Este es un libro que nadie deberia perderse. Pero eso si, se debera estar preparado para leer, leer y leer, por que te atrapa desde la primera linea. Escrito con el corazon va directo al corazon. Es desgarrante incluso cuando pretende hacerte reir. Como el payaso, llora Cuba detras de la risa. Te aclara dudas, cubano como pocos y no contiene una sola mentira. Gracias Lichi, por todo!.

Para quienes son cubanos y para quienes no lo son, este libro es una maravilla. Lleno de vivencias, de recuerdos, de memorias, pero sobre todo, lleno de honestidad y de valor. Admiro al hombre que ha escrito con su vida, su propia version de la tragedia cubana. Nadie podra llegar al final sin que le tiemble el corazon.

In ISLAND OF THE SUN, co-authored with Erik Jendresen, Alberto Villoldo relates his Peruvian odyssey in search of his teacher, Don Antonio. ISLAND OF THE SUN is a dramatic, poetic adventure -- a profound exercise in suspending ones disbelief, in expecting the unexpected, in stretching the imagination, and in shattering the boundaries of consciousness. In short, it gives a glimpse into the mind of a shaman. It has been said that to know and understand a shaman, one must become a shaman. Villoldo has become a shaman. His story is a captivating articulation of his journey into the unknown; its imagery, vivid and enchanting - "the Sun glistened in playful white sparkles of light on the green waters. I listened to the cicada hiss, the high-pitched cacophony of the birds and the insects, the whir and hiss and chatter and hum that bounced off its surface and filled the clearing with music."

Villoldo sees his mission as that of translating the ancient psychology and truths contained in the Medicine Wheel of the Incas into a Western framework - into a psychology of the sacred. He sees the Medicine Wheel as providing a neurological map for the evolution and transformation of our species by accessing the state of consciousness that informs life. He sees the Medicine Wheel as offering a path through which we can override the oftentimes violent survival mechanisms of our primitive limbic brain.

Villoldo presents the symbolic imagery of the archetypal energies contained in the Medicine Wheel. In the South (serpent), we confront and shed the past like a serpent sheds its skin. In the West (jaguar), we overcome fear and death. By experiencing ourselves as conscious energy, death loses its sting and becomes but a doorway to one of infinite phases in eternity. In the North (hummingbird), we experience the knowledge and wisdom of the ancients. We access a sea of consciousness as vast as time itself. In the East (eagle), we experience a transcendent, comprehensive, vision of what we have learned. We share our story with the world as caretakers of the earth. That, he says, is our return home.

The psychology of the ancients is based on direct shamanic experience in different domains of consciousness. Its approach -- of experience and exploration -- is from the inside out; its goal -- to know, understand, and be in harmony with the forces of Nature. In Villoldo's experience, that approach requires a new state of mind - one that allows but is not distracted by subjective experiences. The skills required come naturally in the process of "serving experiences." He explains that when one's intent is in harmony with the experience, it is served. Otherwise, it is just an experience.

In shamanic awareness, Villoldo experienced innumerable altered states of reality by shifting his perspective to unaccustomed dimensions. The most profound, for me, was his experiencing the integrity of a multisensory dream body awareness in which everything was reflected within him. He described it as like being a champagne bubble with all images of life reflected upon its inner surface. As his teacher later pointed out, in that, everything was reflected but the seer himself, for the seer is invisible.

Purity of intention is the key to shamanic exploration. Abandoning preconceptions is necessary and essential. To master the stillness required in the dream body, Villoldo says that one learns how to be conscious without being self-conscious. Through purity of intention, it is said to be possible to enter a realm beyond dreaming -- a wondrous, rich dimension of magnificent power and splendor. Maintaining purity of intention is the challenge.

Shamans of Peru practiced an alchemy of the soul. They were said to be able to influence the past as well as the future because they understood the relationship between time and light. It is said that in becoming light (an Inca, a Child of the Sun), time was dissolved. Shamans knew that time doesn't fly only in straight lines like an arrow - it also turns like a wheel. When those two kinds of time intersect, says Villoldo, that is sacred, ritual time -- one can influence the past and summon destiny from the future. The challenge is not to let knowledge of the future influence present actions or intent. Therefore, the shaman must be able to keep a secret from himself.

