I recently completed a production of this fine play where I played Geoffrey, Duke of Aquataine. I have done a lot of play and this without a doubt is the most well written. Goldman does not waste a single word in the play.

This play about the famously disfunctional family of England's Henry II is perhaps the most devestating family drama this side of "Long Day's Journey into Night".

For those who want a real epic, it can - but doesn't have to - be read as a sequel to Jean Anoilh's "Becket". Personally I found that this adds to the tragedy.

It opens during a fictional family Christmas get together that is combined with a historical meeting between Henry and France's young King Phillip. Henry's persistent humiliation of his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, through his string of mistresses has prompted her to hurt him in the only way available to her - by systematically destroying his relationships with their sons. Now Henry - although not old yet - is no longer a young man. The fact that a potentially dangerous Phillip - who has a legitimate axe to grind with Henry - is no longer a child forces them to realize that their familial intrigues have set their boys up for both internal and external disaster upon Henry's death. They make a real effort to save both their shattered marriage and their shattered children, but it may already be too late ...

The main tragedy, of course, is what Henry and Eleanor have done to their children. Richard is admirably brave but has had much of his compassion beaten out of him and replaced with brutality. Geoffrey's great sense of humor has been blasted in the bud, and his fustrated capability of love makes a weapon of an intelligence that would have been an asset to anyone who would have shown him the slightest affection in return (it's worth noting for those who don't know the family's subsequent history that given the condensed time of the play, Geoffrey would presumably have died in a fatal tournament accident soon after the action of the play - making him even more poignant). John, the youngest son of Robin Hood fame, is somewhat mishandled - his failure had much to do with Richard's prior mismanagement and lousy historical timing rather than his own faults, and the ruthless streak that doomed Geoffrey's son Arthur (who isn't in the play) as well as his general competence in many instances (he would later rescue Eleanor from a siege in a manner that would have done Richard proud) doesn't really come across - but in an otherwise excellent play Goldman can be forgiven for bowing to popular opinion in one case.

An accurate depiction of the dynamics of the Plantagenet family, "The Lion in Winter" is also a timeless study of what constitutes a healthy family.

I have to say Iam in love with this book. I know every line by heart. I saw the movie frist. Also a A+++++ movie. I don't know, something about it.It somehow just gets under your skin. Anyone who loves history. Or just just great works of writing should have this little book.

In this hefty volume, the author continues the story already begun with the Hippopatamus Marsh. Prince Kamose Tao of Weset assumes command of the rebel soldiers after his father's death, rallying the native princes to fight under him. Nubian soldiers from Wawat under the command of the General Hor-Aha are allied with the Egyptian soldiers, giving Kamose and his men an edge against the towns and forts they encounter on their trek north. As the campaign draws on, the effects of war leave their mark on Kamose, and he forfeits all else in order to oust the Setiu from beyond Egypt's borders and restore true Ma'at to this ravaged land. 'The Oasis' is a surprising stage for the unpredictable, and the inevitable.

The author's goal was to "rehab" Kamose Tao in history's eyes and she has indeed succeeded. The Lord of the Two Lands trilogy continues with the intensity and determination well established in the first book. Even though the story line is recorded in history, there is no real sense of predictability. Lots of action, repeated demonstrations of survival of the fittest, and treachery abounds. I thank Ms. Gedge for including a map, a bibliography, and for sating my thirst for historical fiction! I'll say a little prayer to Thoth that she continues to create such enjoyable works.

The Oasis, the second volume of Pauline Gegde's Lord of the Two Lands Trilogy, is even more captivating the the first. Following the death of Sequenenra Tao at the hands of feared but brilliant General Pedzeku, the members of the House of Tao are stipped of their titles, nobility and power to rule over their ancestral home of Waset by the Setiu King Apepa. The idea of a foriegn king ruling over Egypt does not sit well with Sequenenra's sons Kamose and Ahmose despite all that they have lost and, with their family's permission, they decide to restore Egypt to the rightful Egyptian rulers, the Taos, or die in the process.

