I read this book twenty years ago. This is a valuable book for begginers and laymen alike.
I hope it finds its way back into print.

I recently read this book. Anyone interested in Buddhism would enjoy it. It is an introduction to the subject but who can explain all the concepts in it? Actually I read the book twice trying to grasp what is meant by no permanent ego. This book is good for getting to know Ms. David -Neel better. She knows her subject well.

while giving a slide lecture at the great neck public library on our biography THE SECRET LIVES OF ALEXANDRA DAVID NEEL I was handed you excellent children's book. You distilled just the right information with lovely pictures to show how fabulous her journey was.Our biography deals with her life and includes her journey which was amazing considering the Lhasa was so forbiddena at that time. CONGRATULATIONS1

From early childhood, Alexandra David-Neel dreamed of traveling and exploring faraway places. "I craved to go beyond the garden gate, to follow the road that passed it by, and set out for the unknown," she later recalled. "I dreamed of wild hills, immense deserted steppes, and impassable landscapes of glaciers!" As a child, she traveled away from her ordinary life through books and museums, discovering a passion for Buddhism and Asian culture. Her talent as a singer, sent her to India, Greece, and North Africa to perform with opera companies, but that didn't satisfy her wanderlust. Finally in 1911 at the age of forty-three, she left her husband and home in Tunis, North Africa to begin the journey of her dreams. She would travel to the sacred and secretive city of Lhasa, the Forbidden City in Tibet. "Many travelers had been stopped on their way to Lhasa, and had accepted failure. I would not... I would reach Lhasa and show what the will of a woman could achieve!" Using his trademark eloquent prose and artwork, along with some of Alexandra David-Neel's own words, Don Brown weaves a clever and fascinating story in his latest picture book biography, Far Beyond The Garden Gate. Mr Brown's engaging text is filled with imagery, magic, history, mystery, and intriguing facts and details, and complemented by evocative illustrations in soft, dreamy hues. Together word and art transports the reader to Tibet for the arduous adventure of a lifetime. With an Author's Note to augment the story and further enlighten, Far Beyond The Garden Gate is a marvelous introduction to both an amazing woman and little known country that will whet the appetite of kids 8-12, and send them out looking for more.

It is about world war II. Jay Smith has tons of adventures such as romance, saving peoples lives, and risking his own life for someone else. He owns part of a saw mill. He fell in love with a girl who likes him, but the problem about that is she is the daughter of his father's worst enemy. it is a cool book. the coolest part is how Jay has to find his uncle Mathew in the Valley of Lost Planes. Jay searches for him and finds his plane crashed thinking him dead. Though Jay sees a sign that says his uncle is okay .He climbs out of the plane. He looks over him seeing a plane that has a pilot named Mr. walker and he also sees his father and his Uncle Mathew. He relized his uncle walked to the alcan highway and was picked up by Mr. Walker and his father. His uncle and Jay's family is much closer now.

This is a book which I think of often. Ms. David-Neel had or should I say has quite a strong spirit. I would recommend all of her books to anyone interested in spiritual growth, women's triumphs or walking accross high Himalayan passes in the dead of winter with the Lama Yongden. I cross high Rocky Mountain passes regularly, but always in the comfort of an 18-wheeler.

My Journey to Lhasa is a marvellous, cliff hanging tale of adventure comparable to Lawrence of Arabia's epic account. David-Neel made her trek to forbidden lhasa in the dead of winter succeeding where much younger, better equipped male explorers failed. Her thrilling yarn is the main highlight of a 101 year adventure packed life.This noted Buddhist scholar wrote 25 books on eastern themes after she made her death defying trip in her mid fifties. Although naysayers have claimed that David-Neel never went to Lhasa, our extensive research for our biography the Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel authenticates her travels as well as fleshes out the human aspect of this amazing character who Lawrence Durrell called "the mot astohishing Frenchwoman of our Times."

