I read the book and found it full of testimony from people that used his product that said it worked great. The shots work well but are expensive. For the average person this product is not cheap. I tried the product for two months doing exactly what the instructions said and saw absolutely no change. I'm happy for all those lucky people in the book but think others should know it is not for everyone and you can forget the moneyback guarantee I tried for months and just gave up.

I thought colloidal minerals were good until I read this book. It sure woke me up. I now know how dangerous they can be. The other choices were well explained and now I am happily taking crystalloid minerals and feeling great. It is the one book needed since there was so much hype on colloidal and no one told the true story. The book doesn't bash colloidals,just explains the truth and gives you alternatives.

This book answered my questions as to the difference between expensive growth hormone injections and the reasonable secretagogues that effect similar results. I have used the recommended supplements with terrific results. The book got me on the right track.

This is the definitive handbook for the rockhound. Nicely updated with more and better pictures to help in identification of rocks and minerals. Too bad that Peterson's decided to save a nickel on the binding -- my copy of "Rocks and Minerals" was splitting out within a week.

I've had other Peterson's Field Guides which were softcover but HARD bound. These are useful handbooks that will last a lifetime.

If you buy a cheap paperback to read once, the binding isn't of much concern. A "field guide" deserves better.

The "Cambridge Guide to Minerals Rocks and Fossils" is just about as good, is about the same price, and has sewn in pages.

This book is arranged according to the mineral classifications, which is good if you know your minerals. The mineral testing section (flame tests, bead tests, etc.) is not found in very many field guides. As a professional Geologist, I would recommend this to other geologists, not to rock hounds. The National Audubon Society's field guide is better for rock hounds; there are more photos and they are arranged by color. The Audubon's minerals are still by classification, but the testing information is not included.

This Field Guide has been, and still is, The classic and useful Field Guide. Despite its title, this is mainly oriented toward minerals. Well organized and interestingly written, this is one of the few mineralogy texts which is both readable for enjoyment, and useful to both the beginner and the expert.

Part I includes an introduction on the philosophy and adjuncts of the collecting and study of minerals, briefly reviews geology and its rocks, discusses the physical properties of minerals (such as may be used to help distinguish the various species), introduces crystallography, a chemical classification of minerals written for the layman, and finally Tests, Techniques, and Tips, with many useful down-to-earth hints.

Part II is Mineral Descriptions, each one with name, formula, crystal system, and visual aids in the plates which include both diagrams and photographs. Several headings in each description are in boldface: Environment, Crystal description, Physical properties, Composition, Tests, Distinguishing characteristics, Occurrence, and Interesting Facts.

Also includes glossary, bibliography, index. Well organized and accurate, this little book has been used by some amateur mineralogists who, although using several more technical books during years of study, still find this one useful. Although another well-known text is the most commonly used one for college mineralogy courses, I have recommended that students also get a copy of the Field Guide. For the amateur exercising a bit of Emersonian self-reliance in the testing of his own specimens, this Field Guide is one of the very few remaining guides including good Tests (which have actually been tried before including them) under each species. Appeals to collectors to first try a few tests on extra material before turning specimens over to others such as over-burdened professionals. Also appeals to study some phase of the subject for ones' own edification and enjoyment, as one will get as much out of it as he or she puts into it. This Field Guide shows you how.

A disappointment from one of my favorite authors. The main problem is that the point-of-view character is dull as dishwater. The treacly tone is also jarringly out of line with his frequent allusions to Mark Twain (who knew how to write a sermon without preaching), and the mystery aspect of the story falls flat. Pohl covered the same coming-of-age territory much more effectively in his wonderful novel Homegoing.

This makes an Okey-Dokey read, though it tends toward the better part of the statement. A good book, plenty of interesting characters and excellent personification of the main martian. As with all of Pohl's good books there's plenty of being human ( I was going to say "plenty of Pohl - if you know what I mean" but that sounds too nasty) - you get my drift.

Loved this book. My 14-year old son was similarly impressed and based his science project on the probability of the Oort Cloud creating/destroying life on earth. Pohl deserves the A it brought. Lots of fun figuring this one out.

