My Dying Breath

Book Description

My Dying Breath is the tale of Tuck Richard (REE-shard), a gravely wounded Marine, who looks back on the journey that has whisked him and his friends from the Cajun country of south Louisiana, hardened them through the rigors of training, and flung them into the jungles of 1969 Vietnam. Struggling to survive the elements and a wily enemy, Tuck, Donnie-Boy Hebert (AY-bear) and Johnny Robert (ROH-bear) drive unwittingly toward a showdown with the infamous Col. Pham Van Bui.

This NVA super-patriot, however, must survive enemies from within - his teen-aged nephew, Pham Thuc Trai, who seeks revenge, and a veteran Eurasian, Louie, who is trying to escape the futility of war.

Customer Reviews:

A refreshingly good book..........2006-02-04

"My Dying Breath" gives the reader a "real people" perspective on the war. Sure, there is plenty of combat and technical stuff, but the best part is the feeling that the characters are real; the reader is able to feel what they feel. Instead of a narrative on the fighting or a chronology of events, the author causes the reader to share the experiences with the characters. I could see myself in the same basic training platoon with the guys, I could feel like I was walking a trail with them, and I could feel their fear and pain during the battles. The author does a fantastic job of painting a complete picture of the experience.

There is a good balance between the war and the homefront. I often get irritated when an author "shifts scenes" from the action and main characters to some other place away from the action. But when Mr. Reed takes you to the main folks' homes, he really takes you there, you'll get to know the other people, and you won't mind it. The "homefront" parts belong in this book, and you will get just as emotionally involved there as you will with the "main" story.

I hope this guy writes more books.

punishing.......2005-01-03

it was an amazing book. read this. thats all i got to say

Not worth it.......2004-09-27

Ben Reed may fill his novel My Dying Breath with realistic jargon and a relatable boot camp experience, but his prose writing is down right terrible, his diologue is poor and his charactors are cliche and as dense as a piece of paper. His main charactors are dull and unrealistic, and way too morally sound and flawless they become boring. Pass on it.

A Marine's View.......2004-09-18

As a former Marine who went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego, Reed's story brings back vivid memories. The mind actually superimposes the faces of real life buddies onto the characters. Every Marine had his own Gunny Hill and can remember the trials that form the lifelong bond between Marines. The combat sequences are incredibly realistic and put the reader right in the "fighting holes" with Tuck and Donnie Boy. The "casualty call" visit to Mrs. Hebert will leave you in tears. This is a must read for every Marine.

Paints an Intriguing and Colorful Picture of Vietnam War.......2003-04-23

This book was an excellent work of fiction despite the fact it really sounds like the genuine soldier's experience in Vietnam. I don't typically read novels about war, but I could not put this one down. My cousin recently enlisted and I was struck by how similar his boot camp experience is to the characters in the book. Ben Reed promises to deliver many more excellent works based on this debut. A must read!

Book Description

Paula Volsky, author of The White Tribunal, returns with a spectacular saga of adventure and intrigue, romance and rebellion — beginning with a wondrous discovery that could forever alter the fate of the free world....

In the modern, civilized republic of Vonahr, the need for magic seems a thing of the past. But soon the Vonahrish will find that magic is their only hope — for an imperialistic race of fanatics, intent on conquering the world, now masses on Vonahr’s borders.

Vonahr’s slim chance for salvation lies in a nearby neutral kingdom, where a brilliant savant has conjured up the ultimate weapon: Sentient Fire, a miraculous flame that responds to the command of its maker.

Low Hetz’s mad, flamboyant king refuses to relinquish the secret — so the desperate government of Vonahr sends the exquisitely beautiful adventurer Luzelle Devaire to turn his head and change his mind. But to gain an audience, Luzelle must win the Grand Ellipse, a test of endurance, ingenuity, and valor....

Customer Reviews:

Another worthy novel from Paula Volsky, set in the same wolrd as "Illusion" with a slight hint of WW2.......2007-01-07

Throughout the history of war fire has been used as an unreliable weapon. It is dangerous and can be used to an advantage, but is nearly impossible to control, thus making it something not used in modern warfare or in large action (ie, lighting fire to an entire army) but if you could control the fire, things would be different.

