Unconditional Bliss came into my hands during a heart-breaking, nerve-wracking break-up. What I needed more than anything was something so many self-help books with bright covers and promises had failed to give: specific guidance through moments of crisis and grief, specific steps toward bliss (though all I was really hoping for at the time was an end to misery). With humor and great gentleness, Howard Raphael Cushnir lays out the anatomy of how we feel sadness and happiness in all its subtlety. He asks the reader to slow way down to look at the way breathing and self-talk affects his or her passage through a feeling. For me, the result was strange, immediate and exciting. In those micro-minute workings were the tools I needed. I recommend this life-changing book with all my heart. It is a gift.

In his new book, author Howard Raphael Cushnir asserts that it's possible to experience radiant bliss no matter how bad life gets. "I invite you to experience this bliss," he writes, "when it's easy, when it's a challenge, and when it seems utterly impossible." Then, stunningly, he shows the reader exactly how. In this elegant, straightforward book, Cushnir shares a simple practice he calls Living the Questions that can help us to access "the bliss that lives within." A self-described skeptic, Cushnir describes how he discovered this bliss by paying close attention to his experience after his life fell apart. Candid self-revelations support his thesis that one needn't be an expert to find this deep and abiding inner bliss. The practice he distilled consists of two simple questions, to be asked and answered moment-by-moment. Examples throughout the book illustrate how the practice applies to daily situations, from the mundane (overeating, traffic) to the deep-seated (loneliness, loss, unresolved childhood issues). Highly accessible and practical, yet profound in its implications, it's a great read with a great message.

Unconditional Bliss came into my hands during a devastating breakup. I needed what most self-help books, with their bright covers and promises, never gave me: specific strategies for handling moments of crisis. With great gentleness and humor, Howard Raphael Cushnir asks the reader to study the way he or she feels joy or grief, to see how breathing and self-talk affect that process. The way he does this showed me tools I had never before recognized, and what I learned from using them changed my life. I recommend this book with all my heart.

I've never played anything but 1920's Call of Cthulhu, and have never been to keen on the idea on modern-day CoC. But I must admit, the Delta Green campaign setting is really impressive. After having taken a look at it and purchasing it, I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a change of pace in their CoC game. The best comparison I can think of is this: If CoC 1920's is the movie "Alien," Delta Green is the movie "Aliens." Both are cool, both have the same creatures as the adversaries, but they both have different moods and different types of protagonists. The background info in this book is so realistic, if I were a bit more mentally unbalanced :), I could easily believe every bit of it as gospel truth, not just a game setting.

If Lovecraft was alive today this sourcebook would make him green with envy! This takes the Call of Cthulhu game to the contemporary level. There's more than enough plots and characters to juice up a modern (postmodern?) Call of Cthulhu game. I especially like how the creators have made so many versatile options. You can make this supplement as intricate or as simple as you want. I definitely recommend this as a sourcebook to all Call of Cthulhu role playing fans.

Many have commented that DELTA GREEN is where X-Files meets the Cthulhu Mythos. They are correct, but it goes beyond that. Delta Green presents a satisfying and believable context for mythos roleplaying in the modern era. This supplement for CALL OF CTHULHU, a game which has a history of great supplements, raises the standard by which future works will be measured. This is quite possibly the best role-playing supplement ever. I have been into RPGs for nearly 20 years now, and I have seen most of what is out there. Believe me, it does not get better than this.

As a photographer, choreographer and dancer myself, I tend to be a tough sell on books which hype a photographer's mastery of the human form, particularly where dance or dancers are concerned. But such is my appreciation, and awe, of what Schatz has accomplished in his water studies that I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw that he had published "Pool Light."

Less a book about dancers than about the incredible beauty of the human body, "Pool Light," transcends the very things which frustrate us as movers. In this book, the photographer and his models make us believe in both flight and fantasy. They inspire us to see shape unihibited by gravity or earthly confines. And they succeed in taking nudity, within a photographic environment, out of the controversial realms of "indecency" and restoring it to art in the way the great painters have seen it.

Technically, the work is nothing short of a marvel. Great photography, like any great art, deceives the viewer into believing that what they see is so easy, so natural, as to be routinely simple. In "Pool Light," we see none of the sweat, none of the frustration and aches (and presumably water-logged participants), which must certainly have gone into each image. Instead, we are invited simply to see that most classic of forms, and ancient of muses, the human figure, shown, through the most contemporary of techniques, in a way which celebrates both even as it transcends our sense of their limitations.