Dowsing is bogus, backwoods folk stuff at its best. Explain how I could use a cut wire coat hanger to locate subterranean water? Ugh? Am I missing something or is this just stupid? This book does nothing to educate the public about the myth of dowsing. I am ashamed to admit that I live in the dowsing (and drowzing) capital of the U.S.--Vermont! There's so much water here you'd have to be a fool NOT to find any hidden sources of it. I can do it with a styrofoam coffee cup. Go figure.

Excellent history of dowsing as it evolved in Europe. A very thought provoking overview of the current ideas, concepts and hypotheses of what dowsing is, and why and how it works. There are even simple instructions, usually by way of anecdote, on how to dowse with different dowsing tools. I am a physicist, and find the scientifically designed and conducted tests in the former USSR, and Germany exceptionally interesting. A neutral, observational, experimental attitude is a must for getting the most out of this book

I first read this book in 1992, and I have referred to it so many times since that I now know it's content backwards.

The late Christopher Bird took a documentary view of the whole subject of dowsing, from it's earliest history to the present day, in the fields of water divining, mineral and oil exploration, tunnel and cave location, missing objects, animals and people, geopathic stress, and medical diagnosis, including both physical and remote sensing.

As a Geologist, I found the book quite fascinating, and packed with useful information and guidelines for the would be dowser. Although one does have to cut through a lot of misconcieved mysticism and folklore, and religious and scientific taboo, to get to the core of this subject, the basics and the details of practical dowsing are all there in "The Divining Hand".

There is a long history of water divining in my family, but for many generations there have been no practising diviners. I was inspired by this book to explore the potential of divining in the modern context of the earth sciences, and I found it to be so effective and successful that in 1994 I started in business as a professional diviner or dowser.

Divining is a great asset in geological mapping and in the location and assessment of mineral, oil, and gas resources. For groundwater source location and assessment it can not be equalled even by the latest state-of-the-art geophysics.

I have developed a systematic exploration method called Geodivining, utilising both remote-sensory map-dowsing and field divining techniques, which is successful world-wide. I have found most of the claims made for divining in Christopher Bird's book to be verifiable, and the success of my own work adds a powerful testimony.

Geodivining is so much in demand by drilling contractors and clients in the UK, North America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, that I and my trainee Geodiviners are hard pressed to keep up with the work.

Bird's book "The Divining Hand" changed my life for the better; and whilst it may leave some readers cold, for anyone with a genuine interest in learning more about the subject of dowsing, this book is an excellent place to start.

I found the flavor of this book to be somewhat disturbing in that it consistently sought to portray women as victims of oppressive men--this is a tired philosophy as far as I am concerned. Yes, women were victims, but resulting from the norms of the era in which they lived, married, raised families and worked. My own mother would have been prohibited from keeping her job as a clerk at the local five & dime store in 1934 by the local clerks' union had she married--married women were not allowed to hold union-protected jobs. My mother and her love eloped and kept their marriage a secret so that she could continue to work and help raise money to start their new household. Unfortunately, her husband was killed in a car wreck 2 months after their secret marriage, and then the whole "world" knew of their marriage, but as she was suddenly single again, she was allowed to keep her job. Yes, women were beaten by their husbands, and all sorts of dire things happened in family life in Anaconda. However, there are just as many, if not more, happy stories of good families, loving and respectful husbands and employers. These stories are also important to ensure the presence of honesty in the mosaic that is Anaconda's history.

Unfortunately, women's stories although numerous, were most often limited to mere phrases or to one or two brief sentences--how much nicer and more valuable it would have been, I think, for the writer to have concentrated her researcher's energies on capturing more in-depth knowledge of these women.

There have been a few books written on Anaconda's rich history, but this book reveals areas "whispered" about but not previosly written about. As Ms. Mercier mentions in her book, it was a "City of whispers". The book covers controversial events, such as women working in the community, women's roles at home, and the male dominated working class. The book explains how the Unions came to be dominate in the community and why they were needed. It also covers the Union battles with each other for control. It also talks about the Urban Renewal Era and how the community attempts to survive after severe employment cut-backs as a result of the Anaconda Company's blunders in management. Ms. Mercier spent years interviewing people now deceased, and has added insight how things happen in a one company town. I think she tried to cover both sides of the controversies, but there were some areas that were skimpy with information. In all,it is good reading not only for locals, but for anyone interested in the roles of women in a working class community and the problems that arise in a "Company Town".

