Stone Books

I wouldn't have thought it possible to laugh out loud while simultaneously horrified to relive some of the most bizarre quotes actually uttered in public. Stone's illustrations, revealing more subtle yet brilliant detail upon each viewing, underscore the surreal nature of Pat Robertson's belief systems, our country's fascination with public figures, and our bewilderment at other nations' perceptions of American culture. This seemingly whimsical book is a rare gem, more insightful than its dog-eared coloring-book appearance would suggest.

The second laugh-out-loud-for-its-satire coloring book from Garrett County Press-- the first was devoted to the current President Bush although he makes a cameo appearance here as a "friend of Pat" or FOP--is devoted to the Reverend Pat Robertson-- and his other friends, consisting of Ann Coulter, Jerry Falwell, Daniel Henninger, Bill O'Reilly and Barbara Bush. The format is the same as in the previous publication. The artist-- in this instance-- Kevin Stone-- illustrates some of Mr. Robertson's most ridiculous public statements with appropriate drawings suitable for "Prayolas." Also included are an essay by Mackie Blanton and "Notes on the Quotes" that list both the dates and occasions of the stupid statements. The outside back cover includes a "Pat Robertson paper doll," along with a space suit (for Robertson to wear after the Millennnium comes), and a coat and tie, boxer shorts but no pants! Additionally Cobb County, Georgia Board of Education's statement approved on March 28, 2002 on the teaching of evolution in public schools rounds out this circus act.

Although it is difficult to select the Robertson quotation most offensive as the entire field is ripe for harvesting, his outrageous statement of August 22, 2005 is certainly in the running: "If he [Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez] thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war." Then there is "Dr. Robertson's" opinion that about 75 to 80 percent of the illnesses in the United States are psychosomatic." Apparently he is not an emergency room physician. He isn't very effective as a weather forecaster either: "If I heard the Lord right (but you didn't, Pat) about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms. There well may be something as bad as a tsunami in the pacific Northwest." (January 22, 1995.) Robertson's most chilling statement (January 14, 1991), however, is his diatribe against other church folks who don't sing in his choir: "You say you're supposed to be nice to the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians and the Methodists and this, that, and the other thing. Nonsense, I don't have to be nice to the spirit of the Antichrist." That comment is just plain scary. Of the opinions spewed out by Friends Of Pat, Falwell's on Teletubbies, the color purple and triangles is the silliest; but Barbara Bush's (March 18, 2003) is the saddest: "But why should we hear about body bags and deaths . . . Or, I mean, it's, it's not relevant. So, why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?"

As you can imagine, the artist has his work cut out for him if he is to illustrate such drivel; but he does it admirably. My favorite drawing is of Robertson, Jesus (in a tux) and Satan at a roulette wheel to illustrate "I heard Satan say, 'Jesus is playing you for a sucker, Robertson.'"

With the roasting of George and Pat, surely the skewering of Cheney cannot be far behind.

Pebbles on the Stone

In his autobiography The Unabashed Accompanist, Gerald Moore, one the century's greatest pianist accompanists, details an episode where his performance was reviewed by an unappreciative, musical ignoramus. No doubt Mr. Moore's reviewer had been tossed off the sports column for some infraction and perhaps given a choice between an assignment at the County Fair and Symphony Hall. Wishing to spare himself a long walk around the fair and the stench of swine, he opted for the concert. Was he listening to the music, or secretly tuning in the baseball game on his earphone? We will never know, but his review could have been written at the hotdog-eating contest, for all the relevance it had to that night's chamber music.

With that incident in mind, it is with some trepidation that this reviewer sets forth his opinion about Pebbles on the Stone. After all, Dr. Kaufman's literary abilities have earned him no less than the BBC prize for Best European Radio Play. Nevertheless, in the spirit of Amazon's literary democracy, this writer permits himself the liberty of adding his two cents.

It is fascinating how some individuals such as Goethe, da Vinci, Churchill, and Tarkenton for example, were able to develop and achieve success in a variety of disparate fields. (OK, one has to admit that Tarkenton is not in the same league.) The author of Pebbles on the Stone, too, although obviously not at the same level of notoriety, excelled as a teacher of German literature, as a violinist, and as a writer of novels, plays and libretti. In Pebbles on the Stone, one can see the writer's immense knowledge of music and literature working both behind the scenes in subtle nuances of characterization and in the great number of fascinating quotations Dr. Kaufman carefully disperses throughout the novel. Readers with firsthand experience of the orchestral or opera world will recognize some of its more notable types, such as the avant garde stage director: "Mitchell was an intense man in his early forties, thin, already quite bald with long strands of hair reaching down to his shoulders. His appearance was that of an aging 1960's hippie. His standard attire was the combination of a bulky old sweater and a pair of faded, thin jeans.... He was highly intelligent and verbal, with a keen eye for the dramatic picture on stage. He was certainly one of the most gifted contemporary directors. From New York to San Francisco, opera fans were still talking about his shocker of last season, a wild `reinterpretation' of one of the most sacred operas in the reparatory.... [Mitchell] insisted, as he was explaining to his new cast in Antwerp this morning, on the right - no, the duty - of every artist to inject his personal vision, that is, interpretation, into the work of art.... We are not here to shock the public, to create a scandal, even though this may be a by-product of a reinterpretation, but rather to make the audience see the traditional work as a having `multi-level possibilities.'"

