What sets this book apart from the usual book of beautiful paintings is the text. Every painting is accompanied by a statement from the artist addressing some aspect of the creative process, ranging from why the scene was chosen to difficulties encountered in executing it. In addition there is a statement by a professional naturalist giving interesting natural history information about each location. You would expect a book of paintings to be a pleasure to view, and this one is. But it is also a pleasure to read.

Door County, Wisconsin, combines the natural beauty of bluff-defined shorelines, northern forests, quiet meadows, secluded wetlands, and an astonishing array of wildflowers. This coffee table book features the work of 70 artists who set out to capture the wildplaces of Door County. Most of the paintings were selected by a nationally-known jury. Some invited works are by well-known artists such as Charles Peterson, Karsten and Ellen Topelmann, James Ingwerson, and Gerhard Miller. Paintings represent the artist's impressions of the special wildplaces of the peninsula, and there's not a painting in the book that I wouldn't wish to frame and display in my home. A truly special book for a special place.

An outstanding variety of fantastic work. Any Door County fan will appreciate the true beauty of Door County and the incredible talent of the artists in the area. Charles Peterson, Bridget Austin, Jack Anderson, and other talented artists contributed to this awesome book. Worth double the price and for a great cause...

Bonhoeffer was not a well-recognized figure outside of Germany when he made the decision to return to his native country from America despite the fact that the Nazis had seized power and were persecuting any who resisted their domination. Bonhoeffer had already come a long way in developing a theology of 'discipleship' and 'costly grace', and he put that theology into action when he returned to Germany and joined those who were resisting Nazi rule.

As one of the major figures of the minority 'Confessing Church' (along with Karl Barth) who rejected Nazism's total claims on the churches, Bonhoeffer spoke out in favour of the Jews, whom he called 'the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ'. He was arrested by the Gestapo on suspicion of being part of a group planning to assassinate Hitler. Then, just weeks before the end of the war and Hitler's suicide, he and his co-conspirators were executed, hung by piano-wire before the dictator's malicious eyes.

In the almost sixty years since his death, Bonhoeffer's influence has continued to grow as more and more people have encountered his forward-thinking theology and the way it was lived out concretely in his life. Today he is fast surpassing Barth and Tillich as the major (German) Protestant theologian of the 20th century. There is good reason for this: Bonhoeffer was an original thinker, and all his thoughts came out of a concrete experience of God in real life, and the quest to serve and follow God - always a dynamic process - rather than serving rigid 'principles' that can never fully encompass the divine will.

This book makes for an excellent introduction to this powerful theologian's work. Serious students may then wish to turn to the full volumes of 'The Cost of Discipleship', 'Ethics' (Bonhoeffer's unfinished masterpiece), and the important and compassionate 'Letters and Papers from Prison'. Learn why this is the man many are calling not only a martyr, but also a saint.

The translations of Bonhoeffer's works by Simon & Schuster are almost unreadable. This translation reads like real English spoken by real people. The ideas expressed are powerful and reveal Bonhoeffer's dedication to knowing and following the will of God. Get it, read it, follow it.

The book is wonderfully illustrated. The cover itself catches the potential reader. It is truly an enjoyable read with an innovative story. My child loves it.

As a mother of 5 children, I'm always on the look out for good children's books...I found that and more in the book entitled THE WHALE COMEDIAN by Martin Nelson Burton. The story of little Finston and how his dreams were realized, is done in a clever and funny way. The illustrations (by Charles Jordon) are some of the best I've seen in a children's book....very colorful with lots of expression and detail. There is nothing commerical about this book. A story of a little boy with a big dream and how it is realized. It can make your children believe that they can be anything they want in life...whether it be a store clerk, a scientist that gives people superpowers, or even a whale comedian.

This book gives a wonderful account of an old fashioned Christmas. Though it is told from Mr. Burton's own experiences, the stories give room to remember your own times of joy. It gives you inspiration to give those memories to the new generations that have joined your family.

I am writing as a layman, interested in Bonhoeffer's story ever since discovering his "Letters and Papers From Prison," which moved me deeply when I first read it more than a decade ago. I spent much of a year attempting to translate that book into a full-length play, and in the process became more familiar with it, eventually concluding that for a lay audience, his story is too ineffably sad. After a couple of readings, I put it away. I understand that there has been a growing outpouring of scholarship devoted to Bonhoeffer in the years since then, and this book has been my first encounter with it. Having said all that, I'd like to express my appreciation to the authors for their effort to shed a new, welcome light on Bonhoeffer's life and work.

In a world and at a time when movie stars and new age advocates speak easily of "spirituality," it was brave for the authors to characterize their perspective on Bonhoeffer with this word. While admitting in the introduction that they could not settle on a definition of the term themselves, they proceed to discuss the various aspects of Bonhoeffer's life, actions, and faith in terms of his devotion to Jesus Christ. In exploring the evidence of his living faith, in word and deed, they represent Bonhoeffer as an example of moral leadership in a specific time and place in human history. And the result is to make this somewhat enigmatic man and his ideas more accessible for us today.

What comes across for me most strongly in the book is how much Bonhoeffer's writings and actions were a direct response to the Nazi government and the acquiesence of the German Lutheran Church. The issues that drive what he has to say reflect specific actions and policies of the government and the inaction of the church, which allowed its authority to be coopted by Hitler and the rising tide of German nationalism. The concept of "cheap grace" in "The Cost of Discipleship" is not an abstraction but a direct reference to the church's real lack of moral leadership at a time when resistance to the Nazi regime was most needed.

