General Practice Books

A Living Lens is a wonderful collection of photographs that not only demonstrate everyday life of Jews throughout the United States but it is accompanied by a rich text authored by witnesses to this history. Of all the photography books about the Jews of the 19th and 20th centuries thids one ranks at the top. A must see and read.

This collection and commentary was great....and more than met our expectations. It sits now on our coffee table for all to review and reminisce.

Beautiful book, well written. A book for anyone to share with their children to teach them an important part of our US history.

As the grandchild of Polish / Ukraine immigrants who read the Forvitz, this book lovingly captures the memories of a time long gone.

Earlier this year, I had participated in a tour, including the old Forward Building in Lower Manhattan, with our guide being one of the photographers for this beuatiful book. I was so happy with the book which arrived in exellent condition.

Thank you.

Renate Stone

Overall I would have to say this is an excellent book that combines principles of Psychology and Tibetan Buddhism with the focus on practices of compassion.

There are many techniques in this book that can help to cultivate compassion as well as insights and stories that help to illustrate his various ideas. For this I gave the book 5 stars.

That being said, There are times that the author seems to slide down a "slippery slope" into the worst sort of New Age thinking. For example, he seems to think that most difficulties in relationships are caused by one's own projections.

While one's inaccurate projections may be a part of many people's relationship dynamics, I think it is unrealistic to always assume that one's difficulties in relationships are based on this idea. This is an oversimplification of the reality of many situations and a poor attempt to fit everything into a nice little box.

For example, I have many friends who were born into or married into families to whom conflict and negativity is the norm (though in the case of those who married into it their spouses may not indulge in this behavior but rather their spouse's families) and they became unwilling participants often as targets in this web of negativity. One may have compassion for why their aggressors developed such negative behavior, but to blame the recipient of this aggression by saying that somehow it is a manifestation of their own projections is absurd and not helpful. All this does is lead to unwarranted confusion and guilt in the person being victimized and traps them in a vicious cycle.

Sometimes in spite of their best efforts there is nothing they can do but "draw a line in the sand" and tell their aggressors that if they cross the line that they are no longer welcome. This can be the most compassionate thing one can do because that can stimulate the aggressor to look at themselves in the mirror and try to help themselves. These aggressors, if given free reign (like petty dictators), typically just get worse rather than better unless confronted firmly. It's almost like a power hungry person craving more power.

All that being said....

Overall, the material presented does offer many useful insights from ancient Tibetan Buddhist practices. If the Dalai Lama is an example of the fruits of these practices then one would have to be impressed by their potential.

Some of the practices described here are also described in the book "Awakening The Buddha Within" by Lama Surya Das (aka Jeffrey Miller) which is a fabulous book. While that is not a psychology book per se, Buddhism is very much psychological in nature in and of itself.

My favorite book that contains insights of psychology and spirituality is "Yoga and The Quest For The True Self" by Stephen Cope (also a psychotherapist as well as scholar in residence at the Kripalu Center in Massachussetts). I found that I was able to relate better to the material in that book overall than the Ladner book. Stephen Cope's book is also not only incredibly informative but is written in a style that makes it a joy to read (I am currently reading it for the 3rd time and I know it is a book that will be an ongoing part of my spiritual life).

Still, if you are interested in the meeting of psychology with spirituality, I would recommend reading and trying to incorporate many of the ideas "The Lost Art Of Compassion" into your life. It is a very readable book in terms of it's language (you won't need to read it with an unabridged dictionary by your side) and the author does seem very knowledgeable and sincere.

Namaste

I underline the passages of books that are the key ideas within each section. This book has the most underlining of any book on Buddhism I have read, and that is quite a few. Ladner helped this thick headed westerner gain a deeper appreciation and realization of important Buddhist principles. It is also an enjoyable romp into the world of western psychology, made palatable by its lack of filler (typically endless "studies" done on undergrad students)and Ladner's deep appreciation for Buddhism's insights into human behavior, thought and psychology. A bonus is the last section where Ladner outlines each chapter of the book. GET THIS BOOK.

