Out of quite a few books about Aikido that I own this is the one I return to most often. What sets it apart from other books is the demonstration of fundamental aikido techniques both with and without bokken. It concentrates on a small, but representative number of techniques. These are explained very well. Quality counts more than quantity. I have used the book to devise training lessons.

This book was actually recommended to me by a black-belt, Aikido student and I have never regretted it's purchase. I tend to study sword-styles, and Aikido offers several movements based on sword-fighting principals (as well as actual sword-fighting based on old samurai movements).

It also has a bit on the history of Aikido, breathing, meditation, the life of Ueshiba Morihei (the founder of Aikido) and a glossary of Japanese terms. The rest of the book is mostly dedicated to movements. All in all, this is a must-have for anyone even remotely interested in Aikido.

It's by far one of the best books i've ever read on Aikido. This books shows all the basics of classique aikido.

Great book with very nice pictures.

I have used feng shui on and off for over a year, but I didn't always stick with it. When I saw this book I knew this was what would help me understand what I needed to do, and it has. This helped me see and understand feng shui from a perspective that made sense for me.

I like the detail and background information on gemstones and crystals.

Attract fortune to your home through Gemstone Feng Shui, a title that links gemstones with feng shui. Jade aids in problem-solving, amber in attracting luck: each stone is covered along with tips on balancing it to blend into a home or office environment. The details include plenty of description of all qualities and interactions.

I only recently got into Feng Shui, but I have always collected various gemstones. It seems obvious that the two go together and this book demonstrates just so.
I highly recommend Gemstone Feng Shui, for anyone interested in creating a more harmonious environment.

This is hands down one of the best books about music I've ever read. This should be circulated in ever high school and college throughout the U.S. and beyond!

I am so glad to see jzmckay's excellent review of this book, posted here. He said many of the things that I feel about this book.

I have studied music, including theory, for thirty years, and nothing has expanded my understanding (and perception!) of music as much as the information in this book.

I have studied music with the author of this book -- he's a great writer about music and an even better teacher! I know that this work is the result of a lifetime of profound consideration of what is at the very heart of the musical experience, and of why music affects us as it does. W. A. Mathieu's highly intelligent exposition is a great gift to all who wish to deepen their understanding of music.

I would like to express my personal thanks to the author for this book, which has enhanced my sensitivity to music.

As an undergraduate music major interested in music theory, I happened upon this book by accident while browsing through the theory section of the music library looking for a good book on harmony. All I can say is that the book impressed me so much that I ordered my own copy three days later.

What impressed me so much? Well, for more than a year now I've been trying to sift through music theory texts (as well as acoustics and other math-heavy texts) trying to understand why music sounds good. Why did music develop the way it did? Why did tonality and other parts of classical music break apart in the early twentieth century? Is it purely explicable by artistic means, or is there something about the physical world of acoustics (or psychoacoustics) that effected the development of Western music?

My search led me to the area of tuning, in particular, and to numerous other areas of musical acoustics and theory. In any case, this book explains the basics of everything that I've distilled out of scores of books. Most theorists and general musicians have no clue about how music really works--it took me a full year of reading to get some clue. But, this book presents the basics in such a way that the beginner feels at home, but also puts everything together for an advanced reader in such an incredible way that all I could say was, "Why didn't I find this book last year? It puts together everything I've learned in 18 months to produce the theory that I always knew had to exist!"

Mathieu has written a different kind of music theory book, and one that more theorists should read. He systematically derives Western harmony, starting from simple improvised melodies against a drone, and ending with a theory that encompasses jazz theory as well as traditional tonal harmony. Along the way, you learn more than you ever need to know about the tuning problems that led to modern equal temperament (and without the endless mathematics that scares many musicians away).

But, more importantly, you learn to sing intervals--in tune and pure. The beginning (and most important part) of "Harmonic Experience" is about singing--it is about FEELING why music makes sense to our ears, and slowly figuring out how that evolved into modern Western music.

