This book was my all time favorite, however I know longer have a copy I have dreamed of finding another, the problem was that I couldn't remember the title. I searched for "meadow" here at Amazon.com just remembering that it had something to do with it and narrowing it down and viola there it was. Just finding the title and reading the reviews made me realize my memories were true. My daughter is just beginning to read and would love for her to have the book for her very own. We went to the local library and checked it out yesterday it was like Christmas to me. It was so nice to know some others loved it as well.

Memories of reading this book with my father as a young child still permeates my thoughts.

My older brother and twin sister and I all would sit mesmerized by Andrew Henry and what he could build. And the care and concern showed by Andrew Henry's family and the rest of the kids' families illustrated to us what a family is and should be to each other.

The detailed illustrations has made me wonder today why (or if) it didn't win any type of award.

I don't know what happened to our family copy. I'm certain a brother or sister has it "hidden". But, I hope to be able to obtain a copy of this book with its wonderful illustrations before I have children in order to pass along a treasured childhood memory!

This wonderfully illustrated book inspires and rekindles the imagination for anyone. Young Andrew Henry decides to run away from home one day; he takes his carpenter's set travels for a few hours and eventually he rests in a meadow. Andrew builds his house, then as other kids arrive at the meadow, Andrew builds their houses too. Andrew designs/builds each house for the kids to suit their hobbies. A bridge house with paddle wheels and sail boats, a tree-house with bird cages, anything you could imagine - he builds it. I remember having this book read to me when I was only 4 (27 years ago), reading it myself when I was 6 and reading it to cousins, nieces, nephews over the years. The book is out of print now (I gave my last copy away over 10 years ago). If you ever find it - it's a keeper! As a grown-up kid you could almost think the message may be "No matter how different we all are, we can all live together".

In my opinion, this book is among the, perhaps even THE, most important ever written.

The book's title, "Sic Itur Ad Astra," is a quote from Virgil's "Aeneid," and is Latin for "This is the way to the stars!" It consists of the posthumous transcription of lectures given by Galambos in 1968. The editor of this transcription, the first in a series of courses by Galambos, is Peter N. Sisco who is charged with full responsibility for the quality of the production. The publisher is The Universal Scientific Publications Company, Inc.

The students of Andrew J. Galambos, who have been anticipating this publication for almost thirty years, are grateful that his ideas are now available to all. Anyone who reads this book seriously will come away with every previous conception of human culture challenged. I believe the result will come to be regarded as a paradigm shift even more important than that which occurred at the American Revolution.

I do have an unfortunate reservation about the book which I feel must be disclosed before I comment on the content. While Galambos' intellectual production of the book is unblemished, sadly the physical production is nowhere near the standard that Galambos would have insisted upon were he alive. Misspellings, typos and errors abound throughout the book and the serious reader must be prepared to look beyond the incompetence of the editor and publishers in order to appreciate the actual importance of what has been transcribed. Fortunately, the errors are, for the most part, readily apparent so, happily, the content remains undamaged. One of Galambos' major lessons to his students was competency and proprietary pride in one's work. Since some of his students were responsible for this book, those errors just should not be there.

"Sic Itur Ad Astra" is the first general disclosure of Galambos' great discovery, the Science of Volition. This is the introduction to the study of the unique distinguishing quality of rational life, that of simply choosing. Your first choice should be to buy and read this book because from Volition derives the ultimate subject of the Science, freedom; a celestial commodity, as Thomas Paine put it, sought by every rational being. Every page of the book is readable and the ideas are accessible to everyone regardless of the extent of his or her knowledge of science.

As Galambos states within the first two minutes of his lecture, on the first page of the transcription (page 5 of the book), "...the course is on freedom." What is your definition of "freedom?" In "Sic Itur Ad Astra," you will find a simple, one sentence, universal definition that contains all you ever thought about freedom and more. If we are successful in building freedom here on Earth, then "Sic Itur Ad Astra" will be known as THE most important book ever written. If not, it still will be the most important, but there will be no civilization, and probably no species, to attest to it.

