Average customer rating:
- A conversation wtih a veteran of the Peninsular War
|
Recollections of an Old 52nd Man (Spellmount Library of Military History)
John Dobbs
Manufacturer: Howell Press Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Irish
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
| British
| Canadian
| General
| Holocaust
| United States
Military & Spies
| Professionals & Academics
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Military
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Eastern
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
19th Century
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ireland
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Strategy
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1862270937 |
Book Description
Facsimile edition of an exceedingly rare and important Peninsular War memoir. The author makes a very convincing claim to have been the last British casualty of the campaign, and provides new detail on life in Wellington's army.
Customer Reviews:
A conversation wtih a veteran of the Peninsular War.......2006-09-25
This memoir is unusual in that it is not cited and apparently not known by major Peninsular War historians such as Oman, Glover or Weller. Captain Dobbs wrote many years after the events he describes and explains that he used Napier to refresh his memory. Nevertheless, Dobbs offers many candid insights into the daily life of a soldier on campaign, often with great detail, done in a very conversational style, sometimes interrupting himself with asides of interesting stories. The book is only 86 pages, but is like sitting and listening to an old veteran of the war. He concludes with his Christian testimony which adds personality to the narrative. It is to Spellmount's credit to reprint such a valuable work.
Book Description
Socrates has a unique position in the history of philosophy. It is no exaggeration to say that had it not been for his influence on Plato, the whole development of Western philosophy might have bee unimaginably different. Yet Socrates wrote nothing himself, and our knowledge of him is derived primarily from the engaging and infuriating figure who appears in Plato's dialogues. In this book, Christopher Taylor explores the relationship between the historical Socrates and the Platonic character, and examines the enduring image of Socrates as the ideal exemplar of the philosophic life - a thinker whose moral and intellectual integrity permeated every detail of his life, even in the face of betrayal and execution by his fellow Athenians.
Customer Reviews:
Good Book........2007-01-11
Good book. Helps you understand Socrates a little better than by just reading his works.
A Comprehensive but Complex Introduction.......2006-03-06
This is book presents a comprehensive and very detailed introduction to Socrates. The book provides an overview of Socrates' life as well as an overview of the primary and secondary literature regarding Socratic scholarship. Socrates is one of most elusive philosophers of the Western tradition, given that he never wrote a single word. Primary knowledge of Socrates is derived from the Socratic dialogues of Plato and Xenophon, Aristophanes' comedy "The Clouds," and less significant references and fragments. Although I agree with other reviewers that this text is indeed too advanced for the introductory reader, it contains so much detailed information that it will prove to be a useful reference to be consulted over and over again for guidance. Taylor's navigation of Socratic literature (Ch. 3), although perhaps too ambitious for a short introduction, is impressive and shows the signs of true scholarship. As an "introduction for advanced readers," so to speak, the book is a success, given that it is saturated with detailed information regarding Socratic literature. However, for the introductory reader, such detailed information may be too overwhelming.
Very good introduction to Socrates, with qualifications........2005-02-23
Prof. Taylor teaches philosophy at Oxford University, and clearly knows his subject. However, his writing style leaves much to be desired. He tends to be convoluted and verbose, with too many parentheses. This is fine for an academic paper, but not for "A Very Short Introduction". He is worst in the first three chapters, in which he reviews Socrates' life and historical context. His discussion of "the Socratic problem" in chapter 3 drags at times, but if you plow through it, ends up being actually pretty good. However, it does not compare for clarity and crispness of reasoning with the discussions of the problem by Prof. Vlastos.
Taylor's style does not improve in Chapter 4, on the Socrates of Plato, but I found that in spite of his occasional incoherence there is something of value in this chapter. He does a good job of laying out Plato's approach to the problem of the nature of morality, and his ultimate failure in that project. His comments on Plato's defense of Socrates against the Sophists are quite good, although I've just started The Republic myself, so I may have to revise this opinion later.
Chapter 5, Socrates' influence on later philosophers, including the Skeptics, Cynics, and Stoics in the Hellenistic period, and then in the 19th century Hegel, Kierkegaard,and Nietzsche, was quite illuminating. All three 19th century philosophers were obsessed with Socrates, and each saw him and used him in his own unique way. He emphasizes the kinship between Socrates and Nietzsche in particular. This is clearly the area that interests Prof. Taylor most, where he put in most of his effort, with good and useful results. His style is noticeable tighter and clearer in this chapter.
