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Best known for his Border Trilogy, hailed in the San Francisco Chronicle as "an American classic to stand with the finest literary achievements of the century," Cormac McCarthy has written ten rich and often brutal novels, including the bestselling No Country for Old Men, and The Road. Profoundly dark, told in spare, searing prose, The Road is a post-apocalyptic masterpiece, one of the best books we've read this year, but in case you need a second (and expert) opinion, we asked Dennis Lehane, author of equally rich, occasionally bleak and brutal novels, to read it and give us his take. Read his glowing review below. --Daphne Durham
Guest Reviewer: Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane, master of the hard-boiled thriller, generated a cult following with his series about private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, wowed readers with the intense and gut-wrenching Mystic River, blew fans all away with the mind-bending Shutter Island, and switches gears with Coronado, his new collection of gritty short stories (and one play).
Cormac McCarthy sets his new novel, The Road, in a post-apocalyptic blight of gray skies that drizzle ash, a world in which all matter of wildlife is extinct, starvation is not only prevalent but nearly all-encompassing, and marauding bands of cannibals roam the environment with pieces of human flesh stuck between their teeth. If this sounds oppressive and dispiriting, it is. McCarthy may have just set to paper the definitive vision of the world after nuclear war, and in this recent age of relentless saber-rattling by the global powers, it's not much of a leap to feel his vision could be not far off the mark nor, sadly, right around the corner. Stealing across this horrific (and that's the only word for it) landscape are an unnamed man and his emaciated son, a boy probably around the age of ten. It is the love the father feels for his son, a love as deep and acute as his grief, that could surprise readers of McCarthy's previous work. McCarthy's Gnostic impressions of mankind have left very little place for love. In fact that greatest love affair in any of his novels, I would argue, occurs between the Billy Parham and the wolf in The Crossing. But here the love of a desperate father for his sickly son transcends all else. McCarthy has always written about the battle between light and darkness; the darkness usually comprises 99.9% of the world, while any illumination is the weak shaft thrown by a penlight running low on batteries. In The Road, those batteries are almost out--the entire world is, quite literally, dying--so the final affirmation of hope in the novel's closing pages is all the more shocking and maybe all the more enduring as the boy takes all of his father's (and McCarthy's) rage at the hopeless folly of man and lays it down, lifting up, in its place, the oddest of all things: faith. --Dennis Lehane
Customer Reviews:
A little too much.......2007-09-19
His writing style didn't bother me. I could accommodate the lack of usual punctuation quickly. His jerky narrative ... no problem. It even enhanced the experience a bit. The conversations weren't bad either. How would YOU pass the time in a post-apocalyptic landscape?
However ... I think he could have achieved what he did achieve in about 85 to 100 pages.
Just my opinion.
A must read!!!!.......2007-09-09
What can you say about an author that can say sooo much by not having to spell it all out for us. There isnt any clear explaination for the reason things are the way they are, yet its allows you to just experience their journey with them instead of throught the view point of the narrarator. I love his style. Its genius. When you finsh with at resounding "WOW"; that pretty much sums up your time spent. McCarthy is an artist among authors in American Litature.
WOW.......2007-09-06
McCarthy has often been a bit inaccessible, especially when his western stories mix spanish with english in the most descriptive scenes. The Road is blatantly clear, a short insightful trip into darkness. Brilliantly moody, with only peeks at decent life. It can't get this bad, thank God.
Exceptionally long with repetitive sequences...........2007-08-24
I found ths book well written from the standpoint that you are instantly swept away into McCarthy's futuristic world. It is absolutely wonderful in the description of a world gone mad.
My problem with the book is it never fully explains why they are going cross country and places that would have made sense (the abandoned fall out shelter full of food) are abandoned in this mind numbing attempt to get to a coast that is no different from the hell they have left behind.
Sad & poignant, worth the read, just not a great book for me.
The Road.......2007-08-13
This book really make you think about the way of the world. Totally different perspective than Stephen King's "The Stand".
Book Description
RunTime: 16 hrs 30 min, 14 CDs. A sweeping narrative history of the events leading to 9/11, a groundbreaking look at the people and ideas, the terrorist plans and the Western intelligence failures that culminated in the assault on America. Lawrence Wright's remarkable book is based on five years of research and hundreds of interviews that he conducted in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, England, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States. Brilliantly conceived and written, "The Looming Tower" draws all elements of the story into a galvanizing narrative that adds immeasurably to our understanding of how we arrived at September 11, 2001. The richness of its new information, and the depth of its perceptions, can help us deal more wisely and effectively with the continuing terrorist threat.
Customer Reviews:
Muslims and al-Qaeda 101.......2007-10-10
The Looming Tower is a must read for anyone wanting to know why world events have brought us to today. Lawrence Wright also makes it clear how difficult it will be to negotiate any type of peace with certain Muslim sects. Very factual. Well-researched and documented.
Excellent.......2007-10-10
This book, The Looming Towers, is an excellent portrayal of the genesis of the Muslim feelings of denigration and disgrace at the hands of the leaders of Western world. This book is sobering and frightening. It is well written and extremely interesting with excellent references.
The Looming Tower.......2007-10-10
I thought this an exciting and meaningful book,incredibly rich in detail.
