This book is a collection of stories from different religious traditions, grouped according to theme. The author has a delightful sense of humor, and it shows through his selection of parables. If you read this book in small pieces, as the author suggests, you will learn to have a sense of humor and wonder about your own life. Although the stories make for good jokes, if you think about them seriously, you will find that the wisdom becomes apparent years later. Don't be too quick to dismiss some of them as hokey or you'll find yourself playing the fool in vey similar situations!

Of all the collections of meditation and wisdom stories that de Mello has put together I think that this one is the best (followed closely by Song of the Bird, which is equal in quality but has fewer stories). This book contains over 250 stories arranged by topic: Prayer, Awareness, Religion, Grace, The Saints, The Self, Love and Truth. These are real stories not just the didactic aphorisms and sayings (beginning with "The Master said") that are more typical of de Mello's One Minute Wisdom, One Minute Nonsense and More One Minute Nonsense. And the stories are more to some spiritual point, in my judgment, while the companion book, The Heart of the Enlightened, tends to have many that are merely humorous. So while he has a lot of good sayings and stories, were you to pick just one of those books, for my tastes it would be this one.

Original Indian title: "Prayer of the Frog, Volume I" ("Heart of the Enlightened" is volume II)

I'll keep this short. "Taking Flight" and "Heart of the Enlightened" are the best books I've ever read.

Brown paints engaging and detailed pictures of St. John and Kim Philby. The chapters on St. John are particularly interesting. To judge by Brown's book, the elder Philby led a more colorful, though less notorious life than his son Kim.

Brown ultimately fails to support his charge of treason against St. John Philby. The charge, implicit in the book's title, is never really followed through in the text. St. John, as described by Brown, was an active critic of British policy in Arabia, a gadfly, and ultimately an embittered nuisance. This is not the same as being a traitor, however.

The chapters on Kim contain no new blockbusters, though Brown draws his character deftly. Ultimately more interesting than Kim Philby the man, though, is Kim Philby the phenomenon.

Kim Philby continues to exert a fascination which extends far beyond his actual historical impact. His betrayal, and that of Burgess, MacLean, et al, seem to stand as emblematic of the decay of the English upper classes in the Post WWI period. While Brown does an admirable job painting his portrait of the man, he doesn't dwell on the question of why we still care about this brilliant, vain, aristocratic traitor.

The research was top rate; the writing was superb; the factual underpinnings for everything were uncontravertible, and the subject was fascinating. That said, there exists a political bent here that attempts to skew the reader to have a sense of sympathy for Philby. Skip it, Philby was a treacherous lowlife. Clearly Philby had a communist belief system, that's not in question. The real issue of course is, should your ideological belief system justify treasonous acts? In other words, Philby was placed in a position of trust by the British Government. Does the fact that he had the heart of a communist justify the actions he took on behalf of the Soviets? No. In fact, as demonstrated later in his life, which really isn't explored as much as it should have been, Philby clearly become disenchanted with the communist manifesto.

The bottom line, however, is that this is a great read, well done

I think I can say without exaggeration, this is possibly the most important book of the 20th Century to date, which I have just had the good fortune to read within the last 6 months or so of that century. It illuminates and supplies all the linkages between the titanic struggles for the Middle East among the Great Powers of the Nineteenth Century, and the present hellish landscape that is their legacy. Then it goes on to meticulously study the character of Kim Philby, possibly the most important man of the century and certainly the one who embodies most all the contradictions and ambiguity of it. In the end nobody could penetrate this man's psyche, not the British and Americans whom he betrayed, nor the Russians whom he supposedly served. He remained a mystery wrapped inside an enigma to the end. The book causes one to ponder, how many of the great events of this century, turned on this one man? I can see why Graham Greene was so fond of him, because he is the character Graham Greene was trying to perfect in all his novels...

Definitely one of the best sci-fi books I have ever read, and especially commendable because of its early year. The book examines morality on an interplanetary scale, and puts the question to all of us: to what means would we resort if overpopulation became a matter of extinction? (shudder) You try to answer it, I'm not courageous enough.

First Anthony book I read, more years ago than I like! Next time I saw his name in a bookstore, I bought it. Never been disappointed!

This is an unusual story in this day and age, because it encourages the idea that there is an unquenchable spark of something unique and powerful in us earthlings. Twisting plot, space battles as well as battles on the ground, and pride at the victors, as well as admiration of the "aliens" who hoped for, recognized, and nurtured earthlings talent for chaos lead me to recommend this paperback to SF beginners.

