When I started reading Logs Wind and Sun, I imagined I would skim the more detailed parts about construction since I don't plan to build a log home. I bought the book because I was interested in solar and wind generated electricity. But in the end, I read everything. Whenever I tried to skim, I soon came across something that caught my interest and, before I realized it, I was totally entranced with the story. The framed inserts break up the flow of the text and add little tid bits of information just when some variety is necessary. Rex's Maxims and LaVonne's Verities are a novel way of introducing light humor while at the same time making an important point. The illustrations were very concise, attractive and easily understandable. The photography was out of this world and the photos very appropriately located within the text. Every photo enhanced the message on the page where it was found. Logs Wind and Sun is clearly a product of team work, the story of a couple who, working together, accomplished their dream. I loved it, and also learned what I wanted to know about solar and wind power.

Logs, Wind and Sun is one of those rare books that is both packed with useful information and enjoyable to read. I only wish it had been available five years ago when my husband and I started drawing up plans for our own log home. We spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars trying to get utilities to our remote mountain building site. This book clearly lays out alternative power solutions that can give you the freedom to live with all the modern conveniences you need miles from the nearest power pole. The authors personal experience provides the framework for the book, but they have obviously done their homework, and all their recommendations are backed up by copious facts. The book is generously sprinkled with photos and illustrations that de-mystify and explain and personal stories that entertain and inspire. LaVonne's Verities and Rex's Maxims give you personal insights and quips. And the writing is several notches above most other how-to books, offering emotional insights into the process of building your own home, as well as the more expected practical fare. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who's ever dreamed about building a log home.

In The Long Truce: How Toleration Made The World Safe For Power And Profit, A.J. Conyers (professor at the George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University, Waco, Texas) reveals how the new, comprehensive, jealous, and demanding nation-states of early modern Europe propagated a novel version of toleration based on indifference to all values other than political power and material prosperity. By dissolving the loyalties that had previously bound European men to their church, family, and other intermediate institutions, toleration produced the modern "bi-polar society" in which the isolated citizen confronts the unmediated power of the state. In its modern form, toleration evolved not as a virtue, but as a strategy for the relentless imposition of secularism in the service of power and profit. Original, scholarly, fascinating, iconoclastic, Professor Conyers' The Long Truce is stimulating, informative, iconoclastic, "reader friendly", and a very highly recommended addition to any personal or academic reading list or reference collection in European social history, economic history, and political development.

The subject is tolerance. What does the doctrine of tolerance mean, from what intellectual sources does this doctrine derive, what are the unintended consequences of tolerance? A.J. Conyers weaves an intriguing story around these questions. I recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding how a great-sounding idea like tolerance can run amuck.

Stephen Zarlenga's groundbreaking, exhaustively researched book explodes various myths surrounding both the history and nature of money, and proposes what I believe is a long-overdue reform of our monetary system.

Zarlenga sets the stage early on when he writes:

"The thesis of this book is that a main arena of human struggle is over the monetary control of societies and that this control has been and is now exercised through obscure theories about the nature of money. If it had to be summarized in one sentence, it is that by misdefining the nature of money, special interests have often been able to assume the control of society's monetary system, and in turn, the society itself. Describing how this has been done historically will make these concepts vital, and hopefully seep aside the mystification in which money has been purposely shrouded. Guidelines for monetary reform are then presented, to end the private control of monetary systems and instead assert the public societal role to control money under the rule of law, rather than the whims of men" (p. 3).

Two pages later, he elaborates a bit further:

"The purpose of this book is to contribute some insights from history to clarify these monetary ideas in order to provide a sound conceptual basis for crucially needed monetary reform in the United States" (p. 5).

With this thesis and purpose in mind, Zarlenga takes the reader in a historical journey, beginning with an examination of how money functioned in ancient societies, and progressing through time to the present day. Among the key findings of Zarlenga's analysis are:

* Early Rome's bronze money was based on law, meaning the value of bronze currency "was a legal concept, not a market one, and depended on the limitation of its issue" (p. 62). This law-based bronze money served Rome far better than the privately-controlled gold money that followed it.

* "The 'commoditization' of Rome's money system dramatically accelerated the emergence of a plutocracy - a ruling order based on wealth" (p. 65).

* "Historical evidence indicates that nations and Empires did set the gold/silver ratio, based on the amounts they had, but exactly the opposite to the predictions of 'free market' theories. In setting the ratio, a strong nation would raise the value of the metal that was most abundant!" (p. 102)

* Continental Currency is the key reason why the American revolution was ultimately successful. The inflationary impact it had on prices was largely the result of "massive British counterfeiting" (p. 380) -- a fact that is conveniently ignored by advocates of hard-money (i.e., privately-controlled commodity money).

