General Practice Books

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A well needed message to the american church in particular.Sue Curran has hit the nail on the head with this book. Coming from another nation to live in america, I was taken aback by how little or non existent corporate prayer is in our churches.Her quotations from prayer warriors from other nations serve as helpful reminders that we need to get more serious when it comes to this great work of prayer.

Great book that covers 5 areas of prayer. We need to learn to be strong in our prayer, it's not our words that will defeat, but God's words coming out of our mouthes.

There is an area at the end of the book that discusses various prayer points that is very helpful.

Good book about how God wants to take us to a new dimension of prayer. God wants us to do prayer that gets results and breaks the chains of darkness, sickness and demonic power.

God wants to bring revival to our nation as he is doing in other nations of the earth.

Recommend to all Christians that want to see a mighty move of God and His power.

A must read book if you want to go to the next level in your walk with Christ!

Although I have not read his book, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Sweeney at a book signing in San Francisco. A seemingly good man with a firm handshake, he struck me as just the sort of person who knows books and would enjoy writing one. Congratulations Mr. Sweeney and good luck in the future. Much love in Jesus Name!

Although I have not read his book, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Sweeney at a book signing in San Francisco. A seemingly good man with a firm handshake, he struck me as just the sort of person who knows books and would enjoy writing one. Congratulations Mr. Sweeney and good luck in the future. Much love in Jesus Name!

I was recently given this book by a friend. It was just what I needed to help me look at prayer in a new way. I was taught to pray by my grandmother many many years ago--but this is something entirely different. She would have liked it too!

If Amazon.com allowed more stars I'd give this a 10. I've written several books and wish that I could have thought up one that was as good as this on spirituality in general and prayer in particular. Believers and seekers of all traditions should find "Praying with Our Hands" inspiring. Sensitive photographs and lavish layout--a bargain gift book.

This is a book I was prepared to love based upon a newspaper review. Having read the book I have a far more ambivalent opinion - the concept for the book is excellent, the photography is excellent, the research for quotations is excellent - but the book is filled with over-simplifications. For example, it refers to the "Boddhisatva" ideal in Buddhism as if were basic - in fact, the southern school of Buddhism does not share this as an ideal. It refers to the practice of clearing the mind and non-attachment as if this separated mind from body and nature, whereas many of the traditions see these practices as making one more aware of the physical world as it is i.e. minus the distorting factor of mind. It refers to the washing of feet as "little known", an editorial comment that would puzzle most Catholics and other "high church" Christians. It speaks of gifts of the spirit (charisms) as if they belong to an exclusively Pentecostal strain of Christianity.

While the book occasionally notes its oversimplification, I am not comfortable with balance it achieves. It is, however, an excellent way to introduce the concept of physicality in prayer. It's photos and text firmly place physical prayer into the mainstream of religious practice and firmly negate any "new age" or "new fangled" charges leveled against it.

I bought this after reading Tarnished by the same authors. They are both riveting page-turners. It really makes you stop and think about corruption in the medical and political worlds (and how that corruption overlaps). I can't wait for another novel by this father and son team.

A must read for everyone.

Southern cooked look at health care,politics,lust and money. Interesting characters blend with twisting plot. Great Read!

How do individuals of honesty and integrity slip into the gripping vise of financial greed? Why has our nation's healthcare system descended into a chaotic battle between the forces of personal and corporate gain, and that of compassion? Is our medical system deteriorating? How can ethics and morality be restored? Prescription For Greed answers these questions, as it enlightens its readers about the most serious problems our country must face. Its quality of life, even survival, depend on the issues the authors explore. The book is as excursion into the problems of modern medicine, set within the context of a mainstream novel; an instrument of education, at the same time it entertains. Co-author J. Willis Hurst is a former chariman of the Emory School of Medicine and has been involved in healthcare and teaching for over thirty years. The insight the novel provides is fueled by his passion for his field, as its characters reveal the profession's deepest secrets. His son, co-author Phillip W. Hurst, is an international business consultant. Specializing in behavioral systems analysis, he has a PhD in Psychology, which gives him extraordinary perception as a writer. This knowledgeable team provides a crucial resource for healthcare consumers. You can learn as much as you might in a college course, as you experience a compelling and interesting story. Because the authors live in Atlanta, where the story is set, they are able to add a distinctive regional flavor. The plot surrounds the fictional Dr. Connelly. A leader in medicine and cardiology, he has grounded his proteges in respect and honor for their vocation. When one's situation causes him to be vulnerable to financial temptation, all are affected. They undergo trials and tests of their values, as well as their friendship. Their patients' and their own lives depend on the outcome. The choices they make will altar them forever. Threaded with political intrigue, as well as romance, Prescription For Greed is well worth reading.

