Well worth the time. I highly recommend this book

I'm a novice amateur astronomer who bought this book as a reference. When it arrived, I found myself reading every page, cover to cover. Whoa! Turns out to be much more than a reference after all. The authors aren't afraid to go out on a limb and give their opinions, not just the facts. They cover every topic a novice would need, and do it in such a way as to make the reading extremely interesting. I can honestly say that this book has heightened my excitement about getting into amateur astronomy and I now feel well prepared to do so.

Even if you aren't a "serious" hobbyist, buy this book if you buy nothing else on the subject.

What a glorious book this is!! If you are a budding backyard astronomer,this is the book for you.It is written in terms that a novice can easily understand.Each chapter contains an abundance of info and gorgeous photos.The book covers explanations and suggestions for each step you will take to become the amateur astronomer you have always wanted to be.I cannot recommend this book highly enough.You will be fascinated by every page.And you will find yourself becoming more and more comfortable learning the technology behind telescopes,and astrophotography.May I also suggest that you get "Nightwatch," by Mr. Dickinson? Another gem,and a fine companion to this book.

You should not consider buying this book. You should just buy it. I held off purchasing it since I already knew a fair bit (or so I thought) about amateur astronomy, had already bought a great telescope and a bunch of accessories, and I knew of many other more specialized resources for specific topics (what to look at, astrophotography, physics of the objects we look at, where to find star parties and so on). Plus, published in 1991, it seemed like the book was bound to be outdated soon. However I ended up purchasing it, and reading this thing is a truly eye-opening experience. It is hard to imagine a more well-rounded, well-written, enjoyable and authoritative text on amateur astronomy. It covers many topics but somehow manages to avoid treating them superficially. Sure, if you get deeply into photography or optical design you'll want to get single-topic references. And you still need a star chart! But this book will help you get off and running in all phases of amateur astronomy. If you read this, you'll be transformed immediately from a beginner to one of the people "in the know" in your astronomy club and your enjoyment of the hobby will be heightened greatly.

Eight Cousins in one of my favorite books! The stories behind the pages showsuspense and brilliance in every word. Please, reader, read this book, for you wont regret it! Rose Campbell has it all: wealth, brains, beauty, and kindness, well, she has every thing but a mother. But her father is kind and cherishes her beyond love, but then suddenly Rose is an orphan at her Aunts' house. Her many aunts all want custedy of her, but finaly, she is put into the hands of her Uncle Alec for a year. Alec is a kind and simple gentleman who gets rid of Roses corsets and things and though she is aghast at such notions, she soon becomes grateful for him. Then, seven boys come into the picture, though all gentlemen, still were boys! Rose dispises boys, but must learn to get along with them for the sake of Alec, for she is ready to do every thing possible for him. But after the year, through tragety and scorn, Rose finds that she can't tear away from them. This novel is possesive and ful of suspense and I recomend it with full heart. Sincerly, a reader of this book.

When my teacher told us that we had to choose a book from her book list for our book reports, I had no idea what book to choose. After a while I finally chose this book, Eight Cousins. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down!!

The book is about the time when Rose Campbell's father died, and Rose went to live with her Aunt Peace and her Aunt Plenty , who lived in a big house on Aunt Hill, until her uncle, her legal guardian, came for her. When Rose arrived she was a very sickly & scared girl. Her aunts didn't know what to do with her, and she was surrounded by 7 loud and wild boy cousins. When her savior/guardian, Uncle Alec arrives, she puts her full trust into him, and he helps overcome her fears, & turns her into a very pretty and healthy child. It wasn't long before Rose was as happy, healthy and lively as any of her cousins.

Don't worry, I didn't give away the ending, (the back of the book tells even more than this)! As I said before, this is one of the best books I have ever read, (I even cried a little at the end!!!).

ENJOY!!!!!!

Rose is a sad little girl. Orphaned at the tender age of 13, she has been in the hands of several well-meaning but misguided aunts, all of whom are stifling her with their good intentions.

When Uncle Alec finally arrives on the scene, he vows to undue the damage done by the aunts. To that end, he demands one year to do with Rose as he will. If, at the end of that time, the results are not satisfactory to all, he will again concede control to the females.

Touching and sweet, most little girls will enjoy this book. I read it over and over as a child, and never tired of the antics of Rose's 7 boy cousins as they tried to please, entertain, and earn her favor. Reading it over again as an adult, I'd say there's nothing in this book to worry a parent. It's a good, wholesome story, and some of the lessons found inside it's pages still apply today.

