I suspect the book is a little over my head, but it's very thorough & well-reasearched. For a layman like myself, I think I'd like photos - or colour pictures of the animals too - but as the author says, the book goes beyond the normal "field guides" which aim to help with animal identification.

If you want to know things like how the lives of a dikdik & a duiker differ (but you could tell them apart), this is the book for you!

While on a college course in northern Tanzania, I had the great honour of having Dr. Estes as my professor. The book speaks of over 2 decades of knowledge, it is a must have for the travler or researcher. Not only good as a field type guide but wonderfuly done and useful for all topics on african wildlife. I urge all intrested go buy Estes' books.

I used this book while on a course in Kenya and thought it was great. It describes various mammalian behaviors often seen in the field using plain language. Consequently, even the novice can easily identify a multitude of behavioral patterns. I am purchasing it now so that I can use it to teach volunteers working at a field site in Kenya

Although this book is centered on the matter of Mark Robarts and his moral dilemma, we also encounter his sister, Lucy. She is one who is presented to us as a real Christian woman. She takes on herself the care of Mrs Crawley who is suffering with a deadly fever. Lucy is the ideal woman, beautiful, charitable, caring. She deserves the very best and is rewarded for her efforts by becoming Lady Lufton. Mark on the other hand, suffers a great deal largely from ill-advised friendship with Sowerby. Mark wants to achieve status by ill-advised social connections. Thankfully he is saved from ruin by his friends.

(...) Framley Parsonage speaks SO directly about a subject which is so integrated into our lives that it is hardly questioned in our society, namely ambition.

The last hundred years of American society seem to speak of the primacy of "progress" as a driving force. Just look at the current discussion of flat economic indicators. God forbid that we only produce THE SAME as last year. But I digress. Trollope, in his own masterly way, writes of the temptations and difficulties which accompany ambition. And, much to my delight as a reader, he shows how his main character actually overcomes those difficulties by facing his previous moral failings head on.

(...)

Young clergyman Mark Robarts receives a choice parish, thanks to Lady Lufton, the mother of one of his university friends. However, Robarts, though newly and happily married, is not content to settle into the life of a country minister. Lured by a wealthy and worldly set of new acquaintances, he finds himself pushed into living beyond his means and, worse yet, being held legally responsible for another man's bad debts.

Meantime the young Lord Lufton has been smitten by the charms of Robarts' sister Lucy, much to the displeasure of his aristocratic mother. It take a great act of magnanimity on Lucy's part - helping the impoverished Crawley family during a crisis (the Crawleys are more prominent in "The Last Chronicle of Barset") - to finally convince Lady Lufton that Lucy is worthy of her son.

This beautifully written novel contrasts the simpler integrity, though sometimes snobbish values, of the old ways with the more meretriciously glamorous lives of a newer society. As usual, Trollope has produced a multitude of characters whose motives are completely credible, and his depiction of the different social groups provides a most vivid kaleidoscope of Victorian life and attitudes. As always, there is nothing outdated in Trollope's sure insight into human nature.

Jackie, a Legend Defined, gives us the most salient features of the life of a woman whose influence upon Americans will endure. Anyone whose awareness of the Jackie phenomenon dates back to the sixties will find this cursory examination of her life adequate, perhaps. For the younger student, there is a rather good bibliography referencing both periodicals and books. Somehow, her sophistication spoke to a people who could now travel to Europe and the rest of the world by jet, while at the same time be terrorized by the threat of global nuclear war. Jackie, poised and focussed equestrian, seemed to embody the cool which we needed to live our lives in the shadow of threat. She knew the lessons good breeding was supposed to teach, but her own childhood had been somewhat chaotic. She made up for it with her intensity, composed of the Latin virtue of a sanguine disposition and the ability to focus her energies on the pursuit of excellence. Never mind that being First Lady could only be at most an eight-year reign. She set a course for the rest of us, in that she drew into the White House the artists who have been welcomed there ever since. She raised an historical consciousness with her restoration there, and went on in later life to fight for preservation in New York City. The battles she chose were few, but crucial. Her editorship at Viking and then at Doubleday gave scope to her discernment and to her ability to connect with people in the arts. Somehow, she once again embodied an age - that of the independent professional woman, who is a survivor. In the beginning, her mother and father had been part of an America which imitated Europe (especially England) in its faith in blood-lines and privilege. The "Lee's of Maryland", no relation to those of Virginia, were not planters but supplanters. The Bouvier's had been peasants in France. But here, their descendant Jacqueline, had redefined class. It is something revolutionary, and it is there for anyone with the nerve, the brains and the grace to have it. No wonder that to so many aspiring African-Americans Jackie was, as Tina Turner put it, the reigning Queen. No wonder, as the book spells out, the American public went mad for her relics. But relics or no, to understand her as a whole, as this book attempts, is an important step in the education of taste. In the end, her stay was too brief, like a career of a great diva. She bowed off the stage even before her Victorian-era mother-in-law, who at 103 watched her funeral on television. She left just enough clues for us to feel that we knew her. She seemed to define herself in characteristically bold, telling strokes. She is the persona of the latter half of the twentieth century in America.

