Western Books

I am wondering if the spiral cook book is different than the hard back book. I just bought the cook book and they only had it in hard back. A friend of mine told me about the Curried Rice/Artichoke salad, and I don't have that in the hard back book.
Please let me know if there is a difference.
Thank you
Ginger Rhine

I have yet to try a recipe from this cookbook that I didn't like. I've been using this cookbook for about 8 years, and I have recommended it to ALL of my friends. If you like food, you'll love this cookbook.

I don't even know where to start. I absolutely love this cookbook. My mother used it when I was growing up. Once I moved out, the first thing on my agenda was to get my own copy. I'm on my second copy (dog destroyed the first one) and it never disappoints. I have given all of my friends copies of this cookbook as well. Everyone loves it. None of my other cookbooks even compare to this one.

I personally own over 400 cookbooks & have found Junior League Cookbooks to be one of my favorites. They are "tried & true" recipes for any age. This one contains very unusual recipes & some old standards. Can't go wrong with this one

I am ordering this for a friend in Japan, after having used it myself for years. I give it often as a gift, because it contains so many recipes that are on the "favorites" list of everyone in my family. You won't be sorry!

This Book was all that.Staxx is as Important as Motown.It's a Incredible Story.especially when A Black Label Blows up Down South in the 60's.you only ever here about Sun Records &Sam Phillips and his discovery of Elvis Presley.so this is Very Important on a Social Front.The Many Great Artists on Staxx.this Book is strong from start to Finish.

This book is simply amazing. I was only marginally interested in Stax before reading the book, but you will be moved by this story.

The passion shows through and I was unable to put it down.

Out of the hundreds of books I've read, this is one of the finest.

This book is as raw and soulful as the greatest country and rockabilly music gets. Great essays on contemporay stars Dwight Yoakum and Marty Stuart (two of the few "real" artists in today's Garth-in-the-park, yuppiefied, mall rat Urban Country scene). Also, a look at Pat Boone (how could such a soulless singer come from Tennessee!), the great, but sadly forgotten Johnny Horton and an ex-country wannabe who became a segragationist candidate for Govenor of Mississippi.

Bowman's love for the music and personnel of the Stax label is plainly clear as he weaves its exciting, sometimes turbulent, history into a story that is as entertaining as it is informative. The interviews with the involved parties is what makes the book what it is, elevating the history from what could be a dry textbook, to a feel of a story told over dinner. The demise of Stax is truly a heartbreaking story that reflects America's, and specifically the South's, experience of the time. Fantastic work!

Biographical essays of well-known as well as fairly obscure musicians and industry types. Escott has made a career out of telling outrageous, sometimes salacious, tales -- he gets to the rawer, visceral side of the story pretty quickly, which is relatively easy when you're talking to folks who worked in the scraggly, scruffy early years of country, rock and blues. He's an engaging, consersational writer, and this latest collection is a delight. Includes essays on artists such as Dale Hawkins, Don Everly, Johnny Horton, Tim Hardin and a particularly cruel skewering of Pat Boone. In one of the most fascinating sections, Escott profiles the founders of record labels such as Decca, King, Starday and Hi -- a fascinating and very illuminating appoach to presenting the history of popular music. Beautifully laid out, well written and highly recommended.

This is another wonderful book by Bittner which puts the reader in the family of early settlers and the heartaches, hardships and life lessons that come their way. She writes with passion and keeps the reader's interest heightened. You will enjoy this book and I recommend that you read Texas Embrace, too.

From the back cover:

Rosanne Bittner's extraordinary talent pulls us into the lives of her characters--the men and women whose spirit settled the Old West. Once again, we live, love, and triumph with them in her towering new saga of a time filled with wildness and adventure...of a man and a woman whose search for their kidnapped children is a journey no reader will ever forget...

Texas Passions

When old enemies of ex-Texas Ranger John Hawkins seek revenge against him and his beloved wife, they steal a treasure beyond price: their young son, Texas, and his little sister, Honor. John and Tess have become pawns in a cruel game meant to lure them into a deadly confrontation. But John, a half-breed known as "Hawk" to many, is not a man to be wronged. And Tess, a daring woman with amazing courage, will stope at nothing to save her children.