Andrew J. Galambos will be forever remembered as Earth's "Architect of Freedom." If you want to be a part of this wonderful and eternally durable project, you will get this remarkable book and read it carefully several times. If you possess any intellectual curiosity at all, "Sic Itur Ad Astra" should change your life.

I read this book just 18 months ago. It blew my mind!

Up until that time, Ayn Rand had been the greatest influence on my thinking - but she never worked out a way to get from where we are - to where we want to be, with regard freedom - except for the idea of changing the thinking of the "intellectuals" - who in turn would influence public opinion, which in turn would influence the "vote" - and bring about change via the ballot box.

Fat chance!

I spent 25 years of my life as a "political activist" doing everything from writing letters to the editor of papers, standing for election to public office, and even starting a political party.

Galambos explains why such a line of action is doomed to failure. He says, in effect, that freedom cannot be voted for, fought for or protested for.... that it is a product which must be built, marketed and sold.

His book opened my eyes to an incredible fact - that freedom will arrive via the marketplace - not via the political process.

To me this is the "missing link". The world is full of freedom ideas, but woefully short of freedom strategies (at least ones that work).

I would say this book will be regarded as the work of a genius - that his ideas will take hold slowly at first, then increasing in pace until sweeping everything in its path.

If you're the sort of person who relishes new ideas - ideas that excite and motivate - then you simply must read this book.

Warning: Don't be surprised if many people don't share your enthusiasm - especially those wedded to the political process. The idea that the market can deliver freedom is too inimical to their long-cherised ideas.

One "libertarian" friend of mine called this magnificent book a "doorstop" and refuses to read it.

But if you have an open mind, and know when you are in the presence of a great mind - then you will forever be grateful this book came your way.

It truly points the way to the stars.

I took the lecture series from which the book is transcribed verbatim. Now reading the book I more fully realize how magnificently Galambos presents his unique concepts in ordinary language with an abundance of "rational and moral reasoning", that in itself is unique. One may not know what the, "Scientific Method" is, but before you are through with this book you will grasp its significance in determining "rational and moral reasoning". - It applies to making us rationally understand human nature in a new light. - And to harness it for positive (Peace & Prosperity) rather then for negative results that has produced plunder and destruction throughout history. On a bigger scale this book is also a new exposure to what has caused civilizations to collapse and a never before given solution to this problem that eliminates coercion of all types. I hope the ACIDEMICS and ENTREPRENUERS will read this book as they are the most influential in turning the world around (an IDEOLOGICAL REVOLUTION, NOT A VIOLENT REVOLUTION) and making a GIGANTIC CHANGE FOR A BETTER WORLD. - Just as the American Revolution ( the IDEOLOGICAL ONE, NOT THE VIOLENT ONE) was an GIANT STEP in bringing more FREEDOM, resulting in GREATER INDIVIDUALISM, AND GREATER PROSPERTY to the masses, this book, "Sic Ad Itur Astra" is a blueprint for a NEW WORLD without coercion, violence, and wars. - It may seem impossible, but the existence of our new nation without a king was thought impossible by many at the time of its founding. Read this book and Galambos will convince you of what is "POSSIBLE" and what is "IMPOSSIBLE".

Uri Geller's Mind Medicine is truly one of the most important purchases of my adult life. Uri is a clearly a gifted and blessed man who has an almost shocking and genuine care for humanity. I found this book to be a most positive influence on my own daily life and my interactions with othe people. One of the most profound and powerful experiences I have know is a particular pasrt of the book where Uri invites you to pray along with him for individuals who you have hurt or been hurt by. Also, I was taken back by Uri's visual guides in relations to forming positive thoughts around you, those you love and those who again, you have injured or been injured by. These excercises are real and one can literally feel the physical difference in the body. I would recommend this book by Uri to all who wish to improve thier own lives and the people they touch every day of thier lives. I think that covers virtually every one of us walking this earth.

Uri Gellers latest book "Mind Medicine" is a fabulous book which will transform your whole life. It includes assesment of ancient healing wisdoms, insights into the nature of ill health and also includes healing therapies for the four energy bodies : Physical, mental emotional and spiritual. This book is a must buy for everyone who is interested in the secret of powerful healing.

