I am not finished with the book yet, as it is highly interactive. It's down to earth and written from the heart. This book inspires creative thinking and guides the reader to set and achieve real personal goals, instead of the hype many inspirational books are riddled with. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to live life, and not simply exist in life.

This book gave me an opportunity to really think about all the gifts that God has graciously given me and the fact that I haven't utilized them all. However, I still have time to maximize all my talents as well as all my relationships with the people that have crossed my path in life. This book truly inspired me and has helped me to re focus some of my plans that I originally set out to do this year. I plan to bless others with this book as gifts. I encourage the author to put this book on tape due to the busy way of society. Alot of people that need to hear/read this book might need to hear it in order to grasp all of the significance that it has to offer. Not to discount the awesome art work that was included. This was a divne intervention for me to really get in touch with myself.

This book is great. It encouraged me to write my thoughts down. Alreadey, I have gone back to read them. In reading them again, I've realized some growth. I think that is what the author wanted. This book is a must for people who are guilty of letting their thoughts get away. They are much to precious. I'm sending a copy to my son. He needs to know his thoughts and words have power. It is going to be a great present for several of my freinds.

This was Jim Thompson's first novel & it was a great start. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I've read a couple of the others & they're better (if, for example, you read "The Killer Inside Me" I guarantee you'll want to read more of what Thompson wrote). Highly recommend reading Robert Polito's outstanding biography of Jim Thompson, "Savage Art," early on if you get even a teeny bit hooked on Thompson. Polito did a wonderful job putting everything in context, not just of Thompson's life but of the times in which he lived & the book is just a super companion to a serious reading of Thompson from which you'll learn much about, for example, how much of "Now and On Earth" is autobiographical. As for the novel, the descriptions of an aircraft manufacturing plant drag a bit at times but it's otherwise a wonderfully dark portrait of a struggling family and, in particular, a struggling young writer not unlike the author. Don't read the book expecting typical crime fiction because that's not at all what you get--it's not at all like Thompson classics such as "The Killer Inside Me." What you get here is really an extended vignette or character study (the plot is of minimal importance) & it's excellent.

Now and On Earth is a personal favorite of mine. While this book is'nt the typical noir fare, its not about committing crimes or stopping them, instead its about a dysfunctional family in wartime California. It's a wonderful read, with fully developed characters and situations, written in a gritty noir style. This book also has a well written introduction by Stephen King as well.

James Dillon, a successful author, would rather crawl around chipping up plaster than write another book. He periodically regurgitates blood and binges on cheap alcohol. His girl bit his wife in the leg. His mom has varicose veins, and the wife reads trash. The son always tells the same joke. It's dangerous be a former communist in San Diego, but Now and on Earth has nothing to do with that. Thompson borrows from the lives of his family and immortalizes both them and the WWII aircraft industry.

This is an outstanding resource with a unique format for improved user friendliness as compared to conventional dictionaries. The word content is free from esoteric and technical entries, but still relatively comprehensive. It is an essential reference for the beginner. The more advanced readers will also find it a convenient ready-reference tool as well, allowing the large bookshelf type dictionary to be reserved for occasional use. Although the dictionary is larger than pocket size, the ease of use and selected word content also makes this a very good selection for use as a travel dictionary.

Word entries have a larger font size and are blue, while the dictionary text is black and a smaller font, and spacing between entries is generous. These features make it much easier and faster to find a particular entry. For the beginner, even the basic usage of a dictionary is not necessarily a trivial task when it comes to the Russian language! This dictionary can be used with confidence, because another unique feature is a set of exercises to ensure the reader is using the dictionary effectively and correctly.

The only shortcoming of this dictionary is the absence of phonetic interpretations of Russian words. A brief pronunciation guide is included with the description of the Cyrillic alphabet, and the stressed syllable for each word is also indicated. Entire pronunciations for each word entry would be a valuable addition, however, because of the complex rules governing the pronunciation of Russian words.

Overall, this is an excellent resource!