Now, with danger at every turn, they bravely follow their son and daughter wherever their cries lead; sacrificing everything to save their family with an indomitable love--one powerful enough to overcome the most overwhelming odds...

And my reivew:

While this was a sequel book (following "Texas Embrace"), it was also one that could stand perfectly well on its own. I hadn't read the preceding book, yet I was never lost or confused.

I am used to reading huge, thick sagas by this author, so this 300 page book went a lot faster than many of her other books. That's not to say it wasn't enjoyable. It was. Bittner did an excellent job of portraying the pain a parent would feel when living the horrible nightmare of having one's children stolen. The talented author managed to do this without letting the book feel too dark or depressing, which is not an easy task.

Both John and Tess were wonderfully strong characters, and they were well-drawn. You really felt as if you knew them by the end of the book.

However, the action part of this book was pretty formulamatic, so don't buy this looking for any shocking plot twists, because there aren't any. However, as a good old gun-fighting western, this book is a hit.

It wasn't the most memorable of books. Other books I can quote chapter and verse after just one read (the curse and blessing of ADD), but this one wasn't one of those.

Still, if you're looking for an enjoyable read, or if you want to catch up on the characters from "Texas Embrace", then this book is for you.

I loved the book, haven't read the first one yet, but will look for it when I go to a used-book store, since it is out of stock on amazon.com. Has another book been written after this, maybe about Ken and Jenny's story? The way Texas Passions ended, there is always hope for another one to follow. I feel I would have done for the bad guys exactly like John & Tess did, she certainly did her part to rescue her babies.

Once again Rosanne Bittner has created a excellant read that you can't put down. For those who haven't read the first book- Texas Embrace you'll want to read it when you finish this one (if not before). This is a great love story about John Hawkins & his wife Tess. But also it is about a parents great love for their children and what each is willing to endure for the other. It is a real tear-jerker (happy tears) along with heart stopping suspense and a good old fashion hero & heroine thrown in to melt your heartstrings. It will keep you up all night reading and then some. If you've never been a reader before, this book (or any of Ms. Bittner's writings) will make you a dedicated fan (of both the author & subject matter) for Life!!

When I purchased TEXAS PASSION, I did not know it was a sequel. It is the continuing story of ex-Texas Ranger John Hawkins and Tessa Reeves. In TEXAS PASSION, John and Tessa have been happily married for nine years and have two wonderful children, Texas and Honor. Their happiness is shattered when an old enemy escapes from prison and teams up with unknown enemy determined to take revenge on the Hawkins. Their children are kidnapped and their old friend, Ken is gravely wounded while trying to protect them. The chase is on and we see John turn from a peaceful rancher to the feared and deadly warrior he once was. John, Tessa and their children struggle through many hardships before they are reunited. The revenge that John takes on those who threatened and hurt his children is brutal and relentless. I couldn't help cheering him on. The family's reunion was heartwarming. I loved the Hawkins so much that I ordered TEXAS EMBRACE, the story telling how it all began. I can't wait. This was a glorious book and I recommend it. You'll love it. Trust me!

This is an amazingly excellent introduction to the life and teaching of the 4th century Syrian mystic Iamblichus. Anyone interested in the spiritual science behind ritual magic and divination will find a treasure trove of insight here.

An excellent companion to Plotinus. The author, Mr. Shaw has a firm grasp of Platonic principles of Proodos (emanationism, the 'religion' of Platonism) unlike many other trash books I own authored by existentialists writting upon Platonism from the perspective of their nihilistic and atomistic minds. Without extentive description, might I say I praise LITTLE in the way of books on Neoplatonism, and I own all such books, and this book is top 10 among them all.

Excellent book. I learned more about the relationship between Plotinus, Proclus and Iamblichus in this book than I did in The Cambridge History of Later Greek and Early Medieval Philosohy. Chapter 12, "Cult and Cosmos" is worth the price of the book. If you are interested in Iamlichus I might even recomend this before (not instead of) the primary sources.
If you don't have a fair packground in philosophy or theology you may need to get a dedicated dictionary to define the greek terms.

