B Books

I wouldn't say that this was one of the funniest, or even best books that I have ever read, but it did keep me entertained until the very last page. This book had many unexpected, but clever turns that helped the story better progress. I would recommend this book for someone who isn't looking for something amazing, but for a book that is defiantly worth $6.50. (Which is what I paid for it.)

This is a very good book that I have read!! It is very good for teenagers!!!!!

This story by Caroline B. Cooney was delightful. I could not put this book down and read it in a day. The book is written using relatable context and has a similie so adorable, that I can't get out of my mind:

"Nannie was wearing a mauve silk suit and looked rather like a tulip."

I simply loved this book and hope there will be more adventures with Brit and "the girls"!

Caroline Cooney is a master at rapid paced action that takes your breath away.

When I bought HIT THE ROAD, I thought this one looks kind of tame and will be just a light read about a girl helping her grandmother -- NOT! There was nothing light or tame about this exciting adventure. The heroine's downhill race into danger and risk is thrilling. Just when you think things will get better, the danger increases. Caroline Cooney doesn't hold back with consequences, turning a simple drive into a perilous journey.

I couldn't stop flipping pages, eager to find out what happened next, surprised by a few plot turns, and completely satisfied when justice finally prevailed at the end.

It's no wonder that Caroline B. Cooney is one of my favorite authors. Next book I plan to buy of hers: CODE ORANGE.

Linda Joy Singleton

Hit the Road by Caroline B. Cooney is another terrific YA title by a prolific author. 16 year old Brit's parents have gone on vacation, leaving her under the care of her grandmother, Nannie. But Nannie has no intention of babysitting her teenage granddaughter or being babysat as well. Nannie and her two lifelong friend are determined to make it to their 65th college reunion, and if that means non-licensed Brit doing the driving and kidnapping a friend as well, so be it. Cooney has a real talent for getting inside teenagers' minds. Brit is selfish and rebellious, all without being unsympathetic. The idea of spending time with Nannie isn't what she wants to spend her free time. But as she spends time with her grandmother, she finds that they are in similar places in their lives. Both are on the verge of independence. Brit is about to break free from her parents' authority, while Nannie is just coming under it. Both struggle with the restraints place upon them, and Cooney manages to make the reality of growing old come alive even for a teen audience. This wonderfully written book is enjoyable to read and has a good message a well about doing what's right, even when it hurts.

It is a great book but not one to start with. Someone who has read some material before and knows more on the path is probably better equiped to discern the valid information in this book. Don't get me wrong it is a great book as I already have stated with a lot to learn from and a way of thinking original and worth exploring but as time has passed from the first publication a lot of the information included is out of date. Having said this, I recomend this book to the seasoned practitioner who wants a more feministic approach and a lot of Goddess only centered material to explore.

The time is perfect for books like this. It is time that honor and respect were returned to the feminine in all of us.

Z. Budapest, one of (perhaps I could even presume to say the "primary") the foremothers of the contemporary Women's Spirituality Movement has just released the third revision to her book, The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries . It was this book which probably saved my life and got me out of an abusive relationship by teaching me how to empower myself. It is far more than just a "self-help" book, however. In my own opinion, this is probably as close to "scripture" as any pagan will ever get. There, I said it, flog me. (No, not really! Notice I said "as close to" -- please notice that qualifier!)

Beautiful Goddess-Woman, Z. gives us the tools to find the Goddess within each of us in this book filled with ancient and practical wisdom, anecdotes, and women's history. Every time I read this book, I learn something new about the Goddess, the world and/or myself.

This book is a treasure house of wisdom in the tradition of old Europe, that was largely lost to human-kind after the middle ages passed. For that reason alone, women should cherish it. In Z's voice, we hear our grandmothers speaking, sharing their knowledge of herbs with us, showing us how to read the cards when times are confusing, teaching us to trust ourselves and our inner knowing. Great for discovering or re-discovering the Goddess in ourselves, in the world.

This is the re-publication of a timeless classic. Z has incorporated new material and photos. The photos of Masika's (Z's Mom) sculptures shows the talent that this line of Women have been blessed with. All Dianic homes should have a copy of this as reference material. The Holy Book is easy to read and understand. Feminists and Women world wide can relate to the various topics and appreciate the old ways of celebration of the Holy Days that have been shared here even if they have not chosen the Dianic path as their own. This work has and will continue to withstand time!!!!

Kellie Matthews a/k/a Hazel Da Healer

Good book. Good for younger kids. Older kids may be a little bored.

I purchased this book for my daughter when she was two. It was one of her absolute favorite books. She is now six and still asks us to read it to her once in awhile. My son is four and he loves it! It is such a great book and the illustrations are wonderful!

This is the greatest book for grandmas. My grandson loves it and this is our special book that we read together every night he is with me. After we are done reading he tells me how many kisses he wants!