And it still blows my mind away! This book became my new bible at one point and really, it changed my life. I learned a lot from its user friendly approach... and while Im not able to practice everything it suggests I still strive for it.

I wouldnt call this a self help book persay... but an introduction to the brightest, most honest way of living anyone could attempt with love in their hearts. Its not cheesy, its not super mystical, but practical and logical.

Compassion isnt something youre simply born with... but something you can grow into. Something you practice in any walk of life.

I've read several books making Buddhist concepts accessible to Western/American readers -- and this is the best, the clearest, the most practically useful. It is also a book that would help followers of other faiths see the usefulness of Buddhist concepts and practices without threatening their present beliefs. In other words, this is a great book for Christians to read! It helps show many practical ways for all of us to become kinder, more accepting, more loving of others and ourselves. It also show us a way out of our own selfishness, our own fears about interacting with others. It could help marriages, families, relationships, friendships.

It is a wonderful book. I am sad to see that the bargain price suggests it hasn't sold well, but I am glad to see that its bargain price makes it easier for people to purchase. I have given more than one copy as a gift!

Read it!

An excellent guide to applying compassion in Western Culture. An excellent balance between theory and practical applications with a bias towards the latter. A heartwarming book that helps give us faith in ourselves and in others.

This book is great as a resource for anyone who helps victims of abuse. It should be a resource in every church. This book is also a valuable tool for any sufferer of abuse seeking help.

This book is helpful for healing abuse victims of any age, but also is helpful in preventing abuse. Verbal abuse is addressed as well as physical abuse. It describes warning signs of potential abusers and has sample forms to screen future employees that will be around children.

This book is an outstanding resource for understanding what abuse is and the steps required to overcome abuse through faith and forgiveness. I purchased the Mending the Soul Workbook that goes along with this book from the Mending the Soul website.

This book has been and will continue to be, a very helpful resource for me to use on my own road to healing.

I highly recommend this book.

I am a Christian survivor of incest. I have read many books on dealing with and healing incest issues. This is the first book I have read that presents material for Christians, and it has had a profound effect on the issues I have faced. Not only does it address the nature of abuse, it also addresses the aftereffects of abuse: shame and powerlessness. In my opinion, the most important section of the book is The Healing Path. It gave me hope and explained the steps needed for the survivor to know God can indeed heal the soul.Other books address the mental and emotional aftereffects of incest. This book addresses the most important part of abuse: the damage it does to the soul. As a believer in God, it gave me a path to follow to heal my soul. For anyone raised in a church and felt abandoned by God because of incest, this is a must read.

This book really helped me to view forgiveness & reconcilliation from a true biblical perspective. Joe in the previous review states it so clearly & logically, especially in the last paragraph of his review. I think we can unintentionally draw people towards us that continue this cycle of emotional abuse. By abandonment, betrayal, lies or avoidance which can be the most difficult to overcome. With any abuse or negative issue in life, our self-esteem can take quite a hit,it also makes us feel if we are not forgiven or loved by someone & how can God love or forgive us? that's why the recovery is such a challenge & this book deals with this healing process, moving forward & growing in Godly love.A very insightful encouraging positive biblicaly based book that deals directly with many of lifes challenges, especially the very common emotional abuse so many of us have experienced.I highly recommend this book.

While going through classes to try and grasp this concept I still could not grasp the practice. This CD made things so clear. It is extremely helpful & informative. I appreciate the authors tone and easy to follow language!
I will probably purchase follow up products from this author.

Jon Kabat-Zinn gives a most complete introduction to appreciating the now and quieting your mind. I highly recommend these cd's for the beginner.

I needed something, especially non-religious, to get my mind off of where our country is headed.