This is more than a dictionary. This book contains all of the answers to the common grammatical questions concerning usage, declension, aspect and conjugation for each Russian entry. The English section contains full pages for broader topics, like colours, names and how to express possesion. I highly recommend this dictionary for the first or second year student.

This dictionary has helped me get through the first few semester of Elementary Russian. It's not the usual scaled-down version of a larger dictionary because the editors kept in mind to include useful phrases that any beginning student of Russian would need to look up, and when you look up a word, it just doesn't give a list of ten possible translations, but it makes sure that you pick the one closest to your intended meaning.

Among the very few books dealing with this little known night fighter, this book does a really good job collecting anecdotes and previously unpublished photos. Thompson divides the book by combat theaters making it easy for a modeler to find his/her favorite subjects. The color plates are well done and the nose art details very helpful. If one combines this book (useful for reseach of aircraft markings) with the Warbird Tech series P-61 book (useful for detailed close-ups and type developements), you have a pretty complete reference set on this small chapter of WWII aerial combat history. Recommended.

Osprey's "P-61 Black Widow Units of WWII" is valuable and intersting because it provides in-depth look at the role of this somewhat unknown and unheralded night-fighter in WWII.

Concerning the airplane, the book is probably unequaled in information concerning this airplane from development at Northrup through end-use in all theatres of WWII. Plenty of photographs of the entire airplane, cockpit, armament, crew, nose art, provide interest for the reader (and details for modelers). First hand accounts of missions are plentiful and really make clear the lethal effect of the weapons of this plane and give a description of night-fighter tactics and on-plane-radar that I have not read elsewhere.

The book is a really detailed and accurate look into an interesting segment of WWII fighter aircraft. If this is your first Osprey Publishing book, you'll want to get another.

This book covers P-61 operations and all units. It includes excellent color art, many photos and descriptions of combat. Mr. Thompson begins with a brief "prelude to combat" including comments from Northrop test pilot John Meyers. Next we move to chapters on the various areas in which the Black Widow served, beginning with the European Theatre of Operations. Contained within each theatre chapter are many "in theatre" photographs and combat recollections. Then comes a full color art section of both "nose art" and entire aircraft. Chapters on Mediterranean, Pacific and China/Burma/India theatres follow. An interesting revelation in the Pacific chapter is the clever use of floatplanes by the Japanese to attempt to decoy P-61's from more important targets. The book is completed with "Kill" listings, scale drawings and explanations of the artwork. If you want an operational overview of the P-61 Black Widow you wouldn't go wrong with this book.

This book will make one's respect for the achievement of "The Hound of Heaven" appreciably increase. We need not be ardent admirers of Francis Thompson to sympathize with the plight of this very modern figure, torn between addiction to laudanum and love of the Transcendent.

Waldron's book sets out to do four things: (a) Provide biographical information about the poet; (b) Introduce us to his most famous poem; (c) Explicate the text, open it up, provide comparisons to other works of literature, devotional and poetic; (d) Demonstrate how most good poetry can be used as material for prayer -- the striking and famous example to which Waldron alludes is Simone Weil's "lectio divina" with George Herbert's "Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back."

Waldron turns an indulgent eye to the aesthetic flaws of "The Hound of Heaven": among them, the archaisms, accented ed's, and overuse of syntactical inversion -- poets in Wordsworth's day would have been impatient with some of Thompson's prosodical traits! And some of the comparisons are adventurous. But we certainly cannot find fault with Waldron's thorough knowledge of his subject, and the evident joy with which he writes. "The Hound" is a grand metaphor which has inspired artists, writers, and inquirers into the mysteries of the Catholic faith; Waldron cites Dorothy Day, Eugene O'Neill, and the painter Ives Gammell. We might be surprised to learn that Oscar Wilde (see p. 48) had very generous things to say about Thompson's masterwork -- a surprise that is lessened when we consider the temperament of Wilde as poet in works such as "E Tenebris."

Waldron's book is teacherly without being disaffectingly didactic; it is informative and genial; it is an unhesitant apologia for poetry as a force for good, as a genitrix of hope, in even the most troubled of lives.