While Plotinus has been read and written about fairly early, it took a long time before the later Neoplatonists were studied seriously. The main reason was the disrespect expressed by many important scholars - notably E. R. Dodds and A.-J. Festugiere - about theurgy, which was routinely identified with magic and 'puerile superstition'. Fortunately, figures like H.-D. Saffrey (a pupil of Dodds and Festugiere) and J. Trouillard favored a more sympathetic approach to the subject, and they paved the way for a new generation of scholars, among them G. Shaw, the author of this remarkable book. It is a crucial work, because one's understanding of philosophers like Iamblichus and Proclus is unthinkable without a good enough grasp of theurgy; in that regard, the book is at once erudite and reader-friendly. Shaw emphasizes Iamblichus' traditionalism: far from being an eccentric innovation, theurgy is described as an effort to bring the Platonic tradition closer to Plato himself (and Pythagoras) and away from the radical dualism of the Gnostics. The book makes clear that adherence to theurgy implies a worldview whose consideration of the sensible world is deeply imbeted to the overall optimism of Plato's Timaeus; that dialogue's demiurgic cosmogony is also vital for the theurgic rites. In short, this is an essential book for those who are interested in Iamblichus and the later Neoplatonists.

An extraordinary work on Iamblichus, making clear that Iamblichus' aim was to reconnect Sould and World, with fascinating remarks about theurgy and therapy

This is an endlessly frustrating and illuminating book written by Leo Strauss. Even if you aren't able to fathom esoteric writing, you will be continuously surprised by Strauss's clarity of thought about Machiavelli in both the larger context of the entire book, and in the minutae of the details. It has a way of forcing one to puzzle over things in a new way, and is free of the rhetoric of ideologues and demagogues. It makes the reader feel like a young student in the presence of a great, beneficent teacher.

Yes, Leo Strauss has the guts to say that Machiavelli is evil, and through a scintillating display of close reading, Strauss silently points, and nods, in the direction of the solution to why Machiavelli is evil. The other reviewers accurately convey the sense of mystery and sophistication about this text, but by reading Strauss's book "Persecution and the Art of Writing", the reader of "Thoughts on Machiavelli" may be able to arrive at the solution to the mystery.

A brilliant book.

One of the best and most important books of the 20th Century. I know that sounds ridiculous (shouldn't it be famous then?) but it's true. Strauss traces the beginnings of modernity to a concious design of Machiavelli's to overthrow all previous authority in favor of "new modes and orders." In other words, according to Strauss, the world we live in is not only not the result of imperonsal, inevitable "progress," it was made possible by one man who knew exactly what he was doing.

Through a detailed analysis of Machiavelli's books, Strauss shows how every important feature of modern thought is either directly traceable to Machiavelli, or else depends on a foundation he built. More importantly, Strauss outlines the differences between Machiavellism and what Machiavelli sought to replace--thereby making possible a (qualified) return to the superior understanding of pre-Machiavellian philosophy.

Such a return becomes more necessary every day, as the contradictions and prodigious errors of modern thought continue to erode civilization. Strauss alone has shown that return is possible--and this book is an indespenible guide for how to get there.

So, says Strauss, Machiavelli is evil? Is that so? What do we mean by this? Is this not all too comforting an answer to a question that Strauss hammers the complexity of throughout his book? The problem of this book is one esoteric writer writing about another. You sit there with Strauss on one knee and Machiavelli on the other as Strauss remorselessly "blows his cover." Machiavelli has something to hide and Strauss is intent on showing what it is. The question that constantly recurrs is: What has Strauss to hide? Nobody is this adept at ferreting out others' hidden meanings without having hidden meanings themselves. Especially not when their doctrine is that philosophy is a series of hidden meanings reserved for the philosopher and encoded so as to be missed even by the scholars. It, in other words, takes a thief to catch a thief. So Strauss catches Machiavelli leaving us to wonder what he has also stolen from us in the process

