The Tao of Pooh

Amazon.com

Is there such thing as a Western Taoist? Benjamin Hoff says there is, and this Taoist's favorite food is honey. Through brilliant and witty dialogue with the beloved Pooh-bear and his companions, the author of this smash bestseller explains with ease and aplomb that rather than being a distant and mysterious concept, Taoism is as near and practical to us as our morning breakfast bowl. Romp through the enchanting world of Winnie-the-Pooh while soaking up invaluable lessons on simplicity and natural living.

Book Description

One of the world's great Taoist masters isn't Chinese, or a venerable philosopher, but is in fact none other than A. A. Milne's effortlessly calm, still, reflective bear Winnie-the-Pooh. While Eeyore frets and Piglet hesitates and Rabbit calculates and Owl pontificates, Pooh just is. And that's the clue to the secret wisdom of the Taoists.

Customer Reviews:

Non Fiction.......2007-09-03

A complete waste of time. I suppose it is a whimsical idea to use Pooh to explain the version of philosophy that you favor. Others might term this exploitative. In fact, there is probably a comic in there somewhere, The Revenge of Pooh, where pragmatic realistic toys with weapons come and kick the stuffing out of wacko writers.

What a great book.......2007-08-27

If you only read two books this year, this and "The Te of Piglet" should be those.

wonderful, insightful book..........2007-08-08

I found this to be a simply delightful read. It was easy to comprehend and get through. Whoever thought that Pooh might one day come back and enlighten me as much as he entertained me as a kid growing up.

Interesting concepts.......2007-08-04

I learned of this book through my truck insurance auto person in Minnesota. He told me of this book and I bought it and thought it had some great insites on life. They were always there but Pooh brings them out in a way that makes me think farther into it. Really good. PSM

Cottelston, Cottelston, Cottelston Pie .......2007-06-29

"What did you think of the book?" "What book?" asked Pooh. "The Tao of Pooh," replied William. "The who of me." "Yeah, that was a chapter. Did you like it?" "How could you not like a book about a bear?" Pooh said proudly. "That was how I felt," William confirmed.

A wonderful little book that not only introduces one to the thoughts of Taoism but also shows you how a clear mind without worry can make your life better. Don't be a Bisy Backson. Pick up this book and sit down and enjoy it. That's the whole point, right?

Average customer rating:

This book is terribly written.
I liked it!
Full of Adventure
Not Believable, doesen't get any better with time.
Better than the DaVinci Code

Map of Bones
James Rollins
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060763876
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Book Description

The bestselling master of astonishing adventure James Rollins delivers his most relentlessly exciting page-turner to date—a gripping and explosive novel of an ancient conspiracy to create a terrifying new world order out of the ashes of modern civilization.

The crime is inhumanly cruel with horrific consequences both unthinkable and inevitable. During a service at a cathedral in Cologne, Germany, a band of armed intruders dressed in monks' robes unleash a nightmare of blood and terror, ruthlessly gunning down worshippers and clergy alike. The killers haven't come for the church's gold and valuable artwork, but for a priceless treasure secreted within: the preserved bones of the Three Magi who once came to pay homage to a newborn savior. As they flee the carnage they have wrought, they carry a prize that could reshape the world.

The Vatican is in turmoil, and Lieutenant Rachel Verona of Rome's carabinieri is assigned to lead the investigation. But no ordinary police organization alone can deal with the bizarre theft and massacre, and SIGMA Force—an elite covert arm of the U.S. Defense Department—is called in under the command of Grayson Pierce. New to SIGMA, Pierce assembles a crack team of scientific and Special Forces operatives to unravel the mystery of the stolen bones, and together they set out on a twisting trail through a labyrinth of clues and dark revelations that carry them to the sites of the Seven Wonders of the World—and to the doorstep of the mystical and terrifying Dragon Court.

An ancient, secret fraternity of alchemists and assassins, the master-adepts of the Dragon Court have plans for the sacred remains that will alter the future of humankind in devastating ways that only the maddest of zealots could desire—and they will let nothing and no one stand in their way. Suddenly Pierce, Verona, and the SIGMA team are the hunted as well as the hunters, forced to use every skill they possess to survive as they follow the bones to the ultimate confrontation between darkness and light—in a lost place of history where science and religion will unite to unleash a horror not seen since the beginning of time.

A masterful novel that combines the exhilarating mysticism of The Da Vinci Code with the pulse-pounding action of a Tom Clancy thriller, James Rollins's Map of Bones is destined to be a modern classic that will stand among the very best adventure tales ever written.

Download Description

The bestselling master of astonishing adventure James Rollins delivers his most relentlessly exciting page-turner to date -- a gripping and explosive novel of an ancient conspiracy to create a terrifying new world order out of the ashes of modern civilization.

