Michele takes the reader on a magical journey of Tarot. Most books written on Tarot use the same approach and after reading many books one can become confused on what is the real meaning of the cards. It then becomes a game of memorization. The real key is lost that Michele has captured in this book which is using your intuition and unlocking it. She using a delightful, witty approach that leaves one uplifted and ready to pick up any deck and instantly read it with amazing results. Thank you Michele for making the cards come alive. Your passion and dedication is magical.

I have been a student of the tarot for the past three years, and have read so many books and how to manuals! Then along comes Michele Morgan's "A Magical Course in Tarot".- And Believe me it truly is magical! The book is at once partly traditional in nature, but totally refreshing because Michele Morgan also offers us a renewed way to view all the traditional attitudes about Tarot, while at the same time allowing and encouraging the reader to experiment and lean toward your own feelings, interpretations and intuition. Reading this book was a liberating experience for me. The expamples and excercises she uses in the book are easy to do and create an interactive tarot card adventure. Most important is Michele's tongue in cheek writing style. Never forcing or overwhelming, she has the ability to laugh at herself, and to be free to explore new territory. She incorporates simple explanations, with an often humorous writing style the reader can easily relate to. The reader will feel as if he knows Michele or would like to meet her. I read this book very quickly because of her writing style, and would highly recommend it to any one interested in the tarot. It doesn't matter if you are an oldie or a newbie. Read this book!

I have been attracted to tarot for many, many years but never could make sense of the booklets that come with the decks or the books you can buy separately. I would do a spread, read the booklet and then say, "ok this makes a little sense, but not much," and put the deck away for another year.

Then along comes this book! Wow, what an eye-opener. Michele Morgan takes the reader on a beautiful journey to their own intuition using tarot. The cards finally make sense because I intrepret them for me, instead of by trying to wade through jumbled meanings, user guidelines, and rules. Everything in the card is looked at to enhance your understanding--colours, numbers, figures, how one card meshes into another--it's brilliant.

It doesn't matter what deck you use--this book is appropriate to all of them, because it teaches you to listen to yourself.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a clear, satisfying, and EASY, tarot reading!

Once in a while a book can change one's whole perspective, set things clear that have been obfuscated and clarify many contradictions. David Brazier's "The Feeling Buddha" certainly does that. As a long-time buddhist practitioner I had always been struck by some of the contradictions in doctrine: How is it possible to be compassionate without grasping and avoiding? Is buddhism stilted and emotionless? We seem to be biologically designed to have strong preferences and emotions, how to handle these without increasing suffering? This book explains it all in a clear and practical way. If you are interested in Buddhism and psychology, you really must read this.

I was very excited when I located a course in Buddhist psychology at Shipensburg University. Unfortunately it is not offered on the net, and would cost $1300 US if it was. So I have contented myself, and temporarily placated my monkey mind which I love and cultivate, by reading the recommended material including The Feeling Buddha.

Brazier's interpretation of Buddha's teaching is unconventional, challenging the idea that one can "overcome" suffering, so it is interesting that this interpretation fits with my own experience of Zen practice better than many more traditional works. There are similarities between existential thought and therapy and Buddhist thought and therapy that are nicely illustrated by this text, but if you don't give two hoots about existentialism or therapy this is still a very stimulating and not too difficult read. It will strike a chord with many "meditators" who don't identify as Buddhist or any "ist."

David Brazier is a psychotherapist, has practised Zen Buddhism for 30 years, spent some time as a Zen monk, and has studied original Buddhist scriptures for many years. He endeared himself to me early on in the book, by stating that much though we want to blame someone for our problems "In Buddhism there is no God to call to account. Suffering simply is." (Brazier goes to great lengths to use alternative terms rather than simply "suffering," read the book to find out why.) Later on he agrees with other Buddhist teachers that belief in rebirth is beside the point. He states, as have others, that the idea of the wheel of life with recurring death and rebirth is Hindu: not an original Buddhist idea. He is interested in Buddhist teachings and Zen practice as practical tools for making the most of this life, and so am I.