At times gruesome and painful, the Oasis details exquistely the price war can exact on those who wage it. The decision to take life, regardless of how noble its reason, is one which weighs heavily on the soul. Gedge's character Kamose Tao, who proclaims himself Pharoah and sets out to purge Egypt of the Setiu who have usurped the country from its rightful citizens, fights many bitter, bloody battles in which innocents are killed to right what the Ancient Egyptians refer to as Ma'at - a sense of law, righteousness and justice. The development of this character from an introspective older brother, favored by his grandmother, to a king who speaks his mind without regard to consequences and who is tormented by the horror of a war of his own making, is indeed compelling.

Additionally, as you will always find in the work of Pauline Gedge, Egypt is recreated in intricate detail. The reader is transported to a time when the 17th Dynasty is concluding and the Great 18th Dynasty is about to leave the womb...

I can't wait to read The Horus Road (vol 3)!

Most sequels stink. A lot. George MacDonald, the first fantasy master, managed to buck that trend with the sequel to "The Princess and the Goblin," with "The Princess and Curdie." If anything, this book is even better than the first -- a bit more mature, a little bit darker, but with the same haunting prose and likeable characters.

In the time since the defeat of the goblins, Curdie has gone back to his life as a miner. Unfortunately he also begins to stray from the pure actions he showed in the first book, pushing aside thoughts of Princess Irene's grandmother and trying to convince himself that the more supernatural events of "Goblin" were just imagination. Until he needlessly wounds a pigeon with his bow and arrow, and takes it to the stately, mysterious Grandmother.

As Curdie regains his innocence and his faith, the Lady sends him on a quest, with a weird doglike creature called Lina who was once a human. She also (by having him stick his hands into burning roses) makes his hands able to feel a person's soul when he touches them, if a person is "growing into a beast" on the inside. Now Curdie and Lina set off for the capital, where Irene's father is physically ill, and falling prey to the scheming of his sinister officials.

If the first book was Irene's, then this book is undeniably Curdie's. The focus is on him almost constantly through the book, and it's his internal struggles that we are fascinated by. Every person (well, most of them, anyway) eventually loses their childlike faith and innocence, as Curdie has begun to do at the beginning. He's naturally a more skeptical person than Irene, and so time begins to fade whatever he thought he saw; also, being "one of the guys" in the mine requires a seemingly more mature attitude. But with the loss of innocence also goes some of the faith and internal beauty, and so MacDonald brings Curdie back to the gentle, trusting kid he was in the first book.

The Lady (also known as Irene's great-great-great-grandmother, Lady of the Silver Moon, and Mother Wotherwop -- don't ask about the last one) is also a more prominent figure. She's still both maternal and supernaturally distant, very warm while also seeming to know everything. Precisely who and what she is remains a mystery, but we see more of her subtle, awe-inspiring powers here.

The writing is, as the first book was, immensely dreamy and haunting. MacDonald let rip with the surreally beautiful descriptions of the Lady's room and appearances, and of scenes like Curdie sticking his hands into the rose petals. Like in "Princess and the Goblin," the plot takes awhile to get moving, but it's so well-written that you probably won't notice.

"The Princess and Curdie" is currently harder to find than the first book, which strikes me as a little odd. (Especially since this duology is just screaming to be compiled in one book) But anyone who enjoyed the first book, or even just enjoys a gorgeously-written fantasy, will definitely want to get this sequel.

'The Princess and Curdie' is a superb sequel to the brilliant children's fantasy 'The Princess and the Goblin'. In both books, MacDonald displays his incredible talent as a story-teller for children, by crafting a tale that makes great reading aloud material for children. Curdie, a miner's son, is sent by a magical princess on an urgent quest to save the king and his kingdom. His companion is Lina, an ugly monster of a dog who proves to be a steadfast, powerful and courageous companion. Curdie discovers that evil and wickedness threaten to overthrow the good kingdom of the king and his daughter Irene, and it is only when Curdie and Lina escape perils and dangers and marshal together the forces of good that the dangers can be overcome.