As Dr. Dyer says, "when the time is right the teacher will appear." I was so ready for this book, that when I finished it I flipped back to page 1 and started again. I've dog-eared pages that have specific meaning to me so I can go back and re-read them again and again. I realize this will be an on-going process for the rest of my life. "Satori" doesn't happen all the time, some things you just have to keep thinking about and trying to incorporate into your life. I love the message that "everything you need - you already have inside of you." I never realized that before. I always thought that some things you have and some things you just don't. Now I know that I can achieve anything. I just have to tap into it and work toward it.

I've read a lot of books which speak of miracles, spiritual feelings, intuition, etc. This book is all about making it happen. The difference lies in that this book not only tells you the theory on why things like the author describes can and do happen, but almost half the book is devoted entirely to giving you guidelines on which you can also start to bring those things into your life. As a personal example I started to read this book just when I ended a 4-real relationship..I was really depressed. This book changed my life in less than a week! Even before I finished this book, I had already recovered brom that break-up, and people are still amazed at how fast I got over it. A week later miracles were already happening all around me. I begun to feel I was flowing with the Universe, I met new people who were there to help me in this journey, I had a real sharp sense of intuition, and my understanding of things jumped to a new level. I was able to help people, and many of then started to call me their "guardian angel", which I know I'm not, but I was still amazed at how I always had the right answer for a problem. I was able to manifest things I thought they were impossible before, things that go from "I want a parking space near the entrance" and I found the one which was right next to it, to healing myself from the flu in less than a day, or thinking about how much I needed a car, and two weeks later my dad bought a new one and gave me the one he was using before. In short, this is one of the best books I've ever read in my life. If you'd like to bring real magic & spirituality into your life, don't think twice and order this book.

This was the very first book I had read by Wayne Dyer. It was a book that was highly recomended by Author Larry Winget, as one of 3 books that changed his life. So I bought it.

The premise of the book is very very simple. Through a state of relaxation, you can get in touch with your inner spirit. That inner spirit when used properly, can propel you to incredible success, or Real Magic, in your life.

The ideas within this book are not esoteric, they are not mumbo jumbo. The books ideas are simply described and easy to understand. I have tried the process, and every time I fail to act on this inner spirit, I have come unstuck. Every time I have followed the guiding advice of this inner spirit, I have succeeded.

This book is very intresting, and should be read by everyone intrested in success. When you read other books on this subject, you will come to understand, that this book represents the foundation stone, to your greater awarenes.

HIGHLY RECOMENDED.

I found a lot of contradictions in this book. For example, author argues that thoughts are not important, and thinking is only a function. Nevertheless, thoughts control who we are and how we feel. Same with the past. Don't think about the past, it's not important, though past forms our behavior and attitude to life, and it shapes the way we understand this world and ourselves. Well, thoughts and past can't be unimportant if they have a great control over us.
I tend to agree with the reader from Chicago - if you have serious psychological problems or if you are deep into thinking about who you are and where you belong in this world, you'll find this book way way too simple.
Still, I'm giving this book two stars and not one because first, I liked the discussion about separate realities (the only chapter I really liked), second, there are a lot of people who clearly benefited from this book and wrote excellent reviews. I believe that the effort is not wasted if the author helped so many people feel a bit happier.
And finally, I wish you peace and harmony you're seeking, whether you'll find it in this book or from any other source (such as within yourself).

Ever felt like depression and negativitity were swamping all the happiness out of your life? Then read this book before you turn to Prozac. When I first found this book, back in 1997, I instantly recognized myself in Dr. Carlson's descriptions of the way thoughts can play through one's head and cause you to act in reactionary, emotional ways when one is experiencing what he calls a "low mood." He teaches readers, though, through a step by step process, how to return once again, to a state of "healthy psychological functioning." This book is NOT another "positive thinking" book. No, it is one of the most profound little books you'll ever pick up. It teaches you how to recognize "low moods" and to avoid action during low moods. It shows how to return to "normal functioning." After reading the book version several times a year for the last couple of years, I recently bought a two-tape audio version of this book, which is read by the author, and allows me to review the book's key principles whenever I feel a low mood setting in for too long. Not just a book. A great mental health tool.