Author and world-famous psychic and spoon-bender Uri Geller has written a visually stunning and thought-provoking book about how to heal ourselves with the power of our minds. MIND MEDICINE begins without assuming that the reader already has prior knowledge of this subject. Almost every page of this book is graced with beautiful pictures, interesting charts, and fascinating quotations that are relevant to the topic being discussed. Luscious illustrations supplement the elegant simplicity of this wonderfully informative text in such a way that the reader's mind is fully engaged while reading.

The premise of Mind Medicine is that we can and do affect our health with our lifestyles and attitudes... which we can change. Geller advocates judicious use of modern medicine in conjunction with the healing powers of our minds, yet points out that most of us do not fully harness our own healing abilities. We are healthiest when we feel loved and happy -- and this joyous, light energy attracts more good things and people to us. Geller invites us to contemplate what makes us happy, and how free we are to change.

This book is written so simply and clearly that I envision it being a text book for children or adults who wish to learn how to discover what Uri Geller calls MindPower... the higher powers that allow him to bend spoons, locate hidden things, and affect things from a distance. Geller makes his irresistible invitation to us crystal-clear in the introduction to his book, "The mind of every one of us possesses an unimaginable gift and you are about to learn how to use it. Open it now." You'll be glad you did!

The work of Andy Goldsworthy is an inspirational meditation. He begins by going into nature and observing what is already there -- the subtleties of colors, the slight variance between similar rocks or twigs or leaves, the light and the texture. He then patiently creates each sculpture, laying a sense of order where none had been before.

Most inspirational to my soul is how he couples his artistic vision of the beauty intrinsic in nature, coupled with his patience to modify and follow through. He shows us what is possible if we can imagine it, can think through how it should be done, and have the patience to work with nature to create it.

Some pieces take him days of collecting rocks, or sorting leaves by color, or patiently allowing one icicle to freeze to another. Sometimes his work is lost to wind or animals or the sun and he must start over. But he continues on to build the structure and the order that he sees in his mind's eye, working within nature, and creating something that is almost supernatural.

Each person I've shown this book to has been absorbed and amazed. It's the one I give as gifts so spread the word of the work of Andy Goldsworthy.

Beautiful coffee-table art book in which the artist/photographer uses the "found objects" of nature: leaves, stones, ice, snow, feathers, etc. to create amazing temporary works of art. These are then photographed before the elements return the materials to their natural state. It doesn't sound like much, but it's amazing to look at and see what a creative mind can do with nature and patience.

Goldsworthy takes utterly mundane natural materials - leaves, sticks, stones, ice, grass, flowers - and alters them in ways that don't quite change them, but simply make us take notice. Like a reviewer below noticed, the artist takes what is already there - he neither creates the icicle, nor does he cultivate the leaf. However, that is not what Goldsworthy mission is - he collaborates. He reorganizes nature into forms we haven't yet seen, forms which are so delicate, simple, and natural, that they draw us us to examine them, to see why these mundane things are so new, so vivid, so beautiful, and to once more discover the simple miracles of nature. After all, the only reason we don't see how enchanting the Earth around us is that we simply forgot about it. This book is enough to make us remember.

Here just enough to whet your appetite.

The introduction tells several success stories and He says that many studies
show it is advantages to help with heart disease, arthritis and depression
type problems.

Chapter One; Seeking a new treatment for Bi-polar disorder
(manic-depressive) that would be similar to the known substances but without
their problems hundreds of papers came up with a molecule of Omega 3 or fish
Oil! Furthermore that Omega 3 is important to brain function and that
several Hospitals are investigating its effects.

Chapter Two; Discusses fat and oil. Significantly that Japanese with the
low rates of heart disease live in fishing villages, but the Japanese living
in farming villages suffer higher rates. And of course the Eskimos have
little heart disease. Stoll writes that the ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 is
1:1 in primitive cultures; But maybe 20:1 or 40 :1 in America. In other
words We eat too much 6 and not enough 3.

Chapter Three: Anthropology claims that of the varieties of two million
year old homonid ancestors those that ate meat and fish developed greater
brain power and tools. A diet rich in fish helped the brain develop and
during the last hundred years the brain has become smaller! I wonder where
the idea that fish is brain food came from?

