5 comments about God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible (P.S.).

1. 
   
   I have sometimes thought that the best way to learn history is not to read a textbook or historical synthesis, but to read about one event, one person, or one cultural artifact. In order to understand the significance of any historical particularity, we must understand the surrounding context. But if we wish to understand the context, we can grasp it through that particularity.The philosophical remarks are necessary, as it is that idea-that we can begin to understand the dynamics of a culture through a particular event-that undergirds Adam Nicolson's methodology in God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible
   
   After all, God's Secretaries is not only about the King James Bible: it is about England and its transition from Elizabeth to James. With tensions increasing between the newly formed Church of England and the Puritans, James saw the creation of a new Bible, a Bible for all of England, as essential to keeping the country together. In order to do so, he commissioned this new translation to be a moderate translation, one that would marginalize the anti-hierarchical translations of the popular Puritan Geneva Bible, which he saw as a threat to his own rule.
   
   God's Secretaries is the story of the men and the events that shaped that translation.
   
   The end result of their efforts, argues Nicolson, is a Bible that reflects the moderate inclusiveness of the King James court : "[The King James Bible] does not choose. It absorbs and includes. It is in that sense catholic, as Jacobean Englishmen consistently called their church: not Roman but catholic, embracing all."
   
   Nicolson does not limit his analysis to the abstract generalizations. At points, he reads the text of the King James Bible extremely close, comparing it to previous and later translations. In his discussion of Mark 14:4, where (as the KJV puts it) Judas asks, "Why was this waste of the ointment made?," Nicolson concludes: "In this sentence, one can see the extraordinary phenomenon of the King James Bible conforming both to Protestant and pre-Protestant ideas about the nature of Christianity. It is both clear and rich. It both makes an exact and almost literal translation of the original and infuses that translation with a sense of beauty and ceremony. It has that peculiarly Jacobean combination of light and richnesss, the huge windows illuminating the densely decorated room, the unfamiliar amalgam of the court-Puritan, both strict and grand...It doesn't choose between the clear and the rich but makes its elucidation into a kind of richness."
   
   As much could be said of Nicolson's prose. As might be expected from someone steeped in the language of the King James Bible, Nicolson is very aware of language-including his own. In comparing the King James Bible to the recent New English Bible, Nicolson concludes that the New English Bible is "a descent to dreariness, to a level of banality below Tyndale's...The language of the King James Bible is the language of Hatfield, of patriarcy, of an instructed order, of richness as a form of beauty, of authority as a form of good; the New English Bible is motivated by the opposite, an anxiety not to bore or intimidate. It is driven, in other words, by a desire to please and, in that way, is a form of language which has died." Nicolson's own prose, however, avoids the pretentiousness of someone who is self-consciously trying to resurrect the English tongue. His musical and poetic style flows too freely to be intentional.
   
   God's Secretaries is valuable not only as a window into the England of King James, though it is an excellent window. It contains a rich analysis of the King James Bible and an fascinating recounting of the men and events that shaped the translation. Nicolson's work contains illuminating comparisons of our own era and language to the era of the King James Bible, comparisons that are as thoughtful as they are wistful.
   
   Through it all, Nicolson is engaging without being trivial and erudite without being obscure, which makes God's Secretaries a must read for anyone interested in history.



2. The King James version of the Bible is a classic piece of literature in its own right. The fact that the work was undertaken by a committee in the 17th century makes the achievement even more remarkable.
   
   King James commissioned this version of the Bible as a unifying force. It was intended to be the official Bible of England. To do this, King James assembled a group of more than 50 translators including members from both the established Church of England and the more moderate amongst the puritans.
   
   This book is the story of how the committee worked together to deliver a translation of the Bible which many of us consider to be a beautiful piece of literature in its own right.
   
   Mr Nicolson's book is informative, enjoyable and well-written. The book provides considerable insight into both the politics of religion in Jacobean England and the personal reign of James I and VI himself. While King James's unifying objectives for the project were not met, the King James Bible itself endures as one of the most beautiful pieces of English literature.
   
   This is a book well worth reading for anyone who wonders how the King James Bible came into being. It is also, for those so inclined, a fine example of how a committee can actually work collaboratively to achieve something of lasting value.
   
   Jennifer Cameron-Smith



3. This account of the preparation of the King James Bible provides useful historical background. However, it is a bit disappointing in that it devotes more attention to the politics and personal lives of the translators than to issues of meaning and theology.



