Stone Books

Stone is one of those authors capable of inspiring an almost religious fervor among his admirers. This book made me see why. Not since Dostoevsky's The Possessed has an author stared so deeply, and so unflinchingly, into the dark - the dark around us and the dark within. Stone excels at depicting both. He portrays the third world as it was, and for the most part still is - a place without justice, where ideals run into reality with generally fatal results. The sense of simmering tensions always on the verge of violent eruption - omnipresent in such places - is made palpable. It is a place to test even the strongest faith. And into this Hobbesian jungle he throws characters already haunted by demons of their own. Not since Malcolm Lowry has spiritual torment been laid out so hauntingly. Stone tackles the great topic of our times - the disparity between haves and have nots - and transcends it. He makes it clear that the comfort and security we enjoy in America depends in part on maintaining order, however oppressive, in countries like Tecan. But he also shows that, far from a case of immorality, this state of affairs is necessitated by the brutal nature of reality. Ultimately, the moral outrage that stews just underneath the surface throughout is left with no object - it isn't the fault of men or nations, or even of human nature, so much as the fault of reality itself.

stone writes a thinking person's adventure in this novel set in central america in the 1970's [80s?]. you can find elements here of Conrad [Heart of Darkness], Hemingway and others as Stone's characters navigate the moral, spiritual, political and physical dilemmas of a third world country on the verge of revolution. he does it all while firmly rooted in the nitty gritty of the physical world with sometimes stunning description. i would guess that stone has traveled extensively in central america given the strength and detail of his scenery.

only a few criticisms here. i found the beginning somewhat slow/opaque as stone establishes his characters & plot in the book's first half. the pace quickens in the second half once he's dispensed with this work. additionally, there are not a lot of sympathetic characters here. that makes stone a realist, which i appreciate, but also makes it a little harder sometimes to empathize. Having said that, by midpoint you do develop empathy for Justin, and to an extent for Pablo and Holliwell, though both the latter are flawed characters.

nonetheless stone is a master, one of the greatest novelists plying his trade today.

The incendiary hint of Revolution simmers on the surface of a South American country beset by poverty and the all-consuming appetite of corporate gluttony. The rolling green hills and sparkling beaches of Tecan are perfect for exploitation. The land is already littered with an assortment of "investors" jockeying for inside information. Revolution spells opportunity, out with the old regime, in with the new, and a tidy profit to be made along the way. The only question is whether to "run with the Rabbit or hunt with the Hare?"

Saints and sinners compete in this Third World nightmare, each with a different agenda. It's an ideological train wreck and the ultimate victims are the disenfranchised. The name of the game is greed and the players are the usual: privately owned corporations, interested governments, a militia trained to fight insurrection, various criminals, religious zealots and a panoply of hired spies and assorted operatives. Our personal guide is Frank Holliwell, an American anthropologist with "Company" ties from his days in Vietnam, visiting the region ostensibly to give a lecture. Holliwell becomes one more pawn in a dangerous game with incredibly high stakes.

In the final act, no one is who he seems in this Darwinian struggle for dominance. The common people are disposable, the cause is mutable and the quality of civilization a casualty of events. Enter at your own risk, this is Robert Stone at his best. But know this: you step into chaos in this novel (with no separate chapters) that jolts from one state of anxiety to another, watching over your shoulder at every turn.

In its setting and background a Flag for Sunrise rests firmly in Graham Greene and Ernest Hemmingway territory - a fictional Central American country run by a right wing military regime. The cast of characters holds few suprises - the whisky priest, the idealistic nun, the american abroad, the sadistic secret policeman, various members of the world intelligence services.

What struck me about a Flag for Sunrise was its uncomprimisingly dark view of the world and the politics that makes it function. A world where all that is important is power and strength and your ability to harness these forces for your own self interest. A world where morals have no place, in fact a place where morals will get you killed, often slowly and painfully.

Yet somehow the book remains rivetting. You know that it is going to end badly for those characters that you like, at times it is difficult to turn the page, but you do anyhow and what happens is often worse than your darkest imaginings. But it is also honest.

This is the second Robert Stone novel that I have read and I am certain that it will not be the last.

