“Coyote Wind” is a darn near perfect specimen of a mixed-genre mystery ... western. Gabriel Du Pré is laconic, honorable, and wise to the ways of the Big Sky Country---a throwback to the noble cowboy-hero of Zane Grey’s novels. He is a vulnerable hero, a Métis descendant of the French Voyageurs and Plains Indians. He has problems with his teenage daughter, who has shaved off part of her hair and dyed the rest of it a weird color. His mistress won’t marry him because in the eyes of the Church, she is still married to the sleaze who deserted her many years past. He is plagued throughout the book by an alcoholic Métis prophet.

Du Pré’s voice is unique, and perfect for this story. His dialogue is short, punchy, flicked with mordant barbs---an arrow in your heart when you are least expecting it. Two chapters into the book, found myself talking, thinking like Du Pré. Sounds like this:

“Du Pré knelt, looked, crossed himself. Some days he didn’t believe in God, but he did believe in crossing himself.

“Maybe this let you sleep now,” said Du Pré. He picked up the white skull, the color of the giant puffball mushrooms that came up in pastures in the wet years. The mushrooms were bigger, and startling in the green.

“’Now I got someone’s head in my hands, I thinking on frying mushrooms,’ Du Pré said aloud. ‘Dumb bastard’.”

The mystery of who killed whom in “Coyote Wind” is fairly easy to unravel once you get to know and care about the characters. It almost had to occur, considering the people involved. It becomes more important to see if Du Pré can help a friend stop drinking, rather than to figure out who murdered his friend’s brother. As Du Pré keeps telling everyone who will listen: “I ain’t a cop…I am a [brand inspector].”

Nevertheless, it is Du Pré who is tapped to solve a thirty-year-old murder. He goes about it in a style that is perfectly tuned to his character. Not a single false note from Du Pré or his fiddle.

“Coyote Wind” is a very satisfying read.

ZEN MIND, BEGINNER'S MIND : Informal talks on Zen Meditation and practice by Shunryu Suzuki. Edited by Trudy Dixon, with a Preface by Huston Smith and an Introduction by Richard Baker. 138 pp. New York and Tokyo : Weatherhill, 1970 and Reprinted.

Some years ago I undertook a fairly extensive program of reading in Indian, Chinese, and Japanese Buddhism and in Zen. Most of my Zen books have since disappeared. Only the choicest remain, among which is Shunryu Suzuki's 'Zen Mind Beginner's Mind.'

Buddhism may be said to have begun with the enlightement of the Buddha. Many centuries later, however, when Buddhism entered China, an incredibly elaborate and complex superstructure of Indian scholastic thought had grown up around the Buddha's original insight. The Chinese, with their basically down-to-earth and common sense attitude, had little use for Indian over-elaboration and set about ridding Buddhism of it.

The Chinese, as Lin Yutang says, believe in a reasonable use of reason, and not in reason's excesses. The end product of their effort to rid Buddhist thought of its heavy freight of scholasticism, and to shift the emphasis from theory back to the practical by centering Buddhism once again in the enlightenment experience, became what the Chinese know as Ch'an and the Japanese as Zen.

As Shunryu Suzuki himself pointed out, when freed of unnecessary theory and speculation, Buddhism as Zen becomes something that is basically "quite simple" (page 64). Its essence was brilliantly captured in the thirty-one verses of Third Patriarch Seng-ts'an's 'Hsin-hsin-ming,' the very first Zen treatise in verse. This is a beautiful text that deserves to be far better known, and an easily accessible translation will be found in D. T. Suzuki's 'Manual of Zen Budhism' ('On Believing in Mind,' pages 76-82).

The first verse of the original Chinese may be read as follows, with oblique marks to indicate line breaks:

"To realize the Way is not difficult / If you'd only stop choosing; / Just let go of all of your hate, and love, / And everything will be brilliantly clear" (my transl).

This statement may gain in meaning if we set it alongside an observation made by the great Zen Master Dogen (1200-1253), founder of the Japanese Soto sect of Zen Buddhism and one of the most brilliant philosophical minds Buddhism has ever produced, who wrote in 'Genjo Koan,' the third chapter of his 'Shobogenzo' :

"Conveying the self to the myriad things to authenticate them is delusion; the myriad things advancing to authenticate the self is enlightenment" (Tr., F. H. Cook, 'Sounds of Valley Streams,' page 66).

