when describing the mystery (and difficulty) of the Trinity he tells of a boy singing in the choir of a Church that uses the Athanasian creed. When the little boy sang the 8th verse, the boy would sing under his breath, "The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, the Holy Spirit incomprehensible, ...the whole thing incomprehensible!"

Overall, this is a fine book for those exploring the Orthodox Church, those in it, and those who just want a taste of ancient Eastern Christian theology. Often in the Western churches the wisdom of Chrysostom, Gregory Palamas, Symeon, and other great theologians are largely ignored. Thus, this book has many purposes, and even if you don't read it all the way through, keep it as a reference book; there is a lot of great theology contained within.

A very short, but succinct overview of the faith and life of the Orthodox Church for inquirers looking for an initial understanding. Fr. Coniaris is concise and to-the-point, and explains deep nuances of Orthodox Christian theology in a simple, easy-to-understand matter. He has a great talent for "humanizing" the Church; and he accomplishes this through a myriad of anecdotes and poetry selections. My fiancée at the time, however, found this a little annoying.

I hate to criticize this delightful book (which is an excellent work overall, and it's really not my place), but I did find one major error in the chapter on Scripture, viz. -- that we only accept the seven "deuterocanonical books" (the so-called "Apocrypha") as reading for spiritual edification, and not as doctrinally accurate, or, per sé, directly inspired by the Holy Ghost. This isn't quite true. These books are on par with the rest of Scripture (per the Council of Carthage and earlier councils), unless, perhaps, he is referring to other books proper to many manuscripts of the God-inspired Septuagint and the Jewish tradition (e.g., Bel and the Snake, Susanna, et al).

I also always understood many of the popular analogies of the Trinity he employs (for example, "solid-liquid-gas," and the like) to be insufficient according to Orthodox theology, as the "prosopoi" [Divine Persons] are not mere "masks" or faces, inasmuch as the mystery of three distinct Personages subsistent in one consubstantial God is essentially incomprehensible.

In summary, it's a good book, but leaves just a little to be desired. I would, however, recommend it to anyone wishing to learn about the Orthodox Church, preferably supplemented with more in-depth texts under the guidance of a good priest.

This is the catechism for us average folk. Fr. Coniaris takes us into the Orthodox Church and makes all those confusing theological terms make sense. He relates the teachings of the Church to everyday life and is well-known for his edifying and sometimes amusing anecdotes. This is recommended as a good general catechism.

Coniaris writes very well. Unlike Shaeffer's angry"Dancing Alone" or "Our Hearts' True Home" (tomeof 14 women's journies to the Orthodox faith) this book is a flat-out "telling it like it is" book on what Orthodoxy is without slamming other faiths. He isn't a self appointed holy man, nor does he refer to other faiths as rubbish (although he does not ascribe to them!)This isn't a defence of Orthodoxy but rather an explanation of what it is. He covers basic beliefs, holidays, sacraments, the whole gamut. It is great to have on your bookshelf as refernce!

Diane Stanley, author of a series of high-quality biographies for children, does it again: Joan of Arc is intelligent and interesting with eye-popping illustrations. Of course the story is tragic, so this is not a good first biography for the young, tender-hearted child. The only thing missing is a real sense of the supernatural, what drove Joan to do what she did in the first place. If you're looking for the miraculous in your retelling of Joan's story, choose instead Josephine Poole's breathtaking "Joan of Arc."

Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc should be recommended for teens 13-16. I thought it was kind of hard to understand because I got 60% on this Accelerated Reader test. I didn't understand the Crowning of the Kings and Princesses very well. I would rate this a 6/10 in a rating.
It taught me about how some people can get so sick of things that you would do anything to save your country. This book is cool because of the pictures of the war.

Not only was this an accurate portrayal of Joan of Arc's story, it was wonderfully written and illustrated. I would recommend it for anyone who is starting out in learning of the saint. It is educational and enjoyable for a child.