In the process of telling the story, MacDonald entertains a few curious notions rather surprising for a Christian. Especially surprising are the ideas of a mountain being bubbles of heat thrust from the center of the earth (p.2), and the earth being a cooled body that flew off the sun (p.3) ' ideas more akin to evolutionary thinking than Christian faith in the Biblical teaching about creation. This book is also somewhat different from 'The Princess and the Goblin' on a literary level, because in this book MacDonald's story-telling at times employs vocabulary and sentence structure that is overly complex for children, and at times he waxes overly philosophical.

But those weaknesses aside, it's a thrilling and captivating story of an exciting quest, enhanced by deeper underlying Christian themes. MacDonald describes the king as 'a real king ' that is, one who ruled for the good of his people and not to please himself.' (p.5). True citizens of this kingdom, such as Curdie's parents, are those who 'always loved what was fair and true and right better, not than anything else, but than everything else put together.' (p.35) In contrast there are many false citizens who have open doors but closed hearts, and who live a life of wickedness, chiefly characterized by lying, drinking, stealing and unkindness. These seeds of corruption also contain the seeds of destruction, and threaten to overthrow the kingdom. The morality is clear and solidly Christian.

Particularly fascinating is the concept that all humans are either noble human beings, or else slowly turning into animals on the inside. By putting his hands into a magical fire, Curdie is given the ability to perceive the inner layer of man by means of a handshake: 'you will henceforth be able to know at once the hand of a man who is growing into a beast.' (p.73) One cannot help but wonder if MacDonald has too much faith in human nature, since he does not spell out that it is only the regenerating Spirit that makes a heart true and noble. But the underlying truth is valid: all men's hearts are inclined to be beastly because of sin, but by the grace of God some hearts are changed to be noble and truly human. It echoes the truth of the teaching of Jesus Christ: where your heart is, there your treasure is, and ultimately you cannot serve both God and Mammon. Those who are overwhelmed by wickedness and by love of Mammon, are eventually destroyed, whereas those with a pure heart and love of God establish the kingdom of righteousness. The pessimism of the final ending raises many questions, but perhaps can be best explained as a growing wickedness among men leading to a complete and final judgment, similar to the flood and the end of the world. MacDonald's tale is in the end very reminiscent of the Biblical pattern of the Judges and Kings: in times of wickedness, God raised up judges and kings to ensure the establishment of a kingdom where justice and righteousness reigned.

Just as in the 'The Princess and the Goblin', Irene's great-great-grandmother plays a central and decisive role. She is also known as 'The Mother of Light', 'the Lady of the Silver Moon' and less affectionately as 'Old Mother Wotherwop'. MacDonald attributes to her both omniscience ' 'I am always about' ' and a measure of omnipotence (p.53). She is the Light that guides the way in darkness (p.50), and she it is who commissions Curdie for his quest and ensures its success.

These timeless tales contain enduring truths, as well as delightful stories. What they've done for over 100 years is something that they are still doing today - pleasing imaginative children and adults with a tale of lasting significance.

George MacDonald has the gift of expressing a deep theological idea through the form of a story.I grew up with his fairy stories,as a Adult,I am still affected by the skillful and beautiful portrayal of the quest for wisdom of a pure heart.The Princess and Curdie,is a story of just that.Curdies own journey is a story of the Christian walk and if one wishes can learn much from it.Do not get the idea that The Princess and Curdie is dull however!This book pays tribute to George MacDonalds fantastic imagination,as a child and as an "grownup" once picked up this book is difficult to put down.Perhaps the deepest things are also the most interesting.

This book provides a reference model called SEPRM (software engineering process reference model) against which the major capability and quality models can be quantitatively compared.

