Book Description
Based upon Ephesians 5:33 and extensive biblical and psychological research, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs reveals the power of unconditional love and unconditional respect and how husbands and wives can reap the benefits of marriage that God intended.
Customer Reviews:
Respect This!.......2007-09-21
Great material that every single married couple should read. Dr. Eggerich provides many insights and testimonies to illuminate the woman's heart, and the man's mind. The differences between the sexes are real, complex, but navigable. The author does not paint a picture of easy steps and quick success, but emphasizes the truth that commitment to your spouse, and a great deal of humility and maturity are required to bring true peace to your marriage. A great marriage is achievable. This book brings to the table many tangible ideas that can help you attain a truly happy marriage that God has destined for you and your spouse!
The only negative thing I will say about this book is that the repititious references to the Love & Respect Conferences begin to sound a bit like a late night commercial. To be gracious, I would say that the author approaches arrogance, though he feigns transparency in revealing the fact that he and his wife have not acheived perfection, but that the techniques (for lack of a better word) in this book have helped them as well. With that said, I would highly recommend the read - both husband and wife should read this book.
Death of the Vicious Circle.......2007-09-20
A must read for long marrieds and for anyone seeking to prevent those useless, maddening repetitive arguments. This book is for both sides of the couple. The first 4 chapters lay out the logical criteria so don't take it as bashing men or women. It states what turns out to be the obvious. It is well worth the effort. After 39 years, we are in honeymoon heaven again.
Highly recommended.......2007-09-17
I highly recommend this book. The authors bring to light the keys to having a happy marriage and the insights into our own behaviors that we must understand to bring about that happiness. My wife and I benefitted greatly from this book.
great resource.......2007-08-23
Skimmed a friends copy, then bought three. One for me, one for my son and one for my daughter. Wish this book had been around back in the stone age when I was young.
Title says it all - not much substance to this book.......2007-08-21
This book should have half it's length. Most of the book is filled with stories from the author's counselling or his own life and scripture which is a good reference, but the book could have used some basic psychological observations or some scientific examples of how men and women are physically wired different in our brains. I appreciate that the author recognizes the differences in men and women and that we really should not be treated equally, this book just doesn't have much depth. If you seek the truth and have patience, many recommendations in this book will come naturally.
Book Description
As anticipation of the final Harry Potter book intensifies, a debate is raging among fans about what’s in store for Harry and the rest of the gang at Hogwart's. In this book, the experts at MuggleNet.com present a wide range of hard facts and bold predictions about the most popular storylines, favorite characters, and final outcome of the Harry Potter saga. Drawing on their intimate knowledge of the previous six books, as well as tips and suggestions made by millions of MuggleNet.com fans (not to mention a personal interview with J.K. Rowling), the authors offer answers to the burning questions of Harry Potter readers everywhere: Will Hogwart's School be open for Harry’s final year and will Harry even be in attendance? Will Harry’s quest for the remaining Horcruxes be rewarded? Where do Severus Snape’s true loyalties lie? And, most importantly, will Harry survive the final battle with Lord Voldemort?
Customer Reviews:
The right and wrong answers.......2007-09-03
Though admittedly few people see much point in reading this book now that the final istalment of Harry Potter has already been read and is now safely tucked in our book-shelves, I beg to differ. I read Deathly Hallows before reading this book, and so knew all the answers to (most) questions, what drove me to buy the book was my uncontrollable curiosity. Being a fan of the website, I thought I'd help them out by buying the book, but what intrested me the most was the arguments. I don't care whether they guessed right or wrong, but how they came to those conclusions! 9/10 times the right answer doesn't matter, as long as you can back it up with sound reason and judgment, which is why I liked this book, and would still recommend it.
No point in buying it now.......2007-08-30
Not only were the predictions incorrect, Now that book 7 is out who would want to read this?
Must Read!!.......2007-08-27
After reading the final installment of Harry Potter I would def. say this a must read. First, it is a quick summary and primer of important info in the past six books. Plus, unless you are super obsessed or a literary genius there are bound to be a few things you learn in the book.
very pratical.......2007-08-23
it really does help to understand some questions you could have or did not
remember why this is there. Good to have before reading Vol.7
Well Researched Book.......2007-07-31
I bought this book just before Book 7 came out and really enjoyed it. While many of the assumptions in this book turned out to be false once I had read Book 7, it was nonetheless a well-researched book. The arguments for each stance they took - both pro and con - were plausible and quite believable and convincing. You could tell the authors had done their homework and really knew the world of Harry Potter. I think I may go back and read it again now that I know what really happens to see where they were spoton and where their ideas missed the mark. In any case, it is a great resource whether you have been a Harry Potter fan or are just discovering his world.
Book Description
Even the most devoted readers of nineteenth-century American literature often assume that the men and women behind the masterpieces were as dull and staid as the era's static daguerreotypes. Susan Cheever's latest work, however, brings new life to the well-known literary personages who produced such cherished works as The Scarlet Letter, Moby-Dick, Walden, and Little Women. Rendering in full color the tumultuous, often scandalous lives of these volatile and vulnerable geniuses, Cheever's dynamic narrative reminds us that, while these literary heroes now seem secure of their spots in the canon, they were once considered avant-garde, bohemian types, at odds with the establishment.