* The debt-free Greenbacks issued during the Civil War were, on balance, "probably the best money system America has ever had" (p. 453), and would have functioned even better if they been made receivable for the payment of both import duties and interest on government bonds (gold was required instead, which is why the value of gold was artificially high relative to Greenbacks), and would have functioned better still if they had been issued for the production, rather than destruction, of public goods.

* The hyperinflation that plagued Germany in 1923 followed "the complete privatization of the German central bank and elimination of governmental influence on it" (p. 599) -- the very thing hard-money advocates insist will always *protect* a nation against hyperinflation.

* "The Federal Reserve System turns over 90% of its net income to the U.S. government, from the interest it earns on money creation. However, most of the money in the system is created by the Fed's member banks, and they keep the net interest income they get from that process" (p. 531).

Zarlenga makes a compelling argument that most of the world's economic problems are heavily rooted in the inherently corrupt nature of debt-based, privately-controlled money systems. Under these systems, private banks are allowed to extract enormous amounts of wealth from the global and national economies in exchange for the *nothing* out of which they create the money they loan.

As a solution, Zarlenga advocates a three-pronged approach to monetary reform:

(1) Make government (as opposed to private banks) the sole issuer of money, and require that all money be issued free of debt - preferably for the construction of public goods that everyone can see and benefit from, such as roads and bridges.

(2) End fractional reserve banking and institute in its place a 100% reserve system -- a system in which banks could continue to lend money that has been deposited with them for that purpose, but (unlike now) would be prohibited from *creating* money out of nothing the moment a loan is made.

(3) Institute "anti-deflationary programs" to offset the deflationary impact of restricting the power of banks to create money. In other words, as privately-issued debt-based money is phased *out* of circulation, ensure that enough government-issued debt-free money is phased *into* circulation to replace it -- that way the transition period can proceed smoothly, without jar or shock to the economy.

Though Zarlenga repeatedly stresses the importance of guarding against deflation, he also makes it clear that he does not advocate erring in the opposite direction. To prevent both deflation *and* inflation, he proposes that the debt-free expansion of the U.S. money supply be regulated in accordance with population figures, industrial production, and other measures. (In addition to this, I would add that -- to ensure that government control over money-creation is not abused -- it would be necessary to reassert the public's control over government, through such measures as ballot access reform, instant runoff voting, and proportional representation.)

"The Lost Science of Money" is an absolute must-read for all Americans. Why? Because nothing touches our lives more than money, yet very few of us know much about either the history or nature of money -- what little we do know being heavily influenced by the myths and half-truths propagated by hard-money advocates. This book will help change all that.

This book is a "keeper"! It offers a wealth of valuable information about the history of money and banking in Western Civilization that will be indispensible for all students of history, particularly those interested in the reform of money and banking systems. It offers information that is very difficult to find elsewhere, and is the key to an in-depth understanding of history, in terms of the power exercised through the control of money. Despite all this, it is quite readable.

I recall my "honors" course in the humanities at Ohio State in which I was assigned to write a paper on some aspect of ancient history. I chose the subject of money, as I thought this would offer the perfect opportunity to explore a subject which had been the object of my curiosity for some years. I spent hours searching the resources of the university library, with precious little result. I remember discovering information about the silver mining efforts of the Romans, but being generally frustrated in my search. When the dust settled, I had learned very little, and my focus returned to the physical sciences for the remainder of my college days. Much later, I came to read history as a hobby, but continued to be frustrated in my search for information about the role of money in history. With this background, reading Mr. Zarlenga's book was like drinking nectar. If only it had been available during my college days! It answered nearly all the questions about monetary history I've harbored since college.

Every citizen should read this book; it has the potential to light the path to reforms that might save the present incarnation of Western Civilization from self-destruction. It will be a classic.

Do any of you own any that you are willing to sell? Please email me Vricellagail@hotmail.com. or if you just want to talk about them..

I absolutely adored the Swept Away series! In Love on the Range by Louise E. Powers, Tina has the chance to live in the time period she finds the most fasinating - the old American west! With the help of her friend Ashley's computer, Tina is "swept away" for an adventure in another time - a 20th century girl in 19th century America. Her adventure helps her deal with her "furture" problems, and Tina learns some important life lessons. I highly recommend this book (and the whole series for that matter!).

Loving Yourself First captures everything a person needs to know and to be to live a happy, healthy, successful life. It promotes self-healing, self- renewal and self-love. There are exercises at the end of each chapter to help engage the reader in a self-discovery process. The book helps readers disign a bule print for their personal lives. There is humor, drama, excitement and lots of common sense information. If we use it we can't help but get better. This is a book that will not draw dust from sitting on the shelf. it is written to be used over and over again.

