Native American myth and cutting-edge technology, all wrapped up in a cryptozoological mystery that reads like a detective story. Throw in some well-researched paleontological info and a lovable, Walter Mittyish hero, and you've got yourself a story that's gosh-darned difficult to put down. I know I couldn't do it.

Oughta be a movie.

I enjoyed this book and it's a pleasure to see an author writing on the subject of unknown animals and take this science seriously
the subject matter is very interesting and opens my mind to the possiblities of the existence of large thunderbirds still living today. I look foward to future novels written by D.L. Tanner.

If you want everything an adventure novel can offer--fast-packed action, chilly suspense, a lovable hero you can identify with, beautiful, heartfelt prose, and a blockbuster ending, then "Shadow of the Thunderbird" is the literary adventure for you. Mr. Tanner's novel of the search for the Ultimate Big Bird fulfills all those criteria and more. But let me warn you: Once you start, you'll have extreme difficulty putting it down and it's not short! Give yourself an all-nighter and into the next day. I wouldn't advise starting it if you have to get up and go to work the next morning. You won't function well without any sleep. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series which the author is working on as we speak. Hope it won't take him too long!

Dr. Coleman's book gives a vivid and practical approach for understanding families and how families influence all aspects of a child's health and life. He then takes the next step and gives wonderful ideas about how to incorporate that insight into pediatric care. I really enjoyed the "fly on the wall" perspective and could observe an expert handle situations I would find challenging. This book is helpful for trainees but also for more experienced pediatricians who are looking for a way to connect in more meaningful ways with children and their families.

This book is an extremely valuable resource for the pediatric professional!! Using Dr. Coleman's methods, providers learn how to draw out families and include them in the diagnostic and therapeutic process. Not only will patient relationships be enriched, but the entire experience of practicing medicine is more meaningful.
This book gives the reader a step-by-step plan for including the family perspective in pediatric care. There are case examples, a chapter on billing, and a crash-course in family therapy. It will not gather dust on your shelf and is worth the investment! I'm sending a copy to my own pediatrician!

Dr. Coleman's book is a must for clinicians working with children and their families. His insight and sensible approach to many commonly encountered pediatric behavioral problems are presented in an easy to read format that any busy clinician would find practical. Its family focused perspective is sure to add a new and rewarding characteristic to the work of those clinicians caring for children. It is a worthwhile addition to any pediatric library.

I am grateful to the author for giving us Eddie Would Go. Not only is it an enduring and haunting telling of an extraordinary hero, but also an insightful account of Hawaiian way of life, of aloha, spirit and pride. Anyone who desires to learn more about the Hawaiian people and their feelings throughout the renaissance years will appreciate the author's in-depth interviewing.
It's also a fascinating look into the world of legendary surfing.
Eddie Would Go is an unforgettable story -- a story you'll be proud to know.

What can a high-school dropout, hooked on surfing, raised by a poor family in a remote cemetery out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean have to say to me? This is what I was thinking as I started "Eddie Would Go." In fact, for the first 100 pages of Coleman's book I continued to ask myself the same question.

But the more I read about Eddie Aikau and the more I got to know him, the more my respect grew. In a way, Coleman kind of sets you up. He lures you into Eddie's humble life only to help you better understand his greatness -- his purely selfless heroism.

Not only is "Eddie Would Go" one of the better biographies I've read, it flows along with profound undercurrents. Many of them are quickly grasped - poverty, altruism, struggles with cultural inferiority. Others are more subtle and lingering - the complexity of racism and the Buddhist concept of "dukkha."

Unforgettable, important book.

How's this for a myth? A handsome young man grows up on a beautiful island, living close to nature. He finds a slab of spear-like board and discovers he can use it to challenge waves bigger than anyone thought could be tamed. He rides them flawlessly as they thunder and crash around him. Even his daily life is extraordinary: He patrols beaches to save those who venture out too far --- and no one dies, ever, on his watch. Then comes a mythic opportunity to recreate an ancient voyage. Soon after the double-hulled canoe sails, however, it runs into trouble. Our hero volunteers to swim 12 miles across choppy water to get help for his mates. He sets off --- and is never seen again.

But this is no myth. It's the life story of Eddie Aikau, the 32-year-old Hawaiian waterman who died in l978 trying to save his shipmates (who, as it happened, were all rescued a few hours after he started swimming for shore). And what a story! Start with a kid as handsome as Jason Scott Lee, as athletic as Duke Kahanamoku and as soulful as Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. He loves the water so much he drops out of school at 16. At 21, when he's not much known as a surfer, he shows up at Waimea Bay and triumphs over 40-foot waves. Suddenly he is in the Pantheon of big-wave surfers. And stays there until his death.

