General Practice Books

Many years ago I began to express publicly my views about the abysmally negative state of college and high school athletics in the United States. Often, the person to whom I expressed my views would dismiss my observations and arguments on the basis that I was a "pointy-headed academic" who resented the positive status being given to the athletic departments of academic institutions.
As an academic, I tried to develop my arguments from well-researched publications. I could never recommend to nonacademics that they read the publications from which I drew my propositions. Professor Svare has given me exactly the book to which I can direct people who find the reading of academic texts to be dull and often unfathomable. Svare's book is the work of a person who, all his life, has deeply appreciated the pleasure and benefits of engaging in athletic activity. Anyone who reads this book will know that this is the work of a person who has developed a deep knowledge of all aspects of athletics -- participating, coaching, administering, studying, gathering data, networking, and writing skillfully and clearly about his subject.
Svare uses literary devices that can engross a reader, while conveying to the reader the fine details of the status of athletics in the United States. Many of his careful analyses are embedded in what one might call "case studies." In several chapters, Svare tells the stories of athletes whose career he has carefully studied. He demonstrates his expertise by supplying data on the career of the person under study as well as describing the person's style of play and achievements. At the same time that he lays down his case studies, he embeds the details of the study in the broad context of how the sports culture has affected the person being discussed. Even without those details, a reader can be induced to experience the deep sorrow that is generated by the kinds of tragedies that the sports culture has brought about. But, Svare has not simply delivered a negative diatribe about the status of American athletics. He has, as he describes in his book, taken serious action to promote a reform of athletics in educational institutions. Aside from describing the various ways in which he and other dedicated persons can contribute to the efforts to bring about reform, Svare offers his own well-formulated recommendations for action to bring about needed reforms. Though I might fruitlessly advocate more radical reform, I can agree with Svare that the first moves would be to convince professional sports organizations that they should develop theor own minor league teams, rather than use universities as venues for pre-professional development. There also is merit in the recommendation that colleges ban participation in intercollegiate athletics during the first year of the student's stay at university. I also would agree that scholarships should be granted to cover the costs of the complete college career of the scholarship winner. The winner should be allowed to settle into college life before taking on the demands of heavy sports schedules. Scholarship winners also should know that whatever happens in regard to their athletic activity, they will be able to continue as students at the institution in which they have enrolled. I can't imagine how anyone who reads this book would deny that he/she should become involved in promoting reform.

Bruce Svare is obviously passionate about sports. Many of the most gratifying moments of his life have come from either playing sports or coaching young people in a variety of grassroots leagues. Yet during his life time he has seen the true joy of sports, what some people might call the "play" component, all but extinguished. Little leaguers are trained like pros and young basketball players play on AAU teams year-round chasing the all but impossible dream of an athletic scholarship or a shot at the pros.

Svare does not come out and say it, but he is obviously heartbroken that something he loves is being destroyed before his very eyes. It is like visiting a beautiful lake where you spent the best summer days of your youth and finding it fouled by pollution and surrounded by ugly condominiums. Savre, like Rip Van Winkle, awoke in mid-life to see a sports landscape he could hardly recognize, one scarred by performance enhancing drugs, excessive media hype of young athletes, and the transformation of athletes of all ages into mini professionals.

It was not always like this, and Svare's book traces his personal journey into this increasingly strange land where even junior high school athletes are recruited by armies of high school coaches, and high school football stars announce the college they will attend on ESPN. It is hard not to be drawn into this book because regardless of what one thinks of the criticisms raised by Svare, it is obvious that he is a good man who is genuinely chagrined by the "runaway sports culture." His suggestions for reform are well worth reading, and offer very reasonable alternatives. But still one has to wonder if there is any going back.

When I picked up this book, I simply could not put it down. It is superbly written and I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in sports. Dr. Svare has put into words what I have been trying to say about the sports culture and it growing negative influence on our society. Like Dr. Svare, I was once a rabid follower of sports and unconciously participated in the exploitation of young men and women through our runaway sports culture. It took some of my own negative experiences to finally wake me up to the train wreck that will eventually happen. The clock is really running out and Dr. Svare presents some sad stories about how sports has corrupted our society, but also he give realistic solutions that can help truly reform sports before the clock runs out.