This book should be in every toddlers collection. Counting, rhyming, and animals, can't get much better than that! After counting to ten with animals, a girl says she want 100 kisses, one in each curl. A boy tells his mom he wants a million, then it asks how many kisses do you (your child) want tonight. My daughter loves to tell me, and then get her number of kisses!

I have purchased several of these books for expectant mothers to make sure as many children and parents as possible have a chance to share in the fun and loving theme of this book. I have five grandchildren and this is one of their favorites....as well as mine.

Mary Larsen has done a thorough job explaining the actual steps it takes to launch a successful (financially successful!) business in Interior Redesign and Staging. As a Nationally Certified Trainer in this area , I look forward to adding this book to my recommended reads for students, new & experienced. Worth the time to read it!

Larsen's book starts right off by defining the differences between redesign (for living) and staging (for selling) so there's no misunderstanding of what these potentially lucrative businesses are all about.

The popularity of HGTV-DYI-type shows have spawned an interest in people wanting to redecorate their own homes Fortunately for anyone wishing to operate this type of business there will be more than enough work for you to do. Many home decorators get all excited about redecorating their homes but then find that once they get started (or are in the planning phase) they don't have the skills or the time to follow through.

The book offers a lot of solid advice. For instance, Larsen reminds readers that it is vitally important to continuously educate themselves as trends change constantly- what's hip today will be out tomorrow.
Mary's Trade Tips are sprinkled throughout the book making you feel like you're getting insider information. Larsen offers advice on ways to market your business including getting testimonials from current customers, giving presentations including a list of possible topics and an outline detailing how to present the topic. Details important things you need to know to stage a home for a real estate sale, offers before and after pictures showing great design work that you can easily do and gives basic design tips that offer suggestions on room elements such as color, shape, and spacing. You'll also find a list of tools you will most likely need and an appendix with more than enough resources to get you started including easily modifiable forms, sample contracts, a list of tools you will need and sample sales letters.

For some reason I found myself getting kind of bored toward the end of the book but overall a good resource for anyone wishing to start this type of business. Could also be a good basic guide for anyone wanting to simply redesign or stage their own home.

This book gives detailed information on how to go about starting a business doing interior design and decorating. The authors discuss the types of decorators as well as what it takes to be an entrepreneur. They dispel commonly held myths about entrepreneurship and give practical advice for the reader to determine if they have what it takes to start their own business.

The authors give step by step instructions on what it takes to start your own design business such as deciding what skills you have and how to charge for services. The next sections of the book deal with the legal and financial concepts of structuring a business. The authors do a good job of explaining the intimidating ideas of business planning, finance, and operation in terms that non business savvy people can understand. Anyone considering a career in design or decoration would benefit greatly from reading this book

This book is concise and complete and has a wealth of information for starting up your staging and redesign business. Using true-life examples, Mary outlines the redesign business so new businesses can succeed and thrive and make fewer mistakes. I love the "Mary's Trade Tips" sections which are all little nuggets of great information to help a new business do well financially and professionally.

This is a gotta-have book for those considering redesign and home staging!

How to Open a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorating & Home Staging Business definitely stands out in the "be your own boss" genre. The never-ending wealth of information practically sets up your business for you, no matter how little you know about what you're getting into. Other how-to business start-up books tend to jump right into the thick of things, overlooking key facts that beginners might not know. Mary Larsen's book was the exact opposite--even beginning with questions about whether or not you are cut out to be an entrepreneur.
While there was a ton of information packed in, I never felt overwhelmed with facts. Everything was broken down into easy-to-use tidbits, like questions to ask yourself and your clients, common business myths, why extras are important, naming, testimonials, and the pitfalls of freebies. The focus placed on marketing, especially e-mail and Web marketing, was especially helpful. I'm not a very tech-savvy person, so the in-depth discussion of marketing in this way was great--no "techie" language that I couldn't understand, just the basic facts. Larsen also helps out by reminding the reader that sometimes you just have to start your business and build from there--everything doesn't have to be perfect for your first client. Besides, with Larsen's book, there's no way you could fail!
Even if you already consider yourself an expert in redesign, redecorating or home staging, Larsen's book is a necessity, even if just simply for the appendix, which provides a quick reference and worksheets that can help you grow your business from day one.

"I am rectum." With these words, you become the nameless "i" being processed at a Nazi death camp in part one of "The i Tetralogy."

"I am Gunther." With these words in part two of the novel, you become the guard who efficiently processes the Jews.

"MIN-E-OLA. An American Indian name, no doubt, for a long Island as bland as an ironing board. But here in my Cape Cod, built after the war by the GIs who destroyed the Reich, I have found a measure of security." With these words you become the guard as an old man in the 1990s looking back on the wonders of his life in part three of Mathias B. Freese's masterpiece.

