O'Laughlin has written an extraordinary novel of struggle and heroism--physical, philosophical and spiritual. In a cultural moment generally devoted to posturing and irony, he dares to be earnest about the things that really matter. His characters are compelling, their individual quests have enormous drive, but the book also contains some of the best nature writing in recent memory. O'Laughlin is truly lyrical on the subject of man against rock. This is a great book that also happens to be a great read.

I have never been to Yosemite and, though I should maybe feel a bit deprived :), I also feel a strange reluctance to go there now. "Omens" conjures up such a beautiful and mysterious place in my mind that I worry that the reality might not live up or that I wouldn't [or both:)]. And I would be sad too, I believe, to find no Malone waiting there or Hummingbird Hayes or Alex or Angel or Geronimo. Through the story I found myself wanting to help Malone both to forgive himself and to find everything he was looking for in Yosemite and to be saved. This was the subtle power of Michael O' Laughlin's writing. He is able to recreate a landscape beautiful and alive, to introduce the reader to characters who they are able to care about, and to simultaneously move beyond this to less concrete territory- the stuff of myths. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It works like legends do while still remaining beautifully rooted in the real world.

Michael O'Laughlin has created a visceral trip into nature. I was taken into the heart of a great climber of the early 70's. Through O'Laughlin's precise perception, I traveled into the depths of the Merced River at spring flood, into a cave behind Yosemite Falls, out to the edge of space at the heights of Yosemite's granite walls. This is a very short list of what O'Laughlin made me feel through his evoking of the setting. This novel is magical, mystical, and somehow penetrates the essense of what places like Yosemite can be for people who love nature. At the same time, I would describe the novel as profoundly realistic. O'Laughlin creates a world on the boundary between myth and reality, achieving an amazing balance. He writes with profound detail, capturing the power in nature to manifest human rebirth. This is a novel for any lover of the outdoors and all who appreciate the detailed prose that draws one away from oneself and into a very pleasurable fictional world. Highly moving material. Highly recommended.

As a sufferer of chronic back pain for the last two decades, I can tell you that this book has changed my life. I have searched high a low for an optimal routine to keep my back working. While there were many programs that would help, I never could quite get the last ache and weakness out of my lower back. Until I tried this book, the best routine I had found was Laughlin's back pain book. This book has done wonders for my back and my general flexibility. It is more complete than its competitors. I would love to take the course that the book is based on. Try it; you'll like it.

I originally gave this a three star review but on further reading I have to say I was wrong. This is an intensely detailed and very thorough book. I was a little put off by it at first but I see now that it is necessary for all the detail.

The exercises are very effective. Just take it slow. This book is the real deal.

I have some flexibility books, and I think this one is the best. The descriptions of all stretches are very detailed. For each of them there are good photographs (not only the final positions) and for most there are alternatives depending on your current flexibility and physical proportions. In no other stretching book have I seen such attention to detail as in this one.
If your goal is to improve general flexibility I would definitely recommend this book. If the reason you considered acquiring it is to help with back or neck pain, I would recommend instead "Overcome Neck & Back Pain" by the same author (several specific stretching and strengthening exercises for that conditions and also a very good self-diagnosis chapter on the possible causes of the pain.)

A well researched and well written guide. Readers like pictures and this book has lots of bright and colorful pictures with descriptions and information. The book gives insight into Mr. Laughlin and his pottery. I recommend this book to all collectors of Homer Laughlin.

This is a must have for Homer Laughlin collectors. Get a feel for the life,times and area that produced the largest American manufacturer of dinnerware. This book is packed with information that you just can't digest in one setting. I'm constantly referring to it and learning something new everytime.

This book is indispensable for indentifying the older pieces of Homer Laughlin. While not a price guide per se it does give the reader an idea of the value of older pottery shapes.

My mother-in-law, a former teacher, passed along her copy to us two years ago. We are just about to begin reading it for the third time as part of our autumn traditions. A great example of what unconditional love can do! Age appropriate from about four on, although I had a young three-year-old who liked to listen to it as well. Our paperback copy has pictures on almost every turn of the page.

I read this book when I was a small girl and never forgot this charming story although I did forget the title. After searching for years through every children's witch book I found it by chance just sitting on a shelf in the library I work at. I was so happy to relive this wonderful childhood memory of Felina (Lucinda) and the Doon family.

This book brings back warm family memories of fall and mother's willingness to help us develope our own imagination. This book is about family and finding someone to love you even if you are a "Little Leftover Witch."

