Sweet Uncertainty is an engaging fantasy about a boy, his rodeo-loving family, a winged horse, and two friends from another dimension. Hazard Stiles grows up quickly, as he saves his father from certain death, locates a stolen horse and confronts the thieves. With the help of his new friends--Polytumba and Ashalla--Hazard learns patience and grows in wisdom; and, the entire family learns about death--is it final? ... Or not? The characters in this book are so clearly drawn that they remained with me for a long, long time. I recommend this book to those who enjoy "losing themselves" in a good story, and especially to those who like horses, ranches and the American West.

A great book that reminds us of the vitality of the myths of the old west. I recommend it to anyone interested in history and Native American lore. Rodeo fans will enjoy this book.

A long time client of mine, who is also the most successful salesman I know, said that this is the only good book on selling he has ever read (and he claims to have looked at all the standard ones). The book describes the great swindles of the world (Spnanish Prisoner, Ponzi, etc.) from the point of view of what the swindler has to convince the mark of in order for the swindle to succeed. He then shows how the same principles apply to selling.

Arthur Leff was a brilliant philosopher/law professor at Yale Law School who died of cancer at age 48. Anything he wrote is worth reading, but this one is especially good, and is relevant to all the Spanish Prisoner-type scams that show up in email today (often in the form of "just a few dollars needed to release a fortune in a blocked account somewhere in Africa". Too bad it is out of print.

This is a classic of legal analysis, and a joy to read. Leff has a lucid prose style and a very interesting idea: that the line between "fraud" and "sales" is much less clear than either lawyers or consumers might think. Leff explains how the art of the deal consists of convincing buyers of exactly the same kinds of things that the art of fraud often involves. He leaves you with a new appreciation for the complexities, and sometimes incoherence, of much consumer regulation. This is not in any way a libertarian rant, or an argument against rules but rather a recognition that life is very complicated and a reminder of problems that won't go away

I felt chilled reading this collection of Poe's all time best stories. I especially loved the eerieness of The Cask of Amontialldo and the insanity of the narrator in the The Balck Cat, all so frightly believable. The illustrations top it off by adding a magical touch of frightful imagery to the collection.

I read this book about a year ago and loved it. I'm the type of person who reads before they go to sleep and I had to put this book down because it was so frightening. I loved the way Poe drew me into the story and kept me begging for more. I was always curious to know what happened next, even if I was terrified. My favorite of all the stories was the "Cask of Amontillado". It was so creative how you became almost like a part of the story.

This translation is simple and lucid. Footnotes at the bottom of each page help to explain choice of language and meaning of metaphors. Arthur Waley has a clear understanding of the text and is able to represent it in English in a meaningful way, allowing the reader to easily digest concepts and put them into practice.

A fine book of wisdom with clear text and honest concepts.

I have been a fan of Kay Arthur's ever since I first began studying my Bible. Her International Inductive Study series is very good for someone who wants to get to know God's Word better. Kay's study of the Penteteuch is a wonderful starting place for those who are not familiar with the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Although the lessons take longer than the fifteen minutes it claims on the back, they are good tools for helping you observe what the text is saying. Even if these books are familiar to you, Kay helps open up God's word to you in a new way!

If you desire to seriously study these biblical books in great detail, then you would probably find her Precepts courses more helpful than this bible study. But all in all, a wonderful place to start your study of His Word.

I have been reading the Bible for many years now, but in a casual reading it is easy to miss so much of the detail and meaning of the stories that are being told. This book helped me slow down enough in my reading and to repeat my reading enough so that I understood what was going on in a much more profound way. It takes only 15-20 minutes a day and is a great way to do a quiet time.

What a great idea: to write the story of one imaginary class as it moves from grades K through 5 encountering different (but always reflective and hard working) teachers. It's a practical look at powerful literacy instruction in action. The teachers' "monthly logs" give the reader a peek inside their heads as they plan and evaluate their programs. This is a good read for brand new teachers (they will surely identify with "Miss Nouveau" in second grade!) and all those who strive to improve their instructional practice.

This is a great book and goes right along with the Four Blocks Literacy Program. It really explains how to implement the program in a sequential manner. After teaching Four Blocks this year I am excited to read this book. It really makes sense and I know will be a big help next year.