Once again, Diane Stanley has brought intriguing facts and interesting tidbits to a book about a well known character, Joan of Arc, which makes the reader interested and excited about the subject, no matter what age he or she might be. Joan was born an illiterate, peasant daughter of a leader in a French village during the time of the Hundred Years War between France and England. She was highly disciplined in Catholicism, and was often teased about it by her friends. At the age of thirteen, Joan began having visions, while in the family garden, of various Catholic Saints giving her distressing messages and that she needed to act in order to save the French Kingdom. Joan was so convinced and moved by these visions that she took on a life long task of saving the French kingdom, although a woman doing this would have been unheard of at the time. She was eventually captured by the Burgundies that occupied Northern France and handed over to the English for a ransom. She was put on trial by the church for dressing in men's clothing and for acting on her voices and visitations which should have only been heard by members of the clergy. She was found guilty, although she gave clever testimony and was not easily disrupted by tricky questioning, and eventually burned at the stake. Charles, the ruler that Joan help restore to the crown, made it his personal mission to have Joan's trial declared a mistrial sixteen years after her death. This act fueled by his guilt for not negotiating for her release from prison helped her to be declared a saint five hundred years later.
This book helps the reader realize that although Joan my have appeared unstable with her visions in modern times, she brought hope and life to a battle that was hopeless leaving many French residents in despair. A note at the end of the book indicates that there have been three theories behind Joan's visions, depending on where one's personal beliefs lie.
Included within the book are pronunciations of French names and places and a map, so the reader can follow the path taken by Joan. This book provides interesting and understandable information for readers of all ages, including adults that want a short but informative look into Joan of Arc's life.

A beautiful book! Diane Stanley carefully traces the life of Joan from her humble beginnings to her tragic end. The book even comes with a pronunciation guide to help those of us who haven't been to France. Although the language is at 8+ year old range, my 5 year old daughter loves it anyway!

Author: Truskie, Stanley D.
Title: Leadership in high-performance organizational cultures / Stanley D. Truskie.
Publisher: Westport, Conn. : Quorum Books, 1999.
Edition Date: 1999
Language: English
Physical Details: xv, 147 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Subjects: Leadership.
Corporate culture.

If you are an executive, business owner, or manager, this book will help you. I always believed company culture was important, but I had no idea about how to create the right culture. This book provides an easy model to follow that makes sense, plus it offers leadership guidelines to make it happen. I have already instituted some of the ideas presented in the book and I have seen significant positive performance results already. I would definitely recommend this book to any leader who wants to improve the performance of his company.

"I have really been struggling with how to shape my company's culture to ensure I am building an effective organization until I read Dr. Truskie's book. His culture model is so clear and makes so much sense that its logic jumps out at you once you realize that there is a "right" organizational culture. I have heard so often that there is no right or wrong culture, but this book's compelling argument clearly dispels that notion.

I have read other books on organizational culture, but quite frankly, they created more questions than provided answers. I did not know whether I wanted a strong culture, an open culture, a sales culture, a driving culture, or a friendly culture. Plus I did not know where to start. Dr. Truskie helps you understand that as a leader, you must establish the direction first, then shape the right culture to achieve your strategic goals and objectives .

At least now I have a model that will help guide me in creating an effective culture ( Dr.Truskie calls integrated and balanced) within my organization. He also provides excellent examples of unbalanced cultures and explains how they negatively affect performance. The changes we now have under way within my company have already resulted in positive performance improvement. But as Dr. Truskie points out, this is a journey, and not a destination so we are still working toward building our high-performance culture.

This is definitely not a "quick" read book but one you should read a chapter at time, think about the message, then read on to the next chapter. But I can tell you it is well worth the time...one of the more meaningful books on leadership available in a crowded market."

I teach Organization Theory and Organizational Behavior. Teaching leadership has the challenge of finding a way to put the theories into practice. Dr. Truskie meets this challenge and offers a reasonable solution to this decision maker's need.