The problem with political thrillers is that they often become clliche and predictable. There is often a desire, either by the author or the industry, to paint these as modern westerns with well-defined good guys and bad guys. Rarely do we get a novel of more disturbing complexity which challenges our notions of morality and suggest a social structure which lead to corruption of values and moral virtue. Only the best take this opportunity for developing a sense of noir, protraying the darkness of human ambition and petty venal sins, that is often missed. John Le Carre is a notable exception who has remained dedicated to his genre. Rarely do novels produces the types of characters that strive to overcome those structures or achieve some victory, or reach a pivitol moment of epiphany. Such greats include Conrad's The Secret Agent, or Greene's Quiet American. To these one should add Stone's A Flag for Sunrise. There is genre fiction, and there is fiction that transcends genre and which stands distinctive as a work of literature. This definitely falls in the later category.

A Flag for Sunrise brings us back to the 1970s and 1980s, where America is fighting a war against communism along it's southern periphery, the backyard of Central America. It is a period often forgotten or glossed over by modern Americans who think of this period as that time when Reagan won his war against Communism. Stone brings us back and cuts out a small story within a bigger story- of a pair of missionaries holding out on a small beach in some fictional South American country, as the world around them falls to the chaos of revolution and a coming apocalypse.

One of Stone's strengths is capturing the sense of hollowness of the Post Vietnam Era. This is a time of pessimism, when the potential for evil in foreign policy is very apparent, and where Americans are suffering an identity crisis about their place in the world. This is a powerful theme in Stone's work, seen espeically in The Dog Soldiers, but here it is especially powerful.

This is a thriller with a powerful set of characters: disillusioned American vets from the Vietnam War, an idealistic nun, well intentioned journalists, manipulative revolutionaries, despotic policemen, aging pirates and smugglers, political manipulators, spies and hired guns. These people collide with intense drama and tragedy. At the heart of the story are three characters, a disillusioned veteran of Vietnam, the idealistic nun and a military deserter whose vacuous nature becomes a cause of destruction. They remind us that in the turbulence of political change, individuals exist and struggle to survive in these tidal forces. There is a horror here, of structure and character, of vice and ambition, and of the dark side of the human heart and perhaps those aspects of our humanity that finally may redeem us. What is achieved is a work of art that stands far and above most political fiction you will likely read in a long time.

Highly recommended. This is another story which begs Americans to reconsider the price of empire and one of the landmarks of 20th Century Literature. Dog Soldiers has often been criticially acclaimed, but a Flag for Sunrise is probably Stone's best.

This is an excellent book for the novice or the expert. Everything you need to know about making stone tools the way neolithic man did is easily explained using simple very clear language. The author has done an excellent job explaining the methods, history and reasons behind a very fascinating, little known subject. Those who are interested in the history of technology will love this book.

This book is without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read on flintknapping! The black and white photos and drawings show the exact methods of making stone tools, and how they were probably used by Native Americans.

I bought this as a gift for my husband who is an avid arrowhead collector. He was very impressed!!!

This is another five star pick, a must have if you are learning to flintknap or just studying primitive skills. Full of information for the beginner to expert.

Pick this book up and you'll be able to start flintknapping immediately. This guide is entertaining while being informative.

I listened to the entire CD throughout my last 5-hour flight and was delighted about the effect it had on me - I was actually relaxed. Whenever turbulence would rock the plane, I would go back to a specific section that helped me relax and go through the breathing exercise. I can only recommend this CD if you are anxious during and even before the flight (there is a great section to prepare for your flight while you are still at home).

I really enjoyed this cd...I have taken a fear of flying course which was great but this CD was just something extra to support how safe flying really is and I felt even more relaxed and confident after listening to this CD...I def. recommend it!

What could be easier than popping the CD into the player, sitting back and relaxing. KRS has a confident soothing voice and the background music helps to keep things calm. For those of us with flying anxieties, FLY WITHOUT FEAR is a great tool to help settle the nerves.

An absolute must have for those suffering from aviatophobia (fear of flying). I bought this cd about a week before my flight and I didn't start using it until the day before my flight. I took it with me and listened to it while waiting to board the plane, waiting for take-off, in-flight and landing. It was excellent! I just downloaded it into my IPod and listened to each track as I needed. The total CD is about 73 minutes but just listen to the track that you need the most and repeat it as needed. It totally soothed my nerves and calmed me down. For the first time, I didn't feel my stomach in my throat! I highly recommend it!

I've used KRS'CD for pre-flight and on-flight jitters. This CD is one of the best relaxation aids I've found for flying discomfort. The meditations are right-on, every sentence supporting the strength we have inside, while dissipating nervousness. I love her voice and her no-nonsense style.
Highly recommended!

gave this book to my mom as a b-day gift, per her request and she loves it. the pictures are beautiful and it was a great armchair travel!