The book works well as a reference, but contains only cursory examinations of some topics. Governing and consistutive equtions are comprehensively included in the text. Worth the expense.

Excellent reference. Improvements would be more explanation of the variables in the equations. The index at the back is off, for example a reference on page 60 (Greenberg et al)is actually on page 64 and another topic that is supposed to be on page 235 is actually on page 246 (Smith and Gidlow).

I bought this book thinking it was a sci fi book. I thought it was going to be about people made of coal who go around doing stuff that people made of coal would do. Author Clyne really misleads with his title. If the book included chapters where the Coal People go back in time and do stuff like climb into peoples furnaces and burn themselves and stuff, that'd be one thing. Instead, this book deals with stuff about a group of people Clyne refers to as "Italians". Whatever. All the pictures of these so called Italians showed these swarthy, dirty, ragged bunch of toothless hags, and those were just the pics of the babies. The women and older people were horrendous to even look at. Next time i buy a book like this I'm gonna read the sub title part, the part about mining towns in Southern Colorado. I'm thinking that Clyne ought to write another book, maybe one dealing with Anthracite or some other kind of mineral. What about people that dig for diamonds? That boring enough for you? It is for me. Ever notice how books about gold mining aren't on the best sellers list? Of course you do. The reason? They're BORING!

Clyne, go back to your drawing board and come up with some cool science fiction stuff dealing with people made of minerals mined from the earth. Now THAT"S interesting.

This is my rebutal to the ill advised likely a bit youthful fantsy or drug induced "review"posted. This is a book about people many Americans who worked the coalfields (mines) of Colorado the late 19th and early 20th century.The reviewer is likely "on drugs" or worse. It's(the book)about people;mostly immigrants as my famiy who worked in the mines and died in the hundreds but many of their children went on to become America......

The negative review should have never been printed as it is not a review but some likely racist and sad soul playing around with a serious facet of how America was formed into what we are today.

It is an honorable and important book that documents life that was harsh but full of promise for America: coal was fuel;fuel equated America's future: to supply the world with the tools to stop wars of aggression.......

it is simple:how the West was won.........

Joe "Doc"

son of a coalminer;grandson and more.....

You definately need to get a life. You should have reviewed the book BEFORE you bought it.

Mr. Berkowitz sounds like another of those kind of people that are not used to living indoors in the winter and never regularly seeing the inside of a shower while it's in operation. In general, a tree-hugging, hippie environmentalist of the wrong kind.

I bought this book years ago on a whim. What a mistake! It is without a doubt one of the worst books on stones I have ever read.

One of the more amusing things it says is that black tourmaline is useless other than perhaps for helping potted plants grow. Aquamarine is good for getting your energy up and amethyst as well.

I have worked with stones in a metaphysical way for over 20 years and laughed my way through most of this book once I got over the fact that I had actually spent money on it!

Said to be channelled by a group from the Pleiades, I truly think that the writer needed to change the channel.

This is a little gemstone dictionary that gives properties of stones based on the Michael Teaching. It is specific to the Michael Teaching, and based on that, pretty fun to use. If you aren't a "Michael Student" then many of the definitions won't make sense.

It doesn't list all the available gemstones, but gets to most of them. An update would be nice.

To assume that the same medicine will work on everything that can be labeled as 'human' is a mistake in all areas. We all have so many different energetic configurations that I feel what works for some does not for others.

I had tried other rock and mineral books by Scott Cunningham and others and found that the usages offered simply did not work for me. Does this mean I should laugh my way through a Scott Cunningham book? Only if I'm shortsighted about the diverse energetic nuances of the human race. Cunningham's writings have sold so widely they must be useful to many, if not to me.

I feel the same thing applies to Michael's Gemstone Dictionary. I have had so much intense, noteworthy energetic success using lapidary specimens according to the suggestions in this book.

The book is well organized, well written, and covers most rocks I've ever wanted to investigate. An updated version including the few rocks it didn't cover would be icing on the cake. I do find that the physical descriptions offered don't always cover ALL the various forms of a specimen. Which is almost no big deal, since the book shouldn't be used to identify unknown specimens anyway.

I have found that certain listings are of no use, such as:

Ammonite: (Fossilized Shells). Same in effect as shell.
(so we go to "shell")

Shell: Similar in effect to Bone and Ivory. See types by name such as Mother of Pearl, Cameo Shell, or Clam Shell.

