I read the book 3years ago and practiced for a few weeks.My motive was to get rid of tendinitis in both elbows.I could not bend my arms to touch my face.In 2 weeks practice it was gone. I have now devoted myself to the practice. Thank you so much Master Paul Dong. It is my wish to learn from you in person.

I first read this delightful, easy to understand and useful little book some 6 years ago (1992). Every time I read it, I learn something new. The chapters are well written, simple to understand and provide anyone ignorant of qigong with a great deal of information.

I enjoyed the material so much that I contacted the author, Master Paul Dong, and have trained with him since 1993. His methods are useful, valid, and of great merit. I highly recommend the book, and if possible to contact Master Dong directly for one-on-one training.

I also highly recommend his book "Empty Force" with Thomas Raffill. The basics of the method are presented in the book in good detail. Some have made comments that the method of Empty Force is not real.

These people have never taken the time to train in the method with anyone qualified in it, so their opinion is very hollow and without substance or fact. Those people should just be ignored. Others say that because the method is effective about 60% of the time, that it is not useful. To those self appointed pundits I say:

On their best day their best punch will fail at least 40% of the time.

Does that make their method of martial arts a fabrication? No, it makes them what all things are: imperfect. I have been involved in Martial arts since 1 9 7 0, and am always looking for tools to serve me in a conflict, if the Lin Kong Jing/Powerful Empty Force did not work, i would not practice it, and would not have spent the past s i x years of my life training in it, and teaching it in seminars around the world. If it were anything less than real, I would not keep getting asked back to teach. decide for yourself however, train and learn!!!

Sincerely,

Richard Mooney Senior Student of Master Paul Dong

Since I read this book when I was twelve, the story has stayed with me. Eleven years later, while I lost my original copy, I have found myself searching for it again and again at libraries and in other places. Finally I found it here on Amazon and have ordered it so that I can read it again and again.

While the mystery isn't really much of a mystery at all, and is easy to solve, this story is heartwarming and compelling, and I truly believe that lovers of a good story should buy this book to keep and read again and again. Too bad it's out of print!

ok, I am doing a report on this book and I liked it very much. I came here to see what other people have said about it but no one has said anything. I guess that that is because it is so old, but it really is good.

This volume makes important contributions to our understanding of the Chinese revolution. . . . The entrenchment of networks of loyalty among local leaders and higher level officials of the emerging party-state is a central element of the authors' analysis. As the state extended its control over both the urban and rural economies, it increasingly monopolized the allocation of scarce resources. . . . Given the authors' trenchant critique of the Communist party's economically irrational commitment to rapid, large-scale collectivization, it is unfortunate that they have not addressed the implications of their work for the decollectivizing rural reforms of the post-Mao era, when many aspects of the peasant household economy have been restored. Perhaps there is a sequel in the making

It has been two years since I read this book, but I see it hasn't had a review yet, and I think it deserves one, so I add my two bits.

A very detailed analysis of the developments in rural Chinese society over a period of massive upheaval. Provides tremendous insight into the social mechanisms at play, and the interplay of contemporary political movements with the traditional power structures in rural China. For anyone interested in or involved in rural development in China, a drama which is still going on in the 21st century, a must read. Also recommended for anyone interested in the interactions between policy-directed, centrally planned development and the way society responds to it.

Would like to see a similar follow up on the years between the cultural revolution and the present.

This was 63 pages of pure adventure. We thought we were geting a 30 page book and we were so delighted to see 63. The story was great and that monkey was his usual fun loving self. A great adventure and very informative at the same time. Our children didn't even realize that they were learning, while enjoying this book. Great pictures and the hieroglyphics table was a bit hit! We definitely recommend this one!

How can we begin to explain how fascinated we were with this adventure. The Egyptian pyramids alone is worth the reading. But the extensive background research material that the authors included, and the hireoglyphic alphabet table and a decoder is beyond exceptional. The resources for further knowledge about this region of the world had me in awe, and I've ventured through the pyramids before. The story line was something right out of a movie. The ancient map, the missing treasure, the bad guys, the chase, all made for an exciting read. We truly enjoyed the illustrations, and phototgraphs. If you need an instant vacation, pick up a copy of this book. While it may be written for children by children, it is sophisticated story telling, that any age will enjoy and this was only volume 1. We can't wait for volume 2 and 3. A Great Read!

Mrabet is a fantastic story teller.So good, in fact , that when his books first came out critics claimed they were written by Paul Bowles himself. Which isn't true, Bowles merely recorded and then translated the stories. This particular book is largley autobiographical, dealing with Mrabet's life trying to surrvive in his native land. We get a glimpse into the inner-workings of his mind and Morrocan culture as well with its exotic rituals, black magic, spells and anti-spells, and blurring of fantasy and reality. Mrabet lays down the line raw and simple, understateing much of the action, which makes the brutal, violent scenes all the more abrupt and shocking. It's eastern sensibilities slam up against our own western cultural perceptions and shatter them with a kind of quiet, primal delight. Every fan of Bowles needs to own this book.