"Markawasi: Peru's Inexplicable Stone Forest" by Kathy Doore is an impressive compendium of more than four hundred full-color and informatively captioned photographs, illustrations and maps showcasing the 'sacred mountain' country of Peru. This unique photo guidebook is more than just a collection of interesting images as the author has arranged for an engaging and informative two-page Foreword by Peter E. Schneider, followed by an extended Preface, an Introduction, and historical background to Peru's Markawasi Stone Forest complete with a map and hiking routes. The rest of this elegant 176-page coffee table book is devoted to 'Temples of Light and Shadow' (showcasing specific elements of interest); then 'Superbatolite Circompacifigue'; 'Faces & Sculptures'; 'Sons of the Ray'; 'Fiesta del Agua'; 'How to Go!' (with festivals, village life and outfitting for the mesa); 'Nature's Gift' (medicinal plants of the mesa); and 'Voices of the Mesa'. Of special note is the bibliographic list of suggested reading for further study. Perfect as a preparational reading for onsite visitors and an ideal browse for armchair travelers with an interest in something 'off the beaten path', this superbly written, organized and presented compendium is very highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library collections.

Kathy Doore is an exceptional human being who has lived years beyond her age. The book is truly a legacy and affirmation of the depth of her perception about the light and energy of Markawasi and Peru in general.
We are blessed to have Kathy living in this time warp. I am delighted that I own being one of her best friends. To know her is to understand her genius and dedication...
May we all be blessed by this profound work of brilliance and love for a country that owns our soul.

Patricia

In this stunning book Kathy Doore has put together a gift fit for everyone.
If your interest is photography, graphics, sculpture, painting,
anthropology, history, mysticism, story telling, South America, Peru,
geology, Hiking, traveling or book collecting, I am sure that you will love this book. There's even a travel guide on how to get to this far-out sculpture garden up in the Andes.
It's one of the coolest and hippest books I've seen in a long time. The reading material is super interesting. If you prefer you can just flip through the pages full of awesome pictures and beautiful illustrations. I highly recommend it.

I found Markawasi to be completely inspiring. A must read for any seasoned traveler, or dreamer who has yet to embark upon a journey of discovery. This book combines both an impressive expanse of research as well as another element, missing in so many guidebooks: the human element. The author combines a notable array of research, practical traveler's advice, as well as a richly woven tapestry of human experience and personal revelation. This book encourages not just a physical trek to this spot, but also a spiritual quest in order to explore the mysteries of this ancient culture. Complete with amazing photography, colorful descriptions of life in San Pedro de Casta, and inspiring stories of personal growth, the author allows a glimpse into her own connection to this place of profound depth. The author's own revelations provide a token of authenticity, we as readers, can begin to unravel and understand why this place holds such importance to so many, and this helps to break down the barrier between author and audience. Overall, an incredibly well thought out creation. Be prepared for an experience in reading this book. Definitely a testament to the transformative power of travel and exploration.

Imagine being in a great storm on a ship with your crewmates being apes. This is what ends up happening to a captain in The Wretched Stone, written by Chris Van Allsburg. The story starts out with a smart crew that is on a boat and who are setting sail. When the crew hits land, they find a mystical stone. While watching the stone, the crew is fasinated with the stone a little too much. After watching the stone for some time, the crew turns into apes, and not at the oppertune time, because a storm is headed their way, forcing the smart captain into a tough situation.

This is a very good fiction bood, especially with Chris Ban Allsbrug's excellent descriptions which almost match the pictures in the story. This is also a very imaginative book, especailly considering that it is a kid's book, which is always imaginative. I also thought this was just a good book. Of all of the Allsburg books I've read, this is the best. So, all imagitive kids should read this terrific book, written by Chris Van Allsburg.

Have you heard about the book The Wretched Stone? The author, Chris Van Allsburg, made a beautiful book. This book I will never forget. I am glad I read this book. I hope you will enjoy this book like I did.

I thought that the colors were pale in the pictures. But, the theme is good. The theme is to not watch too much TV. The art work is like real people. I can tell that the author's words are very stiff. The story takes place mostly at sea in the boat.

In The Wretched Stone it said, "Some play musical instruments and there are a few good strong storytellers among them." Also, a good quote they said is, "I am playing the violin and reading to the crew." I like the ending a lot. Also it is very funny that the crew turns into monkeys. The author's style is to make the kids see it in there minds.

