.....Maybe someone who isn't shouting could actually tell us what the book is about.

Thanks.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I found myself reading the book on my way to work, during my lunch break, and as soon as I got home from work. It was definitely a page-turner & one that I will read again. I give it 5 stars & highly recommend it.

FROM COVER TO COVER I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT COURAGE WAS BUT AUNT DOLLIE AND GRANNY < TWO OF THE INCREDIBLE CHARACTERS IN "FEAR NO EVIL" > SHOWED ME WHAT REAL, RAW COURAGE IS ALL ABOUT. I CAN'T WAIT TO BEGIN READING IT AGAIN! WHAT A POWERFUL, INSPIRING STORY.

Standing at the Edge of Madness offered a wonderful read. It was eye-opening, gripping, inspiring and gave insight to a snap-shot of history that many Americans are unaware of. My bookclub has begun to read this book, and already great discussion is coming out of this experience. Fortunately, I had some knowledge of the events behind the Jackson State College murders, as a resident of the city of Jackson, MS during that time. A myriad of information flooded the airwaves, and still does, regarding the Kent State Murders. Without a doubt the Kent State history is very important for us to know as Americans. However, within a month or two of Kent State came the Jackson State murders, and little more than a few newsclippings, or news blurbs outside of the state of MS was offered as documentation of this equally horrific event. Yes, Standing At The Edge of Madness is a most read for all Americans, especially African-Americans,and more specifically those students and alums of what is now Jackson State University. It's only fair that we know the history of events of this magnitude. It's important for us to heal and come together as a nation. Standing At The Edge also offered the humanistic component of those individuals whose lives were impacted and in many instances changed forever. There stories will touch your heart!

"STANDING AT THE EDGE OF MADNESS" THOROUGHLY BLEW ME AWAY. IT WAS ELECTRIFYING AND EYE OPENING. I RECOMMEND IT FOR ALL AGES. THE AUTHOR DID A GREAT JOB OF PAINTING IMAGES AND CONVEYING EMOTIONS, ONCE I BEGAN, I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. ALTHOUGH STANDING AT THE EDGE OF MADNESS BEGINS WITH THE MURDERS OF INNOCENT COLLEGE STUDENTS AT A BLACK COLLEGE IN THE SOUTH, IT MOVES FORWARD INTO THE PRESENT DAY WITH A STORY LINE THAT KEPT ME GLUED TO MY SEAT. AN ELEMENT OF THE AUTHOR'S UNIQUE STYLE THAT I PARTICULARLY LIKED WAS HIS MASTERFUL USE OF AN EPILOG SECTION AT THE END OF HIS BOOK WHERE HE TIED IN THE STORY LINE'S LESSON TO MANY OF THE PROBLEMS FACING AMERICA TODAY. I ALSO LIKED THE FACT THAT THE AUTHOR PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS AND GAVE GREAT SOLUTIONS TO MANY OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS FACING AMERICA TODAY WHERE RACISM IS CONCERNED. I TRULY HOPE THAT OPRA, BYRANT GUMBEL AND MANY OF TODAYS'S OTHER SUPER MEDIA SOURCES ARE LISTENING AND GET ON THE BAND WAGON WITH THIS POWERFUL NEW WRITER. HE TACKLES THE PROBLEM OF RACISM (PAST AND PRESENT DAY) IN OUR COUNTRY AND TELLS IT LIKE IT IS. HIS STORY HAS A MESSAGE FOR US ALL. WHETHER YOU ARE BLACK, WHITE, HISPANIC, ETC. THIS BOOK WILL TOUCH YOU DEEPLY, GENTLY NUDGE YOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND MAKE YOU STAND UP AND CHEER FOR THE UNDERDOG. I GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPOINTED WITH THIS BOOK. MY PREDICTION IS THAT "STANDING AT THE EDGE OF MADNESS" WILL BE A POWERFUL GUIDE TO LIVE BY FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICAN FAMILIES FOR YEARS TO COME.

Standing at the edge of Madness is a wonderful book to read. This book gave me insight about the murder at Jackson State University. Standing at the edge of Madness is an action packed book that you will not want to put it down

I liked this book. I am doing the international MBA at Maryville University. The book is very complete and has great illustrations, graphics, and web links.
Is a very interesting book, and I will keep it. But I think that although there is a chapter related to logistics, the book is not deeply mentioning import and export procedures and other custom and paperwork problems that international business faces.