That's the premise of this book. In the neutral country of Lower Hetz a magician recently developed what he called sentient fire, fire that was capable of thought and responded to its master's commands. Naturally, this fire could be used as a great weapon, or for many other things (construction, clearing forests...) but the King refuses to sell or give the secret away. The people of world are a little miffed about this, particularly the people under the attack from the imperial nation of Grewland (think Germany) who know they have almost no hope of not being conquered by this extremely well equipped military nation.

So one of these nations about to be under attack, Vonahr (think France) comes up with a plane. You see the King of Lower Hetz is also holding a race around the world, and the first prize in this race, this "Grand Ellipse", is a peerage in the country of Lower Hetz and a personal meeting with the King. So Vonahr sends in Luzelle Devaire, a young female adventures who write and lectures on her world travels, and happens to be in desperate need of money if she wants to retain her beloved independence. She strikes a deal with the ministry of foreign affairs-she'll run the race, which they'll pay for, and at the end, once she's won the race, she'll do anything, really anything, to try and convince the womanizing King of Lower Hetz to part with the secret of sentient fire.

It sounds simple enough for Luzelle but when it turns out that her ex-fiancé is also in the race, along with the young, god like and extremely kind war hero of Grewland (and assorted other weirdoes) and his icy, do anything, really anything, to win uncle. Add in some magic from every culture on the planet, a little Indian-Jones action and some really cool cultural and landscape descriptions, and the periodic check ins' with the sentient fire where we get to see how it slowly takes over the mind of its master and we have one awesome book. It's different from "Illusion", more action packed, with less emphasis on morals and politics-more of a story novel, but still every bit as good in its own right.

As a side note, while "Illusion" was obviously a fantasy re-write of the French revolution, and this book does have an overt connection to "Around the world in 80 days" I think that really "The Grand Ellipse" this book draws more subtle connections to the creation of the atom bomb. There are other obvious parallels between Grewland and Germany during WW2, so obviously this book has something to do with that period-I'm just not sure how the race fits in. It doesn't really matter, this is a fun book. Recommend for sure.

Five stars.

One of the best!.......2006-09-25

A purely delightful ride.

This is a world MUCH like during the Victorian era except there are magic and other things you wouldn't find at the time. The world here is also at war, one that resembles WWI & II.

Luzelle, the heroine, comes from the nation of Vonahr [this would be your England] and she is most def a bluestocking. She lectures, she goes on adventures, she writes books. The shock! Her father is a prominent member of the society and is dead against this. In fact, he disowns her because she refuses to "act like a proper lady", stop doing what she wants and marry.

At this time, the government approaches her because the nation of Grewzland [Germany, duh, lol] is slowly but surely taking over the world and is close to declaring war on them as well. Their only hope is a new weapon developed by the king of Low Herz. The problem is that the nation has always been neutral [Switzerland?] and they will have nothing to do with anyone. The king, in fact, is preoccupied with his Grand Ellipse, a race round the world, so to speak.

The government wants Luzelle to enter the Grand Ellipse and win at all costs because the winner gets an audience with the king, something that doesn't happen often. The reason for sending a woman is that the king is a womanizer and Luzelle is very good looking.

At first she is shocked and wants to object but her money will run out in less than half a year and then she will have to go back to her father and get married. Not wanting to give up her independence she accepts.

Now, the book focuses mostly on the race, which is very much a type of Around the World in 80 Days except, IMO, much better. To say that this book was enthralling is the understatement of the year. I couldn't put it down as the racers go from one heart-stopping adventure to the next. There is much action because the world IS at war so there is danger lurking everywhere. Not to mention the fact that someone is trying, and succeeding, to take out the competition one by one. Oh and, one of the best things about the book, the characters are simply delightful.

One of the best things about this book is the writing. If this is any indication of most of Mrs. Volsky's work then I am awe because the woman has a way with words. Everything is lush and so well described you feel you are right there smack in the middle of it all. Her world building is amazing, and her characters are to die for and some of the best ever!

First of all there are two heroes. One is another Vonahrian like Luzelle, non other than the very elegant, very debonair Marquis Girays v'Alisante, who happens to be her ex-fiancé. Mehehehe.

The other, and my favorite of the two by far, is the Grewzian Overcommander Karsler Stornzof.

Karsler is just larger than life but so well depicted you do believe he is very much real. Paula outdid herself with this one.