These remarkable men and women were so improbably concentrated in placid Concord, Massachusetts, that Henry James referred to the town as the "biggest little place in America." Among the host of luminaries who floated in and out of Concord's "American Bloomsbury" as satellites of the venerable intellect and prodigious fortune of Ralph Waldo Emerson were Henry David Thoreau -- perpetual second to his mentor in both love and career; Louisa May Alcott -- dreamy girl and ambitious spinster; Nathaniel Hawthorne -- dilettante and cad; and Margaret Fuller -- glamorous editor and foreign correspondent.
Perhaps inevitably, given the smallness of the place and the idiosyncrasies of its residents, the members of the prestigious circle became both intellectually and romantically entangled: Thoreau serenaded an infatuated Louisa on his flute. Vying with Hawthorne for Fuller's attention, Emerson wrote the fiery feminist love letters while she resided (yards away from his wife) in his guest room. Herman Melville was, according to some, ultimately driven mad by his consuming and unrequited affection for Hawthorne.
Far from typically Victorian, this group of intellectuals, like their British Bloomsbury counterparts to whom the title refers, not only questioned established literary forms, but also resisted old moral and social strictures. Thoreau, of course, famously retreated to a plot of land on Walden Pond to escape capitalism, pick berries, and ponder nature. More shocking was the group's ambivalence toward the institution of marriage. Inclined to bend the rules of its bonds, many of its members spent time at the notorious commune, Brook Farm, and because liberal theories could not entirely guarantee against jealousy, the tension of real or imagined infidelities was always near the surface.
Susan Cheever reacquaints us with the sexy, subversive side of Concord's nineteenth-century intellectuals, restoring in three dimensions the literary personalities whose work is at the heart of our national history and cultural identity.
Customer Reviews:
Where was the editor?.......2007-10-09
I cannot recall reading a more poorly written -- and edited -- book. With such tremendous potential in the subject matter and the obvious interest Cheever had in making the characters come (back) to life, it is a shame this book was published before it was really completed. Some fact checks (see other posts by people more knowledgeable than I) and significant rewriting may have made this book readable -- and even enjoyable.
Title Promises Too Much.......2007-09-06
Such a long title for such a slim work. Yes, back in the mid-nineteenth century, American Transcendentalism flourished in Concord, New Hampshire, primarily because of the ideas and pocketbook of Emerson. All of the titular writers lived in Concord (at least off and on), inspired each others' fiction and non-fiction, and intermingled in (for some) chastely passionate ways. I liked some of the information here, but felt the book was too sketchy and simply cannot claim to cover, except in a cursory way, `their work' in any complete sense. Hawthorne's passion for Fuller is definitely echoed in The Scarlet Letter, Thoreau's experiences on Walden Pond are an accurate reflection of his thoughts and his `simplified' personality and outlook in Walden, and Louisa May Alcott's family and circumstances are the basis for Little Women; however, Fuller and Emerson do not get the literary discussion the title seems to promise. Enjoyable, but not a complete work on Cheever's part.
Not a writer whose mind I enjoy.......2007-09-02
At first I was impressed with Susan Cheever's apt writing, and excited at the prospect of reading about some of my favorite writers. But reading this book is a little like listening to a friend who enjoys malicious gossip -- embarassing, distasteful, and finally just boring. I get the feeling that some parts are whomped up; she's trying to raise questions that the facts don't justify raising. But mostly there's an edge of bitter glee here -- as if she's enjoying anything negative she can dig up. This isn't the kind of writer with whom I enjoy spending time.
Wellll..........2007-07-05
Cheever defends calling John Brown a murderer because he was part of a posse that chopped a group of men to pieces in front of their families in a righteous fit (as a way to stand against slavery).
It is a curious turn that these few geniuses that singlehandedly created American literature (?) are characterized as having been hoodwinked by Brown (who Cheever supposes used their passion and innocence as a weapon against them) into defending violent resistance.
To me this is Black Panthers vs. MLK territory...though the "made the gallows holy" bit is way off my charts:
"Old John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
While the bondmen all are weeping whom he ventured for to save;
But though he lost his life a-fighting for the slave,
His soul is marching on.
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
His soul is marching on.
John Brown was a hero undaunted, true and brave,
And Kansas knew his valor when he fought her rights to save;
And now, though the grass grows green above his grave,
His soul is marching on.
He captured Harper's Ferry with his nineteen men so few,
And frightened Old Virginia till she trembled through and through;
They hung him for a traitor--themselves a traitor crew,
But his soul is marching on.
John Brown was John the Baptist of the Christ we are to see;
CHRIST, who of the bondmen shall the Liberator be;
And soon through all the South the slaves shall all be free,
For his soul goes marching on.
John Brown he was a soldier--a soldier of the LORD;
John Brown he was a martyr--a martyr to the WORD;
And he made the gallows holy when he perished by the cord,
For his soul goes marching on."
??????????????