This is a simple little book with fascinating tidbits on our favorite First Lady. A nice addition to anyone's library. FOR QUETIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON JACKIE ONASSIS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT MellissaLD@aol.com. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!

I bought this at Arlington Cemetary on trip to Washington,D.C. and read and finished the book before the trip was over.It told a great story and was well researched.

Fee's commentary is thoughtful and helpful for the pastor. Among the commentaries that have come out recently, it is not as technical as the one by Peter O'Brien, but it is more thorough than that by Moises Silva. Evangelical readers will appreciate Fee's pastoral and devotional comments. The weakness of Fee's commentary is its overt egalitarianism and slight misunderstanding of the cultural context of friendship in the ancient Greco-Roman world. For input on this context, search for works by B. W. Winter. Fee's commentary fills a needed place in Philippians commentaries.

If you are looking for a readable commentary that goes deeper into the meaning of Phillipians and it's application today but you aren't a pastor or a bible school student, then I would highly recommend this one. I thought his comments on the structure and intent of the letter were outstanding and a revelation to me. I think there is also much in this book for the serious student but for a layman like me just wanting to understand what God could say to me through Paul's little letter, this book is a dream come true!

I have been doing a Sunday School classes on Philippians and have found this commentary indispensible. It is thorough beyond expectation, insightful to the core and complete with life applicaiton sections following each section. I have been blessed and challenged so often by what he has to say. The Christ Hymn (so some - I prefer Christ Story), 2:5-11, had me in tears of joy and worship. It's a must have for any serious student of the Word. You won't regret this purchase.

This book wasn't bad, but it was kinda dull and a few of the techniques (like her "Tower of Light") would be unworkable for anyone but an adept. A good compliment to Fortune Dion's work, but even better would be "Psychic Self-Defense" by Robert Bruce, or "Arcane Lore" by Scribe 27.

Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips have published numerous books and tapes about psychic matters, magic, creative visualization, and astral projection. Their Practical Guide to Psychic Self-Defense and Well-Being, Second Edition is an update of the acclaimed first edition.

Their publisher notes that there's no shortage of misinformation about the Occult, including psychic attacks, and says that "this book will give you a great deal of 'correct knowledge' and straighten out a lot of the nonsense . . . that has lead many naive people to walk in fear of demons and curses, of possession and jinxes, and denied to them their own natural psychic talents that would protect them. . . "

Denning and Phillips believe that psychic self-defense begins with a strong aura. They explain exactly what an aura is, distinguishing between the electrical and psychic auras. Acknowledging that certain situations create fear within us is the first step. The authors provide tips for recognizing rational and irrational fears and for overcoming them. They then explain in great detail how to create a "tower of light" that will "make your aura the luminous and potent shield of spiritual protection you ought to have." With practice, the tower of light can be invoked the instant you feel threatened or attacked.

They go on to discuss the fact that a strong aura offers protection only from outside threats. Negative emotions attack from within, and weaken the protective light surrounding you. They also make people more susceptible to attacks made through elementals and sorcery. Denning and Phillips describe how to overcome attachments and break any links that have been established with unwanted entities.

The authors discuss the role of the occult, and also describe impersonal aggression, such as stress, noise, and drugs. They also explain how groups, such as business offices, can form a group aura that may be detrimental. They offer defenses against all these. In addition to the tower of light, they describe how to use amulets and rituals. And should all your defenses be penetrated and you suffer psychic damage, they explain the best ways to retaliate. They also tell readers how to protect themselves against crime and how to keep their children safe.