Paul Bowles, aclaimed author of The Sheltering Sky, actually recorded Mrabet's tales and then translated them. Being set in North Africa, and deriving from a tradition of oral story telling, this book is an exotic adventure. The stories are brutaly honest, often violent and startling ; peices of middle-eastern magic float up from every page. Writeing fom such a culturally different veiw point, Mbaret does an exellent job of takeing westeners into the unique mind-sets of his characters. Over all, an amazing journey if your mind is open enough to take it.

I find it very funny that the dope from Minn, ripped apart the book while giving a 5 star rating. Stupid is as stupid does.

I am an upper middle-class Catholic who works with educated people in a university setting who is very disappointed by the way the Church responds to the demands of my fellow citizens for a Church that affirms and nurtures them toward a more enlightened understanding of what it means to be an empowered Christian who liberates others from the bonds of poverty, AIDS, unemployment, disabilities, etc. We need a Pope who is capable of making something more of his time and our with the platitudes that are contained in this book. There is nothing that touches us, so cold and unfeeling it is in its approach to the historical Jesus who, after all, is more like us than we can ever imagine. If other women, especially women like Mary Daly, Rosemary Radford Ruether, Starhawk, Madonna Kolbenschlag, Joan Chittister -- the true intellectuals of the Church (along with Thomas Merton and Thomas Moore -- see his work on sexuality!)our children would be the beneficiaries of the next renaissance and not His Holiness's high handed attitude.

The Christmas Collie is a beautiful story of a child and his dog as they grow together. It is a story of friendship, love, and sharing through the stages of life.

The art work in this book pulls a child into its story. It is so realistic that a child actually wants to be a part of pictures that impart so much feeling between a boy and his beautiful Collie dog. This is an excellent story to be used in a classroom sitting if the reader can control the tears.

This nostalgic story of the bond between a boy and his dog is a sensitive look at those things that make beautiful memories and strong family traditions. THE CHRISTMAS COLLIE will bring tears of joy to all readers, young and old.

THE CHRISTMAS COLLIE should be read over and over again to savor the deep feelings that it brings to the heart and soul. SHARE IT WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!!

Ever wondered how your life would have turned out - if only... This is a story that will make you realise how our lives are a web of coincidences - or maybe it's faith? It's also a journey in time and space, set in beautiful surrondings in both in Sweden and New Zealand. It's a sad, wonderful and romantic, and yet never ever sentimental, story about a love larger than life, and what happens when a lovestory like that ends abruptly by a terrible accident.

Goran Tunstrom, who unfortunately died earlier this year, was following in the great tradition of Swedish storytellers like Selma Lagerlof and Vilhelm Moberg. Don't miss out!

Tunstroem fuses the oratorio form and lyrical language to create a captivating intergenerational story of love, loss and faith. It is set in Sweden, New Zealand and Kansas, and is accessible to readers from anywhere on the globe

Church musicians are not entertainers, but ministers of worship. This book affords perspective and focus to the varied aspects of this ministry of leading people in worship through song. Practical issues that confront the musician are here discussed; some of them an experienced musician would already know, some would give new insights and some others would provide a fresher approach.

The musician as a leader of worship has an enormous responsibility of leading the worshippers in prayer, which he shares with the other ministers. The different aspects of working with the pastor and possible difficulties are also discussed. If all the ministers kept in mind the fundamental principle that they work together for the people of God, tensions could be avoided. The contents of the book are relevant for anyone who is working at the act of worship in our churches including pastors, choir directors, organists, cantors, choir members etc. The scope of this book goes beyond any particular denomination. Any minister of a Christian church would find this book relevant, useful and interesting. The book has an Introduction by Martin E Marty and a list of books recommended for a musician's library.

I feel that this book should be on the shelf of every musician in America. It speaks on very modern topics. This book should be advertised all over the world.

Christine Paul's The Circle Of Life is an engaging and rewarding story of reconcilement and the quest for meaning. When Evelyn Justison, a seventy-five year-old woman with an estranged daughter and no grandchildren, outlives her sister-in-law, she begins to question why she still lives -- as does Pastor Eric Masterson, who has moved to her home town of Crow River to cope with the grief of outliving his wife and son. The Circle Of Life is an enthusiastically recommended, gentle novel of "golden years" compassion, romance, and acceptance.

In her first novel, Gudhemma, Christine Paul demonstrated the alacrity with which she can deal with emotional and spiritual issues using children and ordinary, small-town characters. In an era in which many writers find it necessary to construct protagonists with deep mental illness to make their points,this in itself was refreshing. In her latest work, The Circle of Life, she skillfully weaves a tale involving down-home, likeable adult characters that demonstrates the importance of dealing with one's own inner demons and past hurts.