Brazier points out that suffering really cannot be overcome: physical and emotional pain is a recurring part of any life, and must be experienced. He suggests that taking the traditional approach, that Buddhist practice overcomes suffering, may make us ashamed of our suffering, thus adding to our problems instead of resolving them. He suggests paying attention to the terms "noble" and "truth" as used by Buddha. In his view Buddha was urging his followers to live noble lives, to accept the wounding reality of suffering with warrior like fortitude, not to overcome it. In his view, the term truth, as in noble truth, reinforced the inescapable reality of suffering and our reactions to it. Given this view of suffering, the first truth is enough to "revolutionise our lives, " the second, third, and fourth noble truths are "elaborations."

The second noble truth, interpreted by Brazier, says there is no shame in the feelings that arise in us as a result of suffering, it is natural to want to sate thirst and hunger, end pain and so on. The natural response to suffering is noble ("respectable") and true ("real".) As Brazier puts it "The unrealistic attempt to extinguish affliction permanently, just like the leper who extinguishes the itch by burning his arm, does great damage. The acceptance of the noble reality of our passion, however, can be a great cleansing: a catharsis that helps us make something of our life." This ties in well with the more traditional idea of the second truth as something like "understanding suffering".

Brazier takes us back to the word Nirodha, used to express the third noble truth, and it is worth the trip. Nirodha is an earth bank confining and protecting a fire, preventing it from being spread by the wind. In its most effective form, it is an oven wall. It also alludes to a sacred fire. Nirvana then means "safe from the wind," where the wind is greed, hate and delusion, which respectively dissipate the fire by using the fuel too fast, cause damage, and put the fire out. To "have spirit" Brazier says we must have fire, but use and direct it well, "riding the dragon", not killing it as in western fairy stories.

The fourth noble truth is a path to follow to protect the fire from the wind. The middle path involves doing what we can, and not giving up because what we can do seems so small compared to all the things that are beyond our control. Brazier suggests facing our own despair as a place to start.

Despair has an important place for Brazier. He says "despair is Samudaya." Samudaya is the second noble truth: that which arises from suffering, the fire we must control. He calls on members of Dharma practice communities to "be willing in our Dharma discussions to share these feelings and listen deeply to one another." In his view, Dharma practice can continuously convert suffering to bliss. Here is a strong tie to the more traditional interpretation of Buddhist teaching, we may not overcome suffering, but converting it to bliss changes everything.

I really have no idea whether David Brazier succeeded in one of his goals for this book. Namely, to reconstruct what the Buddha really meant when he gave his first sermon around 2500 years ago. Given all of the inherent difficulties with such an undertaking, it seems to me that no one can ever know for sure what the Buddha really said or meant. Brazier's arguments are not always rigorous. For example, he indugles in a little hand-waving when he writes, on page 98, 'This seems both improbable and out of kilter with the general tone of the Buddha's teaching'. But the book stands on its own with a profound, thoughtful, and deeply important message to the rest of humanity: that the one thing we can do in this difficult and mysterious life to give it real meaning and dignity, regardless (and because of) the circumstances, is to live Nobly. The perosn who lives the Noble Life accepts the inevitable difficulties in life, the passions that arise in response to these difficulties, and finds a way to use those passions in ways that are constructive, courageous, compassionate, and selfless. Such a person does not chase after solace in toys, intoxication, sex, or other such pleasures, but enjoys them for what they are while finding real happiness and meaning in the Noble Life. The Noble Life is certainly no easy goal-- not what many a weary and world-worn soul may wish to hear. But Brazier's book rings of gentle and inspirational truth for me, and I rank it as my most cherished book on the human condition. I have recommended it to dozens of friends and family members, and I recommend it to you, too. The book itself is a wonderful demonstration of how to live the Noble Life. If you're looking for a nuts-and-bolts handbook for practice, look elsewhere (such as 'Mindfulness in Plain English', by Venerable Henepola Gunaratana; or 'Breath by Breath', by Larry Rosenberg; or 'Start Where You Are', by Pema Chodron), but read this book too!

While this slender volume contains many exciting adventures that make great reading, the most fascinating aspect of this important book is the author's unflinching critisizm of the Coast Guard officer corps and the indifference (if not outright hostily) they often effect toward the small boat stations of thier own service.

Dr. Noble gives an account of a Coast Guard officer referring to small boat station personnel as "Neanderthals". I don't doubt it at all. Having done time in the "black shoe" Coast Guard on cutters, I was a first hand witness to what Dr. Noble mentions: the CG officer corps places so much emphasis on the seagoing Guard they forget and ignore the small boat stations.