Denning and Phillips say that "psychic self-defense is important in our physical and emotional, even in our mental and spiritual well-being." The Practical Guide to Psychic Self-Defense and Well-Being provides the information and techniques readers need to develop and strengthen their individual natural and protective powers.

It's a pity they don't teach this at school! With the media full of violence and negativity, Psychic self-defense has become a necessity. There's so much stress around, advertisements often play on primitive emotions, the news focuses on the sensational and political/religious appeals often trigger guilt and fear. Well, this wonderful work explains how one can stay sane in the midst of so much insanity. Practicing the exercises enhances your sense of well-being and provides valuable insights about how to protect yourself against psychic and other forms of attack. There is nothing weird or occult about these simple exercises, in fact, they make perfect sense. Ancient techniques like the "Tower Of light" are explained and there are handy relaxation techniques. A couple of good illustrations illumine the text, while a helpful glossary and index allow easy reference and understanding. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and I'm using it as a reliable reference work.

By the relentless pursuit of this question, "Who Am I?" Maharshi believes the ego can break through to the Self. And if anyone should know it is he.
Ramana Maharshi is one of the great Hindu saints and certainly the most authentic of the last century. Many gurus have come and gone with mixed messages, one of them being that a guru should live lavishly (cf. the experience of the Beatles). Maharshi served no one, not even himself. He was as truly detached as it seems a human being can get. In contrast to so many teachers, he didn't even prattle on about the universe, the soul, and Brahman. If he did speak to issues it was usually in pithy responses to well-formed questions. And, almost always, he ended by encouraging the seeker to follow the question above. In short, his message was simple.
So why did he get it and we don't? Maharshi taught the quintessence of Vedanta. Like a powerful acid he burned down to the bedrock of Hindu thought-the teaching of nonduality. For Maharshi, as for the Hindu sages throughout time, all was Maya-illusion-including the self itself. The core mythology is this: Brahman-the All-plays a game, the Cosmic hide-and-seek. By forgetting itself, Brahman can come to rediscovery and delight, just like a child at play. One of the many obfuscations in this game is the ego. Question it, ask oneself again and again, "Who Am I," and the ego will, like a cornered child in the game of tag, eventually relent. Underneath all the vestiges of ego, as one undresses it with the question, lies Brahman smiling.
The philosophy is lucid, elegant, and incredibly simple-typical characteristics of the Truth-but I find it elusive still. So must most seekers because though they ask the question, they do not end up like the Bhagavan, Maharshi.
Maharshi, after his realization at the age of 16, made his way to the sacred mountain of Arunachala and never left its shadow. His life was simple and devoid of any attention-seeking behaviors, though a great flock settled around him. He participated in the daily round of food preparation, sweeping, etc. and lived an austere life. Eventually, as his reputation spread, people came to visit from all parts, first Indians and then cosmopolitans. Among others, W. Somerset Maugham visited. He was not quite so struck as others by the Bhagavan's presence but still retained him as the prototype for the guru in The Razor's Edge.
Though he avoided speaking much, the many who visited professed a very powerful influence by witnessing the man's gentle radiance. With a look into Maharshi's eyes, most peoples' questions would resolve themselves. He eventually died from a cancer and yet his reputation remains.
Such a being kindles mystery but is not a great teacher unless one, presumably, is a great student.

This book is a bio of a being who never claimed to be the body. It is written for beings who still think they are their bodies. The majority of the book is about Ramana and his life around the ashram with devotees and interactions with visitors and even the local wildlife. Most books about Ramana are question and answer format so this one shows how an enlightened being interacts with life and people in everyday situations.
One of the most amazing parts was when Ramana was dying. The doctors knew he would die before the day was done and so did all the devotees. They sang songs outside his room. Even though he said he was not the body but the SELF, the ONE SELF in all of us, the drama was being played out on the physical plane. As the devotees sang, Ramana had tears in his eyes and then he just stopped breathing. I had tears in my eyes too, just reading about those last moments.

when it comes to indian holy men , its often hard to separate the dross from the sublime . books on indian mystics abound , most just end up stretching credulity . its not uncommon to come across a book which portrays some indian "saint" that leaves me shaking my head in an almost visceral disgust .

it therefore comes as a relief ( especially to my viscera ) when you read a neatly written book about an indian saint . i'm sure its next to impossible to please everyone when it comes to writing about someone no less a phenomena than ramana maharishi , but messrs osborne seems to have done a commendable job of it . i know he's done just such a commendable job of it because the book left me wanting to know more about the maharishi . not many books do that .

i can therefore , unreservedly , recommend this book .

