This book is an incredible account of the life and times of Mary Jemison, a white woman taken captive during the French and Indian War and adopted into the Seneca tribe of the Iroquois in western New York. This tale covers her more than 70 years living among them through many of the most vital years of the long history of the Iroquois Confederacy.

In November 1823, when she was in her 80s, Mary Jemison, at the urging of many of the friendly local inhabitants, gave her amazing life story to James Seaver to publish for posterity. Though his truthfulness in some details of that account has often been called into question, this book is one of the most important and complete of any of the Indian captivity narratives to come out of the period between the French and Indian War and the War of 1812, which most historians mark as the end of the period of influence of the Eastern Woodland tribes. This account gives unequalled insight into the Seneca Indians and their ways including religion, food, hunting, warfare, culture, etc.

Mary had many opportunities to leave the Indians and return to white civilization but chose not to do so and thus was witness to some of the most amazing events in the history of her adopted people. Her tale is important to not only historians and ethnologists, but to the general public itself as it is a truly amazing story of triumph and tragedy for a proud people struggling to survive in the face of overwhelming odds as a young United States continued to expand, forever extinguishing their way of life.

Book is fascinating reading, in terms of the history that's revealed in the words of Mary Jemison, but also in terms of James Seaver who gave us his own version of her story. This book is a layering of historical periods, and with the help of the editing, you can peer through and see not only the period of Mary Jemison's captivity, but also the prejudices of the period directly following. An interesting example of the simultaneous respect and loathing with which the early settlers viewed the native inhabitants.

They say if you visit New York State you will find her descendants; many native-americans have her last name. Taken captive; her parents killed - Mary becomes part of a native-american family. She married a Delaware (Lenape) warrior, with whom she was very content and has many children. This is a dramatic, true story, told in her own words. She is in her 80's, and reminisces about her unusual life.

Tom Stella is a gifted writer whose new book - THE GOD INSTINCT can best be described as powerful, inspirational and insightful. Tom is a Catholic priest, though after reading his book, you will conclude that he could just as easily be a holy man representing any one of a multitude of religions.
Tom opens our minds to a new way of experiencing and understanding God's presence in our life. Seeing God in this light helps us to understand how we are all one, seeking our individual destinies while always in touch, in some mysterious yet personal way. He helps us to understand that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, a concept I had not previously considered. He points out that who we are is more than what we are or what we do, and that who we thought we were was merely the tip of the iceberg. The part of us beneath the surface proves to be vast and devine. It is there where we find our soul, which is one with God, blurring the boundary that once clearly separated humanity and divinity. Understanding individuals in this new light explains why we must have reverence for all human beings.
Talking about religion, Tom notes that religion cannot and need not be a Sabbath only affair whose intent is to help us get through life unscathed by sin. It must be about passion more than piety, celebration, not just obligation, life as well as liturgy. It must be a positive force, both alive and enlivening. It must serve to rebind us not only to our true selves, but to the human community as well. And yes, there are positives to be found in institutional religion, which can have potential values for all of us.
Tom gives us insight into spirituality and the spiritual person, making these concepts more attainable and understandable to us. He significantly broadened ny definition of faith, pointing out that in true faith, we do not lose contact with people. He also helped me realize that there is a "listening" component to prayer - another revelation to me.

Tom makes us think further when he states that "an indication that one is growing spiritually is not evidenced by the frequency or intensity of religious experiences, but by the capacity for being smitten by the subtle holiness of life in its everyday simplicity". He relates how we can be spiritually enriched by recognizing and tending to the needs of our bodies, our minds and our emotions. He recognizes that we need not reject the material world to grow spiritually, but in our pursuit of God, we must look within and embrace our longings, rather than looking elsewhere to satisfy them. He makes a good point when he says that though we continue to fall prey to the lure of things; we eventually sense the futility of finding in them satisfaction for our hearts' longing.
In his discussionn of relationships, Tom made me aware of another way to look at selfishness - expecting or demanding that others orient their lives so as to please us.
Tom's chapter on work is truly inspirational - a chapter that deserves periodic re-reading. Yet, he promotes a balanced life that includes having fun, leisure and play. He concludes his book with a discussion of a variety of useful ways that one might employ to enhance their spiritual practice.
Tom's book would prove to be a worthwhile addition to any library. It should be read and re-read by anyone yearning to discover the presence of a sacred depth in nature, human nature, or the events of ordinary life.