Karsler is a young [around Luzelle's age which would be 25] Overcommander who is more like a hero or a god even among the enemies of the Grewzian Imperium. His sense of honor, his deportment in battle, his courage, the way he just exudes a quiet confidence, his very presence is the stuff legends are made of. He is a hero in his own nation since he has led his troops to victory more times than anyone cares to count. He has a strict code of honor that even his enemies can't deny. In war, or out of it, he plays fair and by the rules. He takes no pride in defeating others. In fact, everything he does he takes as his duty and simply something he must do.

It also helps that; in a nation of white, blonde blue-eyed people he seems to be the most gorgeous thing ever. He also is completely unaware of the fact and the effect he has on people, male or female. Basically he doesn't understand what the fuss is all about. After all, and unlike what everyone says, he is human.

You wouldn't know it because the man is damn near perfect and you don't get tired of hearing that he is like a god, or a hero, or the countless other things everyone talks about him.

Why? Because Paula makes it work. His actions speak so much louder than words you can't help but root for the man even if you like the Marquis, who does have his own merits, better. Karsler, without so much as even trying, blows the competition right out of the water.

Marquis Girays v'Alisante is also another character which very much impressed me. I was expecting some cocky, self-righteous prick [as nobles are bound to be] but I was pleased this wasn't so. At first this is somewhat the idea you get but the more you see of Girays the more you understand him. He is also very honorable and he is very much a nobleman. As Luzelle explains, it's not that he tries, it's just that his breeding is very much apparent in his character and manners even when he is looking very much like a beggar [you have to read the book, that part is hilarious]

I also thought it was too cute and funny the way that, at first, Girays is jealous of Karsler. Competing with a legend isn't easy and Girays figures sooner or later Karsler will drop his heroic act but this isn't so and I LOVED the interaction and, later on, bonding of the two characters. It's not everyday you get two perfectly amazing heroes that manage to get splendidly along. They really do act like adults and not like the so often encountered heroes who will try to one-up each other.

The sad part of this excellent piece of art is, like always, the heroine. Luzelle starts out OK but she goes from bad to worse.

It's the usual lamentable downfall of the "independent" heroine. Luzelle is convinced, because of her strict father that she can and will take care of herself. She is an adult and she doesn't need a man, which is fine except she gets herself into trouble over and over because of her childish notions of "independence" and ends up being rescued by men more times that I can remember.

At times, I am not ashamed to say, I found myself wanting something bad to happen to her just so she would see how reckless and selfish her actions were.

Instead of being grateful half the time she is mad because "she can take care of herself". Even when she does recognize that the men helped her she still doesn't hesitate to leave them behind when the opportunity arises. This would be OK since this IS a race and there is much at stake but not when the men have literally risked their lives to help her. She could have returned the favor by sticking around and helping.

Fortunately, as I said, everything else is so exquisite that the TSTL heroine doesn't ruin the novel. In fact, the interactions between her and the two heroes are pure delight. Especially with Girays since they had a less than amicable breakup right before their wedding.

The love that Girays, and even Karsler, have for her makes you like her most of the time. It's only when she is on her own and almost towards the end of the novel that she gets on your nerves but, by this time you are so into the race, the love triangle, and the perfection that are Girays and Karsler than you can afford not to care and skip a few paragraphs.

The Verdict
I can't recommend this book enough. It has something for everyone: action, adventure, romance, and marvelous settings, amazing characters. It's one of the best books I've read in a while.

A 4.8 out of 5!

Fantasy, History, Romance.......2006-08-21

If you like fantasy but the thought of reading another novel where everybody drinks mulled wine and has too many vowels and apostrophes in their names makes you sick, maybe you should look into Paula Volsky.

The Grand Ellipse takes place at turn-of-the-century industrial revolution times, where our heroine has unlimited financial resources to travel a very believable world. There's a bit of magic, and even some romance. A fun novel that I've read a few times, and a good introduction to Paula Volsky.

Most or all of her books are stand alone, so if you like the world she's created there are more novels to sink your teeth into.

I enjoyed it but that doesn't make a good book.......2004-01-19

She's a powerful writer in some ways. I loved her wide and challenging vocabulary and her ability to describe a world that felt real and touchable. The characters were believable and I was interested to see their lives unfold.
But, I wasn't left with any thing at the end. A good feeling, yes. Perhaps it the nature of writing about a race at breakneck speed across a world that exists only in imagination. Threads of the story that should have been satisfying to have been dealt with are suddenly dropped and those that should have been woven back in to the story never are.
I have not yet, but am willing to try other books by this author.