I recommend this book to three groups:

(1) People who want to know why and how music works (i.e., beginners in music theory) - you won't be able to digest everything in this book in one gulp, but, studied along with traditional harmony, this book will enrich your understanding of music in so many ways. It's written at a level that anyone with the ability to read music and play keyboard a little will understand.

(2) More advanced musicians who have some theory background - if music theory always turned you off, or if you ever wanted to understand more of the "why" rather than the "how" that most harmony courses focus on, this is the book for you.

(3) Music theorists - Even if you have a Ph.D. in music theory, I think you can learn something from this book. There are a few places where the author goes a little far out in his way of explaining things, but you often have to do that when presenting an alternative viewpoint. WARNING: this book may change the way you think about theory. I'm not saying this is a new Bible for theorists--but I think it addresses issues that are not adequately considered in current theoretical research. It provides a fresh perspective in a simple, constructive way. Also, it provides a new set of analytical tools based on some already used in theory--but the background the book gives allows you to use the tools in new ways. It is not so much a new theory as it is a new basis for theory and a new way of THINKING about theory.

In general, if you are a musician and want to understand why music is structured the way it is, this will start you off on the right track.

This is my second book Re Ki.There is new information re gender character. This is usefull information for therapists to understand clients and readers to understand themselves. One think I would like to point out to Mr Sandifer that these books are hard to workout for beginers.However it is a good book.

Sandifer covers a lot of ground in this book and uses easy to use language and charts. It's hard to put down once you start. Also, I had a question so I e-mailed him about it and he responded to me in less than a day. This is Japanese astrology, not Chinese, so people should know that if they're thinking it's Chinese, it will be a little different. My main reason for getting into 9 star was through feng shui, and although there are many other types of astrology used, this seems to be the easiest, yet applicable for Westerners who are used to getting answers quickly and easily. As long as you know someone's birthdate, you can figure out their chart, no need for exact hour or minute of birth. Well worth the price!

This book is deceptively thin! It is rich in information, extremely well-written, and beautifully organized. I was able to put the techniques into immediate use in my feng shui practice. I find it gives much more depth to my understanding of people and relationships, as well as guidance regarding timing of decisions, direction of travel, etc. This is the only book I keep on my desk, and consult virtually daily in my work. I highly recommend it to anyone as a very practical and refined guide, and thanks to Jon for his wonderful work.

This book was AWESOME! It's perfect for people just getting started or people who just want to change their own home and life. It walks you step by step through your house and each room in it, and then some! It gives lots of basic "cures" in easy to understand language. It also has a great section on color usage and the chakras of the body, and touches the surface regarding healing crystals and aromatherapy. You can tell when some writers just have the gift within themselves to touch millions of lives... this book is like that! I can't wait for Nancy's second book coming this winter.

This book, and Kingston's "Clear Your Clutter" complement each other very well. The two books give a good understanding of the principles of Feng Shui and how your living space relates to your body and mental state.

There are two "schools" of thought in Feng Shui: the compass school is mainly oriented around complicated calculations that may involve things like your birthdate (much like doing a horoscope chart) while the "Black Hat" method is a more holistic approach based on Buddhism. I personally don't find much of interest in the compass school but the reader could check out Lillian Too's many books for examples of this style.

SantoPietro's book develops the "Black Hat" style starting from the fundamentals and progressing to some rather complicated "trancendental" cures. I suspect many readers will have difficulty believing that crystals hung in certain spots in their house may change their lives. However, if you start to explore aspects of Qi (chi, sort of like life force energy) then I bet you change your mind and look into fixing and/or augmenting Qi flow in your living space.

SantoPietro does not get into any of the related Qigong (Chikung) aspects of Feng Shui but there are many books available if you are interested in reading about this ancient healing art. I'd also recommend "Mindfulness in Plain English" or "Zen Training" for clearing the clutter in your head...

I particularly enjoyed reading her case studies and, again, I suspect that if even the "non-believer" starts with some of the simpler parts of Feng Shui he/she will probably see the immediate results and then progress to a deeper understanding of Qi later on.

Enjoy.

I decided I'd look into Feng Shui after attending a designers' review on the subject. I got this book, and now refer to it any time I decide to redecorate a room. We've now moved to another state and our house is a completely different layout, so I'm in the process of using this book to design it with Feng Shui harmony.