It was inevitable there would be a book about Eddie. And that it would be called EDDIE WOULD GO --- the phrase other watermen used to describe Aikau's unrelenting willingness to leap into deadly surf to save swimmers in trouble. What was not inevitable? That EDDIE WOULD GO would be written by someone as gifted as Stuart Coleman. A writer, teacher and surfer, he strikes just the right balance between Eddie's life on land and his heroics on the water. He tells a double story well: courage and integrity on the water, a spiritual quest on land, as Aikau pondered what it meant to be a Hawaiian in a rapidly changing world.

Forty foot-high waves. Normally brave surfers standing on shore. And one surfer --- Eddie Aikau --- smiling as he and his board become one with the water. It's an image that will warm you on cold winter nights. And, in summer, make you just a bit more respectful of kids on surfboards, dreaming of glory.

--- Reviewed by Jesse Kornbluth

This is an amazing book of poetry, the words just dance off the page. this is a good place to start if you're interested in the poetry of Rumi.
The translations are well done and don't sacrifice the emotional content of the poetry to fit the words. Give yourself or someone else a wonderful experience and read this book. You'll be very happy that you did.

The open secret, available to all but few listen. That is the feeling you get when you let these wonderful writings flow over and through you.

Some short, some longer, each writing is a treasure. The more you read (or listen if you've been fortunate to get the audio condensed version from this work) the deeper each verse becomes. I've owned the printed copy for years and every read brings new wonders and old friends.

The cream of Rumi is brought to this work and Coleman Barks does wonderful interpretations. The work as a whole weaves a tapestry that, in the end, leaves you feeling part weaver and part thread. The possibility of the "Beloved" as "Lover" becomes manifest. The drunk, intoxicated by the bliss of the presence of God, overflows with sacred wine and wants to dance. The sharing of a deep spiritual presence at dawn with those nearest you becomes a yearning that you want each and every day.

This book is a cornerstone in the rediscovery of Rumi and Islam for that matter. It provides a glimpse, from the lovers' point of view, into a world traditionally dominated by the warrior spirit.

After reading you yearn for the association of others who have similar thoughts. You realize that "the pot drips what's in it" and you yearn to associate with gentle people who enjoy this book as much as you.

Certainly "Open Secret" is a must read and a must own. It is every bit worth the price and a classic in the genre.

Unlike many of his translations of Rumi, Open Secrets credits the Persian scholar, John Moyne, as a co-author. The notes credit A. J. Arberry and R. A. Nicholson as well. Coleman Barks forms the translations in English poetry. This collection is of quatrains and odes.

In this collection fewer of the poems use specifically Sufi imagery than in some collections; e.g. "Late, by myself, in the boat of myself" could as easily be Buddhist or Hindu; this makes the poetry more obviously universal than some collections. There are, of course, the more specifically Sufi tavern/wine images, e.g. "They say that Paradise will be prefect / with losts of clear white wine and all the beautiful women".

These translations are meant for, and work best for, the individual reading for the spiritual content of Rumi rather than the scholar interested in Persian poetry.

Growing up in a Christian household, The Carpenters' music were among the few secular artists we listened to. My introduction to the Carpenters was when my parents bought their 1980 Christmas album. We played it almost to death! In fact, I remember as a teenager overdubbing harmonies with my own voice using two tape recorders, just like the Carpenters did on their albums. I was about to turn 10 years old the very month Karen Carpenter died. I could hardly believe she was gone, because the memory of her beautiful voice was so powerful. I was 15 when the ABC movie on the Carpenters came out, which let me see a glimpse of the reason for the tragic end of Karen's life.

As an adult, reading Ray Coleman's book brings back fond memories of the Carpenters and their music. It also gives disturbing insight into the sadness, the anorexia, the complex relationship with their loving yet undemonstrative parents, and the overwhelming need of both Richard and Karen to be perfect yet both desiring to be human.

I hope to see a documentary video based from this book, along with updates on Richard's life today. The Carpenters will always have my respect for being true to their talent rather than trying to fit into the "image" of everyone else. I will always enjoy their music.