Absolutely beautifully photographed book. Schatz captures the God given beauty of the models under water with perfect taste. This is his best book by far. Yes far better than his most recent book Nude Body Nude.The dancers and models in this book appear to be much more natural and have a graceful beauty that almost makes you forget their nude; as opposed to the cliche "sexy" look that is typical of other models.

A magic delight to any person with or even without sensibility.
A must see for photographers and artists. It is a source of inspiration for my paintings and sculptures.
The beauty of the human body as if we were still in Eden.
After this book I was hooked on all Schatz books.
Do not miss it.

As a voracious reader of books on stars, I was wonderfully entertained by Edwin Howard's new book, Seeing Stars. The book is written in an easy reading style, full of interesting facts and insights about some of the movie stars who have dominated the screen for the past 50 years. What is most amazing is how Mr. Howard became friends with many of the stars that he covered. This is obviously a testament to his own personality and his ability to connect with stars as people and not just as Hollywood names. This is a must read for anyone who wants an inside glimpse of celebrities as diverse as Cary Grant, Elvis Presley, Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman or John Wayne. I even got several copies to give as gifts to friends who love the movies!

Edwin Howard's Seeing Stars is a celebration of a professional celebrity seeker, beautifully written with passionate insight for his abundance of subject matter - such as calling "John Wayne the Grand Canyon of movie stars" and Lucille Ball "the Niagara Falls." Throughout the book, Howard has seasoned his original interviews of some of Hollywood's most famous stars with personal observations and evaluations of their films and careers. This reader learned so much and was inspired to want to see again films in which the stars appeared. This reader-friendly book, with candid photographs of many of the stars, is a must for the cinema loving public as well as for theater/cinema libraries - and the personal book shelves of students studying these disciplines.

Seeing Stars' introduction is a perfect tune-up for what is to come - by first defining what an interview actually is: "biography in a hurry"... and very informative about where the word interview comes from: "to see each other" from old French. The book's opening chapter on Mae West, who invited the author up to her apartment, whets the appetite to read on. In subsequent chapters, one is introduced to sharp, witty and appropriately catchy chaper titles - salt and peppering the interviews to follow. With Howard's flare for words, his interviews are absolutely delicious! The chapter on Patricia Neal will bring a tear to the eye. Wait until you read the final words Howard writes about Elvis Presley!

Let's hope Edwin Howard doesn't stop seeing more stars in the future. This 260-page book seeks a celebratory sequel.

Seeing Stars: Memoirs Of A Professional Celebrity-Seeker is the personal story of Edwin Howard, a veteran newspaperman, television arts critic and former book review editor whose encounters with the Hollywood elite ranged from Cary Grant, William Faulkner, and Sophia Loren, to James Earl Jones, Jack Nicholson, and Ingrid Bergman, to Paul Newman, Hal Holbrook, Elvis Presley, and so many others. An amazingly candid and surprisingly insightful collection of memorable and autobiographical vignettes offering the reader a unique perspective on and into the lives of some of the greatest entertainers Hollywood has ever known. Seeing Stars is as thoroughly entertaining as it is informed and informative.

This book is clear, informative and well presented. I have just completed an advanced financial course on starting a business. Virtually no time was spent on the topic of angel investors.

It seems to me that this critical topic must be understood by the entrepreneur as he or she consider the funding requirements of a start up company.

Who are Angels? How to do you approach them? What type of investment return do they expect? What types of exit strategies appeal to them and in what time frame? All of these questions are clearly addressed by a cross section of experienced Angels.

This book exceeded my expectations and deserves my time to say thank you.

Suzanne Short

Outstanding Book for Both Angels and Entrepreneurs. David and Howard have done a fantastic job in providing an insiders point of view regarding Angel Financing. They provide an in depth analysis of actual deals and the specific numbers used for each deal. This book is not a 50,000 overview of what Angel investing is about, but a practical and very useful "User's manual" if you will about the subject. This book makes you feel like you are sitting down at the table while the deals are being made. One of the best books I have read...highly recommended.

Finally a book that spells out a methodology behind the "mysterious" process of Angel investing. This books takes the reader (whether a novice or seasoned investor) through the "7 Fundementals of Early Stage Investing" based upon the input of a great collection of successful start-up investors aptly called "Winning Angels". This book is well worth the read for anyone who wants to start, improve, or add a better methodology to their early stage investing. This book is a real "winner" itself !! Well done, David Amis and Howard Stevenson, I look forward to your next collaberation.