Those who have no background in philosophy at all should not start with this book. Those who are in the process of learning some philosophy, perhaps at an intermediate level, should with a little patience find something of interest here. Those who wish to have a deeper understanding of Socrates life and thought should, after reading this book, by all means go on to read the two volumes of the master, Prof. Gregory Vlastos, Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher, and Socratic Studies.
This Classicist Does Not "Get It.".......2004-08-05
Like so many classicists, Taylor's writing style will repel all but the most pedantic scholar. Instead of a book that engages general readers as well as scholars (it is possible to do both), this book is a dry summary. Taylor's narrow, unimaginative approach fails to capture the greatness of Socrates. The book also does not provide the historical context of ancient Athens that is important in understanding Socrates, the most inspiring philosopher in history. Interest in the classics has declined considerably in recent years. Sadly, this book will only contribute to the decline.
This book should not have been published.......2003-05-29
Chris Taylor has produced an apalling book. Impossible to read, convoluted and meandering, 'Socrates' appears designed to make philosophy less accessible to the average reader than more. It is strange that Oxford would publish such a jargon-filled book as an introduction. Most of the text deals with Socrates' background and his historical context. This is fine in theory, but leaves little space to explain the philosopher's work. When Taylor finally gets around to Socrates' position, he seems to assume that the reader has a full understanding of the philosophical lines of thought of the time (eg. the sophists, the cynics). I finished the book having no idea of the meaning of Socrates' key belief, that "knowledge is virtue". Taylor uses visual language that confuses rather than clarifies his arguments, such as "a keystone of the arch". The conclusion is a good example of Taylor's absurd style: "Every age has to recreate its own Socrates. What is his significance for a post-Christian, post-idealist epoch for whom neiher the figure of a precursor of Christ nor that of the embodiment of the world-spirit in its development of a higher form of consciousness has any meaning?"
Book Description
Build your center of power! Stronger Abs and Back shows how to develop the body's most important source of energy and support--its core muscle groups. The abdominal and back muscles form the foundation for enhanced fitness and athletic performance.
Featuring 165 exercises and packed with training advice, this illustrated guide is your training manual to rock-hard abs and strong supportive back muscles that prevent low back injury and pain.
Stronger Abs and Back is for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who want firm, high-performance bodies. So train smart and successfully: Strengthen your core and see the results.
Customer Reviews:
Really great workouts.......2007-09-08
Excellent workouts that bring you from beginner and increase in intensity as you get stronger. As long as you do them on a regular basis there is no way you can't get firmer abs!
A good reference on ABS and Back strengh and deveopment.......2006-07-13
A complete, concise and comprehensive reference with 165 different exercises for ABS and Back. The book will help you identify how best to integrate optimal train for both form and function.
This book is useful for anybody, either and athlete or a fitness enthusiast, showing exactly how to train your center of power, as a first step to develop total body power, and reach your goal: speed, quickness, agility, coordination or just a great set of abs.
Each exercise is fully illustrated and described in detail, including setup, action, and safety information.
"Do you want to be big and bulging, lean and sinewy, flexible and functional? What about pain free?" No matter what your goals are, you will learn to get there with all the information contained in this book.
If you are looking for a even more friendly and practical language approach to train your ABS, you may like "The Complete Book of ABS" by Kurt Brungardt.
Stronger Abs and Back: 165 Exercises to Build Your Center of Power.......2005-12-05
This is a Brillant Book. The best book for abs & back exercises.
People of all Fitness levels will find this useful.
Excellent clear instructions and brillant pics.
My back pain has eased a lot since following these excellent work outs.
Best book in the Market. Buy it.
not just more crunches.......2005-09-13
Because abs is one of my weak areas, I decided to get a book devoted to the subject. I haven't thoroughly read all the contents yet but have at least skimmed everything and looked over all the exercises. Overall, this is looking like a very good book for its intended purpose.
It starts with a good overview of why a "strong core" is important for many different reasons. This includes examples in sports such as basketball, wrestling, and running. The introductory sections also include some welcome primers on a few sports jargon terms such as automaticity plus coverage of abs and back physiology.