Particularly enjoyed the background on bin Laden's father.
a fascinating read........2007-10-08
this is the third book in a row i have read that covers the events leading to the 9/11 attacks, and, of those three, it is by far the page for page best. "the looming tower" is a masterpiece of nonfiction that works wonderfully on so many levels: mideast politics, the dangers of religious extremism, the rise of al-Qaeda and its partner group al-Jihad, biographical work that paints a vivid human portrait of bin Laden, the best intentions of some and petty ego trips of others within the CIA and FBI whose conflicts hindered cooperation between those agencies leading up to 9/11, the complex and often quirky personalities of those working within the CIA and FBI, the conflicting intentions and seemingly zombie-like acts of cruelty perpetrated by the Taliban, etc... mile after mile of interesting ground is covered in a riveting narrative which never flounders on a single page. i found this to be one of the most thrilling books i have read in quite some time. putting aside the fact that this work is a first-rate primer on our contemporary history, you could simply look at it as a true crime masterpiece (right up there with norman mailer's "the executioner's song"). it certainly deserves the pulitzer prize it won. and it gets my highest recommendation. yes, indeed.
great insight into the killers attacking western civilization.......2007-10-06
This is a great work. Wright's Looming Tower provides an in-depth view of the main organization trying to bring down western civilization. In reading this treatment of this group, one quickly recognizes that these people do not like what we stand for as a country. From their eyes, we are the forces of debauchery, immorality, and crudeness. Their organization is structured to kill our civilization and us. Its really that simple. The cells of terrorists do not need technology, or resources, because they are smart and directed to one purpose. That focus will allow them to come at us repeatedly. Wright makes this clear, and does so by showing how their actions are directed to that one goal. So don't be deluded by those who claim the enemy is us or the president. Get this book, and become knowledgeable about what we face.
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The Thomas Guide Portland, Oregon: Oregon: Street Guide (Thomas Guide Portland Oregon (Bk & CD))
Manufacturer: Thomas Brothers Maps
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Thomas Guide Pacific Northwest Road Atlas
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Insiders' Guide to Portland, Oregon: Including the Metro Area and Vancouver, Washington (Insiders' Guides)
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Insiders' Guide to Portland, Oregon, 5th: Including the Metro Area and Vancouver, Washington (Insiders' Guide Series)
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Walking Portland
ASIN: 0528855816 |
Customer Reviews:
complete map of Portland.......2006-11-10
This is a very helpful map system. I am looking at real estate online and can refer to the Thomas Guide for locations. Easy to use.
Book Description
By car, mini-van, pickup and motorcycle, members of a family take beautiful, nostalgic country roads to a family reunion. Up, down and around the hills of West Virginia, they all head for a hoedown, hayride, and good food at Grandma and Grandpa's place in the country! Illustrator Christopher Canyon brilliantly adapts John Denver's famous song for children of all ages. It's all about country, it's all about music, and it's all about family. (The hardback edition comes with a CD of John Denver singing Take Me Home, Country Roads! This is the third title in Dawn Publications' John Denver & Kids Book Series.)
Customer Reviews:
beautifully illustrated.......2007-10-11
I am from West Virginia so Country Roads has always been dear to my heart, especially being a WVU grad where it is blasting all over town on football Saturdays! I bought this for my nephew and I'm sure he will love all of the illustrations as much as I do. Lots to look at on each page and I love how the illustrations are done as if it has been quilted.
Great for all ages..........2007-08-15
My son received this book as a gift for his first birthday. He loves it (and he has no clue who John Denver is)! We've read/sang it a hundred + times. He loves looking at the illustrations, as do I. My husband & I graduated from WVU, so this song is near & dear to our hearts. We hope to make a little Mountaineer out of our son too....this is a good start.
Another great John Denver/Christopher Canyon work!.......2007-06-26
A great song with amazing illustrations. All the pictures look like quilt pieces. This song is timeless and kids love it. I've got kindergarteners who can belt this out and they never get tired of reading/singing it over and over. Very well done. Can't wait for more John Denver songs to come out.
AWESOME!.......2007-05-25
John Denver's music paints a beautiful picture in your mind, but this book brings it to life even more! Book is very animated---almost seems like the pictures move as the vehicles go up and down the rolling hill. Great quilted-look art that covers almost every space in this book. LOTS of things going on (you could look at this book all day long and still find something new the next day) Well worth the money!!! Get is for all your John Denver fans :)
It took me home.......2006-11-03
I thought the book was adorable and will preserve John Denver's song for future generations. I have introduced his music to my young nieces and nephews. They know who he is now just by the sound of his music. Thanks for the latest addition to my library and the John Denver childrens collection.
Book Description
In The Holy Road, sequel to Dances With Wolves, master storyteller Michael Blake at long last continues the saga.
Eleven years have passed subce Lieutenant John Dunbar became Dances With Wolves and married Stands With A Fist, a white-born woman raised as a Comanche from early childhood. With their three children, they live peacefully in the village of Ten Bears. But there is unease in the air, caused by increased reports of violent confrontations with white soldiers, who want to drive the Comanches onto reservations.