Villoldo's teacher, Don Antonio, points out that in all the great cultures developed north of the equator, God is a descending god -- the Divine comes from the heavens and descends to the Earth. For the Incas, the only great culture to develop south of the equator, the god-force is ascending -- it "rises from Earth to the heavens like the golden corn." Antonio envisions the new caretakers of the Earth as coming from the northern hemisphere. ( A prophecy of hope and perhaps even a vote of confidence, I think, for those of us in the northern hemisphere.)

Villoldo points out the paradox of psychology -- that when we study the human mind, it is the mind studying itself. He adds that modern science has failed to identify the psyche or subject of this study. The mind continues to evade us. From his extensive laboratory research as a psychologist and his inquiries as a medical anthropologist, Villoldo testifies that mind cannot be derived from the neurology of the human brain. He believes that psychology is like physics in that the act of studying the psyche alters it . Villoldo strongly believes that now is the time for humankind to turn consciousness on itself and step into a grander consciousness in the evolution of mankind. He sees the path of the shaman as giving us clues for this process of exploration, discovery, realization, and transformation. He sees the path of the shaman as offering hope for a better world and a new humanity.

This is a great tale, and fairly accurate and instructive. The Western world is sorely lacking in instruction about the non rational, can't put your tongue on it realities of which the author speaks. While what I know of Peruvian shamanism is very small compared to the author's knowledge and direct experience, I suggest that this effort to capture End Journeys is both admirable and riveting. I have used FOUR WINDS as a guide to non ordinary reality since my discovery of it as a legitimate map; my work in the Celtic otherworld supports what the author here describes in terms of the Peruvian landscapes of non ordinary reality. But personally, from a shamanic perspective, I want more of Antonio's accurate and real mentoring, and less of the neophyte journeyer's somewhat predictable story line. As a tale, the book is not as finely crafted as FOUR WINDS either. Nonetheless, a great read, but just not as instructive or as easy to read as I found FOUR WINDS. /D.L. Smith 12/12/98

I learned more about artchitecture from this book than during my 4 years at the University of Minn. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that is new to the field and working on becoming an Architect. I called Stephen Kieran at his frim and he even answered some questions for me.

The guy is a true professional.

I read this book and I was amazed. These guys are very talented to the level of Frank Lloyd Wright. If you share a love for architecture buy this book.

It also makes a great coffee table book and a good gift.

A.G. Ramos draws distinctions which are existentially informed, theoretically grounded, and remarkably unusual in the social sciences. Renowned as a sociologist, he steeped himself in classical and modern psychology and political theory. His approach to the organizational field was as a warrior, tracing the theoretical roots of contemporary writings and debunking what he considered to be widespread illiteracy in the field. His scope of reading was vast and thorough. He believed that the various ism's of the world were the source of contemporary ills and a manifestationn of what he characterized as "cognitive politics." He foresaw a world in which both communism and capitalism would fall of their own weight. He perceived a legitimate "delimited" role for the market in society and believed that paradoxes in its infinite extension would undermine the well-being of individuals, of persons in human association, and eventually, the political legitimacy of the state. He offered a critique of the notion of "wealth" propogated by Adam Smith (and which he demonstrated Adam Smith himself was ambivalent toward) and offered a reconceptualization of this notion, building upon critiques such as those of John Ruskin and Nicholas Berdayev and the contributions of some psychologists, particularly those writing in a sacred humanist tradition, and contributions in classical political theory, such as those of Eric Voegelin. Finally, appealing to a more embracing understanding of reasoning in which persons are understood to be moral agents, he builds upon Mary Parker Follett's "law of the situation" and delineates a further differentiated "law of requisite adequacy," which may be understood to provide a foundation for the "para-economic paradigm" he urges as a more inclusive framework than the economizing frame of reference which he argues with some persuasion, characterizes the science of formal organizations today. His appeal to the contemporary reader is to release him or herself from what he argues is the tacit Hobbesian assumptive base of prevailing patterns of modern life and a social science which has largely served to legitimate and accomodate ourselves to a world from which he believes there is ample evidence that we are more fundamentally alientated. In conclusion, he offers the outlines of an alternative toward which he hopes and believes we are incipiently if inchoately moving.