In the most conversational tone, Dr. Ellis invites new teachers to create classrooms that fully engage real children in real situations that result in real understanding. Infused in each chapter is a reminder of the ultimate purpose of education, which is the development of inquisitive and thoughtful people who can investigate life and solve problems cooperatively. He does a remarkable job of avoiding the trap of sacrificing depth for breadth. A good portion of this book is actually a literacy text encouraging every teacher to develop thoughtful and effective reading, writing, and communication by establishing a culture of inquiry and response and shared culture. His introductory chapters are actually short outstanding synopses of educational theory.

Ellis communicates a deep respect for the subject matter concepts and how children can grasp them as opposed to the random collection of facts. Considering other texts of its type, this looks like Joy of Cooking compared to Betty Crocker.

I enter graduate school in the fall in elementary education. I have no education credits in my bachelors, so I picked up this book to give me some background about social studies. My first graduate class will be "How to teach social studies." This is an excellent overview and is written in a very easy-to-understand fashion. The "sidebars" of information and the "checkups" on assessing your personal values system are very helpful. I am grateful Dr. Ellis took the time to write it and I am sure it will help prepare me for the graduate class on the subject.

Magnificent book. A wonderful introduction to Maharshi and his teachings. Makes you feel who the man was, what he meant, how your life can be transformed. Never boring, exciting reading. You will not regret buying this one. To be read over and over again when you feel you lose touch...

Send me a copy of the book, and I'll gladly review it, as would any academician.

Jeremy Horne, Ph.D. jhorne1@hotmail.com

(Please do not release my name to would-be spammers.)

I cannot recall another novel that so expertly managed to weave together so many elements of old and new world metaphysics. If I had to label it, I would term it a gnostic novel. The author obviously has a profound understanding of the subject matter.

The first part of the story takes place in the future in a world and society that is suffocating on it's own decay and corruption. It is a dieing world- yet most of the inhabitants go on playing the same sort of power games that killed their world in the first place. This is the Kali Yuga- the age of iron. The only exception are a handfull of exceptional individuals with the ability to enter the "green vault" where they can commune with the Goddess.

The second part of the story deals with how those who have found the "green vault" are allowed to transcend time and space and see the intermediate events and mistakes through the ages that progressively resulted in their own dieing world.

The third part of the novel is set in the civilzation of the Mayans. At first you the transition is disorientating, until you realise that it is mysteriously the same world as part one- only new, whole, and healthy. The cycle has come full circle. The golden age has once again arisen from the death of the age of iron- the cosmic cycle has gone full circle.

The choice of title was appropriate, for in greek "telos" refers to both final outcomes and to purpose in the cosmos.

Telos is a unique sort of novel. It is neither allegory, nor fact, nor fiction, but a reflection of the very nature of things. Nowhere have I found a work of fiction that shows a such a profound understanding and synthesis of Gnostic, Neoplatonic, Hermetic, Buddhist and Mayan philosophy.

As for the story itself, it takes place in the endtimes, the Kali Yuga, the age of iron. It is the ultimate outcome of a world of materialist, linear thinking- crumbling, poisioned, dying, and hopeless. The images are very reminiscent of William S. Burroughs and his _Cities of the Red Night_. Yet, even here and even now, a few individuals have the ability to transcend the veil for the good of all.

The title was apply chosen, for "Telos" is Greek for end, completion....or final causes and purpose. That is what this book is about the goals, ends, and purposes behind the cosmic cycles of the Indian Yugas, the great cycles of the Mayas, or of the Platonic Great Year.

There is more of real value in this slim volume (156 pages) than many writers put to paper in their entire careers with millions of empty words.

Set in the 1800's, The Texas Tetrad by Arthur F. Surovic is an attention gripping historical novel of the four Burkett brothers who must fight for their land grant against Comanches, cattle rustlers, Santa Anna's Mexican Armies, and even the greed of the U.S. officials spanning the rise of the Texas Republic to its inclusion into the United States and the bloody conflicts of the Civil War. Highly recommended reading for any western genre fan, the hair-raising exploits filling the pages of The Texas Tetrad represent a deftly written saga of adventure, gunplay, and bitter sacrifice.

This is a novel that appeals to everyone. It has adventure and romance, plus intriguing character development. A page turner that moves along at a good pace. Its battle scenes are as graphic as any in memory and its relationships are interestingly drawn. This is one that you won't want to put down!