The Vatican is in turmoil, and Lieutenant Rachel Verona of Rome's carabinieri is assigned to lead the investigation. But no ordinary police organization alone can deal with the bizarre theft and massacre, and SIGMA Force -- an elite covert arm of the U.S. Defense Department -- is called in under the command of Grayson Pierce. New to SIGMA, Pierce assembles a crack team of scientific and Special Forces operatives to unravel the mystery of the stolen bones, and together they set out on a twisting trail through a labyrinth of clues and dark revelations that carry them to the sites of the Seven Wonders of the World -- and to the doorstep of the mystical and terrifying Dragon Court.

An ancient, secret fraternity of alchemists and assassins, the master-adepts of the Dragon Court have plans for the sacred remains that will alter the future of humankind in devastating ways that only the maddest of zealots could desire -- and they will let nothing and no one stand in their way. Suddenly Pierce, Verona, and the SIGMA team are the hunted as well as the hunters, forced to use every skill they possess to survive as they follow the bones to the ultimate confrontation between darkness and light -- in a lost place of history where science and religion will unite to unleash a horror not seen since the beginning of time.

A masterful novel that combines the exhilarating mysticism of The Da Vinci Code with the pulse-pounding action of a Tom Clancy thriller, James Rollins's Map of Bones is destined to be a modern classic that will stand among the very best adventure tales ever written.

Customer Reviews:

This book is terribly written........2007-10-05

I am usually a sucker for these thrillers, but this was terrible. It was poorly written and had very bad dialogue. I couldn't even finish it despite the fact that the setting was in Europe and had a good premise. I don't understand why people liked this book.

I liked it!.......2007-10-03

I thought this was an ejoyable thriller. I am tired of people who all have the same "It's so unrealistic" line. Guess what? There are alot of unrealistic books out there that are still entertaining and well-done. This is an action packed thriller that will keep you turning pages and entertained.

Full of Adventure.......2007-09-11

My husband and I read this book at the same time, and we both loved it. It's so interesting to travel around Europe with the characters and get a little history with the adventure. It reminded us a lot of DeVinci Code. The book had a nice, swift pace and a lot of action. My husband felt that they got a little corny with the "emotions" between the man and woman, but they didn't focus on it too much. The main focus was definitely on the action, with just a few corny love moments. We both liked this book a lot and would recommend it. Everyone I've spoken to that read it enjoyed it as well.

Not Believable, doesen't get any better with time........2007-09-07

This book, as all other Rollins' books, suffer/s from the same error in story telling. Very simply, they are not believable. These so called professional characters and agencies are at best amateurish and at worst, totally incompetent. Even a good Sci Fi book must be believable or plausible. Rollins fails terribly on this believability issue. The plots are good but held together with smoke and mirrors.
Reading Rollins' books are a frustrating endeavor. This and other Rollins' thrillers could be a great books but it just doesn't happen. I give up waiting for better. There are much better thrillers being written.

Better than the DaVinci Code.......2007-08-27

Not sure which came first - the DaVinci Code or this book, but this is definitely better. The two books are very similar with regard to religious secrets, code-breaking, etc. Had I read Map of Bones first, I would have loved it 10 times more, as it is more believable and a more interesting plot. I still enjoyed it, but couldn't help thinking "gee, this is a lot like the DaVinci Code..."

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander the Great

Average customer rating:

Hard to read, easy to put down
There's a *reason* Alexander is still remembered
Mediocrity at its best
4 stars for the battles, 2 stars for the story
History as a Novel

The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander the Great
Steven Pressfield
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0553382055
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Book Description

I have always been a soldier. I have known no other life. So begins Alexander’s extraordinary confession on the eve of his greatest crisis of leadership. By turns heroic and calculating, compassionate and utterly merciless, Alexander recounts with a warrior’s unflinching eye for detail the blood, the terror, and the tactics of his greatest battlefield victories. Whether surviving his father’s brutal assassination, presiding over a massacre, or weeping at the death of a beloved comrade-in-arms, Alexander never denies the hard realities of the code by which he lives: the virtues of war. But as much as he was feared by his enemies, he was loved and revered by his friends, his generals, and the men who followed him into battle. Often outnumbered, never outfought, Alexander conquered every enemy the world stood against him–but the one he never saw coming. . . .

Download Description

Alexander the Great (356—323 B.C.) ascended to the throne of Macedon at the age of twenty. He fought his greatest battles—including the conquest of the mighty Persian Empire—before he was twenty-five and died at the age of thirty-three, still undefeated by any enemy. His reputation as a supreme warrior and leader of men is unsurpassed in the annals of history.

In the brilliantly imagined first-person voice of Alexander the Great, acclaimed novelist Steven Pressfield brings to life his epic battles, his unerring command of his forces, and the passions and ambitions that drove him. A full-blooded, multidimensional portrait, THE VIRTUES OF WAR captures Alexander’s complex character. Alexander was a fearless commander who moved with such daring and speed that no army could withstand him; a driven leader whose ambitions knew no limits; and a man with boundless compassion for his troops, deep friendships with his generals, and profound respect for his enemies. Yet in the end, his noble qualities were subsumed by his insatiable lust for glory.