Leo Strauss does a masterful job of bringing the teachings of the world's first modern philosopher to light. Machiavelli is notorious for his "evil" treatise on political thinking and acting, "The Prince". Strauss writes the U.S. is the only country "founded in implicit opposition to Machiavellian principles". Modern philosophers starting with Machiavelli reject the classical view as undemocratic and elitist. Only wealthy men of leisure would have time to develop the virtues and character necessary to rule. Machiavelli believed that man by nature was selfish and driven by ambition. Machiavelli is not interested in character formation and moral appeal but in building the right kind of institutions to govern society. Laws and justice would protect men from power hungry rulers. Modern philosophy is an out growth of the revolution that takes place in the natural sciences during the Enlightenment. The purpose of science is the conquest of nature man is in control of human life. Philosophers from Machiavelli on become sectarian. "Everything good is due to man's labor rather than to nature's gift." Yet, when you delve into Strauss' "Thoughts On Machiavelli" you come to realize all he teaches is not evil. Machiavelli in his treatise "Discourses On The First Ten Books Of Livy" believes the Roman Republic was the best and most virtuous form of government to emulate. His breadth and understanding of Roman history is remarkable. This book is not the easiest of reads and I recommend it not be the first book by Strauss you read. Start with his "Introduction To Political Philosophy" or "History Of Political Philosophy.

As a retired Army officer and student of political philosophy, I found this to be a great book to start one's journey into political philosophy.

The novel follows the trails of Jake Chalk, a young settler conscripted into the Texas Militia in 1838, and his bitter enemy, Black Wolf, a Caddo war chief. Both are driven by revenge and their inevitable confrontation becomes a mutual obsession.

Jake meets and fights beside many men for whom several of today's North Texas counties, cities and universities are named. While coming of age, Jake grows to be a fierce Militia fighter, courts a beautiful young woman, helps build a frontier fort and is instrumental in settling a new city named Dallas.

More than a western novel and written in the entertaining, historical docudrama style of John Jakes and James Michener, Three Forks: a Novel of Texas tells the exciting story of the events preceding the settlement of North Texas, and the founding of Dallas in 1842. The novel takes the reader back in time to walk among and meet the famous historical figures who helped build Texas in the 1830s and 1840s.

Researched in many cases to the original document level, the novel not only details the history of an area once called "Three Forks," but also provides perspective on the fascinating historic events that occurred throughout the Republic of Texas, and led to its subsequent acceptance as a US state.

Three Forks, named for the confluence of the three main forks of the Trinity River, was a huge block of land in North Texas that today is larger than thirty-six individual US states in population, and nine states in geographical area. It is the home of the world's largest airport, and includes major US cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth and their rapidly growing surrounding cities.

Despite the significance of this area, its fascinating history, spanning 1836 to 1846, is frequently overlooked. This period follows the fall of the Alamo and the Texans' victory at San Jacinto, which leads to freedom from Mexico. As a result, The Republic of Texas is formed - an entire country separate from the United States. The period ends as Texas achieves US statehood, and the US goes to war with Mexico.

Even more overlooked in this period are the conflicts between the Texas Militia in Northeast Texas and many Native American tribes. Brutal attacks by both sides result in many deaths. Terror reigns throughout North Texas settlements and Native American villages. The dispute is over Three Forks, with its beautiful forests, rolling green hills and grassy plains.

Tom Marlin's experience and renown as an artist presents itself in his writing. Through well-crafted prose and dialogues from many cultures, he paints word landscapes and panoramas similar to those found in the works of Zane Gray. Despite the serious drama of military battles and human conflict, romance and humor permeate a revealing story that will both entertain and inform the reader. The novel also contains nine fully illustrated maps

Initially, I thought this was a story about times preceding the settlement of Dallas but I found it to also be a saga of westward expansion in the US (the culmination of which was the destruction of Native American cultures during the 19th century).

I was delighted to read not only a good solid story, but see the characters evolve with real emotion and motivations. A fairly difficult task for accomplished writers, the author ups the ante with a historically based setting. What I liked is that these aren't the cardboard characters you find in so many well conceived but poorly executed pieces of historical fiction, where characters only exist to fulfill their 'historical significance' and are discarded to the annals of history.

Stories that take the time to weave a good tale are one thing but when the author follows it up with what appears to be very detailed research to base the story upon past events in real locations (in addition to showing the effects of the real issues of day to day life in the time period) you know you've got something special. This book is going to be one tough act to follow, but I trust the author welcomes and rises to the challenge.

I suspect I'll be let down by the fact that the author is incapable of crafting his tales as quickly as I can read them. If you're reading this Mr. Marlin: START ON ANOTHER BOOK NOW.

Ok, so I grew up on the Lone Ranger and more of the stereotypical "good guys wear white hats" kind of western. I had written off the genre for the most part until I read some L'amour and thought I'd give this a shot as well. (Apparently there's a lot of really bad stuff out there and have been told I lucked out when I found L'amour.)

