I agree w/ the sentiments of the other reviewer: this is rich, dazzling, moving, melancholy, euphoric, musical verse. A great introduction to Ashbery, I believe. Proof of genius.

One of the great works of art of this century. Although less well-known than "Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror", this, along with "The Double Dream of Spring" is Ashbery's best book.

The other reviewer described the book so I will write about what it did for me. I had sprained a tendon in my leg/hip (how, I have no idea; it just came on) and was in some pain. I didn't know it was a tendon, so I began to worry about it. The pain increased, I began limping, and kept worrying--magnifying it into some sort of dreadful cancer eating away at my bones. (Well, you know, sprains should heal up in a few weeks. I'd had this for a couple months! And I still have it three months later.) Anyway, I read through this book and ended up releasing all the emotional involvement in my leg. The pain was reduced about 80 percent and I no longer limped. Now I just refuse to worry about it and instead bought a bicycle so I can strengthen and provide better stability for my muscular system.

We humans are very capable of endowing our minor injuries (or even major illnesses) with such power that they incapacitate us or, at the very least, demand a lot of attention. This book will help you put such things in perspective. Attitude truly is everything for the body/mind/spirit is a trinity, each component affecting the others. If you can improve your attitude you can improve your health. And the more you concentrate on your injuries or illness, the worse they will become. I highly recommend this book for anyone in pain or anyone with a bad attitude. And I recommend it for everyone who likes to read or who breathes on a regular basis. It's a keeper to which you can refer over and over for encouragement and reminders of the important things in life!

Dr Schindler claims in this book that most of us are just muddling through life instead of attaining enduring happiness. Because of this muddling through we develop what Dr. Schindler calls "E.I.I" (i.e. emotionally induced illness). Emotion by William James definition is "a state of mind that manifests itself by sensible changes in the body". Because one's has or produces the wrong kind of emotions, sooner or later he will develop physical symptoms. He then goes to his doctor to complain about these symptoms whereas the real cause of his illness is mental - his unhappiness. This book main purpose is to teach people how to change their way of living. The first part of the book is dedicated to describe how one's emotions makes him ill while the second part deals with advices and techniques to cure E.I.I.. In the latter part Dr. Schindler describes, among other things, 12 principles for richer living, and six man's basic needs - six things that deep inside one's must have. The fullillment of those six needs is the program for living that is blue printed for you. An amazing book!, A must read, Highly recommended!

This is a terrific book and helps as a way of refocusing the view of how you think about the culture described in the Book of Mormon. If you are a believer, ... it helps to make things more specific and yet less cut and dried. Just like real life.

If you aren't a believer, and in fact if you actively disbelieve the Book of Mormon, that is OK too. You will get a more specific look at the vision of things you actively disbelieve.

In either case it is a helpful and valuable book, as are all of Sorenson's works.

The title describes exactly what this book is. Sorenson takes us into his world as a socio-cultural anthropologist, helping us understand what the different archeological and historical remains can tell us about the many aspects of the everyday lives of ancient peoples. The book is intentionally simple, you won't find in depth hypothosis' or commentary, but it is written at a level beneficial for newcomers as well as for those who already know much about ancient American culture. A small section of each topic cites Book of Mormon references that may be relative to the subject matter. Sorenson's intent is not to validate the history in the Book of Mormon through archeological discovery, but rather to help us understand the cultures that were a part of, or influenced, the peoples in that book-much like knowing about ancient Jewish culture helps us better understand the events in the New Testament. This book has added an important aspect to my study of the Book of Mormon, and as a visitor to ruins in Mexico, added life and meaning to what I saw there.

John Nichols is always a joy to read. He is the John Stenbeck of our time. No one combines art and social views so beautifully as he does.

My grandmother gave this beautiful book to me for Christmas the year it was published. (I believe it was 1980 or 1981). I feel madly in love and am still madly in love today. I re-read this book every year in October, it has become a most beloved ritual. I took a chance in early 1992 and wrote to John Nichols and was I ever surprised! He wrote me back. I have two copies and now that they have a new edition, I plan on buying it too! I have a hard back signed copy that I treasure and I know it is authentic because the signature is exactly the way he signed his letter to me. Read this book and plan to be thoroughly enchanted. I was and still am after almost 20 years.

Written by Samuel W. Taylor (John Taylor's grandson), The Last Pioneer: John Taylor, A Mormon Prophet is an extensive biography of John Taylor, a Mormon prophet and the third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who lived in the 1800's and was responsible for developing the Mormon communities in Utah and the American west after the death of Brigham Young. Drawn from his personal letters and speeches, his diaries and the memories of those who knew him, The Last Pioneer provides a vivid and fascinating account of a unique religious and community leader's life, visions, belief and struggles on the American frontier.