Dr. B. David Ridpath
Marshall University

Reforming Sports Before The Clock Runs Out: One Man's Journey Through Our Runaway Sports Culture by Bruce Svare (Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, State University of New York - Albany) is an expose of what has gone wrong in the areas of youth, amateur, high school, and collegiate sports today. The father of two athletes, a college professor, a coach, and a sports administrator, Svare deftly examines the failings of what comprises our contemporary sports culture including the unhealthy emphasis upon early specialization and the professionalization of young athletes; the promotion of winning at any cost with an attendant decline in sportsmanship; elevated violence and misbehavior on the parts of athletes, coaches, parents, and fans; the favoritism afforded very costly competitive sports that only serve a small number of young people with our school systems, and so much more. If you are a concerned parent, educator, or athletic events policy maker, then you need to give a careful and thoughtful reading to Reforming Sports Before The Clock Runs Out.

Dr. Svare provides an intriguing, honest, and scary look at the American sports culture. Whether it is discussing poor sportsmanship among coaches and fans, steroid abuse by players, or the never-ending chase for the athletic scholarship, the author provides poignant examples of major problems in sports. One of the most important questions raised in this book for me was the discussion concerning athletic halls of fame - why do we have athletic halls of fame in our institutions of learning and not any academic halls of fame? Shouldn't we be promoting success in academics in our educational system? If people see a trophy case of athletic accomplishments but none about academic achievement, what does that say about our priorities? This book is a must read for anyone with an interest in sports as a fan, participant, or concerned citizen about the future of sports.

During the devastating period of time when I lost my father suddenly, this book really helped me work through the pain and the void I felt. I looked forward to learning more interesting information every day.

They say death and taxes are the only things one can be sure of. But when the death of a close friend or loved one happens, it can leave us feeling lost and bewildered. "Remember My Soul" is a book of direction through the painful journey of mourning. Each of 30 days is examined allowing the reader to take as little as 5 minutes to (?) per day to study a specific Torah subject "in this person's memory". Each day culminates with a "diary of remembrance" that invites your memories of the deceased, and how they relate to each day's lesson. After the death of my 15yr old nephew Joshua, this book helped my family through those helpless days of awkward adjustment. I recommend this book not only for the Jewish person struggling through Shiva and mourning, but non-Jews (as myself) can benefit from the ageless wisdom and inspiration from the Torah.

Lori Palatnik's book is a must-have for all personal Jewish Libraries. The insights are deep yet explained in simple easy to understand terms.

My brother bought this book for me after my fathers passing and it has been a blessing. It has taught me so much about my Judisim, it has helped me to begin to work through the mouning of my dad and it is possibly helping my dad as well, which is a great feeling to have. It is a great book, give it a try.. Thanks Adam, I love you.

Sheri

Lori Palatnik's book Remember My Soul can do wonders for anyone trying to recover from the loss of a loved one. Her unique book actually lets you record memories of that person that you can keep forever. While recording these memories may be initially painful, they will be a source of strength, happiness, and a constant reference for whenever you want to remember your loved one. Buy it for yourself or someone else you care about today.

Firstly, this books can get 25 stars and that's still not enough. To be a true Christian in today's world is a very difficult thing. To understand what being a true Christian is even more difficult. I saw Kirk Cameron and his sister (Full House) on television and they were discussing this book. God's Commandments are the laws we are to follow. Once you start this one, you can't put it down. I even reread some of the pages because I was dumbfounded at the laws I myself have broken in my lifetime. I just can't say enough about it. It is the best Christian book I have ever read. I'm reading it now for the second time in a month. Thanks to the author, Ray Comfort and Kirk and Candace Cameron for helping me on my new journey!

This book is so important for Christians to read, that I have purchased two cases of them to give out.

As a church pastor who reads constantly, I would rate this as one of the best books I have read in a long time. Although the title speaks of revival, to me it really speaks more to evangelism and day to day living. Revival nuggets are there, and if that is what you are looking for, read it.

The bottom line is, I recommend this book to the point I would call it a must read. It isn't a 5 star book, it is a 10 star!