At various points throughout the book, Truskie cautions that there is no one "ideal" style, nor an infallible "model", nor any single combination of leadership traits, characteristics and behaviors which are most appropriate to all organizations in all phases of their development. He urges his reader to absorb and digest the contents of Leadership in High-Performance Organizational Cultures with care, of course, but also with some degree of critical detachment. Then, correlate his observations and suggestions with the specific circumstances of the reader's own organization.

Truskie suggests that "there is a direct link between leadership, organizational culture, and performance." According to his research and analysis, the most effective leader has an impact on "forming the culture of an organization, which further can have an enhancing effect of improving the level, ensuring the consistency, and sustaining the organization's continuing performance improvement." Truskie believes that many leaders are preoccupied with identifying and then manifesting an "ideal" style of leadership when, in fact, no such style exists. That is to say, even the most effective leaders have significant human imperfections; however, they are aware of these imperfections and make every effort to ensure that these imperfections do not have a negative impact on their respective organizations.

For this reader, one of the greatest benefits of Leadership in High-Performance Organizational Cultures is Truskie's explanation of the potential, beneficial implications of the L4 Strategy with specific relevance to creating and then sustaining a high-performance organizational culture. Leaders as well as those whom they lead must constantly monitor the balance of four aforementioned cultural patterns. Imbalances are inevitable. Although Truskie does not discuss it, he would probably agree that an early-warning system of some kind is highly desirable. The model he provides suggests all manner of ways by which to recognize and then respond effectively to symptoms of such imbalances. For the foreseeable future, change will be the only constant. Given that reality, Leadership in High-Performance Organizational Cultures can be of even greater value as all organizations (regardless of their size or nature) proceed into an otherwise uncertain future.

definitely worth the price tag. Book is packed with period medical photographs, which while grotesque are also very artistically framed. All of the pictures are together, a page per picture so you can flip though the images without text interrupting the artistic presentation. The back of the book is devoted to thorough captions for each photo. Some of the photos look staged but this too fits the period represented.

This collection of photographs and plates are some of the most concise findings on the medical world I have ever seen. It has opened my eyes to these people and has given me something new and interesting to learn about. I really enjoy seeing how far we have come in the field of medicine but also the advancement has diminished the frequency of medical oddities that are found in this book. I really recomend this to anyone who has an interest in the medical field and all of its mishaps.

This book of stunning, yet disturbing, photographs of medical anomalies spanning 100 years from the mid-19th c., may not be for everyone. It is a comprehensive visual essay into things that we find fascinating, yet repulsive. Unlike a carnival sideshow, however, the purpose of this wonderful book is not to cynically trivialize the individuals illustrated. Like the Mütter Museum, (Mütter Museum: Philadelphia College of Physicians, 19 South 22nd Street, between Chestnut and Market Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 12-4pm), Stanley Burns' book is a window into the 19th century propensity to gather esoteric information of all types, organize it and, ultimately, to exhibit it as the means to greater knowledge.

Stanley Burns is a physician and a collector of medical history photographs. You may remember his previous book of mortuary photographs entitled "Sleeping Beauty" which is long out of print and fetches incredible sums among used book dealers. (Fortunately, a sequel - "Sleeping Beauty II" is more readily available.) "A Morning's Work" is a collection of 127 vintage medical photographs from 1843 to 1939 along with a helpful narrative explanation of the photographs and their cultural significance. Although some of the pictures are more historically significant than interesting, the bulk of the images are of medical curiosities - and some of them are absolutely head-scratchingly bizarre. Among the images featured are mortuary photographs, images of amputations, surgical procedures, disfigurement, and a wide assortment of congenital and acquired diseases. The title "A Morning's Work" is taken from an image of a pile of amputated limbs taken during the Civil War, when the horrific wounds inflicted by the large leadshots used at the time resulted in amputations for even the most minor of injuries. Many of the photographs take us back to the Dark Days of medicine, before antiseptic procedures were implemented, and when a small wound could result in a deadly infection in a matter of days.