No one writes about battles as brilliantly as Pressfield, and in THE VIRTUES OF WAR he vividly describes the seminal conflicts of Alexander’s career, revealing the tactics behind them and capturing the blood, heat, and terror of the battlefield. He follows Alexander’s forces as they faced and defeated armies that far outnumbered them; delivers a thrilling frontline report from Gaugamela, the scene of Alexander’s greatest victory; and, in a memorable vignette, shows the great conqueror finally halted, not by an enemy but by the refusal of his worn-out troops to march any farther.

Epic in scope and magisterial in tone, THE VIRTUES OF WAR is sure to take its place among the classics of historical fiction.

Customer Reviews:

Hard to read, easy to put down.......2007-10-07

I guess I was spoiled by Mary Renaults Alexander Trilogy. In Pressfields book Alexander as a person just does not resonate. The admixture of modern military terminology and somewhat of a modern outlook does not gell with the historical setting and mindset as it does in Renaults novels. That said, the strength of this book is its battle scenes, and those are very well done indeed. Researchers have found it hard to recreate the actual battles that Alexander fought from the historical accounts - read Arrian for example to see what I mean - and Pressfield has done a great job of creating descriptions of the battles which ring true.

That said, battles do not make up the whole book and the remainder I personally found unsatisfying and not ringing true. Again, I suspect reading Renaults Alexander trilogy many years previously set expectations which its hard for other authors to live up to. It is very hard to get an idea of Alexander as a person from this novel. Seems very stilted overall. I did read the book through but by the end it was more of a struggle than anything else. If you enjoyed this book, take a look at Renaults trilogy, they will fill in a lot of gaps and present a good alternative view - and a far more sympathetic one for that matter.

There's a *reason* Alexander is still remembered.......2007-08-20

This superior historical novel really ought to be read before his latest one, _The Afghan Campaign,_ which enlarges on one of Alexander's later campaigns, and from a different perspective -- but they're really two separate narratives, so no harm done if (like me) you read them in reverse order. The narrative is Alexander himself, outlining the history of his conquest of Asia for the benefit of one of the cadets who study military science in the king's tent while on campaign. He begins with his early life and his succession to the throne after the assassination of his father, Philip, himself something of a military genius. But Alexander is a prodigy, being everything his father was and far more, with the ability to look at the ground and foresee the battle that will take place there and to foresee the enemy's battle plan. He also possesses an extreme degree of charisma; his troops adore him, even when (as later in the conquest) they fear his altered personality. By the time the Macedonians have passed through Persia proper and have completely changed their approach to warfare to suit the guerilla action in Afghanistan (the king's doing again), and have reached the frontier of India, they're tired to the soul and want only to return home. But Alexander dreams of standing on the shore of the Eastern Ocean, which he's sure can't be far beyond the Ganges. This is the story of Alexander's mental evolution, from semi-barbarian king holding sway in the remote north of the Greek-speaking lands to Eastern potentate who has acquired a taste for all things Persian. But Pressfield also describes the major battles along the way, especially Gaugamela, in fascinating detail. You can see the action, really see it, and understand why each side does what it does, and why the results are what they are. In that regard, this is almost a classical military science textbook. An excellent piece of work.

Mediocrity at its best.......2007-07-26

I don't know if the author is trying to make ancient history more understandable for the modern reader, but he turns me off. He talks about lieutenants and captains and regiments and corps as if Alexander's army were a modern one. It wasn't. To compare, try Colleen McCullough's infinitely superior 6-volume historical novel on the Roman Republic of Caesar's time. She uses the right terminology and gives the reader the feeling that both she, and now the reader, really understood how the Roman cities, army, and government were organized and what life was like then. You just don't get that with Pressfield. I assume he did research, but it's just not evident.

4 stars for the battles, 2 stars for the story.......2007-07-03

Steven Pressfield's novel is listed as historical fiction, and I suppose that it is. However, there is virtually no plot. The whole story is fight after fight- which to some may seem interesting, but I found it boring. Don't get me wrong, the descriptions are incredible, and it seems as if we are actually at the scene of the battle. Steven Pressfield is obviously a talented writer. I enjoy reading about battles, just not an entire book about them. But I didn't feel any emotions. I wasn't excited at the victory, and found myself skimming pages just to see if there would be anything of interest later on in the chapters.

Alexander the Great is undeniably one of the greatest generals who ever lived, and obviously war was a large part of his life. But this story- didn't make me go "Wow". If you're only interested in battles, then you'll probably like this book. But if you're like me, and you want a plot along with the battles, look elsewhere.

I'd recommend Mary Renault's Alexander trilogy: Fire from Heaven, The Persian Boy, and Funeral Games; or A Choice of Destinies by Melissa Scott; or Lord of the Two Lands by Judith Tarr; or even A Murder in Macedon by Anna Apostolou aka P.C. Doherty. All of these books are historical fiction about Alexander the Great. They all have battles, but they also are about his life, his companions (friends/enemies), and his emotions.