THIS BOOK IS AWESOME FROM START TO FINISH! IT OPENS THE EYES TO SEE THAT THE LAW IS WHAT DRIVES MAN TO THE CROSS. THIS "GOD LOVES YOU" SYNDROME JUST DOESNT WORK. MAN NEEDS FEAR AND CONVICTION OF SIN BEFORE GRACE AND LOVE CAN COME IN. MANY PRACTICAL EXAMPLES ARE GIVEN, AS WELL AS A STRAIGHT FORWARD WAYS TO WITNESS TO ANYBODY! IF YOU HAVE A PASSION TO WITNESS TO THE LOST AND CONVICT THEM OF THEIR SIN, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK! IT HAS STARTED A FIRE INSIDE OF ME! ALSO CHECK OUT RAY COMFORT AND KIRK CAMERONS MINISTRY CALLED THE WAY OF THE MASTER FOR MORE TIPS AND HELPFUL TOOLS. LET THE CHURCH ARISE AND CONQUER!!!

My Second Favorite Book! The Bible is #1

If you found it difficult to witness because you don't know how, read this book. It has opened my eyes to the biblical technique that is effective in true repentance. It may even bring you to a better knowledge of your salvation. You will not be disappointed that you read it. I gave one to a friend and he loved it. If we all do our part in sharing the Good News the right way we can truly have a Revival!

I cannot think of a book by Jim Forest that I did not enjoy, leran from and then recommend to others, even making gifts of several of them to freinds and family. I think here, to name just a few of his wonderful biography of Thomas Merton, Living with Wisdom, his books on praying with icons and on the Beatitudes, his book on confession and his new one Silent as a Stone, on St. Mother Maria Skobtsova's resuce of children during the roundup and imprisoning of French Jews during the Occupation in 1942. In many ways, The Road to Emmaus: pilgrimage as a way of life, brings together holy women and men Jim Forest has revered, learned from and written about. But in this lovely and lucid text, he also brings some of the most important of his subjects such as prayer, liturgy, sacred images, holy places. He assembles all these in the framework of that venerable project of seeting out and making the pilgrimage journey. This could be an excellent book to take along on a retreat, to use for spiritual reading during a season such as Advent or Lent, to gather a study group. The images within support Jim Forest's always accessible prose. He has also included his own pilgrimage through sickness towards healing. You will be in for adventure in reading this, just as much as any of Chaucer's pilgrims on the road to canterbury, or for that matter, thousands of others journeying to Compostella, Rome, Jerusalem or other holy places.

This book is one that I plan to add to the short list that I read regularly. I have been looking for material that will help break up the hard soil of my heart so that I can hear the unexpected messages God has for me on the road of life. I mean, whether one is an intentional pilgrim, a traveler, one who makes his or her rounds, or even a person limited by illness, Jim Forest addresses you with stories, words of Saints, and sage advice. He's been these all these persons, and he illustrates how God is there in these situations, speaking. If you're longing for those ears to hear the saving messages you fear you're missing, this book will help.

Jim Forest's latest book is a guide and companion for all of us, stripping away the cynicsm that modern readers may feel when asked to consider their lives as journeys.

The book deals with the physical act of pilgimage, with places of pilgrimage and with pilgrimage as a metaphor for life, but ultimately all forms of pilgrimage are resolved in the unexpected encounter between the downcast disciples and the Risen Christ on the Road to Emmaus. It is this journey that Forest challenges us to use as the pattern of our lives.

Whilst the approach is explicitly Christian and more particularly Orthodox Christian, it is always informed and enriched by Forest's encounters with representatives of other traditions and philosophies, and of course his friendships with Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh. Indeed, it is this warmth and openness to others that makes the book so attractive: whether we agree with one another or not, we all live together. And how many books encompass Tolkien and Dostoevsky, Chartres and the Anne Frank House, the Desert Fathers and the pilgrimage of illness?

