I love Lassen's work, and this book shows why. He is a master at beautiful scenic paintings. The colors are brilliant and keeps me wondering on how he gets his paintings to look like that. Although I think Wyland is the master when it comes to painting whales, Lassen is the master at painting dolphins. A must have to any art collector who loves oceanic art.

"LASSEN ISLAND" IS A MUST OWN! It includes "sixty-five of Lassen's most evocative works...[and Lassen] captures the romantic allure of the Hawaiian Islands where he makes his home and pays tribute to the sea's great and endangered mammals."[commentator] His work spans from 1983-1997. My (newest) favorites are: "GALAXY OF LIFE", "COSMIC VOYAGERS", "WHALE STAR", "OUR PLANET", "SERENITY", "SEA OF TRANQUILITY", "PARADISE", "ANCIENT MYSTERIES" and "TEMPLE OF LIGHT". (Just to name a few!)

Also included is a fascinating essay writen by Christian himself about "THE SEA AS THE SOURCE OF MY ART", "NATURE ENERGIZES ME AND MY ART", "THE HIGHLY DEVELOPED MAMMALS OF THE OCEAN", and "OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE FUTURE." Christian writes with such sensitivity and style that even if you already have all of his art (books) this essay alone gives you a reason to buy this.

"LASSEN ISLAND" is the culmination to date of Christian's expertise. I never thought he could get any better but I was wrong! He has taken his art to the outermost level that I can imagine. "The images I paint are no longer simply representations of the forms of animals but the representations of their spirit" Lassen states in his essay.

"Ranked the number nine surfer in the world, Lassen is intimately acquainted with the mother ocean's ever-changing moods and awesome power." [commentator] Christian is one-in-a-million; not to be compared with anyone else. That is what a true artist is; in a class by himself.

88 pages may seem small, but there is a color illustration on just about every page. The only problem I could think of is that there are no descriptions about any of the paintings, just the title. A small section in the back tells of how the ocean has inspired the artist. (It also says this book was originally published in Japan and was a bestseller there). The paintings often include ocean waves, sea life, or space. All are rendered in beautiful color. They are similar to the works of Jim Warren or Wyland. I recommend this book to anyone who is even slightly interested in art or the ocean.

I feel extremely fortunate to own this book. I was window shopping at the mall and it was there just screaming out to me! I rushed into the store, flipped through it, saw the reasonable price and bought it without hesitation. The high quality galleries are amazing!

The protective book cover (which screamed to me) has his piece entitled "Sanctuary" which in the book he says "Sanctuary was created for the United Nations to be used for its 1992 commemorative First Day Cover calling for the preservation of the world's oceans...In this work, I have expressed the interconnectedness that I see between Earth's life forms and the very basic creative forces of the universe itself."

This book is priceless to me. It has everything: from writings about Lassen's exotic background and plenty of photos of him (surfing, beside his car and on his motorcycle, with family and friends,) and 2 self portraits; to his spectacular work in amazing color (over 100 plates in all!); to possibly the best part- his notes on each plate which gives the reader insight into who Christopher Riese Lassen really is.

It also includes many of his triptychs in fold-out display. I am a very proud owner of this book which will easily be worth 10x or more than what I paid for it. It will remain priceless to me.

I highly recommend you find a way to get your hands on this book! Awesome! This is a keeper!

I have to mention my personal favorite plates: 1 ETERNITY 2 BLUE HANA MOON 3 AFTER THE STORM 4 NIGHT DANCER 5 SANCTUARY 6 IN ANOTHER WORLD 7 OUR WORLD 8 THE FALLS OF HANA 9 THE INFINITE WAY 10 REVELATIONS 11 DREAM 12 TIGER 13 LAHAINA VISIONS TRIPTYCH

I COULD GO ON FOREVER! HE IS ONE OF THE MOST GIFTED ARTISTS OF OUR TIME!

This book has most of his paintings each with a brief description of them. Not only does the description explain the medium and other basic info, some also go into detail about how he became inspired to draw each particular painting. Most of the pictures are at least half a page to a full page, therefore you can really observe details. It contains a brief biography of him as well. It is a great book to add to any Lassen/Wyland collection. In addition to his famous aquatic scenes, his self portraits are included, and even early work he created in different mediums and techniques. Every painting you would want from him is there so vivid you can imagine yourself there... I genuinely loved the book and can honestly recommend it to everyone.

I have always enjoyed Lassen's art and was so pleased to find this book. I bought it for our 4 month old daughter because I thought she would love the sparkles and glitter - plus the story is cute as well. I'm going to buy several of these for gifts for my friends with babies. Adorable!

RAINBOW SEA is a sparkle book, full of lavish, bold-colored art by the great marine artist, Christian Riese Lassen. The last page has one of my favorite pieces of his, "Galaxy of Life." There are plenty of dolphins (including "Mother's Miracle,") as well as a few orcas, sea turtles and sperm whales. Also there's plenty of coral varieties and numerous, popular saltwater fish including one of my favorites, the Naso Tang.

