What a treat! Herbie Hancock's melodious foreword opens the heart of the reader for a delightfully written, brilliantly executed introduction to Nichiren Daishonin's amazing yet practical Buddhism. The authors deliver a light, affirmative exposition of one of the world's fastest growing and most dynamic "spiritual technologies" that strengthens the human soul, empowering anyone willing to put it to use with a richer more powerful life-force to face the challenges of contemporary society. Quick paced and refreshingly to the point, this is a joyful read that strips away the cloak of religious authority, rendering highly complex and profound spiritual concepts in simple to understand contexts that make them applicable to our daily lives. The clarity and flow of the text is actual proof that the three voices of Hochswender, Martin and Morino harmoniously demonstrate the power of the simple Buddhist practice they so eloquently advocate. This book is a compelling and hopeful guide that informs the reader that enlightenment is not an unreachable golden ring but instead, a very real and useful state of being available to each of us willing to put it to the test in the ever changing perfect mirror of the eternal here and now!

I have been a follower of Buddhist Philosophies for many, many years. When I was first introduced to Buddhism in the late 1960's, I found Buddhism to be a very in-depth, complex experience. Today, that has been simplified by authors such as this one who have taken the concepts of Ancient Buddhism and adapted them to the Western World.

This book, in particular, will help the reader to understand that our search for Buddha and Enlightenment, leads us not in the direction of any external source, but is found within ourselves. Each of us has the power to become Enlightened and discover a happier, more fulfilling, loving and peaceful life. True happiness is not found in others or any outside source, but is found deep within ourselves, but first of all, we must discover who we truly are and our purpose for being. The many concepts presented in this book have the potential to help readers find inner-peace and contentment, and by doing so, also enriching the lives of those around them on a personal and global level. Love and compassion for one's fellow man can, indeed, enrich the world. One other book I highly recommend is "Awakening the Buddha Within" by Lama Surya Das. "Awakening" is my favourite of all books by Lama Surya Das; it is very easily understood and is a thoroughly enjoyable read (made moreso by a slight touch of humour throughout) which explains the basic philosophies of Buddhism. May each reader find peace, happiness and love on the path to Enlightenment.

Nichiren Buddhism is a dynamic philosophy, yet a practical one that has guided millions throughout the world in the quest to overcome one's obstacles and become truly happy, as well as to help others to achieve that same goal. As one who has practiced this great Buddhism for twenty-six years, I have shared with many people - friends, colleagues, family, and acquaintances alike - the incredible power of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (the primary practice of this great Buddhism), and to share my experiences in applying the practice to the challenges of my daily life. As such, I can truly appreciate what Mssrs. Martin, Hochswender, Morino, and Hancock have done here in creating a superb "road map" to this great Buddhism, making even what would seem the most complicated concepts of Nichiren Buddhist philosophy and worldview easy and accessible by everyone. In so doing, they have created a self-help book of the highest order. I highly recommend this book, not just to anyone, but to everyone. As Herbie Hancock, jazz pianist par excellance and twenty-nine year practitioner of this great Buddhism, says in his foreword, "What have you got to lose - except your blues?"

If you are interested in Ethiopia, this book provides a pictured guide to the country, its history and its sites. The photography is amazing.

This is an incredibly lovely book that shows the various groups of people that make up Ethiopia. A must read, that's informative, educational and thoroughly enjoyable.

This work of art in nothing less than excellent!!

This book is a wonderful reference for any medical student or professional. I keep one in my medical jacket (that is always with me) and one in my office (in case I misplace my other book). I have shown this book to several colleagues and their consensus is this book IS A MUST FOR ANY MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OR STUDENT!

Mr Hancock, time and time again I have spread word as to how efficient your text is for PA's across the country. I have used this book, and given copies of it out to others. Everyone has given it high praise. Thanks for the hard work!

This reference guide is awesome. You have a vast amount of useful information at your finger tips. Currently I have seen nothing on the market like this. It is compact and jacket friendly.

I love the short stories. The poetry is also really well written. It's not like anything I've read from any new writers. He's more experimental, but he's not inaccessible.

This book is so well written, I'm at a loss for words. He writes as if he were forty years older than he is. like he's been places and seen things in a million other lives. I forgot poetry was supposed to transport you places.

I've had this book on my shelf ever since the Village Voice put Rux on the cover as one of their writers on the verge of shaking up the literary landscape. I just never got around to reading it and then lent it out and never got it back. Recently I ordered the second edition, distributed by Autonomedia.org and this time I READ it and I thought I was reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez...if I had known this book was this impressive, I would've read it the first time. Few young poets today have Rux's ability to create images as vibrant as he does. It's the stories in this book that impress me the most!

