This book is one of the best spiritual guidebooks I have everread. I strongly recommend this book to any person who wants to thinkthrough the meaning of life and is sincere about self-improvement. The best quote is probably "Life is not so complex if we do not persistently make it so...The springs of life are all from within. Invariably it is true--as is the inner so always and inevitably will be the outer." Another quote I like is "The great central fact in human life, in your life and in mine, is the coming into a conscious, vital realization of our oneness with this Infinite Life, and the opening of ourselves to this divine inflow." He discusses visualization, positive thinking and the need to become our own best friend: "In the degree that we open ourselves to the higher powers and let them manifest through us, then by the very inspirations we carry with us do we become in a sense the saviors of our fellow men, and in this way we are all, or may become, the saviors of one another." Get this book and help change the world into a better place by learning more about who you are in relation to the Infinite.

Reading this book had a more profound effect on my life than hearing any sermon in a church. Trine succinctly and eloquently explains how and why we all must be "in tune with the Infinite." As the title page of his original 1897 book states, "Within yourself lies the cause of whatever enters into your life. To come into the full realization of your own awakened interior powers, is to be able to condition your life in exact accord with what you would have it." If he were alive today, I'm certain this would be an Oprah Winfrey "Book of the Month" club selection.

Eternal truths are presented here in an appealing manner -- it's hard to believe this book was first published in 1908. It's full of spiritual insight and raises one's consciousness. Provides the fundamentals for a fresh and joyful outlook upon life and living. As such, a successful attempt to articulate that which is often considered ineffable and unutterable, the illumination of spiritual forces accessible by everyone. Many thoughts are expressed in short poems and this adds a lot to the reading pleasure, e.g.: "...the waters know their own, and draw/the brooks that spring in yonder height/so flows the good with equal law/unto the soul of pure delight." Words of wisdom wonderfully written.

This is by far the best book that I have read in a very long time. I wasn't familiar with Romain Gary until I read a little book called "Darkness Visible - A Memoir of Madness" by the great author William Styron. In "Darkness Visible" Styron describes his crippling depression and near suicide and speaks of Camus and Romain Gary with great affection. He knew Gary and his wife Jean Seberg. (Styron almost met Camus - he had a dinner engagement with him when he learned he was killed in an auto accident.) Styron saw Romain Gary in his deepest state of depression only to experience serious depression himself later. Styron was deeply affected when he found out that Jean had committed suicide and later so did Romain Gary. It is disturbing how we often lose so many of our great artists by their own hand. And Romain Gary was certainly one of the greatest.

In "The Life Before Us" Romain Gary tells the story of Madame Rosa from the viewpoint of little "Momo". This was the first time I had ever read a novel where I was literally laughing from humour and crying from sadness at the same time. It is amazing how the same exact sentence can inspire both humour and sadness. But Gary accomplished this and much more with this very touching novel. There are many tender Truths in this work. A touching quote: "'Monsieur Hamil, can somebody live without love?''Yes', he said, and bowed his head in shame. I burst into tears." Another is: "'It's where I hide when I'm afraid.' 'Afraid of what, Madame Rosa?' 'You don't need reasons to be afraid, Momo.' I've never forgotten those words, because they were the truest words I've ever heard."

This novel is about life and what it means to be human. It is profoundly touching, disturbing, sad, funny, and honest. You will look at the world differently after reading this novel. It is sad that Romain Gary is gone from our world, but my how he enriched it.

...like life, and like death, defies review. Some of its best thoughts are not even written; they surface between the pages, or months, even years, after the last page is read. In The Life Before Us, Gary touches places in the mind that went unnoticed before, but were always waiting to be found. It is as though one were watching a video of all the dreams that were dreamt too long before waking to be remembered, but, now seen, entirely familiar.

This is one of the best books I've ever read or ever will read! It tells the story of a young Arab kid (from his point of view)living with an aging ex-prostitute ,Rosa ,in paris. Rosa raises the children of prostitutes.I know it doesn't sound like much but believe me, you won't be sorry! It is almost a poetic book.It's certainly one of the most humain books you'll ever come across. People that read and loved "Angela's ashes" and "Cacher in the rye",will love this book also.The book is a little sad but most of the time it's very funny, it's a book about people,the little people.The author, Romain Gary is very well known all over Europe and it saddens me that he's almost anonimus in the states.He deserves the recognition in the states and the Americans deserve to know this great writer.I hope he will be published again and won't be out of print.In case you do want to read it,I think you can buy it at amazon.uk.