4. Those who love the Bible will find in this a fascinating account of how the KJV came to be put together in an England torn by religious strife, a country where those who didn't follow the Church of England were actually being executed (hence the Puritans fleeing to America). James formed committees, each with representatives from different religious groups, and put each in charge of correctly translating from the Hebrew and Greek portions of the Scriptures. These committees then had to review each other's translations. The wonderful result is that those disparate members of a particular committee had to agree on the translation. Therefore the translations are rich with meaning. The problem with later translations and updates is that the meanings are flattened and exclude the fuller import of the Word. For example, if "temple" is translated as "tent," certainly one of the meanings of that word, we lose the greater significance of its many other meanings; if the last verse of Psalm 23 is translated as "I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long" (The New English Bible), it loses the significance of "forever" (KJV).



5. The only good thing about this book is that it will make you fall asleep. Highly recommended to insomniacs! I was expecting to learn about the making of the King James Bible and instead got lost in the irrelevant and superfluous material. The appendices are much more insightful and provide more information than the book itself.

5 comments about The Best of Doreen Virtue 4-CD.

1. You will discover so many good things you did not know you had abilities to reach. By looking at her photo I had imagined Doreen to have a cute little voice, but it turns out her voice is very grown-up and tenor. The kind of voice you feel comfortable following into the world away from this world.



2. I bought this set a couple of months ago and I have listened to all 4 CDs.
   Every CD places something good back into your life by reviewing past lives, breaking neg patterns, or visualizing what you want. Doreens voice is very soothing and calming. While I have had issues in the past with going into a hypnotic state with guided meditations, Doreens voice set my mind at ease. I don't believe anyone who chooses to buy this set will be disappointed.



3. All of Doreen Virtue's books, angel deck cards & cd's are outstanding. These cd's are a great introduction to the Angel world. Doreen is by far the expert & wonderful guide to helping you understand and utilize God's wonderful gift of the Angels.



4. I love this collection of CD's. I have had them for a couple of months and listen to them on a regular basis. This is the first time I have purchased anything other than a book by Doreen Virtue and I love it. Doreen's voice is so soothing.



5. The service was very professional and I received the product in great shape and right on time. I was very satisfied!

5 comments about My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond.

1. I found Ms. Wright's book to be very insightful into the life of the Beale's. Though at time the book tended to trail off a bit, but it does run more of a diary of sorts then a novel, but still a great read for anyone in interested in Grey Gardens.



2. I have to give this book three stars just because the writer shared her experiences with the public. But considering, as she tells us, that she ended up taking two of the many ghosts in the Grey Gardens house with her when she was packing to return to her home...Well, you don't get a lot of objective observation. You don't get much extra insight about Grey Gardens. What she writes about is pretty much what you already saw in the film "Grey Gardens." I hoped to learn more about the rooms and what happened to all the furniture. She treats her stay there as just another day in the life of and with no one in particular. REAL disappointment.



3. Jackie O's aunt and cousin lived in a Munster-type mansion in East Hampton. Edith Bouvier Beale (or 'Big Edie') was the sister of Black Jack Bouvier. Edie had a daughter, 'Little Edie', and both lived in harmony and dis-harmony in the ramshackle old house. Author Lois Wright, artist of questionable talent and palm reader, lived with the ladies for 13 months. The book is based on Wright's journal, which she kept during the 1970's. Big Edie, who was bedridden upstairs, had cats and the cats had fleas. Wright described the agony of the fleas, as well as raccoons climbing out of the ceiling (which Little Edie fed daily) and rats that jumped on the author and Little Edie on occasion. Wright wore boots and a hat 24/7 to ward off most of the critters. Newspapers were placed on beds, on floors, even in the Edies bathtub for the cats. Nevertheless, they were allowed to "go" where they pleased. If a cat or kitten died, Big Edie kept it on her bed for a couple of days, covered with a Kleenex. Contrary to past publicity, Jackie O and Ari stepped in and helped her relatives - Ari sending gifts, Jackie paying bills. The eccentricities of the three ladies are well worth reading about in this mesmerizing page-turner (Wright seemed a bit 'off' herself.) Just to let you be aware that there are DVDs available about Grey Gardens, starring the Beales, that are excellent. It brings Ms. Wright's pages to life, which completes their picture.



4. An interesting remembrance of months living at Grey Gardens by an offbeat friend of the Beales. Would be helpful to have read, which I have, or viewed the DVD Grey Gardens before reading this book. An interesting view of these most unusual mother and daughter combination.



5. Having been a fan of the play and documentary I found this book to be very revealing and touching at the same time.

5 comments about Hard Call: The Art of Great Decisions.

