It's a book about accepting yourself as you are, about learning the value of friendship. I know it's a book for young adults, but as someone older than, oh well, let's say 30...I couldn't believe how often I laughed and cried here. It has an oriental mystical flavor too. My favorite line was "It's a come as you are party."

Although the book is geared toward scholarly readers, it uses a limitted amount of jargon and carefully explains the background of all of the texts provided, making it accessible ot any reader with an interest in this subject. Despite the popularity of Nepal as a destination for tourists, the religions of Nepal are very poorly understood by most Westerners. This book, by presenting texts which are actually popular among modern Newar Buddhists gives an excellent feeling for how the religion is understod by the people who live and practice it. On the more scholarly side, his discussion of the "domestication" of texts and the role of stories and ritual in culture is insightful, though there is clearly room for his argument to be taken further.

I came across this wonderful book almost by accident as I was looking for something, ANYTHING, dealing with Poussin's ties to his native France (in more than a superficial way). The majority of books about Poussin deal, for admittedly good reasons, with Poussin's life in Rome where he lived and worked for many years. Still, it is amazing that Olson is, to the best of my knowledge, the first art historian to really explore the range of political and friendship-based (French) issues Poussin's paintings grappled with even as he lived in exile. As someone who is living in exile from my own native country, I can tell you, I continue to be deeply concerned about, and influenced by, the political news from home, and the information I receive in letters from friends. Certainly Poussin's experience was no different. I also appreciated that Olson took the time to spotlight the political work of women during the Fronde, and also his discussion of women's roles throughout the book as a whole. It is astonishing (well, maybe not) that within the Poussin scholarship with which I am familiar, women exist only as a (now) notable absence -- this despite the great number of strong women Poussin himself depicts in his work! Olson takes great first steps in rectifying this oversight. The book is well researched and I learned much about the social and cultural milieus Poussin operated within. Beyond this, I will say that the book was a pleasure to read -- especially having read a few books and essays on Poussin (by writers I will not mention) that were dry as aesbestos in the Gobi Desert. Olson weaves Beautiful Prose, Historical Accuracy and Intriguing Scholarship into an especially relevant account of this Great and Gifted Painter.

As a high school tennis coach and a tournament player myself, I have looked extensively for a training source that is highly specific to tennis and easy to follow. Don Chu's book fits both of these criteria. Chu tells you exactly what to do and how to do it; reps and sets are clearly listed and the exercises carefully explained. Several other books on the market promise a great deal, but Chu's book, in my experience, is the only one that promises to make you a stronger player and then shows you the steps to achieve this goal, provided you work hard. No other book or program on the market can do this in my opinion.

Very good book, very informative. A great in depth book about a mountain preacher who loves God and Jesus Christ and preaches fire and bremstone. It's a heartfelt book with great emotion and love demonstrated through self stories and bible truthes. I would strongly recommend this book to everyone. If you are looking for a book that will take you back in time and show you the need for Jesus then and now, this book is for you!!

Few people represent college football like Joe Paterno. He has led top rated football teams to victory for over three decades, and continues to devote his energy towards the pursuit of excellence. As a teacher, a leader, and a role model, coach Paterno stands tall for generations of young people. There have been many attempts to chronicle the life and times of this legend, but none has the overall impact of "Quotable Joe" by L. Budd Thalman. Featuring selected quotes by and about the coach, this concise guide gets to the root of everything from his formative years in Brooklyn to his thoughts on national championships, polls, and publicity. Thalman is the ultimate insider, serving as the Associate Athletic Director for Communications at Penn State since 1986, and he brings a personal flavor to the chapter introductions including a funny story about the first time his father, a die hard West Virginia fan, met coach Paterno. Presented with classic photos and a foreward by former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge, "Quotable Joe" is a great resource for any serious sports fan.

The book itself is a Joy to read! It brings to light that joy is not just a concept unreachable, but a real and exciting way to live our lives, experience peace and let go of the fear that has blocked these treasures all along. I give Dr. Pressman five stars for his awesome work and skill in laying out the easy to follow path to the ultimate goal we all search for. I will recommend it highly.

"Range of the Possible" is rich with information from and about twenty contemporary American poets from Kim Addonizio to Robert Wrigley. In separate interviews (which must have been wonderful to conduct and which have been very readably transcribed and edited), they discuss the poetry that has informed and influenced them, their views on the relationship between politics and poetry, and the future of poetry in America and in the world. Readers who already love poetry, and readers who want to know more about its role in contemporary America, will be pleased to learn what these poets have to say--that poetry of the highest caliber may console and guide those who will put their minds to it; that it is more variable in subject matter and in form than ever, and more successful; that the forces which work against poetry are not fatal, and can be defended against; and that the heart in, behind and through contemporary poetry (and poetry of all times) is the large heart of all of us. Every literate person should read this book, slowly in small doses at night before going to bed (for encouraging dreams and to motivate one's own poetic sensibility), or in great chunks of study time during the day (for a significant boost away from TV, advertising, and political drivel, and toward the light of literary advocacy). Then you'll want to read the poems of these men and women, and of those whose work they discuss at such length and with such intelligence. Tod Marshall has done a superb job of re-igniting faith in the power of poetry and poets to make us more finely and intelligently human.

This is THE best book I've read about Xers, God and the church. Buy it for yourself, your ministry team members, your pastor - you can't afford not to... and this is coming from an Xer :).

This book is great new knowledge for kids. Many kids today have an almost "extinct" image of Native Americans, wearing feathers and breechcloths in a very distant past. This book highlights the real life story of today's urban Native Americans who live in a city but still celebrate their heritage and culture. The lead character, Katie, is shown getting in a station wagon with her family, all excited about the upcoming pow-wow. Kids see a Katie living a lifestyle similar to theirs while learning about her cultural heritage. I think the book is great and a very much needed update on today's Native Americans.