History as a Novel.......2007-05-27

After all the celluloid versions of the story of Alexander the Great, its great to read a book that gives a more realistic version, and a more human version, of the iconic Alexander.

Heart of Oak: The Bolitho Novels #27 (The Bolitho Novels)

Average customer rating:

Great book
Should have stopped at #26
Slow read,
Reeman does it again

Heart of Oak: The Bolitho Novels #27 (The Bolitho Novels)
Alexander Kent
Manufacturer: McBooks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1590131371

Book Description

The newest Bolitho novel focuses on Adam Bolitho who commands a new frigate. Adam and his men must learn to work together with their former enemies, the French, but old hatreds resurface.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2007-07-18

Another great book by Alexander Kent. Thanks for sending it in a timely manner. Arrived in great condition.

Should have stopped at #26.......2007-05-14

I have read the entire Bolitho series and have greatly enjoyed most of them. This one, however, I wish I had never bought. It seems as if Kent was trying for more drama instead of a good sea tale. Way too much angst and not enough swashbuckling action. Mr. Kent, quit mucking with the formula and get backing to writing the stories we love!

Slow read,.......2007-04-11

I beleive Heart of Oak falls short of any of the previous Bolitho Novels.

The few ship battle actions are poorly described. Most of the previous novels detail the ship's manuvering, gun actions, and hand to hand combat to leave a feeling of being involved. Also, many of the previous books details shipboard life and the skills needed to sail a man-of-war. This one is poorly done.

Too much print mooning over Adam'love life. I have read all 26 Bolitho Novels, some of them two or three times and the majority are real page turners. This one was not.

Reeman does it again.......2007-04-06

I first started reading the Richard Bolitho books in Boston back in the late 60's as a young Sailor and have been ever addicted since. This latest novel upholds Douglas Reeman's (Alexander Kent's) fine tradition of Nepolianic War era British wooden sailing ships and iron men. Unlike the late Patrick O'Brien's books that tend to ramble on (I have never been able to hold interest in one of his novels), these books are readable and you understand the workings of a man-o-war at sea and in time of battle. His characters are human, you get to know them as old friends, you understand their fallacies and strong points, you share their good times and grieve for the departed. Excellent book Mr. Reeman!

Average customer rating:

Historical Fiction as it Should be Written
Platoon, 2300 years gone
War never changes, not really
Pressfield is a historical fiction master
OK, but...

The Afghan Campaign: A novel
Steven Pressfield
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 038551641X
Release Date: 2006-07-18

Book Description

In words that might have been ripped from today’s combat dispatches, Steven Pressfield, the bestselling novelist of ancient warfare, returns with a riveting historical novel that re-creates Alexander the Great’s invasion of the Afghan kingdoms in 330 B.C., a campaign that eerily foreshadows the tactics, terrors, and frustrations of contemporary conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Narrated by Matthias, a young infantryman in Alexander’s army, The Afghan Campaign explores the challenges, both military and moral, that Alexander and his soldiers face as they embark on a new type of war and are forced to adapt to the methods of a ruthless foe that employs terror and insurgent tactics, conceals itself among the civilian populace, and recruits women and boys as combatants. Matthias joins Alexander’s army after it has conquered the Persian empire and is advancing east into Afghanistan on its way to the riches of India. Part of a unit that includes recruits his own age as well as veterans, Matthias chronicles his rapid coming-of-age as a soldier as he enacts Alexander’s scorch-and-burn strategies, experiences the joys and sorrows of a romance with an Afghan girl, and faces the barbarism of the Afghans, his fellow soldiers, and ultimately himself. As Matthias relates the brutal day-to-day encounters between the two sides, he exposes the human cost borne by a company of men whose code is humanist and secular when they seek to impose their will on a people of deep religiosity, insularity, unbending pride, and a passionate readiness to die for their cause.

An edge-of-your-seat adventure that brings to life the confrontation between an invading Western army and fierce Eastern warriors determined at all costs to defend their homeland, The Afghan Campaign once again demonstrates Steven Pressfield’s profound understanding of the hopes and desperation of men in battle and of the historical realities that continue to influence our world.

Customer Reviews:

Historical Fiction as it Should be Written.......2007-08-27

Steven Pressfield was born in 1943. He is an American novelist and author of screenplays, principally of military historical fiction set in classical antiquity. His historical fiction is well-researched, but for the sake of dramatic flow, Pressfield may alter some details, like the sequence of events, or make use of jarring contemporary terms and place names, his stated aim being an attempt to capture the spirit of the times.

I must admit I don't find Steven Pressfield's books easy to read. That is not to say that they are not worth reading, in fact the opposite applies. The problem for me lies in the fact that they are so full of detail and have such an extensive character list, that I am forever checking back for something that I may have missed, or for a name that I can put to a character. But there can be no doubting the quality of the author's writing and this is a small price to pay,.