Suzuki Shunryu, who as a member of the Soto school was a direct spiritual descendant of Dogen, would certainly have understood this. In fact, so far as I can see, the idea expressed by both Seng-ts'an and Dogen Zenji is at the very center of his book.

'Zen Mind Beginner's Mind' is a golden book that may be heartily recommended to all open-minded readers. In it they will find a Buddhism freed of all scholastic superfluities and unnecessary elaboration, and one that returns us to what the Buddha was really about.

Yes, if you spend yer time studying Sutras & whatnot you'll find alot of contradictions between this book and those same sutras. But, I don't think that's so bad. Why should it be? The Sutras have alot of useful information, but alot of [stuff] too. For example, the Surangama Sutra would have you believe that drinking milk or eating meat or wearing leather would prevent you from enlightenment. "Well, that's just put in there by a copyist!" you might say, but still, it's obvious you cannot take a 100 percept literal interpretation of the sutras and still call it "Zen". If you read the Sermons of Bodhidharma translated by Red Pine, they will tell you that even being a butcher does not hinder you so long as you realize the Mind. So, Bodhidharma, the supposed founder of Ch'an (Zen) in China contradicted the Sutras. You'd also have to deny all Tibetan Buddhism too, because if you want to stay alive up there in the cold mountains, you better eat some Yak. That having been said, this book is about Soto Zen Buddhism. The methods taught in this book are used by Soto Zennists. If you want another school of Zen, then buy another book. This book is not about Buddhist Metaphysics or Esotericism. It is about daily practice, attitude and understanding. It's not a meditation manual, or a daily devotional or liturgy or anything like that. It is a bunch of talks. And what extraordinary talks they are! You really get a feel of what it's about while reading this. Sure, the practices may contradict other forms of Zen, but you have to understand who he (Suzuki) was talking to and that time period. There is a bit of compromise there. That's Upaya, skillful means. He still teaches to obey the precepts, and that Zen is not just sitting [around]. He teaches you should have a Zen mind even when you are laying in bed. And he doesn't condemn studying Buddhism, he simply points out that practice is better than just studying. In fact, Bodhidharma himself taught this. So, despite the frothing-mouthed railings against this book by a confessed "Theravadan" (meaning Hinayanist, meaning one of the lesser vehicle), you ought to by this book if you want to learn about Soto Zen. It would do you good though to not just restrict yourself to this book and look into Chinese, Tibetan, Korean, and Vietnamese forms as well. I especially recommend Sheng Yen's "Subtle Wisdom". This book does neglect such practices as Koans & Huatous, but they are not the main practices of the schools. Soto school came from Cao Dong, and they emphasized Silent Illumination, which is pure awareness. Go buy it! It's cheap, and worth more than the money.

Zen Master Suzuki gives the most lucid exposition on practicing zen ever put on paper. The teachings are not watered down, sugar coated, or given false pretenses as the absolute truth. The chapter on meditation exemplifies all these qualities. To Suzuki, just the act of sitting zazen is meditation itself and as a consequence, enlightenment. No mention of mystical visions, long processes of clearing the mind and becoming "one with the universe" - his only instruction is to perceive simple reality. As a long time meditator, I have found Zen Master Suzuki's approach much more honest and fruitful than any of the methods that use various mediums(i.e. imagery, sounds) to facilitate meditation. The rest of the book constantly reaffirms this simple yet profound concept. Anyone interested in Zen Buddhism, out of spiritual or intellectual curiosity, should start here.

On my opinion, and mind only, I think the novel Hatchet is a fantastic and exciting book. Thoughtout this book I could tell how the author used descriptive language which then created imagery in my mind. This novel is mainly about a young 13 year old boy, Brian Robeson, who is travelling to his father's with a timid pilot. Soon, the pilot gets sick and has a massive heart attack. Brian panics tremendously and using the knowledge that the pilot has given him Brian tries to land the plane in a lake. With great luck the plane cashed in a L shaped lake leaving Brian in the Canadian Wilderness all by himself. I would diffenitly have to rate this book with 5 stars and I would like to take this time to say congradulations to the intelligent author, Gary Paulson, who made my day every chapter of the novel. It is a magnificent novel, perhaps the best one I have ever read in my entire life. I would love to create a wonderful book like Hatchet and have the knowledge to do so. It was just a reamarkable novel!!