We have been married for twenty-seven years. Although our children are no longer at home, my husband and I were inspired by Dr. Coleman's book. We thought an alternative title could have been "How to Have a Satisfying Marriage". He recommends taking responsibility for one's own life and not looking to a partner for completion. Although a great read, Dr. Coleman's scholarly work draws on the research of anthropologists, psychologists and scientists. This is a book for all those who wish to be fulfilled in their own lives. We give this book two thumbs up!

Imperfect Harmony is a breath of fresh air for those of us who have worked to stay married, but often staying for reasons which seem socially unacceptable. This book helped validate 20 years of my life. Dr. Coleman takes a realistic view of what is going on in contemporary society, staying married for the sake of the kids. I felt even further validated by the practical tools he offers which work to finely tune my entire family system!

Marriage is not all 'happily ever after', and when the bumpy times hit, it's good to have options. This book discusses the option of staying married through the hard times. And it's a really great read !

This book doesn't suggest martyrdom (actually, it discusses the times when leaving a marriage can be the best option). Rather, it empowers us with techniques for change, methods of coping, and new ways of looking at relationships that can lead to greater marital harmony and personal happiness. I'd even suggest this wonderful book as a wedding gift, because the techniques discussed are helpful in building and maintaining strong marriages.

Kudos to Dr. Joshua Coleman for taking on this controversial topic.

This is one of the most interesting, yet simple books on practical idealism. Anyone who is interested in spirituality or philosophy will find a treasure in this book by a great guru.

The impact the tiny book has on me seems to grow as time passes by. I can't believe that what I have always been searching for can be so simple. Eknath Easwaran gets his message through so clearly with vivid anecdotes. I find myself nodding as I am reading through the lines. Once in a while, I take for granted the lessons that I have already learned. The handy book serves as a constant reminder. It never fails.

This book helps us to understand that the simple things are important. It is choc full of short passages that send BIG messages!

For any person that practices shodo (meaning 'way of calligraphy' ), sumi-e or any form of art that requires full concentration, I highly recommend to read this book. I practice sumi-e and shodo and I have books that cover the techniques in detail, but none of them goes beyond and get to the heart and true reason of this art, which is to achieve a state of mind and body harmony that led us to a form of spiritual realization.

The book talks 'briefly' about the history of calligraphy, the Japanese aesthetics and principles (wabi and sabi), it's relation to the Zen philosophy, and it includes a chapter on how to make the first moves with the brush by practicing 'the enso' (a zen character).

However, the main theme of this book is the meditative aspects of shodo. How to get a perfect posture to practice, how to use the mind with full concentration, how to 'educate' our body, all this to become one with the brush and transcend in a spiritual way.

I do not know if this is the best book that deals with this aspect of shodo (I haven't seen more), but is a very good one, I can assure that.

I recently finished reading the book, Brush Meditation: A Japanese Way to Mind and Body Harmony, by H. E. Davey. The book is excellent. I am novice (hardly even that, actually) when it comes to Shodo (having only recently begun studying Shodo), but your book provides a very smooth introduction, and does a great job of getting across the relationship between it and the other Japanese cultural arts (chado [tea ceremony], budo [martial Ways], kado [flower arrangement], etc).

It is written in a very positive way and contains many beautiful pieces of artwork. I very much enjoyed the "four experiments toward a positive mind," these are great examples of introspection. Though I am far from an expert in budo, I have spent many years training and researching this topic, yet several of the explanations, provided for terms such as fudoshin, hara, and ki shed new light on these concepts, beyond just their relationship to Shodo.

Chapters three and four provide a very gentle introduction to the physical techniques while also providing an overview of the relationship between good posture and the proper state of mind. The importance of the coordination of mind, body, and spirit is presented in a way that should be easy for someone that is new to the Japanese cultural arts to grasp and understand.

I am again impressed with Davey sensei's ability to communicate a complex subject in an interesting and informative way that maintains the readers interest, while still capturing the subtleties of the topic.

