White Books

I don't have the third book. I enjoyed the first 2 books. I wished they woild have made another movie reguarding book 2 and 3.

N. L. Bowden

The first part of this all-in-one volume is The Talman, the Holy Book of the alien Drac race. The Talman is the premise for the rest of the three novels that follow in the volume. I consider scripture to be inspired search for truth, including the true definition of the relationship between man (or Drac, in this case) and God (or other Higher Power). While reading The Talman, I had the distinct feeling that I was reading real scripture disguised as fictional scripture. Mr. Longyear's insight was thought-provoking as well as entertaining. The series is a worthy entry among the classics dealing with the problem of the relationship between theology/spirituality and science, such as James Blish's A Case of Conscience and Robert Sawyer's Calculating God.

The first part of this all-in-one volume is The Talman, the Holy Book of the alien Drac race. The Talman is the premise for the rest of the three novels that follow in the volume. I consider scripture to be inspired search for truth, including the true definition of the relationship between man (or Drac, in this case) and God (or other Higher Power). While reading The Talman, I had the distinct feeling that I was reading real scripture disguised as fictional scripture. Mr. Longyear's insight was thought-provoking as well as entertaining. The series is a worthy entry among the classics dealing with the problem of the relationship between theology/spirituality and science, such as James Blish's A Case of Conscience and Robert Sawyer's Calculating God.

Rumor has it the tenitive title for this book was "Enemy Mine Omnibus", but in the long run I'm glad they didn't call it that.

"The Enemy Papers" is a collection of stories having to do with the war between the Dracs and Humans. The collection starts with an "abridged" version of the Draconian Talman or holy book.

A revised/extended author's addition of "Enemy Mine" comes next in line with contains a closer look at Shigan and Davidage's relationship and, later, the relationship Davidage has with the Jeriba family.

"The Tomorrow Testement" is the story of a human female soldier who gets taken to the Dracon as a POW and how she caught the eye of a leading Draconian offical and helped bring an end to the war. Bear this in mind; "Enemy Mine" and "Tomorrow Testement" occur at the same time.

"The Last Enemy" takes place around 30 years after "Enemy Mine", only this time from the point of view of a Draconian terrorist living on the planet that started the entire war. This unique view into the after effects of the peace treaty and the universal mindset of a war weary soldier is a nice addition to this collection.

The collection is completed with a set of essays about writing alien languages, Longyear's experiences writing the stories and a small Drac/English-English/Drac dictionary for those of us who are obsessed with these stories. Longyear does admite that, with a little persuassion, he might continue the series, complete the Talman and lenghten the dictionary.

With a little persuassion.

The Enemy Papers is a compilation that includes three novels, Enemy Mine, The Tomorrow Testament and The Last Enemy, as well as The Talman, an alien Bible. Barry Longyear's trilogy of the war between humans and the alien Dracs was always a fantastic story, philosophically deep while entertaining to read, but today the story is even more timely. In this world of renewed terrorist activity and threat of war, a well-thought-out treatise of unrequited hate, fierce nationalism and the horrors of war reads like a world relations primer. The issues of how to establish and keep peace are dealt with honestly and with human (and alien) nature always considered. Nothing is easy, and nothing is straightforward. Longyear is a spectacular writer and this is one of his best. I guarantee that the ending to the last novel will knock your socks off, whether you are wearing socks or not. I promise. Read this book, it will engrave itself on your soul.

Grasping the Ring is an impelling presentation of nine personal portraits of leaders in sports, the media and national governmental services including two U.S. senators. The author, Dr. Gene Budig, is a greatly respected and admired educational leader who was president of three national universities, president of the American Baseball League, a general in the U.S. Air Force and senior presidential advisor of the College Board in New York City. In reality, Dr. Budig is the tenth portrait in Grasping the Ring, a must read.

The biographies of these distinct and heroic individuals, so elegantly and masterfully nestled together by Dr. Budig's wise and artful hand, weave a delightful and illuminating tapestry of profound impact. The work is not only interesting and entertaining, but it also carries the freight of a stirring realization--that the human spirit can indeed overcome adversity and deposit experiences that shape human history. A very enlightening, thought provoking and enriching book!

These clear and concise biographies of famous individuals who
persevered thru challenging circustances is inspiring to read.
Gene Budig gives the reader the feeling that they are having
a personal interview with these heroic figures.Anyone who has
experienced a roadblock in life must read this book.

Gene Budig has given us an insightful snapshot into the lives of nine outstanding individuals who were driven to success in spite of adversity and sometimes outright hostility.