1. "I cannot offer a several-step, how-to-make-a-great-decision plan for beginners," Senator John McCain writes in the introduction to his latest book, admitting that he would be hard-pressed to describe how he comes to his own decisions. But he finds enough examples in others to present an inspirational collection.
   
   With HARD CALL, McCain and Mark Salter stake their claim as authors of the 21st-century version of John F. Kennedy's PROFILES IN COURAGE. They offer 20 courageous men and women who made a difference in the world, either by their actions or their philosophies.
   
   McCain, a former POW during the Vietnam War, is a credible participant in this project. He understands where many of these people are coming from. The authors divide the "profiles" into six general categories --- awareness, foresight, timing, confidence, humility and inspiration --- but these qualities seem interchangeable. Each subject is admirable, though some seem more "risk-taking" than others. Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat are hailed under "Timing" for brokering peace between Israel and Egypt, but the story could just as easily be played into "Foresight."
   
   The selection chosen to lead off the book is startling, relatively speaking, as it focuses on Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey as they collaborated to break organized baseball's odious color line. (In a later chapter, President Harry S. Truman is similarly hailed for his decision to integrate the U.S. armed forces.) The pioneering ballplayer took the challenge at great personal risk, not only for himself, but for the entire African-American community.
   
   Despite its sociological implications, such an accomplishment might seem low on the scale of globe-altering events faced by Winston Churchill, General Douglas McArthur, or the aforementioned Begin and Sadat. Then again, some readers might also raise an eyebrow over the inclusion of Alexander Graham Bell, who changed the way we communicate; King Camp Gillette, who revolutionized men's grooming; and William McPherson Allen, founder of Boeing Airlines, another forward thinker. Their achievements might be taken for granted, but would we recognize a world without their contributions?
   
   Some of the subjects are household names, recognized as leaders in their fields. Others might be less well known, but their contributions are no less important, such as Gertrude Caroline Ederle, who, like Robinson, broke the barrier that precluded women from competing in sports; and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, an African American who became enmeshed in the battle against the repressive Liberian leader Samuel K. Doe.
   
   McCain also pays respects to the likes of Gerald R. Ford, for his decision to pardon Richard Nixon; Alexander Solzhenitsyn, for bringing attention to the plight of Russian dissidents; and Robert Gould Shaw, who created the Second Massachusetts Regiment, the first all-black fighting unit in the Civil War.
   
   --- Reviewed by Ron Kaplan



2. If you are looking for insights into John McCains political leanings then you will have to look elsewhere.
   
   If on the other hand you are looking for insight into his thought processes this is a solid read. McCain has had to make hard calls in his life, and his book emphasizes what can be learned from others who have been called upon to make hard choices.
   
   You will find Hard Call divided into Six Major theme sections.
   
   1. Awareness
   2. Foresight
   3. Timing
   4. Confidence
   5. Humility
   6. Inspiration
   
   Rather than giving you his version of the story in each lesson, McCain and co-author Mark Salter let you the reader come to your own conclusion.
   
   It is a book that on first impression may seem a little thin, but in the days following you will find much to think about and reflect upon.
   
   Cheers!



3. As a big fan of John McCain and one who purchased several copies (signed in person by Senator McCain) of his book, "Character Is Destiny", I took this book home and could not wait to open its covers and delve into another fine McCain piece. I was so disappointed. I closed the covers of the book and doubt I will struggle with it again anytime soon. I found the writing boring and repetitive. The characters do not come through as fully developed. It seems that it takes paragraphs to make the point that could be made with one or two well crafted sentences. The characters are not fully developed; they all seem similar as viewed through the two authors' lenses.
   
   What bothered me most about this book is that each individual depicted in the book is written about in the same, clinical and wordy style. I also found the approach of dissecting each depicted individual's decision process by trying to isolate and examine only one dimension of the decision process - "Awareness" for example - to be a limiting approach in helping the reader try to understand the dimensions of the decision process as it applies to decision-making with much at risk.
   
   Frankly, I found this book boring, in my opinion.



4. Who else but the ageing Michael Caine should play John McCain in the movie he's continuously making of his life? And the aspiring Commander in Chief shows every sign of a strong desire to take us all to Afghanistan and beyond, namely to Iran.
   
