5 comments about A Calendar of Wisdom: Daily Thoughts to Nourish the Soul, Written and Selected from the World's Sacred Texts.

1. What a lovely book!! Well we read tons of heavy duty philosophical books. The problems is to really connect with them and contemplate upon them and evolve spiritually. Which seldom happens once we are over the thrill of its truths. We just forget them. What we really need are small, simple, powerful truths, periodically, which we can read, remember, contemplate and assimilate to make it our own nature. Especially when the same truths are vouched by different philosophers and religions. Indeed a great collection by the maestro, Tolstoy. For everyday of the year. Until wisdom indeed becomes our nature.
   
   This is a book you want on the morning coffee table. To begin the day.



2. Of all the books I've owned, this is becoming my most loved. It's meant to be used on a daily basis (one page per day, with several related ideas), over & over again, year after year. Tolstoy gathered quotes & insights from a wide range of wise people, including himself. If you take the time to really think about each day's ideas, you'll be enriching your life till the day you die. I leave it open (with a rubber band) to make it easier to catch each day's wisdom. It's a simple book, but in no way shallow or cutesy. Buy a copy for everyone you love that you think will use it.



3. I have enjoyed reading this book and how it is organized. The ideas expressed are thought provoking, insigthful, and powerful even if I don't agree with some of them. Am on my second reading of this book. Service was great and recieved the book well ahead of deadlines.
   
   debby



4. Another collection of wisdom from the great minds, reminds me of Meditations, Enchiridion, Worldly Wisdom, etc.



5. Tolstoy died a very humble man, but he gave of himself greatly in the creation of this book.
   
   I often give this book as a gift to those who really want to live their lives, not just survive, not just to exist, but to really live.
   
   This book is written for the person who wants to live their life in the best way possible.
   
   It is not for the faint of heart, it is for those who have a heart or a great desire to develop one.
   
   CGB

5 comments about Essential Russian Grammar.

1. The other reviews I had read here were somewhat negative but given the low price I thought I would take a chance. When the book arrived I was surprised at how short it was and therefore had low expectations. However when I started reading it was was pleasantly surprised at how complete it was. I would not recommend it as a first or only book but as a handy guide or refresher to look up common grammar stuff it's great. If you are like me and have made a folder of notes for the common stuff to save wadding through reference books then this could be a handy alternative.



2. I wish I had discovered this little guide earlier; it would have saved so much work.
   
   Intended as study aid & reference, it excels at precisely that. Deceptively slim, it packs all the essentials in an accessible form. The section on propositions (which are used very idiomatically in Russian) demystifies with hand-slapping-forehead clarity. Similarly for (im)perfective verb moods. And it is nice to have declension & conjugation tables handy without having to carry a full-sized textbook. My only complaint: make it pocket size!



3. I bought this on impulse when I was in Boston and I can certainly say I don't regret that decision! This is so too the point and manages to explain complicated grammar terms without over complicating things. I'm studying Russian in university and I always use this book to better explain to me things I didn't quite get. Definitely recommend it as a review or a brush up on Russian grammar.



4. This short book is packed with useful aids to improving your grasp of Russian. It is easy to understand, concise, and accurate. This is easily the best single book I have found to assist the student in learning Russian. It's small enough to be a carry-around reference guide that can be read at odd times of the day in hotel rooms, in taxis, and on mashrutki. The quality of the type-face is excellent so you can peruse this book even in fairly poor light. The examples are elegant and the vocabulary is always germane to everyday needs. I can't recommend this too highly to anyone who is serious about achieving moderate fluency in the Russian language.



5. Very nice little compact book! Worth it for anyone who is struggling with difficult Russian grammar.

5 comments about Easy Russian Phrase Book: Over 690 Basic Phrases for Everyday Use (Dover Easy Phrase Books).

1. Why not buy one that's worthwhile? I bought this and it's worth what it costs, i.e. not much. Spend a few more bucks and get the Lonely Planet Russian Phrasebook. It has a small dictionary, lots of phrases and traveling info.