This book really hits home for woman of all ages. The author has done her homework and it reflects in the rich knowledge and expertise she shares with her readers. Loving Yourself First, crosses cultural and socio-economic backgrounds gracefully as the resounding message rings home to every woman--love yourself first!!

The visual effects in this photo book are quite well done, and are a great way to introduce kids to the magic of what kind of visuals can be accomplished with computer programs. It might also teach them not to believe everything they see ;-) A helpful "how we did it" page gives a brief peek into how the effects were produced.

That bit of educational endorsement aside, the ferret in the book is absolutely adorable and ferret fans will find Mac Side Up to be well worth the price of admission.

Fans of ferrets, cats and photography will enjoy this cleverly written and photographed saga of two furry friends Mac (the cat) and Dusty (the ferret) who try to solve a very puzzling riddle. I highly recommend it for the wonderful visuals and delightful storytelling!

--And I know how hard ferrets are to photograph!--

Greetings,
If you're looking for a written guide to help unlock the magic of the soul within you then Patrick Harbula's book is a must read. Filled with life-enhancing practical wisdom, the kind that only comes from personal experience, Patrick's insights and spiritual exercises are powerful and to the point. It is not enough to read about the spiritual life, it must be experienced, and the bonus CD is a perfect solution.

The Publisher Weekly's reviewer understood this when s/he wrote: "The central concept that the soul has "magic" is fuzzy; the metaphor of magic overly romanticizes the disciplines of meditation, prayer, visualization, (&) affirmation that need to be learned and then done repeatedly and often, even when they don't instantly produce desired results." Absolutely right on. Think of it as spiritual aerobics.

The difficult task for any writer with such a "fuzzy" topic like "Magic of The Soul" is the clumsiness of human language. The word hand, for instance, is familiar enough but it offers no insight into the experience of owning one. The word hand is no help in understanding the feelings involved in holding your child's hand for the first time, or the touch of a lover's caress; it's just a word--hand. How much fuzzier is the word magic? Through meditation I have experienced my soul. In that timeless moment magic takes on a whole new meaning. In my experience the soul doesn't have magic, it is magic.

Being unique we're going to experience our soul differently. Experience is the key. Practice, practice, and more practice reveals perfection everywhere. How's that for fuzzy!

As I read this book cover to cover I realized that Patrick had clearly described twenty years of my inner journey and the universal wisdom that followed on the heels of all those spiritual blisters. I always find it rewarding when a writer can so clearly capture his subject. Patrick you've done an excellent job with a very fuzzy topic. With so many meditation experiences to choose from I feel like a kid in a candy store. Thanks for such great value. The CD is a brilliant.

Blessings, Scott

Find peace within and everywhere you go, you bring a little peace of heaven to earth.

With a wealth of spiritual books out there, Magic of the Soul does a great job bringing spirituality to practical level. It seems a perfect fit with where we are in the world today: looking for answers and knowing we have to go inside ourselves to get them. The author embraces our humanness (emotions, thought, and so on), and his own humanity and path are explored, making it easy to approach. My favorite feature, though, was the CD of meditations that comes with it. It was a great way to practice what this teacher offered!

I bought it, read it, practiced with it, and I feel like a new man!

Every human has a healing voice. It simply needs to be remembered, discovered, trained, and practiced. We each possess an incredible technology within for transforming ourselves which Karina Schelde has mastered. Here, she walks us through the full spectrum of using voice as vibrational medicine, in both esoteric and practical terms. Throughout history, the human voice has been used as an instrument to heal the body, mind and spirit. From ancient anscestral human roots to the sound of animals, Karina has integrated a thoroughly unique and creative system for unleashing the power of our voice to boost human potential. This book is truly a joy to read. You can breeze through it in a few hours, and use it for reference for years. You will feel uplifted by the joyous and wisdom filled spirit from which it is written. Ms. Schelde has put it all on the table in this book. If you don't have the time and money to travel to one of her workshops or retreats, the formulas and techniques are all here for you. Drink deeply, you will be a better person for it, and also boost the frequency of the entire planet.