"I HATE HIM. I HATE HIM. I HATE HIM." With these words, you become Gunther's son in search of truths about the Jews, the war, his father, and himself that he may or may not find between the lines of the last 78 pages of this book.

"The i Tetralogy" places the living, breathing and dying moments of people trapped within the Holocaust beneath a microscope powerful enough to bring every visceral urge, fear, motive and drop of blood into an IMAX-theater-size view.

But make no mistake about it. While reading this novel, you are not viewing the Holocaust as a movie-goer or even as a reader: you are immersed in it and participating in it. Mentally, upon a shadowy sea of words, you are experiencing first hand a world outside boundaries of humanity as we understand it, or even want to understand it.

The unrelenting power of Freese's writing calls to mind the gritty horror and hopelessness of Erich Maria Remarque's World War I novel "All Quiet on the Western Front" and the grim insanity of Dalton Trumbo's story about a wounded soldier in "Johnny Got His Gun." Equally stark and eloquent, "The i Tetralogy" is written in the first person with a substantial amount of internal monologue. Both precise and beautiful, the prose cuts like a knife, laying bare the question: Where, if anywhere, is the meaning in the deadly embraces between prisoner and guard, guard and lover, guard and wife, guard and son, son and mother?

"We are dead men as it is, Izzy, i tells a fellow prisoner. "I believe there is no explanation for all of this, for if I were given one, I would dismiss it out of hand. We should stop trying to juggle it into sense or some order, some meaning. It is meaningless--and even that gives it meaning."

Gunther tells himself, "Here, in Anus Mundi, as one SS doctor calls it, I serve to kill Jews. Not a harsh thing to say or think, it's a necessary thing to do. Not a harsh thing to feel, for it has nothing to do with feeling--or morality.

Years late, after he learns of his father's role in World War II, Gunther's son Conrad, tells himself, "Of the six million Jews, in fantasy I wish I could replace each one--die the individual, idiosyncratic, special, even holy death of each one. I wish to be disfigured, raped, shot in the neck, gassed, torched. But this is fantasy. It speaks of intent or good will, of higher motives and purposes. But to what avail?"

Psychotherapist Victor Frankl, who survived a Nazi concentration camp wrote, in "Man's Search for Meaning," "A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the why for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any how."

Frankl's 1946 book makes a strong case for the ultimate meaningfulness of every moment of life, including moments of suffering and depersonalization. Freese's novel throws the whole matter open to question, leaving you to decide for yourself whether or not i or Conrad or you concur.

Freese's author's note, "Raison d'Être," is rather like a message in a bottle explaining how and why he wrote the book. "A close reading of 'The i Tetralogy,' a substitution of the author's name for i, Gunther, Karl, Conrad, Milly and Kurt," he writes, "will reveal the suffering of the species individually lived."

If you dare to walk or crawl 365 pages in these characters' shoes, you will emerge at the merciful end of this novel changed by the agony that, as Freese suggests in his author's note, made him aware." It is all too much, too much to bear--but bear it you must," he says. "It is a part of human suffering--and human strength."

If you read closely and bear each revolting moment, you may discover that through "The i Tetralogy," you have found both meaning and catharsis.

Auschwitz and its siblings produced victors and victims. Hitler and his kind produced demons and angels.

In the first part of The i Tetralogy we meet the rectum. He has long since lost his identity, tied as he is to Gunther the god of his world who has driven out the God of his youth. He is a slave, a dying collection of parts seeping, weeping and oozing from miserable life into living death.

All around him the rectum of the now becomes the brother, father, uncle and son of the night when the camp is silent and the ghosts beside him whisper in the darkness and relish their few hoarded crumbs of wormy, hard bread, the food that keeps them alive while they fester and suppurate and nurture a waning spark of intellect and philosophy, belief and humanity until the harsh, cold light of morning throws them back into the pits to work and await their turn to be released from the mindless and endless trenches and latrines beneath Gunther's polished leather boots, serpentine whip and cruel gloved hands that probe their souls with studied, graceful cruelty. They long for the release of death even as they cling with waning hope to life and dreams of freedom.

Years later Gunther stalks the streets of Minneola, New York far from his glory days under Hitler ever vigilant for any break in his cover that might brand him a war criminal, a designation he gleefully spurns, his defense always ready to hand. In his eighties, married to a shell of a woman he hollowed out decades before, sire of two sons he never fathered and secure in his memories of the good old days when he was a god, he relives his past in the basement of his bland American Cape Cod home through the trains that chug and cross the land of his youth and power carrying more Jews to the ovens and to his trenches and latrines. He wants to be discovered even as he carefully conceals himself behind a stolen name and fabricated life.

