Walsh Books

From a science veiw, this is a very reference book, and covers lot of the basics of the type of practice and ways of the shamans. It is not a how-to book on riturals and so forth, but it is one that you should have one your book shelf. It talks about spirit visions, alter-sate meditations, atro-travels, healing and mudiumship, spirits and beliefs, etc.

The Spirit of Shamanism is a psychiatrist's look at the essence of shamanic practices. Robert Walsh covers such topics as the shaman's initiation, accessing the spirit world, healing, psychedelic drugs, and New Age adaptations. Although Walsh looks across the broad range of the shamanic experience, the most interesting sections of the book deal with the topic of his expertise: mental illness and psychological health. He explores such questions as 1) whether shamanic initiation and trance states are psychotic or schizophrenic; 2) the difference between trance states and mental illness; and 3) the effects of music, trickery and the placebo effect on healing.

On the negative side, Walsh has a poor opinion of anthropologists, yet he relies heavily on the work of anthropologists who are marginal in the anthropological community. Many of his resources are outdated. The book is not very deep, yet this makes it accessible to just about anyone. It doesn't "feel" like it's written by an M.D./Ph.D. -- Walsh slips easily into New Age thinking -- yet, again, it's accessible.

This quasi-scientific book is good for anyone interested in knowing more about the psychology of shamanism. It's well-written, the chapters are short, and it's easy to understand.

The World of Shamanism is the best book I've read on the topic. A totally updated work that builds on his earlier book ((The Spirit of Shamanism) this book explores shamanism as we find it in the world, in the psyche, and in neo-shamanic practices.

Dr. Walsh has mastered the art of writing in a popular manner rooted in rigorous research. There is no doubt about his sources as he carefully provides them in footnotes for the more curious reader. In his even-handed presentation of multiple perspectives Dr. Walsh models the tolerance for ambiguity he notes as necessary for a mature experience of the mystery of the universe.

Most important, with regard to the subjective aspects of shamanic experience, he models "the principle of causal indifference" which reflects an acceptance (rare in our society) that "subjectively identical experiences can be produced by multiple causes" (p. 196).

This is a must read for mental health professionals whose map of the universe includes the potential of non-ordinary states for healing as well as for the layperson trying to dig their way through all the misinformation on shamanism that has piled up in the "new age" market over the years.

"The Spirit of Shamanism" has been selected for listing in "Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments: An Entheogen Chrestomathy." http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy

This it a really good book. The pictures are spectacular, the writing is good, and it includes newspaper articles written about the park. The information about the clubhouse, trainer's room etc. is great. I would recommend this to any baseball fan! (Non-Dodger fan anyway) :-)

Great pictures of what has to be one of the nicest sports facilities in the world. I've been to one game here - and as a resident of Seattle, I honestly think that Safeco is a better place to watch a game. However, no stadium can match the asthetic views and its situation in one of the most beautiful cities in the world makes Pac Bell #1.

Every fan of the the Giants should get this book and wallow in the beauty of Pacific Bell Park, if you can't get there yourself. The park really is probably the most beautiful ballpark in baseball, a tiny little gem that nevertheless plays like a huge pitcher's stadium thanks to the bizarre asymmetry of its outfield (and a San Francisco wind that the park's engineering turned into an ally, instead of the vicious Hawk it was at Candlestick Park.)

But it's also a great collection of essays from baseball writers including George Will and Peter Gammons, and local writers sharing memories of the team and the long years of waiting in the cold and fog for a world championship that still hasn't come. Those essays are some of the best parts of the book, moving and nostalgic in the best sense.

The body text, that tracks the long road from New York through Candlestick to the drama of building a new ballpark without the safety net of public money, then chronicles the great 2000 season, is little more than acceptable, but in a coffee table book what you want is gorgeous photographs and insightful vignettes, and "Splash Hit" has that in aces.

Finally, a coffee table book that was difficult to put down after looking at all the spectacular pictures.

After having "Splash Hit!" on order since first hearing about it's publication; I finally got my chance to actually own it. And read it and read it and read it, again. You cannot put this book down if you love ballparks, baseball, architecture and perhaps, the most intriguingly, beautiful city in America; San Francisco.