All I really need to say is not in review of Mrs David Neel's book but to remark that I read somewhere in your bewildering pages that she went to Lhasa disguised as a man, which seems to demonstrate that whoever wrote that hadn't bothered to read her book. According to her version she was disguised as an old Tibetan Woman from western Tibet, the mother of the Lama, Yongden, who she claims to have adopted and who remained with her for the rest of his life according to other bits and pieces I have gleaned over the years. Somebody,probably Sydney Smith, said he never read books he had to review because it would influance his preconceptions so, or something like that. The trouble with putting lies into print is that people are inclined to believe the printed word. "Of course its bloody true." he said "Didn't I read it in the bloody paper."

Ever wonder what to do with that huge pile of dryer lint, old coffee grounds, left over mashed potatoes or extra spaghetti noodles? This book could have the answers - and more.

If you liked the first Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions, and you want more gooey things to do with your child, this book is for you! While we didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one, it was still a welcome addition to "I've got nothing to do" solutions.

With yet another 60 plus ideas to educate and entertain, indoors and out, this book is great for giving kids something to do that isn't TV or Nintendo. This book has more ideas for gift kids can make plus edible recipes than the other.

There's an edible frosting dough (kids can make sculptures to add to the top of a cake!), a delicious wreath for the holidays, a shake and make whipped cream, and a fruit roll-up recipe that's a little different.

There are several art projects - a lot of alternative painting ideas, there are a lot of Garden Concoctions - Apple Head People, Indian Corn Jewelry, Living Words, Bird Cookies, EggHead Garden, Greenhouse in a Bag - that are wonderful for kids who like the nature). We especially like the number of concoctions that can be made as gifts for friends and relatives - Magic Candle Art, Ice Lanterns, Kooky Clingers, Magic Photo Art, Peppermint Wreaths, Silly Stained Glass, Cool Crayon Tee Shirts. Don't let the 4 - 8 age recommendation on this book fool you - older kids will like this book - just leave it lying around the kitchen and older kids will probably find something they'd like to make!

Adult supervision is definitely needed. Many of the ingredients are common to most households, but some are not. Most projects take pre-planning. The only addition I'd make to this book would be a checklist of common ingredients, to add to my grocery shopping list!

Kid Concoctions is our children's favorite book series. The second book is even fresher and more original than the first. We hope Book #3 isn't too far ahead in the future. Keep those concoctions coming!

Its very rare to find a book series where the second in the series is better than the first. But thats not the case with the new Kid Concoctions book. "The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions #2" was a hit the first time my children and I opened the book. Almost all of the projects are made from 3-4 common household ingredients. The projects seem to be even more original and innovative than the projects in the first book! Hats off to the authors for making a book that lives up to its name and out shines the original. A must have book for any parent or grandparent.

This is the second book by Denise Linn that I have read. I chose this book over other Feng Shui books because of the comforting and practical way inwhich it was written. All i want to do is create a comfortable, harmonius, and beautiful haome for myself and my family. Lets face it; if I wanted to do something complicated, I'd pick up an algebra book.
Linn's overlying theme seems to be one of creating a home for your soul with your intuition. Feng Shui happens to be one way to accomplish this; but not the only way.
Occasionally the book gets a little heady; it will take me years to meditate as much as she recommends. However this shouldn't be a deterrent, because it is not forced upon the reader. I do recommend reading "Sacred Space" before, or along with this book. There are some references about it in "Feng Shui", plus it's a good warm-up to her methods, and philosophies.
I do recommend this book, and "Sacred Spaces" to any one who is looking for a less contrived, and certainly a less pretetious approach to decorating their home. I look forward to reading some of her other books.

This is one of the most encouraging and entertaining books about Feng Shui I have ever read. It is very well written and has a good approach to our western way of life. This book will motivate interior decoration amateurs and Feng Shui enthusiasts. I strongly recommend it.