The introduction also covers what NOT to do, e.g. some of the more dangerous Roman chair positions and also movements that can damage the back -- very welcome and useful advice.
The core of the book is sets of exercises and stretches in the areas of warmup/stretching/cooldown, trunk stabilization and balance, fitness, strength, and power. Each area usually includes exercises covering upper/lower midsection, obliques and back. The template for an exercise includes one or two photographs, a PREPARATION section describing the starting position, and then an ACTION section that tells how to perform the exercise. These descriptions are clear, concise bulletpoints that are very easy to follow. For applicable exercises, exact timings are given for holding positions.
Some of the exercises require a pulldown bar, medicine ball, Roman chair, TheraBall, etc. But there are plenty requiring no equipment, especially in the fitness section.
Lastly, there is a short but decent set of workout programs oriented towards one of fitness/toning, strength or power. Actually, I think this one of the weaker areas of the book, at only a few pages -- could have used more information here. I liked the focus on doing a variety of exercises with low numbers of sets and reps but making sure to be consistent and do the routine regularly. This is a nice way to avoid boredom!
Review entitled "More crunches" from 1998 is WRONG. Are we reading the same book here? This book has a lot more than just crunches.
Eliminated my back pain, thank you!!!.......2004-12-09
I initially bought this book in 2003 to get a 6-pack (haha), but I never really looked at it until I started experiencing severe lower back pain in October 2004. As a background, I started doing Mixed Martial Arts training early 2004 and slowly but surely my back pains started. I ignored it for as long as I could, but in September 2004 I was training hard for a submission wrestling tournament and my back was in constant pain.
My girlfriend's a PT and for long term maintenance and pain relief she advised me to strengthen my core. I showed her this book and she recommended I do the exercises with progressive difficulty.
Beforehand I used to do my weight training first and only do abs if I had the energy or "time". However in November 2004, I started doing the exericses in the book before my weight training sessions (4-5 times/week). I started with the stability exercises for 2 weeks. Once I got a grasp of that, I moved on to the ab fitness exercises for another 3 weeks and only now am I gettting to the strength exercises. The thing that impressed me was how detailed the instructions were. I was training smarter rather than harder. I ended each session with some good lower back stretching (shown in the book) for 5-10 minutes.
And I am very happy to say in December 2004 my lower back pain is completely gone!!! Consistency and good advice/exercises was the key! If the authors read this review, thanks very much!
Book Description
Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.
Customer Reviews:
A real gem with great wisdom.......2006-07-17
Have been trying to find some ways to cut back drastically on the white sugar needed in various recipes because white sugar has no health benefits, while honey does. But I was hesitant to use honey for fear I would use to little or to much. This is where this gem of a booklet helped alot. For instance I discovered that while you substitute one cup for the one cup of sugar a recipe calls for, you also decrease the amount of liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup. Or is a baked goods recipe if no baking soda is called for, you need to add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda because honey is acidic. And when baking with honey you need to cook longer in the oven and at 25 degrees lower than called for in the recipe. And that most honey breads and cakes improve with flavor if they are baked and then wrapped a day before eating. And if you want to use honey when canning fruit, you have to cook the fruit a bit longer because honey contains liquid. Pages 9-30 are recipes that are really great. And page 8 notes that honey is healthier and that should a bee encounter pesticides it doesn't return to the hive.
Cooking With Honey.......2000-06-21
Cooking With Honey is an excellent small book/bulletin. This book is an essential guide everyone should have in their kitchen. This is better than a cook book, it tells you the right way to cook with honey, how to convert your favorite recipes to use honey instead of sugar and some fats. You can not go wrong with this handy book.
Average customer rating:
|
Attu: Birding On The Edge
Manufacturer: American Birding Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Birds
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Birdwatching
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1878788310 |
Book Description
More distinctive patterns — Grand Slam, Lilac Time, Maidenhair, others — and over 29 complete projects. 41 illustrations.
Book Description
In LEGAL PROBLEMS OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS, THIRD EDITION, the authors aim to offer the student and professor the means to achieve a basic understanding of the international economic system as it operates in real life, and as it is constrained or aided by a number of fundamental legal institutions, including national and international constitutional documents and processes.