I hope this book will serve as a wake-up call for those at HQ. I'm certain it will "frost" a lot of behinds. But its high time they smell the coffee and make necessary changes before the CG has it alter its nickname from "Lifesavers" to "Life-losers."

Every member of Congress and the Senate should read this book to get a full understanding of the imortance of Coast Guard small boat stations and why they can no longer continue to remain undermanned, underfunded, and overworked.

Although the book was a nice, easy read, I was involved to the point where I couldn't put it down and wanted to know more about the Coast Guard. These men and women of the small lifeboat stations are true heroes. Thanks to Dennis Noble for telling their history and story. I was inspired so much by the desire to become a part of such an amazing tradition and responsibility that I visited my Coast Guard recruiter to join.

I am not much of a reader of books. This is one that I could not put down though. The stories will put you right in the drivers seat with these brave men and women. You will be crashing through 15 to 20 foot breaking surf right along with them. Those of you who have been to a small boat unit, will smile and say "I have been there, done that". For those of you who may never have new that small boat stations do exist. This book will give you a new apprieciation for what these young men and women do at a small boat station. Risking their lives everyday to help others. I know because I live it everyday, and would give it up for nothing! Thanks again Dennis. Chris Sparkman, Surfman United States Coast Guard.

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

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

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

It's a sweet story of a 'simple' stuffed rabbit amidst the more 'complex' modern toys in a boy's "toy collection". The rabbit starts to believe that in order to get the love of the boy, he needs to appear 'real', or be able to zoom about like the motorized toys...
(And I'm not going to tell you the end hahahahaha!!!)
It was great having that read to me, while I was hugging my stuffed animals in bed.
But -- in a way, at first glance it looks like a simple story, but it is actually a surprisingly complex story. Leave it on your child's bookshelf as he/she grows up and he/she will reread it again and again as he/she questions issues such as "who am I?", "what does it mean to be 'real'"?, "what is my role in this world?", and even "what is death"?

I make sure I use this book with each class I teach--3rd and4th graders. They always get it--that love makes us real, too. Theymake the connection between the Skin Horse becoming shabby and people getting old. I always bring in my stuffed velveteen rabbit I bought years ago and it starts making the rounds and popping up on different children's laps. It is a pleasure to see them become attached to the rabbit instead of "mechanical toys that were very superior, and looked down upon everyone else." They also relate to the lessons the Velveteen Rabbit learns from the Skin Horse about how becoming real is a painful process sometimes and can take a long time.

This book is a simple work of art. Its beauty in itself is virtually indescribable. When I was little, it was my favorite book. In fact, I've had it ever since I was born. It is about a boy who owns a stuffed rabbit, and longs for it to be real. Eventually, because he loved the rabbit so much, his wish was granted. The book is so well written that it brings tears to my eyes almost every time I read it. It is definitely one of my all-time favorites.

Stolen From Gypsies is an incredibly creative and fun-filled take on the classic love story. Noble Smith has created a rich and detailed fantasy world for his "book within a book" while loading the "real" world of the narrator with juicy historical tidbits. Part of the fun of the book for me was translating the invented words with the helpful glossary in the back of the book. I laughed out loud at many points during the day it took me to devour this charming book. The humor is lavished over every word, but the book is not a hollow series of comic "interlewds" (to quote one of the characters); the central messages of looking beyond surface impressions, of faith in one's self, and of relishing the beautiful in the absurd are timeless and important. Who doesn't need to be reminded of these things from time to time? Calling it a comic fairy tale for adults is about as close as I can come to categorizing Stolen From Gypsies; it defies categorization while remaining totally accessible. I highly recommend Noble Smith's Stolen From Gypsies.

This is easily the most satisfying tale I've read in a very long time. Rambunctious and witty, vastly imaginative, racingly-paced, and always downright funny, Stolen from Gypsies is a book for anyone who loves a great yarn spun with great skill. The author is drunk like a lord on the rich, mad joy of the English language itself, but not only can he hold his liquor, he turns the wildness of our words, old and new, into pure, narrative gold. This book is no spare, dry, modern comment on our brief, contemporary moment; it's a hot-blooded, hip-wading, sly-winking romp through the rich, roiling tradition of hundreds of years of broadly comic tale-telling. Full of exaggerated characters with outrageous names who do, say, and think extraordinary things, and written with appreciable literary and historical wisdom and wit, this story is firmly rooted in what everyone will recognize and appreciate as the ancient tradition of classically good storytelling.