What is so disturbing about Freese's stories is not the horror of the camps or the soul wrenching tale of stolen lives and dreams plundered and hollowed out by Gunther's relentless hunt for the Jewishness of the Jewish soul, but the seductive and rational explanations Gunther gives for his actions. There is a kind of truth and honesty about Gunther's philosophy and reasoning that makes his deeds all the more horrific because they resonate in some dark corner of the mind and soul. Even as the poisonous seeds find fertile ground, they waken a moral sensibility that forcibly expels them in outraged denial. This is how Hitler, that pied piper of Germany, wove his magical snare to catch the hearts and minds of a nation and moved them beyond the confines of reason and morality into the dangerous territory where people become things and foul, unspeakable acts of inhumanity, the final solution that paved the road to hell on earth.

Freese weaves a dark tapestry of the soul that echoes inside of each of us and wakens not an impersonal evil but an all too human Beast with the face and manner of a hollow Hero.

Genre: Literary/Historical Fiction

Title: The i Tetralogy

Author: Mathias B. Freese

History forgotten is history repeated-Enlightening yet frightening, The I Tetralogy will haunt you like no other book.

Author, Mathias Freese is not only a brilliant literary genius; he has an uncanny ability to explore the depths of madness like no other. Set in the German camps during WW II, prisoners and guards alike live a surreal existence never before experienced. Gunther, Karl, Gertrud and the other cruel and sadistic guards take great pleasure in sucking the very essence from the Jews in the prison camp as they slowly exterminate them. The prisoners learn to become non-existent or die. The four separate stories give different points of view by characters each believing their truth is the only truth; first the prisoner then the guard, each one living their own personal hell. We read how an older Gunther yearns for the days in the camp. Readers look at Gunther the parent, through the eyes of his son who feels remorse, guilt and horror at his father's acts.

The i Tetralogy is an in depth look at the mind of the Holocaust victims, both prisoner and prison guard that takes the reader beyond any boundaries previous presented. Readers are embroiled in the thought processes of man slowly going mad in often frightening clarity. The author seems to reach out and tenaciously grasp the reader's emotions by the heart, causing intense empathy with the characters.

This book would be an excellent textbook for both history and psychology majors. Educators would find it a profound and in depth study of the workings of the human psyche as well as sociological influences on human behavior. It is also an excellent historical fiction that readers will not forget.

Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Reviews.

in a time when genocides are happening in the sudan and parts of burma and north korea a book like this seems more relevant then ever. too often the nazi attrocities are glossed over as in movies like schindlers list and downfall. this book hits you in a gutteral way that all americans should experience. too many of us are oblivious to the plight of unfortunites in those countries as well as in our own. a great read overall.

The i Tetralogy ~ Mathias B. Freese ~ Hats Off Books ~ History: Fiction

Combining true to life characters, believable settings and a peek into the psychology of all those involved, The i Tetralogy provides a descriptive, disturbing and graphic account of fictional history.

The i Tetralogy, consists of four volumes; i, I am Gunther, Gunther's Lament and Gunther Redux. Written from the perspective of three key characters; the Jewish prisoner, the executor and the murderer's son, this is a bleak, but powerful and graphic fictional perspective of the effect the Holocaust had on each character. It also focuses on the legacy it left behind.

Beginning in Europe in the mid-1940's, we visit the grim, weary life of a death camp prisoner as he silently digs the latrines, deprived of the dignity and humanity he was once accustomed to. This is a heart-rending account of one man's inner strength and resilience, despite a weak and decaying body; and how he learns ways of being vigilant and obedient in order to avoid death.

When volume two, I am Gunther, begins, the reader will be taken aback with the change of attitude. Seeing life as a German guard, Gunther, debating the suffering and cruelty he subjects the prisoners to, on behalf of his country. Yet among his ludicrous beliefs and ideals of superiority, one can't help, at times, feeling sorry for him, as a lost human being stuck in a world gone mad.

Half a century later, Gunther's Lament, follows the aging Nazi, Gunther, to a suburban town on Long Island. Here we explore deeper into his wrecked and warped mind as he struggles to come to terms with his very existence, without the security the war gave him as a German guard with power.

In Gunther Redux, the story continues as it investigates the views and thoughts of his son Conrad, who is tormented by his father's 'previous life' and burdened by the damaging truths of what really went on inside the death camps.

It is hard for the human mind to comprehend the full horror of the Holocaust. Telling the story through three key characters, however, provides a vivid insight into this inexplicable and shocking period of history. When I finished the book I found myself asking all sorts of questions; how did the dominant and brutal leader, Hitler, convince the Germans that they were the superior and most powerful race with such devastating effectiveness? Why did they believe in him? Can ordinary people be convinced to accept instructions to behave without decency and humanity under the right circumstances? Although this is a work of fiction, the characters are extremely true to life. The setting is so believable it almost reads like an autobiography of these three different people, making it an astounding, descriptive piece of well written prose.

