4 comments about Ingmar Bergman: Interviews (Conversations With Filmmakers Series) (Conversations With Filmmakers Series).

1. I'm a big fan of Bergman, and I was thrilled to see these interviews come back into print. They tell you so much about Bergman's life, films, and his personal opinions. Organized chronologically, this book reveals a development of Bergman both as an artist and as a person. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about Bergman's genius or film in general. The introduction offers terrific insight into the mind of an artist.



2. No film critic could have approached Bergman with such passionate understanding and insight as Raphael Shargel. Following his film reviews in The New Leader for years, I am not surprised by his far reaching ability to grasp a life's work as he does his movies, always interested in their impact on society and us as individuals as well as the history that produced them in our time. When you get to it, your understanding of Bergman and appreciation for the value of interviews across a lifetime will be as rich as this book's index.



3. This collection of interviews with Ingmar Bergman gives the reader almost a definitive view of not only the great director's vision, but of his constantly evolving artistry. As a teacher, I found the discussions of individual films invaluable.



4. Toward the end of his 1971 conversation with Richard Meryman, easily the best interview in this collection, Bergman says that "to make a film is to try to open up the roof--so we can breathe" (p. 112). This is as good a one-line characterization of Bergman's project as I know. Bergman's films defy easy analysis, sometimes because they're poorly conceived, as Bergman himself admits (he thinks, for example, that "Through a Glass Darkly" is a prime example), sometimes because even Bergman in retrospect isn't quite sure what he was trying to do, but sometimes because there's simply a great deal of depth to them. How, for example, to collapse the message of loneliness, despair, human nature, and hope conveyed in "The Silence" into a couple of sentences? But what Bergman at his best does succeed in doing is expanding us, opening up the roofs of our worldviews, inviting us--sometimes forcing us--to breathe in an atmosphere that's crisp and thin and heady.
   
   Readers who pick up Raphael Shargel's collection of Bergman interviews in the hope that the master will explain what his films are about will be disappointed. Bergman tells us that he wants to elicit emotional experiences first and cerebral ones second in his films; that dreams have influenced his scripts and his director's eye; that he works best when his days are rigorously scheduled; that he thinks a film is "selected reality" (p. 106), which reminds me of Tarkovksy's beautiful characterization of film-making as "sculpting time"; that he thinks a certain "childishness"--a naivete, an openness to experience--is essential for good art. But what Bergman doesn't do, appropriately enough, is tell us how to interpret his films. So in many ways, his intervews are as mysterious as his artworks.
   
   The interviews collected by Shargel vary in quality. As I've mentioned, Richard Meryman's is the best of the lot, closely followed by A. Alvarez's. The "Playboy" interview conducted by Cynthia Grenier is worse than worthless, and seems intent on focusing on little else than sex in "The Silence" (the interview was conducted shortly after the film's American debut). There are numerous typos in the text. "Feeling" is consistently spelled "felling," for example, and at one point Bergman is referred to as the "15 year old creator of 'The Silence'"! The only other book I've read by the University of Mississippi Press was also poorly proofed. Strange that an academic press is so careless in its copyediting.
   
   Shargel's collection is a decent starting point for readers new to Bergman, but better ones include Bergman's memoirs, The Magic Lantern (2007) and Images (1995). Jesse Kalin's The Films of Ingmar Bergman (2003) is highly recommended for serious students.

5 comments about Setting Your Heart on Fire: Seven Invitations to Liberate Your Life.

1. This is a simply wonderful book. If you are reading this, you have probably been "searching" awhile and have read more than your share of "self-help" books. This is NOT another self-help book. Also.... if you are reading this... you have probably heard of or read books by people like Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj or Sri Ramana Maharshi (along with more contemporary teachers of what could be considered "non-duality", or Advaita Vedanta) or possibly something like A Course In Miracles. While people like Ramana and Nisargadatta were truly "Awake" beings (in my opinion), and works like A Course In Miracles point to that same Ultimate Truth, these books and teachers are often very difficult to understand, much less apply to your everyday life. (much of the writing is "dense" and overly poetic or steeped in Eastern verbiage and tradition) Well, Raphael's book, Setting Your Heart On Fire, is not like that, although it certainly points to that same Truth, which is what makes it so valuable. Most of us know that "self-improvement" in the way we've always thought of it, just doesn't work. At the same time, we sense, deep down, that the possibility of "Awakening" or "Enlightenment" (call it what you will) is no longer just for people like Jesus, Buddha, Ramana (not that it ever was just for certain people). It's what we all ARE, and it's time for us to become aware of the fact that WE are what we've been searching for. So, that leaves a world filled with people who are tired of "self improvement" and at the same time sense that there's something MORE....something REAL, but who don't have any idea how to embody and live that State. Well.... this book is a great place to start. That is why I'm describing it as a "bridge". This book, along with Raphael's first one, Unconditional Bliss, are fantastic "bridges" for people who can "see" the possibilty of discovering Who and What they really are, but who don't know how to get there. (not that there's anywhere to "get to"... one of the great paradoxes) Raphael is a wonderful writer and does a fabulous job of expressing these ideas... making them ACCESSIBLE, which is a rare thing in the world of "spiritual" books. He brings these Truths right down into the middle of your everyday life... the "messiness" that we all live with. The days of people feeling they need to run off to an ashram or monastery are over. If we are going to become a more spiritual, loving and compassionate people, we are going to have to do it in our daily lives, with kids, jobs, a mortgage, etc. When reading this book, I constantly found myself saying, "That is so true, that's exactly how I feel." Rarely does that happen when reading Nisargadatta! (laugh) Although both Raphael and the non-dual writers are pointing to the same Truth, Raphael makes it seem much more attainable and less "mystical". I think it's a great blessing to us all to have teachers like Raphael and books like this which point the way. So, get this book and let Raphael lead you across the bridge.... the bridge Home.