Bizarre political parsing of the Concord group.......2007-05-24
American Bloomsbury is a popularization of the lives of the people involved in and related to the literary renaissance and transcendentalist movement centered in antebellum Concord, Massachusetts. Devoid of reference notes, one is left having to accept author Cheever's recreations of the personalities and relationships of the participants. The book has value to the degree she has fleshed this out accurately. It is certainly a more engaging read than an academic study and it is tempting to believe that she has channeled reality. Whether she has drawn too many conclusions or drawn conclusions accurately is something the lay reader will not know. But there is a much more serious problem with this book. It is the creation of a small-minded, conservative, 21st century copperhead. She sneers at the Brook Farm community; contemns the abolitionist movement for pushing the country into civil war by not giving politics and compromise a chance, in jaw-dropping ignorance of history; despises John Brown and condemns the Concord circle for supporting him and thus betraying their former nature-loving pacifism. Actually, it is of course much to their credit that in the refining fire of this second American revolution they were completely committed to the right side (by and large -- Hawthorne was a waffler), unlike the author who is apparently trying singlehandedly to bring back copperheadism after 145 years. Thoreau's greatest political work is not the essay that has come down to us as "Civil Disobedience", an immature scribbling author Cheever (and M.L. King and Mahatma Gandhi) is apparently fond of. The mature Thoreau was no pacifist. "In Defense of Captain John Brown" was nothing less than a call to arms. Cheever much prefers the naive youthful pacifist Thoreau.
On parsing the lives of the Concord transcendentalists and the authors that wrote in the wake of that movement, this book is engaging -- if one can accept a "popularizing" (read "dumbing down") style of writing. In its popularization though, it could seem to some that it might be appropriate for a youthful audience. But I wouldn't recommend it to them. Lacking historical knowledge and respecting authorial opinion, they'll come away from it wondering if fighting against slavery was a mistake.
Book Description
Widely known for her innovative teaching philosophy stressing body awareness, the value of "soft eyes," proper breathing, centering, and balance, Sally Swift has been a pioneering riding instructor for half a century. In book form for the first time, her methods enable horse and rider to achieve harmony, working together naturally, without pain.
Unlike traditional teachers, Sally Swift does not believe in forced training techniques that cause stiff bodies and tense riding. Instead, through the use of vivid, unusual, and highly creative images that transcend mechanics ("Pretend you're a spruce tree; the roots grow down from your center as the trunk grows up"), plus a thorough knowledge of human and equine anatomy, this wise and inspiring teacher enables the conscientious equestrian to reassess habitual responses, in order to ride in natural positions, break through frustrating plateaus, and achieve ever-rising goals with comfort, vitality, and precision.
Precise illustrations and photographs never before used in riding books explain anatomy and image work to give mind and body new and relaxed approaches to the inner process of riding.
Centered Riding is for those with little experience all the way up to world class.
Customer Reviews:
Literally the breakthrough I needed.......2007-05-20
I read this book 20 years ago, while trying to learn to ride as an awkward adult. I was getting so frustrated, I couldn't find my seat and felt totally out of control in the saddle. My husband kept offering counter-productive "tips" such as, "squeeze with your legs" (to sit the trot)....All I can say is, thank Heaven for Sally Swift. Her metaphors and mental imagery were exactly what I needed. Someone with natural athletic balance would perhaps not need this (someone like my husband, who rode before he walked). However, for someone like me who has to learn it from the head down, not from the seat up, this book can be the key to a secure and comfortable seat. It is in every library, read it, then buy it if this style of teaching "speaks" to you.
A 94 year old star with great heart.......2007-05-06
Having had the priveldge of working with Sally Swift I am stuck not only by her skill , but by her kind and gentle way of dealing with everyone and everything she comes in contact with. At 94 years old when most people are seeing their lives as over, Sally sees the future as being bright. She was just honored by the United States Dressage Federation as being one of the top writers and riders in the country and I say" Way to go Sally". Her books Centereed Riding and Centered Riding 2 have together sold over 500,000 copies and have changed the lives of countless people and horses alike. Not only horse riders, but black belts,ice skaters, world class olympians, etc. Centered Riding and Centered Riding 2 are books too good to miss.
Must Have Book for Every Rider/Instructor.......2007-03-22
I participate in alot of different sports/hobbies from English/Western riding, to skiing to dog obedience/agility training to cycling and various art pursuits. If you are the type of person who ever finds yourself having difficulty following the words someone uses to express something new to you and instead find following visualization or imagery examples easier then this book will help you. For example, when I was first learning to ski countless instructors explained that I was "sitting back in my seat" or " back on my heels"... lean forward they said... "no, not like that, not from the waist, with the whole body"... finally one said "pretend you have a $100 in the front of your boot and you don't want to lose it" and Eurkeka - the light bulb went on! And so it was with riding... which is why (paraphrasing) feeling your weight in your heels like you have roots to the ground from your feet worked better for me than "keep your heels down" and so on... you get the idea. This is a great book that takes the basics and gives you some alternative ways to think about them.
Centered Riding.......2007-01-18
I was satisfied with my purchase and very pleased with the speedy service and delivery. Will continue to purchase from amazon.
A Classic that all riders need to read.......2007-01-08
If you ride, you need to read this book. So many of the modern riding techniques are based on Ms. Swift's experiences. I learned how bad my posture is and how it affects my horse when I ride. Not only did it help my riding but it helped my general posture and helps eliminate back aches. The illustrations are very enlightening.,
Book Description
The Investigative Project on Terrorism, founded in 1995 by Steven Emerson, maintains the largest nongovernmental data and intelligence library in the world on militant Islam. The Project assists the White House, the FBI, the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, and other government departments with counterterrorism activities.