The final section titled Raison d'Etre provided many answers to my questions, whilst giving me a greater understanding of Mathias B Freese's personal views and the psychological terror of all involved during (and after) this disturbing period of history.

alternative-read reviews

Adrian Goldsworthy's book In The Name of Rome would be an outstanding addition to the library of anyone interested in ancient Roman military history. Goldsworthy is in my opinion, and based largely on the reading of this excellent book, not only extremely knowledgeable about the subject, he writes compellingly and engagingly and communicates not only his interest and knowledge but also his enthusiasm for the subject. I loved this book.

Goldsworthy breaks his book down into essentially self-contained biographies, or comparative biographies, of several major Roman generals and sometimes statesmen. He covers their lives, their campaigns in great detail, their careers in politics and what they accomplished or meant to accomplish. Some of the endings are triumphant, some tragic, some bittersweet. Subjects include Fabius and Marcellus, Scipio Africanus, Aemilius Paulus, Scipio Aemilianus, Marius, Sertorius, Pompey, Caesar, Germanicus, Corbulo, Titus, Trajan, Julian and Belisarius.

As can be seen, the book concentrates more heavily on generals during the Republic and the very early empire; he does explain how the politics of the empire caused individual generals to fade in importance vs the image of the emperors themselves. Not every stage of the Republic's growth is covered, nor every campaign of every general, and yet there is a strong and well conceived thread which goes throughout this book.

Besides the fantastic characters of the personalities themselves - and often, those of their enemies - Goldsworthy excels in describing the campaigns and the battles fought, the tactics on the field, and the qualities of leadership displayed and exercised. He contrasts the various styles with one another, and with the times in which they were used, and how these changed. The organization of the armies, how they were employed in brute force or in subterfuge, the importance of the various elements - all of it is well presented.

Finally, the book includes a chronology from the founding of Rome through the various major events in the wars and lives described in the book, through the death of Belisarius; and there is a useful glossary of Roman military terms that is very useful in the reading of the book.

If you have an interest in the Roman art of war, this book should be on your shopping list.

Mr. Goldworthy's book, like his others remains both readable and informative. As the previous reviewers have stated, Goldworthy has taken Roman history to levels previously unattainable in a common history.

The leaders covered are pretty exhaustative. Few are a surprise and all are covered in a manner that most readers will find enlightening. Some personal favorites are here such Fabius/Marcellus and Scipio Africanus of Punic War fame, Germanicus/Corbulo mid Principate and Trajan of later Empire. He also touches on numerous other leaders but explains why he does not delve into depth (Suetonius Paulinus for example) What Goldworthy emphasises is that the leader was important but Roman doctorine/troops was critical. When he highlights the differences between the periods of Roman history, this becomes more appartent.

Given the historical paucity of sources for the later Empire/Eastern Empire, he does a fair job of showing that though weakened, the Roman way of war still remained deadly. He also does a good job of highlighting Julian (the Apostate to us Christians) and his unworthiness of being called great rather than simply competent.

Overall both a great read and one that remains true to the standards ste by the author in previous books. I truly enjoyed reading this.

Roman-era expert Adrian Goldsworthy has written an outstanding history of seven centuries of Roman generalship with his latest volume, In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire. This is Goldsworthy's first volume that is focused primarily on individuals, rather than organizational studies of the Roman Army, but he handles the material deftly and brings these characters into sharp focus as individuals, rather than as mere ciphers. Goldsworthy also attempts to divine general lessons about the nature of the Roman command style from the behavior of these generals, many of whom are not well-known to modern readers.

Each chapter in this volume details the career of one or two generals in a given period and the chapters are arranged sequentially, covering the period from the Second Punic War to the 6th Century A.D. Generally, Goldsworthy covers each of these Roman commanders in 25-30 pages as well as providing background material about contemporary conflicts and leaders. It is particularly impressive that Goldsworthy has been able to construct such a rich narrative on these generals, given the fragmentary and incomplete nature of the historical record. The chapters on Sertorius and Corbulo were particularly enlightening. Readers may also note that Goldsworthy's discussion of the Emperor Julian's generalship is far less complementary - although probably more accurate - than some modern accounts that attempt to rank him alongside Julius Caesar.

Goldsworthy disputes the oft-held opinion that Roman generals were military amateurs and instead depicts them as professional public figures who alternated between military, civic and political roles. One of the chief attributes of Roman leaders that Goldsworthy cites is Virtus, the steadfast ability to endure setbacks and to endure until final victory was achieved. Although Roman armies were often defeated, they were rarely demoralized and they usually recovered quickly. While only a few Roman generals were truly gifted soldiers - Scipio Africanus and Julius Caesar being exceptions - most learned how to employ the operational art and tactics that served Rome so well for centuries (unlike modern military leaders, who must constantly update their professional knowledge due to changes in technology and doctrine).