The essays are made more vibrant because Mr. Budig's personally knew these remarkable people. Reading about each person's strength, innate desire and determination to achieve desired goals makes this a most enjoyable and refreshing read.

Gene Budig has written a delightful and enlightening book about some major sports figures, a gifted newspaperman and the significant politicians, Bob Dole and Bob Kerrey.
He knows all well and profiles their achievements along with their vivid personalities in a riveting way. As a daughter of the Midwest, it made me cheer for my achieving brothers from America's heartland. It is a fast read and you'll learn a lot in an enjoyable way!

An entertaining book for all - not just parents. This would be a great gift for anyone who gets a kick out of intelligent humor. For those with young children, you KNOW how difficult it is to get through an entire book - what's great about this book is that each chapter is a story unto itself. I found myself laughing out loud (and in total understanding) while reading about the author's various parenting dilemmas!

Dora E. H. Crow

I'm not even a parent, but I really enjoyed reading this book. It is both funny and insightful at the same time. The author describes various incidents and interactions with his daughter, and the resulting insights. It would be especially great for a new parent or someone with young children, but even people who aren't parents will enjoy it.

Anybody who has stuggled with or watched kids grow will find chuckles and some bellylaughs as the writer gives his slant on what we've all really seen as we've lived it. And, grandparents, you'll remember how things that go around come around.

Mr. Pinsky has unique perspective on parenthood and his razor sharp prose will keep you laughing for hours. I nearly wet my pants at one point. If you're a parent and up for a good laugh - read this book!

Although I am a female with no kids, I am an Aunt who has occassional responsibility for my nieces and nephews. Homedaddy made me feel alot more confident about how can I interact with the kids and gave me greater respect (and sympathy) for my brothers and sisters. I reccommend this book to any Aunt or Uncle who is trying to figure it all out.

I was barely seven years old when old Penn Station was torn down, but I remember the sadness and outrage of my neighbors in Brooklyn. I had only been to the station once or twice but I was too young to remember. I didn't really understand the big fuss about its destruction. And after it was gone, I don't remember there being too much grieving.

Now looking back, through films and books, I understand what it was all about. "The Late, Great Pennsylvania Station" by Lorraine B. Diehl is the best book on the subject that I've come across. Her analysis of the rise and fall of McKim's great station is both awe-inspiring and heart-breaking. The smattering of beautiful photographs is a plus, as well. Penn Station's demise, of course, could be regarded solely as a loss for the city but, as Ms. Diehl explains, the real legacy of the destruction was the enormous preservation/conservation movement that followed. In the aftermath, so many other buildings were spared a similar fate.

There are those who say that the people behind Penn Station's demolition were justified (Ms. Diehl rightly avoids villifying anyone). The apologists for the destruction claim that Penn Station was too big, in the wrong place, and was in the red. The Empire State Building was erected ten blocks south of the midtown business area and three miles north of the Wall Street district. It was a very big building and rarely had over 50% occupancy until the 1950s, when it finally began earning money. Should it have been knocked down too?

Much has been written about the late, great, Pennsylvania Station, and yet it can never be too much. This landmark should be standing today, with it's pink granite shinning in the sun, and being a becon in cloudy weather. In the 1960's, in many other cities their grand "Union Stations" were being sectioned off and abandonded, some are still standing as ruins today, this is part of the irony of Penn Station's demise, even in the 1960's there were hundreds of passenger trains using the facility daily, and this number has been climbing since.

The author gives us all the facts and figures about this station, from it's planning, short life, and needless destruction. However she also paints the human picture of this building, and in doing so lets us understand how the public allowed this building to slip away.

The opening of Penn Station was celebrated during the final years of the Gilded Age, acted as shelter to thousands during the Great Depression, and it served as a virtual military base during the WW II years.
To the multitudes of returning vets, and their famalies, the railroads and Penn Station represented the past, and times that they all would rather forget. Remember back then there was not the mental health counselling available to the returning soldiers, and one way they coped was to simply forget the past, and all that it contained.

In this book we see that the stations fate was sealed with VJ Day, and the social changes that started to take shape with WW II's end.
By the 1950's, Airplanes and Interstate Highways were in, Railroads were out. Yet at least in the NYC area, commuter trains still played an important role that never went away. The beautiful building was allowed to decay, and was altered by a private company without any accontability required to the public.

By the early 1960's some of the public finally woke up, and NYC's Landmark Preservation Committee was formed, by it was too late for the "Temple of Transportation".

This book also contains an excellent compliment of photos, including a number from the 4 year, yes, four year period it took to destroy the station.