Thank-you for your time

A must read for the adventure seeker and wilderness lover!Brian Robeson, thirteen, boards a small bush plane along with thepilot. He is going to visit his father in Canada, after his parent's separation, knowing the secret, the reason for their divorce. Brian leaves New York with a hatchet, a parting gift from his mother. Most of the book is about Brian's experiences on his own, learning to take from nature to find food and shelter, learning to hunt and fish and protect himself. Does he live? Is he saved? These questions keep the reader intrigued for all 195 pages of the text. Brian is a strong, well developed character. He evolves, learns and matures from his experience. His story is one of bravery, determination, and the power of positive thinking. Gary Paulsen's writing style is naturally flowing, highly descriptive, and easy to read. The book is a fast read, but is easy to set down and pick up again without losing one's place in the story. A Newbery Honor Book that deserves to be read!

Imagine being stranded in the wilderness alone and learning to survive. We all think about it at least once in our life, learning to hunt, getting shelter, and staying sane. In the book, Hatchet, Brian Robeson, age thirteen, is stranded in the Canadian wilderness, after his plane crashes, with only a hatchet and the clothes on his back. Brian was on that plane to his dad's house because of the Secret... This survival-fiction book tells how Brian undergoes a complete character change. When he first arrives he is relatively weak, but eventually Brian has keen, alert, senses, and he is a stronger person. In the book, Brian must deal with insane moose, and making a new friend; fire. Hunting and food gathering is a major part of the book, which makes it seem very realistic, but will Brian ever make it home alive? This book is a Newbery honor book and I believe it is very deserving of that prestigous award. Gary Paulsen's portrayal of someone in that predicament is very accurate. He puts you right in the action and in the struggle. I recommend this book to people of all different ages and backgrounds. You will feel every moment of hope and rejection in this amazing Paulsen novel.

I was born in 1968 so I can't comment on whether or not Coyote's take on the 60s jives. I can, however, say that it was pretty interesting to read his views on the S.F. Mime troupe and the Diggers. I admire Coyote for having been involved these groups. His recollections of them are insightful and refreshingly honest. I love the fact that Coyote talks about the ups and downs of 60s life. I like that he complains about people from time to time. This makes for a read that is not too "peace and love". So, I guess I like his honesty most. As for this book seeming too egotistical to some readers goes, I disagree. Peter Coyote is funny, handsome and interesting and I liked reading most of what he had to say. I like Coyote's ego just fine. What bored me was when he would go on and on about Olema ranch and mundane domestic stuff which really isn't that interesting to most people. Overall, I feel spent.

Several summers ago I began to notice that teenagers were dressing like hippies of the 60's. It made me wonder why the Hippie movement had "failed" and why it was again resurfacing, even if only in costume. Peter Coyote offers some interesting insight.

Today there is a GAP in the Haight; Peter Coyote takes us back to when there was a Free Store there, and discusses its implications. He makes us a part of the experience with his lucid prose and reflective thoughts about a magical time. Mixing his personal experiences with reflective commentary, he presents it warts and all. Besides offering a plethora sixties sex stories for the mass market, Coyote offers some valuable ideas to ponder as well.

There are stories of encounters with the Hopi, who had actually managed to accomplish what the Hippies were trying to do. Stories culled from a diary that still sparkle with the verve of the time. There are stories of how communal life brought comfort and pain, and of how one can more than survive without money or a job, but not without a role to play.

The highlight of the book is an idea Noah Purifoy suggested for problem solving, an artistic approach, an "antipodal shifting between the realms of logic and intuition," the core of the creative process and a problem solving mechanism of the highest order. Coyote shows how it was used during his tenure on the California Arts Council. This idea deserves a book of its own.

The reason Peter Coyote's book is so timely and important is because we are about to reenter that time once again, but this time more as Hopi than as Hippie. The Global Village (WEB) has placed the entire world in communal proximity, and the unresolved problems of the Hippie experience will be the problems of the Internet Generation. It is the problem of the Hopi's prophetic sign that, "Spider woman will have covered the world with her web."

Now that Communism has fallen, can Capitalism be far behind? "Capitalism is dying, boy." Wall Street financier Morris Cohon tells his Hippie son Peter Coyote, "It's dying of its own internal contradictions." He predicts it will take 50 years and not the 5 his son thinks. Morris was probably right, and that is what makes this book significant. The book offers us a look at our first step in the tribal direction. The Hippies didn't "fail," instead, they just saw it first and got started sooner than the rest, just like all artists do.