Keep in mind that my usual reading is stuff by Phillip K Dick, Bruce Sterling, and William Gibson, so you could definitely say I'm a fish out of water in regards to this genre.

Imagine my surprise when I saw not only a good solid story, but character development and...what's that? historically based. Stories that take the time to weave a good tale are one thing but when the author does the research to base the story upon past events in real locations AND deftly shows the affects of the real issues of day to day life in the time period....WOW.

I had never thought of "cowboys" like that before. It's my belief that if you like L'amour, you'll like Marlin.

Thanks for a great read, Mr. Marlin.

The novel follows the trails of Jake Chalk, a young settler conscripted into the Texas Militia in 1838, and his bitter enemy, Black Wolf, a Caddo war chief. Both are driven by revenge and their inevitable confrontation becomes a mutual obsession.

Jake meets and fights beside many men for whom several of today's North Texas counties, cities and universities are named. While coming of age, Jake grows to be a fierce Militia fighter, courts a beautiful young woman, helps build a frontier fort and is instrumental in settling a new city named Dallas.

More than a western novel and written in the entertaining, historical docudrama style of John Jakes and James Michener, Three Forks: a Novel of Texas tells the exciting story of the events preceding the settlement of North Texas, and the founding of Dallas in 1842. The novel takes the reader back in time to walk among and meet the famous historical figures who helped build Texas in the 1830s and 1840s.

Researched in many cases to the original document level, the novel not only details the history of an area once called "Three Forks," but also provides perspective on the fascinating historic events that occurred throughout the Republic of Texas, and led to its subsequent acceptance as a US state.

Three Forks, named for the confluence of the three main forks of the Trinity River, was a huge block of land in North Texas that today is larger than thirty-six individual US states in population, and nine states in geographical area. It is the home of the world's largest airport, and includes major US cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth and their rapidly growing surrounding cities.

Despite the significance of this area, its fascinating history, spanning 1836 to 1846, is frequently overlooked. This period follows the fall of the Alamo and the Texans' victory at San Jacinto, which leads to freedom from Mexico. As a result, The Republic of Texas is formed - an entire country separate from the United States. The period ends as Texas achieves US statehood, and the US goes to war with Mexico.

Even more overlooked in this period are the conflicts between the Texas Militia in Northeast Texas and many Native American tribes. Brutal attacks by both sides result in many deaths. Terror reigns throughout North Texas settlements and Native American villages. The dispute is over Three Forks, with its beautiful forests, rolling green hills and grassy plains. Tom Marlin's experience and renown as an artist presents itself in his writing. Through well-crafted prose and dialogues from many cultures, he paints word landscapes and panoramas similar to those found in the works of Zane Gray. Despite the serious drama of military battles and human conflict, romance and humor permeate a revealing story that will both entertain and inform the reader. The novel also contains nine fully illustrated maps.

For his first novel, Tom Marlin has captured my interest. The story line is skillfully interwoven with glimpses into the history and culture of the DFW Texas area in the middle 19th century. Many real names and places are used in the story which make it seem almost like a documentary of the struggle for territory between the native Americans and the settlers. Two main characters emerge; Jake Chalk, a young rancher who finds himself involved in efforts to protect the settlers from Indian attacks and to capture the other main character, Black Wolf, a young Caddo chief who seems to be bent on continuing the hostilities. The more the story unfolded, the more I was drawn into it trying to anticipate what would be coming next. Would Melody and Jake eventually marry? Would Black Wolf recover his sacred obsidian knife? The ending was exciting and surprising enough to rate a five star for me. There are still some unanswered questions which may be sufficient material for a sequel which I hope is coming soon.

The book is written in the vernacular of the area and weaves an excellent story fabric that wanders pleasantly across your mind. It is fortunate that the originality of the author's work was not edited out. The flavor is allowed to simmer and give you a taste of the time and place. So climb aboard the mule with the kids and enjoy the ride to a sweeter time and place. Enjoy!