For a book written in the early 1990's, much of what Mr. Diaz has to say about evaluating the different manufacturers & models still applies. Being in the market for a folding boat, I've found this book very helpful. Although I think the author is little too zealous about the virtues of folding boats vs. the hard shells. If you're looking for a boat about whitewater kayaking or river boating, skip this one. The focus is on sea kayaks. Does this mean that folding boats aren't suitable for the river? Couldn't tell you after reading this book.

The author, Ralph Diaz, has for a number of years published a slim but tremendously valuable newletter for folding kayak enthusiasts, and this book is essentially the information collected by Ralph and his readers over the years, updated, corrected and expanded, together with new information collected for the book. The result is a unique and absolutely invaluable reference volume for owners (and prospective owners) of folding kayaks. Ralph is no dillitante how-to author; he's a fanatic evangelical for folders, knows everyone in the business, and has helped countless people to select the kayak that's best for them. He also knows, and is know by, everyone in the folding kayak business. Ralph takes you on a tour of the history of the folding kayak, the benifits and drawbacks of folders, a tour of the various manufacturers and models available from each, and walks you through basic kayak technique. He tells you about modifications that owners have made and tested, and where to get parts and repairs for out of production boats. I have been enamored of folders since I saw my first one on Isle Royale back in 1968. As we talked, a young fellow not much older than I assembled a boat from two small suitcases that was far more seaworthy than the heavy aluminum canoes my compatriots and I were paddling. As a 14 year old I didn't have the wherewithall to buy one, and put the notion aside for a number of years. Last year, with Ralph's help, I found the folder of my dreams, a Folboat Greenland II. If you're contemplating purchase of a non-whitewater kayak, you must read this book- even if you hadn't been contemplating a folding boat.

I live in Japan, where space is at a premium, but I also love kayaking. All the hardshell kayaks I looked at were reasonably priced but at lenghts of 17 feet or more I could hardly keep them in the tatami rooms of my house. Ralph Diaz reminded me that a folding kayak was the practical and intelligent answer to my needs. So today, I own a Klepper double which collapses into two canvas bags, which, when I'm not exploring the coastline of Japan, or other distant places, stays in a closet in my office. This book furthermore covers every aspect of the seemingly endless features and benefits of folding kayaks, and reviews all the major manufacturers products as well. The well-written introduction by Paul Theroux alone is worth the price of this little gem ("Paddling in Hawaii in the winter, it is not unusual to see whales, But only the paddler is able to leap into the water and hear the whales singing..."). Highly recomeneded reading for anyone seriously contemplating seakayaking anywhere in the world.

Focus was primarily on Patsys career and secondary focus was on her life but only in terms of how it realated to her career. If you want to know in agonizing detail the steps her career followed , down to which recording she did on which day, this is a great book. If you want to get to know who Patsy was as a person this is probably not the right book. I found it to be a somewhat mechanical and sterile view of Patsy Cline the person. Not an adaquate treatment of her life with Charlie or her children.

I have been a Patsy Cline fan since I was six years old. This book has been in my Patsy collection for eight years. It is THE MOST comprehensive view of Patsy's life that I've ever read. (And I have "a few of those OTHER books" in my collection as well, but they don't even come close to Mr. Nassour's very informative and compelling look at the life of the one and only Patsy Cline. THE BOOK to read, ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES!!!... You've found the one and only book on Patsy Cline that you need, That is Ellis Nassour's: Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline.

I enjoy reading Honky Tonk Angel again & again. It's such a honest book & evokes memories of that fabulous period, the 50' & 60's when I knew Patsy & she was singing her heart out. I congratulate Mr. Nassour for writing the truth. It shows she was human like the rest of us. As a singer, no one can take her place. Her music has touched the hearts of millions everywhere. Her "Sweet Dreams" keeps us dreaming on & songs like "I Fall to Pieces" remind us we're vulnerable & have hurts in our lives as well. Her music & voice are timeless--one reason that people still listen to Patsy. The book has photos I've found no where else, & there are more (plus great stories) on the book website@ patsyclinehta.com. The book captures Patsy's life so poignantly that I sense the emotion behind each word--emotion that evokes a star who fell before her time. Faye Morgan

This book is a collection of Asimov's short stories, most of which actually have
NOTHING to do with robots. And that's why I liked it so much!
I read this book after "I, Robot" (Which is the first Asimov book you should read if you plan to really get into the Robots saga), because for some reason I was under the impression it was the next in the series. I was wrong. Again, MOST of the stories have nothing to do with robots, but deal with a wide variety of science fiction themes.