For the nostalgic, it is a trip back to a bygone time. For the aware, it is a preliminary discussion about the trip of our future civilization. Take your pick, it's your trip to take.

Peter Coyote has already made a name for himself as a film actor, political activist and narrator, whose voice can be easily recognized in an infinite amount of commercials, documentaries and audiobooks. Now comes his best and most challenging narrative of all - "Sleeping Where I Fall" - his own story based on the years when he was part of the Sixties counterculture explosion as one of the founders of a radical street group called the Diggers. Peter has taken his memoirs of this anarchic and psychedelic era and woven them into a collection of stories from his life in San Francisco to communes and gypsy years on the road as part of the Free Family. Says Coyote, "We imagined a world in which we could live authentically, without the pressures of economics dictating all personal choices. We made it real by acting it out."

What few people know is that Peter has always thought of himself as a writer first and foremost since his college days pursuing a master's degree in creative writing. Now with the release of this book, he further fulfills a dream by entering the literary world as a gifted writer, evidenced by the reviews of Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Omnibus, San Francisco Chronicle and many more.

His story is told with great humor, candor and self-critical analysis. Peter is not afraid to reveal himself giving accounts of both his generosity of spirit and his character flaws. Ironically, the very first chapter starts out with "While still an undergraduate at Grinnell College, I had fallen in love with Jessie Benton, a captivating woman I met one summer on Martha's Vineyard." This passage alone is a premonition to his perpetual attraction to women, a beguiling enchantment which could culminate in euphoric days and nights but, also, in broken relationships often bringing hurtful and destructive consequences. There's poetry in his descriptions of nature as witnessed in some of his music - "all the splendors of creation set the marrow trembling! in my bones." (from "Rainbow Woman") His prose has lyrical clarity dotted with clever metaphors and similes that bring his images to life and convey a myriad of experiences and feelings from peyote and heroin highs and camaraderie in communal living to his bitter conflicts with both the mother of his daughter and his overbearing father.

"Sleeping Where I Fall" is an extremely personal account of his search for truth, understanding and wisdom. Though he rode with the Hell's Angels and lived a life of dangerous drugs, you will come away still sensing an innocence about Coyote, a man who wanted to dream the future because, as with all youthful idealism, he believed there was something more to be gained in this world other than materialism.

His accounts of this pursuit of absolute freedom are often seductive, always fascinating. He writes objectively, careful not to romanticize or glorify the times. He's very frank, darn-right earthy as in his example of pearls of wisdom. He shares tales of living with drug-crazed friends whose demons sometimes propelled them to an early death. One comes away with the feeling of having spent time at Red House, Black Bear Ranch or Olema, becoming intimately acquainted with a whole host of colorful characters, such as Moose, Natural Suzanne, Ron Thelin, Sweet William, Nichole, Carla, Rolling Thunder, Chocolate George, as well as their inventive modes of transportation like Dr. Knucklefunky.

There is as much sadness as there is laughter, but it's a book you'll find hard to put down. It's not only entertaining, but a testament to the human spirit and the dreams of that generation, and a tribute to the groundwork it laid for the future. As a masterful storyteller, Peter succeeds in bringing more honest illumination to the Sixties, an historic period in our country that has not always been defined or treated fairly. If any fil! m critic hasn't yet understood the charisma, the complex persona and intelligence that Coyote brings to his screen roles, they should definitely read this book. END

I love this book because it offers such simple tools for such immense gain. By learning how to be true to yourself through the four agreements, you really learn where you truly belong in life. Don Miguel Ruiz offers a practical, easy-to-understand explanation of why we are the way we are, but more importantly, how to discover ourselves in the present moment and coexist with the rest of humanity.

The Four Agreements has a lot in common with another amazing book that can transform people's lives into magic. It is called "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work" by Ariel and Shya Kane. These two books have had a profound influence on my life, unlike any others I have ever read. They are similar
in that they are written by people who really understand what life is about, who have discovered what it takes to get into the moment and be a star in your own life. Take the time to discover both of these fun reads. They will make a huge difference in your life.

A friend tore an article about this book out of Oprah Winfrey's magazine and sent it to me.

I purchased the book and read it the same night. Then I re-read it. I am still in the process of reading it once again!