I have been lucky enough to take two Mindfulness courses and they have changed my life. Both were run by excellent course leaders but nothing compares with hearing Mindfulness founder Jon Kabat Zinn discuss the philosophy and methodology behind it. His wit, compassion and way with words themselves make CD1 compulsive listening as well as explaining the reasons for CD2 which are the practices themselves. I cannot recommend this highly enough to anybody who wants to learn about themselves and especially those seeking release from troubled mind states such as anxiety and depression. Buy it- Mindfulness practitioners will tell you honestly that they make no promises to 'fix things' but it might change your life too...

A very useful program to help each one of us get in touch with what's real and important. It makes a lot of sense when you think about what John says. And you can't help but relax listening to his voice.

Well written and easy to apply concepts. As one who has struggled with anxiety this has given me tools that have helped me to to greatly reduce the symptoms

I am a student of Jerry Braza's and have taken several classes with him; it was his Healthy Relationships class that made me want to read this book. This book was everything I thought it would be. It is simple, straightforward, but not lacking in insight - which is very much the way Jerry lives his life. This book gives simple activities to do in order to relieve stress and to be mindful of staying in the now. Gold Star!

I noted that quite a lot of books about the art & practice of mindfulness are generally written with esoteric connotations. I have found this particular one to be rather pragmatic.

Although it has less than hundred pages, I like the straight talk writing style, and plenty of question time for pondering & reflection for the reader.

As Bruce Lee, whose fists shook the martial world, once said, "Knowing is not enough, you must apply; willing is not enough, you must do!" The author has suggested many simple exercises to apply the practice of mindfulnesss to our daily lives. In this respect, he has done a great job.

I highly recommend this book for those seeking the profound rewards of stress-free lifestyle, improved health, & greater peace of mind.

Dr. Jerry Braza conducted a stress reduction seminar at my company, employing concepts from this book, and was quite effective. His major focus was upon warming your hands, willing your hands and fingers to feel heavier so that blood would flow to them and cause the temperature to rise. He used a small card that measured stress with color codes, and you placed your thumb on the card to ascertain your stress level. If you were really stressed out, the card stayed black -- but if your hands were extremely warm, the card turned blue. Advanced students concentrated upon warming different fingers to different stress levels merely by concentrating. One finger might turn the card blue, while another turned it green. You must be careful not to leave your card on top of the refrigerator, though, because the heat from the refrigerator will turn the card permanently blue if you leave it there long enough. Jerry seemed to be very relaxed in class. It's obvious he doesn't work in a corporate environment with deadlines. At least he practices what he preaches.

This book was a bit disappointing. It's a small, short book and for the price I really expected more. A good portion of the pages were filled with blank space and quotes. It might be a good book if you're just starting to look into mindfulness living but if you've read other books on the subject you'll find alot of the content only slightly different from what you've already read.

Ms Bovier's book is a must read for anyone looking for more of a spiritual nature than the 12 steps provide. It traces her progress from "enlightened agnosticism" within the 12 steps to "More God". It gives her "experience, strength and hope" without proselytizing.

Reading this book was a wonderful experience. I read it one sitting, not really intending to. Once I started I was hooked. Fascinating journey by a terrific writer. Honest, highly enjoyable, thought provoking, loving, tender and very open. I marvel at the author's ability to write of some very painful times in her life with such profound authenticity. I was deeply touched by her honesty and vulnerability. I look forward to more works by Constance Bouvier.

As a substance abuse counselor, a teacher in a community college substance abuse track and a Christian, I would think that God would be well pleased by Ms Bovier's work. This book sat on my coffee table for nearly 3 weeks before I opened it this past Friday..........I finished it Sunday afternoon and have already recommended it to several friends, students and peers. Peace, Love, Joy to you.

I went into this book with the expectation of learning more about the Twelve Step program and how it can slowly urge people to a Christian faith. I came out with sooo much more! This author opened her heart so wide, I fell in head first and came out seeing myself in a new light. The recounting of her own soul searching encouraged me to do the same. I learned so much about myself and was challenged in ways I never dreamed. I encourage anyone who seeks to grow spiritually or emotionally to take the challenge that More God presents. It is more than a book. You will feel as though you have taken a journey hand-in-hand with the author and it is a life-changing experience.