Indeed, one of the strongest aspects of Pebbles is Dr. Kaufman's ability to give the reader a strong image of each character within a few paragraphs. Whether it is a Russian agent, an American cop, or a German mother, the individual is so well described that the reader has the feeling if that character from the book would walk into the house now, he would recognize him.

(Although I highly doubt that anyone reading this review would care or take offense, as a religiously conservative person this reviewer must, as a matter of principle, make a formal protest against the inclusion of "romantic" sections in Pebbles on the Stone.)

Another aspect of the book that was very strong was the original and unexpected twists and turns of the plot. Spy stories can be all too similar in plot, but Dr. Kaufman avoids this trap. Neverthless, this writer's favorite sections were those which dealt exclusively with the world of opera and music. Those parts were really readable, real and fun! (This is an Amazon review, not the Times, so one is permitted to use the word "fun.") For anyone with an appreciation of music, opera and spy plots, this reviewer highly recommends Pebbles on the Stone.

The only suggestion this reviewer has is that Dr. Kaufman should add yet another contribution to the world of music - that of a music critic!

This is an exciting and unusual spy story with lots of human interest, and an authentic background in the world of music.The passages about the opera and the different conductors' styles are fascinating. Definitely a good read!

The author has written a marvelous "little book" centering on an aspect of Christian life that is often overlooked--that of service to others. By combining real-life examples of his own spiritual journey with that of solid biblical references, Mr. LaVere has written an engaging and uplifting book that should inspire all committed Christians to re-dedicate themselves to further give of their time and talents. Even non-Christians will find something to reflect on in these pages, even though the book is clearly directed toward a Christian audience.

The is relentlessly positive throughout, and never degrades into preachiness or condescension, and manages to target itself to a wider audience than many books of its type. Highly recommended.

This book is a great little devotional for those who long for something more in their lives. It helps to define just what it means to have a servant's heart. Each chapter is something that you can read and reflect on, and then apply it to your own life. I've already purchased a couple of copies; one to keep for myself and one to pass on to a friend. It is very positive and uplifting.

My 9 year old daughter loves this book! My daughter is a tomboy and is more interested in sports than reading so I was thrilled when she couldn't put this book down. When she first got it she was reading at the breakfast table and all the way to school. She read while walking all the way to her classroom. Even her teachers were amazed. That was 2 months ago and she's read it multiple times since then. It looks like there's another book in the series out -- I hope my daughter likes it as much!

I just finished reading this cute little story. What first drew my attention were the nicely created manga illustrations. From there, I started reading and discovered a story that may lack depth in this short children's fiction novel. I look forward to other books in this series.

As a licensed massage therapist, this book has given me an entirely new set of skills in my professional practice. I recommend it to anyone who not only wants to heal, but also wants to learn about themselves and how they interact with the world.

Dr. Stone published these books back in the '50s, but his insights are still ahead of their time. His profound eclectic understanding of the human energy fields and their application in healing are holistic, indepth and dynamic.

Reading The Complete Collected Works is a lifelong labor of love. After almost 25 years I am still reading and researching the principles that Dr. Stone intertwines in these volumnes.

The illustrations and charts would be worth the price of the book by themselves. Each one can be studied like a tarot card. They will evoke from you nonconscious responses which will then translate into your healing work.

If you are looking for a light read; forget it. The Complete Works are not for bedtime reading. Have your highlighter and note cards handy.

Enjoy

Written and illustrated by Dan Graves, The Search For The Giant Stone Monkey Head, Truth, Friends, And Strange Food is a rambling, colorful picture book story about Pparcel Perkins, a young girl who visited by a Giant Stone Monkey Head. Pparcel follows it through Ecuadorian jungles, encountering peculiar insects, tropical foods, and a bevy of curious characters such as a Moaning Mountain, an Angry Aaroot, and a Menacing Nut-Watcher. A timeless and enchanting adventure The Search For The Giant Stone Monkey Head, Truth, Friends, And Strange Food is especially recommended for intermediate-level readers ages 6 to 12.

As an elementary grade teacher, I am always on the lookout for interesting books to share with my class. This book is one I've shared with my second and third graders over and over again. It is delightful to read aloud and my class loved the wonderfully intricate drawings. Pparcel has made the search for giant stone heads an adventure for us all. We found one during our study of Mexico and that prompted another Pparcel reading! This book captivates the imagination of all ages. I recommend this book for toddlers to grandparents.

I originally borrowed a copy from the library, and many other books about working in Japan. This is the most useful book out of all of them. The information is quite recent(2002), and it has a load of contact details in the back, airlines, embassy addresses and much more. It also contains useful pictures, and good tips to surviving in Japan. Definitely a must have. Suitable for anyone looking to move or live in Japan.