The best chapters of 'The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel:'
owe much to Alexandra's own account of her journey to Lhasa. Her own books are wonderful to read, all of them , but in particular her 'My Journey to Lhasa' Beacon Press republished it as a paperback in 1993, ISBN 0-8070-5903-X
I can guarantee you will have a most enjoyable read.

It is my great pleasure to let Amazon readers know about the exploits of Alexandra David-Neel, the explorer of Tibet, which the Fosters chronicle so vividly in the biography, THE SECRET LIVES OF ALEXANDRA DAVID-NEEL. This bio reads more like a novel or adventure tale due to the wonderfully-detailed scenes with such authentic touches I felt as if I were truly there, and often worried about David-Neel's ability to survive. Obviously the Fosters have done their research incredibly well and write graceful,lucid prose; I was captivated from the first sentence and actually resented having to put down the book to take care of chores. This is is one of the best biographies I have ever read. The story cries out to be told visually on the big screen.

Little known crossdressing Victorian Frenchwoman undertakes a dangerous journey of discovery in forbidden country disguised as a monk and lives to tell her tale to the world. Thoroughly well researched,and well crafted The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel is the biography of a remarkable woman. A woman born to the mannered and circumscribed Victorian era who chose to strike out on her own initiative to explore the spiritual secrets and she was among the first Europeans to report about it from inside to the rest of the world.
I found it a fascinating read about a remarkable woman of whom I knew nothing, a woman who accomplished amazing things in her life. I recommend this biography by Barbara and Michael Foster to anyone interested in tales of high adventure in exploration, in the golden age of exploration and of unknown exotic lands. If the story of resolutely fearless woman pursuing her dream of exploring Forbidden Tibet whets your appetite I recommned you read this well crafted biography. I can recommend it without reservation. ZaneMason

The author is at her best when she recounts the adventures, both mundane and spiritual, that she encountered during her amazing life and travels. When she expounds on spiritual teachings and doctrines, she is not so skillful.

Given the brevity of the book, one can hardly expect a complete and systematic exposition of the views on the topic of immortality and reincarnation found in China, Tibet and India. Still, the work is so idiosyncratic and choppy that it will be of limited value for anyone seeking an introduction and overview of the teachings and insights offered by these diverse cultures. That is unfortunate, such a work is much needed.

Yet, with these limitation in mind, this work does offer some value for the discerning reader.

Important insight into various interpretations of what it means to be immortal,covering Tibetan and Indian beliefs. Alexandra David-Neel seems, to me, to be not only scholarly but also truly spiritual in her approach to this question of what it means to be re-incarnated. The work is intended for serious seekers. It is inspiring, and provocative. It does not set out with any agenda other than to give Westerners a glimpse into the mind of the oriental. It gives no comfort or answers. This , to me, represents its greatest value.

David-Neel, Alexandra. Possibly the first European woman to do the three year+ retreat, died at the age of 102 in 1969. Her Initiates and Initiations, published in 1931 and translated from the original French Initiations Lamaiques is one of the earliest attempts to explain honestly to the much-obfuscated Western mind (viz. the term lamaique), the nature of the ongoing process that is the method employed by Vajrayana teachers. She understood how less educated Tibetans viewed certain teachings compared with the perceptions of the intellectuals. The chapter on the intelligentsia exists only in the English version, by the way.

Her knowledge of the other Buddhist traditions and of the history of early Buddhism enabled her to attempt to trace the evolution of concepts such as that of Nirvana, for example. She clearly exposed the difference in interpretation by Buddhists of terms that may have had their origins in Hinduism. Her knowledge of Sanskrit and Tibetan enabled her to discuss the different connotations that an expression has even though it seems to refer to the same idea. She had a good grasp of the history of the Kagyu and the other lineages, and showed a surprisingly sophisticated view of the history of Tibet and its relations with its neighbours. Interesting, too, or should I say again, were her observations on the position of the young Dalai Lama in those early days. This edition was printed in 1973 by Ryder in London.