A friend told me about this book & I feel blessed they did. I share my review in the hope it will encourage you to purchase this book - you will be glad you did.

I'm completely captivated and in love with this author!! I've read both her books - each is fantastic and highly recommended. Ms. Bovier writes in a delightful, loving, conversational, inviting, down to earth, realistic manner-- simply perfect!

I can't write this review fast enough!!

It's seldom indeed that I find myself so delightfully absorbed in a book. I was hooked by the end of page one, which is a rarity for me - not only did I finish the book but I did so in one-sitting (stayed awake until 5:00am on a work day!! believe me when I say that it was truly worth it.)

Seldom have I been so moved by an author that I "insist" someone purchase & read a particular book - yet I find myself doing just this with regards to this author. I find myself telling people they "really have to read this book, and you're going to want to share it with everyone you know". Subtle suggestions have turned into continued inquiries & knudges... have you finished the book? what did you think? isn't it a rewarding read? fabulous? witty? fun? whom have you told the book?

MORE GOD will be enjoyed by everyone, whether they consider themselves religious, spiritual, or neither. Whom among us hasn't at some time questioned their spiritual journey? Whom among us hasn't at some time, had a loved one, self or friend, who needed extra encouragement and possibly wondered about their higher power?

People who may not be "readers" will read this book, love it, and recommend it to their circle of influence.

If you're like me, before you finish reading MORE GOD you'll have a huge list of people you can't wait to tell about this book. Maybe like me, you'll find yourself keeping a running list of whom you've given the book to (to avoid duplicating your gift to the same person).

P.S. I even loaned my copy to a friend, something I do not do. The message of MORE GOD was simply to powerful to sit on my shelf.

Read, share, enjoy...

This book is a mighty testimony to the healing power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is witness to the fact that even tough we might face death if we can face it with peace, joy, and victory. There is so much to be learned from this book and it is put simply and plainly. As you walk on the journey to learn more about God when reading this book, you find God teaching you about yourself. God's Will for our live is to have complete faith in him. Hallelujah, for another testimony to the love, mercy, and faithfulness of the most high God to man.

It was truely a blessing to have read this book.The book inspired me to stay in the will of god.

This book is very encouraging for people who are facing hard times and do not know where to turn to in those difficult times. If people would just put their whole trust in God as Evangelist Murray and her husband did; Then they too will be able to operate in the will of God.

The chapters that I have read are written with the simplicity for anyone to understand. The words of the book are an encouragement to my spiritual walk. God bless and thank you Dr. Murray.

I have three words: BLESSED! BLESSED! BLESSED! Continue what you are doing for the Lord. My blessing goes out to Dr.Murray for truly blessing my spirit!!!

This is a really fine book, one of the better technical books I've seen in a while. It seems like these days they'll let anyone write a book. It's good to see that some publishers still demand quality and are also able to produce it. For anyone who is interested in learning about optical networking, from top to bottom, or in teaching a class on it, this is the right book for you.

John Vacca has put forth an excellent handbook that should be on the book shelves of every person interested in optical networks. The book provides an excellent historical overview of the technology as it emerges from its infancy in the early 1900's through today. It contains detailed network architecture descriptions of the hardware, software and infrastructure components required to establish, maintain and extend fiber optic networks now and in the future. It will answer most, if not all of the questions one might have about this technology, and it can also be used as a textbook about the subject.

I loved the way this book was written. There's nothing like a great reference book with tons of examples and enough details to be useful. Optical network books are usually dry and theoretical; however this one keys off of practical implementations with just enough detailed information and references. This handbook is loaded with terrific graphic diagrams and excellent explanations. Highly recommended.