The crew and the captain are going through bad times. These entire things have a solution. The captain is the person who solves them. I enjoyed this book.

I feel that the book is meant for higher grade levels. Mostly for forth and fifth graders. The pictures are not cartoons, they are real people. This book is very extraordinary. This book is a 4 star book. I hope this book review will make you read it too.

Even my eight-year-old grandchild got the message of this wonderful allegory. The Wretched Stone is an important story with a message-- a great reminder lesson for children and adults alike, about the dangers of watching too much television. It's so easy to slide into the passive oblivion in front of the tube. We need to tear ourselves and our children away from the "glowing orb."
The sailors on the ship became captive to a glowing stone that said nothing. Anything like that around your house?

This is one of my favorite Chris Van Allsburg books. Chris Van Allsburg, author to gems like The Polar Express, The Stranger, Just a Dream, and The Wreck of the Zephyr, tells another captivating story with a message. This one serves as a great reminder and launching point for discussion, for children and adults alike, about the dangers of too much television.

It's estimated that the average child watches about 4 hours of TV per day. That calculates out to 28 hours per week or 120 hours per month. Imagine what any one of us could accomplish in that amount of time! The sad truth is that for so many of us parents, the TV becomes a cheap and easy babysitter for our kids.

The Wretched Stone is a great story with wonderful illustrations and a very important message.

I love Chris Van Allsburg books, I want to own all of them! this book was especially good to teach my student how to infer, they had fun collecting the clues the authro gives and then inferring what the wretched stone was. It was a good reading lesson, they loved it and I do too.

This book of domestic essays by Michigan journalist Cindy LaFerle is a major delight. The rich topic of LaFerle's family life, from delivering newspapers on dark Sunday mornings with her son to remodeling her historic home and baking bread for peace, is comfort food without the calories. The essays pair especially well with a warm cup of tea on a cold afternoon. LaFerle's calm and compassionate humor will remind readers to be grateful for the many blessings of home.

From the preface: "At a writers' retreat I attended several years ago, author Madeleine L'Engle posed a question, "Why do all of us want to share our stories?" Her answer affirmed what each of us knew but couldn't express as elegantly: "We share our stories because we have faith--faith the universe has meaning and that our little lives are not irrelevant." I found this profound and wanted to read deeper.

Cindy has put together some wonderfully arranged thematic essays. The essays are funny, poignant and show a slice of life. The essays are fun reading them in book sequence or skipping around (Sorry Cindy. You probably wanted them read in the sequence published.). I enjoyed reading them.

Cindy's writing style in this book is like a conversation between friends. There is a sense of humor mixed with plain down to earth speech and common everyday situations that anyone can relate to. Most essays are short, easy and fun to read.

The Christian Science Monitor, Reader's Digest, Country Gardens, Writer's Digest, The Oakland Press and The Royal Oak Daily Tribune have all published Cindy's essays and columns. Cindy lives in her home town, Royal Oak, Michigan, with her family.

I found this book easy and fun to read. I don't know when these essays were first published, but they just a relevant. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting something entertaining to read. Since there a re a series of essays, there is no real need to rush, reading from cover to cover. You can pick up this book at anytime and read one or more of the essays when you have a few minutes to spare while relaxing. I would rate this book as a great read and worthy of consideration by readers.

Bob Medak, Allbooks Reviews

Cracking open Cindy LaFerle's debut collection of columns and essays is the equivalent of chatting with your best friend at a coffeehouse. She talks about everything under the sun -- from the love of her deceased tabby cat to the ubiquitous mean mommy syndrome we all face at the PTA. Her steady, flowing writing lulls you into the comforts of her world. It's not all rosy, however. Her discussion of the Iraqi War or Martha Stewart's decline are timely issues to be taken seriously. Nonetheless, you feel you are in trusted hands with Ms. LaFerle. She won't let you down. In every one of her 294 pages, she never does.



The book is a compilation of over a decade of newspaper columns in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, Michigan) and essays which have appeared in notable magazines such as Readers' Digest and Better Homes and Gardens. Since her background mirriors that of many work from home mothers, she is a highly relatable writer both in intention and in content. Her tone is never preachy. It is truthful and without pretense.