What a great read! The characters are well described and very interesting, the story line is complex and riveting and the geographic location is superb.

I enjoyed the insight into the "blood bath" world of crooked politicos and the world of medicine. After this book I have greater respect for the dedication, compassion and sacrifice made by those who choose the medical profession.

Much thanks to the authors. This book should be made into a movie. Who would play Connie?

Easy to read, contains pertinent info in a concise fashion. Great to study from, easily read during a clerkship.

Experts write about their respective topics in Medicine in the most easily readable and absorbable manner possible. The information is very thorough but does not DRAG on. Surprisingly large amounts of retention is possible with a SINGLE READING of this LUCID text with CURRENT information. Highly recommended. Does a lot for first reading of topics and EASILY ABSORBED.

I used the 23rd edition of Stobo for my internal medicine rotation as a 3rd year medical student and also as a quick reference for several other rotations. I think it is the best mid-size medicine text I have seen. The content is broken down into bite-size chunks that are easy to read in one sitting--the short chapters make it easier to retain the material. Each section begins with an introductory chapter that gives a concise overview of the approach to take when evaluating a problem with a particular organ-system. Each chapter also ends with a list of summary points that are very helpful. Excellent tables are easy to reference. The actual information contained in the book is in more than enough depth for MS3 level, and the text emphasizes pathophysiology in many chapters, which helped me learn to integrate what I had learned in basic sciences and apply it to seeing patients in the clinical setting. The last section also has some good summary chapters for things that fall outside the realm of each organ-system section. This is a truly outstanding book. I highly recommend it, and I can't wait for the next edition.

I started my 3rd year medicine rotation with Appleton and Lange's Current Medical Diagnosis and Therapy but soon found this book to be more appropriate. It clearly and concisely explained pathophysiology of disease as well as clinical aspects, such as presentation, diagnosis and treatment. I also really enjoyed how each organ system began with a general approach to the patient. I am now using this books counterpart for my surgery rotation.

This text, written by the physicians at Johns Hopkins, is the greatest mid-size general internal medicine text that I have had the pleasure of learning from. It does a great job of helping students go from the classrooms to the bedsides by choosing the most common conditions found on the wards and discussing them so well, that you will be brought to tears! Each chapter is a delight! I cannot say enough about this text. There will always be huge encyclopedic texts such as Harrisons for reference, but for your day to day reading, this text cannot possibly be beaten. One great feature is the way every section of the book (cardiovascular, respiratory, infectious diseases, etc) is started with a chapter which serves as a general introduction in how to approach a patient with a possible pathology of those organ systems. This text is simply awesome and I highly suggest you check it out and make studying internal medicine an incredible experience.

This book is an excellent resource both for the military and the non-military forensic psychiatrist. Forensic issues are explored with tremendous clarity. Dr. Lande's new book on the Civil War is also exceptional.

Excellent book telling the history of medical practices in the Military. Good section on Terrorism, especially today after September 11th 2001. I suggest anybody in the field of military law or military medicine or anybody just interested in this field read this book now! I can't recommend it enough.

Excellent book telling the history of medical practices in the Military. Good section on Terrorism, especially today after September 11th 2001. I suggest anybody in the field of military law or military medicine or anybody just interested in this field read this book now! I can't recommend it enough.

Finding authoratative discussions by military clinicians on terrorism is a real asset in this book. That chapter alone was worth the price.

I have found no other reference like this. It was a valuable source for a news piece I recently put together on military trials.

I first purchased "Patent it yourself" by David Pressman and distributed by Nolo. This book is on the same level. Very clear and concise. It is not an attorney, but boy does it give you the necessary terminology and concepts that will dramatically increase your understanding of the licensing process. If you have any doubts, go to the Nolo website and listen to a podcast about the subject matter that will be covered and then make your decision. In my opinion...Great buy!!