From a beginner's perspective, this is an excellent reference, and I highly recommend it.

From flower arranging to the tea ceremony, Japanese arts reflect a shared aesthetic. In Brush Meditation: A Japanese Way to Mind and Body Harmony H. E. Davey uses Japanese calligraphy as a way to get at both the art and the philosophy behind it. Davey, director of a Japanese cultural arts center in San Francisco and an honored calligrapher in Japan, provides step-by-step guidance for handling the brush, but this engaging book is not so much about learning to copy kanji characters as it is about learning the way of the brush and ultimately mastering what Davey calls "lessons in living."

This is a great book for those interested in exploring the many and varied aspects and ramifications of Schenkerian theory. I first bought this book in its hardback-two-separate-volume edition in 1972 or 1973, when, as an undergraduate music student, I was looking for answers to how music "works." This was while studying at a university where the music theory department had been commandeered by a couple of "avant-gardiste" professors who, after eliminating all traditional harmony classes,further insisted that all students should compose, regardless of interest or ability, and that atonality, interminable dissonance, and "originality" for its own sake be the ideals which one should be forced to uphold. It was in this environment that I began my search for musical understanding, and started researching the theoretical, harmonic, contrapuntal, and formal aspects of music that were so sorely neglected in my university education. It was at this time that I became aware of the book "Structural Hearing." In fact, one friend of mine told me, that this was the best book on theory that he had ever read.
There are three things I would recommend to anyone interested in studying this book:
1. First, understand the basics of 4-part harmony, and become proficient at reading figured bass notation. This will help you understand the sections of the book that deal with what the author refers to as "chord grammar."
2. Second, get a copy of "The Study of Counterpoint," by J. J. Fux. This is the Norton edition of the translation of the famous "Gradus ad Parnassum." Work through the exercises in this book. In addition to being a lot of fun, these exercises will teach you a ton about the origins of harmony, voice leading, etc., and will provide some amazing practical solutions to problems you may encounter later, in composing original music, and/or arranging. I have always been happy for the work I did in this book. Trust me, you won't regret it!
3. Go to the nearest print shop that does book binding. They can split your book into two volumes, laminate the covers of them, and spiral bind each section. This will allow you to have the text and the examples side by side, and, as they are spiral bound, will allow you to lay them out flat. I do this with almost all of the scores, or music books with which I work. I recommend this to the reviewer above who expressed regret that the book was bound as a single volume, as well as all others who study this book.
I am delighted to get this book in the paperback edition, and I hope my recommendations are helpful.

Let me very briefly say that this book is not merely an elementary edition of Schenkerian theory; it is much more, and if you are especially working on your own, the examples, the perfect narrative (Like a friend talking to you, pointing at the music to illustrate his point. Really! It's only that you can't talk back to him.), the exercises, and the overall approach will help you greatly in solving many problems pertaining to tonal structure... (This is obviously an old book, and much of its methods are embraced by more recent works such as Kraft's GRADUS, but even so, get this book as a companion and guide to the others.)

one complaint: the binding lowers the production cost maybe, but it's such an inconvenience to turn the pages back and forth to 'look' at the music, and even more laborsome to place it on the piano. Please issue this in two pieces, I'll be willing to pay...extra [money]. Other humble recommendations with this book: Kraft's GRADUS, Westergaard's 'Introduction to Tonal Theory', Thakar's 'Counterpoint', and obviously the Schachter books.

This comment has more to do with the format of the Dover reprint than it does with the actual text. In the older edition of "Structural Hearing" the text was in volume one and the examples were in volume two. This allowed the reader to have the examples in front of them to refer to while they read the text. The Dover reprint is essentially both volumes bound into one book. This causes the book to be very cumbersome, although it probably significantly lowers the production cost. When I read "Structural Hearing" I finally had to check out volume two from the university library. I sincerely hope that the new Longman edition of "Der Frei Satz" maintains the original format.