   Let me say quickly that I enjoyed the narrative chapters of this book. Mark Salter writes good, straightforward action prose. Who wouldn't enjoy reading about the high points in the lives of people like Neil Armstrong, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Robert Gould Shaw? But the sermons at the head of each section, on Awareness, Foresight, Timing, Confidence, etc. - whether McCain wrote any of them or merely sketched the notions for Salter to full in - reminded me way too much of Polonius's advice to his son in Hamlet, that is "full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse." I was also mildly disgusted by McCain's gratuitous attempts to link himself to the heroism of his various subjects. For example, you can be sure that when Neil sets foot on the moon, John will remind us that he was a prisoner of war at the time. The result is that despite all, this comes across as a campaign biography, and a sequel at that, to JFK's Profiles in Courage.
   
   Does it tell us something we need to know about Senator John McCain, the Republican candidate for President? I think it does. He's a man of little modesty, a man who respects inflexibility much more than the ability to adjust and evolve. Shakespeare wrote in Twelfth Night: "Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." McCain writes about his heroes as if they were all born with the virtues he values. Obviously most of us are hoping for a President of the second sort, someone who can achieve greatness. But John McCain seems by his own writing to be the third sort, a fairly ordinary earnest guy who has had prominence thrust upon him.



5. Bernie's review is great and I have voted for it. I am going to stop buying formula books that combine a politician's name with a staffer's library browsing. I was especially distressed to not find the world "intelligence" or its commercial equivalent, decision-support. There is nothing wrong with the content, but as someone who writes and reads broadly about intelligence and decision support under conditions of ambiguity, this book could not hold my attention. The small volume by David Boren, A Letter to America was for me much more satisfying.
   
   Ten other books I recommend:
   Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming
   The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All
   The World Cafe: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations That Matter
   The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the World
   Society's Breakthrough!: Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People
   Group Genius: The Creative Power of Collaboration
   The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits (Wharton School Publishing Paperbacks)
   Collective Intelligence: Mankind's Emerging World in Cyberspace
   Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace

5 comments about Obama: From Promise to Power.

1. Mendell is a long-time political reporter for the Chicago Tribune, and has been covering Obama since he first ran for the Illinois State Senate. Before I tell you what I cleaned from the book, I'm going to give a quote from Mendell:
   
   "What the public has yet to see clearly is his hidden side: his imperious, mercurial, self-righteous and sometimes prickly nature, each quality exacerbated by the enormous career pressures he has inflicted upon himself. He can be cold and short with reporters who he believes have given him unfair coverage. He is an extraordinarily ambitious, competitive man with ... a career reach that seems to have no bounds. He is, in fact, a many of raw ambition so powerful that even his is still coming to terms with its full force."
   
   Beyond Mendell's observations about Obama itself, are his observations about Obama's luck, for the most part, in two ways: his political timing (except for challenging Bobby Rush) and his political handlers, above all David Axelrod.
   
   Beyond that, here's some specific takes from Mendell:
   
   First, Obama's sometime lack of specificity on policy issues is nothing new.
   
   Second, Obama's attendance at a Chicago antiwar rally, according to Mendell, while it had a degree of idealism behind it, also had a degree of political calculation involved.
   
   Third, Obama did pass some bills in his last term in the Illinois Senate to bolster his U.S. Senate campaign. Specifically, despite his strong stance on gun controls, he sponsored a bill to let retired cops have concealed carry. Why? To get the endorsement of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, which he did.
   
   Add it all up, and I see a Barack Obama of dichotomy. From his family background, international experiences and more, a person of more idealism than many politicians, even with some tempering. At the same time, as Mendell describes, he's a politician who can fight tough, and will.
   
   The dichotomy? The two sides don't seem to converse with each other a lot, at least in Mendell's observation, which I think exacerbates the thin-skinnedness.
   
   Finally, if you're going to compare Obama to a Kennedy, it's Bobby, not Jack. The image of Bobby's 1968 trip to South Africa turned on the light bulb for me. Same amount of Senate experience at the time of campaigning for president. Same dichotomous mix, or non-mixing, of idealism and bare-knuckle politics. Same drivenness -- Bobby had that same type of charismatic energy in a way Jack didn't.