First of all I think the book (the most recent edition as well as earlier versions) is first rate and I highly recommend it. Although the book is geared for do-it-yourself licensors, it is also terrific to help people who are looking for an attorney or who have one they are already working with. Having been a attorney focusing on intellectual property licensing for more than 30 years and teaching licensing to non-lawyer grad students, I know first hand that this book is a comprehensive albeit superficial overview of the licensing process. Despite how good the book is, it will not transform the reader into intellectual property licensing expert.

In the real world, licensing situations often become far more complicated than the impression the book provides. That is especially true when you are trying to negotiate with a large company with experienced IP lawyers. Its like trying to out negotiate a car salesman when buying a car. What the book does impart is a much greater knowledge of the overall landscape. The more you know, the better it is to work with your own lawyer to help you through the complications. People license to make money so the better the license, the more money that can be made.

Also beware that the book seems to focus mostly on patent licensing as opposed to other forms of intellectual property where the strategies and nuances are different. Again, this is only slight criticism as I did very much like the book. It is definitely a useful read for neophytes to licensing.

Joe Hustein

If you've invented a commercially viable product or service - especially if it's patentable - this reference book will help you with the next steps. It's much more about the legal aspects and other issues that go on AFTER you've got your golden egg and start soliciting companies, partners for licensing agreements....Definitely for serious inventors willing to persevere. I would have liked more case studies from Stim's past, but realize that confidentiality may not have allowed it.

This book is very educational about how to go about the licensing process. It's very easy reading, not the technical boring style. The included software is a major plus! You can customize the included licensing contracts.

Michael Waller
Iconium Clothing...

If you have a patented or a patentable invention and have decided not to manufacture or market it yourself, but wish to license a company to do so, this book is for you. In fact, it is a must read. The book covers not only the licensing of inventions but the licensing of trade secrets and copyrights.

As the author points out, manufacturing your invention yourself (venturing) is often not the wisest course. Few inventors have the funds or the experience to run a successful business venture. Also the cost of fighting infringers can be financially devastating for a new enterprise.

Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is its ability to explain legal terms and legal fine points in down to earth, everyday, language. An example of the practical approach this book takes is when the author comments: "Sad as it may seem, you may be better off with no license at all than a licensee that has a reputation for acting unethically".

He further notes that finding the right partner for a license can be harder than inventing and patenting. The author points out how some common agreements you as an inventor may make may have an impact your ability to license. He cites ten examples. One is a representation (rep) agreement that may require paying the rep a percentage of your license even though the rep was not involved in negotiating it!

How commercial is your invention? A list of 33 areas and factors to check is given. When you consider that only two or three out of a 100 new inventions succeed, it is well worth your time to go over this list early on. The book notes even brilliant inventions may be ignored by the public if the price is too high.

While many inventors worry about infringers, you should also be aware of the fact that "Many patent owners use their patents to earn more money stopping infringers than from selling the invention". An area that inventors seldom worry about is how their spouse may affect their license. Under various state laws, not only can spouses share ordinary property, but they can share intellectual property as well. Their signature on an assignment may be required.

Similar to this is the vital importance of spelling out the rights involved in a joint ownership agreement. A three page form for doing this is given in the book. A convenient feature of this book is that copies of forms appear alongside the subject under discussion. The forms also appear in the appendix and on a floppy disk located on the inside back cover of the book. (17 forms are provided.)

Several pages are devoted to the subject of invention marketing scams and on how to recognize a phony marketing company. Despite the best efforts of state and federal law agencies, scams take American inventors for hundreds of millions of dollars every year. If you do nothing else, read these pages.

For various reasons, companies fear and resist ideas from an outside source. The author offers suggestions for overcoming the "kooky loner" image that Hollywood has foisted on the public with regard to inventors. On the other hand, there are some companies that steal ideas and it behooves the inventor to check out their reputations before disclosing anything without an agreement.

The author discusses the very important topics of GMAR (guaranteed minimum annual royalty), how "net sales" figures can be modified by nine types of deductions, and he examines twelve factors affecting royalties.