Three Kids on a Mule is the true and fascinating account of the escape of three orphaned children who must travel from Texas to New Mexico to find their relatives. It held my interest throughout in admiration for the persistence and ingenuity of the kids. It¡¯s told mainly from the down to earth point of view of Robert, the eleven year old boy, an admirable and courageous youngster. We also are introduced to the self-seeking Uncle Nate, who tracks them across the territories in an effort to steal their inheritance. Reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie, it returns us to a less complicated, more honest epoch. Despite a large amount of violence and killing, no doubt realistic for that era, I highly recommend this for older teens and adults.
Victoria Randall, author of The Ring of the Dark Elves.

I love this book because, although the first print edition needs extensive editing, it is the most original book I have read in years. I understand that the author took the basis of the story from interviews with a great aunt who was one of the three kids in the book title. The emotions the kids experienced were genuine and could only come from actual experiences. This book took me back to a simpler time when morality was a question of right and wrong, black and white. Questions of good and evil were clearly delineated. Rationalization was not then a way of life. Blaming everyone else for your mistakes was not an option. Boundaries were clear. I rate this book with a thumbs up for the most original book by any author, but especially by a new author.

I really enjoyed this book. This is a story about three kids who are orphaned in the Texas Panhandle. They are sent to live with a sly and cruel uncle who plots to steal their inheritance. Their adventure begins when they run away from the cruel uncle and travel to the New Mexico Territory to find their good uncle. They would never had made it without their faithful dog, "ol bullet". They encounter floods, tornados, indians and bandits. If you like Disney movies, you'll like this book.

It was refreshing to read a book without foul language in it. The book is well written and interesting. It was hard to put it down once I got into it. I would recommend putting it on the must read list.

If you are looking for truth about what happened in Missouri during the War betwen the states this book is for you. The best way to learn what really happened is to read firsthand accounts and that's what this book offers. No one sided historical author can screwup or argue with accurate eyewitness reports. This book records the pure hard facts.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Any interested individual or serious student of this era must read this book. I am fortunate enough to live in the present day setting where the author's story took place. This is the real thing. I only wish there had been more works of this quality produced and saved. We would have a much better insight to those times.

Although I don't like giving a 5 star rating to any book this book deserves 6! This is the real stuff, pre WWII, pre WWI, PRE-TV! It was written at a time before historic brainwashing by movies and television existed. Before people were self conscious about telling the truth. We can see the actual format of the "Civil" War sentiments. He reveals the concepts of dying, of The North, Slavery, and other aspects of the era that we are usually forced to accept from modern day writings, reflecting only current, politically correct viewpoints. The down to earth flow of this book is very enjoyable and is great reading for anyone with interest in this subject matter.

Quantrill is often maligned as a psychopathic killer and a despotic guerilla. John McCorkle not only refutes this common claim by the writers of the winner's history, but shows that Quantrill was a compassionate and honorable man. He shows a side to the War of Northern Aggression that is rarely told.

The introductions decry the author's side of the story, but they provide no evidence that is substantiated. The factual errors that McCorkle relates can easily be relegated to the fact that he was in his 80's when he told his story to O.S. Barton and the ravages of time on the memory are well noted throughout history.

This book is a rare glimpse into what made the Missouri Bushwhacker, or Partisan Ranger as they were properly known, what they were. What they did, how they fought, for what and whom they fought: it's all in here and with a lively color that brings to life the way life was in those most trying of times.

I Highly recommend McCorkles first-hand account. It is not often that we can resolve much of the differing views of history with first-hand accounts by those that were there during most of the events. I would have given this book a five had it not been for the very "out-of-place" commentary at the front of the book by someone named Hattaway (of West Point New York). I taped the aprox 25 pages together with an adivosry to skip this section as it only appeared to be added to censor McCorkles account and done in very poor taste. Why would someone want to take the time to distort someone's personal account of history. The Introduction by Barton is done very well however. Why would the publisher think that a commentary should be added when the work already had an introduction? I think the Commentary might have been added after the book was submitted just to try to promulgate a pre-conceived notion of history. Skip the commentary and its a great short work.

I've read several books on meditation. This is the first one that offers practical methods for achieving real results. Also offers several interesting applications including specific techniques for improving your health.

I can't meditate for hours on end to have some peace of mind to live in this world but I can find 15 minutes three times a week to do this. I can also do brief meditations as I shift from one activity to another. This book has taught me how to do that. I am very grateful to the authors for writing this book and hope that in the future they will write more.
Other recommended books? Thich Nhat Hanh's The Miracle of Mindfulness, Jonathan Carroll's White Apples and Charles DeLint's The Little Country.

