Death Books

Fifteen-year-old Allie and her divorced mom move once again, this time back to the small town where her mom grew up. It's their last chance: mom to break free of low-paying jobs, and Allie to settle down in school and make something of her math talents. Allie is a loner; in this town, she picks up the habit of going to the burials of strangers. She attends the graveside service of a boy her own age, who would have been in her math class. She becomes convinced he has been murdered. Through her sleuthing, the story of the town and its families becomes known. Allie attacks everything with her wry sense of humor and caustic attitude, except--typical to teenage behavior--herself. The reader can check off Allie's growth toward maturity and individualism as she interacts with a kind teacher who sees through her bravado, and also with the best friend of the boy who died. In the end, Allie has "come of age", and so has mom, the murder is solved, and it's a good, hearty read that gets you there.

Alexandra Canarsie, a.k.a. Allie, has the strange obsession of visiting cemeteries during funeral services, funerals of people that she doesn't even know. Having just moved to a new town and into a trailer, Allie feels alone. After hearing about the death of a student from her school, Jimmy Muller, a boy she might have known and become friends with if only he hadn't died, she becomes positive that his death was no accident at all and sets out on a search for the truth.

While reading this, I kept thinking of how much Allie Canarsie reminded me of Veronica Mars. Of course, her sleuthing skills weren't the greatest, but, come on, she didn't have the same resources, and her attitude fell in the same catagory.

Alexandra Canarsie is not unfamiliar with getting into trouble; in fact, it happens quite often. She can't seem to keep her mouth shut when it would really help, doesn't always make the greatest or smartest decisions, but still comes out with incredible character and is easy to identify with. Allie's journey to find the truth about Jimmy Muller leads her to some unexpected places, friends, allies(not meant as a pun), and some realizations about herself.

All at once sad, funny, and hopeful, Susan Heyboer O'Keefe's book should not be overlooked. I am really glad to have read this. Sometimes I find things that I completely hate, like just a little, or really love, which is rare. I loved this book, and consider myself extremely lucky to have found it.

this book was awesome. the main character is really easy to relate to and u can't stop turning the pages until you know what happened. it's one of those books that at the end your like "so what happened next?" she should totally write a sequel!

This was an excellent book. It had everything, love , suspense, and a happy ending. It also had that one lovable/annoying character (in this case the english teacher)
that every succesful book has to have. I had a great time reading it and reccomended it to all of my friends. I guarrantee you will love this book!

This is a great read for middle-graders on up. Smart-mouthed but insecure Allie puts on a good self-defense act and alienates herself from family and those who might become friends. Her obsession with funerals (of people she doesn't know) and trying to unravel the mystery of what or who really killed Jimmy Muller will keep you turning pages as fast as you can read.

A wonderful and eye-opening experience. I found the story to be remarkably told, very honest and accurate in terms of the information spoken by William Barnes in his regression. The details and facts will astound you. The emotional scenes will grip you. You will be glad to be a part of this amazing journey.

This audio CD edition is very well put together with narration, regressions and various interviews. I truly believe William Barnes was Tommie Andrews in a past life. And this audio edition does a wonderful job in sharing this reincarnation experience with us.

Overall, this audio edition is highly recommended. It will open your mind and give you an understanding of the story of Titanic seen through Tommie's eyes. Believe me, once you start listening to the story of Tommie Andrews, its hard to put down.

I am so moved by this story, even after having been exposed to it before. I feel that it is more powerful than some of the best movies I've seen. I also feel great compassion for Bill, due to the pain that he has carried. I truly hope that he has found himself healed through the process of "clearing his name." I hope too that the CDs, tapes and books meet with great success. The story definitely commands it.

This was eye-opening. A friend recommended I listen to this and I am extremely impressed with the lurid detail and strong emotions the interviewee shared. There is no doubt in my mind that William Barnes once lived as Thomas Andrews. This interview helps one understand that who we are and the emotions we feel in this life are driven from a source much deeper than our early childhood experiences.

A wonderful audio tape. You feel his pain,and finally the truth comes out! No cover ups! If you love the Titanic as much as I do, this tape if for you!

In this great audio book, which is the companion to "I built the Titanic," Willam Barne's publisher has done an excellent job in editing the actual past-life regression sessions into chronological order. The result is like hearing Thomas Andrews tell the story, step by step, in his own words and his own voice.

So real, it sent chills up my spine.

This is not just a re-hash of the material on the first book. In There is new regression material here, plus an excellent interview with William Barnes, telling how bringing forth the past-life sotry has brought healing and peace of mind in this life. You can also hear a very clear difference between the voice of Tommie and the voice of Bill Barnes. So much more convincxing that a printed book!

I recommend buying both of these "Titanic" audio books -- they really should be considered a two-part set!

ISBN-13 978-1425102623

Many grieving parents, family members, and even mental health professionals find it difficult to answer the questions of children whose loved ones have taken their own lives. Thankfully, Carol Loehr's book
"My Uncle Keith Died" addresses these questions in a sensitive, compassionate, and honest way. A young boy named Cody learns about depression and how to help someone with depression. Also, there is a discussion guide that will help parents and professionals with questions children may ask. I highly recommend this book.