The book portrays the personal drama of a man who kept his personal life very private (one cannot imagine him on a talk show discussing his "spirituality"). The authors give us glimpses of his private world in reports of those who remember him, but nowhere is the private man seen so openly as in his intimate letters to Bethge and in the prison poems, which the authors devote the last chapter to. Here we find both the tentativeness behind his outward courage and the depth of his devotion to his chief source of strength. I have found this book very readable and recommend it to anyone with a basic knowledge of Bonhoeffer and a curiosity about how this man lived out his faith and remained steadfast to the end.

Nelson is always making faces and it is always getting him in trouble. Well one day his face is frozen by the mirror fairy and that causes even more trouble. THis is a wonderful story for children of all ages with beautiful illustration. It made the whole family laugh.

Mariah is the real thing and it shows up in this book. This book is warm, thoughtful, full of good advice, friendly, and funny. You don't even have to be or like jocks to find little gems of how to live a good life in these pages.
As a spoken word performer who cannot have an inspired "A game" every night, I especially enjoyed the chapter "B Is for B-Game", "prepare to win on an off-day." Mariah understands the nuances of excellence--no matter how hard you train, you have off nights or off games, but you can still win, or in my case win the audience over, with your B or C game--with the fall back on skill, training, hard-work, focus, AND, the surrender to what is, not what you'd like things to be. There are many moments of such wisdom throughout this book. Yes, Mariah, thanks.

Mariah Burton Nelson's new book, "We Are All Athletes", is an excellent guide for daily life. Rather than bland cliches, Mariah offers specific actions and thought patterns that can improve one's mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. She offers concrete ideas for setting and pursuing exercise goals, thinking like a winner, turning defeat, or setbacks, into lessons and steps forward, and treating yourself and others with respect. This is not a book just for athletes; by using sports as a metaphor, Mariah shows us how we can participate successfully in all aspects of our life, and be proactive, rather than merely reactive. For Mariah, "vicissitudes" are defined as "opportunities". It's a short, easy read, and can be picked up at any point in the text and enjoyed. Another valuable addition to my library; thank you, Mariah!

This is a terrific book --- direct and right to the point. It is a short read, but long on food for thought. My "sport" is Duplicate Bridge and this book is just as relevant for that as it is for tennis, basketball or curling. Or even the sport of LIFE, as Ms. Nelson points out.

There are 13 essays about various sports and also includes and introduction and conclusion. Some of the essays were better than others, usually because of the sport the essay examined. Babe Didrikson is featured in more than one essay, which highlights her significance to women's sports. The essays really draw attention to the many contributions many women, who's names are not commonly known, have brought to their sports. As a knowledgeable sports fan I enjoyed learning new things about female athletics. The essay's covered Track and Field, Baseball and Softball, Tennis, Golf, Canoeing Kayaking, Rowing Sailing, Skiing, Figure Skating, Swimming, Equestrian Sports, Gymnastics, Soccer, Ice Hockey, and Basketball. I totally skipped the Boating, Equestrian, and Ice Hockey essays and skimmed the Skiing essay. These sports don't interest me even in men's sport (except Ice Hockey, but I can't buy the women's version of the sport). I would recommend this book and I'll keep it in case my 6 year old daughter one day wishes to learn more about one or more of these sports.

I would really like to exhale now that someone finally gave props to the female basketball players who have great talent, but are not in the WNBA or Over Seas playing on a "professional level". Nike is a Goddess went "underground"to the best pro-am basketball tourney for woman at West 4th.ST. in NYC. These are the woman who have played for years in college and many other pro-am basketball tournaments. These woman are "street legends" of NYC.
These woman are excellent players, professionals, mothers and SUPERB basketball players. I'm so glad someone noticed, Thanx!

I was so impressed with this book that I plan to include it in a graduate-level college course about women's sports.

This charming tale has much usefulness for a classroom setting. It ties in with the themes of writing, friendship, families, imagination, St. Patrick's Day and Leprechauns. A book with this many possibilities for curriculum tie-in is worth the expenditure for school and public libraries.

I have never seen a leprechaun, but author Martin N. Burton made me feel as if I was experiencing the magic of the leprechaun who was his childhood friend. The well written story is the reason why I loved this book and why I loved reading it to my own children. The writing style is fun for young readers and for their parents who may find themselves reading out loud in an unintentional Irish brogue.

Mr. Burton captures the gentle magic of childhood that is enhanced by loving parents and lasts a lifetime. The friendship and love revealed between the child and his father makes this a perfect story for Father's Day. If your children believe in fairies, Santa, and other magical beings, they will find irresistible the possibility that they can have their own leprechaun friend.

Dear Mr. Leprechaun discretely encourages children to write their own letters so they too can discover what might happen. The illustrations are beautiful and convey the magical world of childhood.

I can not possibly start to express just how wonderful this book is. I & my children enjoyed it so much, we bought a second copy to donate to their school library. Young children delight in the idea of corresponding with "Mr. Leprechaun", but the real joy of this book is in it's demonstration of the deep & heartfelt love of a parent for their child. The artwork is exceptional as each page simply begs to be poured over again and again. While it is an excellent childrens book, I also believe it is a wonderful addition to any adults library as well.

This book is nothing but riding on the current child-abuse hysteria!
I can't believe that someone like Mariah get applause for what she did! She destroyed a mans life, betrayed love and gloats about it! Shame on her and everybody that thinks there is any honor in that!

Mariah Burton Nelson has taken an abstract concept and made it concrete. The book is beautifully written and impeccably researched, making it perfect for a good read or for a more scholarly examination of the information cited. Using both secular and religious concepts, this book does not preach. It is full of love and will enrich your life.

Thus far, I've been spared the torments experienced by many of the people Mariah profiles in her book. Her book touched me deeply on a far less dramatic level: Daily life. Life at work, at home, and on the road can so easily be an assault of small irritations. Because of Mariah's gentle, insightful book, I now pause to think empathetically about the "perpetrator". Each day is now far more relaxed. Thanks, Mariah.