Of all books about Zen, this is most unassuming I've seen. There is no theory or abridged version of zen philosophy. The stories are carefully chosen and gracefully translated. They leave the reader in a state of wonder, curiosity and puzzlement. What I liked in this book is that it is not trying to educate the reader by teaching him a doctrine. It seems to me that it is true to the zen spirit in this respect. A little literary gem.

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones came into print in the 1950s, when I was a child.

I first discovered it in 1970, when I was a young man. One of my secretaries lent me her copy, and I kept it for myself.

I bought this edition last year, as a middle-aged fart.

I figure I've owned at least a dozen copies over the years. Some have been gifts from friends. Others, I've purchased for myself.

I stole only the first copy, because I didn't want to run up against any karmic Repeat Offender Rule.

It's the kind of book that seems to "walk away". Someone will see you reading Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, and they'll ask to borrow it.

That's the last you'll see of it.

Guaranteed.

I've read it many times, often in a single sitting.

I still remember the first time I sat down with it, and how it gave me a shimmering look into a world I had known little about--Zen Buddhism. At times, I still get back my "Beginner's Mind" when I re-read one of those Zen stories that I now know almost by heart.

I cannot explain the why of that.

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones contains perfect jewels of ancient stories that provide insight about life, about the world. Most of them are a half page in length--perhaps 100 words.

The neat thing about this particular edition is that it's very compact. You can slip into into your pocket, say, when you're going fishing or hiking.

It's inexpensive, too. So you won't be out a lot of money when a friend asks to "borrow" a copy and "forgets" to give it back.

I am sure the Zen masters of this book, would give me a whack on the side of my head, for writing a review, but here goes. The book brings together 4 original Zen sources. The first, 101 Zen stories, presents koans and parables. These can be confusing and amusing, such as the Sound of One Hand Clapping, and One-finger Zen. The Gateless Gate, by Mumonkan, further adds to the syncopation, by offering seemingly random arguments about some of the koans, and then concludes with a Zen students criticism of the rascal Mumonkan. So, the first two sections may be a multiple layered koan ... and one is left mildly uneasy about the use of words for teaching Zen. The 10 Bulls section and the Woodblock illustrations are beautiful poetry, more accessible, and metaphors for the stages of enlightenment. Finally, Centering, is a transcript of a pre-Zen document, 4000 years old from Kashmir. It is surprising Zen like, for example a favorite: "When in worldly activity, keep attentive between the two breaths, and so practicing, in a few days be born anew" . A great source book, without interpretation.

Puzzle Island is a book filled with fun. I would show all my friends the book if I had a copy. I felt very excited every time I read it .I will tell my friends all about this adventure story and they would share it with their families .When you are reading Puzzle Island, you feel like you're on a never-ending adventure, trying to find names of animals and where they are hiding on the page. This leads you to the secret code, secret animal and the mysterious place. I will not tell you anything about the secret animal, because it's a secret! You must find out yourself. If you work out how to find the hidden words, you will find a helpful message.But now I won't give you any more clues as I will spoil your adventure. What I find so fasinating is how the author ( and possibly the illustrator) was able to draw a picture with hidden animals and letters and still make them look perfectly unoticeable and disguised? But I do hope you will like this book as much as I did.

I found this book in the book shelf, and I remembered having read it before. I started on the first page and could not put it down. I stil can't find two animals, but otherwise I have solved the rest. I think this book should belong in the age group 6-100 because it is fun for everyone. I love the ending and can't wait till I read the other two books by this author, "Around the World With Phineas Frog" and "One Odd Old Owl".

I don't know what "Horn Books" had against Paul Adshead, but it seems like all their reviews of his stuff insult the art and the target age level of the material. First of all, I read this book when I was in first or second grade like 30 times. I showed my friends, and even when I was alone, I would imagine myself of a real quest in Puzzle Island. I admit, the art is no Sistine Chapel, but it is attractive and brilliant in its own way. Also, I admit the puzzles are difficult, but that adds to the excitement. It caused me to take the book to school and show friends, as well as ask my parents for help. The difficulty made the book an experience, not just a quick read. It's fun, and it teaches a lot of different methods of problem solving. I'm a graduating High School Senior now and I have a 4.3 GPA with a 1500 SAT I score, and I read the book when I was young... coincidence?