   I can't even give it two stars for being so cheap. Don't waste your time.




2. Arrived quickly,in great condition



3. I have never read most of these authors and each story was as enthralling as the previuos one. I had a great time using the Russian side of the book and trying to read out the words. Fabulous having the orginal language next to the English translation. A bit hard for beginner readers, but worth a shot.



4. Taking a 10 week Russian language class and found this book very helpful with the at home learning process.



5. Finally...a phrase book I can use immediately. There are some discrepancies, such as "I want to eat cake"---most likely you would say "I would like to eat cake", but my tutor says I wouldn't get thrown out of a restaurant or someone's home if I said "I WANT"!
   
   Phrases are grouped by topic and are listed by page number in the index. Pronunciation is below each phrase. Don't be confused by the "floating" /y/--it is explained, but can still lead to one saying the y sound, instead of softening the preceeding consonant (they probably should have used a non-letter symbol).
   
   A good starter book.

5 comments about Teach Yourself Russian Complete Course Package (Book + 2 CDs) (TY: Complete Courses).

1. Very good book and CD's. Makes taking a class in Russian language a lot easier.



2. First impression: nice learning method, not too heavy on the grammar. The recordings are nicely slow, unlike many other methods.



3. The best thing about this is the CD's. It really helps to hear the letters pronounced correctly and the words. My complaint about this book, is that I think it moves too quickly. You need to know your Russian Script first. I highly recommend you buy this company's book "Beginner's Russian Script" first, then when you have completed that book, you can move beyond chapter 1 of this book. I don't care too much for some of the tools it uses to teach you, but, I have just begun as well.



4. I had already learned the basics of the Russian language when I bought this course package and it was exactly what I needed. It helps advance your knowledge at a rapid pace, adding useful vocabulary, which at intervals is repeated in different context for better assimilation. Grammar rules are presented in a simple, clear way, with the texts acting as a source of plenty of examples. It also includes audios in (I suppose) rapid Russian, interspersed among the regular lessons. On the whole very satisfactory, I am glad that I have bought it.



5. This is what I was looking for. Coming from a Russian family and speaking it often. But I want a refresher and want to re learn to write in Cyrillic. The alphabet section in the text book even shows you the handwritten form and pronunciation and everything.
   Bottom Line: Very Good Refresher!

5 comments about Teach Yourself Beginner's Russian Script.

1. In lieu of having an actual Russian teacher, this book does a great job of introducing the novice student to Russian script and does it a few letters at a time. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning how to read and write in Russian.



2. If you are wanting to learn Russian, this should be your first step. I purchased 6 books to teach myself Russian, and this is the most valuable one. I can not recommend this book more strongly. It will give you a good hold on the letters and sounds, small words, and practice with the letters and words. By the time you finish this book you will have acquired a nice small vocabulary of Russian. Do everything that it says to do, and you will learn well. Learning Russian, this book IS Step 1.



3. I haven't read any other Russian language-learning books, so I have nothing to compare it to, but it seems just okay. There was a whole chapter on names, which I found a bit tedious. But learning the sounds the letters make is very important, so...it's a great start! However, I'm sure there's better stuff out there. Worth buying, but you could probably do better.



4. Russian is a very difficult language to self-teach and my first few attempts were futile because the materials I consulted showed one page of the Cyrillic alphabet and then proceeded immediately to entire words. This book takes the time to really teach the alphabet so that by the time you have finished it, you can at least pronounce any Russian word you encounter. However, if you are an American, keep in mind that the author is from the UK and not every example works for American English. For example, on page 25, Ms. West writes that "ë" is pronounced like "yo" in "yonder." For Americans, "ë" is pronounced like "yo" (the slang term, or as in "yogurt"). Still, my copy is already well-worn and I know I would still be lost without it.