I can only add a few words to the mostly positive reviews already posted. The reader from Chicago unfortunately missed the point. Life does not have to be a self-improvement course. We _do_ have the tools we need to live a happy life, but so often deny ourselves, out of a notion that life is only meaningful if we "struggle for clarity", and earn our well-being. Over the years I've taken myself to task for mistakes,choices,relationships, in order to consider myself "worthy' of a happy

existence. The concepts in this book _are_ simple, but not stupid. Carlson's metaphor for living in the moment; the image of a motor boat, and it's wake, couldn't be easier to understand. We stand at the back of the boat, studying the wake, but it's the engine that moves us forward! As it is with our past, we can examine it, but like the wake, it's not going to get us anywhere.

I first read this book in 1994. Since then I have read over and over many times. The best thing is the how the author explains the common features of all faiths.The style of writing is so authentic that I felt Dr Dyer was standing and talking to me. This is not for one time reading. One should read many times, and you will be amazed how the book helps you as you progress in life with different situations,problems and people at different times. The book per se is a guide. It is upto the reader to practise it in real life and experience the changes.

I have read this book so many times I soon have to order a new copy, because it's so worn that it will soon fall to pieces. First time I read it, I thought, wow, this is the way I think, but not act. So after reading it I started acting it out, I changed my life. So now I quote thoughts from the book, when some friend of mine comes to me for advise. And hey.. they think Im a genius.. *smiling*. So Wayne W. Dyer here's to you!!!

Prior to reading this book, my mind was lost in thoughts of worry, fear, frustration, negativity. Basically my innerself was in competition with my outer self causing endless troubled days in my life. Eleven years to be more precice. That has ALL changed due to the guidance of TRUTHS in this MUST-READ book!

I have turned into an avid reader because of my new ability gained from reading, and understanding every word in this book. My life has turned into a bright joyous activity. My relationships have grown stronger and healthier. And for the first time in my life I now have been able to find my true calling and will persue my passions with a sense of purpose and joy.

Due to Mr. Wayne Dyer's gifted knowledge of the innerself, all my problems have turned into opportunaty and a sense of adventure.

READ THIS BOOK AND BETTER YOURSELF AND THE WORLD!

Gone-Away Lake and its sequel were my favorite books as a child, and I have also re-read them frequently over the years. I feel a kinship with the other people who have reviewed this book and love it as I do. I now have introduced it to my 8 year old son, and am so happy that he shares my love for this book. I love escaping to this gone-away place, and wish that I grew up in an era when children could safely wander, explore, and discover during the long lazy days of summer! How much more wonderful than today's summers filled with shopping malls, television, and Nintendo!

"Gone-Away Lake" is a delightful, beautifully written story, just this side of fantasy and filled with interesting, likable characters. A brother and sister from the city take the train to visit their country cousin. The children discover an old, mostly abandoned summer colony of houses near a swamp that used to be a lake. There they meet the most charming people in the book, an elderly sister and brother, Minnehaha Cheever and Pindar Payton, who are living happily in the place where they spent summers as children. The pair wear old-fashioned clothes stored away many years ago by their family, cultivate a variety of gardens, and have chickens, goats, a duck, and a cat named Fatly. Once a month, Pindar cranks up the antique Franklin car and drives into town for supplies. The children are adventuresome and imaginative, and have no need of TV to keep themselves amused. The descriptions of the country are amazingly vivid, and there's plenty of humor too. Don't miss the sequel, "Return to Gone-Away." And Elizabeth Enright's series about the Melendy family is also fun to read.

As Portia climbs aboard the train headed to Pork Ferry where she will spend her summer vacation with her cousin, she expects only the normal adventures: bug catching, finding mosses and looking up birds - what they always do. But this summer is different. On the first day of exploring they find themselves in a vast swamp with ruins of ancient houses around its borders. Once this swamp was a beautiful lake, a summer resort. But two people never left, the two people who can tell the story of Gone Away Lake and the many magical summers spent there.

It is a thoroughly exciting book you can't put down until finished!!! It is most definitely a must read for all people, young and old.

Wayne Dyer has compiled in this book several concepts which are of immense value to anyone who seeks the confidence, power, and fulfillment that comes with spiritual maturity.

Part One of the book contains Dyer's interpretation of other peoples work. I found this valuable because I did not know about these other people.
But I found myself thinking that Dyer had done a mediocre job of interpreting their work.

Chapter 6 contains some very useful advice which, once again, draws from a number of other authors. If you read only one chapter in this book, this is the one to read.