Dr. Hill, who was on the staff of NASA's Langley (VA) facility, presents a wonderful assessment of possible UFO propulsion methods. His assessment is based on reports of many UFO observors (calls to NASA were generally forwarded to him), as well as some of his own personal observations of UFO flight (such as seen in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia). Some of his ideas, such as "force-field" technology, aren't particularly easy to understand by someone accustomed to considering more conventional propulsion techniques, but I admit that it seems most consistent with the data he presents (such as the way automobiles often tend to lose traction when flying saucers hover nearby/overhead).

For anyone interested in UFO phenomena this is an excellent treatise by a professional aeronautical engineer. Perhaps the best available at the moment (better than any I've seen). Better ones will probably only appear after various governments of the world decide to end over 50 years of UFO pseudo-denial.

Consider that many paleontologists find that the best place to go fossil hunting is in a museum. The reason is of course, that many field collectors from the past have stored incredible fossil finds in museum archives, while having little or no time to evaluate the data and draw conclusions. What could this possibly have to do with Paul Hill's fabulous book? Mr. Hill did what real sceintists should do...he sorted through historical UFO data (including his own sighting) and looked for mechanisms and the patterns inherent to that data. By applying his own form of "back engineering" to these UFO cases, he sought to determine the power source(s), electromagnetic byproducts of those sources and other important aerodynamic components intrinsic to UFO flight characteristics. The results of his back engineering provide incredible information from "seemingly" insignificant details, much in the same way that Sherlock Holmes deduced Watsons' whereabouts by the mud on his shoes. Other physical scientists take note: All that UFO researches have asked of you for years was to look at the data, much as the late Dr. Hynek suggested. Finally, Paul Hill has done it. I know there are other scientists (personally) who are continuing to investigate using the same stringent scientific methods used by Paul Hill. I applaud you, as do all meaningful UFO researchers. For Mr. Hill, I would say that it was too bad the climate of yellow journalism did not allow the release of this important work before his death. The press in this country is veneer. But, over time, veneer peels up to reveal the oak. Take heed, read Unconventional Flying Objects. Think.

Paul Hill spent almost his entire career with NASA directing research projects. His credentials are impressive. NASA's official stance on UFOs was, "They don't exist." Hill says he saw one, reported it to his then boss, and was told to forget it and do his job. He did the latter but not the former. His book, written after he retired, reviews well-documented and investigated events from around the world. Since many of the people reporting the events are not hillbillys or crackpots but credible professionals, his approach is, "Assuming that these people are not loonies but are telling the truth about what they saw, how could these phenomena be explained using our present level of scientific knowledge?"

He takes one event at a time, and examining the reports and hard evidence where it exists, eliminates various suggested explanations if they don't fit. He doesn't answer all the possible questions that one can pose, but he does conclude that nothing the objects do violates any of our accepted scientific principles or the laws of physics. The propulsion system that he says fills the bill is a "focused force field". Although we admittedly haven't the foggiest notion of how to develop a focused force field, the scientific principle is sound. Gravity is a force field. We have electrical and magnetic force fields.

Hill also delves into advanced--but accepted--theoretical physics to explain how interstellar travel would be possible without exceeding the speed of light. The bulk of the book is written for a lay audience. Any normally intelligent, reasonably well educated person can follow it. He includes several appendices, however, which are crammed with mathematics far too arcane for me to digest.

It's a fascinating book, light enough to be enjoyed, but too heavy to skim. In the way that some people go to church "just in case", this work should be read, "just in case". I heartily recommend it.

This is a GREAT book. The authors have done an outstanding job bridging the EMS and medical aspects of disaster management with the IMS system. Surely a must include text in any disaster training program

This text is perhaps one of the finest works on the Incident Management System and mass casualty response. Written in "Plain English" the authors have taken great steps to keep the confusion to a minimum while delivering technical and operational accuracy. This is a great text for use in all disaster training programs. The chapters are designed to follow the flow of managing an incident with critical factors boxes built into each assisting you to reinforce important points with your class. Additionally, each chapter has lesson objectives and end questions to further reinforce the premises espoused. The final component that is worthy of note is sample templates for IMS implementation and "real incident" critiques by the Incident Commanders. Incidents such as the hurricanes, world trade center bombing, Alabame train wreck and other professionally drive the point of IMS use home.