5. If you want to save in money and fustration start the learning process by using this book. It is the best way to start to build up your knowledge about Russian language. The only great error I found is that the consonant X is not pronounced as the books recommends, the right way to pronounce the letter X is by using the H like in ham, human, hand. You can learn to pronounce or to reproduce the right soung of each vowel and consonant by goin to [...] and look at the menu that is in the center of the Main Page, and search for the word link: More>> click over this word and you will see a new narrow little window with a menu of words-options, select option Learn Russian, and you will be on the way to find the sounds you need to learn and memorize for good pronuntiation of the alphabet letters and more. Regarding the pronuntiation of the letter: O, the book will give you good ideas to start using the this vowel, but look for more on the way it is used and pronounced after finishing with this book in other books, taking classes or by hearing Russian speakers, it will take you some time and practice for knowing the right use of this vowel with regard about pronouncing it like a O, or as A. Nevertheless,this book is the best starting point - no other book can surpass its effective and simple way of teaching Russian language.
   
   
   In Spanish - En Español
   
   Si usted desea ahorrar en tiempo, dinero y fustración, empiese con este magnífico librito. Con él podrá edificar su conocimiento sobre el idioma Ruso, de manera segura, rápida y agradable.El único gran error que encontré usando el libro fue que la X no se pronuncia como el libro recomienda, si no como nosotros pronunciamos la J, o sea que, para realmente pronunciar correctamente esta consonante, deben pronunciarla, como se pronuncia en jamás, Jueves, jornalero, jornada,Jaime, etc. Por ejemplo, si van a decir azúcar en Ruso, en vez de decir sukcar, deben decir sujar. Si desean más detalles sobre como pronunciar bien las letras del alfabeto y adquirir un conocimiento extra sobre el idioma Ruso dirijance al siguiente sitio web donde encontrarán la información necesaria, para complementar la instrucción de este libro y algo más; el sitio es el siguiente: [...]. Cuando llegen a la Home page the [...], busquen en el centro de esa página, el menú con opciones, y traten de encontrar la opción: More>> hagan click sobre esta opción del menú central y aparecerá una pequeña, alargada y delgada ventana con otras opciones; por favor seleccionen Learn Russian, y estarán en camino a encontrar los sonidos e información que necesitan para aprender correctamente a hablar en Ruso. Hace poco [...] incluyó servicio en Español, por medio de otra web page, que está en link con esta que les dí en idioma Ingles; solo tienen que encontrar el link en la parte superior del Home page y averiguar si tiene la opción de aprender Ruso en idioma Español. Otro detalle; con referencia a la pronunciación de la vocal: O, el libro les dará buenas ideas sobre como usarla, pero no se conformen con lo que el libro les recomienda, busquen más en otros libros, classes, o escuchando a personas nativas hablar el idioma Ruso, porque toma cierto tiempo para dominar cuando es correcto pronunciar la O como O, o como una A. Por lo demás el libro es bastante bueno. Para comenzar a aprender idioma Ruso en Ingles, esta es la mejor opción o punto inicial - no existe otro libro que le iguale.

5 comments about Russian Vocabulary Cards: Academic Study Card Set.

1. Very helpful, easy to read, and numbered so I can mix them up (without mixing them up).



2. I'm trying to learn Russian on my own. For some CRAZY reason every book/study aid I've bought that has vocabulary comes without a pronunciation key. These cards are no exception.
   
   The answers might as well have been written in hieroglyphics. Yes, I did study the alphabet and sounds each letter makes, but we all know sometimes words sound different than how they are spelled. There are stresses on the beginning or ending of the word that you might not pick up on unless you are told. Is a pronunciation key really too much to ask for? Apparently so, because only when I got the product did I realize "the cards presupposes a working knowledge of Russian characters".
   
   Great for people who have Russian speaker at their fingertips. My only choice is to look up each individual word and write in the pronunciation key myself. I'm so frustrated I could die.



3. Great cards. The only but is that I think they should be plastified to protect them from spots and dust and make them more durable.



4. I knew nothing about Russian or Cyrillic which ever you would like to call it. I bought these cards thinking it would help build my vocabulary, but I got so confused with which endings to learn. It almost made no sense.
   