The models compared in the book are: ISO 15504 (SPICE; Software Process Improvement Capability Determination), CMM (SEI's Capability Maturity Model), Bootstrap (European Software Institute) and ISO 9000-3. What makes the book valuable is the methodical, quantitative manner in which each of the models can be compared using a process algebra against the author's software engineering reference model. This allows organizations that are striving for software engineering process improvement to make objective decisions regarding which of the models addressed in this book is the best fit for their business model, organizational culture and market.

Given that each of the four major capability and quality models discussed are internationally recognized, each with strengths and weaknesses, the decision making process set forth in the book can be made based on fact instead of bias.

What I particularly like about the book is the complete and deep understanding I gained about SPICE, CMM, Bootstrap and ISO 9000-3. I was quite familiar with each before I read the book, but the insights I gained about measurable strengths and weaknesses of each approach compared to the SEPRM were illuminating. Moreover, I learned a lot from dissecting the SEPRM itself, leading to an understanding of process modeling independent of software engineering processes. This in itself makes this book valuable to those of us who design and implement processes in environments where there are competing standards.

This book is an excellent source of information for software engineers and managers who want to examine, or compare their own software processes against the current SE process models. It is well written, easy to follow, and covers all of the current popular process models.

The book discusses the history, philosophy, and assessment techniques for CMM, ISO 9001, BOOTSTRAP, and ISO 15504. Each of the models is explained and a formal description of each of the process models is provided using a process algebra.

A reference model, SEPRM, that the authors have developed, can be used to transform and compare the various models between each other. It is this reference model that provides a domain that contains all of the process models. By using the SEPRM a software engineer can analyze the interrelationships of the current process models.

This book was very good and I found the information in it to be very useful. For anyone looking to improve their software development processes this book would be of great benefit.

With the increased awareness that software development is not done randomly but like all other engineering fields it also has to follow a process, this book focuses on the principles and applications of software engineering processes. It begins with fundamentals of Software Engineering to give a clear understanding of the techniques and processes for the reader who is new to this field. It speaks about how the Software Engineering has evolved from the past and what the modern domain of Software Engineering is. Then it talks about CMM, explaining in detail the CMM process model and its capability levels. It is further explained how CMM can be used for assessment of a software project, thus giving the reader good understanding of the use of much discussed model.

The book also talks about other process models such as ISO 9001, ISO 15504, BOOTSTRAP and SEPRM. It explains in detail about all of these capability models their process subsystems, the processes in the subsystem and the practices of the processes, giving description of the rating scale for all the models for doing assessments. The author has provided algorithms for all process models to do assessments and also put all the processes and their practices in an assessment form that makes the life of the auditors very easy. This algorithms and assessment form are also very beneficial for software engineering students as it gives them a feel how these models are used in industry for assessment.

I found the information on the SEPRM model to be very thorough. The book talks in detail on how this reference model helps in bringing forward the whole picture of the SE process system. Also, I found the model to be well integrated and comprehensive with the Software Engineering process. This model combines all of the above-mentioned models and it enables transformation of process capability levels between existing process models and standards. This is 2D model that helps in finding the weak areas in the software process that need improvement.

Overall, the book gives a good understanding of the various process models and their use. Besides, I found it very useful to get such good information on all of them in just one comprehensive text as it helped me to understand the application of these models simultaneously, and also helped me to compare them with each other. I would recommend this book to people who want to get better understanding of the software engineering process and the various process models.

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech was voted the most electrifying public address of the twentieth century. It takes some kind of a leader to give that kind of a speech. Donald T. Phillips presents the ideals of leadership that Martin Luther King Jr. followed in an overview of the history of the civil rights struggle. Phillips describes the techniques King used at various stages of the civil rights battle. He also shares King's comments on leadership. Many of the principles will be quite familiar: listen to learn, lead by being led, awaken direct action, encourage creativity and involve the people. However, the book is especially interesting when it demonstrates how King put these principles into practice. This well-organized, well-written book is clear, direct, and easy to read. While it is written for the general public (especially for African-Americans and those interested in civil rights), we [...] find this book interesting for all managers and executives, particularly those who like to learn the lessons of history.

