On one hand the notes and comments are very useful for novice readers lacking the historical context as well as the cultural aspects of the writing of the Bodhicaryavatara. On the other hand, placing comments before each chapter makes the book more analytical, and this impacts on the depth and beauty of the verses of the Bodhicaryavatara itself. It is probably a good idea to read it once for understanding the why's and who's and then go back through it without reading the comments at all.

Since it has been written after or partly at the same time as the Siksa Samuccaya, interested readers should also get the Siksa Samuccaya and read both books. It is also probably easier to first read this book and only after having been taught the context of the "story" go to the Siksa Samuccaya which is difficult to understand without a consequent knowledge of the Buddhist culture.

Anyway, this is a high quality translation as well as a very good commented version of the Bodhicaryavatara. Recommended for all types of readers, novice as well as more advanced in the Buddhist thought.

If you really want to understand the Bodhicaryavatara this is one of the best books you can get.

The translators have captured the poetry of the original, without losing the meaning. This text has all the beauty and power of the Matics translation, but encompasses the logic and clarity of Bachelor's. The text itself is the sublime essence of the Dharma and simply by reading it carefully one can be transformed and transported to higher states of consciousness. The translators provide a host of helpful and informative notes to the text. These are essential to the modern reader because they elucidate the context within which the 8th century text was delivered - which was in the thriving Buddhist milieu of the great monastic university of Nalanda at it's height. One of the most important books ever written in the east or west.

There is nothing else available that I can find specifically on this wonderful part of Italy. And aren't we lucky it's from the Cadogan's stable!

Intelligent writing for discerning travellers; Cadogan Guides are for the independent traveller who really wants to get to grips with a place. They also provide all the essential information on how to get from here to there, hotel and restaurant suggestions. Perhaps a bit more heavily concentrating on the upper price range than what I desire, but still useful.

Cadogan Bologna & Emilia-Romagna is the first guide to cover this corner of Italy, which provides excellent art, scenery, and foods. Chapters profile the 'best' of the region with blends of historical background, cultural insights, and destination-oriented tips on what to see, where to stay and eat, and how to best enjoy the region. A recommended pick for any journeying to this corner of the world.

A very informative book. a good buy for learning and understanding Shiatsu. I bought the book Used from Kristine's World of Books and was very pleased with the condition and the quick service I got. Thanks to both of you, Amazon and Kristine's.I will buy used again.

One of my favorite books on shiatsu, I always recommend it for beginners. It contains the essential in 190 pages. Easy to read and to consult, well explained. Drawings are well done and give a better understanding than a lot of other books that have photos. Covers all the practical aspects (a.o. meridians, stretching, breathing, diagnosis), and offers a basic shiatsu session. Nice comments and helpful tips. Goes into important details, but not 'overloaded'. Excellent! No bla bla.

I am a new employee who is constantly being asked to give presentations to new clients, or my managers. I wasn't sure where to gain instruction within the company, without being seen to seem unconfident. I bought the Born Presenter, and read it in my own time and place, within 3 days. It changed my performance immeasurably - cheers to the authors!

At Last!

A book which states "written by industry professionals" and obviously is! Fron the outset, this book is packed with tools, tips and techniques which are true-to-real life requirements for the presenter. Clear, concise and easy reading, leaves you with a feeling that you can control your audience and do it with confidence.

I read my friend's copy while visiting Johannesburg, and have been anxious to get my own copy. This is a really fine book for anyone who is interested in good photos and engrossing stories of travel in the remote wilds of northern Botswana, including the Kalahari and the game regions north of the Okavango. The adventures are those of a person who has made many extended trips into the Kalahari, not just a tourist who is quickly passing through. This area is now quickly becoming more and more opened up by paved roads and overrun by tourists. It may be that a person can no longer have experiences such as those described by Augustinus. If the book is indeed still available as indicated by Paul's review, I with Amazon would find a way to make it available. I want a copy. Dave

This book is not out of print as stated by amazon.com. It is published by Acorn books and is in its third edition. The editors of Getaway Magazine in South Africa, recently included it in a "ten best books on Africa of the decade". This was after a critical review of all the books published worldwide about travel and adventure in the whole of Africa in the last decade. The book is a peronalised account of the author's travels over a ten year period in the wildest remaining areas of Botswana's best game country. It is packed with facts, maps and spectacular photographs as well as paintings and sketches. In Southern Africa this book is regarded as a classic.

I found this book to be very captivating and informative. The author allows the reader to experience imprisonment through the eyes of the POW. I read this book because I was born after the war and did not know anything about it...I have more respect for the people that actually lived through it now, and I think it has done me more good than if I would have read a book dealing with all the political viewpoints from someone who was not there. Could not put it down, very inspiring.

Mr. Norman did an excellent job of relating the unimaginable horrors of the Vietnamese prison system. The prisoners will come to life as you learn of their collective and individual exploits. These men are the true definition of what a hero is, though they think of themselves as "just doing my job" This book is a must-read for the inspirational story fan.