Have you been yearning for an irrepresibly laugh-out-loud tale which steeps you in history and adventure, cozies you near and dear to absurd characters, bashes you good-naturedly about the head with old English slang, and goads you into turning the pages in equal measure of curiosity, surprise, and happy contentment of perhaps the most familiar, well-loved experience language can give us--the pleasure of a great story wondrously unfolding? Then you'll love this book; it's a true pleasure.

Post-note for all you hybridization fans: think Anthony Burgess's "Nothing Like the Sun" (a brilliant masterpiece) crossed with something more outright comic--the Monty Python movie epics will have to do for now. Maybe another reader will come up with the perfect title here...

A completely first-rate novel, sublime in richly historical hysterical characterizations. In his first novel, Noble Smith fashions a completely original story-within-a-story. The subject, a smart and thumping love story which leaves you both wildly entertained, expanded in your vocabulary, and just a little more informed about the wild turns of history which by only the smallest chance may have turned out quite different for all of us.
Smith's 'Gypsy' character breathes hope into our sometimes gray hearts that we all have, deep inside of us, an erudite, bold gypsy inner-being longing to break free from the humps which define us to sing our passions to the world. The story is told smartly through a decrepit writer-in-exile's re-telling of this fantastic story to his servant. With joy we watch the transformation both he and his main character makes throughout the book, tying up spectacularly in the end.
Stolen By Gypsies is a read which will keep you on the edge of your seat, as empassioned as the Gypsy character who is striving to become his complete self. Highly recommended reading. Waiting anxiously for his next novel.

I was one of the reporters forced to confront Kerry Noble and the heavily armed thugs he commanded at Bull Shoals Lake. It was 1984 and the fascist fringe Noble represented was on the rise: talk radio host Alan Berg had been assassinated in Denver because he was Jewish, an extremist named Gordon Kahl had gunned down two federal marshalls come to arrest him on a minor a tax beef. State troopers in Missouri and Arkansas were about to be slaughtered by Noble's friends. I can tell you when I stood before him, I saw no glint of insight, compassion or self-doubt in his eyes. He liked carrying guns, playing camouflage-clad warrior, and kowtowing to the petty and perverse Hitler who commanded CSA. I find it ironic that after all the horror Noble and his spiritual disciples, including Timothy McVeigh visited upon our country, he writes a tell-all book about his supposed "conversion" from the dark side. Another ignoble scam: this one about money rather than sex and power. Perhaps we'll give Osama bin Ladn a book contract too.

Kerry Noble brings a new and fascinating look into the workings of the extremist right in America. His experiences, his insights and his confusion as a member of CSA creates a sensitive account of a devout man struggling with both himself and the toxic dogma of an insular and isolated society. As a writer who has researched the racial right for over five years, I find that Noble does an excellent job of articulating the conversion experiences of the radicalized religious right. It is indeed a short step sometimes from moral dissension to dangerous alienation, from a spiritual retreat to an armed camp.

Tabernacle of Hate again illustrates the dangers of blind faith in any leader, the twilight zone reality of isolated individuals whose only truth is the truth from within the movements, the odd "Catch-22's" of revelation and prophecy as practiced by the Identists, and the uncompromising racial and political positions that faith demands.

But perhaps more than the examination of the radical movements, Noble's ruthless examination of himself and his beliefs add a dimension to his work that is missing from other works of this nature. Noble provides a clear understanding of how a good-hearted and well-intentioned man can lose himself in a world of fear, hatred and dark religious zeal.

Howard L. Bushart Co-author, "Soldiers of God: White Supremacists and Their Holy War for America"

Tabernacle of Hate is a fascinating account of the rise and fall of the Covenant, the Sword and the Arm of the Lord (CSA), a now-defunct right wing militant extremist group. Noble, formerly second in command of CSA, carefully explains how he and others became caught up in the rhetoric of the group's charismatic leader, Jim Ellison, and how this almost lead to a bloody encounter with the FBI, ATF, and others.