Customer Reviews:
out of date,.......2004-02-06
the third edition is out of date and it should not be sold any more!!! the new book is different greatly.
The First Book of International Economic Relations.......2001-11-08
This is a must read for those who appreciate interdisciplinary studies and want to understand the global economy, law, and politics. It offers an excellent balance; big enough to offer a lot of detail yet not too ponderous. Although it is very readable (not too technical), it's not a lap read.
For those who want to study international law.......2000-04-06
This book is one of the best texts about international economic law. This book will help those who study international economic law to understand what is the legal problems of this world of globalization.
Average customer rating:
- Bogus
- Inspired Wisdom
- The Whole Man Joke
- The Whole Man Program
- The Whole Man Program
|
The Whole Man Program: Reinvigorating Your Body, Mind, and Spirit after 40
Jed Diamond
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Exercise & Fitness
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Men's Health
| Personal Health
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Healthy Living
| Personal Health
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Family Health
| Parenting & Families
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Parenting & Families
| Subjects
| Books
New Age
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
| Astrology
| Chakras
| Channeling
| Divination
| Dreams
| General
| Goddesses
| Meditation
| Mental & Spiritual Healing
| Mysticism
| New Thought
| Reference
| Reincarnation
| Self-Help
| Theosophy
| Urantia
| Visionary Fiction
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Health, Mind & Body
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Parenting & Families
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Religion & Spirituality
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Irritable Male Syndrome: Managing the Four Key Causes of Depression and Aggression
-
The Irritable Male Syndrome: Understanding and Managing the 4 Key Causes of Depression and Aggression
-
Male Menopause
-
Surviving Male Menopause. A Guide for Women and Men
-
The Andropause Mystery: Unraveling Truths About the Male Menopause
Accessories:
-
Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
-
Clif Bar Nutrition Bars, Crunchy Peanut Butter, 2.4-Ounce Bars (Pack of 12)
ASIN: 0471267562 |
Amazon.com
The Whole Man Program is an integrated physical and emotional health program for males over 40. Psychotherapist and men's health educator Jed Diamond offers a roadmap for making life-enhancing changes in many areas that affect men. Diamond describes the "Male American Diet (MAD)," for example, as one that is high in saturated fat, and suggests ways to make healthy changes. He discusses "andropause"--midlife hormonal changes in men--and suggests options for reclaiming sexual vitality.
But this book goes deeper than diet and hormones; emotional self-discovery forms the center of the program. Under "Action Options," Diamond asks you, for example, to write down your memories of your sexual desires during adolescence and compare them to your midlife sexual ups and downs; talk to each of your children about the kind of fathering they have received from you; and write down "all the things you know about the Woman in you," and then share this with someone you trust.
Diamond, who also authored Male Menopause, frequently bares his own personal story and also includes anecdotes from his men's groups. This book is recommended for men (and the women who love them) ready for an intimate, man-to-man exploration of a man's physical, emotional, and relationship health at midlife. --Joan Price
Book Description
"The perfect gift for every man over 40."
-Michael Gurian
"Rich with solutions to becoming a whole man."
-Warren Farrell, Ph.D., author of Why Men Are the Way They Are
"In The Whole Man Program, Jed Diamond treads fearlessly into the new territory of what it means to be a healthy man. This book guides and inspires you to make more conscious choices that will enhance your body, mind, and soul."
-David Simon, M.D., Medical Director of the Chopra Center for Well Being, author of the Nautilus Award—winning Vital Energy and Return to Wholeness, and coauthor of The Chopra Center Cookbook
You can take positive steps toward improving your health and maximizing your passion, productivity, and purpose. Written by the bestselling author of Male Menopause and based on the latest breakthrough information, The Whole Man Program offers proven techiniques that will help you reach a whole new level of physical, emotional, and spiritual health. You'll learn how to lose weight and meet specific fitness goals; prevent heart disease, cancer, depression, and other diseases; put life and love back into your sex life; find your calling and be happy with your work life; and achieve new levels of energy and vitality-and have fun while you're doing it. So get with the program-start reading The Whole Man Program today and feel better than ever.
Customer Reviews:
Bogus.......2004-03-19
BEWARE - Amazon allows bogus book reviews. In case you have not noticed, the first 5-star review is from the author himself, and the second is from an author they got to endorse the book cover. This brings the average review up close to a 5, regardless of the 1-star comment from an objective reader. Ridiculous!