2. I voted for Nader in 2000 and Kerry in 2004. I'm a registered Democrat who did not vote in the primary in my state.
   When I first saw that the book's cover(jacket sleeve) describes Obama as a superstar I was irritated. But then I read a book review which said Mendell did not particularly like Obama but the book review praised the book. I then read the book.
   The book is well written and held my interest. I was impressed with a description of Obama transitioning from a highly intellectualized politician to one who's conventionally appealing, especially to the
   African American voter. I had thought that Obama was a lightweight who
   was not really electable. This book changed my mind about Obama.
   I am not sure I completely understand how anyone could possibly think that this is a negative portrait of Obama. I think Mendell looked at Obama with a skeptical eye. As is typical of political reporters. Mendell is rather cynical about politics. Yet I got the feeling that Mendell was
   basically won over, if viewing Obama as lucky.
   This luckiness occured during Obama's magical Senate race, which was helped not only by the self destruction of his main primary opponent as well as his original Republican opponent both by marital scandals,but also his charismatic keynote convention speech. The best part of the book describes what occured in 2004, and it takes up almost half of the book.
   I think the portrait of Obama is of a formidable presence who lost his naivete but not his moral principles as he became more successful. There is no doubt that Obama is extremely intelligent. Mendell's cynicism may put something of a damper on any "irrational exhuberance" that a supporter might feel. I have no doubt it is an accurate portrait.



3. This book is so real and authentic and reiterated my belief and support in a politician who isn't typical. This book explains who Obama is, flaws and all, and I have grown to respect this man that much more. He truly is the real deal. A politician and leader like no other.



4. A good read, and useful supplement to Obama's own writings, fleshing out some of his background and how he developed his character over the years.



5. As an Obama supporter, I was interested in finding out more about "what makes him tick". I read some of both of Obama's own books, but the perspective of a third party has always appealed to me. I found this book to be well written and easy to read. I look forward to the author's new book on Obama coming out soon, in which I hope he'll pick up where he left off.

5 comments about Seven Years in Tibet.

1. I enjoyed reading about the author's travels over the mountains and the challenges along the way. Then, upon finally reaching Tibet it was intersting to read about life there. However, after awhile I left like I was reading the book for 7 years as the book started to drag on.



2. I'm about half way through this book and I am amazed! I've not seen the movie yet so I really didn't know what the book was going to be about. What brave men these were! It's like a diary into these mens lives for a short time when the whole world was in turmoil. Definately read this book!



3. Before I start the review, let me point out, that Heinrich Harrer was a Nazi and did leave his wife behind to go mountain climbing in Asia. Now that is dealt with, this book focuses on Tibet. From when he escaped the English to when he fled Chinese invasion he tells a tale of surviving in a strange land, a strange culture and a strange language. His book is about Tibet, the people, places and life. About the brief period of time before the land of Lamaism was turned into just a part of China.



4. Adventurous, curious. The books reads like a biography, a travel book, a cultural study. Little by little, slowly, the culture of the distant mountains seeps into the reader's mind to open a welcome window on spirituality.



5. Don't let the fact that Seven Years in Tibet has been made into a movie stop you from picking up a copy of Heinrich Harrer's classic, real-life adventure. Whatever the movie's merits, or lack thereof, by most accounts the original story--the book--remains the best-told version of an incredible journey. Originally published in German in 1953, Harrer's Tibetan travelogue did not appear in English until the 1980s or become widely read until the 1990s. Harrer's tale provides the amazing details of his escapes, survival, evasion, and physical challenge. Beyond the reward of finally arriving in Tibet, Harrer experiences the greater victory of actually creating an enjoyable life for himself in Lhasa and eventually serving the Dalai Lama himself.
   