Disquiet turns to horror, and then to rage, when a band of white rangers descends on Ten Bear's village, slaughtering half its inhabitants and abducting Stands With A Fist and her infant daughter. The three surviving great warriors - Wind In His Hair, Kicking Bird and Dances With Wolves - decide they must go to war with the white invaders. At the same time, Dances With Wolves realizes that only he can rescue his wife and child.
Told with the same sweep, insight, and majesty that have made Dances With Wolves a worldwide phenomenon, The Holy Road is an epic story of courage and honor.
Download Description
The sequel to the bestselling Dances With Wolves is the tragically heroic story of the Comanches' war to save their sacred lands. Lt. John Dunbar and his wife, Stands With a Fist, find their peaceful lives interrupted when the railroad--the white man's Holy Road--leads to violent confrontations with the Army.
Customer Reviews:
The Holy Road.......2007-08-07
To much history mixed with fiction. Blake uses historical events and persons to write a mostly fictional book. Not enjoyabel for a historical interested person.
May the People and the buffalo rise again.......2006-09-01
I really enjoyed this book. No, I really, REALLY enjoyed this book. The characters are so knowable, mournable, unforgettable. The stark closure of the story fits perfectly, to my taste, with the last condition of the Commanche, and was no doubt intended that way. As for Michael Blake, a great success is never without critics. I am not one of them.
I look forward to the celluloid version of this book. When this movie is made with the same vision and startling delivery as its predecessor, it will no doubt be a great film.
Since I was a young man, I have felt keenly and helplessly the loss of native languages, cultures, and civilizations on the American continents. May the People and the buffalo rise again.
EXCELLENT!.......2006-03-22
This was an exceptional book. Once I started it I could not put it down. If you enjoyed "Dances With Wolves" you are ganna love this one.
AN EPIC, BOTH TRAGIC AND BEAUTIFUL.......2005-12-27
An epic, both tragic and beautiful, "The Holy Road" is a sequel to the author's debut novel, "Dances With Wolves," which today is considered to be a seminal Western novel of our time.
Some 11 years have passed since Lt. John Dunbar left the world into which he was born to become the Comanche warrior Dances With Wolves and marry Stands With A Fist, a white woman who was raised in the Comanche world. They now have three children and are living contentedly in a village called Three Bears.
Their peaceful existence is short lived as white men attempt to drive the Comanches onto reservations, and the railroad, the white man's Holy Road, brings more settlers, more trouble, and violence. Marauders savage Three Bears, killing many of the people, and kidnaping Stands With A Fist and her baby daughter.
The three remaining warriors, including Dances With Wolves, must do battle with the white men, not only to try to save their way of life but to rescue the captives.
"The Holy Road," an exciting story of honor and courage, is a worthy sequel to "Dances With Wolves." It is tragedy brilliantly portrayed.
- Gail Cooke
Historical? Maybe not. Worthwhile read? Yes........2005-07-07
I heard an interview with Gary Paulsen after listening to one of his "Tucket" series books. He talks specifically about the historical inaccuracies in the Dances with Wolves series. I am inclined to agree with his assessment that an army officer in uniform would not have made it into a Comanche town alive after the Civil War. However, both Dances with Wolves and The Holy Road are interesting and thought provoking reads. Be prepared though, you probably won't like how The Holy Road ends. I was angry with how he killed off one of his main characters. It was glossed over too quickly in the book; Blake doesn't give the reader time to grieve the loss of a major character. If you like this book, I recommend reading Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson.
Book Description
DNA Media's best-loved title takes you travelling over the fabled Silk Road from China to India, Persia, and Rome. Travel with the camel caravans carrying paper, gunpowder, silk and Buddhism in the days of Genghis Khan, Marco Polo and the Emperors of China. Learn about the peoples, cultures, religions, history, geography and art of Asia. Numerous games, puzzles and quizzes, 900 original photographs, 250 hypertext screens and dozens of "time warp" maps make this an exceptionally deep CD-ROM.
Average customer rating:
- My favorite book!
- Road Less Traveled
- Very important book
- Eye opener
- Perhaps the best self-help book ever
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The Road Less Traveled, 25th Anniversary Edition : A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spritual Growth
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Audio
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ASIN: 0743527305 |
Amazon.com
By melding love, science, and religion into a primer on personal growth, M. Scott Peck launched his highly successful writing and lecturing career with this book. Even to this day, Peck remains at the forefront of spiritual psychology as a result of The Road Less Traveled. In the era of I'm OK, You're OK, Peck was courageous enough to suggest that "life is difficult" and personal growth is a "complex, arduous and lifelong task." His willingness to expose his own life stories as well as to share the intimate stories of his anonymous therapy clients creates a compelling and heartfelt narrative.
Book Description
Perhaps o book in this generation has had a more profound impact on our intellectual and spiritual lives than The Road Less Traveled. With sales of more than 7 million copies in the United States and Canada, and translation into more than 23 languages, it has made publishing history, with more than 10 years on The New York Times bestseller list.
Told in a voice that is timeless in its measure of understanding, The Road Less Traveled continues to unable us to explore the nature of loving relationships and leads us toward a new serenity and fullness of life. It help us determine how to distinguish dependency from love; how to become a more sensitive parent; and ultimately how to become one's own true self.
Recognizing that "Life is difficult" and that the journey to spiritual growth is a long one, Dr. Peck never bullies his listeners, but but gently guides them through the hard and often painful process of change toward a higher level of self-understanding.