American culture is truly diversified these days and it is hard to pin down what has happened to the old aristocracy of the white man. This book pins it down and exposes it for all the inhumanity it represents, but does not display it in an extremist view. Through character development Tedeshci lays out his story, interweaving through life story after life story. One might say that he gets lost due to this technique, but he pulls it off in the end and we get a great many twists.

I always wanted to write "Ripped From Today's Headlines," and here's my chance, because this is a novel that could have almost been taken from today's media banners -- terrorism, globalization, computers gone mad, corporate intrigue. At the center is an overpaid, over-egoed corporate CEO who spends most of his time humiliating his underlings, cashing in company stock illegally to add to his fortune, and ruthless crushing anyone or anything in his way. Sound familiar? Look in your executive suite.
Anthony Tedeschi takes you into a corporate sphere he obviously knows well, with some side excursions into other worlds: high fashion, art, music, and literature. It's a fascinating book by a skilled writer who has been around the international block a few times and registered everything he saw and heard with a keen eye and ear.
Great characters, great dialog, great fun.

When I picked up "Unfinished Business" by Michael A. Tedeschi, I had no idea what to expect. Within the first few chapters, I became aware that the novel was an excellent book which combined mystery, business, computers, and present-day morality into a can't-put-the-book-down read. If you are not aware of what goes on in large business today, spread out over several continents, your eyes will be opened. Read this - you will like it.

Although everyone can find Anthony Daniels' wit entertaining and his observations keen, the overwhelming emotion created by this book is depression. How many people have spent their lives suffocating under awful regimes composed of banal torturers and Kafkaesque bureaucrats of no imagination ? (with apologies to Kafka) UTOPIAS ELSEWHERE is a series of articles written on five countries where Communism was about to disappear as a way of life, or at least, it seemed that way in 1989-90. In Albania and Romania, the author was probably among the last writers to attempt description of the obscene systems of government that held power there-totalitarian Balkan dictatorships with a Marxist frosting. In Vietnam, the government was in the process of change, and in the two last, North Korea and Cuba, the melting process has at last begun, albeit a decade later. Daniels, with an average of about two weeks' stay in each place, puts his finger precisely on what makes these places so awful, despite the fact that a lot of Western intellectuals, none of whom actually settled there, praised these places. [recall for example the Swedish couple, Myrdal and Kessle, and their unbelievably naive book, "Albania Defiant"] Daniels is able to describe the worst aspects of these so-called "worker paradises" very succinctly. Comments about everything, from ugly,grandiose architecture to triumphalist propaganda, hit the mark. The author often casts doubt on his own opinions, makes you consider whether he has been entirely objective or not. I thought he did not consider well enough the fate of millions of poor people trapped in horrible privations in many Third World countries. For such people, without electricity, clean water, schools, or health care---living maybe inside a cement pipe---under constant threat of petty harrassment or brutal intimidation from 'local authorities', perhaps Cuba or Vietnam would not have seemed so terrible. Am I one of those dreaded "apologists" for tyrannical regimes of the left ? No, I've lived in India for five years. When it comes to North Korea or Hoxha's Albania, however, it is really debatable whether becoming a virtual automaton and slave of the state (and still starving) is still better than abject poverty and exploitation. Is life at all worth living under megalomaniacs like Kim Il-sung ? People may indeed think that they are already dead when they are still walking around. When Daniels describes an entire Potemkin department store in Pyongyang, fake customers and all, you have to agree with him that North Korea managed to "out-Orwell Orwell". Romania under Ceaucescu, which I saw some 11 years before Daniels, was, as he correctly describes it, a kleptocracy with fascist trappings and Marxist vocabulary ruled by a modern Dracula: nobody believed in anything. While Daniels noted the similarities of all five would-be utopias, he did not note their differences so clearly. If you're aware of these differences, they do appear in his writing, but he takes no pains to underline them. This is the major fault in a very interesting (but sad) book.

What struck me most about this book was the numbing similarities between the plight of the people in the stricken lands visited by the author. Tyranny is not a very original or creative form of government, and must resort the same horrors wherever it appears around the world. A very insightful and entertaining book. Read it.

Anthony Daniels is a very funny writer in some of the very saddest places on earth. All right, perhaps he is biased, but he is biased the way a psychiatrist is supposed to be---he's biased toward the pursuit of happiness. The most tragic moment is in Romania, where two engineers tell him privately, "We are dead already," referring to the nature of their meaningless lives. I wonder if he'll go back and report again on these places?

In this book Neal theorizes about African-American music, examining the link between early 20th century musics and turn-of-the-millenium music. The author shows connections between social developments and the forms of pop music that black Americans developed. The book is interesting both as a survey of some threads of black music and as an overview of historical changes for African-Amercians in our nation.