Ann Dumont, LMHC
Left Behind After Suicide Support Groups

This book ia wonderful tribute to and Uncle whom we all should have known. Explaining death to children is difficult at best but when a person has died at their own hand it is doubly difficult. The illustrations in the book are beautiful and the discussion guide is helpful for any parent or teacher. This book should be available in every school library in the English speaking world. God bless Keith's mother Carol for sharing Keith and the results of undiagnosed depression with the world. Dr. Gloria Horsley Host of Healing The Grieving Heart archived on [...]

When a family member or close friend dies by suicide, the wake left behind is indescribable. The pain, the grief, the guilt, and the "what ifs" become constant unshakable realities which fade over time but never seem to completely vanish. When my brother and very close friend who suffered from severe depression died of suicide 22 years ago at the age of 45, it was a crushing and overwhelming shock. A wonderful family, a wife and three children, were left to live through and somehow process this tragedy. If Carol Ann Loehr's book had been available then, it would have been a valuable resource for the children as well as the adults in our family.

Carol has managed to explain in very simple and understandable terms how severe depression is a leading cause of suicide. We are taken through this process with her grand nephew, Cody, who is featured as the catalyst in exploring why her son, Keith, died of suicide. She approaches this subject in a very sensitive, creative, and respectful fashion. The book is also excellently illustrated by James Mojonnier, and Julianne Cosentino contributes with a helpful Discussion Guide.

As one who has been there and knows the aftermath of suicide and the need for quality resources at such a time, I highly recommend this book to those who are struggling with the inevitable questions that come. It is very appropriately written for children and is an effective tool for adults as well. - Rev. Jeffrey E. Moody

I have a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention, intervention and grief support. Carol Loehr's insight into the devastating effect of depression is valuable to those who are struggling to understand the loss of a loved one to suicide. We have made her book available to the members of our suicide grief support group and consider it an important tool in our quest to understand.

After I lost my brother to suicide, I remember trying to read everything I could get my hands on to try to help me understand how this could happen to him. I received phamphlets at the funeral home about "Suicide." There was nothing that even gave me a clue as to why I lost my brother to the devastating disease, depression. Carol's book helps to explore areas that have not been explored before. Written as a children's book, it is extremely helpful when trying to explain the unexplainable to children, but I must add, that it can help adults as well. I wish that someone had handed me this book after Terry died. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is trying to understand depression and suicide, young or old.

Fr. John Behr does more in this work than simply lay out an excellent treatise on Patristic theology, he puts forward a persuasive case for an entirely different, and in some respects more enriching and complex vision for how Christians should go about understanding the nature of their faith.

Many who are tired of the Bible wars will find Behr's take refreshing. It makes the Bible, and particularly the Old Testament, accessible by showing the reader how the early Christians opened the books for their meaning rather than approaching them as a semi-historical set of cryptic passage from which people were meant to derive some sort of doctrinal formula.

The book would be worth reading if only as a pristine example of how to synthesize an amazing breadth of information into an easily readable and not overly complex (given the topic being addressed) form. Behr is showing a way forward for theology in general, even comparative theology by condensing a multitidue of information around a single axiom, and what's most amazing is that his very simple thesis holds up! The reader begins to see the thesis of the crucified messiah and the corresponding opening of Scripture to speak of this messiah in the Scriptures itself and in the early Fathers.

In short Behr has brought some modicum of order to the chaos of modern theology.

Reverend John Behr (Professor of Patristics, St. Vladimir's Seminary) presents The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death, a scholarly approach to Christian theology, penned in a systematic manner that answers quandaries that have arisen in theological and scriptural studies in recent centuries. Beginning with the Passion narratives, The Mystery of Christ discusses how holy scripture itself can be searched to find Christ, how Christ is born within those souls who are born again in the Church, and how His word becomes his new incarnation through the words and actions of those who glorify God. An inset selection of color plates illustrates this rich theological examination, open to Christians of all backgrounds despite its scholarly format.

A powerful journey through the core Christian teachings as revealed by the early fathers of the church. I enjoyed Behr's interaction with a pre-modern understanding of Christianity in light of modern and post-modern scholarship. The book is concise, with thought provoking ideas and quotations on almost every page.

Behr begins with a quote from Kierkegaard: "We only understood life backwards, but we must live forwards." This he takes as the starting point for his discussion on what "doing theology" in the manner of the Apostles and Fathers is exactly about, which, he argues, is often misunderstood or rejected today. He writes "Most modern expositions of theology exemplify Kierkegaard's observation that we understand backwards, yet fail to take adequate account of this fact. That is, they begin with the results of the theological debates of the early centuries, especially Trinitarian theology and Christology, but separate these theological formulas from the way in which they were in fact learned and from the exegetical practice, the manner of using scripture, in and through which they were articulated."

So by starting with the wrong premises of a fixed Scriptural canon or defined dogma we are drawn away from the true hermeneutical lens of the crucified Christ and replace him with our own ideas of him, usually the result of post-Reformation debates about authority or post-modern debates about "the real meaning of the text."