As a Georgetown University student who took the author's class, I found this textbook to be the most comprehenisve International Marketing source around. I currently own two textbooks written by the same authors because of the book's clear, organized topics. This textbook is perfect for beginners who would like to learn more about International Marketing as a guide for professionals who have to make challenging decisions.

I am a student at the Budapest University of Economic Sciences. I found this book to be very interesting and fun to read. Other students here, for whom English is not their first language, enjoy the book becuase it is clear and easy to understand. This should be standard reading for all international buisness/marketing students.

Topic is fairly intriguing, especially Burnham's expert knowledge on issues of self-interest, but writing itself is overall clunky and dull. You find yourself wishing for more spark, warmth and humor in place of the cold, arid, repetitive fact-spewing.

While the economics profession has its head in the clouds, Professor Burnham's focus is on the ground floor (or perhaps even the basement). His paradigm for understanding the underlying source of our economic preferences is highly illuminating. Interestingly, it supplants the widely-held view in the field that tastes should be taken as exogenously determined. Rather than falling from the sky, however, Dr. Burnham describes the genetic underpinnings of our preferences, and the tug-of-war that often results. I highly encourage others to read this provocative text, and to follow Burnham as he continues to articulate his profound insights in other volumes. Stay tuned. There's more to learn from this teacher and synthesizer of various strands of scientific thought.

115 years ago one of the two most important works in evolutionary biology was written, yet it remained unknown for 30 years, as biologists groped along in the dark. Economists are today doing the same thing, while the Mendel of their field lays unread. This book needs to be read by all who find the current state of economics to be unrealistic in its assumptions about human behavior. We have been groping in the dark too long. Don't let 30 years go by, when the truth is available to us today.

Apparently there is a lot more to home business than meets the eye. Lillian Vernon's story illustrates the challenges and exhilarations she faced juggling her business, personal and family relationships. This book is a good overview of a personal success story, from the point of view of a woman who was only looking to earn a little extra cash and instead amassed an empire.

The book maybe a fantastic voyage of discovery into not just mail-order, but into discovering fulfilment for all those desirous of doing so. Lilian Vernon has subtly personified what many men & women aspire to be and do. It's commendable what the indomitable spirit of a human being when pushed that bit harder can achieve.

From the beginning, I was hooked. Excellent reading. Inspiring for anyone wishing to start their own business or is a business owner. As a small mail order business owner, I found this book to be a good look at what it takes to be an entreprenuer as well as some of the difficulties that we (as business owners) often face. Becky McAllister, BBB, Lt

I read this book for one of my classes in which we were to select an ethnography on a genre of music of our choosing. The book started out very interesting and easy to follow: origins of the word fado, the first performers of the fado, regions in Portugal in which it developed, and an intelligible description of the fado itself. However, the book lost its pizazz when the chapter on "The Media Industry" began, perhaps because the terminology used was confusing (Odeon, GBDP, EMI, etc.) or because I simply did not need to know anything about that sub-topic and therefore did not LET myself be interested! Nevertheless, the first four chapters were great and a definite source of detailed information on the history of the fado.

Paul Vernon really has researched the Portuguese Fado. The first and most important quality this author commands is enthusiasm. Working from his chance encounter with some old Fado records in San Francisco over a decade ago, Vernon tells of his subsequent journey through the magic which is this Portuguese jewel. Fado, as Vernon explores, is a national music older than any other modern-surviving folk (eg Tango, Rumba, etc...), whose origins are as contested and unidentifiable as its definition. Saudade, the main feeling in the soul of Fado, is a Portuguese term with no translation into any other language. Some people refer to it as spleen, lament, longing, yearning and/or unachievable desires. It is an emotion, a desire, a sixth sense.

Vernon's history of Fado is almost an ethnography, which is at once academic (hitorical/anthropological) and also popular in style and authorship. Once having introduced the magic of this music he so obviously loves, he talks us through the instruments of the Fado: the portuguise guitarra and viola; the places claiming Fado as their property and cultural identity (namely, Lisbon's old hills and Coimbra up in the North). The final chapter redirects its gaze to the Portuguese diaspora, namely in the Americas.

There are some criticisms to this book. It is not as complete in breadth or depth as it could be. For example, Fado has very modern-day popular expressions which are extremely important in the contemporary Portuguese culture. Also, in his chapter on diaspora, Vernon largely ignores the Portuguese first, second and third generation-descendants around Europe and elsewhere who left around the time of the revolution.