Together with a staff of experts, Executive Director Steven Emerson has compiled this thorough factual overview of the Islamist terrorist threat to the United States. Unlike the Final Report of the 9/11 Commission, which was focused mainly on the retrospective analysis of al Qaeda activities leading up to the attack of September 11, 2001, this work emphasizes current radical activities in the United States and the threat they might pose to national security. Divided into three sections, the work first sets the stage for the current situation by reviewing the lessons learned from previous terrorist plots and attacks both within our borders and against American interests abroad. Emerson and colleagues profile key players in the terrorist network and describe their various criminal activities before and since 9/11. The second section analyzes organizations in the Middle East besides al Qaeda that are hostile to the United States: Hamas, Hizballah, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and radical groups in Pakistan. The third section analyzes the subtle, wide-ranging support system for terrorist activities that exists within our own borders: charities and foundations that secretly solicit for terror; the complex corporate web of companies, charities, and nonprofit corporations known as the SAAR network; mosques that provide cover for terrorists; the use of the Internet for terrorist communication; and lobbying efforts by Muslim American organizations to influence the top echelons of the federal government. In a dangerous age, this is an important book for all Americans to read.
Customer Reviews:
A wake-up call to America.......2007-09-23
Emerson is the person who predicted a major Islamic strike in the United States, who that is, foresaw 9/11. A first rate investigative reporter he has to be very careful as his life has been threatened more than once by extremist Islamic groups.
In this book he outlines major Islamic terror groups operating within the United States, and also traces out the sources of their funding. He shows how these groups are not simply fringe groups but have support within the American Muslim community most especially from its religious centres. The picture he presents is a frightening one.
What is especially troubling is the difficulties placed by political considerations before Law Enforcement Agencies. There is a clear distinction between the field agents who better understand the situation, and their bosses who have outside considerations in mind.
What is also alarming is that it is not simply Islamic nations hostile to the U.S. that are connected with the operations within the U.S. but one of America's chief allies , Saudi Arabia.
Emerson brings a great mass of information and corroboration to confirm his major point.
Jihad is active in the United States.......2007-07-29
American Jihad by Steven Emerson has been updated by Jihad Inc.
Militant Islam is growing in America. Hamas, which is one of the most radical of the groups has many cells in the United States. They are so well organized and secluded, we don't know when and how they plan to strike our internal structure. Mr. Emerson paints a very vivid picture of what we can expect in the future. As with the 9-11 attacks, they will strike when the odds of success are in their favor.
Startling!.......2007-06-27
A well written chronology of the recent history, thinking, and structure of radical Islam including their organization and funding networks. If only everyone would read and comprehend the scope of this threat!
Hostage Bob.......2007-06-23
As a retired Special Forces Green Beret and graduate student in Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies, I would like to make a correction to Mr. Emerson's book where on page 216 he states that, "Ali Mohamed - the former US Green Beret who..."
Ali Mohamad was not a Special Forces Green Beret! Rather, he served with a Special Forces unit in a support capacity as a "supply clerk" (later as an instructor).
In order to qualify as a Special Forces Green Beret, one must successfully complete all required Special Forces training including the Special Forces Qualification Course (Q-Course). Upon successful completion of the Q-Course a Green Beret is awarded an 18 Series Military Occupational Specialty code (e.g. 18A, 18E, 18D, 18C, 18B). Special Forces Warrant Officers are awarded the MOS of 180A. Ali Mohamed never received any Special Forces related training and never attended or graduated from the Q-Course. Ali Mohamed was NOT a Green Beret.
This may seem like a small point, but to those of us who have earned the Green Beret it is not.
Hostage Bob
CW2, SF, Ret.
De Oppresso Liber
Retired FBI Senior Executive.......2007-01-12
Once again Steve Emerson has hit the nail on the head. He is keenly aware of the problem the United States faces with respect to Islamic extremism. While many believe the threat only emanates from outside the United States, he follows "American Jihad" with another in depth study of the threat within the United States. This book is replete with examples of Islamic terrorist cells which are ingrained in our communities and neighborhoods and have been, collecting funds and possibly preparing to commit terrorist attacks against us. Emerson brings together, in great detail, information which is vital to help protect Americans in the future. If we are aware, we can be safe. While it is recognized that most people from Muslim countries living in the United States are here for peaceful purposes, some of them have been used by extremists to further the "cause," be it in America or overseas. I encourage everyone to read this well documented book so each may be aware of the threat we face--IN AMERICA-- from Islamic extremism. Law enforcement must walk a fine line to root out the terrorists (criminals) among us and by reading Emerson's new book, "Jihad Incorporated," the average American can at least learn more about the enemy which has declared war on all peaceloving people, Christians, Jews, Muslims and those of all faiths which make up America.