Such historicism, secular or Christian, either presupposes what it is trying to debate and understand, thus missing the Christological nature of scriptural interpretation inherent to the Apostles and Fathers, or it rejects the search as too far removed from the sources to allow for any encounter with truth (which can be argued away through various deconstructions concerning socially constructed meaning and linguistic contortions). Or, to return to my museum experience, it is assuming that the image on the tapestry, if it is to even be trusted as a representation of something true, is obvious and always known, not understanding the process of working from the back to the front, even though the Apostles and Fathers had only known the gnarled threads until the crucified Lord opened the scriptures to them in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24). So for the Apostles and Fathers, only God can reveal His ways to mankind and it is in the context of the broken bread, the Eucharist, that we encounter Christ, which rightly proclaims His death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26). As Behr observes, "It is these two complimentary ways, the engagement with the scriptures and the sharing in the Lord's meal...that Paul specifies that he had received...and then handed down to later generations."

Our scientific and historic methodologies, useful as they are, must not be used as first principles in our encounter and understanding of God, even if we are the recipients or byproducts of a tradition that encountered God crucified in the flesh. Only by seeing the crucified Lord as the starting point for understanding salvation's meaning could the Apostles and Fathers retrospectively grasp the meaning of the Jewish scriptures. Christ is read into the Old Testament; or, rather, the Old Testament is read out of Christ. Christ's revealed meaning of His death is the rainfall that brings the scriptures to bear fruit. And without His Spirit, the veil will remain over our eyes when we read Moses and the Prophets, as it does for those who put their preconception of God before the revealed nature of his death and resurrection, serving as "a stumbling block for some and foolishness for others," as it does most strongly for Muslims who claim that God would never be caught dead in a body, ironically limiting God to transcendence.

From this hermeneutical lens of Christ, Behr draws out the implications of such an approach as found in the Fathers and Apostles. First, Christ's death is already a victory, not the unfortunate event that had to happen in order to get to the resurrection, and much less the necessary Anslemian price to pay in order to satisfy the wrath of the angry Father. "The empty tomb is the confirmation of the victory wrought upon the cross. Christ's exaltation, the lifting up spoken of by Isaiah, is precisely his exaltation on the Cross..." As the Orthodox sing each Pascha, "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death." And it is in the context of his victorious suffering that he is revealed as I AM, the Christ of God that mere flesh and blood cannot reveal to us (John 8:28).

Secondly, Behr extends the centrality of the crucifixion of God to the very premise of creation, which leads into an insightful discussion about the nature of sin, death, free will and grace. He argues convincingly from the scripture and Fathers that the incarnation and crucifixion were the original intent of God when He created us. Christ is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, the revelation of God and the purpose of our creation. Thus the cross is the axis mundi, around which the world turns and history unfolds. Again, God's incarnate suffering is the main point and "for this we were created." Therefore the Fall is part of the economy of history, and history is a part of the economy of salvation. Again, the Fall is not the mistake that made it necessary for God to take upon himself our wounded nature, as if it were a backup plan that God came up with after He recovered from the initial shock of Adam and Eve's fruit debacle. It is the felix culpa.

This is a point worth lingering on a bit more since it gives us an insight into the Apostle's way of "doing theology" often so foreign to our own. Karl Barth once remarked that Calvin's main problem was in the fact that in the end he separated Jesus Christ from God. I didn't fully understand this until I thought about it in conjunction with Behr. This is something that I tend to do when I assume that the crucifixion didn't have to happen. It is looking at history in a manner foreign to the Apostles and Fathers. To quote Behr:

"But to do this [separating God from Christ] would be to envision creation without Christ, a creation in which, had human beings not sinned, there would have been no need for Christ. In short it would posit a hypothesis or first principle other than Christ himself, who, as the crucified and exalted Lord, opens the scriptures so that we can see the whole of creation and its history in his light. On this basis, the apostle Paul can view the sinfulness of human beings- and even the very creation of Adam, "as a type of the one to come," and the light which shone in darkness- within the overall plan of God which culminates in the Passion of his Son. "For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth...the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (Eph 1:3-11)."

Thus the Apostles worked backwards to understand the Old Testament, their only scriptures, and the very foundation and purpose of the world in the light of Christ crucified and exalted. "`Salvation history' is written from the perspective of the cross [unlike historical narratives about how it `really happened'], with its totality- creation, human sinfulness, the giving of the law, the preparation, and the work of salvation- simultaneously revealed in and through the proclamation of the crucified and risen Christ, the eternal plan of God."

A third point Behr emphasizes is the role of the Church as our Virgin Mother, with the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, as the symbol of this bringing forth of God into the world while still betrothed, again working backwards form the crucifixion, or from the "tomb to the womb." While defining ecclesiology as such was not of primary concern to the Apostles or earliest Fathers (not until St Cyprian perhaps), the lived reality of the Church as their Mother was continually observed. Through our baptism and regular participation in the Eucharist, they posit, the Church gives us birth and nourishes our new life in Christ crucified and exalted, as we are united to his death in the hope of the glory to come, provided we suffer with him (to paraphrase St Paul). By giving full ontological meaning to the Church as the very body of Christ, moving it beyond a vague feeling in my heart regarding an invisible connection with other Christians, Paul and our fathers in the faith challenge us to be united in faith and love, sharing one Eucharist and one baptism.