A proofreading note! In the sonnet found on pp 30-31 (section entitled "A Woman's Pity"), the sixth line is missing. "That to my deathless progeny of pain / You should be mother," etc.

Great book on a great subject. Looking for more like it!

This book, actually now available from the publisher (Pauline Books & Media, Boston) is a wonderfully presented book, both aesthetically (size, paper quality and texture, interpretive artwork by Anthony Lobosco) and in content.

Waldron, whom I have heard speak on the subject of Poetry as Prayer, is well-grounded in the life and times of Francis Thompson and enthusiastic about his subject. Thus the HOUND OD HEAVEN comes alive for the reader and reaches deeply into one's spiritual resevoir for silence and prayer.

I read this book for first time many years ago, in translation in my native Czechoslovakia.The book and author are more known in Europe then in north America.To classify book for ages 4-8 is a mistake.It's more like 8-15.Hey,I still enjoy that book and I'm 42 !!!!

Rolf in the Woods is one of a series of six written by Earnest Thompson Seton Called the Woodcraft Series. The original were hardback with an imitation birch bark cover. Rolf in the story is NOT a boy scout as stated above but was an orphan who lived with a drunken aunt and uncle who often beat him. He made the acquaintance of an Indian Quonab who lived at a nearby pond who taught him about nature. One night he heard his aunt and uncle come home drunk and plan to beat him so he took off out the window and went to the Indian's campsite.Knowing that the aunt and uncle would eventually find him there Rolf and Quaonb took off for Canada The book is written in such a way that it teaches woodcrft while still being an interesting story in fact the book has wide margins with sketches showing how to do the things described in the story.(such as making a fire by bow and drill) I highly recomend this book for any ten year old (or adult).It is one one of the books I read at that age that was responsible for my great interest in nature study today.

This is the story of the last Wabanaki Indian in the forests of New England. A beautiful book as exciting as Robinson Crusoe, as epic, poignant and American as Lonesome Dove, steeped in the same tradition of authenticity, historical, anthropological, ecological. Seton wrote a century ago, but to the contemporary reader he is a sensitive writer that provides insight into the period he wrote about that shames our modern-day prejudices and simplifications about the thoughts and mores of people two centuries ago. Reading this book is edifying as it is humbling. It is a gem of American literature. The illustrations are exciting and evocative and add an important dimension to the story. You will never forget having read this book. It is a book to share. Why on earth Amazon.com rate it for reading age of 4-8 is incomprehensible.

This work's primary selling point is that it's very complete. And its biggest drawback is that . . . it's very complete. There's more material in this volume than you can ever put to use. You come away from a straight read feeling overwhelmed, and you come away from a skimming or a search by subject feeling like you missed something. Still, if you're looking for specific material on something relating to King Arthur, this is probably your best bet. If you're looking to be entertained by the Arthurian story, buy yourself a copy of The Once And Future King.

If you are serious about studying the Arthurian legends, you need this book. If you have no other reference work, this should be the one on your shelf. Lacy & Co. deserve heaps of praise on their heads for this volume! It covers aspects of the legends themselves in differing countries and in different eras. It covers art work. It covers music. It covers particular characters. It covers theories relating to the backgrounds to the legends, both historical and folklorical. The entries are readable, clear, and give lots of information so that you can follow up on any given topic. I cannot praise this book enough! Every library should have a copy (including many personal libraries...).

This is the new, updated edition of The New Arthurian Encyclopedia published in hardcover in 1991. As with the older version, it provides more than 500 new entries that cannot be found in the 1986 Arthurian Encyclopedia. The update also contains a 40-page section compiling the various addendums that have appeared in The Arthurian Yearbook since 1991. It is disappointing to note, however, that these new items were not incorporated into the main work.

Arranged alphabetically, the Encyclopedia remains the most invaluable reference resource for the Arthurian Legend. Each entry is written and signed by a scholar of Arthurian studies, and is followed, where necessary, by a short bibliography. The index is much easier to use than the one in the original volume. A must have for any collection.