Book Description
Fully updated and authoritative, this revised edition of DK's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine makes this classic, completely illustrated reference guide even bigger and better than the original. Featuring more than 550 medicinal plants and the most current scientific research, this volume provides a comprehensive guide to healing with the world's oldest form of medicine. A unique photographic index profiles over 550 plants, with detailed information on habitat and cultivation, parts used, active constituents, therapeutic properties, and traditional and current uses. A special section profiles 100 of the most common plants, featuring herbal preparations and recommendations for self-treatment. Guidelines on growing, harvesting, and storing medicinal plants also demonstrate making remedies for home use. In addition, accessible text offers fascinating insight into the chemistry of plants and their healing properties, explaining how and why they work as medicines within the body. The major herbal traditions of different cultures- Europe, India, China, Africa, Australia, and the Americas- are vividly described. A review of herbs from a historical perspective reveals the connection between medicinal herbs and cultural beliefs toward healing. Offering extensive coverage of all that herbs are- from cultural traditions to chemical components to self-treatments for common ailments-this Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine is the ultimate reference for anyone interested in exploring the healing benefits of medicinal plants.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book!.......2007-07-14
This is an excellent book if you would like to learn more about natural remedies and how to use them to treat various ailments. The pictures and illistrations are wonderful. There is so much information packed into this book. The only draw back it that the herbs are not listed in alphabetic order (they are in order if you know the scientific name) so you have to use the index a lot, but that's not so bad. A great book to have in anyone's natural remedy library.
Beautiful as well as informative.......2007-05-14
This book is organized in an easy to use logical manor. A lot of information with beautiful illustrations for each herb are in easy to view sections and all on one page. Step by Step instructions on how to make products are easy to understand and follow. The Historical section is an added bonus. There is a number of different glossaries and indexes so things may be looked up in different ways (e.g.: by ailment or plant name)that may bit confusing until you get use to it. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone. It is a beautiful and informative addition to any library.
Lovely pics, needs more!.......2007-04-03
I like how this book has color photos of many of the herbs and that it includes instructions on how to make remedies as well. The extended list in the back had some photos, but I wish it would have had one for all of the listed herbs to make it more complete. Worth the money!
My medicinal herb bible.......2006-11-30
I have used herbal medications exclusively for about 10 years now, and I depend on this book as my herb "bible." It is always smart to double-check medicinal advice from several sources, but I have never found this book to be wrong or lacking in pertinent information. It is very well arranged, and information is cross-referenced which adds to the ease of use.
Yes it is an Encyclodedia........2006-08-05
Book Report:
The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier, FNIMH
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley, Limited
I first decided to buy the book in hopes that it would be a good, up to the minute, desk reference on Medicinal Herbs. It turned out to be a little more of a text book to study by and what some book publishers call a coffee table book. A coffee table book is a book as large as a magazine, hardbound and full of color pictures, which would be entertaining even to people not interested in the subject yet. It is a good study help because of the sections in the back on how to use and administer herbs.
The first section tells about how medicinal herbs work by affecting different systems of the body with a number of chemicals working together to effect change. The book does divide the body's system up a little differently than the Heart of Herbs Course, Making it a little confusing for those of us trying to study both texts at the same time. The authors system is:
The Skin, using herbs that are Antiseptic, Astringent and depurative.
Immune System, using herbs that are Immune stimulants
Respiratory System, using herbs that are Antiseptic, antibiotic, Expectorant,
Demulcent, and spasmolytics
Endocrine Glands using herbs that are adaptogens, hormonally active, and
Emmenagogues
Urinary System, using herbs that are antiseptic, astringent and diuretic.
Musculoskeletal System using herbs that are analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, and
Antispasmotic.
Nervous System using herbs that are nerviness, relaxants, stimulants and tonics.
Circulation and heart using herbs that are cardiotonics, circulatory stimulants,
Diaphoretics, and spasmolytics.
And the Digestive Organs using antiseptics, astringents, cholagogues, choleretics
Demulcents, hepatics, laxatives and stomachics.
Having all of the systems spread out with the medicinal actions associated with each one helps me to understand the medicinal action a little better.
The next section explains active constituents. I never noticed it before but these active ingredients are arranged in ten basic classes: Phenols, Volatile Oils, Flavonoids, Tannins, Proanthocyanins, Coumarins, Saponins, Anthraquinones, Cardiac Glycosides, Cyanogenic Glycosides, Polysaccharides, Glucosilinates, Bitters, Alkaloids, Vitamins and minerals. The last two, most of us all ready understand.
After a short discussion on quality control of herbs, there is a long history of Herbalism. People have been using herbs at least since 3000 BC, in Egypt, the Middle East, India and China. In the early times, Herbalism was connected to spiritualism, but it began to break away about 500BC. Hippocrates (460-377 BC) believed that an illness was a natural rather than a supernatural occurrence. Herbalism was well founded by trade between Europe and Asia through India and the Middle East from 300 to 600 BC. In Europe up through the so-called dark ages, people seemed to have a very good understanding of Herbalism. On the other side of the world an Herbalism tradition developed in the Maya, Aztec and Inca Civilizations unbeknownst to the Europeans.
Between 1000 and 1400 AD, Universities, Hospitals and Medical schools were established which used Herbalism and in that time period Herbal medicine was the only medicine. International trade during the middle ages contributed to the development of herbal tradition, by making formerly exotic herbs available everywhere. Following the discovery of digitalis in the herb foxglove by Dr. William Withering, in 1795, techniques were developed to extract the chemicals out of herbs in order to use the basic medicines and gain better control over quality.