"Splash Hit" is the name adopted by San Francisco Giants fans that describes any home run hit just beyond the right field wall that land's in the San Francisco Bay waters aptly named McCovey Cove.

An amazing book by Joan Walsh and C.W.Nevius, "Splash Hit" explores the progression of Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco from it's initial conceptual brainchild of a downtown ballpark to it's wonderfully anticipated Opening Day Game and throughout 2000 season.

The tastefully cram-packed, 140-page book begins with incredible color photos of: an aeriel view of Pac Bell at night (with The City in the background), Giant and Dodger players standing for the National Anthem on Opening Day, another aeriel photo of The Park with the San Francisco Bay in the background, Ellis Burks sliding into home to score against the Cardinals, another night-time aeriel shot to a full cityscape at dusk of San Francisco and Pac Bell.

The forward is written by Giants President Peter Magowan and Vice President Larry Baer. They discuss everything from the Giants rumored 1992 move to Florida to the "VISION" coming to fruition.

The book is graced with at least 140 color pictures (many two-page spreads) and some 20-plus black and white photos of the Giants illustrious past from John McGraw/Christy Mathewson to Willie Mays/Willie McCovey. The Giants ten homes are discussed in this chapter in detail. Their move to San Francisco is also closely chronicled. The photos take you around, over, inside and under this magnificent structure from it's humble beginning to it's fan-friendly completion in The City That Knows How.

The text is well thoughout and chronicled from beginning to end as well. Each chapter draws yo in further as to the hows, whens, whys and how-comes of PBP. If you like the wriiten history of Major League Baseball and how it came West; then this book explains it all in great detail.

But the real beauty of this book is the complete photograph history of Pacific Bell Park, Giants fans and The City of San Francisco. Never before have I seen a "love story" between a team and its city been told as well. How the City Fathers' vision of a rejuvenated China Basin area of San Francisco came to pass. And how the real beauty of this old-styled stadium is incorporated into the natural landscape of the most breathtaking City in the world.

The book contains views of many fans, celebrities and athletes such as ESPN's Chris Berman and Peter Gammons; famed writers George F. Will and Ron Fimrite. Local longtime Bay Area columnists Leonard Koppett, Ann Killion, Joan Ryan, Rick Clogher, Darryl Brock, Dave Newhouse and Nick Peters, who has authored the definative San Francisco Giants history in four books about the Giants; give a unique slant on the local residents' feelings about the ballpark and the team. There is even an essay by Joe Spears of HOK Sport, the company that designed Pac Bell, on early concepts of a downtown San Francisco baseball stadium.

The book is liberally sprinkled with quotations and thoughts of Giant players, Giants' Manager Dusty Baker and other Major League Baseball players. These qoutes give you a great players' perspective of the different attitudes, climate and aspirations as opposed to frigid Candlestick Park.

I got a big kick out of the chapter that details "B.A.R.K."- Baseball Aquatic Rescue Korps. It is a group of dogs (Portugese Water Spaniels, evolving from an idea by local comedian/Saturday Night Live regular Don Novella aka Father Guido Sarducci); that patrol the Bay for homeruns that land in the splashdown area called McCovey Cove just beyond right field.

This book is THE BEST I've ever owned about a baseball park or any other athletic facility. It makes a great companion to other related books: "Above San Francisco by Robert Cameron, "The Ballpark Book" by Ron Smith and The Sporting News and "Take Me Out To The Ballpark" by Josh Leventhal.

Get this book NOW while it is still in print. It is one you won't want to miss.

This book shaped my young mind as college student some years ago. I am purchasing another copy to read it again. This book gives a clear explanation of what it means to live out a christian life in a culture that is counter to christ's ideals. The book certainly doesn't advocate isolationism but rather active involvment in transforming the world around us. It is an eye opening and well thought out book for christians in the 20th century and beyond.

I am reading this book with one more chapter to go and have to say that it has been an "eye-opening" and insightful read as to what a REAL Christian/Biblical world view is...and what it isn't. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to others.

This book was used as a textbook in one of my college classes through Regent University. The class, "Contemporary Problems for Christian Leaders," was very enlightening. The book covers world views in general and Christian world views specifically. As a Christian, my world view was transformed by this book, not in an earth-shaking way, but in a subtle way. Instead of Christianity being separate from "the world," I now see Christianity as redeeming the world. I would highly recommend this book.