The title is a misnomer: Although the authors do indeed suggest how to "break through the chains of organizational structure", they provide an enlightening explanation of four different types of boundaries (vertical, horizontal, external, and geographic) which give definition to any organization. They do not advocate the total elimination of these boundaries (which is impossible, anyway); rather, they suggest how to rearrange them so that an organization can thrive. For the authors, there is what they call "A New World Order":

"In living organisms, membranes exist to give the organization shape and definition. They have sufficient structural strengthto prevent the organism from dissolving into an amorphous mess....Like a living organism, the boundaryless organization also evolves and grows, and the placement of boundaries may shift....Because the boundaryless organization is a living continuum, not a fixed state, the ongoing management challenge is to find the right balance of boundaryless behavior, to determine how permeableto make boundaries, and where to place them."

This brief excerpt from the first chapter correctly suggests the purpose of this remarkable book: To explain HOW to meet that challenge. The material is presented within four parts plus a conclusion. The first explains how to achieve "free movement up and down" by crossing vertical boundaries; the second explains how to achieve "free movement side to side" by crossing horizontal boundaries; the third explains how to achieve "free movement along the value chain" by crossing external boundaries; and in the fourth part, they explain how to achieve "free global movement" by crossing geographic boundaries." Then in the Conclusion, the authors discuss "Making It Happen: Leading Toward the Boundaryless Organization." The authors also include a series of six questionnaires. By completing each in sequence, the reader is able to determine (a) where her or his organization is now located relative to "the boundaryless paradigm", and (b), what is needed to eliminate the "gap" between where it is now and where it should be.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to read The Boundaryless Organization Field Guide. It contains a wealth of hands-on set of diagnostic instruments, exercises, and tools as well as a disk with presentation slides in Powerpoint format.

The fieldbook is written in a very user friendly way. It provides information that can be used in various ways - presentation slides, workshops, surveys and inteviews. Each tool is explained in great detail - how to use it and the intended purpose. I borrowed a copy from our corporate libary and liked it so much I will order my own personal copy!

We LOVED this book - What a wonder sense of humor this author has! It's great take off on some standard fables. I wish I could by this book for each and every child between the ages of 4 & 7.

The best thing about this book for me was the fact that I, as an adult, could enjoy it as much as the children. It is totally different to any other children's book I have read. I found it to be witty, charming, and imaginative.

The story sounds like something thought up by a parent and young child, with ideas from both, and some teasing from the parent. Altogether a great read, and something I would definitely reccommend to young readers

Paul Violi's work in Breakers shows imagination, wit and sincerity. He tackles subjects such as family and age pondering his fortieth birthday in "Little Testament" to travel in "Harmatan", a play by play of talking severed heads in "Little Nasty" and dreams and writing in "The Curious Builder". An amazing facet of Violi's work is his ability to keep the poetry fresh, exciting and on the edge for long poems. For example, "Little Testament" is 19 pages and "Harmantan" is 55 pages. Violi has the amazing talent of being able to go back and forth between the abstract and the concrete -- perhaps best demonstrated in "Sputter and Blaze". Perhaps the best way to describe Violi's work is that of a play by play announcer who tackles ridiculous topics yet is able to show a deeper meaning and care toward the human condition as a whole. Along with "Little Nasty", Violi demonstrates this with a crossword puzzle on "Wet Bread and Roasted Pearls" and with a museum from selections of "Hazards of Imagery".
Maybe Violi's work speaks best for itself, he writes in "coda":
I lie in parentheses
amused by how I can trace
in the glistening lines of this canoe
such a dear part of you
and between night and day
sweep up an armful of immediate odes
imagining I can lay them
before you . . .

Call Violi postmodern or modern, but he is a contemporary poet who has found a voice that is distinctly his own. His poetry is art yet from seeing him read and in reading his poems out loud there is a distinct tone that makes them pleasing to both the eye on the page and the ear as the words pass by.

Breakers is an impressive and memorable anthology of Paul Violi's poetry and aptly serves to introduce and make accessible some of his best work to a broader audience than would be otherwise possible. At The Chapel Cardinal Finale: Here is a painting on wood/by an unknown hand,/of hearty fishermen in an open boat,/hauling a cow out of the Bay of Naples./This painting smells:/an unfortunate odor no one/can eradicate or name.//Here, too, is a painting of the savior/from whose eyes many have attested/they have seen real tears fall./And I for one believe it to be so./For I have heard this said/of other paintings/and recalling how they are all/so unbelievably bad,/so poorly executed,/I have concluded that it is/the painters' utter ineptitude/that has made their very subject weep./Such is the miraculous power of art.

Being one of PJP's biggest fans I was on tenterhooks to find out how the holy father starts his day and boy oh boy I wasn't dissapointed.
This booki is jam packed with amusing anecdotes like the time the holy father met Rabbi Lionel Blue for coissants and prune juice on the Mary Magdalene verranda overlooking St Peter's Square.
The good Rabbi presented the pontiff with a glass case containing the foreskins of celebrity jews including Sammy Davis Junior and Dana International.
Oh how I laughed - Papal Bull? I thought I'd had a cow!
I found it holy enjoyable and I hope the sales are mass-ive.

I'm not Catholic but I was really looking forward to reading this book and I have only been disappointed in one area. If you like the Pope -and let's face he is a pretty popular guy- then you will like this book. Much of the wit and common sense that make John Paul II a favorite even among Protestants come through in his writings of which these readings are a sample. My only complaint is that there are 120 rather than 365 or 366. I would like to have had breakfast every day with the Pope rather than being shorted. I am sure there was sufficient material to fill a larger book. Maybe they are saving it for another repast.