From the early 19th century, laboratory produced medicines began to supplant mother nature as a source of medications. In 1803, narcotic alkaloids were extracted from opium poppies and a year later insulin was extracted form Elecampane, and in 1838 salicylic acid (Aspirine) was extracted from willow bark. From 1850 to 1900, conventional medicine established it's own monopoly by trying to outlaw the use of medicines by any one not trained in a medical school.
As late as 1930, 90% of the medicines sold in drug stores, were of herbal origin, but in the last 50 years synthetic chemicals have taken over the medical industry. Now the tide is beginning to turn back toward Herbalism, due in part to bad mistakes and bad experiences in the use of chemicals such as thalidomide and in the poor state of health in Western Societies.
The next section of the book deals with the various herbal traditions, which have developed in such places as Europe, India, China, Africa, Australia, North America, and South America. Each location developed a slightly different tradition based on local tradition, religion and plants, as a combination of what was locally grown and what was brought in from other parts of the world.
The center section of the book is what I really wanted. It is divided into two parts, the first is a Materia Medica of the 100 most used herbs in detail with full color pictures of the herbs and the preparations. The habitat, constituents, actions, traditional and current uses are covered for each herb. The next section has another 450 herbs in it that are less commonly used or used only in a few places. The same type of information is included but not in such great detail as in the previous section. The only drawback to the Materia Medica sections is that the herbs are in alphabetical order but only by their Latin names.
The first herb is `Yarrow', because the Latin name for the plant is: Achillea millefolium and that is first in the alphabet. That would decrease the value of the book as a reference tool except that there is a General Index beginning on page 323 that lists all of the herbs in the book by their common names, even for the herb that have more than one common name. When I looked up Yarrow, it gave me page 56, in bold type, and that is where the material medica for Achillea millefolium is located.
I don't usually read an index to a book unless I am using it as a reference, but in this book, I noticed that behind the General Index is an Index of Herbs by Ailment. In this index, one can look up an ailment like Blood Pressure, High and be directed to: Blackcurrant 261, Buckwheat 301, eggplant 270, Garlic 301, 319, Ginger 301, Ginkgo 102, Hawthorn 90, Indian Snake root 260, mistletoe 283, olive 240. That index may be worth the $25.00 that the book costs to someone who is practicing as an herbalist trying to choose an herb to recommend for a particular ailment, especially if one herb does not help and a new one must be chosen.
In between the herb (material medica) sections and the index, there is a section giving the procedures for making infusions, decoctions, Tinctures (they make no difference between Tinctures and Extracts), ointments, creams and poultices. The procedures are very well illustrated as is the rest of the book, but the only thing new that they add is the use of a wine press to separate the oil or alcohol from the herbs after the infusion or extraction process. The last section before the index is an abbreviated guide of health problems and the herbal remedies that can be used to treat each group of problems.
I would recommend this book to just about any one but a very experienced herbalist. It is entertaining, easy to understand, and very informative.
Book Description
This collection of articles explores the relationship between the structure and culture of religion and various aspects of social life in the United States. Based on both classic and contemporary research in the sociology of religion, it highlights a variety of research methods and theoretical approaches in exploring the ways in which religious values, beliefs and practices shape the world outside of church, synagogue, or mosque walls while simultaneously being shaped by the non-religious forces operating in that world. Many readings from drawn popular sources--e.g., newspapers and magazines--and although many of the readings are about religion in the Christian tradition, there are also readings about religion outside the American context (e.g., Poland, England, El Salvador, Nicaragua), and beyond the Christian tradition (e.g., Judaism, alternative religions, Hindu traditions). Classic Sociological Definitions Of Religion; Belief And Ritual; Religious Experience; Race, Ethnicity And Religion; Gender And Religion; Social Class And Religion; Sexual Identity And Religion; The Secularization Debate; Religious Organizations, Institutions And Authority; Alternative Religions; Media And Religion; Politics And Religion; Science And Religion; Social Movements And Religion. For anyone interested in the sociology of religion or religious perspectives on social issues.
Book Description
Communication between couples has been dissected in thousands of books and articles, so why does it remain the number one marriage problem? "Because," says Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, "most spouses don't know that they speak two different languages. They are sending each other messages in 'code,' but they won't crack that code until they see that she listens to hear the language of love and he listens to hear the language of respect." Dr. Eggerichs' best-selling book, Love and Respect, launched a revolution in how couples relate to each other based on Ephesians 5:33: "The husband must love his wife . . . and the wife must respect her husband." In Cracking the Communication Code he shows couples how to speak each other's distinctly different language-respect for him, love for her. The result is mutual understanding and a successful, godly marriage.
Customer Reviews:
Very good book, but a bit long-winded.......2007-06-27
I read Emerson's previous book "Love And Respect" 7 times, just because it was so good and it touched my heart deeply. The principles in his book are so profound and important that it was no surprise that Emerson decided to write a follow-up book called "Cracking the Communication Code: The Secret to Speaking Your Mate's Language". The material in this book goes into great detail about the inner workings of conflict and Emerson picks apart typical marital arguments and shows the reader exactly the dynamics that are at play.