This book is a penetrating critique of modernism, the prevailing ethos in which we live. It calls Christians to be aware of the presuppositions of the world around us and to renew our minds by seeking after Christlikeness.

Walsh brings well-honed historical skills to this narrative of the famous Piltdown mystery. Found in a gravel pit in 1912, the skullcap and jaw turned paleoanthropology into a ferocious battleground for many years. Reputations were won and lost over interpreting the artefacts in the ensuing years. Walsh carefully outlines the personalities and the sequence of events leading to the finds. He describes how reluctantly many scholars accepted the original interpretations, until a "second Piltdown" overcame their misgivings.

Walsh's chapter "Challenging the Skull" is an excellent summation of the level of knowledge available at the time. The key issue was the "ape-like" jaw adorned with a significant canine tooth, also found at the site. Several scholars argued that such a tooth precluded the evidence of human chewing wear seen on the jaw's molars. The second "find" swept away these contentions, although the chewing mechanism was never worked out. Arthur Smith Woodward gave Piltdown the appellation Eoanthropus dawsonii honouring the finder of the skull. It became the centre of British anthropological ideas for many years.

In 1953, however, fresh doubts arose concerning Piltdown. Walsh leaps the intervening years abruptly to introduce Joseph Weiner. Weiner, disturbed by the lack of supportive data and the results of new dating technology began to delve more deeply into establishing whether the jaw and skull were truly from one individual. Close inspection revealed the tooth "wear" was the result of filing, not chewing! After four decades, Piltdown was exposed as a fraud.

Walsh examines the cases against the primary figures involved in the find and the campaign to establish its primacy in the anthropological scene. Charles Dawson, the original finder is first exonerated as being "too honest" for such an act. Weiner, who originally investigated Dawson, couldn't obtain more than circumstantial evidence. Walsh continues by recounting the several provoking assessments of other participants. He finds the most compelling Stephen J. Gould's implication that the French priest, Teilhard de Chardin was the perpetrator. Of all Gould's assaults on various scientific figures over the years, this one has always seemed the least plausible. Walsh also finds it unconvincing, criticizing the use of evidence or its lack. He critiques other accusations in the same way. Yet, when he finally settles back on Dawson, his own case is built on surmise and supposition. He is unable to actually demonstrate Dawson perpetrated the fraud. Walsh's case is built on past events and some shady dealings on Dawson's part. Of Piltdown, however, Walsh offers no solid evidence. The most significant aspect of his case is his failure to provide motivation. He builds a flimsy foundation of sibling rivalry, plausible, but unsubstantiated.

The glaring omission in this book is Walsh's failure to place Piltdown in its anthropological context. While the deception circumstances and his survey of those accused of it make compelling reading, the real mystery is why such figures as Woodward and Keith clung to Piltdown's morphology in the face of contradictory evidence. The real challenge to Piltdown came from South Africa with Raymond Dart's find of the Taung Child in 1924. Taung's discovery refuted Piltdown's large brain capacity and the belief that modern humans evolved in Asia or Europe. Woodward fought this analysis for years, vigorously defending his
"Earliest Englishman" against the African challenge. Woodward's ideal early man must be British. While Walsh's "detective story" makes compelling reading, his failure to provide in-depth motivation for anyone involved, even Dawson, still leaves too many questions unanswered. Given the number of tarnished reputations the affair produced, this is an unfortunate lapse. While Walsh has built a strong case, the jury remains unconvinced.

This book is a treat. The sheer common sense and respect for the truth blaze through it. I was impressed by the depth of research and the quality of the analysis. I can't recommend it too highly. I have read other books on this subject but have found their arguments unconvincing. Very highly recommended.

A fascinating study of the Piltdown tragedy. I approached the book because I wanted to confirm the innocence of Teilhard de Chardin as regards the whole affair, and indeed Walsh clears Teilhard completely to my satisfaction. But I found myself swept up by Walsh's account of this world famous hoax, and the people who were the first victims of it. It would make a terrific film. I recommend the book as a great read, and to anyone curious about any level of the famous incident. This is a place where the criminologist, the anthropologist and the historian -- and the psychologist -- come together. Simply superb.