A twelve page license agreement is presented and a thorough point by point discussion is made. Here and elsewhere in the book "legalese" is avoided and when it cannot be avoided a plain and simple explanation is given. For example, attorneys use a method called "redline/strikeout" to revise agreements. The author reduces this to plain English.

An eight page checklist for reviewing your license agreement is provided. It tells you what keywords, what phrases, and what terms need to be analyzed. It also refers you to the proper chapter for more information. Regarding "legalese", the author gives a fundamental bit of advice: "If a lawyer can't explain your situation clearly to you, he probably won't be able to explain it clearly to a judge or jury".

This is the first edition of this book. This reviewer suspects it will join David Pressman's Patent It Yourself (now in its seventh edition) as an absolute must read for inventors.

Every Christian needs to reed this valuable resource! Applying the principals will simply change the life of any believer.

As usual, Myles books are thorough and detailed.

Myles Munroe is the guru of PURPOSE. He is tuned into God's voice about purpose in your life. Get this praise-changing, worship-impacting book!

Very good book on the topic of praise and worship.
book was well organized

The power is amazing in every page of this book. Dr. Myles Munroe gives readers a clear understanding of "The Purpose and Power of Praise & Worship." This understanding of praise and worship has ushered in an anointing and presence of God that I've never experienced before - personal and corporate! A "MUST HAVE" for every Christian who desires to walk in a stable, powerful, and intimate relationship with our Almighty King!

This book will be a help to all believers who desire to understand worship. Get it for your worship leaders, your choir directors, your pastors! It will change the atmosphere of your home and church.

Best of the Tom Brown Jr. books in my opinion. To bad they are not publishinng this one anymore. Thus the high price for this book. The information contained within should be considered sacred. Highly recommend it.

Dear Sirs, I hope you reconsider your decision not to publish this review. On October 7, 1998, the NY Times reported on the biggest Ozone Hole yet seen. To quote the article: "Government scientists said today that the gap in the planet's ozone over Antartica was greater than the size of North America and was the largest ever observed." In addition, on August 13, 2000, a frontpage article in the Sunday NY Times reported on how a formerly benign fungus which has been found in the US from time immemorial was suddenly killing millions of acres of oak trees in California. The article ends on a puzzling note with scientist unable to explain why this disease had become so virulent. However, it is well known that UV radiation affects plants earlier than Humans and one documented effect of UV radiation is a weakening of the immune system. It is not a far stretch of the imagination to theorize that UV radiation may be responsible for this latest plant die-off. I hope you give these issues consideration. -----------------------------------------------------------------

Like many people, I used to read the grim newspaper accounts of environmental destruction and wonder what it all meant. Then, in the late 1980s Tom Brown published The Vision and in the final chapter of that book provided the first glimpse into a future most of us want to deny. Now here in The Quest, he lets out all the stops and makes plain for the first time that mankind may very well be doomed.

Brown reveals that as far back as 1962, Grandfather, his Apache Native American Teacher, had warned that the appearance of holes in the sky would mark the beginning of the end of mankind on Earth. Sunlight would become deadly killing everything it touched. Plants would shrivel up and die, crops would fail and starvation would sweep around the world. People would be hunted like deer for food. Many events would foreshadow the appearance of the holes but finally there would be a time of peace. This would mark mankind's last chance to reverse his endless destruction of the Earth. If instead, he concentrated on material gain, all would be lost and the end would come as surely as the Sun rises.

From this beginning, Brown takes us through a series of personal visions wherein he is transported to the future and sees for himself the horrors that await us. In one account, he visits a city where human limbs hang in shop windows and walking skeletons covered with sores roam the streets. Everything reeks with death and Brown watches as a roving band of armed men hunts down an abandoned child, and without remorse, guts and skins him like an animal. Brown makes it clear that this an America city and not some distant third world nation.

Not all the stories deal with the future. Brown relates his own efforts to deny what he knew and avoid taking up his Vision of teaching the ancient tracking and survival skills. At one point, he witnesses a brutal father rob his young son of a promising future. Grandfather then asks Tom what obstacles will stop him from fulfilling his vision ? The question is clearly not meant for Brown alone and foreseeing an excuse many of us will use to deny our share of responsibility Grandfather points to a graveyard and asks `what will be the measure of your life Grandson? Will it be a lifetime of meaningless toil or one filled with purpose and meaning?'