Chapter Four: Omega 6 feeds Cancer, Omega 3 slows it down. Omega 3
consumption helps people lose weight.

Chapter Five: Both Baby and Mother suffer from a lack of Omega 3.

Chapter Six. Those suffering from depression have low levels of Omega 3.

Chapter Seven: A clinical trial shows significant improvement in patients
taking fish oil.

Chapter Eight. Under stress Students taking fish oil were less aggressive
than those on Soy oil.

Chapter Nine; Children and rats both suffering from Attention deficiency
disorder are found to have low levels of Omega 3.

Chapter Ten: Tests in England and India show Omega 3 helps some
schizophrenic individuals and if used with vitamins results may be better.

Chapter Eleven: Mice and Rats have better memory on Omega 3.

Chapter Twelve: There have been twenty studies of St. John's Wort done in
Germany. It should be used under Medical supervision.

Chapter Thirteen: What to eat. More fruits, vegetables and fish. Farm
raised fish from Europe have more Omega 3 than those raised in America.

Chapter Fourteen: Fish oil comes in various strengths of Omega 3, some may
be deficient. Flaxseed, purslane, walnut and perilla among others contain a
type of Omega 3, maybe not as good as fish. It is essential to take
anti-oxidants (Vitamins).
Grapes contain reservatol, Coenzyme Q10 is found in spinach, peanuts and
sardines.

Chapter Fifteen: Recipes followed by tables of useful herbs and sources and
references.

Well written book. With far more data than outlined here.
Recommended by this writer.

Lorenzo

This is an excellent book on the omega-3s, which are health providing substances found in fish oil. Stoll is clearly an authority on the subject and does an excellent job of explaining what is known so far about the omega-3s and what some of the remaining questions are. Excellent information is provided on how to supplement your diet with more fish oil through food intake or supplements. Some ideas in the book are a bit speculative, however, and perhaps the entire case of there being some sort of epidemic omega-3 shortage that is causing a good deal of depression is overstated and premature. Nonetheless, there does seem to be some correlation between low rates of depression and cultures with high dietary intake of omega-3s. I wonder if ancient man ate much fish oil, as this is an evolutionary question that might tell us something about whether we're really missing out on this supposedly essential substance today. Either way, this is an excellent book for learning more about omega-3s. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

Numerous studies have found that babies who are breastfed are smarter and healthier than babies who are bottle-fed. Now, Dr. Stoll suggests that the missing ingredient in infant formula is Omega 3 fatty acids, an essential building block for every baby's growing brain.

The down side for mothers has been that pregnancy and breast-feeding sap the mother's body, leaving her deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids... which may lead to postpartum depression. As a mother-to-be who has a history of minor depression, I was very concerned when I started to slip into anxiety spells late in my seventh month (shortly after my baby began the serious brain-building of late gestation). I began taking supplements as recommended in this book, and my mood was significantly better within a few days. After the baby was born, I had no postpartum depression.

I'm excited and I want to share the good news that my baby has Omega 3s to develop his brain... and I don't have to suffer from depression or anxiety!

Let me start this review by confessing that I am biased. One of my letters from Vietnam is included in the book. I therefore view the book differently from the average reader.

I also got an advance copy of the book a week before the official release date, and have been able to read it.

Andrew Carroll produced this book by reading through almost 50,000 letters and selected roughly 200 that best show what everyday life in the military - and in war - are like from the viewpoint of the average soldier, sailor, marine, and airman.

Andy was able to get these letters by persuading Dear Abby to publish an appeal in her column on Veteran's Day in 1998. The column urged readers to contribute these letters so that the sacrifices of the writers would not be forgotten. The result was a flood of 50,000 letters - some faded, some muddy, some blood-stained, and one pierced by a bullet. One letter was written on Hitler's personal stationary by an American sergeant who worked in Hitler's personal quarters in Germany just after WW II. What could be a better symbol of justice?