For myself, the dominical prayer that all be one is imperative and central, since the unity of the Church is that of one bride (Christ is no polygamist after all), and Behr challenges me to rethink the "least common denominator" approach to the question of "What is Church?" If all of creation takes place for the sake of knowing and experiencing Christ crucified and exalted, and if the Apostles and Fathers have handed down by their blood this proper understanding, then perhaps I can give them more credit than I often do in relation to the question of sacraments, episcopacy and liturgy. Certainly the denominations can do a better job at manifesting this oneness of the Bride based upon a closer understanding and incorporation of the Patristic liturgical mind.

Lastly, Behr takes up the command to glorify God in our bodies. In a way it is the answer to the question "So what?" after reading the previous chapters. Just as Christ crucified is the center of life's meaning and the revelation of God's character, so our own participation in this death and life must be based upon our own small deaths and bearing of the cross. This section includes an extensive discussion on the nature of the passions, sin, death, grace, will and the resurrection-all of which are questions that engage in the importance of the material body as equally spiritual and essential to our humanity, as it is to Christ's. The struggle to manifest the victory over sin and death, by the grace of God, comes down to our own cross bearing with the promise of glory and rest for those who finish the race.

In conjunction with this book, I would heartily recommend reading Marianne Thompson's The God of the Gospel of John, Martin Hengel's The Cross of the Son of God, Oskar Skarsaune's Incarnation: Myth or Fact?, as well as the works of St. Irenaeus, the latter being extensively discussed by Fr. Behr's work.

Accessible presentation of the theology of the incarnation. Dr. Behr presents some heavy duty patristics - building mainly on Athanasius - in an engaging and spirtually enriching manner. The formulary for his study is through the perspective of how the disciples experienced the ministry, resurrection, and their post resurrection experiences/understanding of Christ. Would like to see Dr. Behr continue more writing of this type for the general (non-seminary) reader.

The Name of the Game is an excellent hard-boiled thriller. The action is constant; the pace is straight-ahead; and hard knuckles are always flying.

In some sense, Marlowe channels Jim Thompson here, especially Cockfighter. Just as the protagonist of Cockfighter has a ruse he tries to convince the world of, so does the protagonist of The Name of the Game. The way the two protagonists interact with women is also the same.

Where the novels separate is the view of how even a shake an ordinary Joe can get from society. The protagonist of Cockfighter is cautious but hopeful about fitting in. The protagonist of The Name of the Game never intends to fit it because the game is rigged from the beginning.

Fans of older noir have a major discovery at hand with Dan J Marlowe!

I thought I knew from hard-boiled until I ran into this nasty little gem. It's a cliche, but they simply do not write 'em like this anymore. The level of ruthlessness has you almost shaking your head in wonder. Yet our "hero" does have rules and we come to respect them. By the last page my jaw was so clenched my teeth hurt and I wished I could hand the guy a gun and see what happens next.

What can I say? This is just a terrific book. As explosive and unexptected as they come. Any one who loves hard-boiled books has got to read this one.

-Dave Zeltserman, author of In His Shadow

OK. You got your Chandler who's in love with his own words. You got your Hammett who started the whole thing off. You got a whole lot of other guys--Woolrich, Goodis, Thompson, the whole crew. And you got Dan Marlowe, who is GREAT.

This baby reads like Dan's middle initials are HB and you know what that stands for. No stinting on sex and the main character is smart and tough, too. Is this pulp? Yeah, you bet--the best pulp around. Written in the 50s, it holds up really well because there's no wasted words; Marlowe doesn't spend time showing off like the almighty Raymond does. He just gets right down to business immediately--the novel starts off with a bank robbery and then keeps its toughness straight through to the end.

When one of your crew gets whacked you check it out. That's what drives the book and it's a great driver, pushing and pulling through the guys and dames who make things sexy, ugly, interesting, or just plain crazy til the very end.

Great book for all hardboiled fans. Check it out, pardner.

To give credit where credit is due this was another recommendation from Gorman's "The Big Book of Noir" and it was right on point. As Gorman says about Marlowe "his best stuff just explodes every thirty pages or so".

Here's an exciting litle excerpt-the protaginost Drake ("the man with nobody's face")is in a motel room with Lucille who-as it turns out-gets her jollies by seducing men and then watching as her boyfriend barges in on them and beats the ... out of the man that Lucille just seduced. Drake, being a tough and smart guy, figures this out and ends up suckering Lucille's boyfriend into breaking into an empty motel room-he leaves frustrated and now Drake has Lucille all to himself."Now what are you going to do?", Lucille asks Drake.To quote the book:"I'll show you," I said. It was four in the morning before we left there. Fifty percent of us had enjoyed it."

What can I say-great book that they just don't make like this anymore.

Nemesis is a true account of a scientist's journey in trying to solve one of the most fascinating puzzles in modern science... what is the cause of mass extinctions on Earth?

