I had the chance to meet Joe the Autumn before his death in a classroom at Western Kentucky University. He had the amazing gift of seducing an entire room with his reading, and helping the rest of us become better poets. Breckenridge County Suite hit the nail so clearly on the head of what it was to grow up in the South, that despite the construction, remains partially frozen in memory. I wonder, mostly for selfish reasons, what greatness he could have achieved were he still alive.

Whenever I think I don't have any more poems to write, I turn to Joe. He found the rational in the irrational, the sane in the insane. He made everything real. Every normalcy was overturned for me because of him. His need to examine what is right in front of our eyes was extremely... EXTREME. I'm just so sad I never had the opportunity to meet him.

The work is haunting and beautiful. This is an essential book for poets/readers who love the harsh and beautiful light of Raymond Carver or the lyric beauty of classic poetry. A tragedy he's not here to write more. I attended the same MFA program as the writer. He had an affect on the entire program for years.

This is a great little book. The stretches are wonderful for beginners or people with physical limitations. All stretches ared done either standing or sitting in a chair. The book lies flat, and it even includeds a CD, so when you've gone through the routine a few times with the pictures, you can just use the CD to lead you through the poses in exactly 15 minutes. No mat or blocks or straps or other equipment are needed. This is the best little yoga warmup book I've ever seen, and really is a great value for the price! Try it, you'll like it. :)

I have been practicing Yoga for many years and teaching classes for a few. But I've never seen a little book that so effectively portrays Yoga as accessible and fun for people at any level of ability. I was given a copy by a participant in my morning class. After reading and 'doing' it I ordered 5 copies to give to my Yoga-reluctant friends for Christmas. One copy went to an octogenarian friend who suffers respiratory difficulties. I went to visit her yesterday, only to find her in the bedroom, book open, CD playing and actually practicing her new-found Yoga! But even as 'easy' as the program is, I use it myself on the mornings I just can't kick-start my own practice. It feels great, I get present and fully awake, and it reminds me that it is the breath that is the soul of Yogic practice. I can recommend and endorse this book without reservation. It is a jewel to be treasured!

A lovely little book, simply and beautifully written, which details a 15 minute morning workout that can really make a diference if practiced regularly. The accompanying CD will make sure one sticks to the timeframe :) The book is very nicely produced, hardback with ringbinding inside, so it lays flat, thus making it easier to look at the illustrations the first time thru. The writer gets into the philosophy of yoga simply and concisely, and even manages to give nice little explanations of the yoga sutras and an excellent guide to meditation. Oh - and the drawings and colours used are so cute!

Is God prompting you to include a disabled person in your circle of friends? Are you uncertain of what to do next? Are you uneasy about perhaps offending the person by your interest? Dr. Jim Pierson, a speech pathologist, advocate, educator, and pastor, has used his years of experience to produce a slim, practical volume that will dispel your questions and give you the confidence to follow God's leading. No specialized education or professional skills are necessary to be a friend. The beginning of a life-enriching friendship between you and a disabled person is as simple as introducing yourself and asking, "What is your name?" Each chapter introduces the reader to another of Dr. Pierson's friends with his or her unique perspective on life and on the opportunities our God provides. Mental, physical, emotional, and learning disabilites are defined and illustrated, and very practical suggestions are given for working past difficulties in communication, mobility, and social behavior. Dr. Pierson emphasizes that whether a person's disability has been present from birth or acquired at a later time, each person must be included in a social and spiritual community. Friendship is an expression of love. The most lasting love ensures that each friend is included in God's kingdom. Begin with simple social pleasures: invitations to coffee or dinner at home or at a restaurant. Disabled people are people first, and they enjoy sports, hobbies, gardens, and festive events. However, unlike nondisabled people, their opportunities to enjoy these things are usually more limited. Once a relationship is established, there will be obvious opportunities for both of you to express faith and trust in God's promises. Be ready to exercise the spiritual fruit of patience as you begin to communicate and understand one another. Do not be afraid to admit when you don't understand immediately. After you have conquered these problems, you will share joy.Whether or not communication is easy, there is never a barrier to the work of the Holy Spirit. Every soul can learn God's loving care and intent for His people. When the friendship reaches spiritual levels, invite your friend to attend worship with you. If he or she is already involved in another congregation, attend their services occasionally. Dr. Pierson has developed easy, step-by-step procedures to assist church staff in expanding their educational opportunities to include disabled people. Of particular interest is a chart that explains the symptomatic behaviors of autism in terms that anyone can understand. This and other basic how-to information on each type of disability will make classroom inclusion of disabled students much less stressful. Disabilities rearrange the lives of family members too. They often need assistance to cope with the stresses of accepting diagnoses and making lifestyle changes. Ordinary family chores can become a burden when therapy sessions occupy a major part of each day. Befriend the family of your disabled friend as well. Intercessory prayer, practical assistance, and listening ears make waiting for the removal of every disability much easier (God promises that each one is temporary). Our God, who calls the lame his beloved remnant (Micah 4:6, 7), loves the diversity of each unique person. This book can assist all of us in molding our lives and congregations to be clearer reflections of His kingdom.