I read this book in the 50's and it changed my life. View life as a cornucopia with all good things flowing to you is what I have carried with me all of my life. Believe me when I say,it has brought me a life of plenty, good and plenty for me and everyone I know.

i only read it once, and i will like to read it again, but i dont have it on hand. it is open mind, let you learn about yourself, and the power you have hiding in your mind

Here's the thing about book reviews: They're a lot easier to write when you either absolutely hated or absolutely adored the book in question. Once you've decided how you feel about it, it's easy to find a dozen examples of its mediocrity or excellence, as the case may be. However, I've been sitting on this particular review for a few weeks now, unable to finish it because I can't say that I feel very strongly at all about Power Tools. I recently decided, however, that being unable to form a definite opinion of it one way or another is itself a kind of opinion. There's nothing glaringly wrong with it or missing from it, but when it comes down to whether I'd choose to buy it over a different Mac book, I can't say that I would. I realize that this isn't a work of fiction - its goal isn't exactly to suck me in with thrilling plot twists so that I read the whole thing cover to cover in one sitting. Nevertheless, there are some other books out there that do exactly that (I'll get to them later), and I think I've been spoiled by reading them.

What I Liked
Power Tools covers its bases in a thorough, informative way. It's a solid OS X book, intended for anyone who understands the very basics involved in using a Mac. The author makes very clear early on that he's not intending to show you how to log in, or how to launch an application, but that's about the extent of the proficiency required, I think. Frakes seems to understand his audience and to address it consistently, which is rare enough to be refreshing. One of my pet peeves in technical writing concerns authors who can't decide who they're talking to - sidebars for beginners and power users are great, but when the body of the text itself waffles back and forth between skill levels, it can be both frustrating and confusing. This is a trap that Power Tools sidesteps completely: At the beginning of each section, you'll find a couple of lines telling you whether an Admin account is required for the techniques described, and whether the changes being made are system-wide or will affect only your own account. Mac OS X Hacks (which is, incidentally and confusingly enough, the Mac equivalent of O'Reilly's classic Unix Power Tools) uses a similar system to introduce each of the hacks in the book, and it's a practice that I'd like to see used more widely.

What I Didn't Like
Although this is purely a matter of taste and I'm aware that there are many people who disagree with me, I just don't like Frakes's writing style. I have enjoyed some of his columns in the past, but it seems like his humor falls more than a little flat when stretched out over the course of a book. The alliterative titles were amusing for the first one or two chapters, but "Apple-ication Aptitude" is pushing it just a bit, I think. Although I realize that the first priority of a technical book is not to entertain its readers, exactly, is it too much to ask that it enthuse us? I was already interested in OS X before reading Power Tools, but I didn't find anything to excite me - how would a new Mac user fare?

The Bottom Line
This is a perfectly adequate OS X book, and you wouldn't be wasting your money by buying it. Indeed, if you're already a fan of the author, you should probably do exactly that. For me, though, while it does a decent job of accomplishing the tasks it sets for itself, the book just never quite cuts it for me. The bottom line is really that if I had enough money to buy only a single Mac book, this wouldn't be it. I'd spend my forty dollars (or so) instead on either Mac OS X Unleashed or Mac OS X: The Missing Manual. Frakes actually recommends the latter as an alternative for absolute beginners who would be lost in his own book, but don't make the mistake of thinking it's just for novices. It really is a complete OS X manual, covering topics for users at every skill level. As for Unleashed, I've reviewed this book already (more recently than I have the Missing Manual) so I'll just say that if you want a Mac book so complete that it will introduce you to web programming so you can use of that default Apache installation, then that's a book you should consider. While I would prefer either one of these books to Power Tools if I were only able to buy one, it's also true that I'm not sorry to have added it to my collection (since, like most people, I'm not limited to one book per subject).

And Furthermore
Dan Frakes is a generally beloved Mac writer and developer and, my ambivalence about this book aside, his stuff is worth looking into. He contributes to the "Mac OS X Secrets" column in Macworld and is also involved in the 9th edition of the Mac Bible. His personal site is danfrakes.com, and the site for this book is at macosxpowertools.com.

I needed a book to better understand key elements of OS X such as permissions, the Samba server (connection to Windows). Went to a big technical bookstore to persue all the titles available. This was the only book to provide the key underlying information about how/why the operating system works.

It is very easy to read, despite its technical subject, and helped me immediately. My Samba setup is perfect, and I have created a new "troubleshoot" account.

If you don't know why you should have a troubleshooting account, you should read this book. If you already knew enought to set up such an account, there is plenty more critical info beyond that subject.

I love this book because it's really different from other OS X books I've read. It provides tons of great tips and tricks, but it really does make you understand the big picture, too--the reasons why you can or should do something. The book's contents are presented in a well thought-out order, and it is written very clearly--no guessing about what the author means. No confusing or ambiguous steps, which is especially important for the more advanced topics. My Mac is working better than ever after reading this book and I feel like I have the kind of advanced understanding of OS X that I didn't get from other books.