Stormy Petrel: the Life and Times of General Benjamin F. Butler 1818-1893

Book Description

Following an Introduction to al-Ghazzali's psychology of the greater struggle, the author gives a commentary upon Part One of al-Ghazzali's Introduction to his famous Alchemy of Happiness called Knowing One's Self. The Alchemy of Happiness is al-Ghazzali's summary of his Ihya Ulum al-Din or Revival of the Religious Sciences. This work provides a unique explanation of Islamic psychology.

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely essential work on Sufism.......2003-12-18

Dr. Bakhtiar has done a great service through this book. She provides the text and a commentary on Topic One of Al-Ghazzali's Prolegomena: Know Yourself. As a whole, the book is perhaps the best introduction to "Traditional Psychology" I have ever read, very interesting and full of insights.

While Al-Ghazzali followed the Sufi path, this book can easily be appreciated by anyone interested in spirituality and self-growth, since the principles are universal to all Traditional religions. A must have!

Book Description

For over one thousand years, Da Mo's timeless Classics have been considered the key to enlightenment and long-lasting youth. Now, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, one of the worlds leading authorities on Qigong, has made these ancient and profound teachings accessible to everyone!

Customer Reviews:

The search .......2006-07-27

Very interesting, but you have to have the courage to gamble with your health. Yet if you already took a dive from a mountain top "a la Castaneda" you might enjoy it.

This book is rare and precious.......2003-05-20

Richard S said it all, and well. My only additional comment is that the format of this book is structured quite simply, and it is ideal. First, the exact original Chinese text is included. This preserves this rare information, and offers scholars the original words to research themselves. Then, an exact English translation is offered of the Chinese. This can sometime read 'choppy' because it is quite hard to translate between ANCIENT Chinese and modern English - due to the fact that many words and phrases from ancient China only existed in Buddhist Qigong society and were unknown in the Chinese language otherwise.

Lastly, Master Yang offers his explanation of the translation, based on his decades of experience - without all the mystical nonsense, and with detailed explanation of what is happening in the body from a modern, Western scientific view.

It doesn't get better than that.

And yes, this training is only for people with the time and will to commit to careful practice with the guidance of an experienced Qigong master. This is one of the few Qigong practices that is potentially dangerous. If your 'master' doesn't know the information in this book, and you intend to study Yi Jin Jing, find another master. If you want Qigong for health, longevity, and general benefits, practice a different set of Qigong.

This training is to transform the physical body to a state at which it will be physically capable of supporting your energetic body in your meditation practice, so that you may have the physical stamina and mastery of your Qi circulation to pursue enlightenment. Nothing less. Without this training, do not use the word "enlightened."

The author of the original text, Bodhidharma, was very clear in saying that without this internal cultivation, all search for enlightenment will be in vain. Don't waste your life!

Valuable source material about transforming vital energy.......2002-03-29

Yang uses Buddhist and Taoist documents, reproduced and translated section by section, to explain the esoteric training methods Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing. The first method generate qi to strengthen muscles and tendons, the second teaches Huan Jing or how to return vital energy through the spine to energize the brain. Evidently very baffled by certain aspects of these exercises, Yang sometimes has to conjecture. His translation is uncertain, yet this description includes valuable source material withheld in the popular books by Mantak Chia. This is an early work of a prolific writer who could really use an editor, and readers may find the non-standard Cantonese transliterations rather puzzling.

Not recommended..........2000-12-14

First, a comment on the format and style of this book. The book has a combination of both English and Chinese, with frequent "paragraphs" of Chinese included in the text. I'm not sure why this was done but I found it both irritating and confusing since I don't understand Chinese. The English is poorly worded and often seems, to me, to be missing information. The book is also lacking an index.

The drawings are rather simplistic and, compared to many other Qigong books, poorly drawn. The "exercises" are often depicted in only one frame with arrows supposedly indicating the movements; this is quite confusing and doesn't really show the intention very well.

The book is oriented around dividing Qigong into four "distinct areas" with "specific" exercises from each discipline. Not only have I never seen this type of division before but, again, the division is very arbitrary and little is done explain the relationships between these divisions. I found errors in the "history" sections as well. I suspect they have been plagarized from other books and I would recommend the reader to investigate other sources such as Grigg and Deng Ming Dao.

Then there are the actual exercises. Some of these can be found in many other books (although without the arbitrary divison of this book) and an interested Qigong practitioner probably has them already. However, many exercises in this book, particularly in the Martial section, are extremely dangerous if practiced without proper supervision.