Ken

Very good book which takes into account the historical background of why Penn Station was built in the first place right through to its destruction. A tragic loss not only for New Yorkers but for America and this book describes it well.

This book is facinating and so well written, I really could not put it down, the author has a real sence for the history and importance of the building, I agree it could have used more visuals, but that is a minor quibble and really does not take away from the merit of the book. I must take some exception to the review of Mr. Jendrysic, in all due respect he misses the point totally of perservation when he says the building was a white elephant that was in the wrong place and in the red, that may have all been true, but in those cases you find other uses for the building, like Paris did with the Orsay train station and the colossel Louvre as well as Versailles, I mean would you call for the pulling down of Versailles??? and the Orsey Museum is spectacular. This was not just any building, this was a masterpiece a true treasure, that could have been coverted to other uses, buildings of this quality should be persevered, period, not torn down like some 50's tract house. I highly recommend this book in everyway, if you have any interest in great buildings or just wonderful books quite frankly, then you will not be disappointed in this book, you are right about one think Mr. Jendrysic this book is first rate.

Mr. Mark S. Jendrysik is from North Dakota. What in the world would he know or care about New York City? Judging by his past reviews, he is a big business apologist in a square state in the middle of nowhere.

A native New Yorker myself, I could not imagine my city without Grand Central, for instance, or SoHo, Central Park or the historic area of Chelsea and the West Village. Some things are worth preserving.

Robert White's book should be issued as standard equipment as you exit the womb and referenced every day for the rest of your life.

We tend to think that living an extraordinary life must be complicated and difficult - but it's easy. It's far easier than living a difficult and mundane life. It's all about perception. I wish I had learned his lessons long ago.

This is the most powerful book I have ever read about accepting responsibility for every thing in your life and the power that it has to change your attitude in so many ways. I was impressed with Robert White's no nonsense style and the ability he had to cut through all of my distorted thinking habits.

Extraordinary Book. It personal and heartfelt and has something for everyone. I love it.

I loved this book because of the real-people stories. This book is a down-to-earth guide on how to live in the moment and what it takes to live responsibly--and, therefore, successfully. Thanks to Robert White for sharing so much of his expereince and lessons.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (7/06)

"Living an Extraordinary Life" was written to help you find happiness and fulfillment within your life. It is written around a framework of three concepts that need to be worked on in order for us to achieve our goals. These concepts are: Awareness, Responsibility and Communication. White teaches you how to apply these concepts into your life so that you can find your true purpose and achieve your goals. White uses eye catching chapter titles, lists of the differences between ordinary people and extraordinary
people, and meaningful quotes to get you thinking about what is coming in the chapter. White also points out behaviors and thought patterns that we tend to have that keep us just "ordinary" and not very happy. He discusses what extraordinary people do to keep themselves at that higher level. A lot has to do with how we deal with a situation. An extraordinary person can be going through a rough time, like us, but how they process what they are going through tends to be very different from what we are processing.

Everything that he writes makes so much sense. This is the type of book that will take you some time to read. It is also a good to time to be journaling what you are thinking and feeling. I know that this book has changed my life. It is up to me to continue to
work on what I need to, so that I stay at this higher level.

"Living an Extraordinary Life" is a keeper, do not let this book out of your hands. You will want to read it again at many points in your life. If you want a friend to read it, which you will, buy them a copy and hold on to yours!

This book makes fascinating reading. It helped me to appreciate more the musicians I was already familiar with, such as Jack Teagarden, and opened my eyes to a lot of people I knew little or nothing about. Be sure to pick up the companion CD, too.

This is the finest book about jazz that I have ever read. I own many of the records that the author dissects, as well as having seen several of these great jazz artists perform, and I find his judgment perceptive and unerring. But this is far more than just a book about jazz music. What makes these musicians tick, how did they happen to assemble together for a recording session, how did the record business impact their selection of pieces to perform? The author draws on a variety of academic disciplinces, including art, psychology, economics, and social history, to put his subjects in perspective. Most important, he is a fine storyteller who empathizes with the people he writes about. While many reviews focus on his overall thesis about race in jazz, this is but one theme he articulates, and it serves more as an organizing structure for the book than as its sole message.

First of all, Dick Sudhalter is a gifted writer. He crafts his narratives like a well constructed solo or composition. Second, this book tells us about early white jazz musicians and correctly describes the interplay between vital African American innovations and the contributions of Caucasian jazzmen. Sudhalter in no way diminishes the seminal contributions of African American jazzmen. He simply talks about the contributions of other artists, and does a masterful job of helping us to see the interplay between musicians who have given us this wonderfully entertaining music. I thought I knew a fair amount about the history of jazz. After reading this book, I know more. Nothing is more American than Jazz music (just my opinion), and the more you understand it, the more you know about the USA in the 20's and 30's. I keep re-reading parts of this book because there's so much here.