Jim Pierson has delivered a heart-touching book. This collection of vignettes from Jim's experiences present real people with disabilities who have come to faith because of the ministry of those who care. Each chapter concludes with helpful ministry hints. Pierson is eminently well qualified to write this book. An outstanding preacher, most of his professional life has been devoted to mininstry with those who have disabilities. For 17 years, he directed the East Tennessee Children's Rehabilitation Center in Knoxville. He has developed a minor in disability ministry at Johnson Bible College, also in Knoxville, and teaches courses in that program. He is a special consultant to Standard Publishing for the development of materials and services to churches interested in ministering to those with disabilities. He is currently the director of The Christian Church Foundation for the Handicapped in Louisville. His entire professional focus-and much of his personal interest-is involved with ministry to those with disabilites. The hints for extending friendship and ministry at the end of each chapter are invaluable resources for any individual who wishes to reach out to those who are disabled. The book is a must handbook for every Christian.

We have read numerous books on disibility ministry. Without a doubt, we would have to say that "No Disabled Souls" is the best book we've encountered in this field. It is easy and enjoyable reading, yet practical. It outlines bite size steps for individuals and churches to take as they enter the world of disability ministry. We are recommending this book to all.

In this fascinating book, the authors (both sociology professors) look at the evolution of the American religious landscape since the Revolutionary War. In their study, they discovered three trends. First of all, in frontier areas (which in 1776 still included whole swaths of the thirteen colonies) there was a larger proportion of men to women, and consequently a lower rate of church attendance. As areas became settled, the proportion of men to women decreased, and the rate of church attendance increased.

Secondly, they found that sects (religious organizations with a high level of tension with their surrounding sociocultural environment) tended to have a higher rate of growth, and a higher level of commitment than churches (religious organizations with a low level of tension with their environment). The third trend is that over time, sects transform themselves into churches, lowering their demands on members and as such lessoning their tension with their environment.

As they follow American history, they show how these trends affected the growth and/or decline of the fortunes of various churches, both Protestant and Catholic. I must admit to have been absolutely captivated by this book. Not only do the author make an excellent case for their theory, but also the book itself is compelling reading. I was especially interested in what the authors had to say about how denominations change, and what it means.

I greatly enjoyed this book, and recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the Christian church in the United States.

This easy to read work intrigues. It does this by carefully challenging the previous conclusions of the churching of America, i.e. Ahlstrom et al.

Starting with Colonial times, it reviews the quantitative analysis and the qualitative conclusions as well. It determined that much beginning from these times on has been distorted by bias and not using the best census material available.

They deduce that successful church movements base their focus on otherworldliness, starting out thus as sects which grow. The tendency however is to eventually make minor concessions to the culture, thus shifting the emphasis away from what gave them success, high tension with their culture towards lowered levels. This cyclical pattern they have found repeated over and over, the sects becoming churches thereby giving birth to new sects that revitalize the church and grow.

The pattern begins with the upstart Baptists and Methodists outgrowing the established Congregationalists, etc. Then themselves, especially the Methodists losing their dominant position to new groups.