Combining profound psychological insight and deep spirituality, this is an audiobook that provides inspiration and understanding. As Phyllis Theroux wrote in The Washington Post when the original edition of The Road Less Traveled was first published, "It is not just a book but a spontaneous act of generosity"
Customer Reviews:
My favorite book!.......2007-09-20
I had to write a quick review simply because the one that shows first is so negative. This is my favorite book. The writer below seems to be inferring things from the book that I never did... I completely disagree with the author of the last comment. I do not think Peck is endorsing religion, but rather spirituality, but if you get yours from religion, so be it. Why was he so shocked about the patient and sex comment?.... I am not going to even expand on each aspect of his comment... it would just be a jumbled mess... I recommend this book to anyone. It reveals universal truths and every line... almost every line rings true to me and to many, many people. I understand, after reading the last comment, that it may fly in the face of what is generally accepted by the field (when necessary)... just my kind of book.
Road Less Traveled.......2007-09-19
The book was a collection of run-on sentences. The author appearently, has only a passing aquaintence with periods. The most dissapointing aspect of the book was the title. It is written from the perspective, of an upper, middle class, conservative christian; harly the road less traveled. Unfortunatly, the lowest rating you can give is one star; what a waste of money!
Very important book.......2007-09-12
Quite possibly the most important book I have ever read as I do believe that this book has had a bigger impact on my life than any other. However, I am at a bit of a loss to describe it as it covers a smattering of topics from love to discipline, maturity and religion. If I could only recommend one book to you, this would be it. A MUST read.
Eye opener.......2007-08-03
A great work explaining life in easy to read terms. The Psychology of Dicipline, Love and God - and how they work together. Highly recommend for all those struggling with any relationship problem. Chuck C
Perhaps the best self-help book ever.......2007-06-23
I first read this book 20 years ago, and have read it more than once, and it had a huge effect on me. I just purchased a copy for my 21-year-old grandson, who can benefit from these messages about love, discipline, and responsibility. The book isn't religious, it's spiritual and psychological. I think the concepts in this book are important and the world would be a better place if more people understood them, concepts about taking responsibility for oneself and realizing that love is a decision and a commitment, not just a passing feeling. I still admire this book after all these years.
Average customer rating:
- Diet For Life Guide
- A comparison of Diet Books
- Good idea, but too complicated
- The hard road to physical excellence (as if there is an easy one).
- Dr. Sears, the Zone and Fish Oil
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The Zone: A Dietary Road Map to Lose Weight Permanently : Reset Your Genetic Code : Prevent Disease : Achieve Maximum Physical Performance
Manufacturer: HarperAudio
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Zone Meals in Seconds: 150 Fast and Delicious Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Zone (Regan))
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Mastering the Zone: The Next Step in Achieving SuperHealth and Permanent Fat Loss
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ASIN: 0694521167 |
Amazon.com
Barry Sears looks at why Americans still have dietary problems in spite of following the advice of experts. Challenging the current recommendations for a high carbohydrate diet, Sears looks into man's history as well as the diets athletes succeed best on, to build a new dietary picture. Anyone looking for better health through an improved relationship to what they eat should put this book on their list.
Book Description
DID YOU KNOW THAT EATING FAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU FAT?Did you realize that eating fat-free carbohydrates can make you fat? Have you noticed that Americans are getting fatter in spite of eating less fat and more carbohydrates? Enter The Zone and discover the truth about your body's ability to burn fat and how to achieve lasting weight loss, great health, and peak athletic, mental, and emotional performance.In this scientific and revolutionary work based on Nobel Prize-winning research, Dr. Barry Sears, a medical visionary and former M.I.T. researcher, prescribes a new, effective, and easy-to-follow dietary program based on the vital connection between food and hormones. The Zone is based upon Dr. Sears' research showing that to achieve total balance in your life and health, you are required to regulate, through your diet, those hormones that control virtually all human body functions. With lists of good and bad carbohydrates, The Zone provides all you need to get your body in balance, so it will not only burn fat, but reduce the likelihood of disease.Once you enter The Zone, you will come to realize that food is more than a source of pleasure or a means to appease hunger. It is a powerful medicine and your ticket to a state of ultimate body balance, strength, and greater health. And your own journey toward exceptional well-being can begin with your next meal.
Download Description
For years experts have been telling Americans what to eat and what not to eat. Fat, they told us, was the enemy. Then it was salt, then sugar, then cholesterol... and on it goes.
Americans listened and they lost -- but not their excess fat. What they lost was their health and waistlines. Americans are the fattest people on earth... and why? Mainly because of the food they eat.
In this scientific and revolutionary book, based on Nobel Prize-winning research, medical visionary and former Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Dr. Barry Sears makes peak physical and mental performance, as well as permanent fat loss, simple for you to understand and achieve.
With lists of good and bad carbohydrates, easy-to-follow food blocks and delicious recipes, The Zone provides all you need to begin your journey toward permanent fat loss, great health and all-round peak performance. In balance, your body will not only burn fat, but you'll fight heart disease, diabetes, PMS, chronic fatigue, depression and cancer, as well as alleviate the painful symptoms of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and HIV.