In the history of Qigong there are numerous stories of master's who didn't transfer 100% of their lessons to disciples with the end result being crippled students. Many of the exercises in this book, particularly those utilizing sticks to pressurize points and blows to the body can lead directly to serious injury.

The book does not, in my opinion, satisfactorily explain this fact, nor does it outline a progression of study to lead into the exercises. It also doesn't even appear to mention many of the "standard" Qigong exercises such as "hugging the tree" that have a long proven history of providing benefit.

All in all, I was very disappointed with this book and certainly don't recommend it. Spend the money on finding a good master in your area and you'll be a lot farther ahead...

Profound Translation of Rare Ancient Manuscripts.......2000-05-29

Anyone desiring to understand Qi, whether for Feng Shui, Marital Arts, or any other reason, must understand the internal human Qi, and the best avenue to this understanding is through Qigong.

This profound book is definitely recommended reading for a multitude of reasons, including its great contribution to the understanding and cultivation of Qi utilizing obscure and elusive techniques developed in antiquity through enlightenment.

Da Mo, also known as Bodhidarma, was an Indian of the Mahayana Buddhist Sect. He was considered a Bodhisativa who greatly affected the Chinese Shaolin Sect. His theories incorporated that the physical body is important and must be clean and strong (both externally and internally) in order to attain enlightenment.

Two rare ancient texts are attributed to him, both of which have been comprehensively researched and eloquently translated by Dr. Jwing-Ming Yang and offered with historical data and commentary. This second volume is an excellent sequel to the author's prerequisite book, The Root of Chinese Qigong : Secrets for Health, Longevity & Enlightenment.

The Yi Jin Jing is the Muscle Changing Text and instructs techniques for physical health and physical strength.

The Xi Sui Jing is the Marrow & Brain Cleansing Text and instructs techniques for internal cleansing and strength of the physical body via the internal organs including the blood and immune system. It further describes ancient practices designed as methods for channelling what can be termed sexual energy to energize the brain and gain enlightenment.

These two texts may initially appear more applicable to the channeling of male sexual energy as they were written in an ancient society predominated by male monks. However, these texts afford a great contribution to the understanding and cultivation of Qi within the framework of "Being" and the information is pertinent to both men and women.

Average customer rating:

okay book,but not brilliant.recipes are high in fat

The best for kids

My nephews loved this cookbook!!!!!

One of the better Children's Cookbooks

a great book

Kids Cooking: Scrumptious Recipes for Cooks Ages 9 to 13 (Williams Sonoma Kitchen Library)
Chuck Williams , and Susan Manlin Katzman
Manufacturer: Time-Life Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Cooking | Sports & Activities | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Desserts | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Kid's Cookies: Scrumptious Recipes for Bakers Ages 9 to 13 (William Sonoma Kitchen Library, Vol 43)

Williams Sonoma Kids Baking

The Kid's Cookbook: A Great Book for Kids Who Love to Cook! (Williams-Sonoma Lifestyles)

Cooking Rocks! Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals for Kids

Pasta Sauces (Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library)

ASIN: 0783503253

Customer Reviews:

okay book,but not brilliant.recipes are high in fat.......2003-07-19

this book claims to teach kids about healthy eating but most of the recipes it contains are of either high fat eg macaroni with LOTS and LOTS of CHEESE!!or full of SUGAR eg the chocolate desserts.
kids LOVE some of these recipes basically because theyre full of fat,one recipe we did enjoy however was the apple and cinnamon muffins,they did taste real good and one of the salads was also good(not the ceasar salad though,yuck!!)
my son(whos eight) did make the pasta and cheese dish and wouldnt eat it because he said it tasted too cheesy.he did like the slush dessert though
call me strange but i believe that a cookbook which it amined at children shoul have low fat and healthy recipes.most of the recipes here are either high in fat or high in sugar.this is a disappointment for me and my family

The best for kids.......2002-04-26

I've never come across a better book to get kids going on learning to cook... My son made us a scrumptious meal the first night he had the book! I recommend highly.

My nephews loved this cookbook!!!!!.......2001-07-15

I bought this for my young nephew for his birthday and it made him feel so grown up!! With my sister's help all three of her kids were able to easily have lots of fun making these recipes that are especially designed with kids in mind - things kids love to eat, lots of pictures, easy to follow. The kids were so eager to make dinner for the whole family!