The narrative explanations of the photographs add a special poignance to them. For example, a photograph of a dead man would not be nearly so interesting were it not for Burns' explanation that the man was Dr. James Howe who contracted Cholera while treating patients during the St. Louis epidemic of 1849 and was fatally afflicted. That one sombre portrait seems to symbolize the bravery and sacrifice of physicians the world over during times of pestilence, and if there's anything that you come away with after viewing this book, it's a newfound appreciation for modern medicine. All told, "A Morning's Work" is a fascinating book - and a must for enthusiasts of the bizarre and medical historians alike.

This book is very harsh, unpleasant, but impressive. Not at all for anybody because you need to have the guts to keep your glance at the pictures mirroring the abnormal, the illnesses, the horror of nature, the facts of the old times of surgery. As Bacon's paintings these pictures have a very sui-generis aesthetics, based upon the ugly and the deformity.

This pocket manual is perfect for those going into Respiratory Therapy, and is a good book to keep on yourself in the hospital or anywhere you may work. Quick and easy to find subjects, and is sturdy in its make.

This book is well organized and easy to use during clinical rotations. A handy reference for all material - even important things you don't use everyday as a respiratory therapist or respiratory student.

Wee arrranged and clear to understand - this book has finally answered all my questions, in a language which I can understand, and at last I now understand my specialist. I would recommend this book to anyone with any form of respiratory illness or wishes to understand the deeper workings of the lungs

A couple of us got this for our first clinic rotations in RT school, our clinic instructors and floor RTs we worked with all had them by the end of our semester at one hospital. It's the best out there. The "Oakes" pocket guides where required for clinics at the time, the PDQ has since replaced it. The spiral gets hooked on scrub seams, I prefer the sturdiness to the sticky Oakes binder pages.

I absolutely LOVE this book. This thing is pocket size, and yet still FULL of information. I recommend this book to any student, or respiratory therapist! It will be a great help!

The `Mythic Path' provides readers and seekers the ability throughout 12 weeks to contact their mythic path, to heal their childhood wounds, to create a personal creation myth and connect with their inner selves. "Personal mythology is but the flower on the bush" and it is this flower that one is asked to explore. The book is composed of five stages where the reader is asked to identify their personal myth using elements of the Socratic thesis, the second stage where they identify their opposing conflicting myth, a third stage of synthesis, the fourth stage of testing the `hypothesis' and the fifth stage where the myth is woven into everyday life and action.

The stages and the program provides all the necessary tools to discover these inner personal myths through dreams and inner images, and through careful instructions on how to cultivate these myths and understand them. The incredible degree to which the book walks one through the process, the insight into ancient Greek mythmaking is a real value for anyone searching for meaning in life and hoping to discover themselves. This is an immensely successful and all encompassing program and it should be embarked upon with care and after a period of reflection of what commitments it entails, but surely it provides many answers for people feeling lost or empty, and even for those who feel they have all the answers.

Seth J. Frantzman

As so many of us look outside ourselves for ways of reaching the understanding and meaning to our lifes, David Feinstein and Stanley Krippner, provide us with a sacred journey through which we discover our inner self. A Mythic Path is a Psycho-spiritual journey through which self appreciation, respect and love is ultimately embraced. Each stage provides a path through which you reach this ultimate experience. It is a comprehensible program designed to help the layman and the professinal. As a spiritual counselor who experience this program first hand, I can attest it's validity not only in my life, but in my own personal practice as well. Thank you for your wisdom......

what DO we think and believe about ourselves, our place in the world, and the world around us? we have the beliefs, they influence us in more ways every day than we probably realize, but rarely take a look at what they really are. this book is an exploration into the mythology of individuals, complete with exercises and methodologies. if you really want to know and are ready to look, and as a result change and free yourself from old unconscious beliefs, this book might well be a great place to start.