Inspired Wisdom.......2003-06-09
Mr. Diamond has written an important, inspired book that provides counsel on an integrative approach to men's health that goes beyond just physical health, but encompasses essential emotional and spiritual components. A tough sell to a tough audience, for sure. Yet, his book is engaging and readable. He has included evidence from his experiences as Director of MenAlive and shares personal information that gives insight to the uninitiated. Mr. Diamond includes resources and a selected bibliography for those seeking to delve further into the science. Significantly, he provides a practical action plan for what might be a "goal-oriented" audience. I think it's a wonderful book. Actually, I'd recommend it for men of any age. If you're under 40 years of age, why not get a jumpstart? No matter how far "after 40" you are, it's never too late. Ladies: buy it and leave it laying around. Maybe the man in your life will read it. If not, you read it. It can help you help--- and understand---him. An important book for men, and for the women who love them.
P. Elizabeth Anderson, co-author Emotional Longevity
The Whole Man Joke.......2002-04-10
Buy this book and feel like an [fool]! I was hopeing for a book that would address male issues for those over 40. What I got was one man's collection of "urban fables" with instructions based on his unique, singular experience. I struggled through chapters 1 and 2, but the real kiss of death was chapter 3 (Why men feel ashamed of themselves and therefore do not take any interest in health or longevity). I'm ashamed because I'm not a hunter? I'm ashamed because I got a circumcision and didn't get a chance to resist?! Give me a break! I was going to give the book to my local library, but I don't think I want to be guilty of promulgating this kind of [stuff]. You want to be healthy over 40 each less junk, exercise regularly, find meaning in your job to insure your efforts make a difference somehow, try and stay connected with friends or make new ones, stay connected with your partner and be supportive and allow to be supported. There you go, saved you [$] (not including shipping and handling).
The Whole Man Program.......2002-03-13
This is a great book -- it's smart, positive, and so important for all men over 40. I've found that men tend to ignore many aspects of their health until there are serious problems; this book helps men evaluate their lives and really deal with their unhealthy habits. The Whole Man Program encourages positive changes and shows the reader that a healthy, vital life is within every man's reach.
The Whole Man Program.......2002-03-11
You will want to change your life and habits after you read this book. The author covers spiritual, physical, and even emotional issues facing men, primarily who are over 40, and gives great pointers on how to remain in top shape in all these faculties. I think it's the most comprehensive book on men's general health and well-being that I've seen.
Book Description
For Raman the sign painter, life is a familiar and satisfying routine. A man of simple, rational ways, he lives with his pious aunt and prides himself on his creative work. But all that changes when he meets Daisy, a thrillingly independent young woman who wishes to bring birth control to the area. Hired to create signs for her clinics, Raman finds himself smitten by a love he cannot understand, much less avoid—and soon realizes that life isn't so routine anymore. Set in R. K. Narayan's fictional city of Malgudi, The Painter of Signs is a wry, bittersweet treasure.
Customer Reviews:
Not just a charming travelogue.......2007-03-11
Narayan's The Painter of Signs is considerably more than a charming travelogue or a narrow slice of provincial Indian life. While giving us all of that and with considerable charm, Narayan creates characters and situations that touch the heart and delve deeply into the essential contradictions of human life.
While some, including Monica Ali, who wrote the informative introduction to the latest edition call Narayan a comic writer, he can more accurately be called a serio-comic one. This book, like many of his novels, has its tragic components.
There is a basic dichotomy within Daisy, the committed family planner and sexually repressive young woman. Similarly, Raman yearns to be a rationalist but finds himself overcome by sexual thoughts. Thus, when the two young people inevitably get together, it creates a hopeless tension that finally destroys their relationship.
The complications of their "modern" love story is played out against the tranquil life of Raman's aunt, who has her act together. This would all seem cheery if we didn't know that the aunt is leaving Malgudi to go to Benares, the holy city, to die, alone, separated from Raman, her surrogate child. (Raman's parents were victims of modern life--killed in a railway accident.)