Steven Pressfield, the best selling novelist of ancient warfare, returns with a riveting historical novel that re-creates the invasion of the Afghan kingdoms in 330 BC by Alexander the Great.

Platoon, 2300 years gone.......2007-08-24

I took this book on a cross country flight and read it twice before being able to put it down. I simply can't get enough of this guy Pressfield.

I couldn't help thinking of Matthias, his buddies, and commanders as ancient versions of Chris Taylor, Gardner, Elias, and Barnes in "Platoon." Pressfield, of course, is leagues ahead of the petulant Oliver Stone as a storyteller, and the story here is much more richly detailed and militarily accurate, historically significant, gory, tragic, epic, and heroic. Everyone who's ever dreamed of being a soldier or a hero can empathize with Matthias:

We feel his reticence for war through his mother: '...you are my bulwark and the bulwark of this farm. We shall never see your brothers again. Lust for glory will be their finish; they will leave great names and nothing more.'

But also what motivates him: 'My father and brothers... All three are warriors and heroes. I would sooner die than prove unworthy of them.' And the reverence the army has for Alexander himself: 'The men are in love with Alexander, this is no overstatement. The troops are aware of his movements, moment by moment, as pack dogs are of the stud wolf. The corps gravitates to his apparition and feeds up on sight of him, as the lover on that of his darling."

We feel his disgust at slaughtering POWs through his best friend Lucas: 'God what a stench when a man's guts are opened to the air. That doesn't go into your dispatches, does it? We read nothing about the sound the 'follow-on' makes, going down the line of throat-slit men with a club, bashing skulls like walnuts, while the still living men pray without voices or curse us in gurgling blood or plead for their lives."

Like Pressfield does over and over again, he makes his characters, and the times they live in, accessible by how they relate to each other and how they react to their environments, and it's spectacular, stirring, invigorating reading. What a ride!

War never changes, not really.......2007-08-16

I hadn't read anything by Pressfield since Gates of Fire, but this one looked interesting and I have a long-time interest in Alexander, so I picked it up at the library. I was put off at first at the appearance in the first few pages of fake soldierly slang -- how likely is it that the Macedonian infantry referred to themselves as "Macks"? -- but I stuck with it and quickly became absorbed in the author's detailed depiction of the Greek attempt to conquer a country extremely unlike theirs. It's pretty obvious Pressfield wants you to draw comparisons between Alexander's attempted conquest and the American attempt 2,300 years later, and he makes it clear that not much has changed in terms of the Afghan psyche. Not even with the adoption of Islam has made that much fundamental difference; the Afghans were the way they are many centuries before that. The character of young Matthias, a glory-seeking recruit, is similar to that of young soldiers today, especially regarding the shock of his first kill, his admiration of the enemy coupled with his profound lack of understanding of them, and his adhesion to his mates, for whom he would readily die. Shinar, the local girl with whom he becomes tragically involved, is also carefully and very sympathetically drawn, as are the portraits of Lucas, his best friend from home, and Flag, the veteran sergeant for whom he develops a close regard.

Pressfield is a historical fiction master .......2007-08-01

Pressfield approaches Renault in his ability to put the reader in the era and culture. This piece really shows how interesting history can be, even fictionalized, when applied by a powerful pen such as Pressfield's. Perhaps he could have done more with the marriage of Alexander to Roxanne, Spitamenes or the disaffection of Alexander's commanders at this point in his campaign. But his point of view was not in the king's strategies and court, but in the field tent or out in the wilderness of Afganistan. There was a realism of conflict that came through that was not the glorious conquest so many writers attempt to display. An excellent portrayal of human struggle that could have been applied to any number of historical events. Great book with a different feel than many fictional accounts.

OK, but..........2007-07-16

I really liked Gates of Fire. Not quite as big a fan of this one. It had strong moments, and I learned a lot about Afghan history- fun fact- the name Kandahar derives from Iskander, a Central Asian "hossum jossum" for Alexander himself.

Pressfield is the king of landscape. You'll understand the battlespace in Afghanistan. The Pushtunwali, Tora Bora, Bagram air base, Mazar-i-sharif, the Panjshir Valley- if these words caught your imagination over the past few years, then you'll find lots of very good plums in a somewhat dissatisfying pudding. Why dissatisfying? Lots of moral relativism focussed around the pseudo-Bin-Laden character Spiramentes, and in plenty of Matthias' ruminations on religion, culture, warfare, etc. I understand that we need to connect with a modern audience, but he thinks so much like the legions of 21st century post-modern, I-don't-believe-in-anything writers and pundits that its hard sustaining the disbelief to stay in the past. The attempts to draw past-present parallels were unpleasant and tendentious at times. Its hard to do Alexander justice in this sort of grunt's-eye-view narrative, but I felt like I knew no more about him having read the book. Strange omission considering the title. The author manfully tries to create a real-feeling military patois, but it jarred at times. In interviews, Pressfield has said he prefers to write about pre-Western, pre-Christian settings, but the whiff of good old 21st century left-liberalism kept jolting me out of the pages, like an Oldsmobile accidentally parked in the background during a scene in "Gladiator" or something. (The irony is that left-liberalism is a uniquely Western, Christian heresy- or rather a perverted, cannibalistic form of these unique cultural strains) In sum, too much effort trying to connect past and present in fashionable ways left him stuck between two stools at times.