It is often difficult to trust the credibility of a religious leader's biography when written by one of his descendents. Nevertheless, Samual W. Taylor has made every effort to be fair to both Mormons and non-mormons as he explores the complicated times and issues surrounding the establishment of the Great Basin Kingdom of the Latter Day Saints. Some of his insights were paradigm-shifting, particularly shedding insight on the mindset of the men who were willing to deceive the world and live underground in defiance of the law of the land, in order to abide "the principles of heaven." This book brings to life one of the lesser-discussed prophets of early Mormondom, and is a must-read for those interested in a fair, but gentle treatment of "The Last Pioneer.":

My almost-four-year-old loves all things space: Star Trek, space shuttles, Apollo 13, etc. I've tried to impress upon him that space isn't just "in the movies," but that someday, he, too, could be an astronaut...that people, have in fact, already "boldly gon where no one has gone before." This book proved an excellent vehicle for helping him understand that. While the language is too complicated for a four-year-old, he enjoys the meticulous paintings of the space shuttle's journey, from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad, then to space and back. An added bonus: He had seen paintings of the space shuttle in the exhibit halls at Kennedy Space Center, and wanted to "take them home." With the paintings in this book...he can do just that.

I really liked this book because it gave a lot of detail about the actual launch of the space shuttle, but not in technical terms, so kids could understand it

I was given this book by my wife and children for my birthday. What a wonderful gift!! I have never had a daily devotional before this book, but always loved reading books on leadership. This book is a wonderful blend of leadership wisdom and the spiritualness we sometimes lack in our daily dealings with those we interact with. It has given me a wonderful start to my day. I then share the daily lesson with my family, friends and coworkers. A must have on your desk or in your briefcase.

This daily devotional provides the essence of many of Dr. Maxwell's lessons. As the introduction states, the book is designed to connect one with God and provide daily leadership thoughts. It does just that by connecting biblical principles with a short, thought provoking narrative on how those principles can be applied to everyday leadership. This is a faith based book appropriate for all faiths, but it is also very meaningful and relevant outside of the biblical content. If you've owned other devotionals, but sometimes find yourself reading them out of a sense of obligation, this book will be a refreshing change. You will read and re-read its passages. It's also a great book for those wishing to distill Dr. Maxwell's teachings into bite-sized lessons, and is appropriate for all types of leaders (business, family, community, etc.). The lessons presented are simple, but not simplistic.

A guide, an action plan, a therapy, an instruction manual, a workbook, "Loving Each Day for Peacemakers: Choosing Peace Every Day" shows how to create peace within yourself and your life.... Every day. Filled with simple thoughts and comments that lead the reader into a deeper reflection of themselves. Each page has an exercise to help the reader reach within themselves and realize that if they are to have peace in their life then it has to start within and then provides the guidance needed to make those changes.

A book that belongs on everyone's bookshelf, not only to be read and worked through, but also just to be there for regular encouragement and direction. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with this book.

Loving Each Day isn't a library lending book - its diary-like format and blank pages are meant to be filled by the reader - but the general book-buying public will relish this survey of how to choose peace on a daily basis. The reader will want to be attuned to self image and open to writing, motivated by a diary of inspirational phrases and guidance admonitions.

Once I started reading this novel, which was assigned reading at Harvard last year, I dedicated myself to reading it straight through, that's how real Amalia, the beautiful opinionated, moving, passionate, and at times self-evading woman, is as she rummages through her life, much violence--including marrying the man who rapes her, her son in gangs, another son hustling, her daughter concealing a knife, her live-in boyfriend attempting to advance on her daughter, and through it all only faith in the Holy Mother sustains Amalia, until this one day when her faith is shattered--her son is dead in prison, and everything is collapsing. That's when the book pushes the reader to the extremity of her despair--in a mall in Beverly Hill!--and, there, Amalia will or will not experience the miracle she finally demands. I'll never foget this woman, nor her family, nor the tattered new Hollywood populated by Hispanics. Despite its seriousness, there is much humor, especially iln Amalia's wonderful way of rearranging things--even religious dogma--to allow for reconcilliation with her own unconventionals views. This is an unforgettable novel.

Lyrical account of one day in the life of a beautiful Mexican-American woman and her family in Los Angeles today as she discovers her son is a gay hustler, her daughter may be roaming around with gangs, her live-in lover may be harboring dangerous secrets. A further shattering revelation about her firstborn tests her enduring faith and pushes her to the brink of such despair that she demands a miracle. This book is moving and, yes, at times hilarious in its depiction of Amalia's indomitability. You'll never forget the dazzling, astonishing ending in a glitzy Beverly Hills mall.

Beautifully, lyrically rendered in the author's inimitable voice, full of haunting descriptions of a world that is gone forever yet never to be forgotten. David Kidd was truly one of a kind, unique in every way.

This book haunts..it stays with you as a most intimate portrait of those special and tender people caught in the transition between the old China and the Revolution in 1948. No account has ever brought more tears and love for those real people who saw and felt their world change almost beyond their understanding.