This nurturing scribe has stopped her column. Her local readers in Michigan must mourn the loss of their regular commentator. As she recently sent her only child off to college, she may have been concerned that her home life would not yield a full column's worth. She quotes Aldous Huxley at one point (page 64):



"Everyone who knows how to read has it in their power to magnify themselves, to multiply the ways in which they exist, to make their life full, significant, and interesting."



Cindy LaFerle does that with her writing. She magnifies her own world to make it our own. We can only hope she will be inspired to continue the quest with her pen. Her obvious talent to weave honest, yet striking tales is definitely something to write home about.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends WRITING HOME as a lovely bouquet of womanly thoughts about things little & big, sad & funny, & topical to today's modern life.

Cindy La Ferle's essays are grouped together by subject rather than eras: first she welcomes us into her House and Garden, & then introduces us to the muggy swamp of Child Care; to her Social Life (such as it is being a work-at-home-parent & spouse); to the philosophies of Kitchen Duty, & to her Creature Comforts.

Then she gets as serious as she can about Work Ethics before opening the Family Album. She also shows us how she's Keeping Up Appearance & Keeping the Seasons, & as with all things, she gets Older and Wiser & into Soul Caring.

Oh, & she's into organic produce, herbs, overnight retreats at a Jesuit monastery, walking with her women friends, & a life of prayer & peace. & she likes to laugh!

WRITING HOME is for everywoman who thinks about her world, & would make a perfect reading group selection, & gift, no matter the season!

"The sacred is in the ordinary. It is found in one's daily life - in friends, family, and neighbors; in one's own backyard."

The above quote comes from a thank-you note Cindy La Ferle keeps in an "altar" above her kitchen sink. Its simple observation pretty much sums up the philosophy expounded in her book, Writing Home. A columnist for a Detroit area paper and freelance article writer, La Ferle writes about what she knows best - home - and how our home life shapes and colors who we are.

My personal favorite essay is "Quit Picking on Barbie." The big-breasted fashion doll has been getting a bum rap for years... Most little girls just enjoy dressing her up and designing homes and careers for her. She doesn't scar our sense of femininity at all. Another column, "Recovering Perfectionist," stirs up many familiar emotions as well. Women do seem especially susceptible to perfectionistic behavior, La Ferle observes. Our "people-pleasing" impulses prevent us from attempting many worthwhile endeavors because we're afraid we won't be able to do them perfectly. We need to let go of this need to "be right or look good" all the time. In the humorous "Seeing Red" we learn about the pros and cons of being a redhead - or at least the Miss Clairol version of it.

From "Baghdad and Banana Bread"- finding security from the horrors of the world in simple baking - to "The Lost Art of Loafing"- an art I really need to take advantage of this summer- Writing Home wisely reminds us that truly there is no place like home. -- Cindy Appel for the FEARLESS REVIEWS

When a few friends and I decided to explore commercial acting, we needed a roadmap. This book is it! There are a lot of acting books out there, but Stuart's stands out by explaining the process of breaking into commercials from the ground up without talking down to his reader. Concise, highly readable, and, most importantly, backed by Stuart's knowledge as both a working actor and casting director, this book teaches you how to be a professional and hit the ground running in a very competitive business.

This book is short and to the point. Sometimes when people write these kind of books, they elabroate forever. Not this one. There's not a lot of wordy explanations. I appreciate that. Info very precise with good advice and techniques pertaining specifically to commercials. Stone not only deals with the audition process, he helps you avoid making mistakes and falling for scams as well as showing how to market yourself.
I have not seen a more detailed or informative book on the subject.

This book is very short and the information is very general. Only a few things pertained specifically to commercials at all. There are much more detailed and informative books out there.

I read Stuart's book and became so motivated to get out and start making things happen for myself with reagards to my acting career. He give excellant advice on what to do and how to do it. Anyone reading this book, will not want to put it down. It truly is the best book ever!

Industry Insight - "Acting Out"
By Holdon Log, LLC

If you are looking to work as a successful actor in commercials, or perhaps you already are and are in need of a brush up, we'd like to point you in the direction of Acting Out written by Stuart Stone, CCDA (Commercial Casting Directors Association) and Clio Award winner and Dennis Bailey.

If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting Stuart at an audition or in a class, reading the book he co-authored, Acting Out, will offer you guidance and give you insight on what is expected before, during and after a successful audition. More importantly, as mentioned on Stuart's Web site (www.CommercialActing.Info) is how to "turn callbacks into bookings."