I'm quite fond of Ruth Plumly Thompson's Oz books, and I think there's a definite sense of fun that prevails even in her weaker Oz books. Unfortunately, this is one of those weaker books. The plot revolves around the major characters from the first Oz book visiting a country in the stratosphere. The Tin Woodman angers their ruler, and he sets out to conquer Oz. By this point in her Oz-writing career, Thompson seems to fall back on the "some villain wants to conquer Oz" plot when she can't think of anything else, and King Strutoovious isn't really even that much of a threat. Despite being weak in terms of plot, however, this book is still a fun read. The descriptions of Stratovania are interesting, Ozma's maid Jellia Jamb finally receives a starring role, and the Wizard of Oz gets the chance to use some clever magical devices. While there are many better Oz books, this one is still pretty good.

1939 was a banner year for Oz: MGM studios released its classic film adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, and Royal Historian Ruth Plumly Thompson issued her last official Oz novel, Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz, which, as serendipity would have it, was also one of her finest.

Probably due to the release of the film, Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz opens on a crisp fall evening when the cast of the first book - and thus the cast of the film - are celebrating the anniversary of Dorothy' arrival in Oz. Sparing no detail and demonstrating Oz's reality principle, an elaborate cake has been prepared with a model of Dorothy's Kansas house in its center, the house that fell to Oz in a cyclone and happily, accidentally, and conveniently crushed the Wicked Witch Of The West. The Little Wizard, who has grown quite stout, has another surprise: his latest invention, two airships that are equal part rocket, airplane, and hot air balloon. With Ozma temporarily away from the Emerald City, the group, accompanied by newly matured maid - in - waiting Jellia Jamb ('Jelly and Jam') and the Soldier With The Green Whiskers, take to the skies adventuring.

After several weak and disposable titles, Thompson's Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz has the distinction of being the fastest moving and most economic novel in the entire Oz chronicle. There is no superfluous padding whatsoever, and, looking ahead to illustrator John R. Neill's The Wonder City In Oz (1940), the novel has a loose, kooky, post - romantic tone which perfectly suits Baum's utopist fairyland. No longer a 'sweet, darling little maid' perennially restricted to the background, Jellia Jamb is modern young lady - not a little girl - with a feisty, determined spirit and a bright mind. Happily, it is Jellia, and not Dorothy (who, in defiance of the laws of the kingdom, also seems to have matured considerably), who is the book's protagonist. Thompson also allows the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman to stand center stage, utterly freeing the characters from the dreary limitations Baum often saddled them with in his later titles. Never has the Tin Woodman been this lively, decisive, vigorous, and comical. Thompson's characterization of the Cowardly Lion was the most realized of any of the Oz writers, a talent again demonstrated here. Thankfully, none of the lead characters are transformed into beasts, no overly sweet or obnoxious sidekick animals are introduced, and no one speaks in broken baby talk.

Though the narrative eventually falls back on the overused idea of the Emerald City being invaded by outside forces, the writing throughout is so rollicking and enthusiastic that the inevitable invasion seems almost fresh. In an unusual touch, Thompson has the only briefly seen Trot, Betsy, Tik - Tok, and the Patchwork Girl fleeing the invasion rather than heroically standing their ground. In another refreshing twist, aggressive flying King Strut of The Strat decides to attack the Emerald City only after the Tin Woodman declares Strut's sky kingdom a new colony of Oz. Deeply offended when told that he and his people are now subjects of Ozma, Strut reasonably feels that it is his kingdom that has been invaded, and decides to take the offensive.

Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz is one of the classic entries in the series, touching as it does on both established Oz history as well as Oz history to come. At the fireside party in the opening chapters, early Oz history is thoroughly and joyfully recounted by the attendees. Thompson's Jellia Jamb will remind readers of a kinder, less boisterous Jenny Jump, and the Wizard's cat - like "kit bag" of magic may have been the inspiration for Jenny Jump's "handbag of fairy gifts." For reasons unknown, Thompson changes the true name of the Soldier With The Green Whiskers from the established Omby Amby to Wantowin Battles ('Want To Win Battles'), but, regardless, the Soldier, who is far more of a coward than the Lion, adds excellent comic relief to the story.