   Born in Carinthia, Austria, Harrer spent his youth skiing and hiking in the alps. In 1936, the author secured a place on the Austrian Olympic Ski Team and became the winner of the World Students' Championship Downhill race. Reluctant to make ski movies as a follow-up career, Harrer strove to win a place on a Himalayan climbing expedition. In 1943, the author was invited to join a German-Austrian team on the Nanga Parbat Expedition, which was led by Peter Aufschnaiter. After this second thrill of a lifetime, the young mountaineer found himself facing yet another unusual life challenge. After the expedition, while waiting in Karachi, India (which was then British territory) for return transportation to the West, World War II broke out. The climbers were arrested and taken to an internment camp at Dehra Dun, near the border of Tibet.
   After two years and two failed attempts, Harrer and Aufschnaiter finally succeeded in escaping. Their subsequent struggle to reach Tibet, and eventually Lhasa, required them to draw on every skill they knew as mountaineers and athletes, as well as their college educations and general handy man know-how. They faced obstacles and dangers--rugged terrain, the altitude, winter weather, diminishing supplies, lack of funds, injury, roving bands of thieves, and the hazards of traveling without documentation--that only the truly determined could overcome.
   As though a gift to reward their efforts, when the two men finally did reach the "forbidden city" of Lhasa in January of 1946, after nearly two years enroute, they were not turned away. In their isolation from the rest of the world, the Tibetans were just as curious about these two Europeans as Harrer and Aufschnaiter were about the citizens on "the rooftop of the world." In addition, the Tibetans in and around Lhasa assumed that any foreigner who had made it this far must posses proper paperwork. Once in Lhasa, the Tibetans actually found it quite amusing that these two men had managed to make it into the mystical city without passes. It was truly a feat, considering the measures Tibet's leaders undertook to keep out foreigners--in fact, Harrer notes that he met no more than seven other foreigners during his five years in Lhasa.
   While the first half of the book deals with the two mountaineers' struggles to reach the holy city, the second half of the book concerns the fascinating details of how Harrer and Aufschnaiter managed to ingratiate themselves with the locals, eventually becoming respected members of the community. Harrer presents his understanding of Tibetan daily life, culture, and society, and details how he established himself as a citizen. Harrer finds his first job when he builds a fountain in a friend's yard--which leads to more work as a landscape architect. He is commissioned to conduct a geographical survey, and later to construct a dam. He even serves as an ice skating instructor to the locals. Eventually his work leads the Dalai Lama's family to befriend him. As a result, he becomes a tutor to the young holy man. One of the more interesting duties he had was to make films of various ceremonies and festivals for His Holiness, and he is even asked to construct for him what might be the first home cinema. He managed to take advantage of his status as royal film maker and shoot his own photos whenever possible. They must be invaluable today!
   For many readers, the most valuable part of this book is that which concerns Harrer's interactions with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and his resulting observations. As an outsider and non-Buddhist, Harrer reports that the Dalai Lama was impressively intellectually curious and intelligent, hard working and full of initiative. Despite his youth, the boy king had already established a highly developed sense of diplomacy and vision for his country. As he helped this famous young man learn as much as possible about the wide world beyond, Harrer laments that Tibet's desire to remain neutral in world affairs and her resulting political isolation made her an easy target. If only this boy had had a chance to rule, he notes, Tibet may have met with a different fate.
   Unfortunately, both Harrer and the His Holiness' good intentions were foiled in 1950, when the country was invaded. Harrer knew his time had come to leave his adopted country, but he has remained a life-long champion for his beloved second home.
   Few places on earth conjure up as many images of tantalizing mystery as Tibet. Fortunately, Seven Years in Tibet offers us a unique glimpse, from a what is truly an insider's view, into the untouched culture of Tibet. Harrer's book is often regarded as the best account of the "real" Tibet, as it once was, and as many hope it will some day return.

5 comments about Don't Kiss Them Good-bye.

1. I bought this book because I have a niece who has an extraordinary insight into the paranormal. It was very helpful in being able to understand what she deals with.



2. This book does have summaries of her cases and some examples. I just feel that the book jumps around and the book doesn't flow very well. I found quite a few grammar errors. It seems almost like you're reading a journal or having a conversation with her. So it's ok in that aspect. I guess I was expecting more details of the other side. For instance, how the spirits get there? What do they do all day? Does Mrs. Dubois believe in reincarnation like other mediums? Etc.



3. Don't Kiss Them Good-bye
   In this book Allison DuBois is laying out her experiences (growing up and as an adult), convincing readers that life after death consciousness is real. By bringing contact to the present with the deceased, she helps reduce the pain that deceased loved ones often feel. She bears a responsilbity for her work and insight far beyond the realm of the norm. I found it "to good to put down" and know that others will feel the same.



4. Allison DuBois is a down-to-earth psychic! The speptics will dismiss her book and her abilities, as they will dismiss anything that contradicts their own opinions-as-law.
   
   If you are looking for sensationalism, you must look elsewhere. The author presents her experiences and abilities without in-depth scientific explanations. She offers none, quite simply because she is who she is and does what she does. It is as natural to her as breathing.
   
   If you are a skeptic, pass this book over because Allison DuBois' easy-going presentation will enrage you. If you have an opened mind, this volume will convince you that there is something more after this life. If you already believe, prepare to have your spirit renewed by a sincere and wonderful author.



5. Don't Kiss Them Good-bye
   Allison has a gift from God. I only wish that I could open up my mind enough to communicate with my loved ones.

5 comments about Can't You Get Along With Anyone?: A Writer's Memoir and a Tale of a Lost Surfer's Paradise.

1. I have read all three of Allan Weisbecker's books (my copy on In Search of Captain Zero is falling apart), and coincidentally ended up finishing Can't You Get Along With Anyone while in Costa Rica. While this isn't the first time I have heard of issues involving squatters, it was interesting to read about the Max Dalton investigation in depth.
   