The letter writers' views are very different than the views you will get by reading the memoirs of a general or an admiral. When I was in the Army, there was a wonderful comment that explained life in the Infantry:

"The general gets the glory, The family gets the body, and We get another mission."

Your view of the military - and of war - changes depending on your position in this food chain.

Overcoming an enemy machine gun is an interesting technical problem when you are circling a firefight in a helicopter at 1,000 feet. You take a very different view of the problem when you are so close to the machine gun that your body pulses from the shock wave of the muzzle blast.

These letters were written by soldiers while they were in the military. They are describing events that happened that day, the pervious day, or the previous week. Their memories are very fresh. Their views also are very different from the views that someone might have when writing his memoirs thirty years later. In thirty years the everyday pains, problems, and terrors could very well be forgotten or become humorous.

The book groups these letters by war or police action. There are sections for letters from the Civil War, WW I (the war to end wars), WW II, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and Somolia/Bosnia/Kosovo.

Some things never change. The Civil War letter writers grumble about poor food, tiresome marches, mindless sergeants and incompetent officers. The Vietnam letter writers (myself included) grumbled about the same things.

One anguished letter was from an officer in Vietnam who was torn by his need to hide his opposition to the war for fear of demoralizing his men. At the end of the letter is a brief comment explaining that the officer stepped on a mine and died shortly after writing this letter.

Welcome to life in the military. Welcome to war.

You should read this book if you want to see what life was like and is like in the military and in war.

Let me start this review by confessing that I am biased. One of my letters from Vietnam is included in the book. I therefore view the book differently from the average reader.

I also got an advance copy of the book a week before the official release date, and have been able to read it.

Andrew Carroll produced this book by reading through almost 50,000 letters and selected roughly 200 that best show what everyday life in the military - and in war - are like from the viewpoint of the average soldier, sailor, marine, and airman.

Andy was able to get these letters by persuading Dear Abby to publish an appeal in her column on Veteran's Day in 1998. The column urged readers to contribute these letters so that the sacrifices of the writers would not be forgotten. The result was a flood of 50,000 letters - some faded, some muddy, some blood-stained, and one pierced by a bullet. One letter was written on Hitler's personal stationary by an American sergeant who worked in Hitler's personal quarters in Germany just after WW II. What could be a better symbol of justice?

The letter writers' views are very different than the views you will get by reading the memoirs of a general or an admiral. When I was in the Army, there was a wonderful comment that explained life in the Infantry:

"The general gets the glory, The family gets the body, and We get another mission."

Your view of the military - and of war - changes depending on your position in this food chain.

Overcoming an enemy machine gun is an interesting technical problem when you are circling a firefight in a helicopter at 1,000 feet. You take a very different view of the problem when you are so close to the machine gun that your body pulses from the shock wave of the muzzle blast.

These letters were written by soldiers while they were in the military. They are describing events that happened that day, the pervious day, or the previous week. Their memories are very fresh. Their views also are very different from the views that someone might have when writing his memoirs thirty years later. In thirty years the everyday pains, problems, and terrors could very well be forgotten or become humorous.

The book groups these letters by war or police action. There are sections for letters from the Civil War, WW I (the war to end wars), WW II, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and Somolia/Bosnia/Kosovo.

Some things never change. The Civil War letter writers grumble about poor food, tiresome marches, mindless sergeants and incompetent officers. The Vietnam letter writers (myself included) grumbled about the same things.

One anguished letter was from an officer in Vietnam who was torn by his need to hide his opposition to the war for fear of demoralizing his men. At the end of the letter is a brief comment explaining that the officer stepped on a mine and died shortly after writing this letter.

Welcome to life in the military. Welcome to war.

You should read this book if you want to see what life was like and is like in the military and in war.