As so many of us look outside ourselves for ways of reaching the understanding and meaning to our lives, David Feinstein and Stanley Krippner, provide us with a sacred journey through which we discover our inner self. A Mythic Path is a Psycho-spiritual journey through which self appreciation, respect and love is ultimately embraced. Each stage provides a path through which you reach this ultimate experience. It is a comprehensible program designed to help the layman and the professinal. As a spiritual counselor who experienced this program first hand, I can attest to it's validity, not only in my life, but in my own personal practice as well. Thank you for your wisdom......

Reviewed by Patty Inglish for Reader Views (5/07)

This book contends that we all have an inner mythology working. It tells us that we might benefit from a quiet and sacred appraisal of outdated notions we feed ourselves, perhaps unknowingly. This concept is a welcomed relief in our daily lives amid loud debates and fistfights, murder in the streets, standardized testing, high oil prices, racism, too much trash in our dumps (literally and figuratively), harsh rap music, and a hundred other tragedies and annoyances.

Other authors have called this notion of self-inflicted mythology manifesting as "self talk" that can be positive or negative. The negative includes such ideas as -- "Real men don't wear pink," "Women can't be leaders," and "I'll never be able to find a good job that I like." Most people seem to live according to a pattern developed over the years of their lives and experiences, often tagged as a unique personal behavior set, or overall personality in psychological terms. Some believe that this set cannot be changed after a certain age, if ever. Many people state, "That's just me," or "I'm set in my ways," and feel that they cannot change their personal patterns of living. In fact, many are not even aware of their behavior patterns. These people live a rather unexamined life. They do not live on purpose; they live at random. The authors of this book demonstrate that such randomness may not be random and does not need to be true. In fact, it is not true in anyone's case.

Everyone lives by some pattern and system of beliefs, learned and developed with varying degrees of accuracy and truth in each belief or myth. Myths can be true or false. A personal mythology is a set of beliefs and motives that operate under the surface of the mind, like the wizard behind the curtain in Oz. The set actually guides one's choices throughout life. If unknown and/or unexamined or if an individual is not even aware of the existence of belief systems, then their choices are far fewer in any circumstance. Feinstein and Krippner show that the underlying belief system (mythology) should be a guiding tool for our conscious use and not a secret mastermind. Moreover, the tool should be the most up to date and effective as possible for each one of us. Fairy tales and horror stories learned in childhood can be left behind for a new, effective truth.

First, one must discover the specific mythology that one is using as a guidance system. "The Mythic Path" offers a systematic approach for effectively doing so in well-organized and very easy exercises. The authors call this a treasure hunt. Even if the treasure turns out to be full of negative messages, there is treasure in the discovery of the myths imposed on one by one's family of origin and culture, because once discovered, the negatives can be replaced with more- effective beliefs. This includes working toward emotional healing and cognitive reframing for a better-working belief system.

This Third Edition of "The Mythic Path" is an update of about 30-years of wok, providing a five-step, twelve-week workbook for ritual observations that is pleasant, freeing, and uplifting. It also contains a set of energy exercises, or energy psychology activities, set on a more spiritual level - even a kind of religious level; these can be either added or ignored. The energy exercises include such simple techniques as acupressure paired with thinking activities. The work overall is not Hindu, although there are elements of that system included. It is not Christian, although there are some concepts included that are familiar to Christians. There are elements of the work of psychologist Carl Jung and mythologist Joseph Campbell as well. There are concepts and wisdom from global systems of many kinds. Therefore, this book can be useful to anyone of any faith, or none. The book seems to have a wide application, because it combines professional experience in many specialties of psychology, reframing, healing, philosophy, shamanism, Chinese medicine, and mythology. In reading the book, I found that I could gather what I needed, leave out what I did not, and have an effective program for my unique self.

My opinion is that the first few chapters of the big Robbins are a must read. There is no way around it. But after that, Companion Robbins will save you a lot of time in medical school pathology. It is too much and too wordy to study this for USMLE.