A humane, wise book for a fearful time

Jim Forest's book: "The Road to Emmaus" presents a highly readable, lively account of this one, somewhat curious, aspect of spiritual living. In the book, the theme of pilgrimage is highlighted against a number of the places that the author has visited, together with those whom he has met along the way. Jim's characteristic ability to see the `eternal' present in situations which most would discard as simply ephemeral, gives the book a challenging, yet attractive, quality. The author takes us to `thin' places, where the presence of God is almost tangible, but also to `dark' places, where the presence of God seems to be wholly absent. I was particularly interested in the idea, throughout the book, that it is the journey, rather than the destination, which constitutes the pilgrimage itself, making pilgrimage an aspect of living in the moment, rather than (as is more normal) an idea of projecting ourselves into some future achievement. The book is freely laced with Jim's own attractive anecdotal style, and provides a fascinating personal insight into our journey towards the Kingdom of God.

I've been reading Jim Forest's books for years, and although I've never had the pleasure of actually meeting him, I think of him as a valued and much loved teacher. His latest book, this one on pilgrimage, is a beautiful reflection on what it means to be a homo viator, a pilgrim, a traveler on the way to God.

We typically think of pilgrimage as actual physical movement toward a holy place, and this is perfectly legitimate. But Forest reminds us that pilgrimage is fundamentally an alert attentiveness to God: a quiet listening, a prayerful waiting, a contemplative centering, a grateful bowing. Too much attention on physical holy places can distract us from the spiritual essence of pilgrimage. It risks turning would-be pilgrims into tourists. If God is a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere, then we are always at the Holy Place we seek. The trick is realizing it.

In discussing pilgrimage, Forest's reflections on "thin places," where the presence of God seems especially palpable, and "dark places," where the absence of God feels so devastating that they can inspire a trek along the dark path of unknowing and unnaming. I was especially moved by his chapter on "The Pilgrimage of Illness." In it, Forest reveals that he's suffering from kidney failure which requires regular dialysis. But in the midst of his illness, he's also discovered a whole new opportunity for traveling to God.

A wonderful book worth reading slowly and meditatively. Thanks, Jim!

Having been an acitvist in the 60's and 70's and then settling into the coma of "it's time for the next generation", I found Romero's Legacy inspirational. This book has renewed my commitment to work for social justice. Thank you.

When the biblical prophets decried unfaithfulness among the people of Yahweh, they usually cited two indicators: engaging with other gods, and failure to engage with the poor, orphans, widows and the oppressed.

In the late 1970's Archbishop Oscar Romero accepted his call to prophecy and began to complain bitterly about the oppression of the poor in El Salvador. In 1980 he was shot to death while leading a religious service.

His short life as a prophet and his death have inspired many who serve the poor, including many members of St. Joseph's Cathedral in Camden, New Jersey, home to some of the poorest people of the United States.

Among many other efforts to engage the poor, St. Joseph's began the Romero lectures in 2001, effectively reviving Romero's spirit with annual meditations on the complicated relationships of good, evil, fear, justice, compassion, revenge and the meaning of being Christian - all in relationship to the poor and oppressed.

These seven lectures, delivered yearly from 2001-2007 chronicle the oppression of the poor in today's dynamics: economic and social injustice, incarceration, (including the death penalty) racism and demonization of immigrants; and offer a religious and theological response to engaging the poor: a preference for the poor (liberation theology) and a reminder for those who would be Christian that their faith makes the poor a part of their family. As John Hogan notes, "in the New (Eucharistic) Covenant), we become blood relatives...of one another." (p. 27)

These edifying lectures can inspire the private reader, but their thrust is clearly towards our responsibility as a people to turn our collective, our structural hearts towards the poor. With Romero's spirit, the prophets of Camden are showing us the way.

Romero's Legacy is short, clear, and challenging. It forced me to rethink some big issues: war, race, urban poverty, capital punishment, and immigration. Gutierrez, Prejean, and Groody are spellbinding. A great resource for high school, college, and adult ed classes.

Romero's Legacy is an indispensable introduction to the topic of social justice and the Christian call to follow Christ's example for the sake of the poor and disenfranchised. Through the lens of seven different writers, each committed to living faith through work on behalf of those who the secular world values least, the book makes a convincing case that faith, without works, is dead. Concise and accessible, Romero's Legacy is lends itself easily to structured study. The text is appropriate not only for high school or college curricula, but also as a learning tool for small-group study.