This is by far Brown's darkest book but how does one sanitize such a horrifying account? There is no science here and those who believe ozone depletion is a figment of some environmentalist's imagination would be better off reading God's Last Offer, by Ed Ayres. Mr. Ayres presents related doomsday scenarios but with the science to back them. To those who are sensitive to the Earth, however Tom Brown's book needs no proof. Its truth is obvious.

The only question left open by Brown is when all this will take place? The question is important because many people will shrug off this account as part of some distant future. Although this book does not provide a timeframe a little reading in the scientific press will. It takes thirty years for CFCs to waft through the atmosphere and reach the ozone layer. If all CFC production ceased today, and it hasn't, we would still face 30 more years of degradation. According to NASA, there is already enough CFCs in the upper atmosphere to blow away 70% of the ozone layer. Take a equal amounts of ozone and CFCs, expose them to ultraviolet radiation and one can easily measure the rate of breakdown. The answer you will find is that we have a mere score and ten years left.

Grandfather made it clear that once the holes appear there would be no physical way to heal the Earth. Indeed, Time Magazine writing in the early 90s said that `the entire world's fleet of 747s operating around the clock, 365 days of the year' could not replace a fraction of the ozone that has already been lost. But Brown does leave us with a ray of hope: if enough people become aware of what is happening, combined we can achieve what technology cannot. Brown is a great believer in the combined efforts of many people working together. Seldom does he speak of grand heroic acts. Each of us, doing a little, can achieve a lot. Be forewarned that if you read this book you will never be able to look at your children in the same way again. Most of us adults living today will not bear the brunt of this horrible future but our children and grandchildren will. If you read this book and do nothing, the Time of Peace will pass and you too, like Brown, will have to answer the screams of your children as they clutch at you in the grave yelling "YOU KNEW, YOU KNEW! WHY DIDN'T YOU DO SOMETHING?"

This book presents principles of growth that we find common across time and cultures. Highly recommended both as interesting reading material, as well as an opportunity to reconsider values, meaning (and all that other existential stuff) and our own perspectives through a differant path. In recent popular venacular, "getting out of the box" of western culture.

I read a lot of spiritual books and I've read lot's of Tom Brown's books, but I have rarely been so blown away than I was by The Quest. For one, let me tell you that this book will scare the heck out of you. But at the same time, it is really shocking what Tom learned from the fear he had to face. While reading it, I was dying to be able to sit down and share with someone what I was learning. It will blow your mind and change the way you think about the Earth.

All of Tom Brown's books are written on many different levels. As a just-starting-out naturalist, I read most of Brown's books with interest, but the deeper I go into the naturalist's world, the more powerful messages I get between the lines.

The book offers many insights on modern man- most of all, the notion that if one simply lets the world drift by, with all sorts of damage, trouble, etc. being done (mind you, yourself doing none of the actual damage), the message is clear- Why didn't you do something?

Probably the most powerful message in the book is, "There are no small things." To quote Bruce Lee, if you throw a rock into a pond, you get ripples- soon the ripples cross the whole pond. Every action we do has implications, good and bad. Make your impressions positive and beneficial.

For those lucky enough to attend Tom Brown's school, reading any of his books after taking a class- no matter how many times you read them previously- it's like reading an entirely new book. There are countless messages and powerful teachings in The Quest, and I give it my highest recommendation.

Great read! Common sense approach to application of biblical guidance in that toughest of jobs - - being a modern-day parent.

I loved this book ! I find Cheryl Dickow incredibly insightful and very gifted.

Raising Christian Children in a Secular World is a gentle and inspiring guidebook to being a good parent.

An excellent book, I highly recommend this book to all new parents!

Infact I was so impressed, I plan on buying several as gifts!

I was given this book as a present so I want to recommend it in the highest form as a gift for new parents! Start them off on the right path so that some of the pits and falls that come with raising children will be hopefully a little easier. So, first I recommend buying this book for yourself. Second I recommend as a present for all the parents you know! I love her books! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Cheryl Dickow's book provides many insightful and supportive tips to parents who feel challenged by the conflicting values of our secular world. Many bible passages are included to provide inspiration and biblically based principles to encourage and uplift those of us involved in the task of parenting. This book can be read and reflected upon many times. It is a JEWEL!