I have been a huge fan of these 2 incredibly talented people since I was 7 years old (which got me a few odd looks in the playground I can tell you). I'm 19 now and the music still moves me.
This book offers not explanations, but insight into not only the Carpenters music, but the personal demons that threatened to engulf not only careers but lives.
Intriguing, inspiring and heartbreaking. Karen and Richard proved that 2 normal kids can achieve their dreams and touch people's lives.
But as they fell victim to their excessess, and Karen paid the ultimate price.
Karen's glory may have been brief, but fewer flames have shone with as much humanity and beauty.
Thankfully Richard could overcome his adversity and continue with the wonderful legacy of their music.
They truly are stars

To outsiders, it seemed as if Karen and Richard Carpenter were living a dream. And they certainly seemed to have it all - looks, wealth, fame, fans, and an abundance of talent that has gone almost unrivalled in 30 years. Critics from the era and hard rock fans dismissed them, labelling them with phrases such as "Squeaky Clean," "Too Good To Be True," "All American," and many, many others. But appearances can be deceiving.

Richard had a drug dependency (the substances he abused were legal, by the way) which almost cost him his career and could have ended his life had he not been rehabilitated, and for 7 years Karen was in the terrible psychological grip of a then unknown disease - anorexia nervosa, a disease which ravaged her emotionally as well as physically, in an identical manner to the fashion in which cancer and AIDS ravage their victims. But despite their personal troubles and turmoil, the Carpenters music remained beautiful, enriching, and touching.

With the exclusive co-operation of Richard and Agnes Carpenter and their family and friends, entertainment writer Ray Coleman describes the Carpenters adolescence, their rise to fame, their years at the top, their legendary music, their struggles and Karen's ultimate tragedy in a way that is objective, emotional, and touching, painting a sad portrait of a beautiful woman who never realised how beautiful she was, a beloved woman who never knew how much she was loved, and a famous woman who worked in a corrupt and CORRUPTING industry but never lost her down to earth morality and values, whose greatest wish was to have a family of her own, a wish that sadly, she would never obtain. But if Karen's story achieves anything, I hope it is this - that it may save the lives of other anorexia sufferers. Surely that is what Karen herself would want.

It is now 2000, 30 years after the Carpenters debuted. Their records are still being bought, their songs listened to and admired while the artists and critics who deplored them have long been forgotten. Finally, their talents are being acknowledged - Richard is praised for being the great musician that he is, a superior producer and arranger with an unparalleled ear for quality and timelessness. And Karen's voice, that haunting, gorgeous voice, is recognised as being one of God's greatest gifts to music.

I was excited to get my book in the mail, however, when I opened the disk that came with the book it was for Wordperfect 5.1 & MS Word 2.0. I have contacted the publisher in regards if there is a newer disk because I like many others use WordPerfect 9 and Microsoft Word. I received instructions that I can not get to work in DOS or Windows. One of the reasons I purchased the book was to get the disk and sample letters! What a disappointment! I have a disk I cannot use at this point. Buyer's Beware!

Businesses seeking indepth coverage and plenty of examples will appreciate the weightier AMA Handbook Of Business Letters by Jeffrey Seglin and Edward Coleman. Unlike its easier competitor, this provides a series of guidelines and tutorials on the basics of writing letters and includes over 350 models for memos, faxes, emails, and business letters. The accompanying CD allows for choosing a model and quickly producing a finished result.

The third edition of The AMA Handbook of Business Letters is now out. It contains a CD-ROM with each of the more than 365 sample letters in Word that are easily used. The new edition also features a detailed index in addition to the detailed table of contents and an updated version of the Grammar Hotline Directory. It is written by Jeffrey L. Seglin with Edward Coleman...

A strange and unaccountable gift to translators. If "habitación" means "room" and "departamento" apartment, "sentenciosas calles" are streets as sententious as night is unanimous. As if in response to his world fame, Borges rests his intricate and detailed labyrinths on a legerdemain that extends from "Invocation to Joyce" (a poem whose jest relies on a simple allusion: "I am the other ones"-the lesser moderns who sing this ode) to "The weft" ("La trama", not "La telaraña", "The web"); the delicacy of construction hinges on the isolation of "weft" as the middle term between a tacit principal and a stated ultima, which is the grandest example of Nabokov's critique:

A poet's death is, after all,
a question of technique, a neat
enjambment, a melodic fall.

The later poems also admit an unheard-of rage in "The accomplice", which begins, "They crucify me. I have to be the cross, the nails", ending with "My fortune or misfortune does not matter./I am the poet."

Borges, for whom Stravinsky meant a sort of senseless hilarity, records a musical impression in "Music box" and writes a poem "To Johannes Brahms", of all people. A characteristic drollery is made into "Nostalgia for the present":

At that precise moment to himself the man said:
What would I not give
to be with you in Iceland
under the grand immobile daytime
and share this now
like sharing music
or the taste of fruit.
At that precise moment
the man was together with her in Iceland.