I think if you only read Robbins companion book you will miss too much for medical school pathology. There simply is not enough time to just sit down and read the entire big Robbins. So, read Companion Robbins, learn all of tables and study the photos and diagrams in big Robbins, and skim through big Robbins for pertinant details in the text and highlighted areas. Read BRS Pathology and take notes in BRS pathology as you go (you can then use BRS pathology to study for tests and to study for USMLE). Then use Robbins Review book to test yourself with the questions and take notes in BRS pathology from this too.

There is no way around it. You must read this book, and review it thoroughly. If you haven't time to read the Papa or Mama Robbins and review with the baby, then just read the baby. You may utilise the Papa or Mama for its pictures otherwise. This is the only way you'll ever come to understanding pathology; I've finally come to realise it. Much easier to grasp the pathophysiology than in the BRS.

I love this pocket edition of Robbins. I use it to look up items when I am studying the week before exams. Everything high yield is in here and the index is great. I travel with this little thing, it lives on my desktop...it's the only book on my desktop. Cross-reference with Big Robbins, especially for photos.

The small Robbins pulled me through my pathology. There is no time to read the big Robbins. I used it to prepare Step1 and i am glad that i use it.

The best part about the "Pocket Robbins" is its concise explanation of just about everything that the "big Robbins" says. I have found that one of the most important decisions I make in medical school is how I focus my time. I can usually read through the pocket robbins in about half the time as the big robbins. I then use the big robbins as reference to clarify any concepts the the pocket robbins may not have explained in enough detail. One of the only real drawbacks to the pocket edition is that there are no images. The pocket edition references the page numbers of the topic in the big robbins so that you can go and look up the corresponding pictures. All in all, I really think this is a great book and if I had to choose between it and the big robbins, I would probably pick the pocket and supplement it with a pathology atlas. Happy studying.

This was one of the best books I have read. There is such simple wisdom written within this book. You are sure to discover many Awe ha moments while reading it. So many friends have barrowed my book, that it is now falling apart. Even though I have read the book three times, I plan on buying a new one. Because the glue just isn't holding up anymore. There is magic all around us, if you wish there to be.

My dad gave me this book when I was 13, and our family was just getting ready for our first major move. That was in 1966. I read the book with great interest, and in some ways it seemed to be like an initiation to my first active pursuit of spiritual things. I read the book several times in the four years I had it, before it was lost when I was 17, and there were subtle shifts in my understanding over those years. Over the many years since then, I've gone through periods where I've either appreciated or depreciated the book, but as time passes, I have become more and more sure in my belief that this book has something important to say... something that, among all the many religious, spiritual, philosophical and metaphysical books I've read over the years, it stands alone in making some of its main points clearly known.

Another more famous book by a more famous author (Alan Watts), "The Book : On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are", also touches on some of the things "Three Magic Words" gets into, but "Three Magic Words" is bolder, and seems to take the "taboo" more in its stride. That being said, "The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are" (which is more readilly available) actually makes a good companion volume for "Three Magic Words". I recommend them both.

There's no doubt about it, as far as I'm concerned, "Three Magic Words" is the kind of book people will either love or hate. I have just recently come across the it again, and I feel very fortunate that I am getting to read this material now, after such a varied course in learning. It is much easier now to recognize that the author offers this information out of love, and, although it may be presented in a way that can overcome the spirit and possibly cause some trepidation, I think the reader might be encouraged by these words from the Beatles: "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together". "Three Magic Words" will show you some things about God and yourself and life. If your heart is open to it, you can find the power of positive change within its pages.

I came across this book by accident, it has been my "Bible" ever since. If you want to be a more "Spiritual" person, this book points you in the right direction. Just read the first chapter "The Lock". If you don't like it or it doesn't make sense, just put it down and don't read it. However keep it handy, maybe your just not ready for it. One day you will pick it up again and start reading and everything will finally click. It may be a month from now or it may be years from now. When that time comes, that is when you will really appreciate this book. If your looking to be one step closer to God, then this book is for you.