One of the better Children's Cookbooks.......2001-03-04

This is one of the better Children's Cookbooks out there. This one reminds me of the old Betty Crocker style children's cookbooks that I grew up with. This book has a nice section on tools of the kitchen, preperation methods all fully loaded with pictures. The recipes can be prepared easily, and best of all they taste really great. The book has a wide variety of recipes too, some easy things, and some more advanced recipes so that children of all ages will be able to enjoy this one.

a great book.......2000-07-06

I bought this book for my 8 year old daughter, who loves to be with me in the kitchen. What a pleasure it has been to see her so excited about meal planning and preparation. On her very first meal, she prepared pasta in a broccoli cream sauce with orange-lemon slush for dessert. Her 4 year old brother (who rarely finishes his first helping) went back for seconds. She invited her best friend to share her meal, and she received rave reviews. She already wants to know when she can cook again. The beautiful pictures are a real plus, so kids can see what it should look like when it's finished, as well as enticing them to try new dishes. Kids Cooking covers a wide range of basic techniques and ingredients, and it is, I believe, and excellent book.

Book Description

Fifty beautiful yet straightforward scroll saw projects, with ready-to-use patterns, are included in this collection. Fretwork jewelry boxes, unusual clocks, and many reproductions of antique pieces provide exciting challenges for beginning woodworkers.

Customer Reviews:

ok book.......2007-03-09

I wasn't very pleased with the patterns in the book. They were all very similar. There were only a few patterns in the book that I actually liked.

Great Purchase!.......2002-11-03

This book has been a great pleasure to work from. There is a nice variety of objects to complete, although I would have loved the book to be twice the size!

For the price, it is a great deal and has patterns that provide something for everyone!

I highly recommend it!

Most Skill Levels Accomidated........2002-06-07

This book covers mostly amatuer to advanced skill levels. It has a few projects for beginers, but not many. If you are not a beginer, this is a great sourse for some cool, fun projects.

Wide variey of patterns.......2000-07-28

This is an excellent collection of interesting patterns for the beginning to intermediate scroll saw artist. There is a brief introduction that includes tips on wood selection, use of patterns and finishing. There is also a list of suppliers. Familiarity with the scroll saw process is assumed and the patterns can be resized on a copier to fit your needs. Many of the patterns are versatile and can be used for different applications.

Although there are a few of the standard cute animal wall hangings, shelves and such I found many different and useful ideas here. There are Chinese character trivets that go with my Oriental themes and a nice puzzle ball. I think the outstanding piece in the book is a free-standing plant stand that can be sized as needed. This beautiful item is shown on the front cover and is a solid piece of furniture that could be enlarged to be an occasional table with a multitude of uses. A wastepaper basket and flower pot stand in a similar style are also included.

There are a number of very nice corner and wall shelf patterns with sophisticated designs including wildlife and a beautiful ballerina. Another of my favorites is a mirror frame capped with a delicate scroll work pattern. With all the scroll saw pattern books out there I found this one to have plenty of unique and useful projects to make it a welcome addition to any collection.

Average customer rating:
Some Beautiful Indian Climbers and Shrubs

Manufacturer: Bombay Natural History Soc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I62P1S

Average customer rating:
Some beautiful Indian climbers and shrubs
N. L Bor
Manufacturer: Bombay Natural History Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006ECBOI

Average customer rating:
SOME BEAUTIFUL INDIAN CLIMBERS AND SHRUBS.
N. & M. Raizada Bor
Manufacturer: Bombay Natural History Soc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WPOOZA

Average customer rating:
SOME BEAUTIFUL INDIAN CLIMBERS AND SHRUBS.
J. Boraston
Manufacturer: Bombay Natural History Soc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WPNOAG

Book Description

Drawing on hundreds of studies in the last 20 years, the new edition of Family Policy Matters brings a fresh perspective to family policy, underscoring why it is needed, and outlining how policymaking should be approached. Author Karen Bogenschneider proposes a theoretical framework for conceptualizing policy issues in a way that holds the potential for overcoming controversy and identifying common ground.

This new edition includes updates on the most current research, including:
*new issues that have changed the political landscape for families (e.g. strengthening marriage initiative, same-sex marriage);

*an updated section on state statutes or Governor's orders that require family impact analysis;

*a new chapter on the history of family policy in this century;

*a new appendix on how to conduct a family impact analysis; and

*two new case studies on writing family policy newsletters for state policymakers and teaching family impact analysis to the general public.

The targeted audience includes researchers interested in seeing their research and ideas acted upon in the policy world; family professionals who work to connect research and policymaking; and instructors interested in making family policy come alive for undergraduate and graduate students. This book is an ideal textbook for family policy courses.

Book Description

Riveting and explosive, You Forgot About Dre is the story of a mentor and a protégé' who impact hip-hop music, with all the details of their success.