While the book gives us considerable insight into daily Indian life, it gives us even more into the lives of young people trying to find their way in a world changing before their very eyes. Narayan does not avoid the controversies of the times. Set in the days of Mrs. Gandhi's Emergency, Painter of Signs deals with the contradictory impulses of family planning: to make a good life for some, we deny potential life for others, an ironic opposition almost no one on either side of the issue is willing to confront, probably because it is basically unsolvable. And Narayan sees that. At the end of the book, Daisy is off on her Quixotic quest to limit births; the aunt is deprived of her home; and Raman is left with only his memories of the time with Daisy. He returns to the lesser life of The Boardless and his cronies , and his own business life as a minor artist, a painter of signs.
Narayan has painted for us a very charming and deceptively simple picture of the complexities of Indian and human life.
Tiresome Classic.......2007-02-05
I began this book with great enthusiasm, having purchased it in Chennai during my third trip to India. I wanted to read of village life and also have more insight into the culture and personality of India, since I am a western "white man." The book was written during Indira Gandhi's leadership and reflects her authoritarian campaign to control India's skyrocketing population through sterilizations and forced family planning. Raman, the village painter of signs, is a confirmed bachelor and "rationalist" until he meets Daisy, who is an independent, very un-Indian-like woman working fanatically for the government's population control campaign. Daisy ran away from home when her family tried to arrange her marriage, dislikes children, and just isn't the marrying kind. Of course, Raman falls head over heels for Daisy and Daisy seems to like Raman, but this isn't a romantic tale.
I can understand why this book is a classic and was very forward thinking when it was written, but I found the writing ultimately tiresome and predictable and skimmed through much of this to the inevitable end. I'm not so sure I want to read more from Narayan, but I've been told to read the Swami stories, so I'll try again. If you're an impatient reader, be warned, this writer is not for you. I'm hoping to get more from Luce's book, "In Spite of the Gods." Luce is a British journalist who's written about his personal experiences with the extreme dichotomies of modern-day India.
interesting...........2003-12-03
yes.. this book is a real masterpiece...
actually most of nowadays's main issues are evocated!
for instance, there is lot of allusions of indira gandhi's campaign( nerhu 's daughter) of sterilization ..
there is also mentioned the corruption of our societies, the phenomenon of sexualiy( which is more and more here in our everyday life)
raman 's main issu is his disatifaction whith life.... he sees himself as taking part of this corruption , because he serves all his corrupted costumers....he can't accept his ederly aunt's beliefs since he is a rationalist.. he is stubborned in his vision of life : no one can makes him change his mind...
moreover, he thinks that he is under-rated by people.... his pofessional values aren't recognized and he suffers from it.
his conception of life change when he meets daisy ( by the way, her name puzzled him a lot because even if her aspect is quite traditional , her name isn't. )
daisy is a strong woman who's quite different from other indan's women...
first of all, she lives alone!!( and that's quite unusual)
morever , she is a symbol of feminism since she works on her own and she doesn't need a husband to take care of her... She is a woman who acts like a man.
raman immediatly fall in love with her, because of her " unusual personality".
well, i advice you to read this book , because all along it , we have references to raman's thoughts which are really true..
the author has quite an objective look on our world... and it'll makes you think...
Fresh, fun, and full of charm........2003-04-29
This bittersweet novel is as fresh and charming today as it was when originally published in 1976. Telling the story of Raman, a conscientious sign-painter, who is trying to lead a rational life, the novel is filled with busy neighborhood life and gossip, the alternating rhythms and sounds of the city from morning till night, and the pungent smells and tantalizing flavors of home cooking, as Narayan portrays everyday life in Malgudi. The city is growing and changing, as its inhabitants try to carve out some individual successes within the juggernaut of "progress."
Raman, a college graduate, brings a sense of professionalism to his sign-painting, taking pride in his calligraphy and trying to create exactly the right sign, artistically, for each client. Living with his aged aunt, a devout, traditional woman whose days are spent running the house and tending to her nephew's needs and whose evenings are spent at the temple listening to the old stories and praying, Raman prefers a rational approach to life. Then he meets Daisy. A young woman devoted to improving the lives of women and the standard of living of the country through strict family planning, Daisy becomes his biggest customer, commissioning signs for all the family planning clinics she helps establish through the city and outlying rural areas. Ram soon finds his attraction to Daisy more powerful than this desire to remain "rational."