Upon reading a paper by two other scientists who showed that there was an unexplained periodicity of mass extinctions on planet Earth every 26 million years coupled with the discovery of iridium deposits at all of the extinction boundaries, Richard Muller comes up with a rough idea that it might be related to a companion star with our Sun which somehow causes a spike in comet or meteor impacts.

Muller gives amazing insight into the scientific process while telling this great story of discovery. Highly recommended to anyone, especially students.

Richard Muller's "Nemesis: The Death Star" is one of the most fascinating works on the subject. With 17 chapters and 185 pages, this book is easy to read and certainly a food for thought to which the author proposes the theory that our Sun has an unseen companion star. And, if there's an unseen companion star orbiting the Sun periodically, it would mostly likely to be passing through the Oort cloud (clouds of comets) surrounding our system, knocking off comets in the direction of the Earth and other planets, as it would leads to a periodic cosmic bombardment.

It is often a wonder on why comet impacts are not seen as frequent or so we have been told. Most scientists nowadays are focusing on asteroids, not comets. Why? Comets are generally known to be unstable yet they are being ignored. Some individuals would of course say that the Earth is pretty safe from the cosmic bombardment. No worry. Let's all relax and live our lives as normally. But, that is the sort of a wrong attitude to take now. Muller said that "we are in the 'eye' of the comet storm, and, just like the eye of a hurricane, it is quiet" (p. 107). In other words, we are in a "calm before the storm" phase. Will we ever be prepared?

Muller's book reads like a scientific autobiography, even though it is not, but it is a book that reveals an intellectual journey of discovery. It is very informative, eye-opening, and insightful. I would very much recommend it as I sincerely hope that the author would re-publish this work.

Along with Muller's book, I would also recommend other works relating to cosmic bombardment: Victor Clube's The Cosmic Serpent and The Cosmic Winter, as well Mike Baillie's New Light on the Black Death.

THis is both a scientific and a detective novel. But then again, all science involves searching for the unknown or the missing. Luis Alvarez and his son are both cosmologists of that old school - those who both theorize and journey beyond the walls of academia.

It was an insight, something totally unforseen, that caused them to think of a "death star" that routinely visits the Earth bringing with it asteroids of death and destruction. This new knowledge along with all the evidence of other, non-Nemesis destructive events makes one suddenly aware of how precious and fragile is our existence. Through journeys to all parts of the globe, collecting samples, months of analysis, back to the field and back to the labs, writing, formulating....this was a task of momentous proportions.

Particularly difficult was the disclaim received when their theory was first proposed. The scientific community is a jealous one and those announcing new or revisionist views are rarely applauded and even less accepted. When other scientists joined the fray and computer simulations began agreeing with the theory, attitudes began to change. One particular problem was synthesizing the known extinctions with the alleged serial ones - and once this was done they were home free.

Because we cannot "see" a Nemesis star, this will always have to be based on strong, circumstancial evidence (periodic mass extinctions, the layers of irridium, the computer-generated hypothese). Great book and great writing.

Dr. Muller is my Physics professor here at U.C. Berkeley, and he is quite an exceptional man. This book reads very easy, often explaining the most complicated scientific ideas and theories in easy to understand ways. The accumulated knowledge that this book provides is almost as spectacular as the description of the journey through that knowledge. I did not buy this book, it was actually given to our class by Dr. Muller himself, but if you have even an inkling of interest in not only science, but also in exploration and discovery, then I would sincerely encourage you to try to find it, if not thru a used bookstore then perhaps at a local public library. It's a relatively short and quickly read work, and is well worth the time you put into it. I can't recommend it highly enough.

"Nemesis: The Death Star" is the story of a possible explanation for periodic comet and asteroid impacts on Earth and other members of the Solar System. In brief, Dr. Richard Muller of Cal-Berkley believes that our Sun may have an as yet undetermined companion star (remember, many stars are part of binary systems).

There are about 3,000 stars which meet the basic qualifications for our Sun's binary companion: visual magnitude of 7 to 12, probably a Red Dwarf, and probably between 1-3 light-years orbital distance from the Sun. The distances for the stars which could possibly be the Nemesis star have NOT been measured, though the stars themselves have been catalogued. This is a tedious, time-consuming and, unfortunately, not very pressing matter for most astronomers. Hence, despite the widespread debates on the Nemesis Theory over all these years, it still has been left unresolved, indeed, the basic scientific measurements have not been done (though Muller and others are re-starting the effort).

If our Sun has a Nemesis companion, then every few million years it would come into contact with our Solar System by impacting the Ort Cloud. The Ort Cloud is the outer halo of objects tied to our Sun and the Solar System, and includes comets and other fragmentary matter which often have long, elliptical orbits. The Ort Cloud extends out almost to a light-year, or some 50,000 AU (astronomical unit = 93 million miles, the distance from the Sun to Earth). By comparison, Pluto, the most distant planet, is only about 50 AU distant from the Sun.