I give this book 4 stars instead of 5 because it is rather long-winded in places and because this book comes across to me as Emerson's exhaustive exposition and commentary on the core principles and crux of the "Love And Respect" book. In other words, there isn't a lot of NEW material.
Having said that, I don't want to discourage anyone from reading this book. If you haven't read either of these two books, then I'd suggest the "Love And Respect" book first, but if you buy this one, you get a "mini-Love And Respect" recap "book-within-a-book" in the first few chapters.
Good job Emerson! I would love to attend one of your conferences when you are in my area!
Inspiring book........2007-05-12
After reading the book, I realize that marriage is a spiritual path. Marriage is a relationship that tests me to reach a higher spiritual plane and to connect with God. I really liked Emerson's prayer of commitment. I don't normally buy Christian books and I had to "decode" a few things for myself to so I could relate to it, but after reading it, I have more appreciation for the nature of man and the nature of woman and how to respect and appreciate our differences. I also have more appreciation for the teachings of Jesus. Thank you Emerson!
Eye Opening Reading.......2007-04-11
I've not read the entire book yet, but am anxious to do so. This, in my opinion, is a must read for every couple wanting to strengthen their marriage. Good basic "stuff" we all need to know.
More of the same...wordy.......2007-02-22
More of the same... I would stop at Love and Respect,the first book. This book is too wordy and seems to go nowhere. No real new information. I sold it back right after I bought it, but I kept Love & Respect. Don't bother.
WOW.......2007-01-06
WOW! This book is one of the best books I have ever read. The part on T-U-F-T-S is so insightful. Dr. E helped me to decipher what my spouse is really saying to me. I learned how to speak her distinct different language---"love" for her, "respect" for me---building mutual understanding, and enjoying a successful, godly marriage!!!!
Book Description
The definitive collection of Emerson's major speeches, essays, and poetry, The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson chronicles the life's work of a true "American Scholar."
As one of the architects of the transcendentalist movement, Emerson embraced a philosophy that championed the individual, emphasized independent thought, and prized "the splendid labyrinth of one's own perceptions." More than any writer of his time, he forged a style distinct from his European predecessors and embodied and defined what it meant to be an American. Matthew Arnold called Emerson's essays "the most important work done in prose."
Customer Reviews:
Hail o American sage!!!.......2006-08-17
Glory to thee o Emerson.
Hail o poet philosopher!
Look, look...Even CICERO bows to thee!
Demosthones presents thy laurel!!
Emerson know some truth, yes, yes...and wasn't I told of this fact, yes I was but I ran away until I could bear the truth no longer of Emerson's greatness...
Emerson...friend, friend
Nietzsche's Mentor.......2006-06-20
Ralph Waldo Emerson could be called America's first Great Man of Letters (sorry Washington Irving). He is the one who started the transendentalist movement in America, influenced Whitman and Thoreau to name a few, and was one of the first framers of the idea and the character of the American man.
This very generous volume contains the best selection of Emerson's essays, poems and other writings to give to the reader the image of a great poet-philosopher.
Particularly the modern library volume, which is the one I spoke of, this volume contains commentary from Emerson's contemporaries such as the Great Matthew Arnold!
And of course, for all of you Nietzsche lovers out there, as a boy, Nietzsche loved Emerson's writings and you can even see some of Emerson's ideas and words in the writings of Nietzsche.
I do NOT recommend buying the Kessinger edition...........2006-06-01
I'm a long-time buyer of Amazon's products, but lately I am seeing that they may have a quality control problem! The book "Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson", published by Kessinger (ISBN: 1425341438) does not deserve more than one star, although there are other Emerson compilations (including the Modern Library Classics version with the same title) that are undoubtedly fine.
Amazon seems to have a strange methodology/algorithm for placing some of its books first in "relevance", and I am a little suspicious as to what criteria they are using. Furthermore, you may have noticed that the specific reviews of books now are often reviews of a different printing/edition than the one listed along with said reviews.
At any rate, the Kessinger "booklet" is a thin,cheaply made, 60 page paperback that includes short excerpts of a few of Emerson's writings, and is hardly more than a xerox-type copy, sandwiched within a glossy cover....
Not only that, but the Modern Library Classics' version costs less than the inferior Kessinger printing...
A Life Companion.......2006-03-01
I think it is probably safe to assert that to read Emerson is to be forever indebted to him. His wording, his clearness of thought, his determination, his warmth... He has all the qualities one could ask for in a writer, and all one could ask for in a mentor. Nietzsche held Emerson's books the closest, and said they were above his praise; Borges added "Whitman and Poe have overshadowed Emerson's glory, as inventors, as founders of cults; line by line, they are inferior to him". James, the very Whitman, Proust, Frost, have all also praised him sincerely. Judging from other reviews, the love for Emerson hasn't diminished, more than a century after his passing.