While a brilliant documentary, Burns' "Jazz" also reinforced the notion that jazz is exclusively an African-American artform. Fortunately, "Lost Chords" does much to blow away that misperception. While never belittling or downplaying the role of those African-American giants in jazz, this book does an outstanding job of profiling all of the individuals and bands who received short shrift from Burns: Steve Brown, who pretty much invented jazz bass playing; the Jean Goldkette Orchestra; Miff Mole; Frank Trumbauer; and may more. And he does so in a way that is both interesting to the casual fan (with anecdotes and such) and the hardened muso (excerpts of scores abound). A scholarly tome, this is a worthy addition for any jazz fan's library. I look forward to Volume II.

Not a mere antidote to political correctness in jazz criticism; Lost Chords is a prewar cultural history, a lesson in music structure, a history of woodwind instruments, a guide to innovations in guitar tuning, AND MORE. It shows the musicians as human beings with all their failings, humor, drives, hard work, and talent. I especially loved the account of the bass sax --- an instrument that looks like it could double as a moonshine still --- and its usefulness in the early days of sound recording. Sudhalter admonishes us to listen to the music and to make up your own mind. Exactly right. A good place to start is Robert Parker's Bix Beiderbecke Great Original Performances 1924-1930 (available on Amazon) If you have ever heard an early 78 rpm record, you will be astonished at Parker's sound restoration.

I discovered this CD set (2 CDs) at my local library. Stuart is not only enlightening, yet realistic in his approach. He has an excellent speaking voice. I highly recommend this CD set.

This tiny book is packed full of wonderful insightful information. Highly recommended. You won't be dissapointed.

I love all the reviews on this book. All the power and magic this brings is soooo real. But they all left out a very important factor, which is Miracles really do happen with this book.They have for me.Just read and really trust with all your heart..And watch your life change!!!! What a great little book!!!!!!!!!

All of Stuart Wilde's books are GREAT. This one is one of the BEST. I would give Miracles MORE than 5 Stars if I could!

I was so impressed with this little book that I bought copies for several friends. Stuart's definitely "out there" but if you're able to trust your gut and suspend your preconceptions and conditioning, then the straight-to-the-point, no-fuss statements and action plans are fantastic. I've read many more garrulous books along similar lines but got much more out of the 52-page "Miracles", including one of my life's greatest "Ah ha!" moments. If only for that, it gets five stars.

As someone who has been "allergic" to mold my whole life and suffered horribly in any building with mold, this book helps the average person understand the how and why of mold effects on the body. It also gives detailed, specific information on how to detect mold, remediate a home or office and most important how to test people for the effects of mold exposure and what can be done to get healthy. I recommend anyone who has ever had any possible exposure to mold in a school, home or office get this book.

As someone who grew up with horrific mold allergies and had to live with the skin rashes, sinus infections and asthma that accompanied any exposure, I found Mold Illness Made Simple to be a wonderful, funny, enligtening book that helped me understand why mold so affected me and what I could do to be well in the future. Given that mold exists in many unsuspecting places like large stores, schools and even in our homes, I think anyone would benefit from reading this book.

The well laid out information in this book has improved the well being of my family. It is a quick read containing invaluable facts and simple, cost effective solutions such as how to test for mold in the home, as well as the diagnostic codes needed to test for toxins in the body. Mold Illness Made Simple is an ideal resource for a young scholar wishing to learn more about science and the environment. The authors and illustrator are commended for their unique format.

This book saved me from wasting $3,000 on some "special" filter my heater&AC guy wanted to sell me!

A wealth of knowledge on a pervasive problem.

Easy to follow information for adults too busy to read a large academic work. If you thought you knew everything about the air you breathe, think again and get the latest information of common ailments affecting you at work, home, and elsewhere.

I have personally and unknowingly dealt with massive mold exposure at my workplace, leaving me with a multitude of ill-effects. This is a very nice overview that has definitively enlightened me from a comical perspective. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to know the facts in a concise format.

While this book seems largely unknown in the Reiki community, it is a most wonderful resource. It really does help understand the process of living in the moment and feeling the energetic effects of simply being.