In Part Two, Dyer attempts to show practical ways to implement the prayer of Saint Francis and provides anecdotal evidence to show that these methods are effective. I found this valuable because it had never occurred to me to put The prayer of St. Francis into practice. It had been a source of inspiration, but I never thought of it as an action plan. Since it so obviously IS an action plan, I'm wondering now how I could have missed that.

Although Dyer's efforts to implement the prayer are well worth reading, I suspect that the average person could do much better for himself/herself by contemplating their own plan for implementing the prayer of St. Francis.

Throughout the book, I often got the impression that Dyer has only a superficial understanding of some of the concepts he attempts to convey here. And I occasionally found some of his ideas foolish, naïve, and even foolhardy. The incident where he believes he disbursed a kegger party by sending love to the revellers is an example of questionable judgement.

Nonetheless, I think just about anybody would benefit from studying this book.

I found that a person does not have to be a religious person in order to understand, appreciate and practice the philosophies shared in Wayne Dyer's book, CD and audio tape - "There is a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem". One only needs to believe in the destructive powers of negative energy and the calming peaceful powers of positive optimistic energy. How can you possibly harm someone by learning to keep yourself in check and emitting good, light, positive and hopeful energy to a person, when you experience a conflict with them. Whether they are a spouse, co-worker, in-law, sibling, neighbor, friend or the disrespectful, disinterested or distrusting stranger behind the customer service counter.

I rate the ideas found in these materials to be invaluable!!! What I learned were easily applicable techniques to be more patient, tolerant, forgiving, accepting and especially the importance of just "being kind" and less judgmental. "There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem" provides wonderful tools for managing anger, learning tolerance and identifying and suppressing the powers of negative energies.

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, known my many as the father of motovition has produced countless books, articles, recordings, lectures, and TV and radio appearances since the late '70's that have left his followers amazed with his mastery at articulating what most would think would be very difficult subjects.

Dyer's work took a sharp shift a few years ago from psychological self help type work to spirutal and "higher self" guidance. Dyer's most recent work, There's a Spirutal Solution for Every Problem, is absolutely the crown jewel. I was left dumbfounded by his ability to make the reader understand deep philisophical concepts.

This book will leave the reader seeing complex, so called "problems" in a whole new way. Dyer walks the reader through a path of seeing and knowing that problems are only illusions created in our minds and that any possible problem that a person can encounter will literally evaporate by following the principles taught in this, and other Wayne Dyer works.

There's a Spiritual Solution for Every Problem is a necessity for anyone who believes that they have problems.

I did not read this book until ten years ago - age forty for those who count - and found it a brilliant work. It touched on every aspect of life in that era, using a difficult premise at the focus.

One reviewer called it 'sexist.' In that era, women were kept removed from the world, so men were the ones who made the initial contacts with reality and their sexuality. If Lawrence had written about that society in any other way, he would have been inaccurate. Lawrence shows the social conflict with both subtlety and brutality. Yet, Mellor IS a lover. There are sexual descriptions which are explicit, but within the coccoon of emotional bondings.

The way that Lawrence has essayed the class structure of England in that era is brave and accurate in all ways. He makes the posturing of the aristocracy both frivilous and full of assinine criteria at the same time he understands the willingness of those in power to offer their lives in the defense of the general welfare.

Lawrence notes again with unpleasant accuracy the detriments of an unchecked Industrial Revolution on the social structure of the time. He has Constance both witness these effects and suffer the olfactory damage.

This is a literary work which has an effect across the full spectrum of the possible. Finely drawn characters searching for a better way to survive their lives in a scenario that is rife with obstacles and unpleasantness. He has the touch of the finest artist working with the lightest gossamer and the blunt force of an ogre swinging a stone axe.

This was published in an abridged version because it was felt that the societal message it conveyed should be allowed to transit the draconian (by the less filtered standards of today) censorship of the era which DID focus on the sexual descriptions but could NOT stop the voice of social criticism any more than the same group could stop Dickens a few decades earlier.

As with any good novel there are several levels on which this book may be read. Taken factually, here a woman forsakes her incapacitated husband and takes the gamekeeper of their estate as her lover. Pretty ugly scenario! How can such a cruel action be justified? Lawrence is not afraid to take on this formidable challenge.

To some people there is absolutely no issue here. When you marry, you commit yourself exclusively to your mate. Period! Case closed! But in real life, the matter is not so simple, unless you choose to make it so.