You would think that an entire industry spending billions in marketing feature length films for decades would have spent a few million to do research in to what makes a film a hit (or a bomb). But they don't, because if the studio heads knew what this book dispenses then they would look like the fools that they are or be laughed out of the board room!
I highly recommend this research for anyone, especially potential film investors!
If you are a producer looking for a hit screenplay, you need to know these elements when you pour through all the scripts and treatments to find that gem. If you don't know these secrets you risk gambling on a major loss, a negative return on your investment, which will sour you from being a part of the positive experience that is making films that will touch a persons heart.
If you're a screenwriter who wants to know all those "lies your film teacher told you" then buy this book now!
If you're an avid film goer, you might be interested in knowing what secrets got you to see a movie or not.
This is a multiple read. Get it!

I am an actor and independent producer in Hollywood. PLEASE DON'T BUY THIS BOOK! I want to be the only one in Hollywood with the secrets to making blockbuster movies! What amazes me is that for all the movie marketing we have in Hollywood -- and don't let anyone kid you, they are marketing geniuses -- they don't pay attention to the market research that Tom has done because it didn't get passed down the chain from a studio head. Too bad -- but when I head my own studio I will pass it down and they'll think I'M a genius. Meanwhile, ssshhhhhh! Please! :) Leo Grillo

Tom Laughlin is the premier role model of the independent, maverick movie maker. This book analyzes the nine key ingrediants which yeilds a successful movie, TV show, or novel. Written by someone who is a legend in his own time, it not only explains in detail about the nine ingrediants, but how to use those ingrediants for maximum results.In case anybody doesn't know who Tom Laughlin is, he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in all of the Billy Jack movies. He has a proven track record in the industry. He is also one of the leading Jungian psychotherapists in the world, so you also get a lot of information on the psychologcial aspects of what makes a blockbuster movie, TV show, novel, etc. Should be required reading for anyone interested in film-making.

An outstanding read! So well written it's hard to believe it's this author's first. The interweaving of various elements like past-life regression, environmental protection, music, mountain biking, legal wrangling, soul mates, and the balance on Earth of masculine and feminine energies is elegantly handled. The characters are engaging and believable. The paranormal experiences that might seem impossible to the rational mind work within the context of the story. I cheered and cried with the group of friends as they won or lost "battles" with the "enemy." I was deeply moved by their courage and profoundly affected by the entire story. This book makes an important statement in an entertaining way about the power of the mind and the power of love. I'm recommending this book to all my friends.

Boy did I like this book better than the first reviewer did.

First, I know this publisher from my years of working on bookstores back in high school and college -- they are a small house, but not a vanity press. This book is NOT self-published. And while a good copy editor would have been an asset (as with all first novels, and most second third, and tenth novels) it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book. This is a terrific read.

I'm not usually a fan of the "light and crystally" new-age type of book, but I adored this one. Mostly because I was so completely enchanted by the characters, their relationships, and their commitment to the causes they believe in and to each other.

I the love story was magical and lovely -- and oddly believable. The major conflict was awfully black and white (no shades of gray at all) but that works in mythic storytelling. The confrontation was exciting. And while the novel has a definite pro-environment and pro-new-age agenda, it never comes across as didactic. It's always a joy to read.

I highly recommend this book, especially to people who love the urban fantasies of Charles de Lint.

Phoenix Fire has the most skillfully woven ending of any book I have ever read. The last 50 pages are tantalizing, but not in a contrived sort of way. However, this is not to minimize the rest of the story. Reading this book is time efficient: you are both entertained and informed with a plethora of subjects. I now know more about past life regression, mountain bikes, California's north coast, and legal wrangling. It's like a buffet dinner in that there are so many different and interesting morsels to try. On the other hand, this book will only expand your mind (and not your waist); and you don't finish it feeling stuffed, but wishing for more of Tim O'Laughlin's excellent descriptions.

Samuarai Selling gets to the heart of sales - what it is to service people and enjoy a win-win situation all around. We give it to all of our sales people as a welcome gift to our company. I re-read it once a year and always learn something new and enjoy the satisfaction of seeing that I really have incorporated the Samuarai Selling Principles into my every day activities. It's a success!

In today's IPO get rich quick world, this book is a must for those that enjoy selling because they are a believer in what they do. If you are a peddler PUSHING a product, go get tactics from another book. If you are a believer in your company, read this book.

The material is this book is an important part of my overall approach to sales. I have shared this material with many of co-workers over the years. It has been one of three key sales books in my collection.