   On a separate note, while the book can be a difficult read at times if you're not used to Weisbecker's liberal use of footnotes, as the audience, it is extremely easy to connect to him not as the distant author, but as a human being (and upon reading other reviews, find it hard to believe that many other people would not resort to the same obsession over a significant other's constant indiscretions - to put it lightly). It also says much for his credibility that he continues to name names and post ample evidence on the book's website...some fascinating reading I would recommend once you've finished the book.



2. I really enjoyed the other 2 Weisbecker books but this one was a jumble of cry-baby paranoia.



3. Last year around this time, Kurt Vonnegut died, and I found myself lamenting the loss of yet another of my authorial heroes. (Can you imagine the war stories Vonnegut, Heller and Mailer must be swapping at the post-mortem bar?). I asked myself where their particular brand of balls-to-the-wall insight and reverence for the absurdity of humankind had gone. Then I read CYGAWA. And I figured it out. It just went surfing in Costa Rica.
   
   This book haunts me. Having read it a few months ago, and being unable to shake its emotional impact, I visited this Amazon page to see what other people thought, based on the reader reviews.
   
   112 reviews, all but 4 being being 5-star raves (the few 4 starred ones SOUND like 5 stars).
   
   I agree with the raves. Completely. And then some. I tried to figure out what was going on with the 4 people who gave CYGAWA one or two stars, and whose opinion of the book was overtly hostile. Like the review just preceding this one: sue c headlines her review "horrible" and brands Weisbecker's masterpiece as a "jumble of cry-baby paranoia."
   
   I asked myself, What is with this woman? What realm of reality is she living in? Then it hit me.
   
   Consider: A major storyline in CYGAWA is the "outing" of a sociopath. Research studies have shown that 1 in 25 people are sociopaths (how's that for a scary thought). 1 in 25. Four percent.
   
   Out of 112 reviews, 4 people HATED the book. Almost exactly the same percentage as the percentage of sociopaths in the general population.
   
   This could explain sue c and the other three hostile reviewers' attitudes. As Weisbecker points out, a sociopath's worst nightmare is being exposed. Hence sue c's and the others' outrage at the outing of one of their kind.
   
   The point of this review: CYGAWA is a great read...unless you're a sociopath.



4. I love Allan Weisbecker. He's a space case in the very best way. He's like some kind of agoraphobic who's addicted to public places. I read this book a few months back and found it one of the most brilliantly entertaining and irritating books of my life. I worried for this guy all through it, even though the existence of the book proved he'd survived the pyschophysical ordeals he was describing. I also found large wads of my own life and psyche embedded in his tale, because Allan's apparent goal is a supreme self-transparency -- so supreme that I often found myself looking right through him at myself. You're weird and brilliant AW, like so many ... but different. Go well & keep sliding!



5. Weisbecker's previous book Captain Zero was not a happy tale as the author comes to terms with his former best friend's crack addiction, but there was humor and many wild moments as the author describes past and present misadventures... This book (CYGAWA) has a much more negative vibe overall and goes much deeper into the human condition and the all too real horrors of human relations, be they sex or surf or economic based, or a mix of those elements.
   
   This overriding negative vibe doesn't mean this book isn't good; it is. Weisbecker is a terrific writer: he has the cynical, aging-yet-sharp surfer's voice down pat. The story here is character driven and the people and their motives are well-described, and sometimes scary despite their veneer of normalcy... liars, murderers, fools, thieves, and even the author himself... but as it goes on from the author's difficulties working with others on a Hollywood screenplay to his difficulties living with those at the so-called end of the road, I found it was just going on too long. Ironic because Weisbecker goes on at length about his distaste for his editor's desire to limit pages, but the redundancy of various scenes and moods here, even the redundancy of certain words and phrases, and the inclusion of several long sections regarding land wars, made me wonder why this wasn't cut down... in fact, there are several times when Weisbecker suggests the reader skip ahead, so I did... but despite that long downward dip in the middle there were some big and ironic payoffs at the end which made sticking with it worthwhile. Recommended.

5 comments about God's Generals: Why They Succeeded and Why Some Failed.