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Written on an advanced level, this book somehow doesn't read like stereo instructions from another planet. Definitely good to round out what you learned in those basic networking classes.

I was fortunate enough to attend a class taught by Dr. Hancock with this book as one of the texts. I have referred to it many times since then, and have always found the info to be very useful. It is written in an easy to follow manner, and never goes into a lot of unnecessary technical jargon.

I would highly recommend this book as a basic-to-intermediate intro to Ethernet networks, no matter which protocol you are using.

"Citizens" is a vivid, readable portrait of a group of men who, by virtue of their merchant enterprises, helped to shape the destiny of the American colonies in the 18th century. The author, while not stinting on historic detail, manages to squeeze in enough lively anecdotes about the men, their times, and their lives, to make "the Associates" human -- and utterly fascinating.

David Hancock has written a striking account of the careers of twenty-three very successful London merchants who invested together in several particularly challenging and rewarding branches of British overseas trade in the eighteenth century. His masterful study is based on intense and imaginative research in Britain, the continent, the United States and the West Indies. From his rich findings, he has developed a thoughtful and probing treatment of topics such as the wholesale slave trade, the Scots element in the City of London and the large government contractors in the Seven Years War. His achievement is most impressive.
Jacob M. Price, University of Michigan (from the dust jacket)

This fascinating book has something in it for almost everyone interested in eighteenth-century history. Business historians will find keen analysis of the techniques that a remarkable group of entrepreneurs used to propel themselves from the periphery to the center of Britain's imperial economy. Cultural historians will acquire new insights into what it meant to be British at the moment that identity was being forged. Students of British and American history in general will discover how intricately social ambition, commerce, war, and slavery interacted in the construction of the first empire. And anyone at all who admires intricate argument, imaginative research, and stylish prose will find "Citizens of the World" a delight.
Fred Anderson, University of Colorado at Boulder (from the dust jacket)

A highly recommended way to sail around Cape Horn in a gale -- lying on the couch, the beverage of your choice in hand, reading Brian Hancock's Spindrift. -- Matthew

Having previously read books by Brian's friend Skip Novak, I couldn't resist picking up this book, and I wasn't disappointed. Brian knows his sailing, but also knows a bit about life in general. He is totally honest and doesn't leave out things that he probably regrets in hindsight (the currency exchange in Zimbabwe comes to mind), but that's part of the charm with this book. It's written by a real person and not someone who pretends to be something else than he is. I can genuinely recommend this book to sailors and landlubbers alike.

.... even when we were ourselves sailing back to UK from the Azores! Difficult (but obligatory) to break away from the page-turning text to scan the horizon regularly. A cracking read from a guy who has really 'gone for it' in his life: a book full of significant moments and experiences, interesting corners of the world and memorable people, altogether explaining why people who go 'out there' tend to keep on doing so.

Most writers of history - even the commercially successful ones - make the same mistake. They write books that are mere chronological recitations of fact and minutiae, with little regard for narrative. But Charles Slack deftly avoids this trap. His subject is seemingly arcane - the discovery of the vulcanization process for rubber. But, perhaps because he is a former journalist rather than an academic, Slack never loses his grip on the storyline that makes the life of Charles Goodyear so compelling. Goodyear, we come to realize, is a true American hero, who worked doggedly to solve one of the greatest riddles of the industrial age, triumphing in the end over charlatans who fought to deprive him of the money and recognition he deserved. This is a great read about an overlooked chapter in US history.

Charles Goodyear's do-or-die quest to solve the riddle of vulcanization is a compelling slice of history and an American industrial triumph that will now not be forgotten. Among other things, Charles Slack should be commended for recognizing the value of Goodyear's contribution to society and for bringing the inventor's 19th-century to life so lucidly and with such good humor. Among the fascinating camioes here is that of the great lawyer and orator Daniel Webster, who represents Goodyear and helps him claim his rightful place in history against greedy usurpers in the U.S. and Britain. As Slack cleverly observes, "Webster the actual man rattles around in the attic of our national memory as a famous but oddly hard-to-place New England statesman, who gave important speeches on matters that . . . have long since receded into the historical haze." Slack has proved here that he is one of the fine new writers of serious but popular history who are helping to clear away that haze, and helping America to better appreciate its national heritage. The Wall Street Journal called Noble Obsession, "utterly absorbing." Add to that remarkably edifying. Well done!