In his Prologue, Walsh forcibly states: "The Piltdown fraud was nothing short of despicable, an ugly trick played by a warped and unscrupulous mind on unsuspecting scholars." He spends the remainder of the book sifting through evidence, eliminating suspects and finally exposing the forger and the web of deceit he wove. It is not surprising that among scientists (who must trust one another's honesty in order to advance the standing of knowledge), someone skilled at deception would pose a serious risk to the scientific method? And sure enough, the guilty party did not start with Piltdown, but had a long strng of fraudulent discoveries and plagarisms. Is it further any surprise that the guilty party was a lawyer?

I recommend this book highly to anyone who is interested in science or historical crime.

This book is fabulous! It is a great story about being beautiful on the inside and respecting and loving yourself. What a great self-confident heroine!

My daughter (almost age 6) picked it up at the library along with other princess books and I enjoyed reading every page of this book. It has justice in it and a very happy ending: "People would often say what a handsome couple she and Egbert made, but they found their true joy reading good books to each other by the fire every evening, sharing a good laugh, and simply enjoying the pleasure of each other's company." THAT is a fairytale to emulate.

It was published in 2004, and I am greatly surprised not to see it plastered with awards. The illustrations are magnificent in and of themselves.

Apart from the entertaining story, the thing that really sets this book apart from the rest is its stunning and meticulous illustration. It is hard to believe that this is Rebecca Walsh's first childrens book! Can't wait to see the rest!

This is such a wonderful book. Not only are the illustrations gorgeous, but the heroine of the story is friggin' awesome! I love her tenacity, her love for her father, her brains, and her warm heart. Great story! I wish I'd written it myself!

I can't believe that this book hasn't recieved more attention. My daughter chose it at the library and it is fabulous. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is fabulous. The message is that beauty comes from within.

My husband and I bought this music to play for a garden party. We are intermediate players and I found several pieces for the flute pretty easy to sight read. Some of the harder pieces can be done with practice. There is a CD provided with all the songs from the book on it, which makes it a LOT easier to pick up the melody and rythyms.

The harder part is the guitar. My husband is not a classical player and is self-taught so he had a more difficult time with his music, so he did not play on these pieces for the garden party, but instead played along on a mountain dulcimer - which sounded very nice also. The music is delightful and a refreshing change from a lot of flute music out there.

This is the perfect collection for intermediate flute and guitar players. I found the music accessible, yet rewarding to play. The CD aids learning and is one of my favorites.

I have had this book and CD for over 2 years now and it is my favorite.IT is absolutely beautiful. The music is touching to the heart and soul. THe music has such feeling. It is so easy to play on the flute.I am impressed that music written so simple can sound so pretty. The Cd plays all 44 songs on flute and guitar in harmony.The CD is beautiful just on it's own. I listen to it almost every day. This is the best music book i have ever seen. My music teacher was impressed by the music in the book also and will be ordering one for herself. The music would be great to be played at weddings or special engagements.
I think jessica and alex did a wonderful job ! This book deserves more than 5 stars.I also want to say some of the music is hundreds of years old, and the feeling i get when i play it takes me away to another century along time ago. It is very romantic!Very easy to play,very simple music theory.

I didn't think that this book could offer me anything new about Ireland's highways and byways. But I was pleasantly surprised. I have used it mainly on reasonably short trips out of Dublin. It is written in a very readable style and it allows for all levels of ability. There are a few routes that take in glorious mountain views, but yet are not too challenging. I love the fact that every route has a recommended lunch stop - very important!. I am looking forward to trying some of the routes in the west of Ireland, which I love. Hopefully there will be a new edition by the time I have tried all of the routes!

I have just returned from Ireland having cycled from Killarney to Dublin in a clockwise fashion. I cycled 1,054 miles in less than three weeks. While I took M ichelin, Lonely Planet, Irish Tourist Board guides etc., I discarded them all in favour of Cycle Touring Ireland. It was the most incredible companion and I followed it faithfully. I just wish I could put Brendan on a personal retainer and have him write Cycle Touring Canada, Cycle Touring USA, Cycle Touring France etc. A fantastic job!