Narayan is a master of domestic scenes, presenting the major and minor conflicts of family life through the different points of view of the participants. Respect for his characters and a good-humored (and often humorous) presentation of their issues give warmth to his scenes and allow the reader to feel real empathy with the characters. Raman's belief in his own rational enlightenment and his simultaneous vulnerability to Daisy's manipulations provide the author with unlimited opportunities for dramatic irony. Scenes between Ram and his devout, elderly aunt provide a glimpse of the conflicts between old and new India, in addition to the generational conflicts every family faces between its young and its old. Scenes between Ram and Daisy reflect the changes in the role of women in society, as women become more assertive and liberated. Though he is presented as a unique, individualized character, Ram, the painter of signs, is, in a sense, Everyman, facing his coming-of-age as all men before him have done in cultures around the world. Only the details (and the sights, and sounds, and smells) are different. Mary Whipple
the painter of signs.......2001-06-22
THE PAINTER OF SIGNS IS A VERY GOOD BOOK.IT IS ABOUT A PAINTER IN THE IMAGINARY TOWN OF MALGUDI.HIS NAME IS RAMAN.HE LIVES AT HOME WITH HIS AUNT WHO TAKES CARE OF HIM.SHE TOOK CARE OF HIM FROM THE TIME HIS PARENTS DIED.SHE IS A VERY RELIGIOUS PERSON AND GEOS TO THE TEMPLE EVERYDAY.RAMAN PAINTS SIGNS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE.FOR EXAMPLE:THE BANGLE SELLER.ONE DAY HE IS ASKED TO PAINT A SIGN BY THIS LADY.RAMAN GETS ATTRACTED TO THIS LADY,DAISY,AND STARTS VISITING HER.MEANWHILE,DAISY IS PLANNING A BIRTH CONTROL CAMPAIGN.SHE IS GOING TO VISIT SOME OF THE REMOTE VILLAGES TO EXPLAIN THIS.SINCE,RAMAN HELPS HER SHE DECIDES TO TAKE RAMAN WITH HER.WHY DON'T YOU READ THIS VERY GOOD BOOK TO FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF THE CAMPAIGN AND WHAT HAPPENS TO RAMAN AFTER THIS.
Average customer rating:
|
R.K. Narayan: A Painter of Modern India (Studies of World Literature in English, Vol 4)
Michel Pousse
Manufacturer: Peter Lang Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Artists, Architects & Photographers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| Classics
| Contemporary
| General
| Historical
| Humor
| Letters & Correspondence
| Middle
| Old
| Poetry
| Renaissance
| Shakespeare
| Short Stories
ASIN: 0820427683 |
Average customer rating:
- PETER GWYN'S THE KING'S CARDINAL REVIEWED BY JOHN CHUCKMAN
|
The King's Cardinal - The Rise and Fall Of Thomas Wolsey
Peter Gwyn
Manufacturer: Pimlico
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Irish
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
| British
| Canadian
| General
| Holocaust
| United States
Religious
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Tudor & Stuart
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ireland
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Henry VIII: The King and His Court
ASIN: 0712651225 |
Customer Reviews:
PETER GWYN'S THE KING'S CARDINAL REVIEWED BY JOHN CHUCKMAN.......2006-03-15
Here is investigative historical scholarship of the highest order, ranking with J.J. Scarisbrick's remarkable Henry VIII. Written in good, clear prose, every chapter of The King's Cardinal is packed with subtle observations and deductions from existing documents.
Wolsey is an interesting figure for many reasons. He was butcher's son who rose to the highest offices of church and state, the kind of career we usually associate with the modern era rather than with a time when feudal titles tended to be requirements for all important posts in government. Wolsey's capacity for work was breathtaking and his talents were considerable. Most interestingly, here was a man who understood the demands of realpolitik as well as Machiavelli yet maintained a genuine concern for humanism, enlightenment, justice and fair dealings in society.
There is surprisingly little reliable evidence for details of Wolsey's life, yet a substantial body of his correspondence and observations of others during his years in power survives. Thus, this book is less a biography of the controversial Cardinal than an analysis of important acts and policies while he was in power.