At the end of this book you may find the answer. This brazilian social scientist explains how the concept of wealth was distorted by the capistalist thought, turning the meaning of the word into a moneymaking synonimous, instead of its previous pre-capitalist meaning of social hapiness. Besides that, Ramos also says that management theory may not well fit into social organizations because of this unfortuned mistake. Try to think of a society where money doesn't make any sense. It happened once, and it sure may happen again in more humanistic world. Other references from the subject, try SERVA, Mauricio. Substantive Organizations Phenomena. Getulio Vargas Foundation, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Thesis for Doctorade Degree.

Sometimes science comes out of the shadows with a new discovery, and the real questions to be made are: "Who will really benefit of this thing?"; "Who will be sacrificed in order to satisfy those who will benefit?" this book not only deals with these topics, but also with things such as the right to kill someone else to survive, or if a human clone is nothing but living parts for surgeon. Great read.

He lei'do esta novela, fue' la primera de Figueroa que llego' a mis manos, y desde alli' le he seguido el paso. No en vano casi todos sus libros se han convertido en peli'culas. Aqui', la historia es ficticia, y Albert Vazquez muestra bastante dominio del campo de los seres dusplicados. Fascinante historia que me cuativo' desde el principio y la recomiendo a los que aman las aventuras y el supenso.

elena garro's depiction of post revolutionary rural mexico is an epic that must be read. although she is a little known author, outside of the literary world, she is one of the most influential novelists of latin america. Recuerdos del Porvenir is exceptional, the catastrophe of the revolution and its impact on pueblo life is authentic and poignant while Garro herself introduces the world to magical realism.

for those of you who have read 100 years of solitude, Garro's story precedes and has been noted as the influential work for GGM's own work many years later.

Esta novela de Elena Garro, Los Recuerdos del Porvenir, refleja la historia de una familia que vivia en un pueblo al sur de Mexico llamado Ixtepec. Ahi, los protagonistas no son en si la familia, sino que, el general Rosas y su amante Julia se llevan la trama a pasos agigantados. La historia de Mexico se ve envuelta en esta trama de los años revolucionarios, ya que los amigos del general y este ultimo, estuvieron en muchas reveliones. Ixtepec era un pueblo, donde las injusticias estaban a la orden del dia y donde tus propuestas por un pueblo mejor te eran ignoradas. Facilmente un miembro de alguna familia era ejecutado o colgado de una soga como trofeo anti-democratico. Elena Garro, como buena escritora que fue, nos lleva a ese pueblo sureño y nos hace entrar por la puerta principal como si fuesemos los protagonistas. En definitiva, Los Recuerdos del Porvenir, es sin duda una novela reveladora que poca difucion se le ha dado. La novela fue hecha en video por Arturo Ripstein, si alguien de ustedes sabe donde la puedo conseguir, por favor aganmelo saber a este E-mail:zorycorgan@hotmail.com Gracias y disfruten de esta obra!

Zorayda Contreras 24 de Abril, 2000

C. M. Mayo must receive kudos for this bilingual literary journal. Her goal is, in some ways, modest: to bring new Canadian, Mexican and U.S. writing to readers of English and Spanish. The execution of this goal, however, cannot be dismissed as simple. Anyone who has read different translations of the same work realizes that a bad translation can suck the soul out of a fine piece of literature. Here, with works translated either from English to Spanish, or vice versa, nothing is lost. This first issue of Tameme includes short stories, poems and essays by such wonderful writers as Margaret Atwood, Juan Villoro and Jaime Sabines, to name a few of the many authors featured. My favorite piece is "New York Day Women," by Edwidge Danticat, but there is something here for everyone. If you love literary journals, this one is a must.

Tameme makes a huge contribution to the literary scene of North America,as it makes available in the same volume exquisite writing from Canada,Mexico and the United States.But probably its main virtue is that it presents the pieces written in the original language and then translated either to Spanish or English.All of the translations are as beautiful as the original pieces.The editors should also be commended for the excellent presentation of the book.I will be anxiously waiting for a new number in what should become a series!