If you're in the mood for an occasional swing to the Rasta side then this may be the book for you. I have tried a few of the menu selections and wasn't really that impressed. The food is light and (of course) meat free, but I feel the meals lack a little in the flavor department.

The nice thing about this book is that you can create some interesting delights that are more of a conversation piece than the best food on the table. The book gives a little background on what it is to eat Rasta and the spiritual reasons for doing so. Makes for great conversation.

Although I'm not very impressed with the food itself, there are some creative dishes to be found inside. Although I don't LOVE it, I do *like* the book and feel that it is a worthwhile purchase for anyone who would like to cut meat out of their diet and/or try something new.

Irie.

Comming from a Rasta I must admit that it is hard to find books that teach u to cook vegeterian and "ital" all at the same time. All though I already knew how to do both BEFORE I bought the book, It was still a nice gesture to see the recipes ranging from all over the carribean and African Decent. Some of these recepies include but are not limited to peas and rice (made with brown rice), herb dumpling, plenty of different soups, stews, tofu patties, derserts including Ital ice creams (mango, coconut, pawpaw...etc ), Breads made with no added perservaties or dairy products (fully vegeterian), and plenty of fresh fruit drinks as well. Including carrot juice (zion juice), pawpaw, freshly homemade punches, etc....Being a cook myself I must say that i was impressed by the context. These receipies are more or less like Cousines rather then just ordinary Vegeterian food. One can make good use from it. A meal that I have often found most deseriable in the book is the vegeterian stuffed bell peppers taken from the entree catagory, peas and rice/ sweet corn and rice taken from the side dish category, and steamed callaloo taken from the vegetable and side dish category. Having it washed down with some sweet coconut water or some other kind of NATURAL fruit (taken from the juice senction ) or vegetable juice makes a deserible meal that vegeterians, non vegeterians, Rastas, and non Rastas will feel priveledged to have enjoyed.

I think this book is a great book because it tells how to eat to good vegatarian food instead of the corrupted meat that is now so abdundant in the world around us. You should get this book even if your not a rasta because it is also a good cookbook.

This book is multifaceted and some facets are better than others. I found the author's descriptions of his experiences with chronic mood disturbance enlightening and interesting. His attention to the interpersonal impact of dysphoria was especially good. As a book about the natural world, I was less satisfied. Moreover, I didn't find myself drawn to the connections he was making between processes in the natural world and the internal processes of a mood disorder. His accounts of his homelands lack the vividness found in works by Rick Bass or Richard Nelson. I don't want to overstate these criticisms; the book is well written and this is exactly the "type" of book I like: it's about a person who loves the land that surrounds him. However, better reading of this sort is found with the above-mentioned authors, or I especially want to recommend a couple of works by lesser known authors, "Purple Flat Top" by Jack Nisbet, and "Teewinot" by Turner.

Terry Osborne's coming-of-self narrative is brave, honest, and poignant. I have recently left New England after seven years, and Osborne's careful and tactile descriptions truly stirred me. But even for anyone who's unattached to a Vermont landscape, there's an important lesson here. Osborne shares with us his very personal journey to the discovery of how deeply our environment can inform our sense of self - in Osborne's case, how the complex "mosaic" of land, water, and air reflects the contours of his struggle with depression. Even now, living so far from all the swamp-and-peaks nature of Osborne's journeys (I'm a Paris resident), Sightlines has inspired me to explore my surroundings with a renewed energy and curiosity - to understand how much self-discovery can unfold through such an investigation. For that - and for his pure, graceful prose - I thank him!

Every so often a book reminds us of why we seek out the woods for solitude and comfort. "Sightlines" accomplishes that considerable feat with resounding success.

But it doesn't stop there. This elegant and deeply human narrative about the contours of landscapes (both inner and outer) lets us walk several paces behind the author and view his journey through years of depression even as we pause to lean against a nearby birch tree and admire the surrounding beauty of his rugged New England. The book is a remarkable achievement for combining these two storylines--and very often it is downright mesmerizing.

Osborne's writing--understated and controlled, what you'd expect from a Vermonter--soars to its greatest heights when framing the smallest things: a seemingly uprooted tree, a dark swamp, a river sand bar. Those images, and many others, stay vibrant long after the book is done.