Actually, this is the same flaw that seems endemic in our chattering classes- it put me off Phillipa Gregory, amongst others. Fashionable views sucker you in as a sort of status symbol. All who desire entrance to the "club" must wear them, or at least mouth them, like a sort of badge. Maybe this happens when writers get successful- too much to lose?

Taking his works as a whole, though, the man can write.

Average customer rating:

Incredible
A huge hit
Worthy of so much more!
The Real Alexander
Book review

The Persian Boy
Mary Renault
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Fire from Heaven
Funeral Games
The Last of the Wine
The Nature of Alexander
The King Must Die: A Novel

ASIN: 0394751019
Release Date: 1988-02-12

Book Description

“It takes skill to depict, as Miss Renault has done, this half-man, half Courtesan who is so deeply in love with the warrior.”–The Atlantic Monthly

The Persian Boy traces the last years of Alexander’s life through the eyes of his lover, Bagoas. Abducted and gelded as a boy, Bagoas was sold as a courtesan to King Darius of Persia, but found freedom with Alexander after the Macedon army conquered his homeland. Their relationship sustains Alexander as he weathers assassination plots, the demands of two foreign wives, a sometimes-mutinous army, and his own ferocious temper. After Alexander’s mysterious death, we are left wondering if this Persian boy understood the great warrior and his ambitions better than anyone.

Customer Reviews:

Incredible.......2007-08-29

The Persian Boy is one of the best novels I have read in quite a long time. Renault gives us a clearly defined character in Bagoas, her style making his voice realistic and relatable. Having become so drawn in by the style of writing and the depth of character development, I found myself saddened to find I had come to the end. This will most certainly be one the books on my shelves that I will read multiple times.

A huge hit.......2007-01-27

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down, so I ended up reading from about 11 pm to 6 am. This is probably the first real historical fiction I've ever read, and it's made me hungry for more. ::grins:: The characters were believable, if Renaults portrayal of the times/societies were correct. I loved Bagoas' "voice", and his absolute devotion and love he develops for Alexander. You see Alexander's transformation from Macedonian 'boy' to Great King, and his devotion to his soldiers, the Persians, and his dream. The respect the Persians have for Alexander, because of his desire and attempts to keep them equal with the Macedonians, becomes more and more obvious later in the book. The story telling is lush and gripping for the most part. While sometimes the story pacing felt a little slow, it wasn't enough to damage my enjoyment of the book. I haven't got the first or third books yet, but I will as soon as I can scrape some money together. [Because so many of the sources that could have been considered mostly reliable have been lost or damaged beyond what current technology can fix, we can only speculate based on biased anti-Alexander sources (Like the Athenians) what Alexander may have really been like. But if you'd like a glimpse of what such a widely known historical figure may have been like, to see Alexander and the people he was involved with as real people, I highly recommend this book.]

Worthy of so much more!.......2006-11-28

There is now way I could not have given this book at least 5 stars, I more than love this book. Just get it. Alexander's little boy toy will enchant you.

The Real Alexander.......2006-06-25

Hollywood is probably the first one to introduce Alexander the Great into the public consciousness. Unfortunately, they are NEVER good at maintaining historical accuracy. This book respects the integrity of the man behind the legend. At the same time, it succeeds in telling an entertaining story.

Book review.......2006-06-14

This book is very good. It is historical accurate about the fall of the Persian Empire. At the beginning of the book, it is very long but detail of the main character and his past life. It has a great detail of his new life and how he must live. You can really relate to the character because he has an array of emotions and other strong feelings. The book makes you feel that your are their because the main character describes all the battles and the palaces and the situation he in to survive and meet new friends

I give this book to thumbs up for being really detailed and a great connection with the main character

Stack a New Deck: More Great Quilts in 4 Easy Steps

Average customer rating:

Great Quilts
Interesting.
Alaska quilter
Great Variety for Fast, Contemporary Quilts
nice book

Stack a New Deck: More Great Quilts in 4 Easy Steps
Karla Alexander
Manufacturer: Martingale and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Stack the Deck!: Crazy Quilts in 4 Easy Steps
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Thinking Outside the Block: Step by Step to Dynamic Quilts

ASIN: 1564775372

Book Description

Get ready to go beyond Crazy quilts with the four Ss--stack, slice, shuffle, and sew--in this sequel to the bestseller Stack the Deck! Sidestep the traditional rules of quiltmaking with these fast, fun ideas.

• Use Stack-the-Deck steps to simplify curves, diamonds, and other classic patchwork shapes

• Eighteen new quilts feature a wide range of styles, so there's something for every quilter to enjoy

• All projects start with simple squares, making every pattern beginner friendly

Customer Reviews:

Great Quilts.......2007-05-17

This book is great. Karla Alexander has many great patterns in many different books.