Being a parent in this day and age can be difficult when your values don't mirror those of society. There are times when it would just be much easier to "give in" -- after all, if so many people think the trappings of society are right, why beat your head against the wall? Parents are under a lot of pressure, sometimes even from their own spouses, to let little things slide, but those little things add up to big ones in a hurry!
Cheryl's book offers the inspiration we parents need to "stick to our guns" and keep on reinforcing the values that we know are important in the long run, in our children's lives. Her references to scripture add even more "authority" and proof that raising Christian children is a right and good aspiration! I recommend it highly!

This book is a Buddhist western woman's dream. Ani Tenzin Palmo has the ability to transcend Tibetan Buddhism's cultural differences and bring them into clarity for us right here and now. It is funny while being drop-dead serious, and very informative.

Venerable Tenzin Palmo describes in a very clear prose the benefits of meditation, its difficulties, how to overcome them, and extend this practice to our daily life. It is a book to be read more than once, and a must for those in quest of enlightment.

Reflections on a Mountain Lake is composed of Tenzin Palmo's talks to audiences of Western lay people and Buddhist nuns and monks. The talks cover a whole range of subjects on Buddhist teachings, practices and spiritual life. Reading her words of openness, warmth and fluidity, I felt as if I was with her in the audience. She begins with the story of her twelve-year retreat in a cave in the Himalayan mountains, and the words that fill the books seem to flow from that deep place of concentrated practice.

The book is lively, intelligent, practical and straightforward. Each chapter end with questions from the audience, such as: Where do thoughts arise from? Is it a good idea to take political action to right social evils? What's the process of making amends if you have acted unethically at some stage in your life? What happens if you don't keep your commitments?

One of her consistent messages is to keep it simple. She advises people not to be overcome by ambition to do more, or get more initiations and teachings. Tenzin Palmo has gained many insights and much wisdom from her practice and commitment, as if she has dug a deep, deep well from which she can bring up what is clearly needed in each different situation with people.

We all start with an undisciplined mind, and Tenzin Palmo has many excellent examples of how to approach spiritual practices and what these practices are all about. The mind has to be relaxed yet alert, and needs to be tuned like an instrument, with the knowledge of how to return to a clear place. It is then we can be of benefit to other people.

Tenzin Palmo is an example of how women are re-establishing the lineage of yogic practice for women. She is developing a Buddhist retreat for nuns and making available the teachings of Drukpa Kargyu lineage, which has a strong tradition of fully ordained female practitioners. Because of Tenzin Palmo's work, in 1995 nuns debated publicly for the first time in Tibetan history. "There is nothing that women cannot accomplish and have not accomplished in the past. It is up to us to support them...it is time to appreciate the whole picture and bring the two sides together."

I enjoyed Reflections on a Mountain Lake because Tenzin Palmo is a storyteller. Like all great teachers, she uses her personal life and traditional stories to engage us in the teachings. It seems somehow easier for the mind to catch hold of profound ideas if they are told as myth and metaphor. And because she tells many personal stories - from her home life as a child, her searching as a young woman and her times with her guru - she becomes human and accessible, as well as an example of dedication.

If I were to be stranded on a deserted island and could have but one book along, it would be Reflections on a Mountain Lake. With her lifetime in spiritual pursuit, twelve years as a woman in male dominated Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and another twelve years alone in a cave in the Himalayas, Tenzin Palmo indeed has something to say. Our good fortune is that she is a talented orator and expresses herself with dazzling clarity and wit. Her persective on life (before, here and after) is deeply wise, casting welcome perspective on what It All is truly about. In the West we are proud of how many books we consume. In the East, the intense study of one magnificent book is revered. This is one such book.