Tabernacle of Hate is an invaluable resource for those interested in understanding the origin and inner workings of a domestic right wing extremist group. His meticulously detailed account of the mind set, weapons, and tactics favored by these groups makes this book a "must read" for law enforcement agencies who may encounter this type of militant extremism in their jurisdiction.

Besides offering a thorough exposition of Mahayana belief, and indeed practice, with an anything but common traversal of the Four Noble Truths by a master, in these four videos one is invited to spend a few intimate hours in the presence of the Dalai Lama, always an ennobling experience. The camera work in this film is especially fine, making of the camera one's own eyes, as it were, and lifting the hours even lighter than they already seem. With respect to another of the reviews on this page, I found the necessary translation from the stage handled superbly, and clearly with a great deal of thought and natural reverence. In Thubten Jimpa, the Dalai Lama employs a beautifully adept translator, an interpreter not only brilliantly attuned to the words and thoughts of the Dalai Lama, but one so obviously loved by him, and who responds with a special kind of faithfulness, that a marvelous duet is often played out, only enhancing thereby this great teacher's magisterial presentation. I would add that one feels as well the 'Englishness' of the audience, so eager to quietly offer their accepting energy, so ready to listen, far more so than might be a gathering of Americans usually so conscious of themselves in the moment. The humor that ripples often between the Dalai Lama and his listeners throughout the evening is so generous and unaffected, one is returned again and again to the meaning behind the words, the experience behind the event. This is a film of the highest achievment, fortunately within the reach of us all. An unforgettable few hours!

In this small book His Holiness the Dalai Lama presents a completely comprehensive, easy to understand explanation and discussion on The Four Noble Truths, which are the foundation of the Buddhist teaching. Yet the book transcends religious beliefs and is actually a book on living happily and peacefully no matter what one's beliefs are. This book, therefore, is for anyone and everyone who is interested in living a more peaceful life. His Holiness explains the most complex issues of human existence in a form that is so simple anyone can understand. He readily gives examples and compassionately faces all alternative arguments to the issues. Everything makes sense. He includes a complete glossary and recommendations for further reading. The last chapter focuses on compassion, complementing the teaching on The Four Noble Truths, and beautifully illustrates how the teachings can be applied to daily life. One completes the reading with no unanswered questions and a profound feeling of peace. It is an inspiring, uplifting, informative little book that will be read over and over again.

PS: Great for gift giving too.

Besides offering a thorough exposition of Mahayana belief, and indeed practice, with an anything but common traversal of the Four Noble Truths by a master, in these four videos one is invited to spend a few intimate hours in the presence of the Dalai Lama, always an ennobling experience. The camera work in this film is especially fine, making of the camera one's own eyes, as it were, and lifting the hours even lighter than they already seem. With respect to another of the reviews on this page, I found the necessary translation from the stage handled superbly, and clearly with a great deal of thought and natural reverence. In Thubten Jimpa, the Dalai Lama employs a beautifully adept translator, an interpreter not only brilliantly attuned to the words and thoughts of the Dalai Lama, but one so obviously loved by him, and who responds with a special kind of faithfulness, that a marvelous duet is often played out, only enhancing thereby this great teacher's magisterial presentation. I would add that one feels as well the 'Englishness' of the audience, so eager to quietly offer their accepting energy, so ready to listen, far more so than might be a gathering of Americans usually so conscious of themselves in the moment. The humor that ripples often between the Dalai Lama and his listeners throughout the evening is so generous and unaffected, one is returned again and again to the meaning behind the words, the experience behind the event. This is a film of the highest achievment, fortunately within the reach of us all. An unforgettable few hours!

The best thing about this edition is its stunningly beautiful cover. It goes downhill from there.

The previous edition (was it around 1995?) was really, really very good; ahead of everyone in the business. I wrote a glowing review at that time. Since then, the countries have moved on at an amazin pace, but LP did not manage to catch up.

Cultural information is still good (and that is the area where fewest changes were needed). It is not as good with practicalities: the book is full of small inaccuracies - money, costs, payment options, transport information all suffer from lazy, complacent research.

Another sad fact is that the authors seem to draw upon their one-off impressions: waiters tipping themselves by not giving you the change, what's that about? Credit cards accepted in "main cities and towns" - well, hello, when did you last go to any of the countries? These things go on and on.