Too Long, Too Boring.......2003-12-22

I quit reading Fantasy/SF at the end of '97, and have only read Tolkien since (for the 5th time), but was inexplicably captured by this title at the library. I have a few of Volsky's older books which I had always wanted to read, but never got the chance, so I thought I would try the Grand Ellipse.
The book works on a few levels - as a comment on Hitlerian Naziism, progress, and - especially - as a travelogue. The Sentient Fire may be viewed as anagolous to Nuclear technology.
However, knowing who would win the race, who would end up with whom, and what use the Sentient Fire would be put to left no room for surprizes. The Book could have also used some serious editing. In these times of overstuffed books, it would be nice to see one with a more pared, sleek, approach; especially, considering the contents of most of today's stories - including The Grand Ellipse - cannot sustain such a verbose narrative. Also, due to the overt resemblance to 19th Century Earth, little seemed fantastical or alien. The lack of a religion for the western nations was also incomprehensible.
Overall, I am sorry I wasted my time on this title, and am more entrenched in my position of not bothering to read popular contemporary fantasy.

Average customer rating:

The Grand Ellipse
Paula Volsky
Manufacturer: NY Bantam 2000.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HKHOW0

Average customer rating:

Grand Ellipse, The
Paula Volsky
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O66J2S

Customer Reviews:

A must for Dorsai fans.......2003-04-05

If you haven't been introduced to this book, find it. It is a combination of Lost Dorsai and the Spirit of Dorsai with a lot of extra material on the Dorsai and the Childe Cycle as well. I think they are re-releasing Lost Dorsai with the extra information, but I'm not sure, as it's being billed as a new release- or, at least an unpdated version. Having come out in 1986, before Young Bleys or the other latter novels, that is most likely the case. Perhaps it would be wiser to purchase Lost Dorsai with the new info and get Spirit seperately. At any rate, the short stories are still first rate, and they are all about the Dorsai. What more can you ask for?

Book Description

"When is it spring?" a child wonders. "Come, I'll show you," Mommy answers. Out in the flower bed tiny green knobs are peeping out of the ground. "That will be a tulip and this a crocus!" Mommy says. That's what happens when it's spring! The signs, sounds, colors, and special feelings of spring come alive as they are experienced through the eyes of a youngster.

Average customer rating:

If you love to cook italian, this is the book.

Healthy Italian Cooking: Quick & Healthy Low-Fat Cooking from the Food Editors of Prevention Magazine (Prevention Magazine's Quick & Healthy Low-Fat Cooking)

Manufacturer: Rodale Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Italian | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Low-Fat Diet | Special Conditions | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Prevention Magazine Books | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Betty Crocker's Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cooking Today

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0875963277

Customer Reviews:

If you love to cook italian, this is the book........1998-11-10

It is a pleasure to prepare these wonderful, tasty and healthy recipies. Try, for instance, the shrimp and brocolli dish and tell me if it is not great. Buono apetitto.

Book Description

This reference work—from the trusted experts at Miller’s—is essential for both new enthusiasts and experienced collectors. It features a broad range of pieces, including glass, furniture, jewelry, metalware, bronze, ivory figures, and ceramics. Over 4000 items are described and well-illustrated, each with a price guide.

Miller's Art Nouveau & Art Deco Buyer's Guide. Consultant Judith Miller, Contributing Editor Eric Knowles, Project Editors Jo Wood and Lynn Bonnett

Average customer rating:

Miller's Art Nouveau & Art Deco Buyer's Guide. Consultant Judith Miller, Contributing Editor Eric Knowles, Project Editors Jo Wood and Lynn Bonnett
Judith, et al Miller
Manufacturer: Tenterdon, Kent: Miller's Publications Ltd. 1999
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TN576U

Customer Reviews:

CROCHETING FOR KIDS.......2002-12-21

I FIND THIS BOOK COVERS A NUMBER OF THINGS FOR MEDIUM AND ADVANCED CROCHETERS BUT NEEDS MORE DETAIL FOR BEGINNERS. VERY GOOD QUALITY PATTERNS AND MOST DIRECTIONS BUT BEGINNERS MIGHT FIND IT INTIMIDATING IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CROCHETING LONG

Average customer rating:

What a Gem

Los Angeles Home Book

Don't Buy This Book

The Los Angeles Home Book: A Comprehensive, Hands-On Guide to Building, Remodeling, Decorating, Furnishing and Landscaping a Home in Los Angeles and Its Suburbs, First Edition