However, this book is a must for anybody who has a true interest in the Portuguse Fado and its history. Importantly, Vernon includes an interseting (but dated) Discography for those who wish to hear some of this fantastic song. For others, who want to follow-up some research into the Fado, Vernon has helpfully included some useful addresses to point you in the right direction. The hope is that more anglophone versions of the histories, geographies and cultures of the Portuguese Fado emerge.

After reading an intriguing review of this book in the London Times Literary Review, I was moved to purchase the book. I have been a particular fan and student of the fado for more than 30 years, and admit that I am highly judgmental and critical of accuracy in detail. This book did not dissapoint this critical reader. It is worth every penny of its rather steep price - and more. Mr. Vernon gives the best detail view ever published in the English language on this intriguing, quintessentially Portuguese genre. He truly not only knows his subject, but he thoroughly to his soul grasps the essence of fado. A truly remarkable and memorable journey. I read the book straight through, and was sorry to put it down when done. Highly, highly recommended for any lover of Fado.

It is such a pleasure to review a book that is about as flawless
as any book I've read, that covers its topic so thoroughly, so
completely, in such depth, and has so many insights. "Star in the East"
is easily such a book.

In the acknowledgements the author states that his family had to
suffer through "three long winters" of his research into the history
of Theososophy and the phenomenon called Krishnamurti (K). The reader
reaps ample benefits of Mr. Vernon's total understanding of his
subject. He really "groks" the material, to use Heinlein's term from
"Stranger in a Strange Land."

An author writing about K doesn't have any room to err or miss
aspects of K's life. There have been many books written on the topic,
for example, Mary Lutyens comprehensive and insightful biographies
(I'd recommend the first two highly). And of course K himself wrote
many books. Yet Mr. Vernon somehow succeeds, in less than 300 pages,
in covering the entire topic of the background to K's discovery by
the Theosophical Society, then his being thrust, albeit gradually,
into the public as the "World Teacher," to his break from theosophy,
and establishing himself, on his own terms, as a world teacher, and
the author is almost always dead on in his discussions of the
teachings themselves.

Mr. Vernon starts the book with the very famous sighting of K
on a beach in Adyar, India, by the world-renown but controversial

psychic C.W. Leadbetter, and gives a great description of the latter's
viewing of the advanced "soul" of the apparently outwardly "stupid"
Brahmin boy, and Leadbetter's careful consideration that indeed he
has identified the "chosen one." Following is a fine historical
overview of the Theosophical Society's (TS) beginnings (or perhaps
resurrection) in 1875, by Blavatsky and Olcott. Next we read about
Annie Besant and Leadbetter, Blavatsky's successors, who believe
that theosophy has a destiny to bring to the world a Christ, a World
Teacher. While the author becomes very critical of Besant later in
the book, deservedly so it would seem, he very much honors her amazing
courage and achievements (pp. 18-19, etc.) prior to her becoming a
"priestess" for the "New Age."

The rest of the book is totally consistent with the above -
complete and insightful. Many very complicated topics are handled
with amazing balance. Three examples are 1) K's gradual decision
to break with his "Amma," Annie Besant, and how she, Leadbetter, and
the TS handle this "betrayal" - and yet after leaving the TS K
might have become the exact "flowering" of theosophy its founders
envisioned!; 2) K's relations with many people as a very flawed
personality, vs. his amazing presence in his role as a teacher, and
the power of his simple, direct teachings; 3) the problem of using
word symbols to convey teachings that are beyond words. On p. 260
(and elsewhere) with great skill he shows that while K's teachings
are contradictory if followed to the letter, the solution is simply
to accept them at whatever level works for a person, as millions have
done. Personally I have met people who over-analyse K's teachings,
and worry more about how aware they are than simply being, which is
perhaps the main point in the first place!

Yet another example of the author's acumen is his fine analysis
of K's teachings and their impact (pp. 213-5), followed by a
proper quoting of K himself on the core of the teaching (pp. 216-7).
Then the author recommends and discusses the book "Freedom From
the Known" so that the reader can delve into the topic him or
herself.

If there is a better book that covers the background, life, and
teachings of Krishnamurti better than "Star in the East," I would
certainly like to know about it!