I had the good fortune to run across this book about 27 yrs ago. It started my spiritual quest. I will always be grateful for its existence. Now I have a 17 yr old with whom I want to share this book and I can't find it as it is out of print.

I am an entertainer. I read my first copy of Three Magic Words when I was 22 years old and I've never stopped reading and learning from it. Now I am 40. This book has given meaning to my whole existence because it has taught me that life is a beautiful and fantastic journey that we have all chosen to make. Whatever mistakes we make are all a part of a perfect plan to lead us forward on our journey towards our oneness with God. We are so dearly loved! We are truly free!

Taylor is one of the most competent gun writers I have ever read. He has tremendous practical experience with almost every large calibre rifle of his time, including the spell bounding numbers like 600, 577s, 500s, 450s, 450/400, 375 etc., with a nostalgic term of Nitro Express..! When discussing a calibre, he talks of taking literally hundreds of elephant, buffalo & other big game with it. So who can question his authority on African rifles. He has also covered every possible aspect of sporting rifle, which can be questioned, with respect of African hunting, e.g., doubles versus magazines, barrel length, weight, sights, triggers, ejectors/non-ejectors, etc. A must read book for the person who wants to know about large calibres, double rifles and nitro / black powder express. Excellent drawing of each cartridge is also given with details i.e., bullet weight, powder charge and pressure.

For most of us, the dream of going to Africa and hunting with the classics of the past will always remain that. However, if one has hankering for the great guns of the past and a by gone era, this book will fill that niche. If you are lucky enough to ever be able to travel to Africa, this book would be essentual reading as knowledge- practocal knowledge - of the big guns is very hard to find and full of misconceptions.

If you fall into the latter catagory, Taylor had several lifetimes of practical hunting experince, and his knowledge shines.

For most of us, there are very few hunters and shooters who have not dreamed of owning a Purdy, Holland and Holland and others of the past, in such lovely calibers as 375 H&H, and .600 Nitro. This is a book to own and dream with.

Incidentaly, despite its comparative age, much in here is still current, although much more recent calibers are not really discussed.

Grade: A+

Timeless writing! A treasure trove of literary delights for anyone interested in the ambience of a bygone era of action and adventure ala Hemingway, Selous and Bell. Something for everyone, whether an enthusiast of shooting, safari, classic cartridges and rifles of legend (doubles and single action sporters) or a mere naturalist. John Pondoro Taylor was clearly a genius in his given profession, albeit politically incorrect for his time.

If you love hunting- and african hunting in particular- you MUST have this book! It is the classic by which all others should be judged. I read my first copy so often- and referred to it when reading other African hunting books- that it started to fall apart. I bought another to read and loan, plus one bound in leather to keep for good in mint, unread condition.
Believe me, you will love this book if you are a hunter!

John Taylor's masterpiece - the definitive work on African hunting from a technical perspective. And even though his experience is nearly 100 years old now, it's still as fresh as yesterday, because the rifles and cartridges really haven't changed much. Craig Boddington's important work on the same subject is truly current, but you won't miss a beat if you just go by what Old Pondoro says.

But that's not the book's real glory - anyone can publish ballistic data and shooting tips. What Taylor does is to back up his opinions with some of the most exciting hunting literature ever jotted down by lantern light. He's a wonderful writer, with an easy flowing style that grabs you and takes you along. He saw and did things that noone else will ever again do or see, and in a sense saw the last of the old Africa pre WW2, and brings it alive. He tells you that the .577 NE is just the perfect thing for elephant, and has a couple of tales to prove it. Or how about the .375 H&H as a long range caliber? Well, did he ever tell you about the time that... It sounds contrived, but it isn't.

I can't put this book down, and approach it with caution because I know if I crack it open it'll be like saying "Jumanji" 3 times - the next thing you know hours have passed and there's a lion in your kitchen, licking the butter. Absolutely a desert island book, and one of the first to go in the lifeboat.