Nemesis would alter the route of some of those objects, throwing them "inward" towards the Solar System and causing the cratering so visible on our Moon and the planet Mercury. These impacts are less visible on Earth (erosion, plate tectonics, continental changes) but we have several "smoking guns" coinciding with some well-known impacts from Earth's history, most noticeably the impacts at the time of the dinosaur extinction (Cretaceous, 65 million years ago) and The Great Dying (Permian-Triassic, 251 million years ago).

You can see updates on Muller's Nemesis Theory on his website, which also includes interesting essays on scientific topics of current interest, like terrorism and climate change. Lately, Muller's research has included models on the potential long-period stability of an assumed Nemesis orbit.

Muller's book goes into details on the various scientific methods they used to determine possible impact time-lines and the causes of extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Era. It is pretty easy reading, you do not need to be an expert on astronomy or physics to understand or enjoy the story (it reads like a novel, as other reviewers have noted) and Richard Muller is a very good storyteller.

The only negative is that the book is out-of-print and might be tough to come by. On the other hand, if the search for Nemesis pans out, I am sure Dr. Muller will do the long-awaited 2nd Edition of the book and it will be readily available.

I actually enjoyed reading this book. The author gave several examples of less than lethal weaponry. I highly recommend this book.

Dynamic read by an obviously well read and very concerned former military officer. Deeply philosophical book where a controversial subject is approached with the language of a poet and outlook of a shaman. Morehouse addresses the military industrial complex in a manner far removed from conventional warriors--a must read.

A great book, although technically out of my league. I did enjoy the philosophical approach to the establishment of current global military and indistrial conditions, as well as the fictional introduction of the non-lethal weapons into the battlefield. It was a difficult subject, but the author did a great job of writing it so that all of us could follow the logic and the dream. If you want the world to change its waring ways then this book is a grand start.

After reading Psychic Warrior I felt as if David Morehouse was more then just an author - it was if he was one/all of us (since that bullet could have hit anyone)- and now I'm wanting very much to read "Nonlethal Weapons" because I believe this author has been given quite a gift! Yet at this price very few will ever be able to read it - and if there's anyone out there reading this I need to find a used copy so I can be one of the lucky ones to view Morehouse's thoughts & feelings.

I recently listened to the author lecture at a Carmel, California bookstore and was facinated by his intellect and wisdom which seemed to be without limits. To be perfectly honest, he didn't recommend this book himself. He jokingly referred to it as a "technological sleeper" wroght with historical analysis and theory. He even balked at the price. However, I was so intrigued by his manner that I couldn't help myself, I ordered it. It is highly philosophical, theoretical and analytical all in one work. I have no technical background, I'm an artist and school teacher, but I found the book easy to read. It is an inspiring work, especially since it was written by a man who once spent his life as a soldier. Buy this book and catch a hopefull glimpse into the future of conflict resolution, and then do what you can to help make what he says a reality.

I have loved this series. This is the first in the series. I am not a book critic and read purely for enjoyment. This was a great book that held my interest from beginning to end. I wish she would write more books like this series.

I was hooked on Obsession from the first chapter. Any good book should accomplish that. But it so captured me that, by the last chapters, I actually locked myself in the bathroom to finish reading without interruption.

Is Obsession a romance? A thriller? Yes, on both counts, but neither label does it justice. The plot is too breathless, and the characters too layered, to be pigeonholed so mechanically. I cried as Toni Matthews cried out to God for direction-torn between her growing attraction to Abe, a man not of her faith, and her promise to marry her long time fiancé. I cried for her fiancé as he realized he was losing her. And I cried for Abe as he faced his past ... and then his future. Oh, did I ever cry for Abe!

Life is not an either/or proposition-neither all sugarcoated, nor all oily. Macias nails that distinctive nuance through her characters, as she skillfully threads an astounding message of hope into a roller coaster plot.

It's a satisfying ride.

Although Obsession is a fine suspenseful read, the author's real strength is in characterization and the relationships between the various characters--Toni Matthews; her young sister, Melissa; her long-time fiance, Brad; and Abe, the detective she falls in love with. Ultimately, it was those relationships that kept me turning the pages. The dilemma Toni faces as she wrestles with meeting everyone's expectations (and her own) and following her heart is wrenching. You love both of the good men who vie for Toni's heart, even though it becomes apparent early on that Toni and Abe belong together!

How can Toni possibly resolve this situation without either compromising her heart by marrying Brad, whom she cares deeply about but doesn't love, and consequently devastating Abe, whom she loves, but who isn't a believer--or betraying Brad, his family, and her sister by choosing Abe? The author has created a truly gut-wrenching and yet uplifting story that's believable all the way. It will keep you turning those pages to find out not only how the case of her father's death and a young girl's disappearance are related, but also how Toni, Abe, and Brad finally work out their relationships for the best of all of them.

In her gripping novel, Obsession, Kathi Mills-Macias brilliantly interweaves suspense, romance, and faith to create a story that will keep you turning pages non-stop. Lead character Toni Matthews takes you on a tension-packed, emotional journey as she grapples with the serious life issues of love, doubt, and fear to emerge as more than a conqueror through God's faithfulness. You'll find yourself crying, laughing, holding your breath, and rooting for the good guy--all at the same time. Author Mills-Macias knows how to tell a good story. Don't miss this one. It's truly a phenomenal read!