I had the pleasure of training with Kit Laughlin and other Posture and Flexibility instructors. Prior to learning Kit's approach I often experienced muscle tension in my neck, shoulders and back. Starting with the very first lesson, I learned specific stretches which eliminate tension in these muscle groups.

In Kit's first book, 'Overcome Neck and Back Pain', he introduces a self-service approach to relieve neck and back pain through improvement of whole body suppleness. He demonstrates stretches targeting not only muscles in the neck, shoulder and back, but also muscles in the pelvic area and legs which influence back pain, as the reader will learn. Specific back strengthening exercises are included to help the reader build up the muscle strength needed to maintain good posture and prevent back pain.

I have seen students of all ages and levels of flexibility benefit from using these techniques. Although a book can never replace hands-on instruction, this book will lead you on a path to overcome neck and back pain.

I am not a sufferer of neck or back pain, however, with my occupation I come across many people who are. I'm a Fitness Trainer, and have taught many stretches from this book to people, who have gained immediate relief from their neck or back discomfort.

If you're looking for a self-help guide to eliminating your neck or back pain, this would be a great book to have. It explains how to find your own muscle imbalances and directs you to the most appropriate stretches for your problem area. The other great feature of the book is it offers so many variations to each stretch, so if you come across something you can't do, you will always find a version you can do. Many of the stretches can be done sitting in a chair. There are also plenty of clear pictures and diagrams to help you along the way.

You don't always have your massage therapist or physiotherapist at hand, but you can always keep this book close by. I believe for most people, if you follow the book carefully, you will develop a method to ease your pain whenever you need to, and keep your spine strong and healthy.

Pain management can now be changed to permanent pain relief and improved function through strengthening and stretching. It is the only book on the market I would recommend to my clients. Easy to read, follow and understand, the best of East and West has been melded in to the safest, most efficient form of exercises for necks and backs I have ever seen or used. Highly recommended if you want to take back the responsibilty for how good your neck and back should feel.

If you can't make it to a TOTAL IMMERSION weekend workshop--this book is the "in print" version of the step-by-step process to fluent, easy and faster swimming! I have had the opportunity to participate in several weekend workshops and use this book as a blueprint for my pool sessions. Other swimmers (of all ages and abilities) have picked up my copy, paged through it and ordered a copy for themselves. Part one lays out the process of making swimming effortless: stroke length, balance, making the body tall and slippery in the water AND linking all the above to the kinetic chain. Subsequent chapters tell the improvement minded swimmer exactly HOW to do this in simple, sequential and DO-ABLE steps. Any swimmer who reads this book and practices these steps will experience swimming made easy.

I've been teaching swimming for nearly 30 years. I thought I had a pretty good handle on what makes for better swimmers. Then I met Terry Laughlin and was introduced to the Total Immersion philosophy. My thinking about movement in the water and how to improve it changed dramatically. His methods have proven time and again to be enlightening and effective for swimmers of ANY ability level. With this book, Laughlin makes the effortless grace of elite swimmers accessible to 'average' swimmers with simple, logical, proven steps that make fluid, powerful swimming a HABIT rather than a chance encounter. Buy it, read it, apply it. You won't regret it.

Swimming Made Easy improves on Terry Laughlin's last book with more photo explanations, easier to read descriptions and easier "flow" of the book. I presently coach a small, but growing Masters group and I credit Terry's techniques to the explosion in our membership! Everyone can do them no matter what level, and everyone notices improvement quickly, if not immediately. Even our lifeguards have noticed the "quiet" swimming recently taking over our group! Having the book and videos to loan out to interested swimmers, as well as his photo-packed Pool Primer is very helpful. Getting the Swimming Made Easy book is a must, I can't recommend it enough! Whenever I need a refresher, I just pick up the book and read the pertinent chapter(s).

The Old South and particularly the Plantation homes is a subject that always interested me. This particular book is the best I have ever seen. Some of Mr. Laughlin's comments are a bit flowery, but for the most part, he captures the spirit of this time in history. I think it is wonderful that people have restored some of these homes back to their original splendor, but the pictures and the history of the homes that have long since been destroyed are the most interesting and are truly the "Ghosts Along the Mississippi".

This book contains heart breaking photos of mostly Louisiana Plantations, some Beautifully restored but most are tragic beauties gone for ever, it is the only source for most of these homes to still exist, many of these photos are the only images of these magnificent homes ever taken, read the book front to back and you will agree, it reads like a novel of the tragic queens of the old south.

Laughlin's work is truly inspiring of the imagination; definite piece for the book lover of art and architecture.