I am actually luck enough to be a patient of Dr. Arpaia and this book is RIGHT ON TARGET! It is so helpful, easy to read, easy to understand, easy to impliment - very wise!

this must be the best book on meditation I have ever read. It shows different techniques (short & long ones)that can easily get integrated into our busy lifes. Without forcing any kind of religious views on the reader this book shows how to be able to cope and improve our daily (western style) life. In simple, clearly written chapters one gets instructions and examples on how to train the mind and achieve better health, inner peace and many other goals which are up to the reader. I can recommend this book to anyone who is interested in meditation - from beginner to advanced.

Everyone now understands the value of regular exercise. This book reveals mediation as nothing more than exercise for the mind and makes it about as mysterious as going for a morning jog. It does an outstanding job of showing us Westerners how to integrate meditation into our hectic lives without having to go to a monestary. It also does an excellent job of explaining the kinds of practical benefits you can expect from meditation, and how to go about achieving them. I would consider this the best book I have ever seen for people new to mediation, and the more experienced will find plenty to expand their understanding.

Michael Casey has writeen several books on the practice of spiritual disciplines and spirituality. All are worthwhaile, but this is perhaps his best. It is certainly the starting place for beginning to read his work. As a protestant / neo-pentecostal / evangelical, I found that I was drawn to his way of emphasizing that prayer is a relationship, not an activity or duty per se. This perspective helps me understand the fundamnetals of prayer, and this is what this book is about. Although I have read many books on prayer, from Catherine Marshall to Jack Hayford, from Pope John Paul to the classics, few are more helpful than this book. I find myself rereading certain passages over and over. The only book I have read recently that has had the same impact might be Nouwen's "The Only Necessary Thing." These two books are made out of the same cloth.

Michael Casey, an Australian Trappist monk, has written a wonderful primer on prayer in clear language. TOWARD GOD is an enlightening reflection based on personal experience, touching all the major aspects of the subject of prayer from the Western Christian tradition. I have read many books on prayer, including the great classics, but this is the one I have read over and over.

For anyone who wants to pray but does not know how to pray! Casey helps with a variety of methods and shows that there is not just one way to move toward God. I like the idea that one should use all these ways of praying rather than just one. Casey writes for everyone, not just Catholics. I am a Protestant who found the insights into prayer universal. Casey writes in a way that invites all to pray; gay, straight, feminist, believer or skeptic.

Fantastic book! Many wonderful thoughts/ideas in pursuing life growing closer to God. Plan to re-read many times. It is required reading for my son who has joined seminary and is now in Rome for 1st year training. Just got his list of books they wanted him to bring. He hasn't read it yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sometimes when I purchase a book on methods of prayer, I wonder if I should be reading about prayer or should I just get down to the act of praying itself. I can say to myself "well, I need to read these books for professional reasons" but more often than not, I read them for myself, and when I read books such as Michael Casey's TOWARD GOD, I find new insights about prayer that help me in the discipline of prayer and hopefully, draw me closer to God.

For Casey, prayer is both communication with God and being in the presence of God, the latter being the more important. This is in keeping with the traditions of the Trappist order to which he belongs, traditions which stem from a literal interpretation of the Rule of St. Benedict. For Casey, prayer is not so much something we do as much as a response to the deepest desires of our hearts to be in communion with God. He introduces readers to some of the great spiritual writers on prayer. He also introduces readers to Christian meditation and contemplation as well as Lectio Divina, a topic he further develops in his book SACRED READING. TOWARD GOD is not so much a how to or a dictionary of prayer, but a description of the way a spiritual life can be ordered and an invitation to use the methods that Casey himself has found helpful, as have so many over the centuries. He also writes his book in a way that makes readers realize that Benedictine methods of prayer are not reserved for monks in monasteries alone and just about anyone who wishes can us these methods daily and not just on rare retreat moments.

The book will be helpful for anyone interested in prayer and hoping to develop a deeper relationship with God. Casey also has unique insights so it will also be interesting for people who may already have a regular routine of prayer and wish to enrich it or revitalize it. For me, I have found the book most helpful at times when my prayer is a bit dry. The book has a way of reminding the reader what prayer is all about and at times this is what we need to continue to grow in our relationship with God.