What we have in this series of books (starting with Conan, and proceding through Conan The Cimmerian, Conan The Wanderer, etc.) is an attempt to put the stories in chronological sequence, filling in the gaps from the late Howard's notes. It's a valiant effort, both respectable and respectful though it's certain that whatever demons possessed Howard and allowed him to write as knowledgably (even "truthfully") about Conan as he did do not possess Carter and de Camp.

It's too easy (and fruitless) to criticize the effort for that. The series gives you a look at Conan as he grows and matures, and presents as cohesive a picture of him as any literary (or even actual) character ever documented. Aspiring fantasists would do well to read this for an idea of how to build a lasting character.

Beyond that, the stories are just plain fun. Violent, of course, with a smattering of non-graphic... (less here than in other books), and lots of good weird stuff. Because these are short stories, you don't get the kind of cliffhangers you get from a "Tarzan" book, but you do get non-stop action from one of the best. And that ain't bad.

Robert E. Howard is truely the master of fantasy. This is the first installment of the conan saga. This book has the first eight short stories of Conans life written by Robert E. Howard and edited by L. Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter. These stories are fantastic well written swords & sorcery by the man who started the craze. The battles in the book are so vivid that you can feel the blood splashing your face as Conan cuts his enemy down. His emotions are so well written that you can feel Conans despair as he faces his greatest fears. Heck by the end of the book you miss the guy. This book has it all fights, drinks, booty, women, and high adventure. Conan was fun and entertaining to read I reccomend it to all swords & sorcery fans. If you like this book or are interested in more swords & sorcery then I reccomend these titles: the whole conan series, Brakk the Barbarian by John Jakes, Flashing Swords edited by Lin Carter(short stories), Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber.

Besides Robert E. Howard's suicide at the age of 30, the greatest tragedy of this brutally talented writer is that his work has not enjoyed the literary praise and societal acceptance that it so clearly deserves. Howard is one of the most overlooked authors of the last century, in part due to academia's refusal to seriously study the Fantasy genre. Conan, Howard's greatest character, lives, prowls, "wenches", boozes, adventures, and cajoles among the paperback pages of this first Conan book, due entirely to Howard's distinct narrative voice.

The reader feels the flexing muscle and sinew, the weathered and tanned skin, the animal reflexes, the very strength in Conan's mercenary grip when they read these short stories - beyond Howard's brilliance at character creation, the very narrative voice is written in the tune of savage ruthlessness. No matter your sex, you can't help but boil with testosterone and reel in the wicked pleasure of cleaving cut-throats with a broadsword, because the simple and powerfully persuasive narrative voice places you in Conan's world. Howard's delicate and meticulous word choice not only provide the uniqueness of his voice - a style rich with texture, details, and cinematic imagery - but it also provides the barbarian lens by which we view his world.

The stories are often dripping with blood, but the imagery is so vivid and artistic it in no way diminishes the quality of the text. The knocked out teeth and the crimson sprays seem natural, because they're natural to Conan. Few authors have ever displayed such a profound ability at placing the reader into a character's blood, brain, and hormones. Conan, after all, is not the stereotypical Hollywood action hero - he is a character designed with his own unique combination of strength and flaws. Flaws found in all humanity. He may be built and wired like a Siberian tiger, but he is plagued with a deeply embedded fear of the supernatural. His temper often gets the better of him. When times are good and the riches spill from his saddlebags, he's a boastful braggart that earns the unforeseen whack at the end of a dark alley. When times are tough, he hits the goblet. He's everything we want to be and one of us when we need him to be.

Howard's voice and style make all of this possible. This first book in the Conan series displays that voice of reluctant role model as good as any other. Finding a copy may be difficult, but for the reader that enjoys Fantasy written at the depth and quality of literary genre fiction, the search and the expenditure will yield a bountiful harvest.

Although Mr. Reiss has lots of experience (which he reminds us of quite a bit throughout the book) most of it is in inventing / product development / manufacturing / wholesaling. If your interests lie in this area, the book will most likely be of benefit to you.

For me, as a burgeoning retailer, I found I skimmed more than half the book, because the content was of no immediate value or interest to me. Also, the service sector is barely touched on.

I realize that 3 stars may not be fair, given the limitations of my own area of interest, but 1) the book description should give some indication of its limitations, 2) the book cries out for less philosophy and more concrete examples of the points being made, 3)the writing itself is average at best...the book wants to be somewhat inspirational as well as practical, but Mr. Reiss' writing is not up to the level of inspirational.