Several of us at Holdon Log (from all different backgrounds and at various stages in our commercial acting pursuits) recently read Acting Out and we agree that more Industry mysteries had been revealed, explained better and reinforced while turning the pages of this easy-to-read guide book complete with cleverly depicted moments that happen in real commercial casting sessions.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

Before Meeting A Prospective Commercial Agent:

"When you get an appointment with an agent you should call and confirm the night before, for a morning appointment, and the morning of, for an afternoon appointment. This effort will show them you are responsible. Many actors forget the business part of the equation; your professionalism will set you apart from the actor wannabees. Dress like you would on a general commercial call-with a leaning towards upscale casual. Avoid perfumes or colognes. Bring an up-to-date picture and resume with you. If you have a demo reel of your commercials, bring that as well. Arrive twenty minutes early to secure a parking space and find the office. Do not be late. And call if you have any problem keeping your appointment. The agent is taking time from his or her busy schedule to meet with you. DO NOT keep them waiting."




While Preparing For Your Photo Shoot & What To Look For While Selecting Your Headshots:

"The most important thing to remember is this: You want your picture to look like you do when you walk into any given audition. We can't stress that enough, so we're going to repeat it. You want your picture to look like you do when you walk into any given audition at any time. Not how you'd like to look after a visit to the plastic surgeon, not how your mother tells you how you look when she pinches your cheek, but how you really look."


During The Commercial Audition:

"It is imperative that you establish a beginning, middle and an end to your actions. This is a hard and fast rule in approaching any type of audition. You are, in a sense, performing a complete, short scene for the camera."



"While working, whether alone or with a partner, do not memorize the lines. Fully familiarize yourself, stick an operative phrase or two in your head, but do not commit the pages to memory. Unlike a theatrical audition where you have leeway to rehearse and memorize, the time you have with commercial copy is minimal. Most actors try to impress the casting director by having the dialogue memorized but they end up trying to remember the copy and are not able to act at all. They end up leaving the acting out, which is 50% of the work. Once in the audition room there will be a cue card with the copy clearly printed in bold magic marker situated on and easel next to the camera. Use it. If you memorize the copy, it's almost impossible to use the cue cards to help you out if you forget memorized lines. Instead, develop the skill of cue card reading."


During The Callback:

"No matter how many people are crowded into the room, focus your attention on the director. He or she is in charge this time around."

"It is generally important to wear the same clothes and hairstyle you did on the original call. (Click Here To View An ActorTrack Software Tip) "



When You've Worked The Job You've Booked...Before You Go:

"Then before you climb into your car, circle the set and thank everyone. Everyone. Not only is it just good manners-personal and professional-it is good business. Human nature being what it is, people like to work with actors they know are talented and personable...Kindness and integrity-as well as talent-are remembered."

[...]

This is a must read for anyone interested in non-conventional medicine.

A couple of illnesses in the family triggered my fourth re-read of this wonderful book.

I agree with all the positive reviewers here.

Dr. Fulford had wonderful insight into the medical field, questionable medical practices, life, living, and the afterlife.

One thing I didn't see mentioned in the reviews is the exercise section of the book. It has 8 unique exercises that are for overall health, nothing to do with athletic ability or conditioning.

This book is a keeper for sure, and one that you will re-read, too.

This is an excellent book reviewing the amazing Doctors way of using his Ostopathic training. It is a profound reason to consider Alternative Medicine over the oft accepted Allopathic way. A most enjoyable read.

A friend of mine who is a massage therapist and is exploring cranio-sacral work gave me this book. I have had pains in my lower back and neck for several years now; i've also been through some painful events 20 years ago, and again 10 years ago with the loss of my respective parents. My current life is very busy with famile (children), work and projects and emotionally difficult at times with a strained relationship with my husband. Overall though I'm a positive and upbeat individual believing in the spiritual and soulful nature of humans, beyond just mind and body. I've been more and more interested over the years in the relationship between body, mind and spirit since the death of my mom which has been a very difficult and painful event for me at a time that I was just starting in life (I wasn't 20 yet).
I am considering seeking treatment with a DO for my back and neck pains, and reading this book has emphasized the importance for leading a balance life and not just 'patching' some areas with perhaps a visit to the chiropractor's office that will mostly focus on the spine or taking muscle relaxant medicine or simple pain medicine. This is a great book, with a lot of food for thoughts and practical exercises for anyone to do. I am thankful to my friend for giving me this very valuable book and wish that I would have received it while Dr Fulford was still alive so that I could have thanked him for giving this testimony to us.