Regarding Oz mythology, with its occasionally shifting laws, rules and regulations, Jellia states early in the novel, "If I live to be a million, I'll never forget the day she (Dorothy) came to the castle with the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. Not if I live to be a million!" As Oz scholars know, Oz is not only a non - earthly paradise but also an approximation of the Christian concept of the afterlife. Presuming she is genuinely alive in the earthly sense of the word, Jellia will live to be a million, and, in fact, will live forever, since no one dies in Oz and only the unlucky or unfavored - like the Wicked Witch of the West - can be destroyed. Not only does the opening chapter take the unusual step of informing the reader that it is autumn in Oz (one of the airships has been christened "the Oztober"), but, at the book's end, Dorothy mentions Halloween. Unfortunately the highly potent idea of celebrating Halloween in Oz is explored no further.

Reflecting the book's light, fun tone, John R. Neill's illustrations are among his most brazenly comic. Particularly interesting is Neill's drawing of Glinda the Good's castle in the red Quadling country, which is unexpectedly massive beyond belief. Highly recommended for both children and adults, as well as for established Oz fans and new readers.

This is Thompson's last official Oz book, but also one of her best! The Wizard has inventing flying airships---OZOPLANES and it's a high flying adventure above the skies of Oz as an Ozoplane takes off in hot pursuit of the other Ozoplane which went off accidently! Turns out, King Strutoovious wants to conquer the Land of Oz and Glinda and Ozma are away! This was a great book which is expected from Ruth Plumly Thompson's sense of humor!

While the information in the book can be gotten elsewhere these days, Davis' text holds together quite well, and without caving in to any commercial artiface. The term "ethnobiology" seems a little much, however -- I am not sure that any new theoretical ground has been surveyed.

This is an excellent well written and well researched book that gripped my like few non-fiction books ever have, yet, it leaves science minded people hanging. After all the research Davis conducted it makes no sense that he failed to follow up with experimentation using tetrodotoxin in a laboratory setting. It seems that he comes so close to finding a new use for this sodium blocking drug but fails to follow up. Maybe he has and I just haven't been able to find it despite extensive efforts. If you know of any follow-up please e-mail me

I actually met Wade Davis when he came to Haiti to do his research on his book, and I know personnaly manny of the characters in the book. Wade did an excellent job in portraying what goes on in the underworld of Haiti.

The chapter when he talks about the driver of the commandant of St Marc who was actually a secret society leader and actually had more power and influence than his boss is really key point in the balance of power in Haiti. Those who seem to be nobodies sometimes have more power than presidents

This book is ideal for anyone from A Level students upwards who want to know more about the philosophy of religion and certain themes in the study of Theology and is an excellent preparation and companion for anyone about to begin studying either philosophy or Theology.

As a Theology and religious study student, at degree level, there are so many books that are found in student reading lists that are hard going and which are full of complicated theories and arguments. But this book uses clear language and perfect analogies.

Mel Thompson explains everything from the topic of Religious language to arguments for the existence of God, the problems of evil and suffering, to problems which science place on religion, and does so in a manageable easy to understand way. Balancing scholarship with a jargon- free approach Thompson makes even the most profound arguments accessible to readers of all levels.

This book can be used as a textbook or as a revision book. Using clear paragraphs, bullet points and summary pages Thompson certainly succeeds in getting complicated theories across.

If you are a student on or about to take a Philosophy/Theology and religious studies course from A level upwards or anyone wanting to learn more about these topics this book is a must!!

The content of this book is perfectly organized and you can surely understand what Philosophy of Religion is after reading it once!

If you have asked that question then this is the book for you. It's accessible, easily understood and a good read! Explanations are just that explanations. I have lost my copy to a friend who just 'wanted a look'. So beware