The 'story' is actually a by-the-page account, which was wise on Jane Edgecombe's part. She makes Lassen's work shine even more by complementing--not competing against it. I appreciate her descriptive, sanguine poetry. Here's an excerpt:

"The orcas are leaping,
fins flap and tails wiggle,
Dolphins dive, coral dances,
and fish gleam and giggle.
The moon shines once more,
as they frolic with glee
At the rainbow of colors
that live in the sea."

Another thing about RAINBOW SEA you'll love is that it very durable made of thin cardboard inside and a thick outside cover. The sparkling inserts into Lassen's art are not flush with the book but underneath making it impossible for young children to rip them out. So you can buy this for even the youngest book lover. Yet the art is so entrancing that older kids, teenagers and adults can appreciate it! New target market age--two to one hundred and two!

I highly recommend this book for fans of Lassen's art and/or the ocean, its creatures and its Majesty! Christian brings it all to life. Dive right in! 9/10 stars. (I would have liked to see the more planets like in "Sanctuary," "The Cosmos," "Children of the Stars," "Cosmic Voyagers" and "Eternity." This concentrates on some of the horizon but mostly under the sea.) If you get this for your young kids, purchase "LASSEN ISLAND" for yourself.

Soar!

This book tell the story about a true hero, who earned 3 millitary cross and 1 victoria cross. He fought the germans in greece and italy.

There are several published books of letters and diaries written by American Civil War (ACW) soldiers --from both sides of the conflict.

Enriching our understanding of the human heart in impossible circumstances is "Dear Sarah: Letters Home from a Soldier of the Iron Brigade," edited with loving care by the soldier's descendant Coralou Peel Lassen.

In my opinion it goes without saying that this recent contribution is refreshing, of great value to not only the modern reader but to posterity, too, to those who want to know more about the men --and women; the real human beings, who lived through and endured the American Civil War. This volume also illuminates the nature of not only the American Civil War but all war.

The Iron Brigade Soldier who wrote to Sarah was a young Union soldier named John Henry Pardington. The intense personal nature of his letters, what he writes about and how, is more than touching. The letters left by John Pardington offer a glimpse into the mind and soul of a man in the midst of a terrible situation and how he copes with it, how it defines him, shapes him, and how he continues to triumph over adversity.

After reading several pages I already felt like I was becoming familiar with the people "back home" that this soldier wrote about 140 years ago. I began to feel the pain of his separation from his wife and daughter, the pain of every aching joint and privation he endured. The more I opened up to John Pardington and the realities of his life at war, the more psychologically invested I became --and the more I read. Knowing the inevitable outcome made some letters particularly poignant. And painful. Often, I found the book emotionally overwhelming and put it down, reflecting. Sometimes I re-read passages with a fresh insight --from John's point of view. It isn't too much to say the book is, at turns and by its nature, not only a body blow but also eye-opening. Reading firsthand accounts of how soldiers of the Iron Brigade's 24th Michigan Infantry lived and died day by day in 1862-63 can leave one feeling "beat" inside, symptomatic of the tremendous impact the reality of John Pardington's life.

I think Ms. Lassen has really done an excellent job editing John's letters. One would think any student of history (or humanity) would want to read this book because John's words are universal. He was a Union soldier of the American Civil War, but his triumphs and failures, needs and wants, yearnings and hopes, etc., are an insight into the psyche of men away at war of all times. Her triumph is bringing John's words to the modern reader and to posterity. If one wanted to know how a soldier might be feeling or what he/she might be thinking, from Marathon to the Persian Gulf, one can find the essence of the human spirit, a soldier's dilemma, distilled and evolving in the letters of John Pardington.

John Pardington's human face on a large historical event; his evident love and longing; his deeply human and often tender observations made me again wonder why there must be conflict, wars that kill far too many John Pardingtons and leave the world a poorer place. Is there such a thing as a tragic triumph? If so, John Pardington's triumph in expressing himself, in his very being, is all the more tragic because of his death at Gettysburg. He probably never imagined his words would one-day reach out across the years to so many people. He would probably be surprised. Rather than flustered or embarrassed to have his innermost thoughts laid bare, I like to think he would ultimately see how his own life matters today, and always.

Ms. Lassen has helped John Pardington speak after all these years and still we hear him. And will hear him.

Speaking from a Layman's point of view, this is no easy read. The book is full of information and plenty of explanations about schemas and their application and origin. This book will likely require a 2nd if not a 3rd reading to fully understand it's concepts.

As for me, I found if interesting enough to know what schemas are and how they interpret my life's experiences and viewpoints. This was already brought up in the 1st chapter. But having no desire to pursue a PHD, I quickly lost interest in reading the rest of the book because of the considerable details. The book read more like a 4 th year psychology textbook than a self-help book.

Surely schemas are a very important and relevant method of clinical diagnosis, and I will be better off knowing more about them. I only wish the authors could make it less scientific. Perhaps a few more case studies would be helpful.