The reader will note that "La cifra" ("The cipher") is given an entirely suppositional translation as "The limit", that a general melancholy prevails on the English side that masks a vagary rivaling Fowlie's Rimbaud, which is the only Rimbaud we have. This is not an improvement on the 1972 edition; its advantage is an extended selection. Florid paraphrase, inaccuracy and a few howlers punctuate it. It is overpriced and not particularly well-manufactured. Sixty years of poetic labor are represented. The last poem here, "The weft" (translated as "The web") is his finest. The mirrors and labyrinths of "The cypress leaves" are real and functional. He visits Spain without "myths and masks", and in Japan sees the face of Buddha in a dream. Mexico is a delicate nightmare:

...The yard filled
With slow slight moonlight no-one sees, the sere
Violet in forgotten Nájera's pages...

Whatever conclusion one may draw from Rimbaud in English to Jim Morrison, Poet, one is likely to miss a certain crucial subtlety here. There is something new in Borges' poetry after "El oro de los tigres", which I think is announced in the last lines of "Susana Bombal":

Behind myth and mask
her soul alone.

The Spanish originals allow the reader to judge for himself the peformance of this capital poet. Noted names have given us a translation for reworking.

Although in the beginning I ignored the Spanish, the English should serve as little more than a crutch for those who study Spanish. Heck, I'm a lowly second-year student and as I'm plugging away at the book, I'm amazed at how great the translations are on their own -- and how little they show Borges' style to an English audience. The poems are great in either language -- but if you have a knowledge of Spanish, you'd be best off buying a completely Spanish volume if you could find it for less.

i got this wonderful book as a very unexpected christmas gift. i don't speak spanish, so can't address the claims that the translations are inadequate.

what is here in english, taken on those terms alone, is till great. recurring themes of tigers, mirrors, his beloved hometown, the history of literature, the bible, memory, distortions in time & space, heaven and hell weave themselves through over six decades of dazzling images and heartbreaking tenderness.

it's also playful- filled with bits from imagined histories and books which i almost find myself wanting to locate, as these little bits are too beautiful to be unreal.

This a Great Debut for Ms. Coleman!! A wonderful book -- one that is profoundly interesting and thought-provoking.Good Work!!-Rick Worthy

Shonnese's book is excellent! The poems are thought-provoking, convicting and beautiful...wow...what a gift...brilliant job, brilliant work...however painful waking up can be, I appreciate any wake-up call and the poems in this book have that effect on me...thank you.

This book of poetry was such an inspiration to me. I'm not a fan of poetry normally but I went through this like it was a novel. I really got a feeling for the writer through the short comments she makes about her life in the book. It gives a three dimensional understanding of it. I enjoyed getting to know the writer a little bit. It gave me an understanding of where certain pieces came from, why they were written and out of what circumstances. I highly recommend this book not only to people of color, but all people. Ms. Coleman deals with life, love, the search and discovery of God and oppression. Oppression as a woman, as an African-American woman, and as a person. I believe everyone can identify with her work.

This is the first book which i read on Sufism and it taught me alot not just about this topic but as well as about life in general. The book teaches you how u can live a quality life. It defines sufism very well and then goes on with each chapter focusing on a different topic like love, prayer etc. Anyone interested in reading something quality rules of life must read this book.

The Sufi practitioner is a mystic. Sufi practices are the mystical practices of Islam. Many of those whom Islam heralds as saints and sages were Sufi masters. For nearly 1500 years, Sufi practices have co-existed with a diversity of other practices and cultures in which Islam has survived and thrived.

'According to many Sufis, the essential truths of Sufism exist in all religions. The foundation for all mysticism includes the outer forms of religious practice, plus a life based on moral and ethical principles. The roots of the tree of religion are founded in religious law.... The branches of the tree are mysticism.... The fruit of the tree is the Truth, or God.'

Edited by James Fadiman and Robert Frager, this book reaches from the very beginnings of Sufi practice to the present, and pulls together materials that are luminous and spirit-provoking, from prayers that have survived a millennium to contemporary poetry. Writers such as Ibn al-Arabi, Ahmad al-Ghazzali, Hafiz, Rumi and Attar fill this book with an enchanting sense of a divine presence in the curiously distant yet all-to-present reality.

Many of the teachings of Sufi are very basic and practical, much moreso than one would think a mystical framework would be. And yet, God is practical in many ways. God particularly expects those with wisdom to impart the wisdom, and this is best done practically for many hearers. Action is the final essential component of wisdom.

The task of the Sufi is to recognise the Truth, to learn and remember it, and secondly, to help others to the Truth as well. As the task evolves, it becomes one process, which infiltrates daily life, worship, and all of existence. Nothing is apart from God. The Sufi strives to recognise this wholeness.