I see from the other reviews here that lots of people love this book. That's why I ordered it. But I have to admit I was disappointed. But I also can see how for the right entrepreneur, it could be of some value.

In today's world with women fleeing corporations to start their own businesses coupled with mature executives forced out of corporations due to mergers or downsizing, Bob Reiss' book is a life raft. Frankly, I think risk management is the least important lesson Reiss offers. His real gifts are how to get started, how to build the company, and how to create, build, and sell products not only to the buyer but to the consumer. For those with a great idea who may be financially challenged, he also offers info on how to create a cash flow, a product cost analysis, a break-even analysis, and a business plan that will help get money. If ever a book were written for the fledgling entrepreneur or entrepreneur wanna-be, this is it.

Reiss' book gives ideas you can use obviously gleaned from his personal experiences "where the rubber meets the road."My sons are buying my business and I've given them the book as assigned reading; particularly the chapter"Numeracy".I personally used his ideas from the chapter "Building the Company" about how to get free publicity instead of paying for advertising. I'm building a condo project and received 8 newspaper articles, with photos- some front page- in three different newspapers! The articles generated 16 inquiries and 1 sale so far.Bob's 16 common attributes of entrepreneurs in Chapter 1 are fascinating. I teach literacy to a foreigner who is keenly interested in business and I used this chapter with him.If you own a business, want to or deal with entrepreneurs, get this book and study it!

This book was my introduction to the spiritual life. A friend gave it to me--with some trepidation, not knowing how I'd take it--but to her relief, I was completely won over. I GOT it. Now that I've read more sophisticated books, Vernon Howard might not speak to me so deeply. But if you know someone who is spinning their wheels, who could lead a more powerful life if they were just shown the way, this is the book to give them. It is simple, easy-to-read, and it works.

If you are new to the ancient wisdom about which Vernon Howard writes, then your decision to read his writings may be THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION you will ever make. You have stumbled upon a source of wisdom that will ACTUALLY begin to transform your life and your experience of it.

If you're the kind of person who suspects that there's something very important that has yet to be understood about this life of ours, then you will most likely treasure this book for the rest of your life.

It's now been about 6 years since I came across this book, and I owe Mr. Howard such an unpayable debt of gratitude. I used to walk around throughout my day with a kind of unsettled, simmering anxiety (not to mention facing the major crises every once in a while that we are all accustomed to experiencing). I couldn't tell what exactly it was about, and I was an expert at hiding it, but it was there day, after day, after day.

This book has ACTUALLY changed all that. The curious thing is that I couldn't possibly tell you when or where a part of me changed, all I know is that something is fantastically different thanks to the life-saving wisdom in Mr. Howards writings.

The change has been much like moving from black-and-white TV to color! The beauty of life is back! Now, am I a fancy-shmancy spiritually enlightened man who "has arrived"? Well, I don't think so because I know there's still lots of work to be done. But what I DO know is that for those of us who have lost touch with the "sweetness" of life, there is an ACTUAL, REAL, LIVING WISDOM that will help you to rediscover it. I guarantee it!

I wish I could be there to give you whatever reassurance you need to order this book. I say this because very few people have the good fortune of stumbling upon the very thing that their heart calls out for... but right now, for whatever the reasons, you're one of them. I hope you will give it a try.

Take care...

I believe this is the best book that I have ever read. I can't express in words how much benefit I have received from this treasure. Vernon Howard is the best kept secret in the world. Any Vernon Howard book is 5 stars++.

Every family has stories to tell. We hear them most from those older and wiser than us. Stories of the past, of their lives and the lives of loved ones before them. Often we hear these stories so many times we fail to pay attention after a while. We roll our eyes thinking, not this again or how many times have I heard this story but we must stop and wonder have we ever really listened to the truth inside the story?

Carolyn Howard-Johnson's second novel, "Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered," will make you ask yourself that very question. "Harkening" is not your average book of short stories. Designed to be read at leisure, each story with the ability to stand on its own, it has been carefully arranged to take you through a time line of life. Mrs. Johnson shares with us from her own memory stories told to her by members of her family about her family spanning over many generations.

In a distinct writing style that only Carolyn Howard-Johnson possesses, the characters of "Harkening" are skillfully described in such a way that you can almost hear them telling the story in their own voice rather than reading it second hand. Each story is a beautifully crafted piece of "creative nonfiction," as termed by Mrs. Johnson, leaving you with an overwhelming sense of truth and the realization that maybe you should pay closer attention to those stories you've heard so many times in the past by your own family.