This Zone state of exceptional health is well-known to champion athletes. Your own journey toward it can begin with your next meal. You will no longer think of food as merely an item of pleasure or a means to appease hunger. Food is your medicine and your ticket to that state of ultimate body balance, strength and great health: the Zone.
Customer Reviews:
Diet For Life Guide.......2007-08-31
This is probably the simplest way to eat. It makes sense, and it works. I have already lost about 6lbs in 2 weeks time. The meals are easy to fix and the ingredients are simple. Once you are in the "zone" you will never go back.
A comparison of Diet Books.......2007-06-03
Like many of you, I found myself wondering what the differences were between the various diet programs. What I discovered is that all of the major diet books are well written and share many similarities. None of them offered an "silver bullet" to weight loss - it primarily comes down to keeping your calories burned greater than your calories eaten. There are theories presented about glycemic index, good vs. bad carbs, etc., but at the end of the day it's about calories and exercise.
In this review, I've tried to offer brief summaries of each diet book/program in hopes that it might help you pick out the one that would work best for you. Don't pay too much attention to the number of stars, as it's my own subjective rating based on effectiveness, ease of use, and ability to stick with the diet. Instead, try to discern which diet might fit your lifestyle better.
The Abs Diet, ****
This book is written by David Zinczenko, the editor of Men's Health Magazine. The diet likes the number 6 - promising "6 pack abs in 6 weeks," by eating 6 meals a day. Each meal is built around the "power 12" foods. There is a strong emphasis on whey supplements. The fitness program was easy to follow but perhaps too strenuous for beginners and seemed better suited to men. Strong points are excellent nutritional content and strong exercise. Weak points are questionable claims about rapid weight loss and "6 pack" abs, and mediocre meal plans. Average recommended daily calories are 1,890, with 7 fruits and vegetable servings.
The South Beach Diet ****
The SB Diet is a slightly more permissive version of the Atkins low-carb diet. It is based on the premise that eating low-glycemic foods (foods that don't raise blood sugar) decreases cravings for sugar and refined carbs. Like many of the diets, there are two phases. In the first phase, fruits, sugar, and grains are banned outright. Phase 2 allows some fruit, high-fiber grains, and dark chocolate. The simplicity of the diet might appeal to many busy dieters. However the emphasis on the glycemic index and insufficient exercise sections are a drawback. Recipes are easy to prepare, but some called for unusual ingredients (a clever cook could make substitutions). Average recommended daily calories are a mere 1,340, with 13 fruits and vegetable servings (mostly veggies).
The Sonoma Diet ****
The Sonoma Diet is an updated low-carb diet with a Mediterranean theme. Again, it is broken into two phases, called "waves." In "Wave 1," the dieter is banned from eating most sweet or refined foods. The much longer "Wave 2" permits fruits and wine. It has a unique method of calculating portions by filling sectors of small plates with specified food categories. The diet is healthy but complex. It is also very restrictive, which makes it more difficult to stay on. Also, the book doesn't offer enough on exercise. The recipes were tasty but elaborate to prepare. Average recommended daily calories are a mere 1,390, with 10 fruits and vegetable servings.
Ultra-Metabolism ***
The Ultra-Metabolism Diet is designed around the assertion that people get fat because their body's systems become toxic, inflamed, and imbalanced. Again, this is a two phase diet. Phase 1 is an initial "detox" period. The longer Phase 2 is a "rebalancing" period. Overall, the dieter must eliminate white rice, refined grains, most red meats, and caffeinated beverages. The theory of your body requiring detoxification goes beyond any scientific evidence and rings a bit of late night television "miracle detox bowel-cleansing pills." The diet is fairly restrictive and complicated. The exercise section was brief but practical. Average recommended daily calories are 1,660, with 12 fruits and vegetable servings.
Volumetrics, ****
The Volumetrics Diet is based on Penn State research. It aims to maximize the amount of food you can eat for a given caloric intake. This is done primarily by eating reduced-fat products, adding in lots of vegetables, and using low-fat cooking techniques. It encourages eating a first course of broth-based soup or low-calorie salad (not heavily laden with dressing, cheese or bacon) to take the edge off your appetite. Recent clinical studies have shown this diet to be very effective. The recipes are appetizing but time consuming. Average recommended daily calories are 1,500, with 14 fruits and vegetable servings.
The Zone Diet, ****
The Zone Diet was designed to keep your blood sugar and hormones at optimal levels so that you can better fight obesity and diseases. It requires that each meal consist of 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbs (based on calories). The diet allows many fruits, but almost no grains except oatmeal. The meals are simple to prepare and nutritionally balanced. But having to keep to the 30/30/40 balance is very tedious and requires lots of preplanning. Recent studies showed that the overall weight loss was below average. Average recommended daily calories are 1,660, with 17 fruits and vegetable servings.
Eat More, Weigh Less, ***
The Eat More, Weigh Less (Ornish) Diet is a low-fat vegetarian diet that bans all meat, fish, oils, alcohol, sugar, and white flour. Their clinical studies suggest that strictly following the diet can prevent or reverse some diseases. Ornish argues that it is easier to make drastic changes to diet rather than small ones. The diet offers the most food per calorie of any of the diets. It is actually lower in fat than current USDA guidelines recommend. Studies have shown good long term weight loss, but a relatively high drop-out rate. Average recommended daily calories are 1,520, with 17 fruits and vegetable servings.
Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, ***
The Atkins Diet is the grand daddy of them all. As with many of the other diets, it is divided into two phases. The first phase is a two week induction period that bans nearly all carbs. The second phase is only slightly less restrictive, but does slowly add more vegetables, fruit, and wine. Research has suggested that Atkins' dieters are less hungry than on many other diets. But the diet is difficult to adhere to and has a high drop-out rate. Long term weight loss has been shown to be average. The single most glaring concern with the Atkins diet is that the nutritional profile is far outside conventional dietary guidelines. (We've all known people eating handfuls of bacon, eggs, and cheese for breakfast, claiming they were on a diet). Average recommended daily calories are 1,520, with 6 fruits and vegetable servings.
Again, please don't worry too much about my ranking of the diet books - it's completely subjective. My suggestion is to simply find a program that seems to fit your lifestyle best.
Please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful.
Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Process of Elimination" - an intense thriller in which a martial artist, a greedy corporate attorney, and a sexy conspiracy theorist team up to stop a world-class sniper from killing presidential candidates.
Good idea, but too complicated.......2007-05-27
I purchased The Zone diet book a few years ago in many an attempt to loose weight. While it was part of the "low carb" diet craze and does provide some good insights, it's too complicated. Everything has to be eaten in percentages, and your diet has to be limited from the bad carbs (bread, pasta, sweets, etc.). You need to limit portions, eat fruit and vegetables, and not live so strictly, otherwise you will be unhappy.
The hard road to physical excellence (as if there is an easy one)........2007-05-24
No diet like it! It's difficult at first but once you begin to see results it becomes almost addictive. I went from a fat 225 pounds with a 37% body fat percentage to a ripped 187 pounds with a 13% body fat in about 4 months. The food is great, it just requires more shopping and more cooking than what most people are used to. I strongly suggest pairing this book with any "Cro-Magnon" diet books as well as the excersises on the crossfit[...] website to get maximum results.
This plan has also helped people in my family with different goals than mine. My girlfriend went on this plan and slimmed down greatly with no exercise. My mother was able to drop some anti-depressants off her prescribed medication list, i guess eating right makes people happier.
Wether you want to gain or lose this is the book! Just be prepaired for an incredibly expensive grocery bill.
Dr. Sears, the Zone and Fish Oil.......2007-04-30
After reading the older version of this book years ago, I used Dr. Sears program and lost some weight, but I began feeling unwell after about 6 weeks and stopped following it regularly and subsequently felt better. I maintained some adherence to the general principles of the program for years, so I believed it had validity. Since we are all different, I just didn't think that the strict program was for me.
I bought this book recently and started with the program again, and found it too complicated and frankly, too much work. I eat simple food, vegetables and fish or chicken, and I really eat too few food varieties to manage this rigid formula. So again, not for me.
However, the BEST part of this book was his mention of Pharmaceutical grade fish oil, and how beneficial it is. He referenced a man who had very high BP, and who took pharmaceutical grade fish oil for 2 weeks and brought his pressure down to normal. My BP was too high, so I ordered the fish oil and within 2-3 weeks, my BP was much lower. Naturally, that alone made this book more than worthwhile for me, and the reason I gave it 4 stars. The fish oil addresses lots of human nutritional needs and corrects quite a few imbalances, so if you're not feeling up to snuff, you might consider searching fish oil online and checking it out.
If you want to lose weight or you are a candidate for heart disease, I think giving Dr. Sears' program a shot is a good idea since the Zone principles make a lot of sense. It might do exactly what you want it to.
Average customer rating:
- A new audio book lover is born...
- Perfect presentation!!!
- Excellent. Dean Moriarty would probably say: Yes, Yes, Yes, this man has got IT!
- A glimpse of history
- What a book, ehhh on the reading
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On The Road CD
Jack Kerouac
Manufacturer: Caedmon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
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Kerouac, Jack
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Unabridged
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What Happened to Kerouac?
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On the Road: The Original Scroll
ASIN: 0060755334
Release Date: 2004-05-11 |
Book Description
On the Road chronicles Jack Kerouac's years traveling the North American continent with his friend Neal Cassady, "a sideburned hero of the snowy West." As "Sal Paradise" and "Dean Moriarty", the two roam the country in a quest for self-knowledge and experience. Kerouac's love of America, his compassion for humanity, and his sense of language as jazz combine to make On the Road an inspirational work of lasting importance.
Customer Reviews:
A new audio book lover is born..........2007-09-20
On the Road is my very first audio book ever. I've tried audio books in the past, but they always seemed to be narrated by some suave fella with a buttery English accent, and I would inevitably end up face-down on my bed, snoring away within 5-7 minutes of beginning. When I began to commute for a total of 80 minutes a day (round trip), I quickly tired of listening to the same music time and again. Although I have an 8gb iPod nano, you can only cram so much music on the thing. After I gave up finding a decent radio station, I was left with one simple option. Give audio books another try.