True believers in K-talk are not going to like this book, but as someone who is an alumnus of years of going to Krishnamurti talks and living the life as best I could, and can, I am truly glad that someone has done a good critical assessment of Krishnamurti, who he is, where he came from, and how he fits into the world. This is not a hagiography any more than Krishnamurti is a saint. I was fascinated with the detail and the research and the amplifications the author presented. I found myself checkings the references and notes constantly because Mr.Vernon seems to have read everything on K.--and I am envious of his indulging himself so much in the material. He is obviously a closet devotee, who has kept his own center of balance, and maintained his own independent critical mind and a soulful interest in Krishnamurti as a teacher of our times. Vernon revivified my interest in Krishnamurti's thought, simply because Krishnamurti is so compelling, so simple,and so straighforward, yet so complex and paradoxical. Vernon presents the philosophy by presenting Krishnamurti himself. We learn of the man, what he has to say, how it developed, and the context in which it is said. This book stimulated me to turn again to the path or yoga of knowledge which Krishnamurti followed even while he denied he was following any path at all. In some sense Krishnamurti even denied that he had anything to teach. Vernon helps us make sense of this so that we can actually discuss Krishnamurti in a western philosophy class and not have to consign Krisnamurti to "The wisdom of the East" or "mystical philosophy" dustbin. Krishnamurti is relevent, and necessary not only for modern psychology but also for the philosophy of mind as taught in our contemporary universities. Krishnamurti has great psychological technique which ought to be the envey of any depth psychologist. The paradox is that we must live our own lives even while we are studying life itself as K. demonstrated, and Vernon grasps. Krishnamurti's genius was that he could do this in his teachings,and it worked for him, but now we each have to live a life of our own, and K. cannot tell us how to do this. Vernon has provided the context of the life which produced this teaching and he does it convincingly and with scholarship. The whole picture of the man and his philosophy is much greater than the parts. For those of us who struggle with authority, there is no greater authority than Krishnamurti, and even he must be overthrown to attain the liberation that he so throughly castigates as "mere thought". With Vernon's insightful study we can put Krishnamurti on the shelf where he belongs--with Socrates,Plato, Nietzsche, perhaps Descartes,and maybe even St. Augustine. If there ever was a romantic and spiritual idealist, it was Krishnamurti. We need to free ourselves from him, even while we immerse ourselves in him. Vernon's book frees us from the ideal state he promulgated and proposed. We are human, and Vernon has written a very readable, if tame, assessment of a very human philosopher.

Star In The East: Krishnamurti, The Invention Of A Messiah is a thoughtful and informative biography of Krishnamurti, a most remarkable man who was raised from childhood as the Theosophical Society's "messiah" and anticipated spiritual savior of the world. Examining the young Krishnamurti's tutelage, his maturity and and personal strivings, Star In The East fully captures the heart and soul of a truly extraordinary and dedicated individual.

The writer attempts to explain if his brother's life was worth living because he ended it so badly. He never answers some basic questions such as "Why did his brother only live with his grandmother" and "what made him so distant to his family". Why the writer chooses to go into such length about the history of the thermometer and the cosmos is beyond me. This book was chosen for my bookclub because of the previous comments and star rating. It should have been a hint to me how bad the book was when no library carried it, and I tried 2 major bookstores plus 3 department store and could only get this book by ordering it. Buy this book if you have trouble sleeping because out of 5 members of my club I was the only one who finished it and it took me forever!

John Vernon has the task of cleaning out his brother's house after his brother dies of a sudden illness. He discovers that his brother lived in an abyss of hopelessness and depression. This book is his attempt to come to terms with that discovery, and the questions of personal responsibility it raises for him. Should he have known how his brother was suffering? Could he have helped? Was he required to?

In the beginning Vernon tries to approach these daunting questions in a light-hearted search for the reasons. Why the thermometer, for instance? His musings along these lines are quite interesting. He meanders through all sorts of unrelated arcane lore looking for connections, for the reasons why things happen the way they do. Ultimately, however, he has to acknowledge that all of these reasons are beside the point. He says, finally, "Reasons do have a limit. Shall I offer a history of the Pepsi bottle, the cigarette, the milk carton, the rag? A history of bad smells? Even now, in memory, I feel buried like Paul, trapped in his house, surrounded by the waste of unexplained things."