This book, War Letters: Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars, by Andrew Carroll (Editor) is a touching book. With the recent release of the movie Pearl Harbor, the questions that my generation wants to ask the veterans of war are rising out of the ashes once again. Carroll did an excellent job of putting together a collage of soldier's letters which portrays the true emotions of our freedom fighters. Recently having studied many of the wars included in this book, War Letters pulled everything into one book; from the Civil War all the way through Bosnia/Kosovo. The letters in WWI and WWII seemed more hopeful, and 'the great generation' seemed more patriotic. While the soldiers fighting Vietnam had more of a sense of urgency, kind of 'get this over with already' attitude. A common theme with all the letters was they were writing to loved ones, and would claim they would see them soon. Unfortunately, many of these letters were the 'last letters' to the families, some even written on backs of photographs, on scratch paper, or on Hitler's personal stationary. Also, these letters are written a few hours, days, or weeks after the events happened. The soldier has no opportunity to hear what the media said, or how the nation reacted to such a horrific event. They write with their souls, spilling their guts to their families, and shedding their blood for their nation. Granted, having just completed one year of US History helps me understand these events just that much more, but all in all, this book was everything from terrifying to heart warming.

Be Quick But Don't Hurry is a quick read, a pretty good book and a different take on John Wooden's Pyramid of Success that he utilized in coaching the most successful teams in the history of college basketball (UCLA in the 60's and 70's.)

Mr. Hill played for Wooden during his amazing stretch of championships as a backup. The book is basically a reflection of how, after 30 years, Mr. Hill recognized how much he learned from Coach Wooden without knowing he was being taught anything at all.

He discusses how the Secrets of the pyramid are transferable to teaching, business, management and even friendships.

The book is very personal and well written. If you are trying to become a leader or want to learn the keys to success you would gain quite a bit from reading this book. Most importantly, just like basketball, you have to apply these secrets until they become second nature for them to have a profound impact on your life.

Andrew Hill did something that I have never seen an author do before - he wrote a loving and wonderful book about a man whom he bitterly "viewed as a teacher who had failed [him] in his class for three straight years." Hill's journey of introspection and ultimate friendship with his former UCLA basketball coach, the legendary John Wooden, is just half of this great book. The other half is John Wooden's twenty-one secrets, or teachings, for a lifetime of success. I highly recommend this unique and inspiring book to leaders and followers, teachers and scholars, coaches and players, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives.

After I read "Wooden" by John Wooden and Steve Jamison, I bought and read this book. I was initially disappointed with Hill's less-than-stellar, yet brutally honest, portrayal of a man for whom I have the deepest respect. I even thought about throwing the book away in disgust. I am glad I decided to keep it and read it all the way. I would have missed out on a truly fascinating and entertaining opportunity to learn many things that are helping me be a better person. I believe the same opportunity exists for anyone who reads this book.

Be Quick But Don't Hurry, by Andy Hill with John Wooden is not only a great and quick read, but Wooden's Pyramid of Success and Hill's description of how he utilized them as a former player of Wooden at UCLA is easily transferable to all business, teaching, and to anyone interested in discovering Wooden's secrets of success as a basketball coach. The book is also a touching story of Hill's realizing 30 years after playing for Wooden, how important he was/is in his life. For men today, their relationships with their fathers are often conflicted and tortured. But Hill's relationship with his mentor, Coach Wooden, is a model about what can happen in a teacher/pupil, employer/employee, mentor/disciple relationship. I recommend this book to teachers, clergy (of which I am one), managers of business and in the non-profit sector, for basketball fans, and for men and their wives. For women, this book will likely give you insight into who your husbands are and what they need from the men in their lives.

Andy Millard shows us how to bring sanity to the matter of managing our investment portfolios. In these times of sinking equity markets, information overload and the resulting anxiety and confusion,Mr. Millard fills a real need to bring some order and perspective into play. Using sound basics and fundamentals, he presents investing in a way that allows us to incorporate it smoothly into our lives rather than letting it overwhelm our time and energies. He is realistic; he offers no miracles. However, he does leave the reader with a confidence that investing can be dealt with in a calm, controlled fashion, relatively free of stress and worry. This fast, easy read will be particularly helpful for the investor who has lost his/her way and needs a fresh start. It would be ideal for the novice investor.