This is a practical book that can be adapted across many religious and spiritual belief systems. Although I may not agree that all of life is a dream, as the author says is the Toltec way, I am more than ready to apply the Four Agreements to my life.

Don Miguel Ruiz writes very simply and beautifully about the Four Agreements, and what he writes about builds upon itself and weaves together to create an ideal way of perceiving ourselves, others, and the world at large.

Each of the Agreements is a separate statement, yet they must all be considered together as one large agreement.

What affected me most in this book is what Don Miguel Ruiz wrote about not taking things personally. For years, I have been stung and hurt by what people have said to me. After reading this book, what has stayed with me is that what people say about me is not WHO I AM. It is merely their opinion based on years of their own experiences and reactions. I no longer base my perception of myself on others' opinions. This has stopped all the negative grudging I had against those I perceived were against me.

I recommend this book to anyone in any walk of life. You will view your world and yourself differently after reading it. It does not ask you to join an organization, change your religion, or become something you aren't. It will, however, change your way of thinking about how you live your life. You will realize the impact of your words, thoughts, and deeds in a way you never have.

If the whole world chose to live their lives this way, what a wonderfully enriching, nourishing place it would be! Improve your corner of the world and study the simply profound wisdom shared within these pages. If you're selfish, read it anyway, change yourself through reading it-those around you will appreciate it!

Don Miguel Ruiz has crafted a message of purity and simplicity that feels good to read. The Four Agreements spoke to me as if an old friend was telling me how to get everything I want out of life, and doing it with equality and compassion. When I finished this book, I felt incredibly positive about myself and what is possible in my life. In an easy, flowing, conversational style, Ruiz teaches a lesson about love for ourselves and the rest of humanity and he does it in a way that feels very real and very possible. I came away feeling like I didn't have to live my life the same way, with the same habits, in the same "fog" he describes, with the same agreements about myself I previously had. The Agreements make perfect sense and are profoundly different from the way most people live. He does an excellent job of conveying the sense that self-love, compassion and peace are very possible for anyone who chooses to follow the Agreements because he has been through what he calls "hell" and has arrived at "heaven" - a place of self-acceptance and awareness. Ruiz has tapped into an ancient well of truth.

If you liked "The Four Agreements" then I think you would also like "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work" by Ariel and Shya Kane. This book has a genuine quality and sincerity that teaches that true freedom and true happiness in life come through awareness and living in the present moment. I highly recommend the Kanes' book as well as Ruiz's book for those who want lasting transformation in their own lives and to feel good about who they are.

Curt Lebensorger
Reading A-4
April 30, 2003
Brain's Winter

Brain's winter is about a teen aged boy who got lost in the wilderness who was on a plane to see his father. When he was on his way the plane went down and the pilot died, but Brian survived. Brian has a few supplies but not too many and needs to learn how to survive in the wilderness. First he comes across two wolves that sort of help him by letting him have the rest of the deer. Second he encounters a bear twice in this which gives him a lot of problems and would have killed him if the skunk Betty didn't come rescue him. Lastly he encounters a moose, he only attacked the moose for food in the winter but unfortunately he didn't know he was so strong and the moose did die but wounded Brain with a head collision knocking Brain out cold. Now what do you think will happen next will Brain be killed by these wild animals or will he be lucky and finally be able to come home to see his parents?

If someone asked me if I liked this book I would have to say yes. The reason I say this is because it always grabs your attention and makes you want to read the next chapter. Gary Paulsen has a way to add a twist to the end of each chapter for instance at the end of chapter 16 it says "it was too warm for trees to explode". When he said these things went into my head like is he getting his hopes up or is someone going to finally rescue him.

If I was a person that rates books and I picked up Brian's Winter I would say this book would be a 4 out of 5. I say this because it was good but sometimes I felt really bored. I felt bored because sometimes what I look for in a book is more then just one setting. This whole book basically took place with him in this one spot in the Canadian wilderness. Also the only reason this book made me want to read more is when at the end of each chapter there was always something there to get your mind going and thinking what will happen next. Then if I were to give this book a rating it would be a 4 out of 5.