"The God Instinct" is a breath of fresh air in affirming the sacredness of our lives, in spite of our struggles with long held beliefs, religious precepts and our human imperfections.

Stella draws heavily upon his own spiritual odyssey inspired by spiritual writers, such as, Thomas Merton and Anthony DeMello. He allows us to be comfortable with our constant searchings and uncertainties--perhaps, one of the basic ingredients of spirituality.

His style is concise and well-constructed rendering an easy, enjoyable read. Homespun, humorous axioms are engagingly used to explicate "nuggets" of spiritual wisdom.

This work is really a collection of essays on essential facets of our spiritual lives. Such a format lends itself to use as short spiritual readings/meditations for groups or individuals.

"The God Instinct" is a refreshingly inciteful treatise on spirituality.

This interpretation of the life of Mary Jemison as written by
Ranya M. Gangi is wonderful. It is one of the few versions that is actually approved by the Seneca Nation, and also features an epilogue by Pete Jemison, who I met along with Wanda Jemison as a small child. This story of Mary Jemison is focused on the harsh reality that occured when she was captured in Pennsylvania and given as a gift to the Seneca's to replace a fallen brother. Gangi's interpretation of this story teaches us many unknown facts about Jemison as well as the Seneca Indians, which people may be unaware of. After reading this touching story, I went to Letchworth State Park where Ms. Jemison is buried to pay my respect to this local heroine. This book is the best version of Jemison's life that I have read, and I strongly reccomend it for all ages.

Underrated and profound! Much more than a children's book. The story, the spirituality, and the simplicity/truth of style make this book a compelling read for anyone from age 9-100.

I am a student of history and local history is especially interesting to me so I love the Arch Merrill books. His writing style is informative and at the same time very easy to read. Every time I travel to Letchworth Park I am reminded of this book and Merrill's vivid description of the beauty and the story of Mary Jemison. Merrill's books should not be out of print because they are the most valuable resource we have in keeping the history of Western New York alive! I aspire to write local history in the tradition of Arch Merrill and I respect him as a role model.

I recently re-read this Arch Merrill classic. His use of language has a flair that is rarely experienced in modern novels. He paints a picture of the Western New York locales that I, as a native, find to be accurate yet remindful of a time when these hills, valleys, and the gorge of the Genesee River must have been so pristine and even more beautiful than today. Merrill tells of the raw truth of savage times without the gore that modern stories find necessary to include. He leaves much to the imagination while describing a multitude of detail. I love the book and the authors quaint style.

Henri prays a human's prayer. He says what we all say in times of change, fear, anger, yet he says more! What a wonderful book to read when life/stability/comfort are turned upside down and pain, loss, homesickness, fear etc. are flooding over you and sweeping you away into darkness and chaos. This is a man's (Henri's) cry from his heart, soul, and mind. An incredible spiritual expression of the human condition.

Looking for a fair representation of how the North American Indian tribes were affected by the intrusion of Europeans? My husband and I were, following an exchange with our 8-year-old after watching "Peter Pan", where she voiced hatred for Indians, but had no reasoning behind it. This book is unique in a variety of ways; it is a true story, from a woman's perspective, of how her life was changed after being captured by the Seneca tribe. It deals in an honest, forthright manner, reflecting Jemison's original fear and ultimate embracing of her inclusion into tribal life, and the many adavantages she found therein. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an discussion of the reality of Indians in North America, and the influence of European culture on it with their young child. Well written, nice illustrations, and at 32 pages, concise.

This journals give us a glimpse of Nouwen internal struggle and spirituality.
Each of the entries is like a portal of what God was doing in Nouwens life. The wisdom and provokations goes beyond any of his other books. This is raw Nouwen at best.

Henri Nouwen's diary recounts his 7-month stay at the Abbey of Genesee in New York. His diary is a personal account of his search for peace and total committment to God. It accurately depicts the regimen of life in the monastery - a life of work, prayer, and liturgy - and describes how he became a member of the monastic community.

Through his time there, Nouwen discovers that the monastery is not built to solve problems, but to praise God in the midst of them.

Have you ever wondered how a monk deals with everday life? This book is written in diary format and is very easy to read. Henri speaks honestly from his heart of the joys and tribulations of monastic life. I found that I'm not alone with alot of the thoughts I have...Henri has had them too.
Once I started reading this diary I couldn't hardly put it down!
Definately one of the better books I have read in a long time.
Also very profound remarks in this book. I'm sure I'll be reading it again.