Customer Reviews:

No new information.......2002-09-19

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge Dre and Eminem fan but this book isn't worth your money. It has little to no new information for fans who have spent a little bit of time and surfed the web for bios and such. For those who say this book is great because Dr. Dre is one of the best rappers on the planet, they are mistaken. Dr. Dre is not a rapper, he is a producer. I'm not dissing Dre and Eminem, but this book is poorly conducted, any 7th grader with the internet could have thrown this together in about a month or so. Save your money and read something informative.

Few interesting facts.......2002-05-05

I gave this book two stars because I think that the author could have done a better job writing it and looking for information. Although she tells the facts, the writing is too [disappointing]. The pictures in the middle are excellent, though. A little more effort and this book could have been excellent. Dr.Dre's story has a lot of interesting details, same as Eminem's.

dreem.......2001-09-09

fantastic. it tells about how N.W.A., dr. dre and eminem got started. it was an easy and interesting book to read. i recommend it to people that like rap but don't like to read that much.

I Luv Em. This book rocks!.......2001-01-14

I love Em and this book made me love him more. Read it and you will fall in love with him if you haven't already. It talks about how he started out and what he was like as a teenager and how he keeps it real and is not a fake. The pictures are so hot. It also tells you all about Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg and a bunch of other rappers and that's good. But I love Eminem Marshall Mathers because he is the prince of hip-hop and I can't wait for his movies. He's gonna be the best actor Hollywood has ever seen. They might erase this but I hope he dosen't get back with Kimberly because I would marry him. When I read the book I pretended I was his girl and he was happy about that.

Most Complete.......2001-01-08

This is an excellent book. It's the only one out on Dre and the best one out on Eminem. If you want to know everything about two of the most talented rappers on the planet, get it. Nuff said.

Amazon.com

Ted Solotaroff's memoir of growing up with his father takes on a number of time-tested themes: paternal rage, the American Jew, a boy's love for his mother, an intellectual coming of age. But as one might expect from an editor and critic as prominent as Solotaroff, it does so in language so elegant and perceptive as to make these all seem utterly fresh. Granted, he has the decidedly mixed blessing of a subject who is larger than life, a father who rages the way through these pages like a character straight out of Shakespeare. Solotaroff Senior was a tyrant, a bully, a pathological miser, the kind of man who would "take the tender part of the steak, the breast of the chicken, and then push the platter over to Mom to cut up what was left. 'Eat bread, kids,' he'd say. 'Don't fill up on meat.'" But this is hardly a '90s-style victim memoir; Solotaroff doesn't dwell on his father's physical violence, and his analysis of his father's crippling fears and jealousies is scrupulously fair--even, at times, tender. A series of equally vivid portraits round out the book: his mother, a sensitive, cultured woman who was terrorized into passivity; the aunts, uncles, and teachers who aided young Solotaroff's intellectual development and showed him that a different way of living was possible. But again and again, it's to his father that Solotaroff returns:

Who was this man, who, even in death, could play my spirit like a pipe? How had the holes been put in that he'd fingered? How had I managed to keep him from breaking it, as he had tried to do?

In tracing the enigma that was his father to its source, Solotaroff reveals much about America itself, its historical wounds and its possibilities for redemption. --Mary Park

Book Description

Winner of the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for the Art of the Memoir and finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, Truth Comes in Blows is renowned editor and critic Ted Solotaroff's prize-winning account of a coming of age at once quintessentially American and especially vexed. Planted between Ted and a normal boyhood was Ben Solotaroff, as hard a father to placate, defy, and finally accept as can be found in the annals of the American memoir. Tough, bullying, seductive, Ben Solotaroff was a self-made man--"almost all ego and almost no conscience"--who made a success of his glass business and a wasteland of his home life. Against a crystalline view of American life in the 1930s and '40s, Truth Comes in Blows places its classic themes--the ambivalent love of a son for his victimized mother, the romance of post-immigrant Jews with middle America, sports and masculinity, the guilty imperatives of breaking away--and renews them with a candor Philip Roth praised as "not only a literary achievement but a considerable moral achievement as well." A reading group guide is bound into the paperback.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good.......1998-11-11

This is a well-written evocative memoir. Painful to read in places. Someone once said that we read to know that we are not alone. This sums up my feelings about this book. I'd add that we read in order to get enough distance to empathize. "Turth" is an elegant tale about struggling to grow up in sometimes dire emotional circumstances. It's especially refreshing because it is not a mewling, raging therapy session as so many similar stories are today. It's a painting of a time (Depression era America) and place (industrial burgs of NYC) and an attempt to come to terms with great suffering in a dignified manner. And it's so much more.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books