Stranded in Harmony
By: Barbara Shoup

Stranded in Harmony by Barbara Shoup tells the story of the hardships and good times that one teenage boy goes through during the most crucial times of his life. Lucas Cantrell lives with his parents and younger sister Dawn in a small town called Harmony, Indiana. They live a small town life. Everyone knows each other and news travels as fast as wildfire throughout the town. The book is told from Lucas's point of view, and Lucas takes the reader on a journey to witness his life and true feelings as if everything were happening right in front of their eyes.

Lucas is the star football player on his high school team and is a very good student. He doesn't go anywhere without his best friend Bill who also happens to be Dawn's boyfriend or his girlfriend Sara. Lucas's first three years of high school flowed very smoothly. He went to school and got good grades, played football in the fall, and went out with Sara on the weekends. How much better could life get! But ... then came his senior year!

Unbeknownst to Lucas, many problems will arise during his senior year. These problems occur in all aspects of his life. His family, friends, girlfriend, and even himself are all things that Lucas struggles with. As these events occur many things go through Lucas's mind. "When did I change? When did I quit believing that there was a whole world out there, just waiting for me to step into it? When it happened, why didn't I notice? Suddenly, toward the end of the summer before my senior year in high school, I started thinking about these questions all the time. I felt as if I'd just awakened from a long sleep. That dead-to-the-world kind of sleep, with no dreams. And I looked around and thought, This is what I've settled for? This is my life?" (p. 2)

One of these problems is with the person that he would least expect it to be, his girlfriend Sara. Sara has been Dawn's best friend ever since they were little. And it turns out that Dawn was the one who convinced Lucas to ask Sara to the eighth grade dance. This began their relationship of four years. A problem arises when too many assumptions are made, instead of talking things through.

Another problem arises with Coach Petrie, Lucas's football coach. At the beginning of the season he appointed Lucas as the captain of the football team, so in return, a lot of things were expected of him. Leadership and setting good examples are among these things. As the season progresses, Lucas slacks off because of his problems, and his talk with Coach Petrie results in an outcome that Lucas doesn't really like.

Lucas is also offered a football scholarship to play football in college. A scout from Manchester College sees a lot of promise in Lucas. This situation causes many mental difficulties for Lucas. Because of his recent loss of a love for the game, and lifelong ambition to go to Indiana University, Lucas debates over what he should do. Mr. Cantrell also puts a lot of pressure on Lucas to make this decision. It has been Mr. Cantrell's dream to see his son play football collegiately. Should he take the scholarship and fulfill his father's dreams or live the life that he wants to live?

Besides the many problems that arise, two other characters play a key role in Lucas's life. These people are Ronnie Dale and Allie Bowen. Ronnie Dale is one of Lucas's relatives. When Ronnie was seventeen, he became very ill and has been bedridden ever since. Ronnie lives alone in a cabin, and it is the responsibility of the Cantrell family to take care of his every need. A majority of this responsibility goes to Lucas. It is his job to bring Ronnie his dinner every day and keep him company for awhile. Allie Bowen is introduced into Lucas's life through Ronnie Dale. By observing his daily routine, she takes an interest in Ronnie Dale. After being given the permission, Allie begins to make regular visits to the cabin to keep Ronnie Dale company. When Lucas begins to run into problems, he confides in Allie for help. After awhile a friendship develops and they both learn more from each other than they had expected. Allie helps Lucas with his history project and through this she unveils her mysterious past.

I would recommend this book to any teenager who wants be assured that they aren't the only ones in this world who have to make difficult decisions day in and day out. A peek into the mind of Lucas, a college bound senior, allows the reader to feel for the character and gives the impression that one is living Lucas's life along with him. The reader learns about Lucas's problems and travels with him along the road of recovery. Stranded in Harmony is a book for anyone who enjoys seeing a person work through their problems and succeed at doing so.

Shoup's novel holds appeal for teens and adults, alike. Protaganist Lucas, a popular high school student with an itch to discover the world outside of Harmony, Indiana, learns some valuable lessons during the fall of his senior year from a mysterious stranger to New Harmony and a local character who opted out of life years ago. A great read!

barb is my aunt and ive read all of her books and this is my favorite book that she has written. It is about as good of book about a high school kids life as ive ever read.