   Now, After I have bought several books introducing me, "The New Penguin Russian Course: A Complete Course for Beginners (Penguin Handbooks) (Paperback" is the best I've found, they do come in handy. Just like they proclaim, there are much more than 1,000 words.
   
   I rated a 4 of 5 stars because, in the handy-dandy book, I found every word in English I was looking for, but when I tried to look up the Russian word most of the pages were faded. I'm did not say all copies would be like this, although I was extremely irritated.



5. Don't waste your time and money. There were way too many loan words for this box to be useful.

5 comments about Dirty Russian: Everyday Slang from "What's Up?" to "F*%# Off!" (Dirty Everyday Slang).

1. I just got this book today after waiting almost 3 months for it to be released and shipped! Guess it was back ordered or something... either way it was definitely worth the wait! I recommend this to anyone looking for a slang resource/reference that's used today and not last decade! There's more than just bad words in this book! ;p
   
   Very highly recommended! :)



2. This book is great. It was exactly what I was looking for. It truly does cover a very broad array of various slang terms and situations--nothing is left untouched! All the things that you will not find in the Russian grammar books and dictionaries. Both words and phrases, and sometimes responses. I hope there will be a version 2. I give it the highest reference.



3. They weren't kidding about dirty! Just reading the English on some of the phrases in this book were making me laugh out loud. There's a lot of things in here you might not use everyday, but the fact that it has been translated is appreciated. As another reviewer said not everything is dirty and this is true. I would consider myself at the intermediate Russian level so I really like how they arranged stuff in sections in English. The only thing better would be to list phrases/words alphabetically in English and I think an index in future editions would be a nice touch. They also provide some background on various topics and those are enjoyable to read. I have the Dictionary of Russian Slang and Colloquial Expressions, 3rd Ed. and although more complete it's hard to find a phase/word you want to say because it's alphabetized in Russian. If you don't know the words in Russian already it's hard to find the right phrase. All in all I think it's a good book and am glad I gave it a try. So far I have found one spelling error (i.e. they used "s" in the Russian part instead of "c") and I tried a few of the more mild phrases out on my native Russian tutor and she agreed with the translation.



4. I agree with other reviewers but could have used a vocabulary section for common slang, both obscene and not. Explaining the conjugation of frequently used verbs would have helped. That said, I especially appreciated the explanation of common social situations and cultural traits. This fills the requirement of a "language the way real people use it" book that is SO helpful before traveling to a place.



5. My Russian hubby actually bought this at B&N and not only is it entertaining to read, but it is a great little phrasal reference tool for both English-American and Russian speakers alike! The jargon, idioms and slang are the most accurate translations (direct and equivalent contextual meanings) that we've ever come across in the many "slang" books we've perused.
   
   Treat yourself to some much needed laughs and language fun while taking a break from that monotonous 50 lb grammar book. I (and my husband) highly recommend!

5 comments about English-Russian, Russian-English Dictionary.

1. I opened the dictionary to check a couple of words -- not there. The dictionary is fine to stick it on your shelf, but if you want to use it, there are a number of negatives:
   1. There is no Russian alphabet in the dictionary. Since the order of the letter in the Russian and English is different, this makes it a pain looking up for words.
   2. There is no "visual aid" (like tabs, or cut outs, or such)to speed up search for words -- you need to make your own tabs and stick them to pages
   3. The dictionary is rather expensive for what it offers. (The retail price is $39.99 although I purchased it on amazon.com for less.)



2. I used this dictionary for two years while in Kazakhstan. In that time Katzner (as I came to call it) became my constant friend and companion. The examples are great and it is easy to figure out which verbs take which cases. The few complaints: Katzner doesn't include a lot of modern slang or street words, and some of the idioms are a bit out of date (example: "Shto li" was a phrase I looked up many times in katzner but found it easier to understand without the dictionary definition). However, if you're a student or Russian beginner, this is a great investment.



3. I used this slovar for over 18 mos while in Southern Russia, namely Saratov, Samara, and Togliatti. As an American, using this dictionary proved more useful than using the Oxford version. " " eliminates the need to translate to lorry and then to truck. It also makes a powerful defense weapon. Take that !



4. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3NJITG1WX6DQX This is my review



5. before ordering this dictionary I should have read more thoroughly negative reviews-had I done this I would have saved time and a little of money (amazon deducted 4 dollars from the refund). I don't like this dictionary at all. its biggest disadvantage is that it doesnt have phonetic pronunciation!! I am rather fluent in English, but there are still some words the pronunciation of which I would like to know-and this dictionary can't help at this point.I would forgive this dictionary its bulkiness, poor vocabulary but I cant forgive the absence of phonetic pronunciation.I would not recommend this dictionary

5 comments about Russian Stories: A Dual-Language Book.

1. As a long time student of Russian, I have found it very difficult to lay hands on dual language books like this one. On the left page is the original Russian text, and on the right is a corresponding (and very well rendered) English translation. The true beauty of this volume, though, is that the modern translation provides a bridge to the literary style from the age of the masters like Pushkin, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov and my personal favorite, Gogol, among many others. An even dozen stories allow intermediate to advanced Russian speakers to deepen their familiarity with this particular subset of the language. I would love to have many more books like this one. Highly recommended.



2. I am a native Russian speaker and as an advanced learner of English I found this book amazingly useful. It spurs your curiosity to first read the original Russian text and then see how Prof. Struve goes about translating the endless archaisms and idiosyncrasies of the 19-th century Russian.
   
   Kudos to Prof. Struve!



3. The stories are fun to read and since the English is right next to the Russian, it makes reading even more enjoyable and easy.



4. I just received this little book last week, and it already is helping my Russian significantly. It is really awesome how the English and Russian texts line up side-by-side. It is laid out very well and the typography is nice. I do wish that there were more word hints, and that they were easier to access, i.e. placed at the bottom of the page rather than in endnotes. Overall, the translations are good and I think this will be a great way for me to improve my Russian vocabulary as well as read some really great literature.



5. This book was a gift for our son who is learning Russion. He was pleased with the classic selection of stories and the Russian and English translation on facing pages, which makes it very convenient to use.
   
   It was a successful gift!

5 comments about The New Penguin Russian Course: A Complete Course for Beginners (Penguin Handbooks).

1. I am not going to go into details because others have already done this, but I am here to say that this book is absolutely amazing and you have to buy it if you are learning Russian. I was recommended this book by Natives, and that is proof enough that this is a good book. This book is the reason why I am progressing in Russian.



2. I am very pleased with the product I ordered through Amazon. I received my book 4 days earlier than expected and in very good condition. The only problem was the packaging they shipped it in wasn't good for a book and the back cover and 5 of the pages got bent during shipment. Otherwise I am very happy with the easy ordering and fast delivery.



3. A very useful textbook. I think no reader will be disapointed. I do recomend it.



4. I have been studying Russian on and off for a few years (including taking classes in college) but now have finally decided to be more serious about it (read: my Russian husband and in-laws are kicking me in the butt). Out of all Russian books I own I think this one is a real gem. Mainly because it introduces aspects of grammar and forms slowly, clearly, and with useful examples. Russian like Latin, which I studied for six years in school, is heavy on verb and noun endings, so at least for me this slow approach works quite well because I can absorb this information in manageable 'parcels' before moving on to the next chapter. My husband also looked through the book and says the examples reflect actual speech and are not 'weird' in any way. The only thing I would wish for this book is that there would be more exercises to practice and secondly an audio-CD to help with pronunciation. I have the advantage of having a native speaker at home but if you don't have somebody who helps you with pronunciation (which can be a bit tricky at first) this might be difficult to pull of. You will be understood with the instructions of pronunciation given in this book but having a CD that helps you practice pronunciation would clearly be a plus.



5. The title says it all. If you are taking a college course, using Pimsleur, etc., then this text will be a very useful and affordable supplement. It does a great job describing the structure of the Russian language and how it differs from others, along with providing some basic vocabulary.