As for "Getting There" information, one wonders which planet are Lonely Planet researchers living on. Has anyone told them about the Internet? About cheap offers from the airlines? How long can continue with their ridiculously irrelevant drivel about bucket shops and courier flights?

A good thing that can be said about this Lonely Plant is that it is not of trademark "bleeding-heart" variety and that anti-American propaganda still has not found its way into it. You will have to get the Iceland guidebook if you want some of the most bitter, biased and unwelcome LP campaigning.

Overall, it seems like Lonely Planet is cutting costs, and the most recent thing that they have chopped off is proper research and verification. This is unfortunate, for the start was really good.

I've used this guide to travel from Estonia to Lithuania via Latvia, and I can assure that the coverage of those countries is absolutely great. The stories included in the book are simply juicy drops of culture, and surely they capture your interest and push you to get more deeply in the history of those sites you are visiting. No matters where you go, you will find the essential information and much more than that. This guide worth the money.

As with all of Lonely Planet in Eastern Europe, this book is excellent. The historical background is particularly good, it makes some sense of an extremely complicated, and at times, surprising history. This are in many ways countries, almost of myth and old stamp collections, that have come back to the real world -a fairy tale in more ways than one. This book keeps that spirit alive, and I highly commend it.

Green goes one large step farther than others have in the limited compendium of literature about the sixties. He captures the emotional experience without falling prey to nostalgia, stereotypes, or overworked clichés. He captures the deep ambivalence to which most survivors of the student antiwar movement will attest. He captures the fragility of do-your-own-thing relationships and trust built on hope. He gathers an odd assortment of characters that together paint an accurate montage of a confusing period of history. Most of all, I liked how the author used symbolic imagery throughout to reveal a broader context, such as religious icons in a campus chapel that forced greater moral debate within the protagonist, Ryan. He simply does not allow lazy McReaders, people looking for homogenized, diminished copy aimed at the lowest common denominator. You might need a dictionary occasionally, but some of his atypical word choices drive home panoply of meaning. Read this book if you are either a serious student or thoughtful survivor of the sixties.

The author's lead character, Ryan Sterling, manifests the anger, confusion, passion, and striving so typical of college students during the Vietnam War. Ryan conforms and defies. He strives for knowledge and novel experiences with equal tenacity and always attempts to gather perspective in a time of extreme social upheaval. He makes many typical mistakes but also reveals a heightened sense of self-sacrifice. Ryan is a paradigmatic composite of the young men who faced the prospect of war, who attempted to escape its unrelenting pressures, and who found some safety in love and learning. Green has constructed a truly powerful narrative of what it meant to be caught up in such an oppressive and tumultuous time in American history. Beyond the sensitive and intelligent lead character, Brent Green has assembled a powerful cast of support roles, with each new character presenting another face of the times: a jocular feminist, an audacious gay couple, a severe drug dealer, a worldly Vietnam vet, and so on. To my knowledge, no other author thus far has successfully pulled together such a true and revealing cast to portray the Vietnam War from the university perspective. Green's carefully hewn characters add depth and texture to Ryan's difficult odyssey through the school year, beginning in August 1969 and ending, tragically, in May 1970. This book must go on the A-list for scholars and today's students seeking deeper insights about the impact of the War on real people. The story starts slowly with perhaps more contextual detail than might be necessary. I assume the author took time to set the stage in his first several chapters so those who did not experience the era personally would have a better foundation. However, the book quickly picks up momentum, and the story becomes more absorbing with each new chapter and memorable character. For a first-time novelist, Green shows a seasoned understanding of the writing craft and highly sensual depiction of an important historical period.

The author obviously has a serious and thoughtful point-of-view about the sixties. You finish the book with a clearer understanding of how all the ambiguity and experimentation, the outrage and turmoil, moved society positively forward. I share the author's implied belief that democratic mobilization on college campuses during Vietnam helped point America where it needed to go -- toward a more caring, inclusive, and participatory society. But even with this apparently serious intent, Green still wrote a damn entertaining book full of humorous encounters and events. I found myself giggling at one moment and swallowing hard in another. A note of caution: This book is not for those who are uncomfortable with explicit sexual escapades, unabashed drug experimentation, or uncensored glimpses into alternative lifestyles. It's amazing to me that more books have not appeared like this. I hope other serious writers from the sixties will read this novel and craft such equally powerful stories about one of America's most confusing, conflicting eras.