Interesting........2007-01-14

The only reason this did not get a 5 is that I am not sure about how to do this, more over I am a traditional quilt lover and I am not very artsy. I know folks that love the stack and wack. Nice book and great colors.

Alaska quilter.......2006-11-12

The instructions are clearly written in this book. What it lacks is any information how to quickly and easily enlarge the quilts. The majority of the quilts are approximately lap or twin size. It would be very helpful to add info for those of us who are mathematically challenged on how to enlarge the quilts either by larger blocks or how to go about creating more blocks with more fabric.

Great Variety for Fast, Contemporary Quilts.......2005-04-26

I like this book SO MUCH more than the original Stack the Deck. The variety in this book is great, and the concept is easy to follow. Plus, the quilts look GREAT. My hand-dyed fabrics really shine in these quilts, and I can showcase special pieces with ease. The Red Onion quilt is my favorite, although I was really attracted to the floral squares one, as well. My only issue with the book is that the borders shown are fairly plain-jane - some different examples would be nice. But hey - if that's the only thing wrong, I can find borders (or create some) for myself!

nice book.......2005-03-27

I just received my copies of this book and the first, Stack the Deck. I like the looks of the ones in this book better. I'm wanting to make at least 3 of the quilts in this book. The only 'problem' I see with the books (so far) is that she shows a small photo of different cutting diagrams with the cutting and piecing orders, but you have to either 'free style' it or draw your own or enlarge these to size (which may take several copies since some are oly about an inch square and the fabric square starts out at 9 3/4 inches!) anyways, I haven't tackled this yet and I'm not sure if I'll just draw my own or what. there are also a few with curves in this book and circles..as well as several 'square inside a square' looking ones as well as a few others. Other than not having the full-size 'templates' I'm very happy with this book (but Iguess the idea is to get away from using templates and be creative!) I originally thought I'd give this a 4 star rating but for the type of book it is I think it fits the bill. It reminds me also of some patterns I have by two kwik kwilters, except with theirs they give you the fullsize pattern and you trace it on freezer paper for each set of blocks..but there are more ideas in this book than these patterns currently offer.

The Great Gatsby: Complete and Unabridged (Audio Editions)

Average customer rating:

A Monument in Audio Book History
Maybe Gatsby wasn't great, but the story is...
Heartrending
What it means to be an American
Thought Provoking

The Great Gatsby: Complete and Unabridged (Audio Editions)
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Manufacturer: The Audio Partners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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1984
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ASIN: 1572702567

Book Description

The mysterious Jay Gatsby embodies the American notion that it is possible to redefine oneself and persuade the world to accept that definition. Gatsby's youthful neighbor, Nick Carraway, fascinated with the display of enormous wealth in which Gatsby revels, finds himself swept up in the lavish lifestyle of Long Island society during the Jazz Age. Considered Fitzgerald's best work, The Great Gatsby is a mystical, timeless story of integrity and cruelty, vision and despair. Now available unabridged on CD, Alexander Scourby delivers Fitzgerald's story in “one of the finest readings ever recorded” (The New York Times). “[Fitzgerald's] talent was as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly's wings.” — Ernest Hemingway

Customer Reviews:

A Monument in Audio Book History.......2005-09-29

Scott Fitzgerald, a monumental talent who only occasionally got things working right, made Gatsby great by the extraordinary invention of Nick Carraway. Carraway as narrator provided the exact perfect pitch: more awestruck than he would admit, more moral than it was fashionable to reveal -- always objective and distanced and subtle and charming, genuinely decent and impeccably well mannered, a little dangerously smitten himself by the lovely but corrupt Jordan Baker.

Alexander Scourby, one of the greatest reading voices of his era (overlapping Fitzgerald's enough to know and feel it all) here does Carraway in a way that cannot, therefore, again be quite equalled. Imagine having a recording of a great contemporary actor reading Ahab's speeches in Moby Dick, and one begins to appreciate the gift that we only now have in recorded sound, something we are already quite casual about. But there is much more here than historical accuracy. Scourby's voice wraps around every phrase of Fitzgeral's text with both an actor's professionalism and a good reader's care, making it not only uncannily his own monument but also a monument in audio book history. It sets the bar, and anyone interested in the recorded voice as an art form should own this for repeated learning.

Maybe Gatsby wasn't great, but the story is..........2004-09-28

There is a reason why this is required reading in advanced literature classes throughout the country. This is without a doubt one of the best tales ever told. It should be used as an example to any aspiring writer of what great writing can be. The thing that makes it so great is Fitzgerald's ability to formulate characters, both large and small, and his ability to have them interact in a manner that is at once both imaginative and realistic. This makes the story, which in and of itself is not more amazing than other books, more amazing because you are compelled to believe the plausibility of a story that is incredible. Even if you are not a literature student you will find this book an enjoyable read that is intellectually stimulating, yet easy reading for those reading to relax. Many have copied this story directly and indirectly because of the lesson it teaches (that in the story about life and that about creating a story) and many will continue to do so in the future.