Donald Phillips did a wonderful job of telling the story of Martin Luther King Jr. from his childhood to his death, and connecting it all to a marvelous leadership style. Being a student of leadership studies and a fan of Martin Luther King Jr., I chose this book as a study of both subjects. Having read it, I have to say I learned more about leadership from this book than any other I have read. However, I am no longer a fan of MLK......... he is now a hero of mine.

As Donald Phillips points out, for every major turning point in American history, creative leaders - right for the times and uniquely suited to the task - assume the mantle of leadership. Donald Phillips not only describes how MLK ended up at the mantle, but how and why he was the right person for the job.

MLK's movement is not the same civil rights movement being pushed by the self-serving, so-called, activists today. Read this book, you will learn about a true leader and what a true leader is. It is easy reading and inspiring. Highly recommended.

I am a student and a teacher of leadership skills, and I have found no better example than Martin Luther King Jr. This book combines the history of King's movement, but also chronicles the qualities which made King great. The text is easy to read, and fascinating. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Leadership should be required reading for anyone who hopes to impact their world. The famed Harvard psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg, who studied moral development, named King as one of the greatest moral thinkers in history. Read this book, and you will understand why.

Shef is now co-king of england, and has brought peace and prosperity to his land. He is summoned to go north, and to make a great journey around the northlands. The plot thickens in this book, and builds on the first. The charachters develop even more in this book, and continue to do so in the final book of the trilogy.

I love this trilogy, from the start of book one to the end of book three, the historical aspects are pointed out in a way that fits as part of the story and they don't overthrow the plot, lending the books a very authoritative tone. The Characters are great, (Brand is one of my favorites) and there's plenty of action. What I like best about these books is that Harrison really makes you feel inside the story, the way he handles the characters attitudes towards each other and their surroundings really makes you feel like you're right with them weather it's Anglo-Saxon England, Scandinavia, The Frankish Empire, Muslum Spain or what's left of Rome. As for character development, Harrison has a great way of using the third-person point of view in a way that can convey things unknown to the characters yet at the same time the tone of the narrative is flavored with the particular character's personality, culture and view of their surroundings, helping the reader understand more fully the motives and inhibitions of the people he describes. I read these back in high school and loved them then as much I still do now.

I am not usually interested in alternate-history stories, but this one intrigued me -- and paid off. This looks at the efforts of Shef, who has risen from slave-status to become one of the two most powerful kings in England (and an ally of the other). What does a driven man do when he reaches the top? Shef builds a mighty fleet and goes after his enemies abroad. Without intending to, he completes the legendary circuit of the Norse lands and establishes himself, after tremendous adventures and battles, as the King of the North. A new factor is introduced along the way, as the Holy Roman Church establishes an order of knights on a quest for the spear of Longinus that bears the Blood of Christ. Who has it? Shef, by accident of destiny. This makes him an enemy of the knights and their fearsome Germanic leader, Bruno.

Another "alternate" factor thrown in to the mix is a new religion, called "The Way", which is a more civilized version of Norse mythology. As in standard Norse mythology, there is a set of gods, with each representing different aspects of life and with internal strife between the gods. What "The Way" adds is the idea that Man's role in life is to find his greatest talents and to dedicate himself to his patron god by mastering the talent that god represents, adding something to it, and teaching others. This new religion also does not see itself as being necessarily in conflict with any other religion, and follows a belief in freedom of choice. Shef follows a little-known god, who is the patron of knowledge and invention.

All of this might sound somewhat dry and esoteric to some. However, the religious factors is woven into a rousing, well-written adventure tale featuring lots of battles, alliances, treachery, a little romance, and very interesting settings. I have read this book several times, and expect to read it again.

Excellent for Bible College Students or Reviewing certain times in Biblical History.

I am very glad that I decided to purchase this book. The bible can get very repetitious and confusing. This book helps bring the history and chronology on the bible into place. It isn't cheap and isn't the easiest to read but I'm glad I have it. It's bulky so it's not the easiest to carry around. This is not meant to be a bible that you take to church and use when you want to follow along in scriptures. Though you could use it for that, but you'd go crazy.