Brian Robeson is a teenage boy and he wants to survive the wilderness. The novel Brian's Winter is written with great, realistic details. It was also written with simplicity, which is why I liked it. I could understand it, completely. Brian is a thirteen-year-old boy who hasn't been rescued, from the novel Hatchet. So he has to face the cold winter months, alone in Northern Canada. This time, Brian has a survival kit, which he found in the plane wreck. The kit includes a rifle, two butane lighters, a fishing line and a sleeping bag. But he still has to find some food, to stay alive...I liked this book because it has a lot of hunting, and suspense in it. When Brian was in the woods alone, he hunted, and I could imagine that I was he. One part I liked in particular was when he found the Cree, and he was warm and stayed full of food.

Brian winter is a good book. Brian is thirteen years old he was in an airplane crash in Canada. Brian is the only one who survived. He only has a first aid kit, broken gun, hatchet and matches. He has to survive on his own he needs a shelter and some clothes and food. He also needs to make stronger weapons. If he wants to hunt bigger game. He uses the entire animal he doesn't let anything go to waste. He uses animal skin to make clothing and also to make some of his weapons. He finds lots of friends and enemies one of his friends is Betty the skunk. She protected Brian from the bear attack and Brian is very great full. Brain feels very lonely and he is starting to forget his family. He also miss them very much.
What I liked most the book had lot of very good descriptions of the forest and how he was breathing and how he liked the animals. Also this book can help you learn how to survive in the wilderness. As well in some of the chapter the author keep you hanging at the end of the chapter. The part that I thought was cool was when the trees were exploding and Brian thought it was gunshots.
I thought this book was good I would rate it 4 out of 5 because the book was exiting and suspenseful. Like in this one chapter Brian got attached by a bear the author said that the bear was thrashing throw out the cave (brains home). There was also a part were Brian killed an animal and then the author made it so visual he said that the arrow went threw the moose then the moose started to charge at him and then Brian pulled out his lance and the moose ran on to it and the moose hit heads with Brian and Brian passed out.I thought the author did a good job on this book.

Okay, first let's get the ugliness out of the way. The recent boom in memoirs has produced a really fascinating phenomena, the true life tale which any intelligent reader knows to be fiction. The most celebrated recent examples are books like Angela's Ashes, wherein Frank McCourt reconstructs his entire childhood and verbatim dialogue in such loving detail that we realize that his memoir is ultimately a fictional take on his own autobiography (see Orrin's review). But in The Education of Little Tree we have an even more audacious author. Forrest Carter's supposed memoir of being raised by his Cherokee grandparents after being orphaned at age 5, likewise recreates his youth in a level of detail that makes the story hard to credit, but in addition the characters he creates and episodes he relates defy belief. The simple old Cherokee couple living at one with nature in a marriage of equals seems to be a purely mythic creation, but then when the five year old joins them and helps them outwit government bureaucrats, Christian missionaries, big city mobsters, etc., in between trips to the library to get the classics of Western Literature which Grandma reads aloud each night, you can really feel the text leaving any claim to a basis in reality behind. Finally, as the story ends with Little Tree, now age 9, and his two loyal dogs, working their way across Depression America to get to the Cherokee Reservation, we've entered Cloud Cuckoo Land.

So I mentioned all of this to my Mom, who along with my brother urged this book upon me, and she said that she'd seen a People Magazine article about Carter a dozen years ago and it, naturally, turned out that the book is fiction. A little quick research on the Web turns up the fact that it's not just fiction, it's virtually a hoax. Carter was actually named Asa Carter. He was a rabid segregationist who adopted the pseudonym Bedford Forrest, in honor of the Confederate general who founded the Klan. He may or may not have been a speech writer for George Wallace, but he did claim to have written the infamous "Segregation Forever!" speech.

Now having said all that, there's one more thing that needs to be said about the book; it's terrific. In many ways it reminded me of The Power of One, both are books of such surpassing beauty and heartwarming humanity, who cares if they are completely unrealistic? Isn't one of the chief values of fiction the capacity to transcend reality? The Education of Little Tree teaches timeless lessons about the value of family, education and place and it preaches an abiding mistrust of government. If it also managed to snooker most of the touchy feely, do-gooder, Left, which desperately wishes that these were all Native American values, and not essentially Western ones, this merely allows us to enjoy it on a second level. After all, it's not hard to make Oprah & company look stupid, but it is fun.