I was taking a course on storytelling for children when I came upon this book. What first caught my eye were the old-style illustrations by Troy Howell. They were done in such a way as to enhance the book without distracting from the story. When I was able to peruse the book, I was impressed with the way the author chose and arranged the stories so that you could almost track the evolution of medieval storytelling (and quite possibly has one of the more easier versions of Beowulf that second and third graders could manage). The stories are short enough that they can be read out loud for a class or reading circle; yet have enough content to hold the children's attention.

Another bonus to the book (for parents and teachers) is that Ms. Osborne in her introductions gives her reason why she chose the tales in this volume... and (for the kids, as well as parents and teachers) in the back there is a glossary of sorts-- notes to each story as to where it came from, and why it was written, brief writeups for the different cultures, story forms, time periods, and evolution of the English language. There's even a small section with words.

This would be a good book to have in libraries for teachers and parents; for the children to be exposed to several different classical stories, as well as give them a variety to read and experiment with. It might encourage a love of history as well as a love of literature.

Well, I don't really like Osbourne's "Magic TreeHouse" tales, but don't judge THIS beautiful book by "those." THIS BOOK is very nicely done. All the representative tales from the middle ages are here, retold in a clear, easy to read (or listen to) prose that captures most of the original (in most cases.) The illustrations are captivating. Each tale includes a title page that has a short quote in the original language (with a modern translation) which will intrigue some children, and there is a fine time line at the back of the book. We used this to supplement medieval studies in our homeschool for a second grader. A great resource.

As Mary Pope Osborne tells the reader in her marvelous introduction..."In the beginning of medieval times in Europe, books did not exist. Most people were unable to read or write. Nevertheless, there were stories - stories of heroes and monsters, told by minstrels and poets, that were passed down orally from one generation to the next..." Eventually, these stories were written down by scribes, and Ms Osborne has collected nine favorite tales to share. From Robin Hood And His Merry Men, The Sword In The Stone, Sir Gawain And The Green Knight, and Finn Maccoul, to Beowulf, The Werewolf, The Song Of Roland, Island Of The Lost Children, and Chanticleer And The Fox, these engaging retellings are dramatic and entertaining, easy to read, and often better when read aloud. Meet monsters, knights, heroes, and dragons, and travel to faraway, mysterious, and enchanting places. Troy Howell's vivid, lush paintings, stay true to the medieval style, and add just the right touch to enhance each story. Ms Osborne and Mr Howell include informative reference notes on the stories, medieval story forms, people, time periods, language, chronology, and the art of the middle ages that is sure to peak the interest of young and old alike. Perfect for youngsters ten and older, Favorite Medieval Tales is a masterpiece of intriguing storytelling that will whet the appetite, and send readers looking for more.

I think this book is good, But it's not all that and a bag of chips.I mean its 1:45 and i have to read a book and only have 15 min. to read this book is the grate one to read its cute and short of i like it i am shore you would too.

A small boy finds Shadow, a rocking horse, under the Christmas Tree. In his imagination, the two ride to the West, joust, race Seattle Slew in the Kentucky Derby, and go on safari. But then the inevitable happens: the boy starts to grow up, as boys always have and always will (it's at this point I have a hard time reading this to my five year old without pretending there's something in my eye). Shadow ends up in the attic. Years pass.

And then the boy's own little boy finds Shadow (as I read this part to my son, there's more pretending that I have something in my eye). Shadow's spirit returns, and they "flew through the sky all Christmas Eve and didn't come home until dawn."

The illustrations of this book are some of the best I've ever seen; the facts of growing up are utterly convincing. This book is delightful and devastating. And there's no need to wait for Christmas to read it: we're Jewish, and we read it all year round.

I am a Christmas Freak, I will completely admit. However, I LOVED this story. As I read it, I could almost see exactly where I was being taken as a reader. I knew I was about to be pulled in, but I loved every moment of it! The story, quite simply, is one which could be said of any child's favorite Christmas toy. Eventually, that toy is replaced by something -- be it another toy or simply the heartbreak of every child's growing up. Reminiscent of Silverstein's _The Giving Tree,_ the rocking horse keeps vigil, waiting for the little boy who used to have great adventures with him everyday. A happy ending rewards readers who know in their hearts that it is coming (but keep a tissue handy!). A beautifully illustrated book, _Rocking Horse Christmas_ is a holiday treasure to add to any collection!