The author describes the journey that this book represents not as being a "how-to" guide for Reiki, but as a "why-to." Narrin truly feels that Reiki cannot be adequately described, and therefore she leaves that to the reader to find their own Reiki experience. Thus, the book is left to be a journey into understanding the tangible, real-life benefits of approaching life holistically and with intention.

I strongly reccomend this book to everyone, not just Reiki practitioners. It will honestly enrich our human experience. Jus the author's personal story related in the book is wonderful, and it is so nice to see a Reiki book that isn't regurgitating the same information as every other.

I tried using one of the plant energy experiments on a dead Dogwood tree in our front yard that was killed by lightning over twenty years ago and within four weeks of using the twenty minutes worth of Reiki energy on the dead tree stump, there appeared four new sprouts right beside the stump that were little Dogwood trees.

In the back of the book there is a personal journal for a month worth of your energy healing and journal to learn if you are actually living in the moment being aware and grounded or spending the majority of your day zoned out on other things like daydreaming/ worry Etc...

After reading and studing this book, I have found that the insights Janeanne Narrin brings, along with the "ways" to learn about, and get into contact with this energy bring to life something we all "know" exists. It allows us to step by step tune in and tune up!..

Good reading, and a better study guide.... much "fuller" than any other I have studied...I recommend highly and am hoping Janeanne creates a sequal ...

I love the attention to detail and the beautiful artwork that this book contains. The layout is well done and I find it causes me to be drawn into the text. The exercises are interesting and unique to most Reiki books. Her descriptions make the practice of Reiki easy to understand and the drawings are helpful. The storys add interest and give a refreshing perspective. Certainly a lot of thought has been given to the creation of this very useful Reiki book.

Having read Janeanne's book from the perspective of a novice in the world of Reiki, I was especially drawn in by her stories of personal transformation. My goal in learning about Reiki is similar: to transform my life through new methods AND new perspectives, which her book helps me do. I would highly recommmend this to anyone who is new to Reiki and is looking for a CONTEXT of Reiki in their life's pursuits.

I picked up the Corax book when I grabbed three or four other Breed Books at my local game store seeing how they were three or four dollars each. Of all the books I bought that day, this was by far my favorite. The Corax are a changing breed in Werewolf: the Apocolypse, but have a completely different feel than anyone else I have tried. Corax are bird-brained scouts. Their style is great if you are the one at the game table constantly cracking jokes.

The book is, as per the norm for a White Wolf supplement, almost completely written from the perspective of an older Corax explaining the world to a younger bird. I personally found myself laughing on regular occasion at this narration. However, the history, purpose, style, and techniques of Corax were well covered.

The book also carries its standard comic in the front, something that was lost with the Revised editions of White Wolf games. This story gives you a short tale surrounding one of the supposedly legendary Corax, Raina. She is more deeply detailed toward the end of the book as well, if Storytellers want to include her in their story.

Overall, this book is quite possibly the best Breed Books White Wolf put out. Its humor, mechanics, and concepts will sell a player on the Corax quickly, and it will give STs something to play with that can both save their werewolf players' lives and annoy them to no end.

I have used this book many, many times to either make a Corax Character for myself, or to help others make their characters. The book is well written, and takes a turn away from the normal kill first and ask questions later style of the Garou (werewolves). The book is very informative and had a lot of background info for the Corax. If you are looking for a different type of character to play in your tabletop or LARP group, this is a great choice. Besides, how can you go wrong when you can have a character that can FLY?

Honestly--I picked up this book because I was going to be creating a character to help a friend out and I was immediately hooked! I read the thing from cover to cover and have several times since. The text is written with a great sense of humor and gives valuable insight to the workings of those wacky little were-ravens.

The wereravens are the messengers and scouts in the world of Werewolf. The history of the breed is narrated by a humorous Corax, who takes things that you think to be written in biblical style writing, and translates it into modern english (VERY funny)
I suggest this book to anyone who plays Werewolf but is getting tired of strictly garou and wants to add some color to the game.

I'll say openly that I'm no fan of Werewolf. Don't get me wrong, I understand the system and I've played my share of the characters, but werewolves always seem to be played a bit to slash and kill for my taste. Well, you can imagine my surprise when a friend lent me this book and told me, despite my less the cheerful comments on the subject of werewolves, that it wasn't like the others. He was definitely right. Not only are were-ravens extremely interesting, and the book it's self amusing. It's a wonderful change of style from the typical werewolf characters. Were-ravens aren't slash and kill characters, but they have other interesting skills that lend depth to any game I've seen them in. Not only would I suggest this book to were-creature fans, I would suggest it to people who aren't (like me) because if you think that were-wolves are all about death, be prepared for a wonderful surprise.