This beautifully written book by Carolyn Howard-Johnson not only shares her own intimate memories of family and growing up but will stir similar stories of your own childhood. It's a poignant portrayal of family secrets and generational tales woven together exquisitely and eloquently.

'Harkening' has all the familiar family dysfunctions we know firsthand with our own families. The chapters intertwine with each other and flow together poetically and with strength. Each chapter blends and bonds like the stronghold that keeps family together. But as with any good writer, each chapter is a story unto itself told in vivid color and description that arouses strong emotion.

Carolyn breathes life into the pages with great imagery taking you along with her to a place and time only she can retell. The Utah setting and family members come alive and still linger long after you've put the book down. They are not only her own recollections but Carolyn writes about the stories handed down to her as all our past generations have done and continue to do. They connect us and help us find a place to belong.

If you've ever been teased, made fun of, laughed at, or made to feel less than who you really are, you will feel akin to Carolyn as you listen to her harkening. But don't be mislead. As much as these stories will trudge up your own dark memories there are also the warm-hearted stories she shares that will bring a smile on even the darkest day.

'Harkening' is written with honesty, love and understanding that helps to heal your own wounds. It's a literary treasure that will dig up your own buried recollections. I highly recommend 'Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered' and give it top rating.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson's inspiring new book of short stories, HARKENING, reminds us all to harken back to our beginnings, our very core. The stories of a childhood, nurtured and devastated in Utah, are like marzipan, leaving a sweet taste of family in one's mouth. The author herself readily admits in her prologue that "there are certain exigencies required to mold a tale into something...a reader would want to read." But isn't all memory colored by place and time? Just like Ms. Johnson's previous novel, THIS IS THE PLACE, the characters are finely drawn. Gram Lucretia, Mom-Bertie and Aunt Nina are women of a different time, a different etiquette, but their pluck and verve paves the way for generations of women to come. This is a book that will magically transport the reader not only back to Ms. Johnson's memories, but to their own as well.

America has become increasingly involved in the tensions in the Middle East and American military and civilians are increasingly at risk of retaliation. I felt it important to understand the history of the region and the issues that led to the deadly conflict. The information provided these last 25 years by the American media seemed biased and I wanted to know both sides of the story. Although history books can be biased too, I found Howard Sachar's account to be thorough, verifiable and straightforward to read. In addition to providing historical information, he painted a clear picture of the people involved in the conflict and the role of the US in building and supporting Israel. Although by the end of the book it is possible to discern his dovish opinion, I feel that he succeeded in presenting a fair account of the events. Since our country has taken such an active role in the Middle East, it is our duty as Americans to understand the conflict, form educated opinions, and make our opinions known to our elected officials. Howard Sachar's book is a must read.

What a magnificent work of scholarship. For people such as myself, who are only remotely familiar with the circumstances leading to the rise of the Zionist movement and to the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, this is such rewarding book. Sachar's approach to his subject is quite astounding. Not only does he trace the political and social evolution of the country in a sober and even-handed way, but he provides a lucid exposition of the military conflicts and turbulent irruptions that have plagued the country since the early twentieth century. The duplicity and nervous diplomacy of the superpowers in dealing with Israel are also brought to light. Moreover, the rise of the PLO and PFLP are discussed, along with some of the other popular Arab movements, in a very incisive and fair manner. The writing style is quite eloquent, and the topics discussed are so diverse and interesting that the prose doesn't drag along, as one might expect from such a thick and heavy tome. The book is provided with a vast array of military, demographic and municipal maps, which make some of the historical incidents easier to follow. My only suggestion for any subsequent editions is that the book be provided with an insert of illustrations, depicting some of visual arts and archaeological sites that Sachar discusses, along with photographs of some of the important political figures mentioned in the text.

An exhaustive volume covering from the first aliyah in the 1880s through the murder of Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. Sachar adopts a moderate to liberal Israeli stance, admiring early Maipai and Labor leaders Ben-Gurion, Peres, and Rabin. On the other hand, he is unremittingly critical of Likud leadership as well as the influence of the Orthodox and charedim in Israeli society.

Readers should keep in mind that this tome is a history of Israel, and not of the conflict with the Arab States and Palestinians; while it does an excellent job revealing Israeli ideology regarding the conflict, it spends far less time discussing Arab thinking and motivation. Even so, it does not mince words in criticism of Israeli militarism, particularly that of current prime minister Ariel Sharon. An outstanding, extremely readable history of the Jewish state.