"The Living Legacy of Oscar Romero," is an excellent book, which includes many thought-provoking and insightful articles from the past 7 Romero Center Annual Lectures. Each article discusses issues related to peace and justice... I highly recommend this book to professors, teachers, and scholars. This is a great book to incorporate into your curriculum with high school and college students. This is a 'must read.'

Sometimes when we grow up praying the Rosary, we lose the reverence we should have for it. With this book, the author has shed new light on how I see this prayer and the Mother of God. Instead of praying to her, we're asking her to sit down with us as we get to know her son better through her eyes.

I would also recommend this book to any protestants who would like to understand the Catholic view point on Mary and the Rosary in a non-threatening way.

The book itself is beautiful as well; Jansen has chosen exquisite artwork that serves as a photo album of Jesus' life for the reader to meditate on.

I just received this book from a friend, and can't think of a more thoughtful gift. It's beautiful to look at, easy to read, and unlike most sources on the rosary, does an excellant job of explaining why and how meditative prayer can be powerful in our lives. Instead of just telling you how to pray the rosary it actually made me look forward to doing so. I loved that his approach was for all Christians - not just Catholics, who want to deepen their relationship with Christ. I've gone through a number of books and pamphlets, looking for something useful for folks not raised to the practice of the rosary (or those who do so mechanically, with no effect), and this is by far the best I've come across.

Gary Jansen shows us the importance of slowing down and,using the repeating prayers of the rosary, inducing a meditative state. He argues that by repeating the rosary you force onself to slow down. He uses some personal anecdotes to illustrate this. This book is a unique perspective and belongs in ones personal library of anyone trying to find peace thru the power of prayer. I loved this book!

I bought a copy of The Rosary when it came up by chance as an "Amazon Recommendation" for me. I completely believe in fate and signs and thought this to be one. Although I have tried in the past, I wouldn't normally read a book about a prayer but this one is different. It is more than a book. It's a kind voice speaking to you, whispering in the background even while it's put away neatly on your bookshelf. It made me look at the Rosary in a completely different way than I did in all my years of Catholic school. I would recommend it not only for someone who is interested in prayer but also for those of you who have trouble with meditation. I have tried "walking down the path into the forest and closing the gate" and so on and so on as many meditation guides recommend but the nagging stress of my day to day life always distracts me back to the present. Here, Gary Jansen teaches a deeply meaningful type of meditation. I now keep The Rosary on a shelf above my bed and have reached for it during some hardships that have occurred in my life in the past months. It is truly an inspiration.

A very enlightening and deep book. You'll return to it again and again for inspiration and guidance.

Great introductory book on keeping the Sabbath. Just as in her book "Fasting," Lynne M. Baab mixes a lot of scripture with a lot of testimonies, leaving you yearning to try out the Sabbath for yourself.

This book challenged and inspired me all at the same. The author's candid thoughts regarding her own experience with the Sabbath helped me embrace the idea of starting this ritual on my own. It is a great book and worth reading!!

This book is an easy read, but packed full of practical wisdom about keeping the Sabbath. It helped me to see how the ancient tradition of Sabbath-keeping can benefit us in the fast-paced world we live in today. Lynne recognizes the vast differences in each of our lives, and has ideas and suggestions that we can each apply in the way that works for us. If you want an easy way to understand how observing the Sabbath can bring joy to your life, just set aside a morning to do nothing but sit on the couch with this book and a cup of coffee or tea. You'll be changed after the experience!

This is a terrific book. I especially liked Lynne's example of how she tries to fast from "words" as part of her Sabbath-keeping, since much of her work entails reading/writing/speaking words. I've taken that to heart, and am experimenting with ways to implement it more fully in my Sabbaths.

We as Americans have gotten so far away from even the thought of taking an entire day to rest, regroup, and be refreshed. It seems to be beyond our imagination that taking such a day could actually make the rest of our week go even better and that we will be not only more productive, but happier and peaceful. I am so grateful to Lynne Baab for writing this book because it helped confirm that having a day of rest is really imperative for our spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Since I started my Sabbath days I can truly notice a difference in
every one of those areas of my life. And I love how Lynne is not legalistic about how we should conduct ourselves on our personal Sabbath day---that everyone has different needs and styles. Also that our Sabbath practices will change over the years as our circumstances change. I intend on giving away copies of this book to all of my stressed friends who have been raised in this culture to think that if we aren't frantically running around PRODUCING and multi-tasking then we aren't doing anything of worth. We need to stop, take a deep breath, and enjoy a weekly Sabbath where we will find treasures and joys we never knew we could be experiencing!
See Isaiah 58:13-14 for a great scripture concerning the Sabbath.