This is a great book for Western Buddhists, especially useful as a loaner to friends seeking to understand Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana). It includes extensive Q&A; 8 photos, and a great number of quotable quotes. Ani Palmo (Ani is an honorific for a Buddhist nun) is VERY down-to-earth and realistic and relates a considerable about of advice and commentary from her Lama. She points out that Tibetan mythological themes should not be taken literally-even Tibetan teachers indicate this. For example:
pp. 61-2: "Shantideva says, `Who made the red-hot iron floors? All this is a projection of the personal mind.' Even if we don't believe in the physical reality of the hell realms, we can definitely believe that a mind filled with anger, which loves harming others and takes pleasure in cruelty, could easily project a paranoid environment for itself...the content of our inner mind is projected outward and becomes our entire reality." Furthermore, she invokes valid psychological principles such as: p. 67: "Those who deny the shadow are in a very insecure and precarious position...It is hard to develop true compassion when you are continuously blanking out all suffering from your own life." Also, Sociological principles: p. 81: "Today the West is making a significant contribution to the way the Dharma is presented. Every time the Buddhadharma travels to a new country, that country gives it something of itself."

Ani Palmo, in a highly readable and understandable style, provides pithy advice to practitioners: p. 93: "We need to dissolve the boundary between the subject and the object. In other words, we need to become the meditation" & p. 102: "Worldly desires are like salty water. The more you drink, the thirstier you get...The problem is the way we cling to things" & p. 141: "Our problem is that we believe our mind and identify with it." She also provides logical explanations for many Vajrayana practices: p. 95: "intricate visualizations of mandalas...totally occupy the mind so that there is no room for distraction." She provides considerable, pragmatic material on relationships between Vajrayana and Western religions: p. 96: "All true religions seek to gain access to that level of consciousness which is not ego-bound. In Buddhism it is called the unconditional, the unborn, the deathless. You can call it anything you like. You can call it atman. You can call it anatman. You can call it God." She also provides a number of intriguing teaching stories such as p. 103: monkeys captured by refusing to let go of a sweet--: "If you want to hold water, you have to hold it with cupped hands. If you make a tight fist, it runs away" and of a king unattached to his palace with a guru attached to his gourd. She also observes that the movie "Groundhog Day" can be interpreted as a Buddhist film about reincarnation and karma.

And, best of all, Ani Palmo provides quotes which defuse misconceptions concerning Buddhist doctrines: p. 156: "The Buddha said, `I too use conceptualization, but I am no longer fooled by it."
pp. 159-160: "Difficult Points for Westerners" chapter: "The Buddha replied, `do not take anything on trust merely because it has passed down through tradition, or because your teachers say it, or because your elders have taught you, or because it's written in some famous scripture. When you have seen it and experienced it for yourself to be right and true, then you can accept it.'" However, the one criticism might be that she fails to apply this regarding: p. 238: Eastern images & p. 241: Tibetan lineages.
p. 166: "According to the Buddhadharma, the most important component of any action of body, speech, or mind is intention."
p. 168: when asked about hell, her "Lama just laughed and said, `Oh well, we talk that way in order to frighten people into being good. Actually, it is very difficult to be reborn in hell. You have to be especially evil, and particularly, very cruel.'"
p. 169: "My Lama once said, `Not everything you read in the sutras is true. You don't have to believe everything you read.' ... The Tibetans took from that huge ocean a few drops of this and a few drops of that and put it together into a mixture which was helpful for Tibetans. Much of it is relevant for the rest of us as well. The ways they present the Dharma is wonderful. But there is no doubt that certain aspects, although helpful for them, are not very helpful for us. We can leave those aside." Higher teachings often contradict lower teachings and not everything is appropriate for everybody.
p. 191: "Some Tibetans say it's almost impossible to realize the nature of the mind without a teacher. I don't think that's true. Some people do realize the nature of mind spontaneously without a teacher. But a good teacher helps."

She also provides valuable observations and techniques on Vajrayana practices: pp. 179-180: in utilizing tonglen - "black pearl-like seed of self-cherishing at our heart center...sometimes instead of a black pearl...we can visualize a crystal Vajra which represents our innate Dharmakaya mind. The dark light absorbs into this and is instantly transformed into radiance, since no darkness exists within the pristine nature of the mind." p. 235: "My Lama always said to me, `Don't undertake big commitments. Keep your practice very small and simple, but do it.' ... I have always been very clear with lamas when it comes to initiations. Sorry, I am not keeping this commitment. I say this before taking the initiation, then they can decide whether or not it's okay for me to take it. Usually, they say its okay."