The reviews explain this short book very well. I really enjoyed the first few chapters. His transition into more philosophical healing ideas in the later chapters didn't do as much for me, but if your a fan of Weil or even Chopra you'll appreciate them.

Dr. Fulton really makes the reader consider Osteopathy as a medical alternative.

My children love these books I didn't know if they would like them because they don't have alot of pictures. They just can't get enough

waited for a month to receive the book.

This book is fabulous.
One of the reasons I like it is because it talked about fires, earthquake and natural disaster. Another reason is because it was near our city! The last reason I liked it is because they lost their city but still had hope. I learned some exellent facts. I learned the fire burned 28,000 buildings! They had half a millon people there. The earthquake was called "The Great Shake". It was one of the biggest earthquakes ever! I would recommend this book for three reasons. The characters are fun. Jack likes the realistic and Annie likes the magic. The second reason is the excitement and learning wonderful facts.
Earthquake in the Early Morning is a excellent book.

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

I like this book because it is interesting.
It keeps you wondering whats going to happen next.
It is also very funny.
So you might want to read this book.

Deeply insightful and elegantly written, Donald Richie's books deserve a place on the shelf of everyone interested discovering a Japan seen through the eyes of a brilliant and sympathetic observer immersed in the culture.

What a life lived. For almost sixty years, Richie, born and raised in Ohio, watched one of the most fascinating countries in the world, Japan, change from a defeated enemy to a global powerhouse. As a writer, he had the wisdom in his youth to begin keeping detailed journals of his thoughts and adventures in Tokyo and beyond. Unlike many of my journal entries, Richie's are beautifully written and thoughtful, and the people he met and the insights he provides on Japan make for good reading. Although some of the journal entries are truly gems, others can be dull, if not too personal. It was in search for Richie's telling observations regarding Japan and its people that compelled me to continue reading. I would recommend this book for those who are knowledgeable of Japan, its people, language and history. Without such background, the book would not be as interesting. Overall, though, this is a good book by a man who lived life the way he wanted to and lived to write about it.

I usually start reading diaries with a sense of excitement, an eagerness for revelation, life revealed in the small changes and observations over time. But I am often disappointed. Not with Richie. Detailed, poetic, observant and honest--he makes me laugh and cry. Here is the shape of life--youth, sex, love, change, aging, death--as it is too rarely depicted--full of magic and awe even in the banal. Even if you have no interest in Japan, or in film, you will like this book because of what it shows us about life.

I have only known Donal Richie as a film scholar having admired his commentaries on Bresson and Ozu DVDs. Naturally, I bacame interested in the man himself who continues to live in Japan. In this journal, he meets such notables as Kawabata, Kurosawa, Takemitsu, but what is more interesting is his interaction and friendship with regular people. Mr. Richie goes to a park in Tokyo (his usual hang out) and talks to a homeless, gives him his hamburger. He also befriends local prostitutes while he is also a guest of honor at emperors's palace. What is unique about this journal is that he tells as it is. Unlike some autobiography, Mr. Richie does not try to convince readers, does not explain, does not try to defend his actions, or does not offer advice. He simply dscribes his observation both his own personal life and what he sees and happens to him living in Japan as it moves from war destruction to economic bubble, and to decay.

Writer Donald Ritchie, an expert on Japanese film and a keen observer of that interesting country, has distilled nearly sixty years of life as an expatriate into these fascinating journals. Ritchie emerges as a deep thinker and lover of high culture who derives equal satisfaction from indulging his "taste for the mud" (it sounds much more poetic in French), which takes him to sex clubs, prostitutes, and other similarly disreputable places for which he holds a healthy admiration. His endless curiosity about matters and people both high and low is a strong point of this book, providing a well-rounded portrait of both a society and a man's life.

I enjoyed seeing Japan through Ritchie's eyes from his first days in the country during the American occupation up through the years of reconstruction, the boom years of the 80s, and the bursting of the bubble. He notes the many changes in the people and is quite honest about his own feelings concerning his privileged position as a foreigner, never fully accepted but also not subject to the same severe social strictures to which Japanese hold each other. Among the many highlights of this fine book are the long train trip across the country that Ritchie takes during the days of the occupation, his friendship with Yukio Mishima as well as many other distinguished people, and his closely observed opinions on the evolution of Japan's stance toward the foreigner. A fine read, particularly recommended to those with an interest in Japan.