Gwyn strips away, carefully, layer by layer, many myths and misunderstandings that have accumulated over five centuries and managed to cloud understanding of Wolsey. Most importantly, he makes it clear that Henry ruled and Wolsey served, sweeping away the image of the younger Henry as playboy king who handed over most serious business to his Cardinal/Chancellor.
Gwyn makes it clear that it was Henry's bull-headed demands for progress on the divorce, "the king's Great Matter," coming at a time when Wolsey had many other important issues with which to deal, that were the cause of his downfall.
I love Wolsey's words in a final interview with Sir William Kingston, keeper of the Tower: "Therefore, Master Kingston, if it chance hereafter you to be one of his [Henry's] privy council...I warn you to be well advised and assured what matter ye put into his head; for ye shall never pull it out again."
Here is a book for all lovers of scholarly history and biography, for all serious students of English history, for students of foreign policy and statesmanship, and for all those who want to understand how a first-rate scholar goes about his business.
Average customer rating:
- Henry VIII's Two Grand Viziers
|
The Cardinal & the Secretary
Neville Williams
Manufacturer: Weidenfeld and Nicolson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 029776960X |
Customer Reviews:
Henry VIII's Two Grand Viziers.......2003-02-20
This book was a very pleasant surprise. It's an ably written, and brief account of the two intertwined lives of the men who served Henry VIII prior to and during the Henrician Reformation. Williams argues that Thomas Cromwell was just as much Henry's "prime minister" as Cardinal Wolsey. The author seems to be more of an admirer of Cromwell than Wolsey, but he doesn't shut his eyes to either man's faults. Of especial interest to me, were Cromwell's correspondence with Wolsey, his loyalty after Wolsey's fall, and his stated wish that Luther had never been.
Average customer rating:
|
Cardinal Wolsey
Mandell Creighton
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Irish
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| England
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1417900768 |
Book Description
1888. The biography of Cardinal Wolsey, who, upon the accession of Henry VIII, was appointed royal almoner and privy councilor. He successfully organized an army for the invasion of France in 1513, accompanied Henry on his campaign, and helped conclude the peace of 1514. In the same year he was made bishop of Lincoln and then archbishop of York. In 1515 he became a cardinal and lord chancellor of England, and in 1518 he was created papal legate. However, his policy of raising money for England's wars by forced loans aroused considerable resentment. So too did his blatant ecclesiastical pluralism, enormous wealth, and lavish living. Wolsey's enemies at court, jealous of his power over the king, used the divorce of Katharine of Aragon as a means to bring about his ruin.
Customer Reviews:
Creighton's Wolsey.......2002-04-26
Mandell Creighton, a founding father of English late-medieval history was primarily a statesman. As such, his biography of Wolsey concentrates on Wolsey's primary area of expertise: governing. Though a touch idealistic, his relatively short work (one instalment of the 12 English Statesman series) is of use for potential students and general readers aiming to acquire a basic knowledge of his life. Far less detailed than his replacement, A.F Pollard, whose work is probably of more value for historians intending to thoroughly research particular aspects of the period, Creighton provides a thorougly accessible presentation of the man. His work provides a surprisingly similar interpretation to the fundamental revisionism provided by Gwyn in his much larger work. This is a thoroughly Victorian book from a leading Victorian bishop-historian, but deserves to be consulted.
Books:
- Sacrifice of the Generals: Soviet Senior Officer Losses, 1939-1953
- Scenes and Adventures in the Army: Or, Romance of Military Life (Frontier Classics)
- Sea Bag of Memories
- Skivvy Nine
- Skorzeny's Special Missions: The Memoirs of 'the Most Dangerous Man in Europe'
- Sojourns of a Patriot: The Field and Prison Papers of An Unreconstructed Confederate (Journal of Confederate History Series, Vol 19)
- Somalia on $5 a Day: A soldier's Story
- Star Shells, Condoms, & Ka-Bars
- Stepan Anastasovich Mikoyan: An Autobiography
- Tempest Pilot
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Coin Collecting for Dummies
- Annual Register of Grant Support 2001: A Directory of Founding Sources
- Choice Words: How Our Language Affects Children's Learning
- Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 17: Languages
- God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse
- Bioelectrodynamics and Biocommunication
- The Future of the Safety Net: Social Insurance and Employee Benefits
- Advances in Portfolio Construction and Implementation
- Complete Business Export Kit