As Goldsworthy notes, Roman generals did not typically participate in close combat, as Greek generals did. Rather, the role of a Roman general on the battlefield was to "serve as a witness to his troops' acts of bravery" and to dispense rewards. Goldsworthy's theory is essentially that Roman troops were primarily motivated by the anticipation of rewards. It is a good theory and certainly one that tracks well with what we know about other armies in history, such as Napoleon's Grande Armee. Goldsworthy also discusses changes in the Roman Army over these centuries, including a greater degree of professionalism and the fact that soldiers became more loyal to their commanders (the one who rewarded them, anyway) than the state. Goldsworthy's hypothesis appears solid and the narrative supports it well. Although readers familiar with Caesar's commentaries, Tacitus and other Roman histories will find few new details here, the skill and clarity with which Goldsworthy weaves together all these accounts into a coherent narrative is truly commendable.

This looked a little daunting but Adrian Goldsworth held my intellectual hand and walked me through 700 years of Roman history as seen from the viewpoint of the fightin' generals. Goldsworth demands a bit of rigor from his readers but the payoffs are fun and worthwhile. Join Africanus as he lays waste to Carthage, Caesar in France and Germany, and everbody else in Spain. Weapons and discipline are explained patiently. (When you get tired of crucifying enemies the regular way, try some new positions where the folks looking out at your camp can see what you have in store for them unless they surrender) He helps you understand how the process of war changed with the political drama constantly unfolding back in Rome. And finally helps you come to grips with why commanders ultimately came to feel that Rome was irrelevant. This is a meaty book for the serious ancient history fan. Thanks Adrian !

While it of course has a very interesting subject matter, it still is an extraordinarily easy book to read. It is no thin composition and yet I accidently finished it in three days. While I'm a fledging of sorts on the subject this book is easily the best written military history book I've ever read.

James Brown was a true innovator. Nobody can take his genius away from him. He has passed on to occupy the ancestral realm. Remember the ancestors are always with us, you simply have to invoke their names.

I recommend this book for any James Brown fans or casual reader of history.

RIP to the Godfather of Soul, Soul Brother #1, The Hardest Working Man in Show Business. This been a great blow and to all of us James Brown fans here. This book was the one I needed to keep me focused. Just read it all the way through earlier this year. Very strong, uplifting and powerful. James Brown was the Hero, the Legend, the American Pioneer. He wasn't just an entertainer or a hit maker or an artist, he's a man that have overcome alot on what's happening in the world: going thru poverty, business, the Civil Rights Movement, the world, loss of jobs, politics, way of culture, way of living, and a way to express ourselves thru a meaning of religion, life, hunger, soul, pain, and suffering. The Man had it all. Boy I'mma miss him and his talent. His spirit always captures us thru this day. GOOD GOD!!!

Thanks for all the hardship and legacy you put us into, Brother James Brown.

I bought this book a couple of years ago, and once I began reading the first page I couldn't stop until I'd finished the whole book. The things that JB had to go through as a young boy, it's a wonder he didn't wind up on death row, or in an early grave. It's a good thing that he turned his attention to music, and put all he had into it. Even though he was never really raised by anyone, or had a real family life he was able to make his mark in life. I'm glad that he acknowledges the power of God, and he knows what God can do. I enjoyed reading this book. This is a must read for everyone.

I'm 34 I had listened to some James Brown manly the hits. I had the oppertunity to see his show a couple of months ago. It was fantastic. I started getting some of his other albums like the big payback(my favorite) I must tell you I'm hooked I can't get enough of that sound. I finished this book today. It was awsome his takes on things are so down to earth. If you're down with Mr. Brown than you gotta read this.

What a life. What a personality. I have enjoyed this book enormously: You get the feeling that this is James Brown telling you his extraordinary story in a long and fascinating conversation. He talks about his music, his personal life and troubles, his philosophy, and, what I think is most thrilling, show business and stage performance.

My main goal in reading this book was resolving a personal doubt: Was he the genius behind his records, or was it Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley or his producers? After reading the book and listening to his records with lots of new insights, I have little doubt that the main driving force (although not the only one) in his records was himself. What Brown says about his music, where it came from, how it was made, what he intended to say, really made me discover many things in his records! For instance, if you have 'Live At The Apollo (1963)' (one of Brown's best albums) or have listened to it, DON'T MISS what he has to say about it -and play the LP again. I couldn't stop laughing for almost a quarter of an hour.

On another hand, I was also wondering: Is he a ruthless, egotistic and authoritarian character, as he is sometimes portrayed? In the book, JB openly and candidly talks about the discipline in his band, prison, guns, Black Power, and politics; and, paradoxically, in the end I finished with the impression of having received a lesson in confidence in man, tolerance, faith and spirituality. Soulful singers like him or BB King really have something to say about life-not only in their records.