Although certain entries like Ammonite may as well have been left out, the book is pretty extensive and sensitive nevertheless with properties for so many rocks.

Shattuckite: (Blue in color). a). Puts one in touch with the different facets of one's higher self. These facets include the ability to be in accord with nature and animals, to appreciate the finer aspects of power, prosperity, and relationships with one's fellow man, as well as the experience of higher truth, transcendent love and wisdom. b). In the Michael system, puts one in touch with different degrees of essence: from the least, to the most developed aspects of one's essence.

Tourmaline, Green to Dark Green: a). Produces a greater ability to communicate in everyone. One can be quite eloquently charismatic. Emphasizes the clear communication of information, wisdom, and truth. b). In the Michael system, balances Sages.

Diamond, Herkimer: For vivid dreaming and astral clarity. Use with Rhodocrosite to remember dreams better.

Howlite: a). Brings new ideas into clear focus. Pulls one into artistic creation and inspiration. Helps one bring new things into one's life in a creative way. b). Balances and heals the sixth chakra. Especially good for one that has been overworked. c). In the Michael system, Balances the Higher-Intellectual Center. Artisans particularly enjoy using this stone.


The book breaks down rock usages beautifully:

1). starting with suggestions for balancing individual chakras, then

2).moving on to suggestions for various categorized wants and needs that seem to broadly cover any aspects of human existence that one can think of (both physical and subtle). Covers illness, emotions, creativity, abundance, acutely particular spiritual issues, the list is quite large.

3).The book moves on to suggestions according to Michael personality/body type specifications, and I had no trouble understanding and utilizing the information even though I'm not exactly a student of the "Michael System". Whether or not the "Michael Teaching" info in this book is easily understood simply depends on the type of comprehension a reader posesses as their own unique personal trait. Even though this section is easily understood and useful to me, this part could be completely ignored and I would never run out of desired info due to the extensive nature of the rest of the book.

4). Next part is an alphabetized listing of (probably) every rock specimen listed in the book with a description of properties. Handy, Handy quick reference.

5). Nice index in the back lists every page a rock is listed, but does not offer page information for issue subjects such as "addictions and bad habits". That type of info is available in the 8-page table of contents.

Since no large body of channeled information can be broadly applied to every single person, I would recommend borrowing a copy from the library and trying it out for a bit to discern if it is a handy book for your particular energy type.

Namaste.

Well, it's a nice book and all, but Mr. Krause has lost all objectivity in discussing the various minerals of the world. I was surprised that he completely overlooked gypsum--certainly one of the most useful minerals around (plaster products, fertilizer). Perhaps the author should spend less time using a thesaurus (trying to impress us?) and more time studying minerals and rocks

I have only recently begun to collect various minerals. I couldn't disagree more with this other reviewer. I found it to be very thorough, easy to understand, and helped me immediately in categorizing my collection. Well worth the price, and an invaluable reference book for years to come.

I found this book to be extremly helpful with my research. The numerous color photos are a real plus. I'd highly recommend this title.

I was an undergraduate geology student that used this text book for a class. I can say without a doubt that although the book is full of information, it was bogged down in details and the writing was unclear at times. My class generally ignored the text book and the ta's recommended not reading it unless we wanted to be confused. They even suggested that it would be useless in helping us with our exams. The professor poked fun at the book as well. The writing style in this book made concepts unclear at best.

Although Boggs dispenses with the multicoloured pictures and obligatory CD-Rom favoured by many modern textbooks, this is not to his detriment. It results in a more concise textbook with clear and simple sketches used effectively to illustrate the text. Perhaps the book may appear somewhat `boring' to certain students, but I prefer to think of it as a `solid' textbook that says what it needs to in a generally clear and understandable manner. For those undergraduates who are more interested in quality rather than flashy appearances, this textbook will prove invaluable in your study of geology.

This concise and clear book give you a complete understand about deposicional processes, sedimentary models and stratigraphy. I thanks to Boggs the oportunity to read it because it was possible to see the deposicional processes, facies and sedimentary models from the fluid's dynamical perspective and not the old uniformitarian environments model's view. This book is easy to read for graduate and posgraduate students.