Why Can't I Get What I Want? emphasizes one of the latest developments in cognitive therapy, i.e., the role schemas play in our lives. The authors suggest that schemas can be thought of as powerful lenses that affect every important part of life. I had previously known of the schema concept, but was impressed by the clarity of the presentation and the case examples that brought the notions to life.

I was also surprised to see elements of chaos theory applied to schemas in a fascinating manner. The authors cleverly demonstrate how inconsistencies are a natural phenomenon in all of us. They note out how easy it can be to flip between opposite, seemingly contradictory poles of any particular schema (such as from perfection to inadequacy).

This book makes you think. I have acquired a much deeper understanding of myself and others. The ideas have stuck with me and I see new applications of them frequently. I have never read a self-help book before that provided such a wide swath of applications. It isn't just about depression or anxiety; it's about life-relationships, empowerment, and self-worth.

I highly recommend this book!

This guide gives very specific directions to the many attractions, and I am impressed by the quantity of entries. My only problem is that so much of the book covers the Northern areas of MN, WI, and MI (e.g., upper p). All very beautiful and definitely the best of the best of the area, but I would enjoy seeing some more convenient locales.

There's something about seeing hot springs and mud pots in winter that I really enjoy--lots of steam and snow!

This book has 44 tours in Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California. This area is beautiful but less-visited than the Sierra. Each tour is rated with difficulty, length, elevation, navigation, time, and season. All tours have B&W copies USGS topos (1 inch per mile scale) with the trail outlined. Each tour has a description of what you see, where to start, and leads you through the tour. The book also has a list of local lodging and official information sources. Lots of interesting and entertaining ski pictures are sprinkled in the book. The only thing I think is missing would be an index, but that wouldn't stop me from buying the book.

Also recommended: Ski Tours in the Sierra Nevada, 50 Classic Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Summits in California, Ski Tours in Southern California

When well done, the Moon handbooks are excellent. One that I have used extensively is the Maine handbook. Accurate, lots of detail and very useful. In contrast their Michigan handbook is a disapointment due to its shallow treatment. NW and NE Michigan are so lightly done that the material is of little use in trip planning. It needs to be redone in depth. Until then, I would not recommend it.

If you're thinking about a MI vacation this year or just a few weekend outings in the state, get a copy of this book. After living in the state for 26 years, I thought I knew MI pretty well. But, on a recent trip to the UP (Upper Peninsula), this guide showed me new stuff every step along the way-----and it's fun to read.

I can't believe others are reviewing this book so highly. It is an OK natural-history guide, with a decent general overview of the area. But don't try to get anywhere with this book or look for specific information. For example, although it has individual chapters for each region (e.g. Caribou wilderness, Thousand Lakes, etc.), they don't contain any information on geology, fishing, zoology, etc. Instead, these topics are lumped into their own general chapters in the front of the book. With the notable exception of the wildflowers section, these chapters seem somewhat topical and weak. In the case of fishing, the "chapter" is one page. Likewise with resorts and campgrounds, which are lumped into a three-page list in a separate chapter, rather than discussed by region.

Although it contains one nice topo for the entire Lassen area, the 1:62500 scale and lack of detailed maps for any of the sections makes finding trailheads or following trails nearly impossible. I guess it's just not clear what this book is trying to be -- if it is a natural-history guide, as the back cover proclaims, why so much space describing trails(half the book or more)? If it is a trail guide, why no decent maps to make it usable?

I was very disappointed in the overall format and descriptive narrative of this book. If you are a rock hound or a naturalist that is concerned with all of the Latin names of every plant species in the Lassen area, this review may not apply. However, if you plan on using this book to help plan a multi-day backpacking/hiking trip through Lassen you should look elsewhere.

No doubt the author is very knowledgeable about the area, but the format is not for trip planning, but more for reference to read as you are walking the trails. The trails are not linked in loops, or connected for round-trip hikes in any discernable way which is a necessity for trip planning in my opinion. Overall, this book is great if you want to catalogue volcanic rock and plants, but if you are planning a backcountry trek look for another hiking guide.

This book is an encyclopedic guide to the Lassen Volcanic National Park area, including Lassen itself, the Caribou and Thousand Lakes Wildernesses, Hat Creek Valley, and McArthur-Burney Falls State Park.

While the book covers its main focus - hiking trails - more than adequately, it also includes more than one hundred pages about the natural history of the area, road logs for driving in the National Park, descriptions of nature trails, and a decent, removable map of the area. Although the main text is somewhat dated (1981), a helpful six-page update from 1999 is included. All this information does make the book a little bulky for hiking or backpacking, so photocopy the pages you'll need before you hit the trail. (And remember that big guidebooks with lots of information are better than those that don't have enough!)

The only criticism I have to offer is that Schaffer tends to ramble off-track in some of his trail descriptions, but this is a minor complaint. All in all, a good, comprehensive guidebook to the area.