A chronological look at the scriptures and a comparisson of the various tales that different biblical writers told. it's nice to see the stories of Moses and Jesus, as told by different books, side by side. Comparing how the gospels differ in style is really interesting and you really get a feel for the writers. This is original King James, so the writing can be difficult to get through at times. The year is mentioned at the beginning of each story. This bible is very easy to follow through and easy to navigate. there are numerous indexes so you can search by year, bible chapter, or story. This is a great bible that I'm glad i have as a resource and highly recommed to others.

This book is a necessity for Chronolgical Bible Storying.

"Rope Trick" is both similar and different from many of Lloyd Alexander's previous works, and it seems first and foremost to be a study on the characters rather than a story. Not that that's a bad thing -- Alexander's plot is intriguing, fresh, and has plenty of lovable and complex people.

Lidi is an excellent magician, but there is one magic trick that she doesn't know: The fabled rope trick. She and her kindly mentor Jericho rescue a neglected orphan from an abusive innkeeper, and find that little Daniella can predict the future. No sooner have the two made her an "Added Attraction" (she predicted that too) than they encounter a young outlaw named Julian sleeping under their wagon. A scuffle with soldiers sends them on the run to another province.

There they bump into many different people who have encountered the strange magician Ferramondo, who is seen differently by every person. He also knows the rope trick. Lidi begins a desperate search for Ferramondo, convinced that she will not be a true magician until she does. But sinister men are trying to get hold of Daniella for their own gain, and Julian is seeking revenge against "Baboon," the man who killed his uncle and drove him to become an outlaw.

This book is somewhat different from most of Alexander's books. The protagonist is a young girl rather than a boy (even the Vesper Holly books were narrated by a man) with a sad past, and there are more serious, melancholy themes. Julian in particular is a break from Alexander's naive young heroes-in-training, who learn their lessons along the way. It's also full of more introspection, as Lidi often stops to contemplate herself and others. The love story between Lidi and Julian is handled with delicacy, and goes very gradually over the book.

Perhaps the biggest problem is the finale. It's more than a little difficult to understand why what happens does happen, as it doesn't really seem to be entirely connected to the plotline behind it. It is, however, an interesting development and opens possible paths to a sequel; the various subplots are woven together like... well, like a rope. Alexander's writing is spare but amazingly evocative, and his dialogue is full of the same pep and charm as ever.

Fans of Lloyd Alexander will find an enjoyable tale of magic and mystery, and newcomers will enjoy this introduction to Alexander's work. Not his best, but a very good read.

This book was great!I tried to put it down, but found myself picking it up again. I liked the characters. Lidi isn't one of those mushy, shy girls that usually star in books. I really like Julian and Jericho and I definately loved Daniella. You should give this book a chance.

Let's get this straight - In his School Library Journal review of "The Rope Trick," that Amazon uses as a review of this book, John Peters gets nothing right, to the point that is makes me wonder whether he just flipped to the last few pages in order to mail in his review and collect a check.

This book is brilliant, a challenging work designed to tax the reading and comprehension levels of young teens. Besides giving away a major part of the ending, Peters badly misconstrues major themes in the work. This is a book about how we see God - in our own image, mostly - and how we each find our path to God. It is a major book for young teens that addresses issues such as causes of sectarian conflict as well as the individual's relationship to the Divine.

Read this book, and more importantly get your your young teenaged readers to read it, and then discuss it with them. You and they will not be disappointed. Ignore anything Peters writes - same result.

I love Michael Bolton as a singer. And his writing skills are excellent as well. But I found this book difficult to follow for me, and even more so for my 6th grade students. However, the pictures were outstanding! David Jermann is very detailed in his illustrations....a definate plus for this book.