Great work by John Vacca. The book is comprehensive, easy to read, and handy for both the student and the professional. I highly recommend it.

John covers all aspects of optical networking in both a general and in-depth manner allowing the reader to absorb the subject matter at their own level. I found this book to be a valuable reference and should be in every IT professional's library.

I have read many, many books on organizing my papers and my finances and considered the complexities and upkeep of many, many systems. However, this book gave me the ideal -- simple to set up, easy to maintain, and logical in approach. This is the one I am using, and it has brought order to the chaos. It is not for perfectionists but rather people who want a straightforward, not-too-complex, "good enough" system for keeping track of those important pieces of paper, warranty books, receipts, and other miscellaneous papers that jam up our lives. Easy to understand, well-illustrated, and practical. Highly recommended.

This is an excellent guide that offers practical solutions to get your finances organized and keep them that way. Debbie Stanley's shining personality stands by the reader throughout the entire book as she offers a myriad of solutions to today's financial challenges. Her focus is on creating an organized, efficient financial system that works for you rather than you working for your system. The author emphasizes that even financial items need homes in order to manage financial clutter. Debbie offers recommendations for setting up financial files, automatic bill payment, financial software, daily mail, paper flow systems, and yes, even shopping excursions! The concept of being "organized enough" is stressed throughout as a pleasant reminder to keep it simple. This book is loaded with helpful tips, visuals and resources to help you save money, time, and frustration by creating a customized, efficient personal finance system. It's a "must have" book if you are ready to organize your personal finances and keep them that way!

This book was very helpful. If you take it step by step as in the book you will be organized in no time at all. I love how it is written step by step. Worked great for me. Now I am ready to face 2007 financially organized.

Whether you have been managing your personal finances for years, or you have just left home and have no idea where to start when it comes to managing your finances, you will benefit from this book. Stanley's approach to teaching the reader how to manage their finances is fun, exciting and motivating. The ideas in this book are practical and easy to implement. They are easy-to-follow and are adaptable to various situations and varous personalities.

Because the books contains consise "To-Do lists" as well as flagged reminders of key organizing principles, it is easy to take the information from the book and apply it to each reader's own situation. Working as a professional organizer, I was able to utilize the information from the book to help my clients become less overwhelmed with all of their papers and stick to an organized bill paying system that works for them.

I was moved to tears time and time again as I poured over the pages of this most honest recount of God's miraculous intervention in the establishment of a very special university. Mrs. Kim's attention to every detail and her gift of obviously having pondered each moment in her heart as Mary did, has enabled her to write a testimony that draws in readers to stand before the wonder of the Living God. Like a bright beacon of hope, the true stories in this book will warm your soul and gently nudge you to realize again that there is a loving God who hears and answers even our smallest prayers.

Who said miracles do not happen in modern times? Who said Moses' opening of the Red Sea is only a story in the Old Testament? This book is truly a living testimony of God's miracle that still happens in our daily lives, a living witness that there is miracle wherever there is God's will.

Once I started reading this book, I could not stop. When I finally reached the back cover of the book, I realized that my eyes were swollen with tears and my mind was full of joy; my God is truly the living God who is with me all the time!

This is a book that tells us a true Handong story. Whenever I read this book, I wish to give to my American friends as a gift. and now I can. Thank Phyllis Kim for telling us a real story and thank God for telling us your story.

You will need a box of tissue to read this book! This book has deeply moved me because I got to see God at work in 21st cent. through Dr. Young Kil Kim and his wife. Their courageous obedience to God's calling has arose countless stories of trails, tribulations and triump. Once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down. I highly, hightly recommend this book to others!
Simply amazing!

This book gives vivid testimony of how God led Young Ae Kim and her husband through suffering and showed His grace. Each moment and day of their lives, they witnessed and lived through God. Many challenges never led them to failure but to victory which was only possible through God's grace.
If anyone wants to know what grace awakening is all about and live through God's grace, this book is a MUST have.