On a deeper level a marriage inherently has hidden strings attached. It requires an honest effort by both partners to commit to the marriage, to sense their partner's needs, and to respond to them honestly and with sensitivity. If one mate is not perceptive, not doing their part, not "truly interested" in the marriage, then the marriage is in reality already dissolved, albeit not legally. This was the case with Lady Chatterly and her husband. It was also the case with the gamekeeper and his wife. Lawrence had to courage to recognize and to address this marriage problem, which probably is more common today than we would care to admit.

The level at which I most liked this novel was in the descriptions of the actual physical encounters between the Lady and her lover. I have not counted them but there are perhaps four or five, all under different circumstances, all resulting in different degrees of satisfaction. Which suggests to me tht the sex act, in itself, is an almost neutral event. What gives it meaning are the attitudes and sensitivities that its participants bring to the occasion.

At its deepest level sex is a reverent act, a sacrament. It is an uncompromising, fully trustful yielding of one's body to the care and love of another person. The result can be the most glorious feeling a human can experience. It can also be the most degrading feeling in the world. In this novel Lawrence follows the Lady and her lover through their progressing relationship. The novel can serve the reader as an inspiring view of the great beauty and joy that a loving relationship may eventually engender.

Should teenagers read this book? In my opinion, no. Nevertheless, they will. But, like Shakespeare, they will not be able to absorb its wealth. I encourage them to save its reading for their later years when they are trying to bring new riches to their lives. Sort of like saving the icing on the cake, and eating it last. I think Lawrence would like that.

Lawrence really lays bare his soul in this book. It is the story of a ripe, red blooded woman who needs a real man. As usual there doesn't seem enough to go around. Ladies! I hope you all meet a Mellor's in your lives. Gardening is indeed a great trade for aspiring lovers. And You'll love this tale - it was one of Lawrence's best.

Lawrence wanted to bring us back to our dynamic center; he hated this celebral world and head sex. His domain was the realm of the body ... And all of its pent up sexual dynamisms. If you read Fantasia of The Unconscious you will be able to access his views right from his teeming intelect. He was perhaps one of the finest writers Britain ever produced and his literary output was prodigious indeed!

WISDOM OF THE AGES left me baffled. Dyer's assertion that this came from "automatic writing" is a tad unbelievable. I am a Dyer Fan. Honestly, I enjoyed the earlier books such as YOU'LL SEE IT WHEN YOU BELIEVE IT better than the "new age" titles of the past several years; however I have gained from some of those as well. But this one? Those of you who remember Dyer claiming the "seashore" story and throwing the fish in as his own - like it happened to him - when, in fact, it is an ages old story, will have reason to question the "automatic writing." There are SOME good things in this book - no doubt. There is also no doubt though that Wayne Dyer has made a steady progression from self-help to motivational to new age to the occult.....automatic writing? Wayne Dyer is still worth reading, but much of it one must, if you listen to his latest claims, take a lot of it with a grain of salt. Better choices: The title I mentioned above or some of his great audio series ala HOW TO BE A NO LIMIT PERSON.

Wisdom of the Ages is my favorite book of all time. I have read all books written by Dr. Dyer, but this book changed my life. I read the book as Wayne suggests; one essay each day. I looked forward to waking up and reading the next essay. When I reached the end and read an essay written from his own words, I laughed with tears. I understood was he was saying. I consider him as equal to all of the people in his book. I suggest everyone listen to Wayne Dyer's tapes and read his books. Many people believe in something godlike. I do to. Wayne Dyer is the most godlike spiritual being I have ever met. I now know that I am connected to the spiritual path. What an inspirational person!

I was upset to see that the ratings could only go up to 5...1,000 words could never truly express to you how much this book has influenced my life. Dr. Dyer captures the lessons and messages that our great minds and hearts through history dedicated their lives to teaching. He unites our world's greatest teachers from all different cultures and time periods, making this book suitable for anybody, no matter their sex, colour, religion, age. Dyer presents the reader with truth, enlightenment, and hope. He does sugar coat the bad things in life, like many self help books do, but rather let's the reader know that while times may be tough, we can conquer our trials, but the conquership begins within ourselves...While reading this book you feel yourself becoming each individual person quoted, as Dyer expands on their teaching and relates it to our own lives...If you do infact buy this book don't expect it stay in mint condition...My copy is already highlightena dn dogeared beyond recognition...if you open your heart, this book will truly transform yourself as it has mine...