On a last note, I think the (co-)writer Bruce Tucker has structured the book very well, hooking you from the beginning until the last page. As usual, it is better to avoid beginning with the prefaces and forewords, and leave them for the end. Only a little information about musicians in the sessions would have been welcome -although it is true that it's not the scope of the book.

Definitely worth reading it if you are a James Brown fan, and also very commendable if you are interested in music in general.

As an absolute beginner I made my first ever Temari ball in just under three hours with Barbara's very clear and easy to follow instructions. I can hardly wait until I have some spare time to start the next ball; the balls described in the book are going from easy to more difficult, with "skill builders" coming with every new design. A book definitely worth having!!

I waited for this book to be published for months and I wasn't disappointed! Barb gives detailed, clear instructions and drawings. Gorgeous pictures that are close-up to see the stitching. The book is of exceptional quality and very inspirational. A must have book for both the novice and the experienced temari stitcher.

This is a BEAUTIFUL temari book! For folks new to the art of temari this book is a complete introduction. For temari artists it is great inspiration! The temari shown are beautifully stitched. The photos are excellent. The directions are easy to follow. Give it a try and be prepared to be addicted to Temari.

I saw this book on display at my local library and checked it out on a whim. I wanted to renew it, but someone had a "hold" on it, so here I am at Amazon because I had to have my own copy! I had never seen or heard of Temari and now I am hooked. This book is beautiful and the intructions are clear enough for a complete beginner like me. The pages are durable and the book lays flat for easy access. I just finished my 7th ball and my sister and daughter made their own balls when they saw mine. I enthousiastically recommend this book, but prepare to be addicted.

This is a great book for the novice stitcher as well as the experienced one. Barb's directions are clear and easy to follow. Her sidebar comments about Temari are what set this book apart from the rest. Her passion for this art comes through with every word.

This book about a Roman Catholic monk, Mark Gruber, and his extra-ordinary journey from the green fields of the U.S. to the deserts of Egypt is just breathtaking. As a member of the Coptic Orthodox church, and of Egyptian stock, i simply found Mr Gruber's plain and truthful telling of his experiance just so refreshing. It's funny, this man spoke more wonderfully about the Coptic people then most people at my church think of themselves. He showed them for their weaknesses, and their strengths, just as he saw it. It has helped me to appreciate who I am, my background, and my traditions so much more.

This book is great if you enjoy stories regarding exotic lands and peoples, and an honest telling of their journey.

The comtemplative monk is a baffling figure to Westerners, even to many Catholics, and moreover, most Westerners probably do not think very much of the Christians in Egypt, which we tend to think of as a wholly Muslim nation.

Fr. Gruber's evocative descriptions of Coptic monasticism and spirituality beautifully illustrate how inner conversion and contemplation are the heart of the Church. In the West we often hear an emphasis on practical action, or social justice, over and above contemplative prayer. Fr. Gruber's writings about the Copts show how contemplative prayer nurtures us and gives life to all our actions. It is a great window into a neglected and persecuted Christian population, and an inspiration for our daily lives and relationship with God.

This memoir of the year that Fr. Gruber spent among the Coptic monasteries of Egypt is fascinating. Fr. Gruber lovingly describes these men and their piety, along with the phenomenal faith of the Coptic lay people. There appears to be a direct line back to the conferences of John Cassian in the lives of these monks, but that perhaps is because Fr. Gruber has crafted the chapters in such a way to invite the comparison. But maybe not. These men live lives of remarkable holiness. I loved the image of people grabbing them by the ankle and holding on till the monk will bless them. I also loved the hike in 130 degree heat, and realization that the cave he has been brought to, and in which he spends the next three days, probably saves his life, in that it is much cooler than the monastery, nothing is swimming in the drinking water, etc. At any rate, I highly recommend this book. I do agree with the review that states this treats more of his exterior life than interior, but why should he discuss his private life with us. Also, there is another book (can't recall the author) called "Coptic Nuns" that makes a nice companion to this book, in terms of knowing more about the culture.

I just finished this book and absolutely loved it. It thrills me to see someone who is not Coptic, slowly develop a deep since of your mindset and feelings. The monks must have truly accepted the author to share so much with him and in turn, the author poetically describes everything to the reader.

For anyone that is curious about us (the Copts) and our religion, this book is a wonderful introduction. It capture a very true sense of who we are, what we believe, and how we worship God. I can't thank the author enough for bringing to light, this hidden treasures of my culture.

I don't know which was more interesting, the author's anthropological observations or his spiritual journey. Both fascinating and enlightening. Originally, Br. Gruber sets out to study the fathers of monasticism with a scholar's eye (albeit a fellow Monk-scholar), but the desert and those who live there transform him eternally.