Bueno, revisando las ventas por estos lares, me doy cuenta de que no di información alguna sobre el libro Tinta Roja; y la verdad, eso es lo que debería hacer este post. Así que ahí va: El protagonista del libro es Alfonso, un periodista en práctica no más interesante que cualquier otro santiaguino, sin nada en especial en su vida o sus andares. Tiene una novia, que parece renegar de su rol en la pareja, y suele coquetear con los cercanos a Alfonso, pero que, a su vez, no conforma a éste de ninguna manera (no logran una buena comunicación, no se ven mucho, no tienen una vida sexual.. no activa ni pasiva: No existe). Todo eso cambia cuando llegan, Alfonso, Nadia (si novia) y otros estudiantes de periodismo en práctica, al diario sensacionalista el Clamor, que vendría siendo algo así como la voz del pueblo, de la masa. Alfonso va decidido a "avanzar" por Espectáculos, pero Nadia se le adelante, relegándolo a Policial, que por cierto, dirige Saúl Faúndez, quien, en el un futuro previo, determinará gran parte del destino de Fernández (Alfonso). Alfonso está apestado (aburrido) de su vida, de su realidad. Había postulado él a otro diario, menos sensacionalista, y'más respetado por su cultura, pero por un error de una secretaría probablemente más apestada de la vida que él, termina cayendo en un diario como lo es el clamor (para aquellos chilenos que lean esto, el clamor es el equivalente a la cuarta). Ahpi nace esta historia, se termina la gran introducción que se comprende por los primeros capítulos. Lo que más sobresale de este libro son los diálogos, tremendamente bien escritos, revisados,actuales y reales. Sin duda Fuguet trabajó ese punto.. Lo que no convence demasiado es el final y el principio, aquéllos cambios de época abruptos, probablemente copiados de Vargas Llosa. Pero, a pesar de que se nota un final muy marcado, como adelantado, el libro cumple con lo que uno le pide. Desde que empieza el tiempo que corresponde a la práctica de Alfonso, uno no puede dejar de lado el libro. Cuesta terminarse el primer capítulo, aquél en que narra un señor de unos cincuenta años amargado e inmaduro. De igual forma, es mpas fácil terminar la historia, puesto que se ha recorrido un gran texto ya. O sea, el libro es una joyita. Como el Socio de Jenaro Prieto, se le perdonan esas cosas (el final..). Ya, q tal ahora, eh?

Cuando me compré este libro, esperaba encontrarme con un Por Favor Rebobinar, algo así, ese estilo; lo cual no es malo, por supuesto, y era, además, lo que estaba buscando, por lo que pagué, lo que quería. Pero, cuando me di cuenta de que era distinto, muy distinto, me alegré. Me alegré por Fuguet. Qué bueno que haya madurado, por así decirlo, su estilo. Eso fue lo que mató a Ellis: siguió igual. Este libro es más maduro, más trabajado, que los otros. A must buy book.

This book describes 45 tropical herbs and spices. It gives the botanical name of each herb or spice and, usually, four local names.

Typically, there's a page for each herb or spice, featuring a thumbnail close-up and a still life, both in rich, glossy color. And there are three or four paragraphs describing each entry. The result is very engaging.

This book provides a pictoral introduction to tropical herbs and spices. It provides the name in the various cusines in which it is feature e.g. name is Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, Tagalog etc. It provides some information regarding it's cultivation, preparation and use.

A representative list of the items covered is: annatto, asam gelugor, basil, bilimbi, Indian borage, candlenut, cardamon, cassia, Chinese celery, chili, Chinese key, Chinese chives, cloves, sawtooth coriander, coriander, cumin, curry leaf, fennel, fenugreek ....

The book only contains 4 recipes - a chutney, curry powder, a sambal, and a tandoori spice mix. You need to go to regional cookbooks to find recipies to use the herbs and spices shown here.

Nonetheless, it is interesting to see the herbs and spices whole. Perhaps, not essential to the kitchen but it does add fun.

Tuareg is a really really well written story about a Tuareg inmouchar (venerable leader, somewhat below a Prince among the Tuareg) whose life is turned upside down as he sets out to avenge the abuse of his guests, protected by the millennia-old laws of hospitality and tradition of his people, when the world outside his desert comes to claim them back. With him we drink of the Sahara desert, "The land to be crossed". Together we surprise his enemies in his crusade to restore his honour. We learn to survive within ourselves in this beautiful, unforgiving and misunderstood expanse of the world.

Excelente obra literaria que lo llebara a conocer como vive la gente el descierto; y a comprender como pueden amar simplemnete ese mar de arena.