Having taught IMS for a number of year, I have always had to subject my students to photo copies of handouts to teach the premises. With the publication of this book by Christen and Maniscalco, I have an all emcompassing text that allows my students to fully understand the application and theory of IMS/ICS. Thank you guys! This is great!!!

I picked this tape up for my newly-single sister. (I figured if she was offended, I could pass it off as the joke; the title is so P.T. Barnum!) Couldn't resist listening to it myself, as I'm an introverted book worm (albeit a happily married one) who has trouble meeting new friends.

I found the material helpful and fun. Whether you're looking for a life-time partner or you're someone like me who could use a few more non-romantic friends in your life, this tape offers plenty of ideas on how to meet people and enlarge one's circle of friends. Ideas like volunteering aren't new, but Hartunian offers insights that helps one get noticed (without acting like a clown!) and attract normal people rather than kooks.

Hartunian is friendly and accessible on tape, which adds to his credibility. I really expected him to sound like a infomercial pitch man, and to use this tape as a long commercial for big and expensive dating service or something. What he is is this: an average guy who saw through the BS of "this is how we've always done it" and who has the ability to motivate his listeners to try something new. None of the ideas will cost much money, none of them are terribly outrageous and there is NEVER a pitch for any other service.

I highly recommend this tape.

"How to Find the Love of Your Life in 90 Days or Less" takes the mystifying world of dating and lays out an easy to follow pattern that would make "Dating for Dummies" envious. But be warned, Dr. Hartunian pulls no punches. With the precision of a trained surgeon, he exposes and dissects the excuses that cripples us from having an effective/satisfying dating life. But he doesn't stop there. He presents an easy to follow and easy to understand system to IMMEDIATELY begin generating positive results.

I wholeheartedly recommend that anyone who has ever asked the question, "Where have all the good dates gone?" listen to this audiobook. You will NEVER need another guide.

ELIMINATES DATING ANXIETIES FOREVER Dr. Paul Hartunian puts Cupid on your team when it comes to finding the love of your life. He provides straight forward commonsense inspiration along with the facts. By trial and error I eventually met the love of my life and "courted" her as Dr. Hartunian outlines in his audiobook, "How to Find The Love Of Your Life In 90 Days Or Less"; I was 40. Don't waste 20 years looking like I did. Buy it today!

For less than one month's internet connect fee, Cupid will materialize and put you on Lover's Lane. My wife and I have been married 12 years, BUT I used Dr. Hartunians simple dating ideas to bring life back into our evenings and weekends. This is so easy and simple. My wife asked me last weekend how come I was so much more romantic all of a sudden. Thanks Dr. Hartunian.

I bought this book, along with one of the companions in the series (Reef Creatures) to help prepare me for a cruse and scuba trip to Cayman. I am pleased with the book but I was under the impression it was spiral bound: the one I received has a conventional binding, which is less convenient. The colour plates are excellent and in many cases there are specific notes as to colour variations in various species which is extremely helpful. The descriptions of juvenile fish is also a major contribution as changes in colouring through the life-cycle of a number of species can be quite remarkable. The basic identification sections at the beginning of chapter speed you through finding the specific species your are looking for. By and large a beautiful and helpful addition for any diving enthusiast .

This is a fantastic book, and along with the other two books by this author you should be able to ID any marine creature you encounter!

The book lists virtually all types of fish, including angels, tangs, butterfly, damsels, clowns, and more!

Each entry has an excellent picture, the name, family, size, depth, and other information.

The pictures alone are worth the cost of the book!

This is definitely the book you want to have with you when you dive or snorkel. Buy it today, you won't be disappointed!

I visit family in St. Croix (US Virgin Islands) yearly, and I have looked at a number of books in order to learn the names of the numerous fish I see when I'm snorkeling or diving. This one makes identification easy, with beautiful pictures and the all-important "Distinctive Features" sections, which give you tips on how to distinguish one fish from the next. Make no mistake: this book is the easiest to use and the most comprehensive one I've seen. I'm online to buy the other two books (Reef Coral and Reef Creatures).