A Practical Guide To Living In Japan: Everything You Need To Know To Successfully Settle In by travel expert Jarrell D. Sieff is a definitive, "user friendly" guide for students, business travelers, and vacationers arriving in Japan for their studies, business operations, or sight-seeing. A Practical Guide To Living In Japan covers immigration matters, finding a place to stay, money and banking, studying the Japanese language, getting around Japanese cities and countryside, health and insurance, as well as Japanese customs and social etiquette. A Practical Guide To Living In Japan is a highly recommended resource that will save the traveler, businessman or student an immeasurably valuable amount of time, expense, anxiety, confusion, and hassle.

The monumental 'bank-style' churches we normally associate with Christian Science in urban areas are the subject of Paul Ivey's excellent study, a first-ever history of any sort of the Christian Science 'field'.

Although Ivey's book is the first extensive, stand-alone study to examine this period in the sociology of Christian Science, it is for the most part an architectural study. We see how original intent (religious teachings) makes its way into the public world of urban architecture, construction contracts, and finish materials. Solon Beman is the key figure here, a fine Chicago architect who is largely responsible for the 'Extension' of the Mother Church in Boston.

Beman is the taproot of the style of architecture that became known for bright, modernized, comfortable, yet neo-classical monuments that sprang up in downtowns from coast to coast during this remarkable Christian Science building boom.

We often look skeptically on these edifices, which a century later appear so pompous in their now hollowed-out urban areas, and whose futures are in serious doubt. However Ivey brings back life to these churches and shows us why they were not only suitable for their times, but socially progressive.

In confining his focus just to this monumental, urban, pre-Depression segment of the Christian Science movement, he almost unnoticeably confines his historical examination to a certain type of Christian Scientist, to a type that is not altogether flattering. In fact, he seems to be saying that while the thrust of this church building movement shared certain undercurrents with the spirit of Mary Baker Eddy's teachings, there was an unmistakable self-consciousness about this vision of church, an overbearing push to be perceived publicly as prominent, legitimate, successful, and literally profitable to the worshiper. All this makes the religious aims of Christian Scientists appear rather superficial, even if Ivey's treatment of Eddy and Christian Science teachings is more balanced.

If this characterization of the builders of these buildings may not be flattering, it may not be unreasonable. As Ivey himself makes clear, Eddy encouraged churches to bring historical Christian imagery up-to-date. For those not familiar with her teachings, she claimed, partly through spiritual healing, to "reinstate" primitive Christianity. The churches that Dr. Ivey examines largely ignore any such sentiment. Instead, they take as their prototype a more secular model of monument that was considered highly progressive in its day and place. The Christian Science movement based its entire urban church building movement upon this model.

Having said that, Ivey does invoke a sympathetic view of what these builders accomplished.

All in all, Ivey's is the first step in looking at the architecture of this religious movement. With work like this, we can assess how these individuals, apart from their own publicity, actually viewed the role of their church and its place in the world. In this study Ivey took the most prominent public image of this religious movement and tells us the story behind it with care and scholarly diligence that is truly impressive. [Reading his sources you almost begin to feel exhausted yourself.] As a good storyteller however, Ivey brings light and life to his subject - a subject that today seems to keep its secrets locked tight behind three story columns and soaring white domes.

"Paul Ivey's thorough, readable, and well-illustrated book explains why so many [monumental, classical-style, Christian Science churches] exist and what they meant in their original contexts. . .Ivey's book will be interesting and useful for a broad audience. It demonstrates how a study of religious architecture can illuminate not just architectural history, but social and cultural history, the material culture of gender, and group identity." --as reviewed in Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography

The PSYCHEDELIC SLACKER is a wildly entertaining book full of wit, humor, satire and unique images of the human experience seen through the eyes of an extremely bright observer and participant of the final times of the 60's and early 70's. It is a book of insight and entertainment. I recommend that you get it and see for yourself.

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THE PSYCHEDELIC SLACKER is a book I've been looking
forward to for quite some time. Alan Mark Train, the
witty, erudite author, has compiled a deeply personal
yet forthcoming honest look at a time that many of us
lived through and with near photographic recall he
lived to share the tale.

The prose is extraordinary with nary a wasted word
and like the works of Samuel Beckett, James Joyce, Richard Farina
and Thomas Pynchon, requires more than one reading to comprehend
and enjoy the references.

Some might consider it difficult and obtuse, but at all times on the
money and extremely humorous. The author is a gifted poet worth remembering and
has a bright future in literature, and this extraordinary first novel is well worth the
first second and third read. Like his namesake, he utilizes the English language
like few others, and I encourage you to take the time to explore it's fascintating labyrinth,
and share the journey few of us were lucky enough to take with him.

My children and there friends love theses books. Everytime they pick one up they always see something new. It is fun for them on their own and with us also.

This is an entertaining workbook that teaches a child to focus, remember and identify items on colorful pages. The story is very entertaining and the skills developed here will lead to good study habits and strong attention to detail. My 6-year old and I laughed and had such fun as he found the items and solved the puzzles. Excellent busy work for a trip!