Manufacturer: Ashley Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Reference | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Directories | Catalogs & Directories | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Las Vegas Home Book, First Edition

San Francisco Bay Area Home Book, First Edition

San Diego Home Book, First Edition

ASIN: 1588620182

Book Description

The Los Angeles Home Book is quite simply the most complete reference to the home industry of Los Angeles and surrounding areas of California. This handsome, easy-to-use directory is designed in a concise and organized manner, to be both practical and inspirational. The Los Angeles Home Book offers consumers a detailed sourcebook for building, designing, and decorating upscale homes in Los Angeles. Whether interested in remodeling a kitchen or building a million-dollar-plus dream house, this book can give consumers the information they need to get the quality service and product they want...and deserve. Over 40 sections of home industry professional showcased to inspire the consumer, including: Custom Home Builders * Interior Decorators * Architects * Kitchen and Bath Designers * Landscape Architects and Contractors * Swimming Pools and Spas * and much more.

Customer Reviews:

What a Gem.......2001-06-02

This terrific book was visually and editorially superior to any other resource. I loved the unique shape and well-thought out tabs. The beautiful photography and smart text were extremely helpful as I made decisions about my new home. As a matter of fact, I am working with a designer that I found in the book. I would highly recommend this resource.

Los Angeles Home Book.......2001-06-02

I found this terrific book visually and editorially superior to anything other book out there. It was educational, high-quality and very easy to utilize. The unique shape and tabs allowed me to go right to the category I was searching for and I enjoyed the wonderful photography. As a matter of fact, I am working with a designer that I found in this book. I would highly recommend this resource.

Don't Buy This Book.......2001-05-11

This book is NOT comprehensive. It's like one of those hardcover books you find in hotels: it recommends only those companies that have bought advertising in the book. For example, there are more than 2 landscape architects in Los Angeles, but you wouldn't know it from this book. It has practically nothing for Orange County despite the subtitle. I'm returning the book (thanks,... for your return policy).

Book Description

This powerful book explodes several popular myths about Krishnamurti--that he denied the existence of the Theosophical Masters and scorned the esoteric side of the spiritual path.

Customer Reviews:

WONDERFUL BOOK.......2004-08-20

This is a wonderful book. Not only because it explores for the first time and in the deepest way, the inner life of one of the most astonishing figures in world history, but because it's a very lucid exploration into the teachings of Krishnamurti. This exploration makes clear of the urgency there is for an actual human transformation. Our insensibility and our shalowness have reached to a very critical point of ignorance which is the real cause of violence, our suffering and our sence of meaninglessness. It is of great importance that we realize that only through an individual investigation we will be able to trancend our ignorance. Such an investigation cannot be of the nature of past investigations, which have been governed by the analytical mind. As it is expressed in this book and in countless times by K himself, one must totally die to the past and to our personal history to engage in this kind of observation. This is not an easy task for us, people of the 21st century, deeply conditioned by the patterns of our culture and by all of our ideas and preconceptions of what life is supposed to be.There can be no other real revolution than that of the psique. We must effortlessly renounce to all the methods that have been offered to us, and to all the happiness manuals that promess freedom and elightment if we do this or that. We have to be able to stand alone for the first time and listen to life without the influence of words, we must aproach life in new and unknown ways. This is how we can become trully responsable with life as a whole. Freedom and real maturity won't come in the future, they can only occur now because the present moment is all we have, it's where reality actually takes place.
I am a young person living in this messed up world swamped with information, entertainment, competition, greed, violence and worst of all, a big sence of meaninglessness. But I do feel there is a way out of this, and I do feel that life can be much simpler, richer and meaningful than we could ever imagine, but this calls for real work and real engagement.
There is a highly recomended book which is quoted by Sanat and can be found at Amazon.com : "The Paradox of Intention" by Marvin Shaw.
(I want to thank Ariel Sanat for this wonderful piece of work, which has touched me and other people I know, in a very profound way. If anyone knows how to contact the author I would be really grateful-my mail is aprilandseptember@yahoo.com thanks)

Masterful study of the esoteric K.......2004-06-07

A deeply thoughtful and well supported look at a previously obscured dimension of K's life. Scientifically rigorous in it's honest approach of this topic, the book is a must have for anyone who has been touched by the life of Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Star Wars.......2003-05-20