2. This book changed my life and ALL my relationships. I now know how to handle any situation. Raphael is an incredible writer and also an inspirational speaker!



3. If you would like to learn to understand yourself & others, this is a good book.



4. This book is absolutely amazing because it opens the door to dealing with any problem and also for opening the door into your own heart. I had the good fortune of attending a retreat with Raphael and he is so fantastic. He is just so genuine and authentic and his principles are so simple, yet so powerful.



5. First, let me say that I am biased. Raphael Cushnir reviewed my book, "Letters to My Friends: A No Guarantees Guide to Awakening." But I read his book before I asked him to review my book. And I asked him to review my book because I admired his book.
   
   I do not think I am at all like Raphael Cushnir. I am the sort of man who will read the middle of a book first, then the beginning, and then the end. Or sometimes I will read the end first. But what I found in "Setting Your Heart on Fire" was a deliberate and disciplined approach to freeing myself from my own negative attitudes.
   
   But do not misunderstand me; this is not another book about positive thinking. If anything it is a book about positive emotions. It is a book about being aware of yourself, so aware that your emotions and the thoughts that spring from them are witnessed by you as the observer of your own inner life.
   
   Self awareness is the beginning of inner peace. And I truly believe that anyone who reads and practices what Raphael presents in "Setting Your Heart on Fire" will make great strides toward that rarest of all states--being at home with yourself. Thank you, John C. Conley, author of "Letters to My Friends: A No Guarantees Guide to Awareness."

No comments about I, Raphael.

4 comments about Jewish Views of the Afterlife.

1. Most Jews are under the mistaken impression that Judaism does not believe in an afterlife. This is not so, and in fact Jewish texts preserve a rich tradition of how this concept has been understood and taught throughout Jewish history. This book is an excellent introduction and overview of how the afterlife is viewed in The Torah, The Talmud, the medieval works, the Midrash and the books of the Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). One of its special features is that many medieval Jewish texts are presented here for the first time in English!



2. The fate of the soul after death is the major focus of Simcha Paull Raphael's beautifully written tome. Culled from 4,000 year of classical Jewish source material it's topics include resurrection, Gan Eden and Gehenna, angels; the, history and tradition of the souls appearance and disappearance from the modern Jewish world, etc. You can start anywhere and skip about to your heart's content. Any good Jewish library is incomplete without it.



3. It is rare to find a scholarly book that is a pleasure to read. Simcha Paull Raphael's book is one of these gems. The scope of his knowledge is amazing, and his writing style is a breath of fresh air. The author explores the evolution of Jewish beliefs about life after death from biblical times to the present. This is, without doubt, the best introduction I have seen. It is must read for anyone interested in this topic.



4. This book far exceeded my expectations...it covers a huge amount of intellectual material, but remains easy to understand throughout. Though the author will resist the appellation, this is the "Jewish Book of the Dead" for english readers. Highly recommended and downright inspiring. Bravo.

5 comments about The Raphael Affair (Art History Mystery).

1. After reading "An Instance of a Fingerpost" I knew Pears was a very good writer, so I went for this first in a series. I was not disappointed.
   
   There are three elements of this novel I found strong. First, the three main characters. They are likeable with endearing foibles. Argyll is a loveable bumbling genius type; Flavia the beautiful, smart, action person who isn't quite as smart as she thinks she is; and the General, the affable smarter-than-he-looks detail man. I look forward to joining them in future escapades.

   Second, I found the mystery to be a good one. There were good twists and turns and the final twist was a dandy. There are no superheroes here which I think always enhances a mystery.

   Third, the cultural aspect. I enjoy a novel, whether a mystery or otherwise, that resides in an area of knowledge obviously known to the author but different from my experiences. It is obvious that Mr. Pears knows art and the art world (including the criminal aspects). He uses this expertise to enhance the plot and add depth to it without "showing off" and making the reader feel like a dunce.

   This was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery placed in the middle of the art world. I will continue on this series - joyfully.




2. I actually read Pears' Art History Mysteries out of sequence. But I find each of them beguiling and a quick read. This introduces the key characters, Jonathan Argyll, a tweady English Art Dealer and Flavia di Stefano of the Rome Art Theft Squad. There are few more charming pairings in recent mystery literature.
   