Most writers of history - even the commercially successful ones - make the same mistake. They write books that are mere chronological recitations of fact and minutiae, with little regard for narrative. But Charles Slack deftly avoids this trap. His subject is seemingly arcane - the discovery of the vulcanization process for rubber. But, perhaps because he is a former journalist rather than an academic, Slack never loses his grip on the storyline that makes the life of Charles Goodyear so compelling. Goodyear, we come to realize, is a true American hero, who worked doggedly to solve one of the greatest riddles of the industrial age, triumphing in the end over charlatans who fought to deprive him of the money and recognition he deserved. This is a great read about an overlooked chapter in US history.

I'm a recovering Alcoholic, and also a recovering Mormon.

This book is the absolutely best book ever written explaining why we are here in the first place. I've given this book to many people in "AA" as one concept of God (one of which suits me). A great many people have a lot of "trouble" with God, and this book clears up a whole buch of that.

Thanks Arthur and Kathleen (I've met you both and your great people) I' m lookikng forward to your next book.

In a nutshell- the Game of God is the description of the entire creation of our universe in a brilliant, simple and hilarious nutshell. Nobody has been able to do it better than the authors of this book. I have hundreds of self-mastery and higher-consciousness books in my library and this one is on the top of my reading list. As a teacher and counselor I require everyone I work with to read this book, and read it well. It is the official book of my healing practice. There is no reason to complicate the truth behind our reality, as complex as it already seems. The Game of God has managed to hit the nail on the head and will keep you laughing all the way. Every other page of the book is a corresponding cartoon animating the well written script that has been arranged into word sculptures. This is by far my favorite book ever and 5 stars doesn't compare to the infinite stars I would give it if I could.

The Game Of God is one of the best books I've ever read. It tells you why the universe was created and why all the "good" and "bad" things happen in the world. It's written very simply with cartoons on every other page describing the concepts you read about. By the time you've finished the book, you've become concious of some heavy duty concepts. I cannot disagree with any sentence in the book and it's so logically written, each idea just flows into the next one. I've read many, many books, but The Game Of God really explains almost every question I've ever asked.

First some disclosure - I am acquainted with Hal Rothman in a professional capacity and I saw a couple of chapters before publication.

Neon Metropolis is the best book I've read that explains the city I've lived in for nearly 3 years.

Sure, it's easy to be ironic about Las Vegas and offer postmodern gobbledygook about what the city means. There are dozens of third rate writers and poets making unoriginal observations about Sin City. Hal tells it like it is for the folks who live here - in and outside of the gambling industry.

Rothman is rigorous in his academic asessment of the city, yet the book is highly readable in explaining why Las Vegas is so successful at convincing ordinary folks like me, that I deserve to be strolling the lobby of the Bellagio with a Cosmopolitan in hand, contemplating a meal at a restaurant equivalent to a weeks pay.

This is the one book I'll be recommending to newcomers to the city to get a grip on Las Vegas.

An insightful work. Neon Metropolis is an essential antidote to the many critics who fly to Las Vegas for a quick visit, and leave with biases undisturbed and nothing useful to say.

What sets Rothman apart? He combines academic investigation with close observation, over time, of how this resort town is turning into one of the most successful and popular cities in the United States.

Key to the success of this book is the fact that Rothman lives in this city, where he teaches history at UNLV. He has lived in the brand new subdivisions which excite the derision of tourist-critics who cannot fathom that such planned communities could be anything other than hideously pathological. Rothman, on the other hand, has watched these communities grow with time. His children have played in the nascent sports leagues; he has ridden the mass transit; he has seen how people carve a real community to raise families - for two or three generations now - out of unconventional and even unlikely material. He has tracked political movements and talked to his neighbors at Starbucks. And while these communities may not be perfect - Rothman has an academic's balanced powers of evaluation - they do work. This information is of wider interest as well; Rothman discusses the many ways that Las Vegas is a prototype in developing the emerging urban-suburban cities that we find across the nation.

This book reveals an intriguing urban landscape. We learn how the earlier Las Vegas of the Mob shaped not only its gambling economy, but created its hospitals, churches and other institutional urban infrastructure. We then learn how the Las Vegas of Wall Street (after Hilton, Holiday Inn and other corporations became the major stakeholders) built the foundations for the enormous growth in size, prestige and influence over the last twenty years.

Along the way we see how the many threads of a real city - unions, immigrants, a strong middle-class economy, civic and business leaders, and the city's self-conceptions - have been woven together. Rothman helpfully compares Las Vegas to Detroit's growth along with another booming new industry earlier in the century.

This book is a dose of well-researched reality which should be read by anyone concerned with the health and direction of American cities.

that upsets convention in all the best ways. It takes assumptions of the elite and inverts them. This is a book about how real people live in an unusual city. I like it very much