The Late Henri Nouwen ,of blessed memory, was a Dutch Catholic priest who was able to put his spiritual longings[and lackings] into print and a level that I do not think has been matched in the past century.Certainly, Thomas Merton was a better writer and more influential, though Nouwen gave us his doubt at an unprecendented depth. In this duiary, first published in the mid-70's , he went to Piffard , NY to live with the Trappists of the Genesse for 8 months[he later went back, and produced another book of meditations]It was fortuitous that he met the abbot, Fr John Eudes Bamberger, and found a man to whom he could pour himself out. The abbot [he is still abbot,by the way,and has his own website}is an MD, psychaitrist and a man of deep prayer. Much of the book is the the conferences of Nouwen and the Abbot, though a greter portion is Nouwens musings on life, his frustrations, his enthusiamims[wich were many and childlike in thier intensity] and his prayer.His descriptions of back breaking manuel labor,of sorting raisins{the monks produce a regionally famous bread, called,of course, monks bread]and of normal, everyday fears and phobias are wonderful, insightful and inspiring. The Late Fr. Nouwen wrote scores of books, though thisis in my estimation his finest.

A large-format, hard cover Psalter, beautifully printed and bound. The text is entirely in caligraphy, and is printed large enough to be read from a few feet away -- as presumably the monks do as they stand and chant the Psalms, with the book on a stand in front of them. It is probably best used this way, and not held in the hands -- it can be held, but it is probably a little large and heavy to be held for long.

This book would make a nice gift for someone whose love of, and use of, the Psalter you would like to honor.

I first heard of this book in the late 70's,when another surger in the late Thomas Mertons books was underway. This Psalter is a copy of the one used by the trappists of Our Lady of the Genesee in Piffard, N.Y... I t is a BEAUTIFUL,lovely to look at and hold copy of each of the 150 psalms, lovingly written in large,clean calligraphy.The book itself is big,and meant to be read from a short distance[as the monks do in choir]. a wonderful gift for anyone who loves the psalms, or liturgical prayer. Very ,very well put together.The short,concise intorduction done by Abbot John Eudes Bamberger is superb.{Of related interest is THE GENESEE DIARY by Henri Nouwen, available at Amazon,in which he describes 8 months spent at the Abbey of Genesee}

THE ABBEY PSALTER is a large attractive burgundy cloth hard cover book with stylized gilded lettering on the front cover. It reads: The Abbey Psalter. I like it for two reasons. The first is the beautiful, large easy-to-read print and also its fresh translation. Both lend themselves to "praying the psalms." I find it to be "a text ... artfully copied out by hand ... as to suggest something of a personal character that suits the meditative recital of the psalms, and something too of the peace and silence that monks seek to bring to their common prayer" (Foreward). Each of the 150 psalms begins with a larger red letter; there are no verse numbers to interrupt worship, merely diamond-style bullets. In addition to the psalms, the book includes: The Song of Zechariah, The Song of Mary, The Song of Simeon, and Revelation 15, which ends with, "All nations will come and worship you/ for your judgments have been revealed." The second reason I enjoy this book is because of the short but informative Foreward by John Eudes Bamberger, Abbot of the Genesee. He begins: "The Psalter is the prayerbook of the people of God." Thereafter, he quickly and clearly traces the history of the use of the psalms in the Catholic tradition. Furthermore, the book contains, "A Note on Cistercian Art" to accompany nine black & white full page illustrations scattered throughout the text: "Their motifs fall into two categories: stylized flowers and vegetation, and geometric patterns and interlace." This is a beautful and touching book. (I think I just might buy another.)

It lists difficulty of trails and whether bikes, horses, and pets are welcome. Appears well researched and gives accurate directions and descriptions of the area.

Thank you Rich & Sue! Your book saved us from getting completely lost. My best friend and I took our kids on a hike at Hi Tor - we took the Conklin Gully Trail. If we had not had your book with us, we wouldn't have had a clue where to go, and would probably have had 4 to 6-hour hike, which we would have been totally unprepared for.

Your book is exceptionally well organized and well written. I only have the Take A Hike! Finger Lakes and Genesee Valley Region, but I will be getting others. I also have a lot of friends who love to hike and bike and will be recommending your books to them.

Keep up the good work. With this quality of work I hope your book is selling well. I also hope that you will be able to publish similar books for widespread geographic regions.
Malcolm Gillespie