For those who are not familiar with his works, it should be noted that Emerson is, without a doubt, a very unique writer. I was surprised when I realized that there is more poetry in his philosophy than in most verse books, yet he is always lucid; and that his poems, although hued by an impressive depth of thought, remain always passionate. He was renown as a brilliant lecturer, and his essays have all the force and simplicity of the oral form. Few people are so rich in memorable aphorisms, and one finds a treasure of a quote in every sentence: "A drop is a small ocean"; "We are not built like a ship to be tossed, but like a house to stand"; "Whoso be a man, must be a non conformist"; "Punishment is a fruit that unsuspected ripens within the pleasure which concealed it"...
Those looking for a good introduction to Emerson can't do wrong buying this Modern Library Edition. In fact, those who are familiar with Emerson but are looking for an inexpensive paperback to carry around probably should pick this one up too. It includes all his major works; a very generous selection of his lesser writings; 23 poems, and a great introduction by Mary Oliver. I was a little puzzled when I saw that they included very little from Representative Men and kept English Traits in its entirety, instead of the other way round. It then occurred to me that in English Traits one gets a glimpse of the journal-writer, the philosopher, and the poet interwoven all in one. Those looking for a more complete, durable edition of Emerson's works should probably go with the Library of America ed. (2 volumes), or the very expensive and very thorough Centenary ed. (12 volumes!!). You can easily find all his oeuvre on the internet, though, so you don't need to buy book after book just to glean everything he wrote in his lifetime.
To put it simply, if you have any interest in philosophy, literature, poetry, religion, or life, read Emerson. You may not be convinced by his arguments, but there's no point in nodding your way through a book. What remains after you finish reading it is what counts, and few writers can be found whose works are as pervasive and fondly remembered as Emerson's are.
A Great Writer, to Say the Least.......2005-11-05
I remember dreading having to read Emerson in college. However, when I read "The Poet," I was hooked. He weaves such power and emotion into his works. I was often brought to tears. Life is so beautiful, and everything is so obtainable to him. We need only listen to the world to obtain the answers. These are only a few of the breathtaking philosophies that he blesses the reader with. I would recommend this collection to anyone willing to take the time to comprehend it. It will change you life, only if in a small way.
Product Description
It's the end of the world as we know it. Someday soon, you might wake up to the call to prayer of a muezzin. Europeans already do. Liberals tell us that "diversity is our strength"--while Talibanic enforcers cruise Greenwich Village burning books and barber shops, while the Supreme Court decides that sharia law doesn't violate the "separation of church and state," and the Hollywood Left decides to give up on gay rights in favor of the much safer charms of polygamy. If you think this can't happen, you haven't been paying attention, as the hilarious and provocative columnist Mark Steyn shows to devastating effect in this, his first book on American and global politics.
Customer Reviews:
A Must-Read!.......2007-10-10
This book was every bit as good as I had heard. I've always enjoyed Mark Steyn, but hadn't gotten a chance to read this yet because I had a stack of books in front of it. That's my loss, because this was one of the most profound and eye-opening books I've ever read. To be honest, I pay pretty close attention to this conflict we find ourselves in, so most of the individual facts in this book weren't exactly foreign to me. But Steyn pulls all this together and presents it in such a concise, clear and entertaining way that I was able to put the pieces together in a way I hadn't even imagined. His demographic data alone is shocking, and should make every person in Europe and Canada sit up and take serious note - I'll be paying very close attention to what happens over the next few years "across the pond", as they say, for how goes Europe, so will eventually go America. I plan to buy several more copies of this book and hand them out to friends and family. I highly suggest it.
Excelent book. Really crunches the numbers like no other book........2007-10-05
This book really lays out the problems with hard numbers and facts in a way I have never seen and is easy to understand. I recomend this book to anyone who is worried about the muslim issue. People in Europe better read it asap!
America Alone is Excellent.......2007-10-04
This book gives a lot of attention to fertility rates in Europe, Scandanavia and the United States. Many other good observations and opinions are included as well. It will give you some insights into what may occur in various countries in the future vis-a-vis the Muslims and non Muslims.
What a sad worldview.......2007-10-01
I can't even begin to describe the serious flaws in this book...
But I gave it one star instead of zero because, if you want to study logic and how to detect subtly and not so subtly flawed arguments, buy this book.
What's sad is he's done actual research (but distorts everything to fit his way of thinking), and some muslims, like some christians, some jews, some whatever, really are dangerous and want to hurt America, but he makes his side of the controversy look like a bunch of, what's a nice word... 'baffoons'.
I think he seriously believes the things he writes in his book, which means he's stressing himselfand others out for nothing, and ultimately, pushing away the moderates that might listen to a more logical argument against religious extremism
Excellent.......2007-09-21
With the many positive reviews already posted, there isn't much more for me to say, so I will just say, "Read a few of the reviews, then, most definitely, read this book."
Books:
- Madame Bovary (Oxford World's Classics)
- Maggie: A Girl of the Streets and Other Short Fiction (Bantam Classic)
- Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith
- Microsoft Expression Web (Visual QuickStart Guide)
- Modernity and Self-Identity: Self and Society in the Late Modern Age
- Moon Handbooks Idaho (Moon Handbooks)
- More Annotated Alice: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass
- My Antonia
- One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd
- Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991
Books Index
Books Home
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Love & Romance
| Relationships
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men
For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women
The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate
Cracking the Communication Code: The Secret to Speaking Your Mate's Language
Healing the Hurt in Your Marriage