I loved this book! It was obviously written by someone who really loves cycling. It is well researched, comprehensive and very easy to use. There are cycle routes suitable for all levels of fitness and the extra information on the scenery, recommended lunch stops etc add greatly to the whole experience. Don't cycle Ireland without it!

Love may not kill, but it can certainly give you a smart shove down that road. Walsh's vivid, neatly researched book gives us a new look at the one whose name was writ on water and his curious agonies over the girl he would have married. Keats, impassioned, gifted, doomed, is even so not gilded here; from the surviving materials he is revealed as intense, a bit obsessive, and never more so than concerning Fanny Brawne. This is one of the most famed loves in history, freshly examined with the fairest look to date at Fanny's equally complicated character. Whether they take place in British rooms or Roman, the dramas within are drawn with lively and poignant detail. Special care is taken, too, to give Joseph Severn the full credit due for his constant vigil at Keats' long dying. To me, Severn's character was by far the most appealing, and Walsh's story left me certain that a steady, loving heart is genius of its own kind.

It is so amazing that in a career lasting only four years, John Keats established himself as English poet who best embodied the sense and ideas of Romantic poetry. That his short life was cut off at such a young age was a tragedy in the sense of all the unwritten works that could have flowed from his pen, but even so, he achieved his life ambition of being "one of the English poets".
Darkling I Listen is an incredibly moving account of the last days of this most tragic (and most romantic) of poets. From his passionate letters to Fanny Brawne to his last moments under the care of his truest friend Joseph Severn, this story will wring your heart.

This book really is a little jewel -beautifully researched and written and incredibly moving. Keats is vividly portrayed, and , as the previous reviewer noted, Joseph Severn is given his due as the best person Keats could have had with him in his dying days. Severn was a devout Christian, according to Walsh, and his life after Keats' death exemplified the Christian belief that if you give selflessly, you will receive... Just have a box of tissues handy while reading this book...

Thank you to Women of Faith for unwrapping grace for me. This book is a treasure to every soul - for who doesn't need grace! We all hear about grace in church, but at times the word is used and yet not explained.

Each devotional paints a vivid picture through personal testimonies of how God unwraps his gift of grace to us in our every day lives. Just like us, these ladies have real lives with real pain and a real portion of God's amazing grace.

In this book, the Women of Faith are mentoring us to look for God's grace and then to celebrate the gift. After reading Extravagant Grace, I am indeed celebrating a new found understanding of God's grace to me and the mystery that it will never run out.

I will give this book as a gift to many of my friends and family.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19 MSG

If you thought devotions have to be dry or boring, then let "Extravagant Grace" take you on an entirely different journey! These wonderful women have truly given us a gift... a gift of Grace in every facet of life. I've felt something was spiritually missing from my life for a long time and now I know how to look for, receive and give others grace. What a gift! Kathy W.

Extravagant Grace is a treat worth enjoying. The six authors each take their turn at sharing their thoughts about experiencing God's grace in their daily lives. These women of faith use a light-hearted approach to show how the deep truths of God's love are applicable in any circumstance. These short, devotional stories will open your heart and uplift your spirit.

This is the book you must have if going into neonatology or neonatal nursing. This is the gold standard and the most up to date information in the field. I have had the privilege of working with the authors and many of the contributors for years now, and I continue to respect and admire their work and knowledge. It's heavy and worth every ounce!

I'm an average everyday bean counter with no background or interest in medicine. I just bought this book because my kid decided to come out at 28 weeks, and let's be honest: Doctor's are too afraid of lawsuits to tell the rest of us lay people all the goods. However this book is great and very accessible for the average high school graduate, such as myself, to understand what's going on. Granted, wikipedia is also nice because doctor's like to use words like "emesis" when "vomiting" will do, however the concepts are presented very clearly. I recommend it to any unfortunate soul who's kid is in the NICU and wants to know what's going on. Of course, if we can understand it, I'm not sure how helpful this book is to real doctors who do this for a living.

It is difficult to read, no doubt about that.However, it has a edge of giving the reader the required concept.Also it is unanimously known that the neonatology board questions contain a lot of questions, foundation of which are laid on the themes , well described in this book.
Definitely recommneded for any body really serious in neonatology.The latest chapter of bioethics and legal medicine is worth mentioning , as it has not been covered in any other neonatology text book.