Wonderful bardic mastery here; as if the myth of King Arthur came alive again, yet its ending still expands into a living energy of our continuance - for here there is no wounded fisher king, but rather a continuance of love - father to son, brother to brother, man to man - without a doubt. As a female, I am reminded strongly of the "Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley, yet this tale is told from a male vantage point, who as of yet is only just beginning to discover that his lady love is real - as real as he. Complex yet so simply told, amazing mysteries of love unfolding from a point of ever-changing mysteries of all that we might yet now come to be.

The parallels of many Arthurian legends, and even a hint of "Avalon come true" are spoken here, within a form and style that must inspire the wee folk of our lives to live within its inspiration. I applaud this endeavor of artistry, and hope to see this lovely volume back in full publication again very soon.

Michaelette

http://michaelette.com

I really love Michael as a singer. I'm a fan of him since I started feeling sense of music. But I wasn't aware of his writing skills indeed. He has proved his writing skills after giving a great gift of the Secret of Lost Kingdom. The book is not infact just for childern there is something for every age, the morality, honor, truth and love. The heart touching and well illustrated story is really worth to be explored.

While recently on a retreat to the Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, Kentucky, I visited the guest library looking for some heavy-duty theological works. Quite by accident, I happened to notice this cute little book that someone had left laying out on a table. The full title reads: "Serenity: A Companion for Twelve Step Recovery." I'm personally not involved in any of the twelve step programs, but I know a few people who are, and they have nothing but praise for how well they work.

The Serenity New Testament comes complete with the Twelve Steps made famous by Alcoholics Anonymous. However, it just does not reiterate them, but cross-references every single step with multiple biblical references that speak about the particular topic. For instance, Step Two: "come to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity" is cross-referenced with a passage from the Gospels: "Everything is possible for him who believes" (Mark 9:23).

The format is very simple, and extremely easy to follow. The Twelve Steps are listed in the very front of the book, with a short commentary and a long list of verses (with page numbers!) that you can look up. Or, you can go directly to the New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs, and read the various books in a normal fashion. But unlike a typical Bible, the authors have highlighted all the verses that speak directly to the Twelve Steps, and have placed the step numbers next to the verses. For example: when you read the ninth chapter of Mark's gospel, you will see "Step 2" placed next to Mark 9:23.

There is also a chain reference system, so that you can go through the New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs reading all the verses that pertain to the particular step your interested in. So when you read Mark 9:23 there will be a note in the margin telling you a page number where you can find another verse reference for Step 2.

The authors wisely chose the New King James Version for the basis of their work, which is far easier to read and understand than the early 17th century English of the old King James Bible. There are also lots of helpful notes spread throughout the Bible passages, helping the reader to understand the close relationship between the Steps and Word of God.

While I have more than enough Bibles in my home, I've never come across one as fascinating as this little gem. I seriously considering buying a case of Serenity New Testaments to have on hand for giving to people who could use a little encouragement.

An outstanding New Testament. Highly recommended, whether or not you're in a Twelve Step program.

When I first got into the 12 step program in 1990 12 step literature only took me so far in my program and I needed more or else I was in danger or returning back to active addiction. In 1993 the company I worked for went out of business and we had to take all of our personal items from our office. In my office were certificates of awards,personal and family pictures gifts from friend and many others items of importances. The only thing I made sure I took with me the day I left was this book. Without Serenity and the divine inspired wisdom that it imparts I know I probally would have returned back to active addiction and would have died. If you are in the 12 step process get Serenity it will give you a true picture of what recovery is all about and like me it might save your life.

I will never again think that AA is a program for recovery apart from God's holy word! This Bible makes it so very clear that God directed Bill Wilson and the founders many years ago (1934) to be instruments of healing power. God is the Healer, Jesus the Great Physician and the one in recovery stands in awe of miracles in his or her own life. That is of course, if one follows the Steps "one day at a time". I will always be a recovering co-dependent. Pleasing people was what I was taught to do from childhood. I thank the counselor who guided me right down the Twelve Step path. Please add this book to your library. Everyone needs healing from time to time. God bless you.