Most of the stories are great, and like many of the reviewers here I think that for "The Final Question" you should by it, but it has some weak ones too, fortunately they are short and quickly forgotten.
I do not plan to read, at the near future, any other Asimov stories, since the style is a bit out-dated, but this book was an exception and I would recommend it for all of you.
A bunch of great stories on various sci-fi themes, that make you laugh, think and be amazed...

I am generally not one to rant and rave about a book, but Robot Dreams and in particular the story entitled 'The Final Question', is the exception. I ordinarily hesitate to sing the praises of something on the assumption that there might be something out there that I haven't read that is better; however, The Final Question is without any shadow of a doubt, the best short story I have ever read.

Let me elucidate. Starting with the seemingly innocuous question, "Can entropy be reversed?", Asimov proceeds, in a style all his own, to turn the reader's world upside down. When you've finished this story, you can do nothing but close the cover and sit and think for a while. In a piece that is a textbook example of the way a short story should be written, Mr. Asimov somehow manages to address that most basic of all questions, "What is the nature of our Universe, and by extension, what is the nature of ourselves?"

As an avid reader on all subjects, I enjoy being challenged by what I read but, speaking politely, the climax of this story, barely more than 15 pages in length, knocked me flat on my behind. No story I have read, before or since, has managed to turn life's basics quite so much on their ear as did this one.

I read somewhere that Mr. Asimov always felt that this was his favourite piece of writing, and I have no problem understanding why.

Read it...If you thought your world was dark before, I guarantee that "The Final Question", indeed, all of "Robot Dreams", will shed some light on the subject.

Sincerely,

Tony Hoffmann

This is a collection of Asimov's probably 20 best short stories. Only three of the stories have anything to do with robots, unless you consider computers and talking cars robots.

This is easily one of the best books I have ever read. I read it in between his robot novels and Foundation novels, and it holds its own quite well against those.

Only one of the stories is in any other collection I know of. "Jokester," "The Billiard Ball," and "The Last Answer" are some excellent ones, but I agree that "The Last Question" (as it is named in my book; not "Final Question") is the best story I have ever read. Anybody remotely interested in science fiction at all should definitely buy this book. Before long you will be an Asimov fan for life.

Wow! I couldn't put this book down once I picked it up.

If you ever wanted to be a fitness model or thought you could do it if only you knew what to do, then this is the book for you. Clark Bartram shares everything with you, this is the most honest and insightful book I've ever read about fitness modeling.

This book covers everything from A-to-Z. You'll learn exactly what to do as well as what not to do. You will find all the information you need to make it a reality for you. The information is very clear and easy to follow. The step-by-step approach will help you get where you want to go.

Once you finish this book you will know exactly what to do and have the key to making it a reality for you.

This total insider's guide to the fitness modeling industry offers valuable information in a conversational manner, lets you know who's looking for the next fitness superstars, AND tells you exactly how to contact them.

Clark Bartram's own accounts of his success are honest, candid, and loaded with advice and encouragement for aspiring fitness models - guys and girls. You really feel like he's opening up and telling you everything you need to know. Plus, a lot of his influential friends - agents, photographers, and magazine editors - have contributed chapters explaining the business from every angle.

You come away learning that fitness modeling isn't just about being in tremendous shape, it's about being a shrewd businessperson with a positive attitude. You really learn what it takes - and as a bonus you get simple but effective advice on training and nutrition to keep in top shape all year long.

If you decide you want to be a fitness model after reading this book, you'll feel like you have some real friends in the industry. If you call anyone mentioned in the book and tell them that you read it, I think they'd give you a real shot if you're serious. If you decide you don't want to be a fitness model after reading this book, you'll still have a positive guide with powerful advice you can use to look, feel, and be your very best.

Working as a fitness model can be an enjoyable and profitable career. However, there are many pitfalls and dangers to avoid on this path, and for the first time someone who not only works, but has had tremendous success in this field is available to guide you. From creating your first portfolio, to the details of endorsement contracts, fitness model extraordinaire Clark Bartram will advise you, drawing on years of experience. You'll read about the great satisfaction such a career can bring, but perhaps more importantly you'll be told the truth about the reality of being a fitness model. This includes not only what attributes you'll need to succeed, but also your attitude, and how much money you can honestly expect to earn per shoot. In any field, links with people on the 'inside' are often what's needed to get that big break, and there's plenty of insiders in this book sharing their knowledge with you.

It's not only great man-to-man advice in this book though. The beautiful, and very successful Monica Brant offers advice from a woman's perspective, which is of use to both male and female readers. Also, the people behind the cameras talk about what they look for in a model in the 'Lessons From The Other Side' section. All invaluable knowledge. The structure of the text is such that you can read from cover to cover, but also go straight to a particular topic and still have all the information you need.