This book is a fresh drink of water! Here are my favorite passages:

"In all of this," Abuna Elia said, "the desert was a teacher for Abraham. The desert teaches us how helpless we are, how much we depend upon one another for survival. It is with a complete sense of dependence, a complete sense of helplessness that we must approach God, and that we must approach one another in terms of possessiveness and control."

"By complete openness and availability to one another, we are obedient to each other in matters of charity. We are at each other's service.... But at the same time... our relationships must be ordered by a surrender, a letting go, a sacrifice. We own no one; we possess no one."

"Abuna Elia assured me that the sacrifices we make in our lives as Monks, as Christians, will always be enfolded in layer upon layer of the sacrifices that went before us."

"Abuna Elia said, 'When God asks us to make heroic sacrifices, it is not because he is heedless of what we are giving up; he is profoundly aware of it. When we are offering gifts to God, we are not really offering much, unless, at the same time, we are also submitting all those things that are valuable to us. We must submit to God's will everything which is dearest to us, that which is our only one of something, that which we love, that which is even beyond our ordinary capacity to imagine losing. Otherwise, all of our prayers and protestations of fidelity are somewhat strategic and not genuine or sincere." pp42-43


Later, during a time of pilgrim visits, the author is left with the small children to care for. He builds a fire and answers their endless questions about heaven, about "what it is like to see Jesus there," about Mary, about who God is. Night falls and the children keep talking until they fall asleep by the fire.

"So there I was, sitting by the dying fire, with all of these sleeping children around me. I looked at them in the starlight and the moonlight and was touched by the fact that they are so filled with faith so innocently seeking God. This is the second time since coming here to Egypt that I have found myself in exactly the same setting, surrounded by young people asking questions and listening to answers, tiring themselves out into exhaustion and sleep. And, just as before, there is once again that stabbing realization that none of these are my children, that I shall never have children such as these to instruct and teach."

"I looked up at the sky on this beauiful, clear desert night. I thought to myself that I had never seen such an array of stars, so numerous and so bright. Then, of course, at this moment, the passage from the Book of Genesis came to mind where God said to Abraham, 'Look up into the night sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so shall your descendants be' (cf. Genesis 15:5). So there I was sitting, looking up at the night sky, knowing how impossible it is in the desert night to count the stars. And even while I was feeling the special poignancy of not having children, I suddenly realized that these children all around me are not only children of Abraham, but they are also mine as well. For I have instructed them in faith, and I have given them tonight a greater realization of their own religion, their own spirituality. I have placed them confidently in the presence of God." pp 84-85

My only complaint with this wonderful book is that it doesn't touch on childhood vaccinations. This is an important topic in natural healing and the word vaccination isn't even mentioned in the index. Since this book was written in 1998, perhaps the chickenpox vaccine was still very new and the measles vaccine was very commonly used. I understand that one book can't cover all topics, but this is a big one. I would think parents who are looking for natural alternatives to health and healing would like to at least question their options when considering when and whether to vaccinate their children. There is an entire chapter dedicated to treating chicken pox and herpes, but nothing on measles. Neither vacccination will I give to my 11-month-old son and I am always looking for more information on the topic.

Although the book isn't loaded with complex medical terms, it isn't shy on information. It is written for the layman (with occasional pictures and tips boxes), and provides a well-rounded approach to diagnosing and gently treating COMMON illnesses in children. At the same time, the authors were careful to encourage traditional medical advice when appropriate

As a mother of a 14-month old, I have used this book numerous times. It is a life-saver for someone who is not intersted in feeding their kids antibiotics at the first sign of sickness. I have found all the answers to all of my questions about my daughter's health, starting with how to correctly evaluate fever to natural remedies for vomitting. The book is very well organized -it's easy to find answers to any common medical questions one could have. I feel so good about treating my daughter the natural way - I know it is so much better for her in the long run. This book is a must have for any parent who is interested in natural ways to promote and keep their child's health.

This book has been very useful for me and my 4 children. I found the subject of the use of herbs with children broad, but lacking for children under 1 year. The many tips and recipes were wonderful and easy; the charts were helpful, and the "when to see your Dr" was especially useful.

I give it 4 stars for lacking matter for older babies and also because it is very pro-vaccination and there's almost a bias against those that choose against doing so. However, the mention is minimal, so if you can overlook the few mentions of the vaccination issue this is a very wonderfully written and useful book.

Thanks to Linda White and Sunny Mavor for an easy to use reference. Finally a book that focuses on kid's health with understandable remedies and ingredients that available from your local grocery or health food store.

After reviewing this book from the prespective of a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, I believe this to be an invaluable resource for those who have children in their homes. It is full of common sense information that will help parents in protecting their children's health without compromising it due to unnecissary drugs.