I can't recommend this book highly enough for the early investor looking for a place to start! More importantly, this book is an absolute must read for every Federal Employee making decisions regarding the Federal Thrift Savings Plan as a part of their retirement. Andy Millard dispenses with the normal investment jargon that in the past has made me feel grossly inadequate to understand the topic. Finally, investing information has been presented in a thorough and simple way so that, even as a layman, I feel I can completely participate in my investments whether I make them myself or through an advisor. While I have never considered myself and investor, this well-written book made me aware that most of us are in fact making investments in one form or another and we had better have some understanding of how it all works.
As a Federal Civil Service employee, I participate in the Federal Thrift Savings Plan as a part of my retirement savings. Thrift Savings operates much like traditional 401K plans do in private industry, and it can be very intimidating for the uneducated investor. "Low Stress Investing" gave me strong information without overwhelming me. After reading this book, I was able to confidently decide how to best apportion my Thrift Savings contribution and allow my retirement savings to work for me. I now have the courage to let go of the ledge and balance the risk in my retirement plan. I talk to co-workers every day that settle for the lowest return on their Thrift Savings in order to maintain the lowest risk, simply because they don't understand the concepts of balanced risk that Andy Millard so expertly explains in this book.
"Low Stress Investing" is a down to earth well-written book. The honesty and passion for the subject conveyed by the author is like a breath of fresh air in a hard sell society where scoundrels and skeptics abound. Try it - you'll love it!

As the owner of a Financial Planning and Wealth Management firm in the Midwest, we are often asked by clients and others for the recommendation of a book that is basic enough, but embraces the philosophical tenet of our firm: "An informed consumer is a successful investor." Well, this book sums it up for us! We are now recommending it alongside David Chilton's classic "The Wealthy Barber" (which is an even more basic primer on general financial principals). C. Andrew Millard has done for investing and portfolio management what Chilton did for basic savings strategies years ago. Low-Stress Investing is now required reading for every new client and seminar attendee throughout our area, and ought to be on the top of every investor's must read list! Andy has taken the often perplexing principals of portfolio management and made them simple to understand and much less confusing for every investor, from those beginning to those now licking their wounds. Great job, Andy - looking for the next one - "Low-Stress Living : Ten Simple Steps to a Worry-Free Life"!

I PICKED THIS BOOK UP AFTER SEEING CHIEF SHOEFOOT, GARY DAWSON AND MARK RITCHIE SPEAK AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY. SHOEFOOT WAS OBVIOUSLY QUITE INTELLIGENT. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AT THAT TIME WHY HE STRESSED OVER AND OVER THAT THE YANOMAMO ARE HUMAN, "JUST LIKE YOU." HE WAS INDIGNANT ABOUT THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN PORTRAYED ON T.V. HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT 'THE MISSING LINK' AS SOME ANTHROS HAVE ASSERTED. SHOEFOOT WAS FASCINATING AND SO IS THIS BOOK. A REAL EYE-OPENER ABOUT THE SPIRIT WORLD. IT MAKES ME WORRY FOR THE NEW-AGERS WHO ARE SEEKING THEIR OWN "SPIRIT GUIDES." IT IS A SURE INVITATION TO THE SAME MISERY THAT JUNGLEMAN DESCRIBES.

The 16,000 Yanomamo people are depicted as the most primitive, most violent, and most famous tribal society in the Amazon. Popularized by the most widely read book in the history of anthropology (*Yanomamo: The Fierce People*, by Napoleon Chagnon), these people are today suffering excruciating problems from gold miners and newly introduced diseases. Major debates have raged among anthropologists, and between anthropologists and missionaries, for 20 years over the "truth" of the Yanomamo culture. Do they live a wonderful life in a beautiful rain-forest Eden, as Chagnon implies in his 1992 book, *The Last Days of Eden*, or do they live in fear and misery as some missionaries say?

Perhaps we should ask that question to the Yanomamo themselves, rather than to the anthropologists or the missionaries. Who does speak for the Yanomamo, anyway? Here, for the first time, author Mark Richie allows the Yanomamo to speak for themselves to us. This is truly "a Yanomamo shaman's story," as the book's subtitle says. It is the autobiography of a Yanomamo shaman-chief named Jungleman. He, at least, is weary of his violent society, and fed-up with the anthropologists, too.