   I notice that many readers come to Pears via 'An Instance of the fingerpost' or his latest,'The Dream of Scipio' and are somewhat disappointed because of the lack of depth. I would suggest that like his countryman, Grahame Greene, Pears is fully capable of serious, thought-provoking novels; and yet harbors a great affection for genre novels - in this case mysteries.
   
   Pears' erudite depiction of the intricacies of art forgery are delivered with the kind of delicious drollery that makes an afternoon disappear quickly and magically if you leave your misconceptions behind. This is good beach or airplane reading and you won't feel disgusted afterward.



3. This book was disappointing. Although the art history and forgery in today's world are interesting and well written, the book lacks romance, and the characters are rather flat. It could have been so much better if Mr. Pears had expanded the romantic relationship of Johnathan and Flavia. The writing style seems dry and bland.



4. Details sets this book apart. Although far from a magnum opus, Pears manages to flesh out three well thought out central characters in a short space of pages. Their quirks and flaws are what make them likable, and the story evolves nicely through various European cities. Solid history gives the story a backbone, and Pears is obviously at home in the art worlds infrastructure and personality types. An ironic plot twist to end the book was the cherry on top of this tasty book.



5. I do not know what to call this book , because it is a novel and also part of history; but not quite either of them, there are parts full of detailed art history and other very much a novel. My mind had to be switching constantly between "I am reading a novel" and "I am reading a history book" There are parts where I believe could have been blended better. Sometimes I got lost where I was going or where I was coming from.
   A bit difficult to follow but at the end I could call it "interesting"

No comments about Vasari's Lives of the Artists: Giotto, Masaccio, Fra Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian.

3 comments about Civil Procedure (Hornbook Series).

1. This is another in the long line of hornbooks from West publishing. It is an excellent source to supplement and even embellish the law of Civil Procedure contained in whichever casebook you are using. Since most Civil Procedure courses are a year long, I would strongly recommend investing in this hornbook, it is very handy to have when outlining and preparing for finals.



2. This is the most helpful study aid available for Civil Procedure! The text is very easy to understand and it is orgainized to follow the progression of the law school course. The authors do an excellent job of explaining the development of personal jurisdiction and subject matter jurisdiction to the present day. It also does a fine job of explaining the federal rules (and includes an index of each FRCP and where it is cited).



3. The "book description" above belongs to a different book: this hornbook is not part of the "Black Letter Series," its author is not Professor Clermont, and it doesn't come with a handy computer disk.

   It is, however, an extremely helpful hornbook to have and use during your first-year course on Civil Procedure. If you're a One-L, buy this early and use it often; it'll go with pretty much whatever casebook you happen to be using (mine was Yeazell). It's extremely well-designed and its discussions are clear and sound.

   If you're looking around in order to decide whether you need a hornbook at all, the answer is: yes, you probably do. There may be students who can squeeze a profitable education out of the "casebook" approach, but I'm not one of them and you probably aren't either.

   During your first semester, it will be tempting to spend a lot of time briefing cases. Don't let me talk you out of doing so, or you'll be really mad at me the first time you get called on unprepared. But you'll probably be better off spending a little less time briefing and a little more time reading this hornbook first.

2 comments about A Teacher's Guide to Stick Up for Yourself: A 10-Part Course in Self-Esteem and Assertiveness for Kids : Every Kid's Guide to Personal Power and Positive Self-Esteem.

1. This is a great lesson to follow for a small group setting as well as whole class. The lessons allow for you to adapt them to your students and they are very easy to follow. They are also creative and give you ideas on what to say during each lesson. I would recommend this book if you are planning on doing a group on self-esteem and assertiveness.



2. I have spent alot of time searching for a book like this one. I am soooo glad I finally found it. I work with elementary and middle school kids as a mental health counselor and have found these exercises to be the best in allowing kids to discover their own potential. It is a VERY effective book and well worth the money for families, teachers, counselors, and psychologists doing group work. I actually plan on using it for my own kids too.........great tool !

No comments about Supervision in the Hospitality Industry.

2 comments about Saving Bernice: Battered Women, Welfare, and Poverty.

1. Having counselled many women through the trauma of domestic violence, the story of Bernice is one that I have heard in reality many times over. Domestic violence is about the abuser's need for power and control. Until that control is taken away, the abuser will continue to abuse regardless of how many loving promises are made. With all the support programs in place in today, there is still a stigma attached to women and their children receiving social assistance. Finding a place to rent, finding employment, transpsortation, adequate daycare, and living in constant fear of the abuser are major challenges.

   "Saving Bernice" is an inside look at the terror, hopelessness, emotional and physical pain encountered by an abused woman - and the will to survive. It is an indication that even with the social programs and justice system we have in place - there needs to be change. Women are still being abused, children are still being raised in poverty, and society has not adequately addressed the needs of these individuals. The book is informative, controversial and well worth reading.




2. It is a great written case study, plus background and analysis of the social problem. It is an easy read on a really hard topic. Contains some horrific accounts. Worth reading to understand certain dynamics, and open up eyes to the world around us.