On the Road seemed an obvious choice for two reasons. 1) I was turning to audio books because I was "on the road" so much (har har) 2) I haven't been able to read it. That is, its rambling style tends to put me to sleep almost as quickly as a British man reading at me. Yet, I've always wanted to complete it despite my doomed attempts, and the recent publication of Kerouac's original scroll sort of bewitched me. I was completely ignorant of the great Kerouac myth before I decided to listen to this book. I had no idea the length of time that Kerouac and his cronies spent traveling the country. I hadn't the foggiest idea that he wrote the book on one long, uninterrupted scroll of paper (120 feet). Or that Kerouac composed the novel in a three-week rush of writing fueled by endless cups of coffee and--though Kerouac adamantly denied it--probably Benzedrine.
But enough of the back story...let's get to the book! I listened to an unabridged audio version narrated by Matt Dillon, and for that aspect alone, I expected to have problems with it. Matt Dillon is generally considered, by me, a boil on the butt of humanity. His teeth bother me, his face bothers me, his voice bothers me. But, somehow, he was able to make On the Road come alive. Given, he has his readerly flaws--his syllables sometimes smashing in on one another, his characters' voices eventually crapping out and evening into something that sounds very much like "every other character." However, he has some rough wildness to his voice that did justice to Kerouac's musical, rambling, stream-of-consciousness classic.
This is one of those books, like Wuthering Heights, that offers few likable characters. They're ruffians and deadbeats and swindlers, but they're also thinkers and adventurers. I suppose the story, as I knew it would, plays into my romantic fantasies of dropping everything and just taking off. I would love to travel the country with no particular place to be for seven years. Drink with friends, intellectualize, philosophize and write, write, write. Alas, Kerouac lived, in many ways, in a dramatically different America than the one we live in today. A man could hitchhike from coast to coast, sleep around and drive his car into a muddy ditch in middle America without worrying too much about being arrested or getting knifed to death and hacked into little pieces.
I read somewhere that Kerouac's novel is a "love letter to America," and I think that's a fair assessment. He became intimately acquainted with corners of this country that most people will never see, and never care to see. His manic scribblings are interspersed with poetic, literary digressions that boggle the mind. The whole thing is one big jazz solo twittering, banging and hooting all night long.
Now, all these praises don't actually mean that I liked the book that much. That's news, eh? This is one of those tomes that I appreciate even if it bored me at times. I appreciate Kerouac's intentions far more than his prose, and when all is said and done, I really like the mythical proportions that this story and its author have grown into.
Perfect presentation!!!.......2007-09-01
Matt Dillon's presentation was superb -- he brought the characters to life. Especially, Dean, with his slow, distant, unique way of talking ... it was like Dean was really there.
I would very much recommend this audio CD to anyone who likes On the Road. Very, very well done.
Excellent. Dean Moriarty would probably say: Yes, Yes, Yes, this man has got IT!.......2007-05-27
I think most of the reading is excellent, just some short parts are less inspired, and maybe- but this is very personal - only the very first pages are not read in the mood I feel them in my soul. But the more you listen, the more you are caught in the reading and you realize the great work of actor Dillon has made and in a very spontaneous way.
Dillon's voice is full of colours and tones, the reading is rich in changes of speed, subtle shifting in mood. He succeeds in carving the characters from within in such a deep and honest way that they keep on living haunting you also when the reading is over. All the dialogues are performed in an outstanding way.
If English readers disagree, let me add that I am Italian and I had bought On the road long time ago but in English it was difficult for me and I didn't like the Italian translation. Though not English, I had felt the jazz wave of the writing and loved it. I felt a lot went lost in translation as if you cannot read Cesare Pavese in Italian, I guess.
So On the road had remained there on the shelf together with other not-yet-read books that are like friends I keep loving simply because I trust them.
What a surprise then when a lot of years later, while living in a country with a mysterious language, where English appears the only chance to subtitle reality and fiction, I found out that a reading of the whole book was available and the narrator was Matt Dillon, who has the perfect voice to embody On the road.
So thanks to Matt Dillon for driving me till the end of this journey of Kerouac's word in such an intense way, performing this jazz session of Kerouac right with the voice I had always imagined these lines would sound.
I don't know of any movie of On the Road. This is the kind of book that may frighten a director. However, listening to this reading I imagined it would be challenging with a director as Gus Van Sant or maybe Coppola or Scorsese, having Matt Dillon performing Sal or Dean, or even both, the last idea only if an enough visionary director/writer can somehow tell through the movie art how much Dean is part of Sal himself.
A glimpse of history.......2007-03-30
"On the Road" does not tell a particularly compelling story, but it offers an interesting and entertaining view into the lifestyle of a generation of post-World War II era beatniks. Matt Dillon is sometimes great with his narrative and sometimes awful, running on in a dull tone and ignoring punctuation in what feels like an effort to plow through the material.
What a book, ehhh on the reading.......2007-01-13
On the Road is an amazing, beautiful, tragic, disturbing, uplifting, inspiring, discouraging book. If you're looking at these reviews to decide whether you want to read or listen to it for the first time, stop deliberating. It truly is one of the great novels of the 2nd half of the 20th century.
On Matt Dillon's reading, let's be honest, he simply slugs his way through big portions of this book. While listening to it I thought to myself numerous times that he wasn't even paying attention to what he was reading, but was just reading the words on the page. He does much better when there's dialog to be read. I liked his Dean very much and thought his William S. Burroughs (Bull Lee) was spot on. So what you get is a somewhat uneven reading of a truly classic book.