'Oh heart, sit with someone
who knows the heart;
God under the tree
which has fresh blossoms.'
- Rumi

For many of the Sufi, the path to Truth is the path of Love. 'Whatever we wish to know well, we must love.' Yet, there is resistance and fear in this love. Love can transform us, make us unrecognisable even to ourselves, and this is worrisome. Yet God will always know who we are.

Sufi literature also has a humourous aspect to it; the Hodja stories of Turkish collections is illustrated here. These are interesting, because they always illumine more upon closer examination.

'I can see in the dark,' boasted Hodja one day while sitting in a tea shop.
'If that's true,' said his friends, 'why do we sometimes see you carrying a light at night?'
'Well,' he replied, 'I only use that lamp to prevent other people from bumping into me.'

Ultimately the goal of all mystical practice, and perhaps most especially the Sufi, is the experience of knowing God. The paths to God are as numerous as the seekers, the Sufi believe, which is why the path through other religious faith is not discounted. Through prayer, remembrance and service, the Sufi comes to know God, and join with God.

One day a man asked a sheikh how to reach God. 'The ways to God,' the sheikh replied, 'are as many as there are created beings. But the shortest and easiest is to serve others, not to bother others, and to make others happy.' - Abu Sa'id

The call of God is powerful, and Sufi practice is one of the most powerful responses to this call in the world. Sufi are an impatient lot, who long to see God now. May your journey be enlightened by walking some of their paths.

.....to Islamic Mysticism. I first became interested in Sufism when a friend told me she had been following the Sufi path for many years. She is a person who has faced very serious challenges in her life (which I greatly admire) and I wanted to know how she had done so with such poise and equanimity. The answer for her was Sufism.

This book does an excellent job of explaining the Sufi path. Prior to reading this book I knew literally nothing about the subject. Now I understand Sufism to be a deeply personal path and one that is based on love of God, a dedication to service, a search for spiritual knowledge, and uncovering one's pure self. The wisdom of Sufism is learned through art, prayer, poetry, stories, readings and rituals, all of which is guided by a Sufi teacher.

The history of Sufism is traced in this book and the beliefs and path of the faith are thoroughly explained. Discussed are: Sufism's four great books (Jesus' Gospels, the Quran, Moses' Torah and David's Psalms), the Five Pillars of Islam, the four stages of Sufi practice, transforming the self, the importance of a Sufi teacher and much more. After reading this book I feel I have a sound knowledge of the basics of this faith and an understanding of why my friend has found such peace in following it. I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn about Sufism or who is on a spiritual path that is open to new discoveries.

Value Education has been the buzz of the system with the New Gen' kids. Paul's Book is highly appreciated and recommended in India too coz one of the reputed School has gone for the Translation of the book into Gujarati language so as to use the same as a Guide for Teachers and Parents for development of kids. In a busy world, today's Parents face a tough time upbringing the kids with value education. Adults play a major role in promoting physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual well being of a child. Dr. Paul Coleman present six fundamental formula on how to interact with kids with smart talk on basic topics concerning kids issues. With the ever rising cases of divorce, drug abuse, sexual harrassments, etc. Paul provides practical tips on how to tackle debated discussions with kids and provide value education. His main focus is centered on six topics i.e. Teach, empathize, Negotiate, Do's n Don'ts, Encourage and Report. Kids sort for various practices and throw tantrums at times, lying, adopting manipulative behavioural patterns, hooking to wrong activities n distracting from the innocence of childhood life. Situations arise when parents fail to understand the kids and unable to cope up providing answers to their curiousity driven question. Paul's book is handy at these times and provides a very useful resource and parental feedback. Parents and teachers need such 'Expert' advice and counselling to upbring kids as sound being. A good pick for every parent, teachers too!

I am really pleased with this book and know I will use it for many years to come. The format is easy to read and reference and the answers are simple but intelligent. I recommend this book to any parent or caregiver that is at a loss for words when their child asks a tough questions and you want to be certain to answer it correctly.

Introduction, 1st part of the book:
Smart Talk: The Six Ways We Speak to Our Kids

Some of the many issues discussed in this book on "How to Say It To Your Kids" includes (2nd part of the book):

Apologies
Chores
Dawdling
Defiance and Disrespect
Drugs and Alcohol
Eat Your Vegetables! Clean Your Room!
Hitting
Internet Concerns
Lying
Manipulative Behavior
Pets
Sharing
Swearing
Violence and Sexual Material in Television and Movies
Whiny and Demanding Child

3rd part of the book
:
When You Say It Right (But Things Still Go Wrong): Ten Winning Tips for Troubleshooters

For each issue a child may face, the book lists things to consider about the issue, things to say or don't say to child and other infomation that may apply to the issue.