Fantastic, riveting story. About a year and a half ago I read the third book in the trilogy, Ransom, and was totally impressed. I normally don't read suspense, but if they were all like this one (Obsession) I'd be hooked for life. From the first page the author sucked me into the story. Nothing was predictable. There were no pat answers. The emotion was real and the problems the characters experienced were realistic. I was totally impressed with how the author made you want the heroine, Toni, to drop a perfectly good Christian fiance for the "other" man in the story. Talk about perfect characterization! I cared so much about Toni's happiness that I was rooting for her all the way. When it came to her father's death, her gut instincts were correct and she stuck by her convictions despite the pressure from those around her. When it came to her commitment to her fiance, my heart broke for her. It just seemed like a lose-lose situation. Talk about pressure. So many women marry the wrong man because everyone is expecting them to. Throughout the story you think things won't get any worse for Toni, and then they do. I kept turning the pages and was on the edge of my seat for the entire ride, several times late into the night. Oh, and when the "other" man finds true faith, the way the author shows it happening is SO rich and profound. It was totally believable and I loved it! What a great way to explain salvation to someone from the Jewish faith! I'm reading the sequel, The Price, next. Then I plan to read Ransom again (in order this time) because it was good enough to read twice. Order this entire series. You'll be glad you did!

Alma H. Bond has lost her best friend to suicide and falls into a depression. She can no longer write and begins to keep a dream and death journal. Old Age is a Terminal Illness: How I Learned to Age Gracefully and Conquer My Fear of Dying is that journal, in which Bond examines her life and her friendships with those who have passed over before her. Along the way, she ends up celebrating five truly amazing women who touched her life, and shares the thoughts of Shakespeare, Freud, Benjamin Franklin, Jonathan Swift and many other less well-known notables as they, too, consider death and dying. Candid and thoughtful, Bond takes us along with her on a journey of exploration.

Alternatively poignant, funny, touching and sad, Old Age is a Terminal Illness makes affecting reading. It brings an often taboo subject down to earth; by the end of the book Bond regains her will to live, but death by then seems a natural part of life.

For those of us who have kept a journal for years, it seems plausible that someone would want to keep a death journal. Especially if you have had five dear friends die in the past decade.
After Dr. Bond started experiencing age related problems, she found herself obsessing over them and assuming she was waging a war against her inevitable demise. So she started a dream journal to try to discover what was in her subconscious to cause her `death depression'. This dream work made her understand that she was denying her entire aging process. And through this death journal, she came to realize that "the real despair of the human condition is that eventually we all go the way of the cockroach. We die when we die. And we damn well better accept it." But she senses that the feeling of self remains fixed, whatever our age or the severity of an illness - the self feels independent of the body altogether.
Dr. Bond feels that if dying and death are causing you grief, then keep a journal and try to come to terms with your fears. Learn to `Seize the moment' and think about what your legacy will be. "The idea of dying is not quite as horrifying if you know that in some manner or other you will live on."
Now this all sounds very morbid, but I found myself relating to most of the fears that she tells us about. It's like talking to a girlfriend and finding out that she has problems with her health, her diet, her sleeping, etc. It somehow makes you feel better that you're not the only one. I also liked the fact that her musings, fantasies, remembrances of friends and family, and insights are all similar to my thoughts about death now that I'm getting on in years. If you need something to help you examine your life about this sensitive subject, get the book and feel better.

Also posted on Story Circle Book Review Website at www.storycirclebookreviews.org

Dr. Alma Bond has been a psychoanalyst for 37 years and lends her expertise to this uplifting and eye opening book about death, old age and how to overcome our fear of it. She pulls from her own experiences, which is the very best way to share knowledge, to help anyone who is afraid of old age and dying to overcome their fear of death. If you have a fear of death, pick up this book, you will be very glad you did. You will finally be able to face your morality and the fact that death will happen and without being overcome with fear, depression or sadness.

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (1/07)

Dr. Alma Bond draws from a successful career of 35 years in psychoanalysis in her search for answers on life and death. Using examples from her professional practice and her own personal life experiences, Bond writes a remarkable story of conquering the fear of death.

As a result of a period of severe depression, after losing five close friends in a ten-year period, Alma Bond began a "death journal" patterned after Sigmund Freud's "Interpretation of Dreams." This approach helped her come to terms with death. By sharing the stories of her five close friends she has provided insight into the struggle with the fear of death, offering hope and encouragement to those suffering this malady.

Dr. Bond writes to help others face their fear of death so they can live a full life in the present. Additional benefits of conquering this fear are better health and less conflict. An inquisitive theme threads its way into Bond's writing as she addresses the delicate subject of death on a personal level. Her sense of humor helps the reader through the uncertainty of the unknown and the dread of leaving loved ones behind.

Dr. Bond writes with sensitivity, as she helps the reader examine their lives and fears by vicariously living through her experiences. Her references to classic literature, the arts, philosophy and psychoanalysis add a depth and richness to her story. I found myself revisiting my dreams to discover hidden messages as I read of Dr. Bond's dream journal. Her compelling accounts of friends visiting her in dreams were emotionally charged with dramatic implications.