The linkages between the two-- the music and the social climate-- are supported by a careful analysis of the music, and more often of the lyrics of some well-known composers. Performance styles are given some attention also. However, Neal is selective about examining only those artists whose work supports his theories. Other artists whose work does not fit the schema are generally ignored. In this sense, the book is not exhaustive. That is fine, actually, as the volume is elegantly structured into six digestible chapters. This maintains the momentum of the writing and allows the reader to remain engaged, to avoid being bogged down in minutia.

Neal does a nice job of examining the African-American societies that have emerged during the 20th century. He looks at how different groups of blacks have related with each other, and how the music serves to both mollify and communicate the tensions and connections between the groups. The roles of work, finances, and community are given emphasis in his theories. As such, he focuses mostly on the middle-class, the working-class, and the under-class blacks. Other groups, such as gays or the wealthy (often the artists themselves), receive less attention.

The author does at times surrender to a hair-splitting approach with the concepts. Sometimes his writing becomes entangled, with long, long sentences that are structured so that the reader becomes lost. This occurs primarily in the later chapters. The index given to the book is fairly incomplete, making cross-referencing difficult. To his great credit, Neal tends to hew closely to common language. This makes the book as a whole accessible to a variety of readers. Overall, I found this to be a educational and insightful volume, and recommend it to anyone interested in popular music, African-American cultural studies, or contemporary history.

Books Like This state The Facts of the Importance of Black Music not only in America but also WORLDWIDE.How it has shaped the World at Large.How The Beauty&Tragedy of The Music always keeps your Attention.Black Music Has Influenced everything Period.Rock-Roll was Taboo because it was from Blues,Jazz,Funk to Rap all have been Called Taboo because of The Negro Imput.it Plays Out on Society at Large.The Impact is so Strong that thru out History to this day you Get a Watered Down take of it.From What Little Richard had to Put up with thru Pat Boone among others to What The Jackson 5&New Edition deal with all of these Wack Non-Singing White Boy Bands Cashing in on a Style and Not Respecting it.Jimi Hendrix took it back Home for us as did Michael Jackson.cuz all of The Styles are Ours.Miles Davis was Straight Black with it.Marvin Gaye as well.James Brown among many made Statements Heard around the World that Spoke Volumes About Us Here In The United States.

I think that this book was very well written and focused very well on how the music of the Black community was a reflection of the status of blacks as well as their position. As a former student of Dr. Neal, I have learned that resistance to oppression does not always come from marches and sit-ins, but music itself can be a form of social protest. If you are a student of African-American history, you must have this book for your collection. Buy it now!

Alphabetically organized, this dictionary lists numerous entries on the Egyptian pantheon of gods, mythology and religious beliefs. It also covers such subjects as mummies, pyramids, magic and calendar. The complete translation of major Egyptian tales (The Tale of Sinuhe, the Tale of the Magicians and the Doomed Prince, among many others) are included in this book. Illustrated in black and white, it is mostly useful for students of Egyptology.

Now in a revised and updated second edition, Who's Who In Egyptian Mythology compiled and co-authored by Antony S. Mercatante and Robert Steven Bianchi presents the Egyptian pantheon and a compendium of related topics, historical personages, and themes pertinent to it in and arranged in an alphabetical order, and an encyclopedia-style, from Akhenaten to Zehuti (another name for Thoth). A most fascinating reference filled cover to cover with condensed myths, history, and archaeological discoveries, Who's Who In Egyptian Mythology is a highly recommended addition to any personal, professional, academic, or community library Egyptology reference collection.

I am always drawing the gods & godesses of Egyptian myth, but there are very few good books that give descriptions and/or pictures of a large amount of their dieties. This book proved to be the largest and best guide to the egyptian myths, folklore, and symbols that I have found. The pictures are OK, but the information is WONDERFUL! I use it all the time.

Socrates was important as a cultural figure who showed other people how to be a philosopher. Much of this entertaining account talks about Socrates' lifestyle and personality. There are amusing little vignettes, such as how Socrates fended off the homosexual advances of the much younger Alcibiades, who later became a traitor to Athens.

The book emphasizes that Socrates did not advance his own positions as much as he criticized those of others.

Now that I have read this shorter work on Socrates I feel prepared to move on to longer works on Plato and Aristotle.

It's short (54 pages), but that's alright since there's only second-hand accounts of Socrates anyway. Anthony Gottlieb makes the most of this space and you end up with a pretty good idea of how Socrates viewed life and intellectual inquiry, as well as the distinctions between his philosophy and that of Plato and other followers and critics. Since he is the first significant philosopher, he's worth understanding, and this book will not consume much of your time.