1. This has been a truly awe insiring book to read. To see that God moves today as He did in the first century is so wonderful. It gives me strenght and courage to seek, with a renewed fire, the One who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This book also shows that God is no respecter of persons when it comes to those He calls to work through. The author is very good at keeping an open mind about all the different things he researched.
   Making clear that he was not judging anyone, he did stop a few times to interject Biblical truths so that we may understand why certain things happened as they did. In doing this I believe the author is showing the readers what patterns to be watchful for and what pitfalls to avoid while walking in their own calling.
   It is also shown throughout the book that, no matter what your upbringing was or what your background is, God can use anyone who is willing to accapt their calling. It is also evident that if one who is willing to accept their call wants to finish the race strong it is their responsibility to maintain a balance in the spiritual, emotional, and physical being.



2. Here they are. The 20th century legends of Christianity. One of them, Wigglesworth, has been the target of numerous writers. Why are we so fascinated with these people? Because they are heroes, every one. They had the courage to step out of the boat and walk on that H20. They were God's Generals!
   
   Perfect people? No! They made mistakes. Some of them sank into the waters. But each and every one of them loved God and dared walk in the supernatural. Signs, miracles and wonders followed them wherever they went. They won multitudes to Christ, healed the masses and brought God's good news of deliverance to their generations. They were flawed, some had serious problems. But they didn't let that stop them. They were serving a mighty God!
   
   If you want to get inside the minds and hearts of some heroes, read this book. Mark it up, highlight the key principles. Heed the warnings. And follow in the footsteps of these faith giants. Their successes inspired me to produce the Super Heart Living film series. And their walks will inspire YOU to do great things.
   
   Want to know their SECRETS? How they were able to heal the sick, raise the dead and persuade thousands to follow Jesus Christ? It's all in the pages of this one powerful book. Right there for your learning. Dive into each chapter and listen to these great men and women whisper "Follow me as I follow Christ!"
   
   You'll love Dowie's boldness in the heat of opposition. Wigglesworth's daring in the face of dreaded diseases. And McPherson's great love of the crowds and desire to entertain them with God's Word! God's Generals is moving, insightful and life-changing. I dare you to study these lives and develop their SUPER HEARTS!



3. I Have two things to say about the purchase of this book: First, that it was delivered to my house in a timely fashion and in perfect condition. Secondly, the book itself is a wonderful look into God's hand on people's life in history. The Bible says that God created each and every one of us with a purpose. Sometimes, that purpose is to live a quiet life of ministry and love. Sometimes God uses us for extraordinary purposes. This book is an encouragement to all people that God can do anything, no matter who you are, if you put your trust in Him.



4. A balanced, thoughtful, entertaining and useful look at some of God's major powerplayers over the past 100 years or so. Concerning the likes of Kuhlman, Wigglesworth and Branham, most writers either choose to vilify them or worship them. Author Roberts Liardon chooses a more accurate middle road that exemplifies a love for the truth combined with his own helpful Pentecostal insights.
   
   This is a VERY interesting read that Spirit-filled Christians particularly will find both fascinating and useful. Useful because there is much to be learned from the successes and failures of these saints -- much that can be applied to our own lives.



5. God's General's is one of the most inspirational books that I can remember reading. In addition, it gives the history of some of the most powerful men and women of God since New Testament times. This book is a must read!

5 comments about How to Be Like Women of Influence: Life Lessons from 20 of the Greatest.

1. My life was in shambles. I had no direction and I was definately no women of influece. One day I stumbled upon one of Pat Williams great pieces of literature, how to be like women of influence. It changed my life.



2. The book spine is cheap and separates some from the pages (without the pages falling out) - the physical quality of the book isn't among the best in the bookstore, but what's inside was surprisingly great--much better than I could have expected from the outside. Even if you know the stories of these women already, it's still great reading!, which amazed me.



3. I really enjoyed reading the book and not only were the stories very interesting but also very inspirational. I got a chance to meet the actual writer Michael Mink and I greatly enjoyed his view of the ladies he wrote about and some of the behind the story of writing the book. I encourage everone to read this book



4. I have gleaned much inspiration and insight from this priceless repository of equally priceless experiences and wisdom of all the women described in this book. After surviving a stroke and brain surgery in the midst of having and rearing my 3 still young children while maintaining pursuit of my career goals, this book further reinforces a truth that has fueled my perseverance during these tempestuous years of my youth: "Impossible is Nothing!" (Quote by the Great Muhammad Ali)
   Also recommended: Faith In The Valley - Iyanla Vanzant



5. I enjoyed Pat Williams' HOW TO BE LIKE WALT DISNEY so much, that I jumped to this book HOW TO BE LIKE WOMEN OF INFLUENCE next. I really like his style of presenting the woman, the facts...and then following through with how to take that story and make it a lesson for us all to gain knowledge and insight...so compelling, it's as if it were our own experience. Bravo!!