This might have been a turning point in the narrative away from reasons to the limits of personal responsibility, but the author doesn't go there. He seems to withdraw into a kind of personal disgust that pushes away the responsibilities of love and kinship. He does not come to terms with his discovery, and this is the drama of the narrative. As this drama unfolds, however, I sense that it is no longer under Vernon's control. Vernon seems to drift to a place outside of human relationships, so that the book ends on a strange unresolved note.

The cover illustration of one of Joseph Cornell's cryptic boxes, assembled from discarded junk, is an excellent visual metaphor for the way in which John Vernon approaches the topic of death, loss and an exploration of the reasons for living in this book. Vernon attempts to make sense, not so much of the death, but of the peculiar, eclectic life of his older brother. The binding threads among the disparate elements of Vernon's university career, his role as executor of his brother's estate, the brother's gradual withdrawal from social relationships and the junkpile life that he leaves behind, are brief excerpts from an old encyclopedia that describe the tools and techniques of empirical culture. Vernon profoundly explores the microcosm of American family and lifestyle in his examination of the microcosm of his brother's life and their disconnected and blundered relationship. From the opening pages of his excursion to the local Walmart to find a thermometer to mount on his recently dead brother's house, Vernon is adept at using his own frustration and experiences of cultural clutter as the divining rod to unravel the peculiarities of brother's secluded and repulsively littered life. Vernon uses metaphors like the thermometer throughout the text to observe and measure his own as well as our cultural climate and the ways in which we collect and treat objects and relationships in our supposedly educated and modern American culture. Vernon employs a masterful mix of humor, angst, revulsion, annoyance and fascinated curiousity in his exploration of grieving as a means to examine the many-layered questions of life and death. It is a refreshing exploration that avoids the usual religious and spiritual overtones of the subject, yet retains a profound metaphysical inquiry about self, other and culture that presses the reader to frame (and reframe) his/her own perspective and practices. Vernon uses metaphor and object representation as tools to explore the essential questions and impacts of life and lifestyle. If there is one flaw in this fascinating and engaging book it is the ending, which slips into a conventional approach that pushes the reader to accept the notion that no life is a waste. When Vernon takes us into mundane territory in such an unconventional way it is a bit disappointing that he ends on such a conventional note.

As already noted in the reviews, the book has all the elements of the genetically-engineered-child-as-bad-seed books that seem to be proliferating lately. You've got the betrayed wife, the amoral doctor who crosses the line into evil, the helpless friends, the works. While it's not terribly plotted, there is also nothing interesting or new.

Furthermore, the writing style is uneven. While it picks up steam later in the book, the first few chapters read like a writing workshop exercise, with one adjective per sentence-- "blinding brightness", "bitterly cold", "perfect blanket", and "southern sky"-- and this all in only the first (short) paragraph.

I like genetics thrillers, and this one is pretty standard. There's the requisite creepy child, worried parent, bad doctor, good doctor, etc. I recently picked this book up for a second time, and I found I had to skip long boring portions. However, if this is the best book you've ever read, I would suggest broadening your horizons.

I first heard of this great book from a book-report at school. From the name, I could tell that I would like this book. After that day at school I began a quest to get this book. It took 5 different trips (and 3 months) to various book stores to find out that the book was out of print. I was devistated by this news. I really wanted to read this book. When my mother and I went to the library I saw an oppertunity. I look for the book in the card catalog and.......to my stars it was there. I was so happy. I finally got to read my book. The only problem that I face right now is that I don't want to return the book, but of course I have to. I just WISH that I could have this book FOR MY VERY OWN =o(. If anyone has an extra copy of this great book, please contact me at my websight

I found this book to be almost worthless - no coverage of the subject, just a lot of glossy photos with no detailed explanations. Not sure where one gets the idea this is anything near a roadside guide (which are really great references.) I had to hide this book to avoid the embarassment of having bought it.

As an avid amateur, I found this book delightful. Beautiful photographs, and easy to understand explanations. In particular, the detailed descriptions of the thin sections were extremely educational. Most texts that include photographs of thin sections are way over my head. This book was easy to comprehend, and afforded me an insight to thin sections, and why petrologists use them. If you have ever been puzzled by what a thin section actually reveals, buy this book. That answer alone is worth it.

Beautifully organized and exceptionally clear explanations, at the microscopic level, of how the various kinds of rocks are formed, and of their mineral grain structure. Many photographs with full and lucid analysis. The coordination of text and illustration are superb. Truly a masterpiece for the interested layman.