Their conclusions are fascinating, disputing much of the established findings of scholarly American Christian history. Rather than finding the changes in churched American as attributable to sudden cultural/societal glitches, rather the authors find "a long, slow and consistent increase in religious participation form 1776 to 1926--with the rate inching up slightly after 1926 and then hovering near 60 percent. Second, they conclude that the primary factor is what they term "the sect-church process" (roughly sketched out above) in supporting the progress in America.

The future? They place confidence in humans as "rational beings, not puppets enslaved to the strings of history and always have the capacity to choose." Their surveys and literature they use suggest that American will continue to want and find or start movements which maximize otherworld rewards sufficient to inspire sacrifice.

One must remember this is sociology speaking, not theology. Theology of the best kind tells of God's unfolding plan of salvation (heilsgesitche) which will occur exactly as God has planned. True faith, belief and membership in this salvation is His doing through His church, where His Word and Sacraments are truly spoken and distributed.

Even though this book was published eight years ago, it still ought to be on the book shelf of any serious student of American Christianity, and be a part of the strategic knowledge base of any denominational executive who pretends to know what it will take for his or her denominational organization to be a viable force for societal and spiritual transformation in the twenty-first century.

The 214 years of American religious history covered by this book represents the transformation from a time when as a nation most people took no part in organized religion, to a time when nearly two-thirds do. The continual founding of new religious movements during this two-century period has allowed for a freshness that could not be controlled by institutionalized religion.

The control exercised by established churchlike religious organizations in the past actually led to their decline. They could not survive in a free market religious economy. Methods of establishing control included identifying a state-endorsed church, controlling who could be ordained and serve as pastors, and having a non-congregational polity or form of governance.

While it may seem to be a contradiction, it the high expectations that religious organizations--particularly congregations--place on individual believers that results in a tenacious and growing church movement. What was true in 1776 is still true in 2000 and beyond. To discover the secrets of past and future success and vitality, purchase and read this book.

I read this book after meeting the author in summer 2000 at Volk WANGB. I should have enjoyed it, but I didn't. The reason for that is that I met the author and read the book at a time that I went through some very scary things that the book talks about. To put it in the author's words (faultily remembered): "I distrusted the Japanese when I heard about Manchuria. My distrust turned to anger when I heard about Pearl Harbor. My anger turned to hatred when I heard about Bataan. Later, I learned that we invaded Indian lands. Then I heard about how we sent troops in while we negotiated with them. Finally, I heard about the Trail of Tears, in which Indians were marched from Florida to Oklahoma and buried alive if they could not keep up."
Despite, my personal feelings coinciding with the book, I have read it several times and have recommended it to several friends, including one of my teachers- it is a must-read book!

My father wrote this book. It is an extraordinary story about an extraordinary man. It reveals to us the fact that we are all really connected on a deep level and that war is such a cruel experience for anyone to go through.

50 years my father fought against the Japanese. Now they are his in-laws. What a co-existence of opposites! This is a wonderful book about how a man can fight against a whole country and then 40 years later fall in love with the people and the culture he fought against. Be ready for an emotional ride and a wonderful ending.

This book is very well written and easy to read. I especially liked the part where Jerry Yellin is explaining what the Baatan Death March is to Yas, his Japanese friend. Jerry askes Yas how the Japanese could be so cruel. Yas comes back with how Americans treated the American Indian during the March of Tears and they go on to discuss the bombing of Hiroshima. This part is very inlightening. I would recommend this book to teenagers and adults alike. In fact we will be selling it shortly in the bookstore of the War in the Pacific National Historical Park on the island of Guam.

This is a superb book for any practitioner working in primary care. It covers all important subjects completely and concisely. I used it to review for my boards with the review book that goes with it and I was very prepared. I highly recommend this text.

I found this review book an excellent source of knowledge and simple to understand. This book by passes all the intricate biochemical details and present the meat and potatoes so to speak. The wisdom of the pearls make this book unique. I recommend this book to any professional in a primary care setting.

This is the most comprehensive and concise medical text that I have ever used....so reader friendly. It has over 70 contributors from all over the country.