In short, if you're serious about a career as a fitness model, or just curious about what such a job would involve, then you cannot afford to pass up on this book. Agencies, self-promotion, tricks of the trade, training programs, possible employers, useful resources and even haircuts are all covered. I've found this book an exceptional resource, and my thanks to Clark Bartram for writing it.

Effective Requirements Practices very well describes the contents of this book. It is clear that Ralph has experienced all the corners of the requirements process, over the full system life cycle. He packages his experience in very complete, clear and practical advice. Even if you have a lot of experience in software or systems engineering projects, you will probably still find a lot of helpful information. I wanted to write a book on Requirements Engineering myself. Reading Ralph's book made me understand that that's not needed any more. Use it as a cook book full of good and effective recipes: just follow his advice and your chances of project success are greatly increased.

This book is a rich up to date source of the best thinking and practices
regarding requirements. It is a systems engineering book, and is rich in the
motivation/organization/process aspects of dealing with requirements
throughout the life cycle. I especially appreciated the rich pointers to
easily accessible websites for referenced material. The author has personal
contact with the best people in the business, and has managed to collate
their experience and advice with his own large scale experiences. This is
not a book on specific methods for expressing requirements. It is a
manager's book. When my son said "Dad I only want you to recommend the best
of what you read", I handed him my copy.

I have a different perspective on Dr. Young's book than many engineers. I am actually a technical writer who specializes in writing requirements. I also have a teaching background. Effective Requirements Practices is a very well written book that effectively teaches you about the entire requirements process. Some features that I liked about Dr. Young's book are:

WELL WRITTEN STYLE. He defines his vocabulary and uses simple clear language. He summarizes important information into charts, checklists, flowcharts, and bulleted lists. He follows a logical outline so I can locate the specific chapter I need quickly.
APPLICABLE ADVICE. I liked the criteria of a good requirement. It gave me specific questions I could ask to see if the requirement was good.
PROCESS OVERVIEW. This book helped me understand other's roles in the requirements process so I could work better as a team.
EXPANDABLE RESOURCES. He gives informative summaries of applicable websites, papers, or books. I can expand to other resources when I need to research a specific topic.
CURRENT RESEARCH. Dr. Young gives great dollars-and-cents examples of why we need effective requirements practices. This has helped sell the requirements process to management.
INFORMATION CD. The CD contains templates, checklists, vocabulary, and visuals that you can use to help establish your requirements practice.

Whether you are going to focus on a few chapters or the entire book, Effective Requirements Practices is a "must-have" if you work with requirements.

Steve Seidler has captured Ralph Miller's philosophy in written form. The book's organization is perfect for coaches of all levels. It covers the fundementals of individual performance and applies them to team strategies. The motivational tools provided throughout the text provide the fuel for making everything happen. This book not only tells you how to be successful, it shows you.

I have over 50 books and videos relating to baksetball coaching. Some deal with certain aspects of the game, others deal with a system. A System of Game Execution is by far the best coaching book I have ever seen. It tells of the history of basketball, how that history is related to the system, the philosophy of the system, drills for the system, and how everything within the system ties together. The book is written by Steve Seidler and explains in detail the system used by the late Ralph Miller at Oregon State University. Steve was an assistant to Ralph at OSU. Steve also provides his e-mail address and is very good about replying to e-mails. The system is sound and easy to teach and learn. The drills help the players to teach themselves the system. The system is based on team concept and pressure on the opponent at all times. I feel every basketball coach on any level should have this in their library. It is a book you can read again and again and learn something more each time.

I purchased this book last winter at mid-season and I soon realized that I had uncovered a gold mine. Author Steve Seidler was an assistant to Ralph Miller at Oregon State from 1980-1987. Ralph Miller is probably the greatest college coach of all time but never got the credit he deserved because he could not attract blue chip players to Oregon State. Therefore, the closest he ever got to a national championship was one game shy of the final four ( 1982 ). But if you take a look at his record and if you consider what he accomplished with limited talent at OSU, you find that in retrospect, his accomplishments were much more impressive than the name brand coaches. ( John Wooden, for example, finally beat a Ralph Miller team when he began attracting the Abdul-Jabbars ( Alcindor ) and Waltons. Prior to that era, Ralph's teams at Witchita State and Iowa upset Wooden three straight times. ) The beauty of Ralph Miller's pressure basketball system is that it is simple. It reduces basketball to the components that always win games: defense, constant pressure, proper spacing and teamwork. And it leaves out ridiculous drills and impossible-to-understand offenses. Miller's system is based on six drills, a basic offensive set and two simple defenses. No, you can't read it once and understand it. You have to study it. And you will have questions. But Steve offers his e-mail address and is really good about responding to questions. A video is also offered with the book. I found this to be very helpful because you see how the drills need to be executed by the players ( the video is essential for this ). And you see the Miller offense and defense in action. Results? I immediately employed several of the drills and offensive/defensive sets. It is difficult to switch gears during the middle of a season but I did as much as I could. My first-year high school team improved dramatically. They ended the season at 15-7, 23rd best regular season record in the state in their division. The drills were very helpful. This summer, I have employed the whole system and I can see the improvement and efficiency in their game. And the teamwork has improved. Ralph had 50 years experience and in that span, had only three teams with a losing record. Understand the beauty of this system, trust it and employ it. More than likely, you will take your teams to their full potential.