Dr. Bond's challenges the reader to explore the fear surrounding death and the realities of death in hopes of relieving some of the suffering experienced by the dying and their loved ones alike. In her search for answers Dr. Bond concluded that her life will go on through the lives of her grandchildren, and through her writing. She has learned to express gratitude for the full and rich life she has lived and is living in the present.

Through her memoir "Old Age is a Terminal Illness," Dr. Alma Bond has opened the door for the reader to experience self-analysis and spiritual probing in their struggle to conquer the fear of death.

"Life is a play with a badly written third act." So said Molieri.

Why do most people pretend death doesn't exist? Is it a built-in defence mechanism in our subconscious? Would we be able to enjoy life without this quality which makes us blind to the reality of death? And what about older people--people in their seventies and eighties who know every day they get to wake up is a gift? How to accept the mystery of death?

In this book, Dr. Alma Bond, a psychoanalyst for thirty-seven years, explores these questions and more, interlacing the meaning of dreams with her life experiences, as well as with references and allusions from the classics on the subject of this controversial and most-often-avoided subject--death.

Part journal, part memoir, and at times with a great sense of humor, the book touches different aspects of what it means to lose your loved ones from the view point of the narrator. Bond examines the stand of science and parapsychology, as well as some of the theories by Freud and Jung. But mostly, it is a sensitive and honest story of a woman determined to overcome her fear of death by creating a `Death Journal,' thus coming to terms with the death of the people she loved the most. The idea seems to be that, by facing the enemy head on, we can conquer it. For such a short work, Bond includes an impressive bibliography at the end.

An insightful, helpful, courageous--and healing--book, Old Age is a Terminal Illness is a highly recommended work to those readers who struggle with the concept of mortality.

***This review originally appeared in Armchair Interviews.

As a minister in the house hold of God.I know couples of people going through what the author had personally experienced.She came out strong from depression, loving herself, and then able to love people around her through prayers and the power of her determination.

I recommend this book to everyone that would love to see this world a better place for all to live.I'm looking forward to have the author invited for a talk with the people going through depression in my community.

Great work!Patiently waiting for her next book.Please keep me informed when it is out.

On the Periphery of Death

I read Ta'Wand's book without knowing what it was about beforehand. As i read each page I was struck by the storyline and the common thread revealed in each persons life. There is a loneliness and indeed helplessness that and how we can realate to it. There is a loneliness and indeed helplessness that can come from our modern day lives. Ta'Wand has found words to express those feelings.

I won't discuss the specifics so as not to spoil the story for others.
But I will say this book is an easy read and many, as I have done, will re-read the book more than once.

I only hope she writes a second. I would buy that in an instant.

AFTER READING THIS BOOK...WE KNEW WE HAD TO HAVE THE AUTHOR ON OUR SHOW THE RANDALL REPORT.
THE BOOK TAKES YOU INTO A WORLD OF A WOMEN FINDING HERSELF AND DEPENDING ONLY ON HER SELF TO MAKE CHANGE IN HER LIFE.

THEN ON TOP OF THAT....HER STORY OF SURVIVAL COMING FROM HER OWN MOUTH.......HAD LISTNERS OF THE RANDALL REPORT IN AWE. MORE THAN A HALF A MILLION PEOPLE DOWNLOADED THE SHOW. THAT SHOWS YOU THE POWER OF PASSION FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.

GOD BLESS THE CHILD WHO HAS GOT HIS OWN.

[...].
BRJ / THE RANDALL REPORT

Ta'Wand Allen opens up her heart to others sharing her story about depression and suicide. This book is a must read for anyone who has been depressed and knows others who have battled with suicidal thoughts. As a matter of fact this book is for everyone.

None of us got an owners manual for our brains or emotions. The information here can help anyone live a much more fulfilling life and raise their self worth.

She conquers a subject that has such a stigma with plenty of resources to empower oneself. Her commitment to help others is heartwarming.

I highly recommend you read this book and share it with love ones and friends.

Dr. Mike Shapiro

Dear Author,

After reading this book I will never be the same. About two years ago, I begin to have depressing thoughts. I would try to block them out, but I soon begin to notice that almost anything I perceived as negative would trigger them.

I was in an abusive relationship that left me with low self-esteem. I had heard of depression, but never in a million years thought I would experience it. My family has no history of mental illness.

To make a long story short. I credit this book with giving me a new outlook on life. As I read some of the passages, I felt as if you were talkign directly to me. There is such a negative stigma attached to depression in this country that I was really afraid to get help. I was wondering what others would say about me..

Reading your powerful story gave me the courage to get help. I am in therapy now, and for once in my life I feel optimistic about my future. I thought noone understood what I was going thru, and then I got a copy of your book. Finally, an easy to read book that is written by an everyday person (like me) who's sole desire is to change one person's life by sharing your powerful personal story of overcoming depression.

It is with tears in my eyes that I write this review and say THANK YOU!THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Everyone needs to read this book-really they do..