Heartrending.......2003-01-26

I listened to this book over a few nights with my wife, after having read it first some sixteen years ago. It is a masterpiece, and known widely as such, but what surprised me on hearing it was how the book I'd remembered as terribly romantic was actually rather clear-eyed and dark. My wife, who had never read it, listened spell-bound, and at the end burst into tears at the sadness of it. A word about Scourby as reader - he is restrained but emotional, captures the personality of each character with a slightly different tone, and - most importantly for me - brings out the fact that the closing pages, which are often quoted out of context as deeply romantic, are in fact painfully cynical, a voice of disenchantment about the cost of America, not its promise. A masterpiece on the page and on tape. Can't recommend it too highly.

What it means to be an American.......2002-10-28

After living abroad in the Middle East for a year and traveling through more than twenty-five countries, I recently re-read The Great Gatsby, seeking the familiarity of America. The Great Gatsby captures what is different about Americans and the American experience. At its most basic, America represents endless striving for greatness. Whether in business, science, athletics or world affairs, Americans imagine and seek the best. Though we often stumble and fall short; though we often cut corners to achieve our dreams - striving for greatness is the essence of America. In Gatsby, we feel what it is like to want something so badly, to succeed in reaching it and to ultimately fail. How many of us have not shared these experiences in some way or another? American writings today, such as David Ebershoff's Pasadena (2002) and Scott Gaille's The Law Review (2002), continue to explore Gatsby's central theme of obsession with greatness. In this time of global uncertainty, we can get back in touch with what it means to be an American by reading such books.

Thought Provoking.......2002-08-27

This was a book that stayed with me long after hearing it read. I found Gatsby to be a very intriguing character because of his singleminded passion. I enjoyed understanding the thoughts and ideas of Carraway. The writing provided vivid imagery of a time gone by and yet it was a timeless story. Highly recommend.

The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

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One of the great cultural movements in the world

The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Cambridge Companion to Thomas Reid (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

ASIN: 0521003237

Book Description

A distinguished team of contributors examines the writings of David Hume, Adam Smith, Thomas Reid, Adam Ferguson, Colin Maclaurin and other Scottish thinkers, in philosophy, natural theology, economics, anthropology, natural science and law. The contributors also relate the Scottish Enlightenment to its historical context and assess its impact and legacy in Europe, America and beyond. The volume is of interest to a wide range of readers in philosophy, theology, literature and the history of ideas.

Download Description

The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment offers a philosophical perspective on an eighteenth-century movement that has been profoundly influential on western culture. A distinguished team of contributors examines the writings of David Hume, Adam Smith, Thomas Reid, Adam Ferguson, Colin Maclaurin and other Scottish thinkers, in fields including philosophy, natural theology, economics, anthropology, natural science and law. In addition, the contributors relate the Scottish Enlightenment to its historical context and assess its impact and legacy in Europe, America and beyond. The result is a comprehensive and accessible volume that illuminates the richness, the intellectual variety and the underlying unity of this important movement. It will be of interest to a wide range of readers in philosophy, theology, literature and the history of ideas.

Customer Reviews:

One of the great cultural movements in the world.......2006-02-21

The editor Alexander Broadie is Professor of Logic and Rhetoric at Glasgow University- a chair once occupied by Adam Smith author of "Wealth of Nations". This book, "The Scottish Enlightenment", written for the general reader, is a great treatise on a most astonishing period of Scottish history during the 18th century. Broadie writes; "that what gave the Scottish Enlightenment its character as a distinct historical movement was the complex set of relations with a group of geniuses and other immensely creative people living in each others intellectual pockets. Broadie and his colleagues write about the leading Scottish luminaries in the fields of science, philosophy, history, economics, and the arts. The ideas of Hume, Smith, Reid, Ferguson, Hutcheson, Kames, Turnbull, and others had an immense influence on the great thinkers of Europe as well as our founding fathers here in America.

The term "Enlightenment" suggests emergence from darkness. There are two essential features of the enlightenment. First, a demand that people think for themselves. You do not take ideas on faith but you inquire study and observe for yourself. Second, social virtue of tolerance of ideas. The state and church cannot punish one for their ideas. This allows literati of men to meet and exchange ideas on a plethora of subjects and to spread these ideas through their writings so that other literati in Europe can comment and react to them. Thinking becomes a civil activity with ideas in the public domain. These men love liberty and are looking to build a better society for humanity. They believe that if morality is about anything it is about - protecting the civilized values vested in society. No wonder these men had a great influence on our founding fathers! The Scottish Enlightenment was Scotland's chief export to America. The consequences for the Scottish Enlightenment were much theorizing about society and social change and the nature of freedom.

If you are truly interested in a classical education put this book on the top of your reading list! I recommend this book for anyone interested in philosophy, history, political science, and history of America's founding era.

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