GRADE: A

Forrest Carter - regardlesss of what he believed or how he lived - wrote a great book. The Education of Little Tree presents a unique way of viewing the world, for one sees through the eyes of a young half-Cherokee boy growing up in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee during the 1930s. I found the book realistic, being often humorous and occasionally sad. The adventurous episodes of each chapter are written in lively narrative, and I never found myself feeling bored or disinterested while working my way through the book. Little Tree's often sage observations and received wisdom from his grandparents help make this tale instructive as well as enjoyable. I can easily endorse this as an excellent book to read

The Education of Little Tree may not be a work based on facts. It may be true that the author was a member of the KKK. It may be true that this book is not an autobiography and it may be equally true that it does not represent the culture or values of those whom consider themselves Cherokee. However, I still believe that this book stands on it's own merits, not as a factual based book, but as a book which does indeed have many useful truths. The book is beautifully written and it is an inspirational read which accounts for a boy whom receives an education far different from one of the regular school system. His education deals more with the spiritual sense of humanity and the book articulates the message using examples and also through the well-woven narrative. Not reading this book for the very reasons of the negative aura surrounding it's truth is not reading a great book because it contains grammatical errors or profanity. They are irrelevant in the judging of the actual text itself. This is an important book, and it is a good book and the lessons in which it teaches are lessons every human being should learn as part of being human. As grandma says in the book about good spreading, indeed, I hope this book will spread as well.

I enjoy Carlos Castaneda's books because they always offer an escape from reality -- in this case, I mean that quite literally.

Castaneda's books involve an age-old technique of storytelling, the teaching of a body of knowledge from a master to a pupil. In this case, the master, a Yaqui Indian known as Don Juan, teaches the ancient Toltec art of sorcery to a young, first-person narrator, Carlos Castaneda. This narrator is dubious and incredulous as Don Juan shows him things about the nature of reality and our perceptions of it, but increasingly he has to conclude that the world of Don Juan is an accurate description of the may facets of reality, and our modern world is merely one narrow view.

There is controversy over whether Castaneda's books are "real" --Castaneda was granted a PhD for his "field" work; but other scholars have found a lot of Castaneda's research to have no anthropological authenticity. Supporters of Castaneda dispute this.

That there is even an argument over whether the books are "real" or not indicates how good the stories are -- like the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, people really, desperately want to visit Castaneda's world. His books are riveting, fascinating, beautiful, and also very scary.

Although later books in the series (Tales of Power, for instance) are better than this introductory work; I think it is important to read the books in their order of writing, in order to get the "lessons" that Castaneda learns in the correct order.

I am a great fan of the books, even if they are 100% fiction. But one is really just never sure if they are. . .

I'm only a sophmore in High school, but I enjoy reading books with a deeper meaning than that of the normal thriller with the same psychopathic killer in every one. I look for books that run deep with psychology, and philosophy. The Teachings of Don Juan, is one of the better books that I have recently read. It shows what it is really like to experience "Philosophy". Though many people would disagree with Don Juan's use of mushrooms, there was a deeper meaning involved than that of peoples fighting the drug war of today didn't realize. Don Juan was what they would call a true "magician". I wish more people lived as deeply as Don Juan did, but as as the master said himself, it is not for the week.
I highly suggest this book to anyone looking for a deeper meaning for their life.

"The Teachings of Don Juan" is the first in a series of about 15 books by Carlos Casaneda describing the author's experiences with Yaqui Indian shamanism in Northern Mexico. As a studier of religion for many years (although not as knowledgeable as some scholars) I find these books to be utterly unique in their scope and subject matter. They are not like other New Age books. The journey that Castaneda takes his readers is mind-boggling, and his experiences are simply beyond what most people have even remotely encountered.

Castaneda first met Don Juan in the early 60's, before the hippy movement, before psychodelic drugs became popular. He was studying anthropology in Los Angeles, and Don Juan served as a field source for some fading knowledge of tribal and shamanistic rituals in Northern Mexico. Castaneda was specifically interested in peyote, a plant that gives its users hallicinations and mixes the senses in strange ways, and which LSD was meant to be a chemical reproduction of. Castaneda's first book presents a very detailed scholastic interpretation of his experiences. All books after the first simply focus on Castaneda's experiences with Don Juan.