Sherry's flowing writing describes a woman's heroic evolution that shouts and sings of the ways and means of character development with which most women can identify. Each phase of her heroine's journey is beautifully and movingly painted on her own artistic canvas, inviting the reader to participate in her intimate,propelling rituals. This is spiritual food for seekers of insightful and uplifting nourishment.

A Woman's Walk is a beautifully written book that has greatly inspired me. The book is straightforward and eloquent. It's a true life story of the faith and strength of a woman. Any woman who reads it will appreciate it's pure honesty.

Ms. Wells writes eloquently about one woman's evolving commitment to follow her own path and honor herself while at the same time maintaining authentic relationships with other people. While these pages are filled with as much pain as beauty, the reader comes away from the book filled with inspiration to continue her own journey toward self-realization. Unless you are that exceedingly rare creature who is and always has been completely content with her life, read this book, and learn, and dream, and hope.

I have to admit I shied away from reading this book. Working in the cardiac field, you get bombarded with books.....and often get confusing and conflicting messages. Often in their zeal to show all they know , authors tend to bombard the reader with reams of information....usually not helpful. Heart Smart was sitting at the bedside of a friend undergoing cardiac catherization....so I asked her if it had been helpful. When she said "yes", I decided to read it. This slim volume is packed full of patient-friendly information, and no nonsense hints for preparing for cardiac procedures and reccomendations to aid recovery.It is filled with easy to understand explainations of diagnosis and straight forward ( and not overwhelming] explainations of procedures, and treatments. It is easy to read, full of practical advice (ie" keep a list of medicatons you are taking, amounts and frequency, with you....you can't believe how many patients are unsure of what they are taking) and encourages the patient to be a part of their care and recovery. it is very patient empowering.....I think this is one of the moststraight forward patient-friendly books I have come across. An excellent tool.

I work in a Critical Care unit of a large hospital and daily take care of people receiving the proceedures discussed in this potentially lifesaving book. Even if you do nothing more than read the first chapter, you may have saved your life or the life of a loved one and your small investment in the cost of this book will be worthwhile. If you choose the read the subsequent chapters you will gain additional knowledge about the types of proceedures available and what to expect should you need to receive these lifesaving treatments. Dr. Badger does not forget about prevention in this book. He recognizes the value of prevention but sometimes prevention just isn't enough. If you need any of these precedures it will be too late to read this book and receive full benefit but even then, there is benefit to be had! Get this book! Read this book!

Being part of a critical care unit as an RN I am involved in the dynamics of cardiac care and its interventions. I am always interested in appropriate teaching information to offer the patients that have heart disease. Badger's book is perfect for patients as it doesn't require a health professional to interpret the terminology of the script. The smart tips offered throughout the book is eye catching, easy to remember and applicable. This is important, not only as a health care practitioner but personally too. To see individuals with heart disease turn it around and stop its progression is life enhancing. Helpful practical and intelligently written books that are understandable for the public is imperative to help see a healthier society. Badgers book fulfills this criteria.

IT REALLY EXPLAINS IN AN EASY WAY ALL THE BASIC AND FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS ABOUT THE STOCK MARKET AND THE MOST POPULAR INVESTMENTS. IF YOU ARE A BEGINNER, IT SHOULD BE YOUR BOOK.

Sallie Mae, Freddie Mac, Investment grade, junk bonds, Moody's, averages, indexes, up-tick, supply and demand, coupons, convertibles, mutual funds, inflation, corporate structure, IPO's, OTC, volatility, types of trades, derivatives, financial statements, etc.

This book has everything. It is perfect for somebody who has started to dabble in stocks and is looking to become a little more sophisticated.

I will read this book multiple times and keep it as a desk reference. Everything is so organized right where you need it! It even gives you a few sentences of background to give you a feel for why things are the way they are. It explains where things got their names from. It is a GOOD BOOK.

I would not recommend this book for a total novice. It might be a little too much. But for somebody who has seen all these terms banging around for a while, this clears stuff up so much.

The organization is amazing. It just all fits together like never before.

Rod Davis shows how microeconomic, market and industry concepts interrelate and, eventually, how they affect the net wealth of each individual investor. This book nicely combines the big-picture approach with simple explanation of quantitative indicators/calculations. The stock market will not seem that much of puzzle to you after you've read this book.