Ralph Masiello is a fascinating Illustrator. I like his secret at the back of his book.The Icky Bug Counting Book is the best book.

I read the book The Icky Bug Counting Book. It was cool. After all I think that Ralph Masiello's illustrations are awesome.Did you know that he puts secrets in he's illustrations? He is very creative.

Ralph Masiello is a fascinating illustrator because his pictures are creative. Did you know that there is a big secret in the Icky Bug Counting Book? That is why Ralph is a fascinating illustrator.

How often can you hope to get advice that's frank, honest and from life's experience? When you read this book you will feel like you are there in person with author and medium Ralph Jordan. How authentic he is, and what alot we have to learn. A must read for anyone who sees themselves as a psychic counselor, healer or a "wannabe".

As a practicing psychiatrist, I can say that this book channeled by Ralph Jordan, has been an eye opener in regards to the way I practice psychiatry, the way I view my patients, and my overall attitude about life. I have learned that, too often, we counselors have a tendency to view our patients/clients from a superior perspective, a "poor you, you're not good enough" attitude. This no nonsense book states it as it is, which is that we're all equal, we just make our choices. His approach to the use of non-empathy, non-judgment, non-pity is very refreshing when working with my clients because it gives the freedom to see them as just another human being, not a subject incapable of thinking or incapable of caring for themselves.

A point well brought out in the book is the concept of the law of attraction, knowing that the people that come into the office for counseling are coming due to similarly acting properties, or "bugaboos" as it's termed in the book, in the life of the counselor. I have learned that this is an important factor in psychiatry and plays into counter transference feelings/ideas the therapist may have for the client. The psychic counselor is just as prone to counter transference issues, and transference issues, as the mental health counselor. Counter transference issues get in the way of how we counsel; that's why the "Twelve Golden Rules of Psychic Counseling" are particularly helpful, because they point out the pitfalls a counselor will encounter, signaling that counter transference issues are interfering. Transference is an oft overlooked but very important factor in how someone hears the counselor and the expectations placed on the counselor.

It's a wonderful book, full of a wealth of information and wisdom which is helpful for moving beyond the ordinary into another aspect of counseling. Starting from page one, the reader is made aware that Ralph Jordan values professional ethics, the belief in being a neutral reader vs. one infusing their own values into the reading, and the assistance of God in all things. One builds an ethical practice by treating everything as information. There is no such thing as "good or bad: things simply are." The book is divided in 4 different parts: The Basics; Techniques, Tools and Attitudes; Pitfalls; and Seeker/Teacher Dialogue. There are Appendices also which add more valuable insights. This is psychic counseling done with the recognition that truth comes from God, that "Everything is working for God's greater recognition on this earth plane." Just reminding oneself of that principle helps to change the course of the psychic reading from being non-neutral to being a more neutral reading.

The Psychic Counselor's Handbook will always serve as a reference book, even a text of inspiration, when it comes to counseling of any type. Thank you, Ralph Jordan, for your channeled ideas!

I would definitely recommend this book. But, don't just take my word for it.

Here is what a leading metaphysical reviewer says about the Psychic Counselor's Handbook:

Richard Fuller, according to his own words receives daily books from all over the world and makes his decision of promoting and endorsing a particular book dependent on two major factors:

"I must find the author's integrity within the pages of the book. Once I have read the book from cover to cover I must be able to say that it will lead people to a better place."

His comment about the Psychic Counselor's Handbook was: "Yes, I would endorse and promote this book. You have a booster here."

Who is Richard Fuller?

Richard Fuller, senior editor and columnist has spent his entire working life as a writer, magazine editor and advertising executive. He is considered by his peers to be a truth-seeker, upholding the highest levels of integrity in his support of the new age community. He only endorses the finest books, videos and recordings available. Any work that is endorsed by Mr. Fuller is very worthy of your interest.