Castaneda's drug experiences are different from other accounts I have read, because they are intimately tied with the Yaqui philosophy and mythology. The drugs only serve as a means to an end, not as the end in themselves. The first 2 books in the series describe Castaneda's drugs experiences with Don Juan, but from the 3rd book on, the drugs disappear forever and Carlos' experiences are actually more fantastic, more amazing, more unbelieveable as he slowly becomes a practicing sorceror, traveling to alternate dimensions and battling other sorcerors. Many of the books seem to reach a definitive conclusion, only to have Castaneda's perceived understanding of Don Juan's teachings completely destroyed in the next volume. Again these experiences do not in any way compare to magic and sorcery you might find in pagan, christian, or celtic mythology, nor does the "world-philosophy" of Don Juan resemble in any way the wholistic ideals of Eastern religions like Hinduism or Buddhism. How can you describe things most people have never seen before? Castaneda does a good job, considering the fantastic nature of some of his journeys. However, while the visions and magical feats are mesmerizing to read, I often found that Don Juan gave his most profound knowledge while simply talking to Castaneda.

Do to its subject matter, most Christians will find these books offensive, but I promise you that nothing in any of these volumes will turn you onto the path of Satan :) There is a certain participation required from the reader - Castaneda repeatedly affirms that everything he has ever written is absolutely true, but intelligent readers will be constantly wondering if such fantastic things could possibly exist. By turning off this little nagging "naysayer" in my own head and allowing myself to simply sink into the mood of the work and believe, I found that I was better able to intuitively understand the very abstract concepts that overwhelm you. However, because these accounts are SO unbelieveable, SO fantastic, SO unlike our everyday life here in the US, I found that I never confused my world with Castaneda's. It's like reading a book about walking on the Moon - you can understand and appreciate what it must have been like, but you don't start wearing a spacesuit to work!

The sequel of the miraculous book "Hatchet",known as "The River", by Gary Paulsen,is based on a story about a 15-year old boy named Brian Robeson.He faced 54 days alone in the woods with nothing but a hatchet two years ago because of a plane crash. But fortuanatly, he was recued at the end of summer. Now a young govorment psychologist named Derek Holtzer persuades him to go into the woods again so Derek can learn his survival techniques. Brian and his mother agreed, so soon enough, he was heading toword the woods next to a lake similar to the one he had been at two years ago. For the first few days everything was going fine, but later, during a terrible storm, Derek is struck by lightning and falls into a coma, while the radio is dead.Brian soon learns that Derek will die of thirst unless Brian can get him medical help 100 miles down the river. Brian builds a raft to try carry Derek and him across the river, but will Brian be able to save Derek in time? Read the book to find out. Overall, I think the book was pretty good, but not exactly great. The reason it's not terrific because it's a bit boring and I'm not that into survival stories anyway. But remember, that's my opinion. I think the book would be great for children around the age 9 who like danger and survival stories because the book is about how Brian shows how he survives to the wilderness and the reading level is meant is for these students. If you like "The River" you can read "Hatchet" or "Brian's Winter", a companion to both of these books. I hope you enjoy reading these books!

The book The River by Gary Paulsen is about a boy named Brian Robensen. He is about 15 years old, and is just getting used to being home after being stranded in the Canadian Wilderness Area. Three men come to his home and ask him to do it again. He decides he will do it to save peoples lives. One man, Derrick, who is with the wilderness survival center, goes with him to the wilderness. The plane leaves and the two only have a radio to call if there is trouble. Trouble comes in the form of lightning, and strands Brian with Derrick in a coma, and the radio is dead. He decides the river is his only hope to civilization...

The book overall was good, but There were one or two things I didn't like, such as Gary Paulsen doesn't explain the camping site very well. He just says that it has a fort, and a fire pit, and the usual camping site stuff. He should have described into detail the fort, and the fire pit, and all the rest of it. Another thing I didn't like was the fact that he introduced the two problems at once. It isn't very realistic that Derrick was holding the radio during his sleep, and the lightning bolt just happened to hit right as the two were sleeping. One thing I did like was the non stop action the whole time after the introduction of the problem. Brian is constantly chasing a raft, or pulling on the raft. I really liked the action of this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes wilderness survival, or action books, or who just like to try to figure out how to overcome a problem. You are constantly guessing how he will get out of a problem or if he will get out of problems.

This is absolutely the best book ever.The story takes place two years after the book Hatchet, and Brian is told that the government wants him to go back out in the Canadian woods so that he can teach everyone how to survive if stranded in the forest. This time he isn't going alone, a phsycologist named Derek Holtzer is coming to record Brian's every action.Then a thunderstorm comes in... and Derek is struck by lightning and goes into an instant coma. Now Brian must travel down a river on a small raft to a trading post for help. Tofind out more read The River