Since the publication of this book, it has been criticized for it's "machismo, misogynist" morale. Guess who these criticisms are coming from? White feminists (or those who support them). They cannot look beyond history and textual matter, instead they force and assume their principles and try (and unforunately, they succeeded) to make this a battle of Women's rights. I have read Chin's "Come All Ye Asian American Writers of the Real and of the Fake" and in nowhere is there any misogynistic dictum. Why? Because this isn't a matter of Women's views or MEN'S! It's about history and how it should be interpreted. People like Kingston, Hwang, and Tan want to deconstruct Asian American history. Feminists want to help Kingston's and Tan's deconstructive views by arbitrarily labeling Chin as a misogynist. If Chin or the editors of The Big Aiiieeeee! were misogynist why would they have women writers in this anthology? Just because there aren't that many women writers doesn't mean it's totally and utterly sexist. Could it be because there aren't that many authentic Asian American women writers?! If there are no authentic texts to Asia America, would it hurt to say that stereotypes (or whatever) are actually right?

My boyfriend (he's Chinese) saw my copies of Amy Tan and Maxine Hong Kingston books, he wasn't happy with my selections of these so-called Asian-American books, so he gave me the Big Aiiieeeee! I was surprised what Tan and Kingston have done (read Frank Chin's article...it's a blast!). I have to admit that I still like their (Tan and Kingston) books, but they don't represent Asian-Americans that's for sure. There are some Asian girls I know who are ashamed of being... well, Asians, so they go out with White guys (ever heard of that bimbo Margaret Cho?). I don't have a problem with that (with people going out with different races other than their own), but it seems that they're ashamed of their own heritage. They should get this book and read Sui Sin Far. Now, my favorite author! She writes about how a White woman falls in love with a Chinese man. And in spite of laws banning interracial marriage she was still not ashamed of him!

...Amy Tan, David Henry Hwang, Maxine Hong Kingston, Gish Jen, or Jade Snow Wong (and then some!)? YOU BETTER READ THIS BOOK! These people have reinvented Asian literature that have sold out to the Christian (and for that matter Darwinian) white-racist-stereotypical form of Asian writing. You'll read it all in this book, and it is disturbing to say the least. The editors of THE BIG AIIIEEEEE! shows how these authors hate what is Chinese and invent a fake history that appease the white racist way.

It's not the typical scenario addressing the known issues, attributes and impact of Rock Royalty from music's Golden Era, i.e., circa 1967-1977 but more an affinity to the internal maladies of the first great band of The Psychedelic years. Jeff Tamarkin captures the myriad of personalities, power struggles, the bi-product bands such as Hot Tuna, SVT, Jefferson Starship, Kantner, Balin & Casady. Perhaps a mirrored report such as the Dennis McNally book on The Grateful Dead and the various escapades outside the parameters of the music genre. The road less traveled leads from Washington, DC, Chicago, and other demographic licals to the ever popular and notorious 2400 Fulton Street mansion and Grunt Records. This is a more chronicled report on the various personalities, liasons, recreational drug use of the day and the insight of someone who has spent years in researching the facts of a living legendary band.
As they continue to expand the parameters of their chosen genre, the book is an enlightening text that unravels the complications of five gifted musicians, the addition of the first diva in Rock n Roll, and how all ahve evolved into the 21st century. Kudos and plaudits to Jeff for avoiding the tedious, useles rhetoric of most parables of those most emulated and admired as the youth of America in the sixties and seventies and his uncanny knack in showing that even our selected Gods of choice are not as atypical as we might like to invision.
As they live and breath, we also do the same and the demise of one is as pain staking and demoralizing as any death within our own family sturcture.
The affinity to counter culture and those who helped construct it, the music that lealed a generation and the survivors of the day are all the culmination of one of the great books of the genre in the last twenty years......as the syntax of the day would imply..."This book rocks"...

For anyone interested in the history of pop music and/or culture during the last half of the 20th century, the story of Jefferson Airplane is a great one to be familiar with... With its roots in the early 60's and a hitmaking career that lasts into the 90's, to follow Airplane's storied career is to take a tour of decades of popular music eras that they themselves helped to define.

Many band biographies are merely chronologically arranged trivia books, with an appeal that ultimately does not extend far outside of a circle of hardcore fans. Tamarkin's extraordinarily well-researched book rises above this by painting a richly textured picture of the culture that Airplane (and its various offshoots) sprang from and contributed to.

Tamarkin also succeeds in bringing strong insights into the music with his critical assessments. Here, even the most casual reader can glean why the author would try to iron out such a sprawling, Wagnerian epic... The people who made such music MUST have a fascinating story to tell. They do, and Tamarkin conveys it brilliantly -- setting the bar a little bit higher for music journalism in the process.