I love this book, which explores the weekly parsha. Most weeks are only a few pages long but are packed with a lot of mystical and talmudic insight. This is one of my favorite compendiums to the Torah.

The most amazing, heartfelt response to the question of Why EVIL exists. This book will change your life. It is stunning, selfless, and TRUE. This is a dialogue with the ETERNAL Himself.

Rabbi Worch's translation of the difficult, poetic Hebrew of the Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto captures the power and essence of the original text. For people who have been yearning to read the teachings of the Piacezna Rebbe, Kolonymous Kalman Shapira, this book is worth the wait.

The writings of the holy Rebbe of Piazeczna (as presented by R. Worch) are both profound and poignant, but also inspirational, even to those who have not studied the original text.

These writings were written by the Piacezna Rebbe during the time when the Jews of Warsaw were living out the horrible suffering of their destruction by the Nazis. They are written with a passion and religious depth, a clinging to G-d and a spirit of prayer which move so so deeply. They are written by a Jew under the most supreme trials of suffering who deepens in faith in the suffering. They are the writings of a great holy Jewish religious teacher who gives us in these words and by his life - example the story of a true Tsaddik, a holy , holy, holy man.
G-d blesses and uplifts the soul of anyone who is capable of sharing in the reading this holy man's presence.

Rarely have I read a book written in modern times about Islam that is so beautiful and truly delves into the matter that this book talks about. You need not to believe in everything Abou El Fadl believes in nor to even be Muslim to truly grasp the beauty of this book. This book is not a book about the nuances of Sharia or the arguments for or against a certain opinion but rather the author's heartfelt emotions that guide him through his life. After reading this book I promptly bought one myself.

A great change from all the other religious books. Great for anyone who is searching for beauty anywhere, anyhow.

For those unfamiliar with Isalm, Abou El Fadl cracks open the tradition. You can see Islamic reasoning at work as he compares sources, uses the ancient writers and parses out conclusions. Read especially his deconstruction of alleged authorizations for violence against women in Islam and his defense of the tradition of women scholars. You can also feel his anguish at how much of Islam has turned its back on reason and the core belief that God commands the just and beautiful in favor of a narrow-minded fundamentalism. Christians struggling to defend against Christian fundamentalism will find an ally here.

And, if you love books, you will rejoice in his loving invocation of the conference of books, the collected wisdom of centuries, that swirl around him each night as he studies. My only complaint is that I would wish to have had more of this book: more Islamic analysis of issues.

Abou El Fadl has been accused of being a `sympathizer' of terrorists by Pipes; reading this book will show the absurdity of that claim and how his opposition of extremism is woven into his entire world view.

i have fallen in love with Dr. Khaled's words and thoughts. please, please, please read this man's book and support him with all your might. he is the bright shiny light at the end of the tunnel for all Muslims who thrive on intellectual theological discussions.

5 billion stars for Dr. Khaled!!!

This is an exceptional collection of essays articulating a profound mixture of legal and spiritual inquiry. There are 2 ways to experience being human: male and female, and Khaled Abou el Fadl has a remarkable and attentive regard for the female experience. A main theme presented is the necessity for Muslims, especially now, to recollect and find ways to revive and express their legacy of beauty and refinement. This is a book that can be appreciated by thoughtful people of any faith perspective.

Patricia Monaghan, probably my favorite Goddess-spirituality author ever, does it again with _Seasons of the Witch_. ... Monaghan's emotional and moving poetry is wonderful. You can just read it for enjoyment, or use it in ritual. It includes "general" poems about witchcraft, a lot of Greek- and Celtic- inspired material, a few poems dealing with other myths, and a dash of fairy-tale material. All of it is very good. (One thing that makes Monaghan stand out in her field, by the way, is her refusal to bash males. Other goddess authors ignore or demean men, but many of Monaghan's poems celebrate love for men in a sensual and lyrical way.)