Anyone who thinks the Yanomamo culture is idyllic must be a male: The women live in chronic danger of gang-rapes, savage beatings by their husbands, and kidnapping. And men suffer one of the highest homicide rates in the world from the frequent raiding between villages. If you think it's a romantic way of life, why don't you try it?

Non-specialists in Amazonian anthropology may be skeptical of Jungleman's descriptions of the sexual customs of a European anthropologist who the Yanomamo call "Ass Handler." A.H. has lived with the Yanomamo for many years and, says Jungleman, makes a regular practice of forcibly sodomizing Yanomamo boys. Disbelievers may want to ask the opinion of any anthropologist specializing on the Amazon.

This is a gripping book to read: hard to put down, violent (some would say pornographic), and gut-wrenching. Students who have read the other ethnographies on the Yanomamo will recognize that this book has, above all, a ring of truth. New Age seekers will be fascinated by Jungleman's descriptions of the spirit world that shamans have found. Anthropology students will be shocked by Jungleman's insider view of the political internecine intrigues among anthropologists and between anthropologists and missionaries.

This book does a terrific job of telling the REAL story of the Yanomamo people. The fact that it is told by a Yanomamo shaman lends to the credibility of the book, as does the author's documentation.It was awesome to be able to finally conceptualize what I've believed all along; that the spirit world is very real. Ritchie does a wonderful job in not interjecting his own thoughts and bias into Jungleman's story. It was a moving and gripping tale of a people struggling with the ways they've known for so long and the ways they now wish to live.

I become to like Vachss' Collections better than his novels. This one is even better than born bad, thanks to a complete Cross Novel and some disturbing tales. The sci-fi stories are not as well as in Born Bad, but occupy less space. If you've read one, only one of the stories in this book, you'll want to read all his books. Be warned.

This collection is as good as, if not better than, his first collection-BORN BAD. But to fully understand this collection, read the first. They have the same themes, the same prose, and the same settings.

The Underground series focuses on tribalism of the human species in a not too distant future. Sci-fi isn't really Mr. Vachss strong suit. But dialogue and description are. Everything contained herein is shredded down to it's bare meaning. Other authors write dialogue. Mr. Vachss transcribes it. He's heard it, he's said it. Some of it's even been cursed at him.

The absolute jewel in this book, however, is the CROSS novella. Having difficulty in publishing a CROSS novel on it's own, this is the perfect setting to unveil exactly what these characters are about. Enough teasers in the lean, stabbing prose of the short stories lead into the novella. Which finally gives enough room for Cross and his crew to breathe and infiltrate into you. I had to read it twice in the same sitting, just because I wanted to read more of Cross. A character you shouldn't even like to read ABOUT much less like.

I'm now eagerly awaiting the full novel about CROSS and crew in their own series (or mini-series of books).

EVERYBODY PAYS is the perfect starting point for fans of true crime, action, thrilling suspense filled drama, romance, and the honor driven double cross. If you have not yet heard of or read Andrew Vachss' work, EVERYBODY PAYS is the place to start. VACHSS' writing grabs you like Joe Pesci in CASINO shoving your head into a vice grip. EVERYBODY PAYS is a collection of razor-wired short stories. The hardest, coldest crime you've ever been exposed to anywhere. It will chill you, like Edward Norton in AMERICAN HISTORY X as he coldly stomps on a rivals neck. Yet VACHSS' writing can also move you like DeNiro in HEAT as he walks away from his one true love. No one touches VACHSS' stripped down, hit and run style of writing. He spins the absolute brutal best in reading entertainment. Take that first step and you find yourself falling into sheer hard poetry of language that is VACHSS' unique talent to possess and share with us.

EVERYBODY PAYS has the perfect mix, from PROVING IT, VACHSS' best love story since SHELLA; to gut-wrenching tragedy by evil done to innocence as found in DRESS UP DAY; to a voyage for truth in SEARCHER. For you first time readers, I couldn't be more jealous at your fortune of having just discovered VACHSS and having all those wonderful novels and stories ahead of you. Let yourself fall into this collection of short stories, indulge. As for the rest of us, VACHSS addicts, we'll greedily read this new collection the minute we get home with our copies.