The reader from Alamogordo is completely right. Several people have written bad reviews of this excellent book, giving it one or two stars, thus bringing down the number of stars for it, & giving a very distorted perception of its true worth for a potential new reader. It's OK for people to have different points of view, of course. But it is obvious to anyone who really knows the subject, that some of these reviewers are ignorant of one aspect or another of it, and/or have some pet theory to promote, & are perhaps afraid of the truths that this book shares with its readers.
This is a truly extraordinary accomplishment, because what K said has been believed to be totally incompatible with the ancient esoteric tradition. Yet Sanat shows here, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when one looks at the FACTS and not at the repetition of unfounded rumors, it becomes clear that the two are seamlessly related. This book does require having both an open mind and having wide knowledge and understanding of the subject, which is a tall order. But it's "right on the money." Even someone without a great deal of knowledge or understanding of all the issues, but with a truly open mind, would get a great deal out of it.
This is the best book on K's life & teaching, to date.

The best book on Krishnamurti's life, yet!.......2003-04-09

This book is an extraordinary achievement, since it shows, for the first time ever, the very real connection there is between the theosophical movement and Krishnamurti, as well as between Krishnamurti and the ancient perennial wisdom. Sanat does this not by speculating or spinning unsupported opinions (as has been done quite dishonestly by some of his reviewers below). He achieves this by appealing by actual historical facts, by actually quoting what K REALLY said (as opposed to OPINIONS some people have formed without reference to FACTS). This is, so far, the ONLY book on Krishnamurti that addresses these issues without preconceptions, but by quoting sources and giving precise references, and by appealing to what actually happened.
Unlike every other author on this subject to date, Sanat lets his reader know when he is offering his own personal perceptions of the many facts that he marshals. When he does that, it is clear that he bends over backwards to let the reader come to his/her own conclusions.
It is unfortunate that some reviewers, who have obviously some pet theory to defend, have misrepresented the real worth of this excellent piece of research. I am particularly intrigued by the fact that the first "two" reviewers sent their messages within two days of "each other," and say pretty much the same thing. One of "them" was from "San Felipe, CA," & "the other" claims to be from New Mexico, yet does not know how to spell his own hometown, calling it "Albuquerqui." Then there is yet another reader from San Felipe, CA, writing three years later, but saying pretty much the same thing! I smell a rat!
If you are serious about understanding who K was, please do yourself a favor, and read this book. But do so with an open mind. What Sanat has achieved here is almost like solving a Zen koan: What K said was simultaneously compatible with the best that the perennial wisdom has taught throughout the ages, yet at the same time was breaking new ground, by showing us the dire need to disassociate ourselves COMPLETELY from all identifications, such as with Buddhism & Advaita Vedanta, before there can be clarity in our lives. Sanat has done a magnificent job, in showing with astonishing clarity that what has been considered incompatible, is actually eminently compatible. In doing this, he has placed K in a proper historical setting, something that had never been done before by anyone, because in order to do that, one must do the enormous work it must have taken for him to have been able to achieve this.
Contrary to what some reviewers have said, Sanat has shown how and why what really matters is that each of us engage in a transformative lifestyle. K's status, or lack thereof, is absolutely irrelevant in that quest. THAT is what Sanat makes crystal clear, unsupported criticisms of his work notwithstanding.
So do read the book. But be prepared to do a great deal of research yourself (like Sanat has done), before coming to conclusions based on previous knowledge. This book is a genuine creative effort, and deserves being read with a genuinely open mind.

A Long Overdone Book.......2003-03-26

Let us just for a minute imagine Krishnamurti himself reading this book. Would he invite the author for tea afterwards? I think not. One can only imagine why a writer who supposedly understood Krishnamurti's ideas would be so interested in what Krishnamurti himself bent over backwards to avoid discussing. The author claims that K didn't reembrace the Theosophical Society legends surrounding his enlightnment journey to protect his devotees from their own distracting fantasies about the occult, etc. Pul-leese! Krishnamurti's neverending emphasis was on his listeners' ability to do their own investigations into what was "the case." Thereby hung their salvation from conditioning. The picture painted of Krishnamurti by some recent authors, including Sanat, has been of a secretive man interested in concealing both his so-called inner and personal lives from the spiritually unwashed masses. Perhaps, but this author does not make a convincing case for Krishnamurti as a closet Theosophist.

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