There is also a gorgeous accompanying CD, featuring several performers who have set selected poems to music. You'll want to hang on to this, too, either just to listen to for pleasure, or to play during ritual.

I would talk more specifically about the poems, but I can't do them justice in prose. I wish Amazon had a "see inside" feature on this book, so you could browse the first few poems and see if you like Monaghan's style.

I also must commend cover artist Gavin Duffy. For a moment, I thought Monaghan had switched publishers! Note to Llewellyn: More covers like this, please! In fact, more books like these--both in appearance and in content. This is a rare gem.

When we raise our voices to praise the Goddess, we find our voice sometimes in poetry, or sometimes in prose and most often in song.

This book is a collection of some of Patricia Monaghan's work. The book is divided into seasons, and each season is created in our minds in beautiful poetry and visualized prose. We are lead around the seasons, shown the associations of the elements, the Wheel of Life, and the different forms of the Goddess.

Ms. Monaghan is a talented and very well known poet. Her works have appeared in many magazines.

This book also contains a CD which has placed 25 of her poems into song. The poetry becomes devotional songs, and we find ourselves delicately woven into the visualizations by the enchanting voices of Peggy Monaghan, Sally Coombs, Susan La Croiz, Claudia Blythe, Kirsten Baird Gustafson and Lili McGovern. James Robbins also appears on one of the tracks.

As you read, and listen, you are drawn in by the delicate imagery Ms. Monaghan uses. Ever present is her love for the Goddess, her understanding of the elements and we feel her love and warmth in each piece.

This is a nice break from the handbooks and instructional manuals that dominate the market. Personal expression rather than personal opinion is always a nice change. The CD is professionally produced, the book is nicely bound, and the quality of the material makes this an outstanding package and a nice presentation.

This is a book that can be appreciated by anyone with a soul for poetry or devotional prose. It would make a wonderful gift and a lovely addition to your library.

Sometimes we need to step back from the "how to" books and remember "why".

This is an absolute treasure of a book. The title is a little misleading though. This book is not just for witches but for goddess loving folk everywhere. It's poetry, not an instructional manual for witchcraft or even "how to find the goddess." Although it's not a manual, it certainly helps the reader to connect with the goddess on an emotional, instinctual level. Almost every poem pulls me right at my very core. I feel a deep inner understanding of what the author is saying, and through her written experience of the goddess, I touch Her too. Wonderful, transcendent poetry.

The CD is very good too. It's well-produced, and the music meshes well with the poems. I haven't done so yet, but I think it would be excellent music to use in ritual.

This isn't the dry, highbrow stuff forced down your throat in high school. This is juicy, magical, alive and exciting. There is romance, myth, anger, fear and wonder.

I've performed these poems to great effect, and had many people ask where they could get the book. I've heard it's coming back in print and that's tremendously exciting.

Patricia Monaghan has written numerous books on Goddesses and myth, including the brilliant "O, Mother Sun," and has another poetry collection, "Winterburning."

I bought this book/CD two months ago, and I still haven't tired of listening to the CD and reading the poetry on a regular basis. Monaghan is a very talented poet; She conveys images and emotions so well through her words! It's really wonderful... some of the best poetry I've ever read. The songs on the CD are also beautiful. They are Patricia's poems set to music that was written and performed by each artist, so the instrumental and vocal styles are often quite varied (in a good way). One of the vocalists is Patricia's sister, Peggy Monaghan, and some of the others include Lili McGovern, Claudia Blythe, Sally Coombs, and Kirsten Baird Gustafson. All of these singers and musicians are very talented, but I am lukewarm on a couple of the songs because I personally don't like the singer's vocal style and she sounds a tad flat to my ears throughout the song. Despite that, the CD is currently one of my favorites to listen to on a regular basis. Just a few of my personal favorite songs/poems include Peggy's version of "Maenad in Spring," and "Maeve Prepares for Beltane," "The Maenad Remembers Dionysus," and "Procedure for Reclaiming the Self," but all of the poems and songs are really special. I highly recommend this book/CD set to anyone who enjoys Goddess-based poetry and music.