Three substantial excerpts from the book, plus more information, are available online at http://www.btinternet.com/~socratic

If a thousand monkeys sat at a thousand typewriters, could they ever recreate Shakespeare? That's the obvious premise for this book. This surface joke contains a more serious purpose, to encourage you to look more closely and think more about an artist's purpose and effects. After the laughter settles down, there's a wonderful opportunity to study these cartoons for their fine-art roots, and to learn about great paintings. I have seen no finer book for introducing children to paintings. Adults who would like to extend beyond a simple understanding of some important paintings will find this book rewarding as well.

"Willy likes painting and looking at pictures. He knows that every picture tells a story."

Willy is a chimp and appears to have visited many of the world's great art museums, because he knows their contents very well. The book is a series of chimp-based paintings. One or more chimps are in each image, often simply replacing where a human model would have been placed. That creates the first level of humor.

At the second level of humor, each image is also based on a famous painting. For example, the chimp painting of The Kind Women is based on The Gleaners by Millet.

At the third level of humor, the painting is further transformed by changing the sequence a little. For example, The Kind Women has the chimp women actually painting in the foreground with brushes rather than picking up the loose grains.

At the fourth level of humor, the works are renamed and subtitled. For example, The Kind Women (instead of The Gleaners) has a subtitle "I had been getting a bit bored with painting all that grass." This is based on the idea of the women in the painting helping Willy finish the painting.

At the fifth level of humor, each work also has one or more fragments of other paintings juxtaposed onto the composition of the primary transformation. For example, Lots and Lots and Lots of Dots is inevitably based on Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte but also contains part of the cobblestone pavement in the center of Caillebotte's Paris, A Rainy Day. So, these are a little like jigsaw puzzles, fitting different works into the same image in unexpected and humorous ways.

At the end of the book are small images of the paintings that the chimp images are drawn from, so that you can match up the works, even if you don't already know them. This is a good excuse to look at some great art.

Here are my favorite images from the book:

The Birthday Suit: "Quick, cover yourself up!" The primary inspiration is The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.

My Best Ever Sand Castle: "I had an odd feeling that the castle was trying to warn me of something." The primary source is The Tower of Babel by Peter Brueghel the Elder.

Lots and Lots and Lots of Dots (see above)

The Kind Women (see above)

Coming to Life: "I was just finishing the painting when I heard a small voice say, 'Give us a hand.'" The primary model for the painting is Creation of Adam by Buonarroti.

The Mysterious Smile: "Can you solve this mystery?" The main reference is to Mona Lisa by da Vinci.

The Fruitful Fishing Trip: "We hadn't caught anything all day and were on our way home when we cast our net for the last time." This painting is based on The Herring Net by Homer.

My only complaint about the book is that fitting in the secondary images did not always elevate the overall impression. In other words, the humor aimed unnecessarily too low at times.

I am in awe of Mr. Browne for conceiving of and well executing this work, though. It is a remarkable accomplishment, and one that I hope will find its way into many homes.

After you finish enjoying this book, you might want to do what my youngest child did. She took actual paintings and created her own studies of them, and we hung her studies next to the originals. Having done this at age 5, she definitely captured the key elements of composition, color, and emotion in a way that made these paintings hers forever. She was proud that we wanted to display her work as well. After doing that, you might want to ask your child if he or she wants to take a crack at creating her or his own chimp paintings. That would be a worthy challenge that would drive the lessons home much deeper. You could use the paintings at the end of the book as the models to draw from.

See the potential all around you, and integrate it into your own life!

Willy the Chimpanzee unveils a gallery of his own paintings, and introduces the famous artworks that inspired each one. An art lover's delight.

I found this book while I was doing a classroom project about books that would get kids to enjoy art. Honestly, I can think of no better book. Kids will love Willy. The pictures are absolutely beautiful, and there are explanations of the sources of each of the paintings Willy renders in the back. What more could you want?

Wow!Dog days of the West was a great book.I couldn't put it down. It was so exiting, the suspense of finding out who actualy owned The Oakdale Chronicle was fascinating.

I think this Wishbone book is better than others of its kind because the story plot is better written and the book is longer. It introduces more younger kids, now that Joe is going into 9th grade (same as myself). My favorite part in this book was when Wishbone found the deed with the winning hand! Another part I enjoyed was the story where Wishbone is Long Bill back into the Wild West Days. It has inspired me so much that I'm going to read books by O. Henry, because this Wishbone book was based on one of his books. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm in 8th grade!

This is a good book for kids who want to know the story of the book it is based on, Heart of the West. It also has another story worked into it, switching back and forth every two or three chapters. It is also funny, and has a small dictionary of unfamiliar words and phrases with their meanings. I highly recommened this book.