It's about time! This book- a labor of love by journalist, editor and librettist Jeff Tamarkin- goes a long way to rectify the cultural revision that has marginalized the Jefferson Airplane! Which band is the basis for almost everything cool! And it, and its progeny, continue to be extremely vital and relevant today. ...

I was deeply skeptical when a friend handed this book to me-- suit, grin, car salesman? What did that have to do with consultancy to media companies? What did this have to do with anything?

No joke-- it has to do with *everything* in business.

A great focused reminder about where to spend your energy and attention if you want to grow your business. This doesn't just repeat the same old motivational seminar stuff that seems to populate so many of the business books out there.

It's a quick read with good advice illustrated by real life examples. What more can you ask for?

None of the ideas in this book are ground breaking, but the author does a great job of explaining how they translate into loyal customers for your business. There is no abstract psychological babbling lots of similar books have. The author clearly shows the reader what his points are, then uses case studies from both his business and others to reinforce the concepts.

Every business owner should have this book, and I'd recommend buying copies for all the employees as well. It will pay off in the long run.

Sewell Cadillac is a world class organization visited annually by Japanese Businesses to evaluate his style of management. This is the most readable book on business since the One Minute Manager. Pracital business experiences which can be applied to any business not just a car dealership. Example: 'Threat a customer as you would your best friend Don't charge for the small stuff.' I bought 34 copies for all my managers. You'll pick it up read it in a few hours and then read it again.

I think I would have responded to this book in a very different way if I had read it while a teenager or college student. I would have identified with the adolescent pressures and the adolescent attachments. However I was less impressed by the adolescent angst of the first 80% of the book as I was by the reflection in the final 20% of the book. In this section Watkins identifies 3 themes. First, Watkins describes his growth and movement from the body of a boy to the body of a man through the story of learning to throw the javelin. He describes beautifully and simply the first time he became aware that he had control of his muscles and strength and was leaving the awkwardness of childhood behind. Second, Watkins simply and clearly describes the discovery of his inner reservoir of strength that he develops first as a survivor and observer and finally as a writer. Third, through non-accusational reflection he realizes he was sent to the Dragon School and Eton to fulfill a perceived weakness and vulnerability that Paul's father felt toward the elite uppper class. Thus he sends his child to the best schools to protect him from the barbs of aristocracy. Why do father's do this to their sons? Each man must wrestle with his own vulnerabilities and make peace with his inadequacies. I was also left wondering whether he forgave his mother in the same way he seemed to forgive his father for sending him into this elite and cold experience while still a small child?

No other book that I have read has dealt with the everday pressures of adolesence as clearly as Watkin's "Stand Before Your God." His memory of his time at the Dragon School and Eton College draws the reader in and never lets him go. He uses references that young people can relate to and language they can appreciate. This book makes you laugh out loud on one page and then cry on the next. It definitely stands as a premier piece of literature that shares with young people the common feelings and emotions associated with growing up and discovering a personal identity.

I have read few books in my eleven years as a bookseller that have moved me as much as Paul Watkins' coming-of-age memoir. There are only three that I have read more than once: THE SECRET HISTORY, A SEPARATE PEACE (which I have read twice a year ever since high school), AND STAND BEFORE YOUR GOD.

Watkins' ability to take everyday events and anxieties and turn them into the stuff of revelation is a rare gift. His writing is clear, incisive, and, in spite of the unusual circumstance of an American attending the most exclusive of British prep schools, universally telling. I read the book thinking of my numerous perusals of A SEPARATE PEACE and my own cherished memories of attending a small private college in the rural midwest. I read the book with a pen in hand, underlining his most illuminating thoughts about Eton, and writing "Yes! YES!!!!!" in the margins when his own epiphanies bespoke my own. I read the book wide-eyed, knowing that, alone in my living room, I was in the company of genius.

I have recommended the book to many of my customers over the years, employing both of my most heartfelt evaluations: "Oh, but you MUST!" and "Trust me on this one!" They have, all, thanked me profusely for the recommendation. In this extraordinary collection of tales that make up a short time in a still remarkably short life, we find images of ourselves, and marvel that a stranger can know so much about us.

Seek it out. Read it. Cherish it. Oh, but you must! Trust me on this one!