Book Description
The companion volume to the PBS documentary film about the first—and perhaps most astonishing—automobile trip across the United States.
In 1903 there were only 150 miles of paved roads in the entire nation and most people had never seen a “horseless buggy”—but that did not stop Horatio Nelson Jackson, a thirty-one-year-old Vermont doctor, who impulsively bet fifty dollars that he could drive his 20-horsepower automobile from San Francisco to New York City. Here—in Jackson’s own words and photographs—is a glorious account of that months-long, problem-beset, thrilling-to-the-rattled-bones trip with his mechanic, Sewall Crocker, and a bulldog named Bud. Jackson’s previously unpublished letters to his wife, brimming with optimism against all odds, describe in vivid detail every detour, every flat tire, every adventure good and bad. And his nearly one hundred photographs show a country still settled mainly in small towns, where life moved no faster than the horse-drawn carriage and where the arrival of Jackson’s open-air (roofless and windowless) Winton would cause delirious excitement.
Jackson was possessed of a deep thirst for adventure, and his remarkable story chronicles the very beginning of the restless road trips that soon became a way of life in America.
Horatio’s Drive is the first chapter in our nation’s great romance with the road.
With 146 illustrations and 1 map
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
A short book about a long journey.......2007-09-28
I enjoy reading almost anything about antique autos,the early days of the US auto industry, old car trips and stories about the history of early automobile travel in the United States. This is a wonderful companion to the PBS series video on the first successful United States transcontinental auto trip from California to NYC. Great olde tyme photos and a well presented memoir of the adventure. Of course you cannot "just" read the book...the video is a must!
Before the SUV..........2005-11-05
Amazing document about a time in American history when there were only 150 miles of paved roads in the entire country. In 1903, an adenturous 31 year old Doctor from Vermont, now retired and living happily with his weathy young wife (on her funds), decided he'd attempt to be the first to man cross the continent via the latest technological gadget: the automobile. Being a non-mechanic, he hired an equally spirited 21 year old former bicycle racer who had been working as a mechanic in a gasoline-engine factory in California to accompany him. Most roads were little more than muddy wagon paths, and when those stopped the travellers could only follow along railroad tracks or trust in their sense of direction as they set out across the vast plains and desert. Nevertheless, they made the trek successfully.Equally amazing, his beloved wife condoned his folly and waited anxiously at home. They wrote letters to each other regularly, and these (preserved) letters were the author's primary source of information about his daily successes and frustrations along his cross-country 'expedition'.This book, a companion to the PBS documentary film (available on DVD) is filled with rare vintage photos. Few would attempt such a journey today, even with modern GPS equipped 4x4 vehicles, and the book and DVD are both splendid inspirations for anyone who loves to share in the triumphs of those few individuals who would fearlessly challenge what has never been done simply because they believe they can succeed.I only wish there had been more more detailed excerpts from the original correspondences included in this book. Still, a splendid addition to your library... and your education!
not the narrative from the PBS show.......2005-10-26
I had it in my head that this was going to be the audio from the wonderful PBS show but I was mistaken. It is a reading of the book. I should've looked more closely. The story, however, is wonderful. The voices from the narrative on the PBS show were more engaging and lively that those on this CD but the story remains just as good.
Brief but fun.......2005-08-03
This is a brief account of the first cross country automobile trip, sprinkled with photographs taken by the "automobilist" as he traversed the nation's dirt roads just after the turn of the last century. Horation Nelson Jackson bet someone $50 in a club in San Francisco that he could cross the country in an automobile he had just bought, and do it in less than 90 days. He spent over $8,000 winning his bet (though he never collected the money).
The car (something called a Winton) had numerous breakdowns. After each one, Jackson would write his wife and advise her that "the worst is over now" after which the car would inevitably break down again. Jackson and his mechanic, Sewall Crocker, spent endless days waiting for parts and jury-rigging parts for the car. After Jackson and Crocker left San Francisco, two other cars, each with its own pair of intrepid motorists, left there also, all three headed to New York City. In spite of a number of hindrances, Jackson's Winton beat out the Packard and the Oldsmobile. Jackson even picked out a dog, named Bud, who wore goggles and rode in the front seat for most of the adventure.
This is a rather short book. It took me perhaps an hour and a half to read. It's full of illustrations and has a map showing the route Jackson took. It's also very interesting, covering a part of American history that I imagine many people had never heard before. I recommend it.
Unabridged Audio CD.......2005-05-30
Having recently read the "Lincoln Highway", I was interested in learning more about the earliest travel across the country by automobile. I opted for the audio CD so we could listen to the story while in the car.
Often, my mind wanders when listening to audio books. However, that wasn't true for this audio book. The story of this historic trip, as well as the narration by various individuals, has retained both my interest and attention.
I would recommend that anyone not familiar with the means of travel at that time and road conditions, become familiar with it before beginning with the audio CD... Next, I plan on watching the video DVD of Horatio's Drive.
Books:
- The Romance Of Lust
- The Runaway Bunny
- The Stories of John Cheever
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- The Time Traveler's Wife
- The Valkyries
- Thicker Than Water (Heartland #8)
- Three Junes
- To Love a Thief (Warner Forever)
- Twilight (Twilight, Book 1)
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